Out of the Vault

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this something must be attained.” Madame Curie

It is true that we are gifted for something special and that is our responsibility to use that gift wisely.  Our confidence in using the gift comes through knowing who made us, and that the gift was specially selected for each one of us.

In the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, Harry goes to Gringott’s, the wizard’s bank to access his money.  He travels into the depths of the earth beneath the bank to get to his vault. The money and possessions stored in the bank are guarded by a huge dragon and strong magic. A lot of effort is put behind the idea of keeping people out of the vault. God’s vault of gifts is accessible to each one of us who put our faith and trust in Him. Our gift isn’t meant to be hidden away and protected. It is meant to be shared.

God, in his great wisdom and creativity, gives gifts generously and freely, from his own hand. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us that “God has given each of you a gift from his great vault of spiritual gifts.”  This scripture draws an amazing picture in my mind of a great heavenly vault, covered in gold, lavish in its design, overflowing with gifts: God, reaching inside, carefully selecting the perfect gift, and bestowing it on you or me to be used for his glory. This is serious stuff; more important than money, and more valuable than worldly possessions.  This giftedness is intended to be used with confidence-confidence that we find in Him, the giver of the gift.

God shows his love for us over and over again; displayed in such creative ways. We could all have the same gifts and skills. Instead, my gift and yours have been selected from his special vault, created for and gifted to each of us with care.  God allows us and equips us to use these gifts in service to Him and to others.  This day, choose to use your gift to serve others.

Fixed on Christ

It is easy to hyper focus on a lot of things: your child’s grades, the things about your spouse that lovingly drive you mad, a clean house, an organized life, work, holidays…the list is endless. I can easily be distracted and consumed by many things around me. It is easy to waste a day, a week or month and have nothing of substance to show for my time.

However, we are not called to wend our way aimlessly through life. We are called to focus, to fix our eyes on only one thing. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith.” What is FOCUS? It is US, with our eyes, Fixed On Christ.

Binoculars are used to block out everything to the left and right of what you are looking at, creating a tunnel vision effect. You only see the thing you are focusing on. Life with Christ isn’t quiet that easy. While we, as Christians, are supposed to focus our attention on Christ, we are also expected to see what is going on around us. With tunnel vision you can see the goal but you will miss everything else on the journey. And what is life but a journey?

Part of the journey is the process of sanctification: me becoming more like Christ. The journey allows me to be in meaningful relationships with others, through which I can share His love. Hebrews tells us to “keep our eyes fixed on Christ”. Meaning, once your eyes are on Him, keep them there. Do not be moved from your focus. Don’t veer away, and don’t cast your eyes downward to avoid seeing truth and what really matters.

The good journey is fought for and a stake is claimed standing on the promises of God. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 tells us to “pursue righteousness and a godly life, fight the good fight and hold tightly to the eternal life which God has called you to”. Pursuing righteousness and godliness, not giving up on what is true and clinging tightly to the promise of eternal life are all steps in the journey that help keep our FOCUS on Him.

Us, with our eyes fixed on Christ means we are serious about the journey. Don’t be content to pull the brim of your hat over your eyes, binoculars pointed at the finish line; engage in the journey. FOCUS on Christ and enjoy His goodness in your life.

Leaves of Fall

It is fall; my favorite time of year. For me fall is marked by a few things: the change in weather signals cozy sweaters, an excuse to drink coffee or tea all day, pumpkin baked goods, fall festivals and changing leaves.  The leaves are probably my favorite feature of fall.  I like to go tree shaking-find a scrawny tree trunk with great fall leaves and shake. When my son was little we would rake all the leaves into a huge pile and throw him in; destroy the pile, and do it all over again.

Lately I have been thinking about how fall is a time we begin new things: new sports seasons, new school year, new programs. Yet, fall as a season is really about decay.  The plants and trees that have thrived over the spring and summer are winding down. The blooms have faded and look a little desolate and the leaves on the trees are changing to reveal amazing color. With a burst of glory they are preparing to die.

Life for the believer is a little different.  At the end of life we face decay. It is too often a slow and painful process. It is marked by the loss of all we hold dear. It is the ultimate step of faith into the unknown.  While the fall leaves have their burst of glory before they flutter unheeded to the ground, the believer gets a different reception. We are not left to flutter to nothingness. We are not scooped up and put into the discard pile. Our burst of glory comes not with death and decay, but as we step into the presence of Christ, carried there by His hand. 

Psalm 16:9-11 “No wonder my heart is glad and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”