Light Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I made this banana bread Saturday morning.  It is low fat, easy and delicious!  Enjoy!

2 smashed bananas
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup skim milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the over to 350 degrees.  Grease 2 mini-loaf pans.  By hand, mix all of the ingredients except the flour and chocolate chips.  When they are well blended, add the flour and stir until just incorporated.  Split the batter between the two mini-loaf pans.  Sprinkle the top of each loaf with chocolate chips.  Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool and serve!
 

Waffles with Vanilla Ice Cream and Hot Syrup

When I was little my mom would make waffles for breakfast.  We're not talking ordinary Eggos here.  She would whip up golden waffles and top them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of hot maple syrup.  Melting ice cream under steaming syrup was the yummiest thing in the world, and it even got me out of bed on cold winter mornings.  Just one taste of it brings back wonderful childhood memories.  And don't feel bad about ice cream for breakfast...dessert first thing in the morning is what special memories are made of.

2 cups Bisquick
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/3 cup whole milk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a batter bowl until well combined.  Pour in batches into a greased waffle iron.  Cook 2 minutes or until golden brown.
Top waffles with a small scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream and hot real maple syrup.
Enjoy quickly, before all the ice cream melts.

Holy Angels and Fallen Angels: A Spiritual Battle

Here is a lesson my husband and I prepared for Sunday School at Theophilus Bible Church.

Holy Angels and Fallen Angels:  A Spiritual Battle

TBC Sunday School ~ November 9, 2014 ~ Tenille & Dustin Shrock

Much information comes from Ron Rhodes' book Angels Among Us.

“The Reverend John G. Paton, pioneer missionary in the New Hebrides (heb-ra-dees) Islands, told a thrilling story involving the protective care of angels. Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see that, unaccountably, the attackers had left. They thanked God for delivering them.

A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Mr. Paton, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men you had with you there?" The missionary answered, "There were no men there; just my wife and I." The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard - hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack. Only then did Mr. Paton realize that God had sent His angels to protect them. The chief agreed that there was no other explanation. Could it be that God had sent a legion of angels to protect His servants, whose lives were being endangered?” (From Billy Graham’s book Angels.)

 Why Study Angels?

         Angels are mentioned over 250 times in the Bible, in 34 books from Genesis to Revelation.

         Often what is mentioned about angels is implicitly stated in the context of a story.  We must keep that in mind, and know that some issues about angels are not clear and often debated by scholars.  We must never build our theology on parts of the Bible that are difficult to understand, but view them in light of what the Bible says clearly.  These issues are not “deal breakers”.  It is valuable to study, however, because it opens our eyes to the spiritual world around us, that has more influence on our lives than we may realize.

A little confusing?

Angel comes from the Greek word for messenger.

Angels go by many names in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament.  Here are a few:  heavenly hosts, sons of God, holy ones, morning stars, cherubim, seraphim, ministering spirits, watchers, fallen angels, demons.

We also see specific angels mentioned.  Some of these include:  Michael (an archangel of high rank; who is a soldier), Gabriel (less powerful; a messenger), Lucifer or Satan (maybe the most powerful angel; was thrown out of heaven taking 1/3 of the angels with him), Prince of Persia (the evil spirit in Daniel).

Angels Attributes and Purpose

         *God does not need angels, but he made them and uses them for his glory. (Hebrews 1:7)

         *They have personalities and emotions. (Luke 2 1:-13, Matthew 8:29, James2:19,)

         *Angels can’t sin. (Revelation 21:4, 27)

         *They are very powerful, but not omnipresent or omniscient. (Matthew 4, Matthew 24:36)

         *They have a beginning.  Jesus Christ created them himself. (Colossians 1:16, Job 38:4-7)

         *They are invisible, but can take on physical form when they need to. (Hebrews 13:2)

         *They do not get sick or die. (Luke 20:36)

*They are very wise. (Revelation 12:12)

         *They are joyful. (Luke 15:10)

         *They reside in heaven, but descend to earth when sent on missions to help us. (Hebrew 1:14)

         *They can move very fast from one location to another and are very powerful. (1 Chronicles 21:15)

         *They have ranks and different jobs. (Ephesians 6:12)

Angel’s Work

They praise God. (Psalm 148:1-2; Isaiah 6:3)

They worship God. (Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8-13)

They rejoice in what God does. (Job 38:6-7)

They serve God. (Psalm 103:20; Revelation 22:9)

They appear before God. (Job 1:6; 2:1)

They are instruments of God's judgments. (Revelation 7:1; 8:2)

They bring answers to prayer. (Acts 12:5-10)

They aid in winning people to Christ. (Acts 8:26; 10:3)

They observe Christian order, work, and suffering. (1 Corinthians 4:9; 11:10; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12)

They rescue and protect God’s children. (Psalm 91:11-12)

They encourage in times of danger. (Acts 27:23-24)

They care for the righteous at the time of death. (Luke 16:22)

(From Got Questions.org)

The coolest thing about angels is that they have known Jesus since he created them, and they have witnessed the entire story of salvation.  They are amazed by humans and are constantly learning from us about what it means to worship God in a fallen state.

The scariest thing about angels is that the fallen ones are ruling our world today.  They have just as much power as the holy angels (taking God out of the equation, of course).  Satan knows his time is short, and he knows the end of the story, so he wants to take as many humans with him to hell as he can.  He disguises himself as an angel of light.  What are we to do? 

Ephesians 6

Paul wrote this around 60AD to the Gentile church.  He was likely writing it from a Roman prison.  It was meant to be an encouraging letter reminding them that since they now belong to Christ, they must start living their lives differently. They need to distance themselves from immorality and strive for spiritual purity. It’s in the context of this discussion that he uses the famous metaphor of the “armor of God.”

The Armor of God

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

          

3 AM Urgency

It’s 3 am.  I woke up with a little toothache, and being alone with my thoughts has left me feeling a deep sadness and burden for people all around the world.  First, I think about ISIS and all of the people in their wake who are being terrorized and murdered as whole cities fall into their hands.  I wonder where this will lead for America.  I wonder what is in store for our nation as this evil spreads.  I think about Ebola, and the people fighting this disease.  I imagine a world where there is a constant threat of coming in contact with someone who has it.  I think about the desire to protect Ridley and all of the people I love.  I think about Dustin’s mom and dad who are faithfully and courageously facing my father-in-law’s cancer.  I think about the innocent children who go to my school who have been born with disabilities leaving them in wheelchairs or with constant anxiety.  And those all around the world who are growing up without enough to eat, without adequate shelter, without protections from loving parents.  

I think about those who do not know Christ as their Savior.  Those who do not have him to turn to in times like these.  Those who do not have the hope of a perfect future in heaven, finally free of all of the suffering and ugliness of this world.  Of all the sorrow I feel tonight, I feel saddest for these, because Jesus is the only answer to all of the other insurmountable problems I’ve pondered.  

Lately I feel urgency in my heart to do something for Jesus.  I don’t even know what it is he wants me to do.  But I feel an urgency to spread the word that he is there for us, wanting so much to be our refuge in times of trouble.  Wanting to be our moral compass in a world that is telling us the opposite.  Wanting a personal relationship with each of us.  He wants us to talk to him...to be REAL with him...not reciting empty words, but laying it all out.  Telling him everything...our fears, our hopes and dreams, our joys...he wants to be a part of our lives.  He wants to be the first thing we think of when we wake up and the last person we talk to be fore we go to bed.  He wants to be the one we seek when we are so filled with joy that our hearts could burst, and when we are so filled with fear we want to cry.  He wants a real relationship....

If you are waiting for some magical feeling to take over before you become passionate about Jesus... please don’t.  

If you have been led to believe you will “hear his voice”, and you just keep waiting for that to happen, thinking maybe he didn’t choose you as one of his children...do not believe that lie! 

If you feel inadequate or incapable of living a life that will be pleasing to him...stop!

If you fear that letting God into your life means you will have to give up something you are holding onto...please don’t let that stop you.

I cannot stress this enough...ALL OF THIS WILL FALL INTO PLACE IF YOU JUST START LETTING JESUS INTO YOU LIFE IN A REAL WAY.  Go alone in your car or in your bedroom.  Close the door and get real with God.  Just talk to him.  Talk out loud as if he was sitting right next to you (he actually is by the way).  Tell him what’s been keeping you from letting him be a regular part of your life, be it fear, sins, business of life...whatever it is you think you have to let go of before you can let him in.  He totally understands.  He know the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7), he certainly knows the lies you have bought into.  Lay it out there, and let him begin a work in you that will change your life.  He promises, “you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” (Jeremiah 29:12-14).  What a promise!!!  God is telling us that if we make the choice to have the God of the Universe be a part of our life, he WILL be!  It is totally in our hands!  If we seek him, he promises to hear us.  And he promises to begin orchestrating all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).  He will guide and direct us (Psalm 32:8).  He will bring us though trials, stronger than before (1 Peter 1:6-7), and will shower immeasurable blessings over us (Ezekiel 34:26).  He will give us victory over those things that hold us in bondage (1 Corinthians 15:56-58).  He will rescue us and be our protector (Psalm 18:2).  All of these gifts are ours, if we just let him in, in a real way.

When I woke up tonight feeling overwhelmed with the troubling circumstances all around, my first thought was, “Pray about it Tenille”.  Then the thought, ever so subtly, entered my mind, “What will your little prayer do to solve such gigantic problems?”  And I almost believed that lie.  Then James 5:16 popped into my head (I didn’t know the book and verse at the time, I had to look it up), “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”.  That changed my mind...I am righteous, not through my own works, but because God sees me through the righteous blood of Christ, and I have assurance my prayers are heard and are effective.  

My point is that we are constantly being bombarded by lies in our mind.  Be aware of them and combat them with Scripture.  Let God be the one to set the record straight.  Do not let the lies you tell yourself and the lies Satan sends your way stop you from a relationship with God. 

I know this isn’t the most eloquent piece of writing I’ve done, but it is from my heart.  It is what I feel God laid on my heart tonight.  I pray it will be read by someone who needs it.   

Love and blessings, friends.

Rhodes Stromboli

This recipe was inspired by my friend and colleague Beth Zerger.  Beth was kind enough to share her lunch with me Friday.  In the morning I had rushed out the door with a million things on my mind.  I was so preoccupied I slipped on my gardening shoes and realized they were still on my feet half way to work.  Needless to say, packing a lunch was the last thing I thought to do.  Beth was sweet enough to, not just offer half of her delicious lunch, but to cut it up and refuse to take no for an answer.  I had a great time chatting and munching with her.  Beth shared a delicious Stromboli with marinara sauce she had made.  And it was so good, I decided to make one like it for dinner tonight.  Thanks Beth for being such a great friend and cook!

1 loaf of Rhodes Dough thawed
1/4 lb deli ham
1/4 lb hard salami
1/4 lb pepperoni
1 1/2 cups shredded provolone and mozzarella (I love Sargento Artisan)
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
a sprinkling of cornmeal

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spread the thawed Rhodes dough into a rectangle that just about covers a standard cookie sheet.  Place the deli meats and cheese down the middle.  Fold the edges of the dough up and over the meat and cheese on each side.  Be sure the dough is secure and the two ends are sealed tight.  Whisk the egg and water in a small bowl and brush the surface of the Stromboli with the egg wash.  Sprinkle the top lightly with cornmeal.  Bake the Stromboli for 20 minutes.  Serve with your favorite marinara.  Enjoy...and share it with a friend!

His Only Son

This past weekend we had the blessing of attending a ceremony that Aultman Hospital and Forest Hill Cemetery have each year for families who have lost a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth.  It was a simple ceremony.  They read the names of each child who passed this year, played music, prayed and released balloons with messages written to the little ones.  They also gave everyone bulbs to plant at home as little reminders that there are precious children waiting for us in heaven.  It was a wonderful way to honor our babies, and help healing continue for those who have experienced the pain of perinatal loss.
We are approaching the time when our baby boy would have been born.  He was due the end of October.  It is still hard to think about the life that was lost and to understand why things happened the way they did.  But I also feel so blessed, because I have the hope in what comes after this life.  As our pastor, Todd Shilling always says, "Eternity will be just a little bit longer than our time on earth." It is exciting to think that when Dustin and I get to heaven we will meet our son.  I have spent a lot of time thinking about and praying about that.  I wonder if he is a baby in heaven or if we all enter eternity around the same age.  I wonder if he knows who we are or if Jesus has told him about us.  I wonder if he knows my grandma and grandpa.  And if he knows how much we love him.
Thinking about him also adds a different dimension to my relationship with Ridley.  It makes me cherish him and give thanks for him even more (if that's possible), because I realize how fleeting life is.  We have two sons, but Ridley is our only one here.   It makes me want to be the best mommy I can, and to raise him to know the Lord, so he will spend eternity in heaven with his brother.
It has also made me think a lot about having an only child.  I am an only child and I never minded it.  I think it made me closer with my parents, because it was always just the three of us.  The hardest part is knowing that when my parents pass away, I will be all that's left of my family.  Thankfully, God has blessed me with Dustin's wonderful family, so I have brothers and sisters through him.
Dustin and I want to have another baby, but I honestly don't know if God has that in his plan for us.  Now, all we can do is pray for his will to be done, and for peace in whatever the answer may be.
But for now Ridley is our only son....those words bring to mind one person....Jesus.
I was reflecting this week on how much we cherish Ridley.  He is the light of our life.  He is the most important person in the world.  We love him so much, it almost hurts.  There are no words for that kind of love...it just is.  If we, as fallen humans know how to love that deeply, I wonder how much more perfect, pure, and deep the love of God is.  And not for me, but for his only son.
It is shocking when I really stop and think about what God allowed Jesus to do.  Jesus spent eternity in the glory of God's presence...he was his only son, yet he let him leave the perfection of heaven to come to this earth, live a life of suffering and die a cruel painful death.  I think about Jesus in the garden the night before his crucifixion, praying and begging God to find another way so he didn't have to endure the suffering, adding, "not my will, but yours".  And on that cross, God for the first and only time, turned his back on Jesus, as the punishment for my sins and the sins of all the world...I cannot comprehend it.  As a parent, can you imagine allowing that?  When we really spend time reflecting on this, and I suggest we all do, really stop and sit in silence and imagine it...allowing your only son to suffer and die that way.  All along you could stop it, but you don't.  Can you imagine the pain God endured watching that take place?  And it begs the question...why?
That my friends, is a tiny glimpse into how much God loves us.  He was willing to give that which was MOST precious to him, his son, to pay our price for sin so we could spend all eternity with them in heaven.  What a miracle!  What a gift!  It is beyond comprehension!  You are priceless in God's eyes.  Don't ever forget it.  Thank him everyday for that gift.  Don't let it just be a story from church.  Let's spend time really thinking about the sacrifice they both willingly endured for us.  And let's try to live in a way that shows them how much we cherish that priceless, unspeakable gift.

Whom Shall I Fear

Ridley woke up this morning grumpy, and once we told him he had to let go of his bink and baa (his pacifier and blanket we have been trying to make use of only at sleep time) he lost it.  I was in a rush getting ready for the day, and Dustin was attempting to dress Ridley, brush his teeth, and wash his face.  Ridley cried out, "Bink, baaa! Bink, baa!" with tears streaming down his face.  Once he caught a glimpse of me, it turned into, "Mommy...Mommy..."  My heart was breaking for my sweet boy who needed comfort from his mommy.  I stopped what I was doing, swooped him up into my arms.  He quickly nestled his tear-stained face into my neck and immediately stopped crying.  He was satisfied, and I soaked in the moment.
God wants so badly to be our comfort in times of trouble.  He is our Heavenly Father...our Daddy.  He wants us to pour our hearts out to him when we are feeling scared or defeated, tempted or depressed.  Psalm 91 speaks about the protection and comfort our Lord offers those who love him.

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”

There is so much here I love, but I especially love thinking about being covered by his feathers, sheltered by his wings.  Imagine being safely tucked into the powerful wings of our God, nestled deeply in the feathers.  It reminds me of a featherbed I have.  After a stressful day, I love to sink down in it all cozy and warm.
But the feathers of our Lord are more than cozy, they are shields of protection, where nothing can harm us.  Protection from enemies, sickness, wild beasts.  Imagine being able to let go of all fear, because you are literally wrapped up in the feathers of Almighty God who has promised, "I will protect you, my child."  Just like I want to protect Ridley from harm, God wants to protect us.
Many time throughout my life I have found myself in need of the comforting, protective wings of my God.  Right now is one of them.  I am waiting on the results from a couple medical tests, and I am afraid.  I have found myself time and time again running into the arms of my Savior for comfort and peace.  I feel so thankful I have him to turn to when I feel scared.  And I'm also thankful he made me a person who is susceptible to fear, because it has driven me to him many times. It has been in these times that I have found him to be faithful.  It has been in these times my faith has grown and I have learned the most about my weakness and his strength.
If you are battling fear or just have a nagging worry in the back of your mind, set up an emergency meeting with Jesus.  He is never too busy...no time is too late or too early...he will never turn you away.  Jump into his feathers and pour out your heart, and he will be faithful to give you "the peace that surpasses all understanding to guard your heart and your mind".  Thanks be to God!

Here is another song I love!  Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin

This one is a keeper!!! Strawberry White Chocolate Muffins

I woke up this morning and quickly scanned Pinterest for an easy recipe I could make for breakfast. I came across these muffins from a blog called Manila Spoon.  Dustin gave them two thumbs up, and coming from him that says a lot since he is the son of an incredible baker.  They are easy and delicious!  I changed a couple things from the recipe, so here is the recipe I used.  Enjoy!

2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup vanilla low fat yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup chunked fresh strawberries
3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or use paper liners (I even spray paper liners, so they do not stick).  Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking power in a medium sized bowl.  In another bowl mix the oil, eggs, yogurt and vanilla.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined.  Let the batter sit while you slice the strawberries.  I sliced them with a paring knife so they stayed whole and did not become too juicy.  I didn't want to end up with pink muffins.  Carefully fold in the strawberry pieces and white chocolate chips.  Evenly distribute the batter in the 12 muffin cups.  The batter will fill each cup to the top.  Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Blueberry Pancakes

While Mom, Ridley and I were out and about today, I bought a big tub of blueberries.  That led me to make blueberry pancakes for dinner.  They turned out pretty good, so I thought I would share the recipe!  I took a basic buttermilk pancake recipe and changed a few things around.  Enjoy!

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons white vinegar

2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup melted butter

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Mix the milk and vinegar in a measuring cup and let sit 5 to 10 minutes.  (This is a way to make buttermilk as you need it, so you don't have to buy a whole carton for one recipe.)  Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix the wet ingredients in a medium bowl.  Add the wet to the dry.  Mix just until the two are incorporated.  Do not over mix.  The batter will be lumpy.  Heat a large skillet or a griddle to medium heat (about 325 degrees).  Butter the surface.  Pour 1/3 cup of batter for each pancake.  Dot the surface of each pancake with blueberries as they begin to cook.  Cook for 3 minutes on one side.  Flip and then cook for 2 more minutes.  Place finished pancakes on a plate, under a colander.  (This will keep the pancakes warm but won't allow moisture to form and rain down of the cakes.)  Butter your skillet or griddle between each set of cakes.  Serve them with warm maple syrup or if you are feeling naughty, berry syrup and whipped cream.  Yum!

Treasures in Heaven

About a month ago Dustin and I rushed to bed one night, and didn't check that our car doors were locked.  Unfortunately, someone did check them...in the middle of the night...a thief...who helped himself to my wallet.  In the morning I called the police and cancelled all my credit cards.  It was a reminder to both Dustin and me that we need to be more careful in this world.  It also made me realize that nothing of this world is truly mine.  Of all the personal items I have, my wallet was one of the most important.  And now it was gone, at worst in the hands of a stranger, at best in the garbage dump.

The Bible says in Romans 14:10-12, "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ"...."So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God".  In 2 Corinthians 5:10 it says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

Scripture assures us that Jesus will judge believers for what they did throughout their lives, both good and bad.  This judgment is known as the Judgment Seat of Christ or Bema Seat.  This is not the judgment that determines if we go to heaven, rather it is meant only for those who are saved through Jesus Christ.  It is an opportunity for Christ to reward his people for living for him on earth.  Believers will be given rewards based on their faithfulness during their lives.  These rewards will last for all eternity!   

It is important to remember that believers do not earn their entrance into heaven by doing good works.  Once we realize we are sinners and that we will never be good enough to spend eternity with a perfectly righteous and holy God, we understand that we have a problem.  Since we cannot earn our own salvation, we must depend on someone else to pay the price.  Jesus, God's only son, chose to leave heaven, live a sinless life on earth, die in our place, and rise again, conquering sin and death.  When God looks at those of us who understand this and accept it, he does not see our sinful lives.  He sees us through the lens of his son.  Our sins have been covered up by the sinless blood of Jesus.  Therefore, we do not have to spend our lives worried that we do enough good things to earn our way into heaven.  Rather, we do good things because we are so thankful for the free gift of salvation, that we want to please our father in heaven.

These good things will not go unnoticed.  We will receive our reward at the Bema Seat.  There Jesus will give us "crowns" based on our faithfulness to him.  Matthew 6:19-21 warns, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Each day is a struggle to live for Christ.  I fail more often than I succeed.  It is so easy to get entangled in the things of this world.  It effortless to let my priorities shift or to fall into temptation.  

I am reminded of how fleeting the things of this world are every time Dustin and I get something new or spend time on home improvement.  It seems for every one weed we pull five grow in its place.  Our newly spread mulch looks nice, until the first rain litters the ground with leaves and twigs.  Our freshly painted walls are beautiful until they are nicked with Ridley's toy car.  My spotless kitchen sparkles until one meal is prepared.  Our new car was perfect until the windshield was cracked by a pebble before we could even dream of paying it off.  And so it goes...

All of the things we place such high value on are deteriorating at break-neck speed.  None of it will last.  The only thing that will last will be our relationship with Jesus and the things we do to show him we love him.  The sacrifices we make today will last throughout eternity.  1 John 2:17 says, "And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever."     

My wallet was a gentle reminder that none of the stuff here on earth matters.  It doesn't belong to me anyway...it's on loan for a short time.  It's not easy to keep this in the forefront of my mind, but it truly is a relief when I can let go of the things of this world.  No stressing over our imperfect lawn...no yelling when spilled juice stains the carpet...no jealousy when others have nicer things than I do.  There is freedom in letting go of the stuff.  And this freedom allows me to treat others with love and compassion.

In Revelation 4:10-11 it describes people in heaven casting their rewards at Jesus' feet, telling him he deserves all the praise and glory.  Many believe once we receive our rewards, we will lay them at the feet of Jesus, realizing we could have done nothing of value without his sacrifice.  

I have often imagined standing at the Bema Seat, knowing that I had many earthly treasures, but very few stored up in heaven.  I can't imagine the sorrow I would feel, wanting to worship Jesus with my crowns, but having very few based on my life on earth.  This is motivation for me to constantly evaluate my life.  Am I living for myself or am I living for others?  How am I spending my time, money, and talents?  Am I wasting my life on the things of this earth that will pass away or am I storing up treasures in heaven?  

 It's not easy to keep this perspective.  Sometimes I really struggle to do it, just ask Dustin.  But it actually makes life more peaceful and joyful when I can surrender my things to the Lord and use them as he leads me.  

All of our sacrifices will be worth it in the end when we hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:23).

I love the message of this song House of Their Dreams by Casting Crowns...even the band's name is a reminder!