GOD Morning! June 9, 2016 / Advanced Individual Training / The Price is Right

GOD Morning!  June 9, 2016

Advanced Individual Training

The Price is Right

Luke 14:25-35

Discipleship Tested

²⁵ Now large crowds were going along with Jesus; and He turned and said to them, ²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]—he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is unable to finish [the building], all who see it will begin to ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ ³¹ Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one who is coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else [if he feels he is not powerful enough], while the other [king] is still a far distance away, he sends an envoy and asks for terms of peace.³³ So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not [carefully consider the cost and then for My sake] give up all his own possessions.

I must carefully consider the cost. And then make my decision.

Okay. Decision made.

“I will Give You all, I will give You all

If all is what You ask of me I will not withhold

And if my sacrifice is less than giving You my very best

Let me remember Calvary’s cross and be willing to say yes.” (Dan Dean)

We celebrated my dad’s 80^th birthday last week. What a glorious, fun filled week! On Monday, our whole immediate family celebrated. Way fun!  But the big surprise happened on Wednesday when my dad’s sister from Louisiana showed up. She had called him in the morning to wish him a happy birthday. And when my mom and dad walked into my home, she was sitting at the table! My mom looked like she was going to faint and my dad seemed dazed all day!

The planning started in March. And a week prior to the event, I started preparing two guest rooms. They had been my childrens' bedrooms. (My aunt wanted to bring a friend.)

First, I painted both rooms white. Then, I pulled the old shades and blinds out of the windows (don’t ask why we still had those). On Wednesday, I had a few errands to run and I “happened” to be driving by a resale shop. I decided to run in quickly even though I didn’t have much hope of finding anything. Well, guess what? A half hour later, I walked out with 2 complete bed sets including bed skirts, and enough fabric for window treatments for not only the 2 guest rooms, but 5 rooms, including the bathroom. You’re thinking subpar, older, worn looking items, right? Um no. Almost everything was bright white. Everything looked new. OMGoodness. After laundering my treasures and doing a little sewing, I had HGTV quality rooms.  

God definitely led me to everything that I needed all in one store!  That never happens. Seriously.

Plus, God dropped a beautiful denim colored couch in my lap. I “happened” to find it at another resale shop. Perfect condition except for a small tear in the back that I can easily repair. $58. Yes, I’m serious.

Yes, I worked hard. Yes, I sacrificed 2 weeks of vacation. Was it worth it? A thousand times, yes! I saw the joy on my parents’ faces plus I gained another aunt! (My aunt’s friend is a sweetie!)

³⁴ “Therefore, salt is good; but if salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.”

Here’s my alternative to giving all of myself. I will become as tasteless salt. Not even fit for the manure pile. Thrown out.

So the only way to be worth something is to give everything!

 I would say that the price is right!

What am I holding back? What are you holding back?

“Dear Jesus, thank You for speaking to me today! It’s all or nothing! Oh God, I don’t want to hold anything back from You. Sometimes, I am selfish with my time. There. I said it. I must freely give my time to You. When I am selfish, I am compared to tasteless salt. Good for nothing. When I freely give of myself, it all comes back to me! You are amazing. Thank You for opening my eyes this morning. The price is right! How I love You! How I adore You! In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.”