1 Corinthians 10:31 — So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Food. I have a love-hate relationship with food. For many years I have struggled with finding the right balance in my life with eating and being healthy. God has convicted me recently in this area and He has shown me how intentional I must be with the food choices I make.

This week I will share with you some Bible stories and connections with food along with some recipes. The recipes I share are actual ones I use and not random recipes I searched the internet to find. I say that in an effort to be transparent. I am not a professional chef or baker, but a mom and wife who strives to feed those I love with delicious and healthy foods. 

As we begin this week about food I encourage you to spend some time  brainstorming stories you are familiar with in the Bible that involve food. Do you have a favorite recipe that may somehow connect with those stories? Jot down your thoughts so you may refer back to it this week.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the food you provide. Prepare my heart to receive the blessings You will send me this week through our study of food in the Bible. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Ephesians 4:2 NIV —- Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Have you ever thought about God hanging your name on His door? Click here to hear us talk about that idea and wrap up our week together with today’s See You Saturday video.

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV — Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Let’s go back to how we began our week together. Have you assessed the treasures you are storing? Has your focus changed? How has God spoken to you or convicted you this week?

As we finish out the last 8 weeks of 2023, let’s finish strong! Let’s work hard each day to focus on Christ’s example and how you and I can become more like Him. Let’s run with perseverance and endurance toward our heavenly home and work each day to store our treasures in heaven.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to stay focused on You and Your work. Remind me each day of ways I can store treasures in Heaven instead of on Earth. Give me the resolve to finish strong. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV — Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

This week we have examined our focus by pondering what treasures we are storing. Yesterday, we walked on water with the help of Jesus. How did it go? How far did you make it on the water? My guess is that none of us went very far before sinking. Sometimes we lose our focus, while other times we lose our courage. God’s word assures us that today is a new day with new mercies and another chance. Christian living is not a one-day event. Christian living is not a sprint. Christian living is a marathon. Today, give yourself some grace. Pull yourself up out of the water. Dry yourself off and climb back into the safety of the boat. Reassess your focus and call on Jesus. Spend time in prayer and devotion binding yourself to Christ. Then, step out of the boat and try walking on water again. Don’t give up. Keep trying. Keep your eyes on Christ and the heavenly treasures you are storing up.

Let’s pray. Thank You Lord for Your love and that your mercies are new each morning. Give me new resolve and commitment today to walk on water in Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Click here to read about Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33.

This week we have been pondering our treasures. Yesterday I encouraged you to read Jesus’ Sermon On the Mount which is a blueprint for Christian living. Today, let’s consider walking on water.

Last week Julie focused on salt. She encouraged us to be salty just as Jesus did in His sermon. Today, I encourage you to choose one of the areas of Christian living that Jesus spelled out in the Sermon On the Mount to challenge yourself. Click here to read the sermon again, if needed. Choose an area that you feel you are less successful and less comfortable. Do you struggle with your anger, loving your enemies, judging others, or giving to the needy? How can you step out of your boat today and walk on water in that area? Allow Jesus to walk with you, guiding and directing your path. Stay focused on Him as you add another treasure to your heavenly bank.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to step out of my boat of comfort and walk with You on water. May I feel Your loving arm guiding and directing my steps as I walk beside You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway

What do you long for? What is your focus? Do you think a lot about what new item/items you want to purchase? Are you consumed with your finances and how to make more money? Do you spend your time working for earthly treasures? 

Each day this week I have challenged you to think about your treasures and your focus. In other words, I have asked you to examine your heart. What does your heart long for? Is your focus on money, fame, influence, success, or power? How can you build treasures in Heaven?

Click here to read the entire Sermon On the Mount found in Matthew 5-7. While it is a longer read than the usual scripture we share, it is a synopsis of Christian living. Living as Christ directs us in this sermon will equip us to store treasures in Heaven.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the Sermon On the Mount and the examples Christ set for me. Help me to be more like Christ each day so I will be building my Heavenly bank. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 6:19-21 MSG — Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or — worse! — stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

What is on your mind? What is your focus? Where is your treasure?

Yesterday I encouraged you to assess what treasures you are storing here on Earth and what treasures you are storing in Heaven. Take a moment to click here and read Billy Graham’s thoughts, taken from his writings, on storing treasures in heaven.

As Christians, our ultimate goal is to go to Heaven. Now think again about what treasures you are storing in Heaven. What do you do each day to build eternal treasures? As Billy Graham asked, what building materials are you sending up?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You Lord for preparing a place for me in Heaven. Open my eyes today to ways to store treasures in Heaven instead of on earth. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.