Day 15: Bob Ericksen

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Matthew 6:21

Of all the wonderful ways the Lord has worked in my life, I drew a blank on what to write for the 2025 Boast in the Lord.   I asked the Lord to reveal to me what to share with Grace Chapel that would glorify Him.

Instead of having a particular instance of God’s blessings in my life brought to mind, I was given a multitude of Questions and Statements that flowed rapid-fire as I started writing.  All of which challenge, humble or embarrass me.  

To understand this better, you should know that I struggle with saving everything and it has morphed into CLUTTER.  I have at various times made efforts to throw out, give away or sell my STUFF but there is still too much that I have laying around that gets in the way of living.  My workshop is too cluttered to work in, I have to move stuff out of the way just to get to a tool or workbench I need to use.  Our attic, garage and shed are not any better.

I find reasons NOT to throw things out…”I can use that someday”, “I will fix that so I can use it later”, “ I haven’t used that in 20 years, but it is still good”.  Meanwhile all that Stuff is not only getting in my way, it is taking time away from much more important things.

I say I want to change, to focus on the most important things, yet I still have clutter.
 
The questions and statements that came from the Lord cut me deeply.  They revealed areas of my life that need to change, and remind me of the Lord’s love for me.  I share them with you now:

• Change
• Struggle
• Distractions
• Step out of comfort
• What is the Cost to put Jesus first?
• What do you need to give up?
• What is taking your time away from God?
• What is important to you?
• What is important to God?
• I’m not there yet.
• Change is not easy
• What is Eternity worth to Me?
• Clutter – in my home -in my Life
• Do I spend more time with STUFF than doing God’s will?
• Do I reach out to others in the name of Christ?
• The Lord provides for me.
• The Lord Died for my sins
• The Lord FORGAVE me of my sins.
• Do I Listen for the Lord’s still quiet voice?
• Do I keep myself busy to avoid doing the hard things?
• Do I reach out to friends in need?
• Do I tithe of my talents?  Of my Time?
• Have I lost my joy in Living because I occupy myself in trivial matters?
• The Lord still calls to me.
• The Lord still answers prayers
• The Lord has blessed me with Miracles
• Am I Living my life for the glory of God?
• I am weak, with the Lord’s strength I can change

I could write a paragraph about each of those bullet items, but looking at each one says it all and convicts me further.

I am reminded of Matthew 6: 19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Is all the STUFF that clutters my home and life my “Treasures”?  Is that why I haven’t gotten rid of it?  Is that STUFF weighing me down, slowing my walk with the Lord?

Is that STUFF taking time away from what is MOST important?

Prayer
Lord, I love you with all my heart, help me lose the worldly things that clutter my life.  Help me instead to lay up treasures in heaven.  Only You have the words of eternal life.  Grant me the strength each day to follow you fully.  Praise you Lord.  Amen!