I Am Rich!

By Pat

It's funny how, as a Christian, my perception of the word "riches" is very different than the world's perception. As we observe the society surrounding us, we see the desire for bigger homes, better jobs, faster cars, cooler technological toys, and greater beauty. It's easy to become caught up in the quest for the acquirement of these worldly possessions, and to compare ourselves to others, but I have become much more interested in attaining riches of another kind.

My car is over ten years old...but it runs! My house is clean and it has a roof on top. I am content with that! We struggle at times to get all the bills paid, but still try to always think of and do for those who have less. It's not what you GET that makes you rich...it's what you GIVE. I like that! I am rich!

I want to be more generous in kind words and deeds, in unconditional love and acceptance. I want to offer a simple meal to a friend in need, an extra blanket to someone living in the streets. I want to have a heart filled with quick forgiveness, thus being rich in grace, for I have had grace richly and generously given to me by my Lord. I want to be quick to smile and I want to laugh easily so that I am rich in good humor. I want my trust in God to deepen daily and my faith to grow stronger, and I want to share that faith with others. I want the world to see that I am very rich indeed...in all the ways that really matter to God, so that it is clear that riches are the things in the heart. The things that really make a difference. The things that last. If I die with not a penny to spare, I will still die a rich woman, and I am so very thankful.

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

Keeping Up With The Joneses

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

I am guilty! I admit it! It is just so easy to get caught up in the materialism of this world. I don't have the latest 4-G phone but the one I have is not shabby. I don't have a 54" plasma television but I do have a 28" high def version. My lap top may not be the best available right now but two years ago it was one of the better ones. Even recently when my step-daughter turned eighteen we new we had to get her something special. The problem is she has almost everything you could want. The other side of the family is not Christian and they have made sure that she wants for nothing. We ended up getting her an iPad. She has a laptop, an iPod touch and and iPhone....did she really need an iPad? We so easily get caught up in the trap. We see something and we want it. The Joneses next door get the next latest and greatest thing and we begin to wonder how we can do without it.

I have been to Mexico, the Dominican and Honduras. I have seen poverty and I have had my heart broken. In fact at one point I felt so convicted that we ended up downsizing from a four bedroom colonial to a more modest split foyer. I have come back from those trips feeling so changed. I see families of seven people living in a home the size of my family room. I have seen four adults sharing a bed. I have seen these people cooking over an open flame and I worry how long it will take to cook my dinner in the microwave.

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