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.

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.

To store up means to put something away to save it for later. Do you have material or earthly items that you store up or save? What is the special occasion you are waiting for to use those items? Do you have a specific date in mind or is the special occasion a vague time and you just want to be ready?

In today’s scripture, Jesus tells us not to store up earthly treasures but instead to focus on building our heavenly bank. Today, meditate on Matthew 6:19-21 and ask yourself what treasures you are storing. How are you storing treasures in heaven?

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes to the treasures I am storing. Show me ways to focus more on building my heavenly bank instead of earthly treasures. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭34‬ NIV —- Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Click here to watch our See You Saturday chat to close out our week on living in the moment.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV — But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the way stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

This week we have pondered being present in today and making the most of now. Yesterday I challenged you to be the hands and feet of Christ within the mundane routines of your day. Were you able to find ways to share Christ with those in your daily path? 

Today’s scripture encourages us to bear fruit, even when heat or drought comes. So, even when I feel like an issue is unfair, I should bear fruit. Even when I feel like a situation is hopeless, I should bear fruit. Even when a person treats me unkindly, I should bear fruit.

What about you? What is your current situation? Where has God planted you? Are you dealing with an unfair issue? Does your situation seem hopeless? Has someone treated you unfairly? Trust in the Lord. Do not fear when heat comes and never fail to bear fruit.

What kind of fruit will you bear?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your daily strength. Help me to stay focused and trust in You so I may bear fruit. May the fruit I produce be a taste of Your sweet love and mercy. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Click here to read today’s scripture from Matthew 25:31-46 NIV.

We are a busy world. We are busy people. Time is flying and we run from one task to another. Often our daily routines and chores may seem mundane — cooking, cleaning, washing, driving children place to place, etc. However, hidden within our busy days and mundane tasks are opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ. 

Take some time today to think through what today’s schedule holds for you. Where will today take you? Who will you encounter? Who and where can you share Jesus through your words and actions? Think of ways you can be present and intentional in your tasks today.

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes and ears to opportunities today that I can be Your hands and feet. Show me ways to value and make the most of my mundane daily tasks by sharing Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

James 1:17 NIV — Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Yesterday I reminded you that my word of the year for 2023 is relish. My mantra, or phrase, I have written down every day of 2023, and on which I have focused, is taken from and is the title of an Emily Dickinson poem “Forever — is composed of nows.” Click here to read the full poem and a commentary about the poem.

After reading the poem, spend some time thinking about the words. The last phrase of the poem refers to “anno Domini” which is Medieval Latin meaning “in the year of the Lord.” How do you interpret Dickinson’s poem? I think Emily Dickinson was encouraging her readers to live in the present, relish this moment, and realize God’s presence in the now. What do you think? Each day, as I have written this phrase, I have been encouraged to focus on now. I pray you, too, will be able to relish the “now” of today. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for today. Thank You for now. Help me to focus on now. May all that I say and do now be pleasing and honor You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.