Lessons From A Laptop Resurrection Part 2

"Things"

Accessory or Necessity?

"Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."Hebrews 13:15-16

After I had found all my hard copies, acceptance started to kick in. Each day I woke up a little but more "okay" with the fact that my laptop was gone. Although that didn't stop me from plugging it in and trying to turn it on almost daily.

"Maybe it will work today!" 

But it didn't work and eventually I gave up that hope. 

So I brought the laptop, with the back cover over off, to the corner of my bedroom in hopes that perhaps, some day in the future, something might be saved from the hard-drive.

My new hope; that God was going to provide for me a new laptop. My 30th Birthday was coming up and maybe, just maybe, God would provide the resources through the wonderful people He had brought into my life.

As the weeks went by, God started to wake me up earlier and earlier each morning to write music, devotions, revelations...and the fact that I needed computer became vastly clearer.  The funny thing was that the reason I needed it was not so that I could write, (although my achy and tired hand would probably of argued otherwise), it was for reasons of quality.  A laptop would provide for me the ability to share what God was putting on my heart through His spirit.

For example:

I remember writing a song one morning and hearing all the parts in my head and yelling at God as I realized I had not way of recording them before they left my mind.

"God I can't do the work you have called me to do with out a laptop! I need it to finish YOUR work!"

The truth is that only half of that statement was true. I could still do the work He had called, but in order to complete it, I did need a laptop.

This moment was when God really began to reveal to me how I had taken my laptop for granted. So many times I had been checking Facebook, Pinterest, streaming T.V. shows and movies when I should have been writing, recording, and reading His word. My laptop was not just another accessory it was a necessity and I had taken it for granted.

I began asking God to not just to give me a new laptop, I began to a ask Him to give me a new laptop when and only when He knew I was ready to use it for it's right purposes; for His Glory!

So many of us take for granted the value of things and people in our lives. Thinking they will always be there, we procrastinate and take advantage of their value and purpose. Food, Money, Clothes, A place to live, Furniture, Televisions, Laptops, IPads, IPods, Cars...the list goes on and on. Some of these things are necessities...i.e. food, clothing, a place to live, and (enough) money. 

But some of these things are not necessities, UNLESS we are using them to either build up the kingdom of God or to build US up in the Kingdom of God. 

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."Hebrews 13:16  

• A couch so that we can invite the lost in to our homes to sit, rest, and learn about Jesus.
• A television so that we can watch sermons, and movies and television that help us grow in our understanding and closeness to God. 
• A car so that we can pick up and take people in need to church, a job interview, school and so much more.
• A laptop so that we can write, share and reach the lost with Jesus's words and music. 

You get the picture. But please don't get me wrong, I'm NOT saying that the above statements are the only things that these items should and can be used for. What I am saying is that we must not get stuck in using them only for our OWN enjoyment. 

When we take for granted the things that we have, we miss out on the huge blessing that they could be providing not only for ourselves, but for others. 

What things do you have that you are taking for granted?

I encourage you to sit down and make a chart with two columns. On one side write out all the things that God has blessed you with (a home,car, IPad, laptop, vacuum, bicycle, shampoo, lipstick, jewelry, shoes, books, tools, a boat, etc...) Nothing is to big or to small. When you are done writing out that list, begin writing all the ways you could use these "things" to glorify God in the column next to them. Both by using them for others, and by using them for yourself.

Now somethings you will find really don't have much to offer and that doesn't necessarily mean that you SHOULDN'T have them, or that you should give them up. But what God has thought me through this experience is, that we SHOULD evaluate WHY we have them. 

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" 1John 3:17

God doesn't want us to get our fulfillment from things, God wants us to get our fulfillment from Him and from being used by Him.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

 So I challenge you to reevaluate the "things" you have in your life:

• How am I using them?  
• Why do I have them?  

And the biggest question:

• How can I use them to bring Glory to the Kingdom of God?