The Best Return

Brad and I are getting ready to sit down and figure out our taxes.  We have been talking about it for a while and I started working through it one day, but we haven't had time in our schedules to go through every line item together.  That task can seem very daunting.

I had a motivation to clean yesterday and I focused it on our food pantry.  When you actually stop to go through things, item by item, and check dates and plan for future meals based on the surprising things you discover you have in the pantry, you realize you have quite a bit.  

But, no matter what we have or think we need because we don't have it yet, 

EVERYTHING IS A LOSS.

I want to invest in people and in works that matter for the kingdom...

things that are not a write off in the end.

I believe it comes down to deciding if we are ultimately going to be "takers" or "givers"....here's your word lesson....you ready for this?  The word surrender originates from a French word rendre...it means to give back, to return....it is not necessarily just "to give up", it is also to return possession or power to the other.  I actually really like the picture above...especially the carrot....and that this man is not enticed by it...because he physically turned himself to look a different way.  

I think when we walk with Christ for a while we begin to understand that the things of this world, no matter how tempting, will not satisfy us.  We do experience some brokenness (also a meaning of the word rend)  when we allow God to break the hold the world has on us.  It's not just about stuff, though....it can transcend to our talents and abilities.  Those things cannot be based on this world or we will experience much disappointment.  They have to be surrendered so we can turn and see the world through the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ....that IS and WILL CONTINUE TO BE the best return!

I know this is an older song, but when I heard it the first time, God used it to speak to me, so I will always love it.

One Pure & Holy Passion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LArCu3OxdEI