How many times do we suffer disappointment and say, “I really had my heart set on that,”? Having our hearts set on things guarantees me disappointment. Things on this earth are temporal and people are fallible. We are setting ourselves up for a letdown when we set our hearts on things as if we need more and more – giving in to insatiable hunger and competitive lusts. Looking forward in faith and setting our hearts on things are two different things.
Having our mind set on God’s Kingdom and on heavenly agendas helps us to hold loosely to all the things of this world. But the flip-side of that coin is true, too. Holding tightly to our own agendas, building our own kingdom and setting our minds on the ‘name’ we want to create for ourselves will force us to hold loosely to God’s Kingdom purpose. Like an investor, we need to weigh out the benefit in light of the risk. If we gain the world, we lose our soul. But if we lose our own life to gain Jesus, we have won everything both in this life and for eternity. Which is the better investment?
Lord, today I need Your help keeping my heart and mind set on heavenly things. If my compass needle starts to veer off the mark, I invite You, gentle Holy Spirit, to put your hand on me and help me get back on course. I dedicate myself to thinking about You, meditating on Your Word and leaning in to hear You speak in my everyday coming and going. Invade my life, my thoughts and my passions. You are worth every invested minute! Amen.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me-k7aOVP5U&w=560&h=315%5D
Cecily is a mother to one daughter and three sons and a step mother to two daughters. She is a native New Englander, who, while fairly-well traveled, has never lived anywhere outside of New England. She loves the beach, the mountains, good food, and football (she’s been a BIG Patriot’s fan before it was cool to be one!). She loves to cook and you will most likely find her scanning PaleoOMG.com or Pinterest for her next recipe challenge. She is an avid fitness freak, indulging in Spin, Kickboxing, and Insanity classes along with running and working out at home.
But Cecily’s greatest passion is finding hidden treasures and bold Truth in God’s Word and teaching it in such a way that everyone can understand and remember what they heard. Nothing thrills her more than when someone comes up to her and says that they have been changed by something she taught (especially when they remember the message better than she does!). Cecily is a late bloomer in the blogosphere as she was very busy raising 6 children, volunteering in their schools, starting her career as an Executive Assistant, being the Worship and Arts director at her church and then recently taking the directorship of the Women’s Ministry. Life with 6 kids in a blended family posed more challenges than the Apollo 13 team had to face, and has given Cecily endless messages and potential blog posts! Cecily speaks at Women’s Conferences and at her church as a guest minister from time to time. Her husband John is a stalwart supporter of everything she does and is her greatest cheerleader. Now that the children are grown (they keep coming home, though!), Cecily has more time to write and speak about these wonderful life lessons regarding faith, blended family life, financial and marital challenges and the joys of watching God show off His faithfulness.
Women identify with Cecily because she has survived divorce, single-motherhood, being in the trenches blending a family, loving an addict, the stresses of ministry and marketplace jobs, and the life change of children growing up and becoming adults. Cecily has not only survived but thrived as a result of every difficult and unforeseen circumstance. She loves to boast about God’s faithfulness and the importance that her day-to-day, intimate relationship with Jesus has made through it all. She shares keys and practical steps that encourage women (and men!) to pursue the Lord for themselves and not sell their ability to hear from God short. Cecily’s favorite topics to talk and write about are Hearing God’s voice, Journaling for life, and Myth-busting.
Thsnk you secret angel :) needed to hear these words :) Cherrylsvoice