Inheritance . . .

I love my husband and I'm so very grateful for how he provides for us and takes care of our family. We are truly blessed of God. In my mind, however this morning it went to a place where God again exposed how my old sinful nature still has control of my mind. That 'renewed mind' spoken of in Rom 12:1-2 truly is a conscience choice that simply does not come naturally!



So I'm praying for Michael as he leaves for work, that God would keep him safe and give him a blessed day; where he feels like he accomplished his very big to do list. From there my natural mind goes to 'What would I do with him?' This always brings tears because He is the love of my life, my best friend and life partner, however, it also bring me to think . . .'how will I provide for myself?' 'What will I do to support me?' 'What will I have to change?' Sick right? I will say I'm come some piece down the road, because I didn't get online to begin to look for a job, or turn on the calculator to determine needed income or call the insurance agent to increase our life insurance. That's improvement, but still MY need to "fix and control" came racing forward. That I recognize this as faulty, stinking thinking is recovery!



Amazing . . . God always has a purpose in where He takes my mind during our quite time together. So here's where this went! Psalms 112 was where I spent time this morning.



Inheritance . . . I look around my home and it's full of inheritance. Furnished in "early attic"- hand me downs, parts of family estates, grandfather's this and grandmother's that; Mom and Dad's such and such. What will we save for the kids and grand kids? How will they know the stories? Wood, metal, pictures, glass, silver, gold, china, . . . STUFF! Just stuff.

God has given me so much more than old stuff for an inheritance.



Psalms 112 - How blessed is the man who fears the Lord and keeps His commands.

Here's the blessed man's inheritance, his legacy . .

• verse 2 - His descendants will be mighty, his generations will be blessed.


• Verse 3- wealth and riches are in his house, his righteousness endures forever.

Way more than stuff!

Reverence the Lord, Keep His commands. What does that mean? Reverence is an old term and today I think we would say give preference to . . . when there is a choice, and there always is, between what I want and what God wants (What He teaches in his word the bible) . . . choose God's.

Not just once in a while, but consistently, as a habit. This is how the righteous, blessed person lives out his life. He's focused and give preference to God's and His commands. How do I do that? Sounds like 'do's and don't's" . . . rules. I want to choose my rules my way, so if God made these rules they have got be tough to keep, right? So being performance based, I'm sure I can white knuckle this and get 'er done, right? Tiring ... it is, I know, I've tried.



Actually God's rules are impossible to keep . . ENCOURAGED? Here's the cool thing, God never expected me to keep them alone, He knew I couldn't. Like Pastor Rick has been teaching in this Grace series at Big Valley Grace, I need to simply rest, relax in the work Jesus Christ has already done for me on the cross. His grace truly is enough for my salvation . . His saving grace, for my sustenance . . .His sustaining grace and for the renewed thinking, a changed life . . . His redeeming grace. The ability to choose God's ways comes from God himself, through the Holy Spirit given to me the moment I trust Christ as my savior.



Amazing love! How can it be?



So for this inheritance I desire for my family - not stuff; my focus - life focus- today focus needs to be on God and the relationship He desires with me and for me. Intimate with Him and out of that flows my desire to obey and follow Him. He has my best interest at heart. I choose to trust Him. He will not and cannot let me go. Hebrews 13:5&6, Joshua 1:5.



I have an inheritance in Christ imperishable, bought with a price, the blood of Jesus. It has my name on it in heaven 1 Peter 1:3-5. So for my family, does my talk and walk match up? Like His, like my mom's, my grandmother's? Their inheritance to me . . imperishable, incorruptible , the living resurrected hope found only in Christ. Thanks Mom!



This is holy week, listen to Pastor Rick online about this week in the life of Jesus, for you, for me. http://www.bigvalleygrace.org/. The Grace series can be found there as well.

It's Awesome!



Remember and celebrate what it cost Christ for our salvation and the living hope and power over sin He provided at the resurrection. That resurrection power availabe to us so we can live the God focused life of the blessed man spoken of in Psalms 112.