Treasures, Here and There

Beloved,

My thoughts this week have been repeatedly drawn to the brevity of life and how quickly my focus stays on the things of this world instead of heavenly things. We returned from a 2-1/2 week trip on Monday, and I am strangely noticing my closets, home and outbuildings harboring things that I don’t use much and keep packing a little farther back or burying a little deeper from view. You may know what I mean: Rubbermaid containers stacked and labeled with obscure items; quilt fabrics folded and stored on dreams; projects that, all things considered, will never materialize; bargains that seemed too-good-to-be-true on the purchase date. I’m painfully aware of things I purchased with money that we took the time and effort to earn, but which proved to be unnecessary and not very useful. Please don’t think I don’t recognize the need for storing legitimate things and owning seasonal and not-often-used items. I’m referring to the great American surplus.

My thoughts compelled me to re-read the story Jesus told in Luke, Chapter 12, about the man who became rich in this world’s goods, built bigger barns to store it all and decided to retire and live comfortably from his excess. The truth of the situation was that this man’s life was cut short and God called him to accountability right then. His earthly goods were dispersed, and tragically, he had stored up no heavenly treasures with God. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’” (Jesus continued) “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)

I realized that I have closets full of futility and a barn full of potential, but my heart’s real desire is to be called heavenward with checks in the mail to ministries carrying the Gospel of Jesus, and my bank account uncomfortably low because I support the poor and destitute around the globe. I really want to be leaning hard on the Lord for my own needs because I focused on the needs He presented to me for others. I deeply yearn to walk in His two greatest commandments, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:28)

Oh, dear God! Let me deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You, disregarding my own desire for possessions and worldly security! As I thank You for each new morning, may I exhibit Your generous heart; may I be a living river of blessing and not a stagnant puddle that reeks of decay! Increase the storage of my heavenly home, Lord, ‘cause I’m cleaning out the closets here below and my treasures are taking on an ‘Otherworldly’ aura! Moths and rust, be gone! Let me not fear this day if it were my last, but invest this day and all its benefits in ‘futures’ with a guarantee of unbelievable return. The checks are in the mail, Lord!

"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." (Luke 12:15)

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”

(Luke 12:32)

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

The New Work Continues. . . . .

Sterling climbed a 50' tree to capture this sunset over the Rocky Mountains

Beloved,

We had the weekdays uncommitted this week (June 20th) , and spent our time camping high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. As the fire faded one evening, the night sky was brilliant with stars and constellations and a multitude of heavenly lights. We talked about quasars, the Milky Way, the sun, moon and planets, and time in light years. The vastness was incomprehensible.

My heart cried out to God, “Who are You? I cannot fathom Your eternity, your enormity, Your magnitude!” His night sky alone speaks volumes about His Sovereignty. His creation reveals His glory!

How astonishing that He knows me! Not just knows me, but He dwells with me, in me! How can we contain Him? We cannot!! How does the Infinite indwell my heart? Somehow He condescends to live in His beloved, and yet His habitation is unspeakably limitless. He knows my thoughts and the meditations of my heart. In Him, my potential is beyond my imagination.

Beloved, why do we wonder if God can complete the work He has started in His people? Why do we worry about our loved ones’ walk with Him? Why so much concern for our children finishing the race and receiving their crown? Why do we not trust in the leadership He has placed throughout His Kingdom? How can we look at the churches around us and not believe that they are the body of Jesus Christ, the work of His hands, being brought to completion under His authority? Why can we not be “confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” ? (Philippians 1:6) If we are redeemed, purchased with the blood of the Almighty One, where is our confidence that the Almighty One can lead His own to fulfill the dreams He has ordained for them?

Consider today the infinite ability of the Lord, Jesus Christ; meditate on His unsurpassed power; multiply that thought with His unsearchable love, and “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil 4:6) If we can remember each moment who He is, we can stop criticizing the hands and feet and toes and elbows that He has placed around us to complete His body here on earth! We can stop worrying, fretting, and fearing the outcome of the walk of our loved ones who journey with Him. Comparing, evaluating, judging and dividing the Church He called to unity and peace, have the beginning of their end right here in the middle of our redeemed hearts! We have received every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus our Lord. He has boldly revealed His glory! If the whole universe exists in orchestrated harmonious symphony, can we not also make one, unified joyful noise unto our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and bring Him glory?

I guess I must confess to you today that answering the call to work among the many and varied churches across this continent also places us in the midst of sheep from many flocks, but we all share the One Shepherd. Seems we all vie for the most-favored position, not realizing that that position simply does not exist.

"For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Abba! Our Father! Jesus! One Lord! Let us worship Him in spirit and in truth!

Passionately serving Christ,
Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family