The Duke Family

I am a little over 50% finished with a book called 7, by Jen Hatmaker.  I know this because my Kindle app.  keeps up with that for me. This book has my mind working in so many ways I'm not even sure which I want to act on first.  I am realizing now more than ever how much we have and we don't even realize it.  I complain sometimes that I can't do this or buy that.  There are people living right down the street, in my neighborhood possibly, sitting next to me at church on Sunday morning, who are suffering.  Suffering because they don't have food to eat.  Suffering because they can't cloth their children.  Suffering because they can't make the rent payment.  And here I sit, reading this book on my iPad Kindle app. wearing a shirt I literally can't remember the last time I wore, drinking my coffee out of a mug I paid to paint, pondering which of the many things in my pantry I might like to eat for breakfast.  Something is wrong here people.  This book is showing more and more that we live in a society where bigger is better.  More is better.  Expensive is better.  Pretty is better.  But is it really?  When you stand before God on judgement day, do you think he is going to look at a list of all your things and commend you on working hard to achieve the money to go out and purchase this or that to increase your standing amongst other people.  I don't think so.

       "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where

        thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth 

        nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there 

        your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19-21

A change needs to happen.  In the hearts, in the minds of so many.  I posted a quote on, yes, you guessed it, Facebook the other day that Jen said in her book. "If we all raised OTHERS up instead of raising ourselves a little higher, there would be few needs left on this earth." (emphasis mine)

We live in a "me" world.  People think it's like Burger King where you have "your way right away", always looking out for #1 (ourselves) when we should all be looking UP to #1, our Lord and Savior.  

I'm not saying sell everything you own to help those in need.  I'm not saying sell your house and go live with the homeless to see what they really endure each day.  (Although I must admit both those thoughts have gone through my mind while pondering all of this.....seriously)  I just think if every one of us took a good look at all we have, in the grand scheme of life, what does it matter?  It's just STUFF!  Do you REALLY need another Coach bag?  Do you REALLY need another pair of Dolce Vita shoes? (honestly no clue what these are, I googled shoes sold at Nordstroms....just being real)

Ok, I am going to step down off of this soap box...for now.  But if you are reading this, spend some time looking at how blessed you are.  Even if Sally down the street has way more than you!  And maybe God will reveal to you ways that you can bless others.