(Beginning August 1, the content of my blog will be completely different from the Girlfriends in God devotions. So if you are not signed up for my blog at www.localhost/sjold, please do it today…and invite all your friends. We’re going to have more give-a-ways, more personal interaction, and more inspiration than ever before! Now, on to today’s story!)
I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of…(John 10:10 The Message)
Yard sales.
I’ve never really liked them. But when we were preparing to move from the home we had lived in for 20 years, we decided it was a must. It was a way to clean out the clutter, make a little money, and not haul yesterday’s treasures to today’s trash.
We displayed our lovely attic decor on makeshift plywood tables and waited for the bargain babes to descend. We were not disappointed. Two hours before the advertised opening time, treasure hunters began congregating outside the closed garage doors. Then, upon the unveiling, the swarm attacked.
Among the valuables from my past sat an electric ceramic Christmas tree with various colored lights…no doubt a gift from the eighties. One particular woman perused the lovely display and came upon this “magnificent work of art.”
“I’ve always wanted one of these!” she declared with excitement in her voice. “How much is it?”
“Three dollars,” my husband answered.
“Humph,” she grunted and walked on.
Steve and I just looked at each other and stifled our laughter.
Let’s rewind the scene for a moment. This woman said she had always wanted a ceramic Christmas tree just like that one. (I’m not here to judge another person’s dreams. That’s just what she said.) Always. Her whole life. And here it was!
For a mere three dollars, her dream could have come true! The search over! Most likely we would have sacrificed this masterpiece for two dollars, but she didn’t even ask. She just shrugged and walked away.
Then my mind began to wander through a rummage sale of its own. I thought about the Pharisees in the Bible. For years they waited for the coming of the promised Messiah. Prayed about it. Preached about it. Prepared for it. Then, when Jesus showed up, they turned their backs and walked away. “Humph,” they said with a shrug. “No thanks.”
How many times do we long for a particular dream to come true in our lives? Long for it. Search for it. Obsess over it. A husband. A child. A job. A home.
Then one day, there it is! It can be ours! The search is over!
We say our “I do’s,” bring home the bundle of joy, log in our first eight hours, hang the last curtain.
But then a little time passes. The husband is not as romantic as we had hoped, the kids are not as obedient and loving as we had imagined, the job isn’t as rewarding as we had envisioned, and the house is a never-ending maze of maintenance.
“Humph,” we grumble. We think we want something, and then when we get it, we decide we really don’t want it after all.
Let me take it one step further. How many times do we long for love, joy, and peace in our lives? We search for it, long for it, and pray about it. Then someone points us to the cross and says, “There is it. It can be yours for the asking. It’s not three dollars, two dollars, or even one dollar. It’s free!”
“Humph,” we shrug. “No thanks.” And we walk away from Jesus to rummage through the yard sales of life looking for treasure among other people’s clutter.
Dear friend, God is holding out His holy hand with the most magnificent gift of all time. Love, joy, and peace personified in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is what you have always been longing for, searching for, watching for. [tweetherder]Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).[/tweetherder] Will we take Him up on the offer or say, “Humph. No thanks,” and walk away?
Chances are, you’ve already taken hold of Jesus’ hand at one time or another. So today, examine your heart and make sure you haven’t returned to the rummage sales of life to find fulfillment, but have continued to experience the abundant life that only Jesus can give. He IS what your heart has always wanted.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making all my dreams come true. You have given me everything I have ever longed for in the person of Jesus Christ. Please forgive me for turning my back on Your amazing gift and trying to fill my longings with people and possessions. I know that nothing will ever satisfy my desire for peace, love, and joy except Jesus. In His name I pray, amen.
What do You Think?
What have you always wanted?
What has Jesus given you?
Why do you think believers continue to rummage around trying to find fulfillment rather than experiencing the abundant life Jesus came to give?
Leave a comment and share your answer.
Want More?
Do you long to feel close to God but sense there’s something missing? That
you’ve missed that mysterious formula to make it happen? Do have a glory ache – a persistent longing to experience God’s presence and working in your life but not quite sure how to make it happen? If so, my new book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response for Something More, is just for you.
Join me in discovering how erase the lines between the secular and the sacred and experience a deeper more intimate relationship with God than ever before. While you’re there, you can download a free chapter or watch a video book trailer.
Congratulations to the winners of the random drawing in Buddy Breathing post. Each friend will receive a free copy of Listening to God Day-by-Day.
Polly Davis for her friend Debbie Davis
Marilyn Sheen for her friend Debbie Lindsey
Karen Hall for her friend Beth
Comments 28
For me I’ve always wanted to be loved and not have to be a certain way to be accepted. Jesus has done that. He loves me no matter what.He’s given me a life line in which to stay afloat in the sea of sorrows and hurts I was drowning in. i think Believers still search because we as humans rely on materilism to get us through. Even though having faith is believing in what is not seen. We can’t seem to let go of the fact that we need to see, touch, hear, taste. You get the point. Rightnow I know I am loved and cherished, but I don’t feel it because it’s missing in my marriage but then I always have that warm feeling in my heart to tel me different.
We want this spirit filled by fleshly items or things when it can only be filled with a personal relationship with JESUS. We think that stuff or people make us happy. GOD gave us a void that JESUS and only JESUS can fill.
Sharon, I am blessed repeatedly by your loving words, thank you! I have carried around a financial burden for years. It did not matter if I had little or thousands in the bank. I was always terrified that it would not be enough. I was fully aware of my problem and reached out to God completely and he has once again set me free! Thank you Jesus! Amen
I’ve always wanted a boyfriend. Then came this guy who I dated for a while and really liked, I liked him so much that sometimes, I think and feel that I’m already falling for him. BUT (there’s always a but) he’s not as on fire for God as I am. And it felt like I’m always the one taking the lead in our relationship, when it should have been him. Out of nowhere, he told me that he doesn’t deserve me. That he’s not enough for me… I was hurt… I didn’t want him to feel that way. Then I prayed and realized that maybe, God is making a way for me. A way for me to realize that this man is not the one He destined to be with me. That I need a man who will encourage me, challenge me. Someone who will do what it takes to be the man I deserve… If you come to think of it, Jesus is that someone.
I realized that I shouldn’t be chasing after these fantasies and fairy tales. Jesus has already done everything for me. EVEN WHEN I LEAST DESERVED IT. He died when I deserved to die. And He rose again so that I may have eternal life. Sometimes, it takes a painful thing, like not being with someone you really like… to appreciate what Jesus did on the cross.
In reading your comment, I am a bit opposite of you and can relate. Like you I wanted a boyfriend and all the good qualities that I wanted to have in a guy.There’s a friend that I met which he happens to like me a lot. He has fallen for me since day one and tells me all the time that we were meant for each other. My friend is always taking the lead in things or initiating conversations and invites me to places or go on outings. He also compliments me on how I look but it’s hard to take compliments when I don’t believe them. Sometimes I don’t feel like he should deserve me because I don’t always feel the same as he does. We talk all the time but are on different pages, my friend tells me that I need to spend more time with him to see how fun he can be. I believe that part is true but to spend the rest of my life with him I don’t know if this is something that is for me. All I would need to do is ask God to see if this is the person that I should be with.
Yes. We need to constantly ask God for guidance in every relationship we have. He knows what’s best for us. About your friend, maybe you should give him a chance. Get to know him better and if you realize that you’re not really in to him, you can always stay brothers and sisters in Christ. 🙂
Not feeling worthy of all Jusus wants to give to us FREEly.
Believers are humans and naturally humans tend to think that they will be more satisfied by something tangible, they want to see it touch it or may be taste it. And the fact that God’s things are intangible, i think that’s why they don’t feel satisfied.
i personally i love God and Jesus and he has been so great to me I cant explain it all however there are those days i feel so empty so alone that nothing can satisfy me. however even when i try to turn to the world for satisfaction i dont get it , i just become more lost so i believe sticking to God is the best .
One of the things I always wanted was a have a child. I am now 7 weeks pregnant and since the circumstances are not ideal I find myself feeling guilty. Guilty for not being grateful for something I have always wanted. I have had a bad habit of saying and thinking, I’ll be happy when ……… and when the times comes I never live I’m still not happy. I have to learn to live in the moment and enjoy the time I have.
I agree with Nancy. Sometimes when you’ve been called to walk with God, you have to let go of certain people who can hold you back from your relationship with God. After this, loneliness sometimes sets in anc we reflect on “the good times” that weren’t even that good to begin with. We want the old feelings of being accepted and not ostracized back. I truly believe that this is a ploy of the enemy to make us feel discontent. The key, as you stated before, is to not fall victim to the mind games. This battle is spiritual, and we must rely on God and His promises to help us fight.
Hello..
I am 48 years old, and I love God with all my being. I had a bad experience years ago that made my heart bitter, and very dark. Since then, I’ve been given the gift of two beautiful children, and a wonderful man that I adore. We are happy together; but.. Sometimes, I feel like I am continually searching for something, and I haven’t placed my finger on it. I attend church services, and I love being at church. I do not know anyone there, so I feel left out sometimes. I’ve made myself available to the congregation, but no stirrings. I feel like I need to be alone with Jesus whilst in church, because I can focus on HIM, rather than people, but what am I missing? I want that feeling all of the time. I will increase my private time at home with Jesus, and read more devotionals so that I can bridge what I feel in church and once I leave. I’ve recently returned to church after being gone for some years. Thank you so much for this forum, I have no one else to share this with.
Dear Monica, I also feel the same way a lot. I just in the past year opened up with God again and am now working on a relationship with Jesus. I felt the same way, I spend a lot of time at home with my 2 kids, etc. So there not always time for friends. The friends I do have (very few) are not into the word at all. So I felt for a while I never had anyone to share things like this with. But I realized I do have Jesus to share this with, and that feeling I get. He knows. Now I think of it as part of our personal relationship with him. It’s nice to have. Thanks for posting.
I think what happens in life is that we get caught up in the everyday activites and obligations that it squeezes out the vision of the gifts that God has for us. I know in my life I will run myself ragged with all the to do lists and then wonder why I don’t have peace and joy in my life. everyone and thing is vying for my attention and if I’m not careful it will prevent me from havingn time with The Lord and take away the joy and peace that only He can provide. These daily devotions have helped me to make time and sit at the feet of Jesus.
Thank you!
As for me, I thought I wanted certain things but after great prayer, I found those things are not a desire of mine any longer. If they come, they come. If not, then it wasn’t what God meant for me to have. I asked God for a good job to support my family and He blessed me with that and I am soo grateful. Some days I am not soo busy and others I am…but I am just blessed to have it. God is good. Being a single mother, God has blessed me with great friends but no one I feel a special connection with. In time, if it is meant, it will come. However, I refuse to “force” anything…
I want to say thank you for your devotionals. They help me make it through the day and speak to me as a woman and as a human being. God bless!
Hello! I declare myself guilty, cause i always try to fill my life with others thing knowing that Jesús is the only one that can fullfill my heart! Thanks for remind me that ,it couldnt be better.
Ps. Wish you to pray for me!
As I read this, I was thinking how correct it is. We never seem to be satisfied with what God gave us, even though we asked and asked and again, asked, for it. However, when I divorced 10 years ago, I was so in love with God. I had lost the person I thought I was destined to be with and when he was gone after our daughter was 1 week old, I had no one else to turn to but God. I completely changed my way of living and my mindset. I wanted to be a Proverbs 31 woman if I ever remarried. I wrote down everything I wanted in a man and guess what? God gave me all those things and more in my current husband. We will celebrate 10 years of marriage in December and what a journey it has been. We were blessed with 2 more children, 4 total. I have never said “God couldn’t you have given me someone better”. I knew what my heart wanted and needed and God fulfilled my request. My husband and I are each other’s best friend. Yes, we have differences, but we respect one another! However, we both respect GOD more!!! So if you’re asking for something from God, make sure GOD is in it from the beginning!!!! Make sure your request is answered by Him and not imitators.
I think we are always waiting for something better to happen and not realizing where we are and whatever situation we are in can be a blessing. That ” ah ha” moment can be experienced now. As in Philippians 4:11-13 when Paul writes “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” This needs to be our daily reminder
I have prayed to GOD for many years for my own family. I had a still born baby in 1980 and a baby caughr in my tube in 1984. Then I dd not get pregnant anymore. I have a God-child who is now 39 years old. I allowed her to suffice that deep deep deep need to be a mother. Then in 1996, I met a man, the brother of my close friend. To make a long story short, he had 4 babies and the mother ran off on drugs. We were married and he got custoday of his 4 children. I am raising those children. Their mother does not seem intertested in seeing them. They are now young adults. I could not love them more if I had bore them. GOD has answered my life long prayer. I need help remaining grateful sometimes, I guess tjhat is my human nature. I accepted Jesus Christ about 24 years ago but am really beginning to understand what that means to be in relationship with HIM and the Holy Spirit and how that all works, I want to join your Bible Study. I did not see a request for money and that is good because I have none. I am also a writer and would love to oin your blog. I feel led to reach out to you, Sharon and I know Jesus does not make mistakes…Thanks for letting me share this here and have a blessed day.
Rhonda Cews
WHAT A GREAT COMPARISON AND SO TRUE, I’VE WANDERED MANY YARD SALES. I THANK GOD HE CHASED ME DOWN TILL HE CAUGHT ME, AND THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME OF THE TRUE GREAT FIND, JESUS!
I longed to find a guy friend who is nice, someone to talk to
who listens to problems or to have a nice conversation and
and one who is able to be a friend. All of these things I have
found in this person but don’t know if I want to be with him. Im
still looking to see if I want to have this friend around long term.
God will let me know if this is a person that I should be with, pray
to him and ask him to guide me in the right direction.
How come it remains so vague HOW to find this always ongoing 100% sense of satisfaction from Jesus Christ while he said if we abide in him and his Word, he will make our joy complete and give us life to the full? Why is it so vague to DO that: abiding in him and keeping his Word?
That does feel like a quandary. That’s why I wrote A Sudden Glory. That’s what it’s about.
Your yard sale exemple is HILARIOUS 🙂 Thank you and I think I will order your book too 🙂
What an excellent example of how we loose dreams and Jesus. All to be had free for Jesus and a few dollars for things. It is amazing how easy it is to loose sight of what’s free and what we need to fulfill our dreams. You already know this as you share it in your story. May to continue to be blessed by GOD as you minister to Women. Minister Cozi
I have always wanted search my family tree and find out who my earthly ancestors are. I know I don’t have to worry about who my heavenly ancestors are.
I think that sometimes it is very difficult for us to focus on what we are unable to see or sometimes feel. We KNOW Jesus is our Savior, we hear the word, we read the Bible we attend worship service, but how many of us actually FEEL Him, I don’t mean feel good or feel holy I mean actually FEEL His love wrapped around us? I know that I do not Feel HIM pretty much ever and it makes it difficult for our human minds to grab ahold of that love and be able to share it. My mind knows the truth, by life is here and physical and we see, feel, hear and touch…..Jesus sometimes just feels like a distant hope. I wish I could FEEL Him more….Mabye then I wouldn’t be as inlcined to fill myself up with other peoples junk….I pray constantly about it. I LOVE your messages. They make me think and inspire me to try harder i my walk.
For me we are searching for love and acceptance, which is often searched for from family and children. I am slowly realizing I will possibly never have these due to the horrid untruths many of them believe. So be it. It is hurtful but truly time to march to the beat of a different drum!
I’m on guard!