Investment in Family: Cup O' Joy

1 Min:

  One thing that's certain about life is that it's uncertain. We aren't promised a tomorrow. That's why it's crucial that we spend our time investing in what really matters today. We must constantly remind ourselves of what is eternal and what is temporary. TIme clocks must be punched, and laundry must be done, but people are far more important than running a business or maintaining the perfect house. Remind yourself to invest in your family. Eliminate a commitment that unnecessarily takes you away from those you love. Finally, set aside and protect family time. Quality time with your family has to be planned; it won't just happen.

 5 Min Pray: Lord Jesus, I know that life is short; help me to invest in what really matters: the people you have given me to love. Help me say no to extra commitments and to not try to please everyone, so that I have time and energy for the people I love most. Continue to pray as the Spirit leads you, or just sit quietly in God's presence.

 10 min

 Study:

Ephesians 5:15-16

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Matthew 6:19-34

New International Version (NIV)

Treasures in Heaven

    ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   ²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[a] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
   ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

    ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[c]?   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.




  I was reminded of these scriptures while sitting in and emergency room with my son this past week. I was on my way to meet someone concerning the tile in our new home when my mother called me and said, "E has swallowed some of my Plavix." To which my reply was a deep, "What!" She then went on to explain that he had found her child proof bottle and was sitting in the living room floor with one in his mouth. She wasn't sure how many he had taken.  My heart stood still. I slammed on the brakes and turned around to go get him. I knew we were headed to the ER as I was calling poison control on my phone. I knew this could be bad. There isn't an antidote for this medication and we could possibly be looking at a pretty long stay at the hospital. This could be life altering for my child. The world stopped.
   Once there we were given 12oz of charcoal mixed with chocolate milk to attempt to have E consume in a 20-30 min period. He was smiling and showing off his new black 6 teeth smile in no time. The chocolate milk was yummy and it was lunch time; he was a happy boy and so was mommy. The outcome in my head prepared me for the worst as any "nurses mind" would do, but the reality is he was going to be fine. Although it could have been bad...really bad.
   Yesterday was Easter Sunday.  I spent all day with my family. Snapping away at the pictures of every member of my family that I was around.  I know that we aren't promised tomorrow and although that is scary in a since, I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that eternal life is the outcome. I also know that death hurts. Our human minds don't have the capability to grasp the concept of eternal life and what it must be like. So we are left with questions of what is to come for us and fear of not having tomorrow. 

  I say all of this to tie the two together with the commonality of death and life. Investing in your family is priceless. You can never regain those moments. They past by and will never be relived again. I encourage you to seek your heart and your calendar to clear out what isn't eternal.  I look at things in the matter of "Is this going to burn? or will this be with me in heaven?"  Make time for the important things and try to avoid becoming consumed with the craziness of life.  Pick up the phone and call your cousin that has been on your mind. Reach out to those who mean the most to you and most importantly put your family first.  You will not regret it, I'm sure of it!


Blessings!