All That Glitters...

The last time my sister came

over from Vermont 

was an emergency visit.

My dad was not doing very well

and she came over suddenly

to help out for a few days...

My sister and I are alike

in many ways...

She, too, always has her

hands busy

knitting or crocheting.

On her last visit,

since she left so suddenly,

she just threw her knitting into

a gift bag from her closet.

I wish that I had taken a picture

of that bag...

It was VERY sparkly and silvery...

Not really Nancy's kind of bag

and we kidded her all week about it.

She would pretend to whine...

"Well, if I had a bag like mom's

I wouldn't need to put my knitting in this!"

You see, my mom fell in love

with the denim bag that I made

last month...

And so I gave it to her.

So, while my sister was here this week,

I decided to make a her bag of her own

but I wanted it to remind her

of that "special" knitting" bag

from her previous visit!

 I didn't have any "sparkly silvery" material

but I did have some rather

glittery gold...

that I felt would be just perfect for the lining!

As I worked on this project...

I thought about the saying...

"All that glitters is not gold..."

which stated simply means...

"Do not be deceived by things or 

offers that appear to be attractive."

Isn't this a snazzy lining!

As my machine hummed...  

I started to ponder

all the current excitement 

and controversy over

the "prosperity" gospel.

The prosperity gospel, 

also known as the health and wealth gospel, 

preaches that God wants his people to be prosperous;

spiritually, physically, and, most of all, financially. 

All we have to do is believe it, 

receive it, and act upon God’s promises.

If this is true...

then why is it that so many Christians...

~go to bed hungry?

~or die from cancer?

~or suffer persecution at the hands of others?

Yes, it is true...

that God blesses us abundantly...

But the Bible that I read

tells me... 

"If any man will come after me, 

let him deny himself, 

and take up his cross daily, 

and follow me"

(Luke 9:23)

Jesus calls us not to seek our own happiness

but to seek the glory of God

by giving ourselves to Him

and for others.

The "prosperity" gospel's problem

is that it focuses on

"getting our wants..."

The gospel of the cross

focuses on the

"giving of ourselves."

Perhaps one of the best role models

of the Bible is the apostle Paul...

Who was by no means "prosperous"

by worldly standards...

nor did he ask to be...

But instead...

found glory in his infirmities...

"And lest I should be exalted above measure 

through the abundance of the revelations, 

there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,

the messenger of Satan to buffet me, 

lest I should be exalted above measure.  
 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, 
that it might depart from me.
 And he said unto me, 

My grace is sufficient for thee: 

for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 

Most gladly therefore will I 
rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, 
in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, 
in distresses for Christ's sake: 
for when I am weak, then am I strong."

2 Corinthians 7-10

Today, on this rainy "April showers" day,
it is my prayer... 

"That the trial of your faith, 

being much more precious

than of gold that perisheth, 

though it be tried with fire, 

might be found unto praise and honour 

and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ..."

I Peter 1:7

"Fun fur" for her hats!