Wishful Thinking~

Greetings,

Nowadays all it takes is a simple swipe of our phones and we can check out how others are spending their money, who they are spending it with, and how perfectly attractive, healthy, and happy they look while they are spending it.  Sometimes it’s hard not to be envious, and wishful thinking can creep up on us. 

I remember a while back reading about someone’s high schooler going off to a prestigious university with a full ride and my first thought was, “It must be nice not having student loans.”

My initial reaction should have been more about the beautiful blessing this family was receiving, rather than comparing my post-graduate debt-filled life to theirs.  And God knows we have the tendency to compare ourselves with others, so He cautions us in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”

God is literally in my face flat out telling me I’m a dummy when I use others’ lives, experiences, social media posts, whatever, as a standard for what I do or do not have in this life. 

Has it ever happened to you?

“I wish I had kids like theirs.”

“I wish I had a relationship like theirs.”

“I wish I could take a vacation like theirs.”

“I wish I had a body like that.”

The truth is we don’t know 100% of anyone’s truth, and lamenting what we have or don’t have takes our focus off the One Who has “graciously given us all things” (Romans 8:32).

Rather than trying to measure up to others, lets be wise and be grateful for the blessings we have and for all the ones headed our way.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive us if we have ever been so caught up focusing on others that we lose sight of You.  We want to be wise in everything we do, and it wise to look to You and trust You for everything we will ever need rather than waste time comparing ourselves to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Functional Obsolescence

Someone recently purchased the house at the end of my block, tore it down, and is now constructing a GIANT house. The other day we drove by and Jorge commented, “That’s a perfect example of functional obsolescence.”  Well, being the curious person that I am, I immediately looked up the definition: Functional obsolescence in Real Estate pertains to a property not complying with recognized utility. In other words there are features that are not practical or desirable. (http://massrealestatenews.com/functional-obsolescence-in-real-estate/#sthash.g0lBt3dQ.dpuf).

All the features of this house are probably desirable except one: Location. It doesn’t really match the other houses in the neighborhood, and the asking price is outrageous.    

I don’t understand the reasons for whoever is taking that real estate gamble, but I do understand the term “functional obsolescence” a little better now, and I think that in spiritual terms, it perfectly describes the future of the hope we have in Christ.

The very real and life giving “feature” of hope is that we believe that everything the Bible teaches will actually happen.  And it’s not wishful thinking like “I hope the Dolphins win,” or “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” There’s no guarantee that we South Floridians will have a winning football team and/or a rain free day anytime soon.  The kind of hope we have is based on fact, or as someone once said, “Hope is a sure anchor of the soul.”

Soon enough everything we ever hoped for will be ours.  All suffering, tears, trials, and troubles will give way to being with our Lord in paradise. Once that happens we no longer need hope – it will be obsolete! And once we are enjoying ourselves nonstop with Jesus, what else could we possibly desire?  Amen!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for reminding us that some things will no longer be necessary in the future. Until that time arrives, we allow the hope we have, which is based on fact, to be an anchor for our soul – something that keeps us steady in the storms of life.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!