You can take all this world.....

Sweet mother of mercy, one of my children needs new shoes.  This has caused a whole slew of problems in my household.  One kid's mad because the other kid is getting something new.  We've had to have the "life isn't fair" talk about a dozen times in the last several days.  Also none of the shoes in our size and price range have pleased us.  Where are the children who require $70 Nikes in 3rd grade???  Are their feet made of gold?  I'd like to meet them so I can understand this better.  Mostly this is just yet another reminder to me of how much stuff there is out there in the world and how little of it we really need.  (I'm starting to dread Christmas already.....)

The truth is some days it's really a struggle.  I want to give my kids the world, to delight and surprise them and treat them, but deep down I know that's not really giving them much at all.  For what do you benefit to gain the whole world but lose your soul?  I want them to know generosity and welcome love from others, but at the same time I want to post a sign outside our house that says "Please stop giving us stuff".  Where is the balance?  Somewhere along the aisles of Famous Footwear I was beginning to lose it. 

There are lots of reasons to give in to the world, especially when it comes to our children.  Fear of rejection, pride, a total lack of energy.  Standing in the sun, looking over Cesarea Philippi at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon, the words to Jeremy Camp's song came into my heart....

In the morning when I rise

Give me Jesus

You can take all this world

But give me Jesus

The area is an ancient Roman city alongside a spring which feeds the Jordan River.  The site paid tribute to the Greek god, Pan, and it was here that Jesus declared He would build His church. 

"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it"  Matthew 16:18

And overcome it, it has not.  Christ's Kingdom has outlasted it all.  Those shrines, though preserved and amazing to look at, are empty now. 

That time has come and gone, but my Lord has not, neither in spirit or in word.  "Do you not know?  Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth!"  Isaiah 40:28  How to explain to my sweet boys that this time too shall pass?  These things that seem so big now are but specks of dust?  Little by little, I guess.  Shoe by shoe.

Yeah, this world, you can have it.  Give me Jesus.

XOXO....Kelly