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Friday, January 8, 2010

No more coupons with Christ

The other day I was throwing out some junk mail.

Weekly we are bombarded with coupons for restaurants and oil change places.

But one coupon caught my eye.

Perhaps because it was about eye surgery.

It was a coupon for $500.00 off of eye surgery that would give you perfect vision.

No more glasses or contacts.

Just perfect sight.

I don't know if any of you ever watched the show King of Queens, but the main characters are a married couple named Doug and Carrie. Doug was always doing things that would tick Carrie off. One of the things he did was buy her eye surgery for her birthday because he wanted to get her something she couldn't return as she never kept any of his gifts.

She had the surgery and ended up blind. When it was revealed that he had used a coupon she became furious. She couldn't believe that he would use a coupon on something so important.

It was a pretty funny episode and she got her 20/20 vision when he took her to a new doctor and paid full price to get her eyes repaired.

What came to my mind is how sometimes I do that with God.

Sometimes instead of living a life full of abundance from my Savior, I choose to use a coupon.

I want to see His plans that He has for my life, but I don't want to obey Him.

I want to see my children live a life full of Jesus, but I don't commit time to pray for them.

I want to see Christ as the center of our marriage, but my flesh wants to flirt with the devil.

I want to see the branches of my life produce fruit, but I don't stay connected to the Vine.

If I want to see Jesus in my life, my marriage and my children,

then I can't expect to give Jesus half of me and get all of Him.

I must surrender.

I must stay connected to Him through His Word and prayer.

Not when I feel like it, but all of the time.

So hard, but completely possible because we serve a God that says so.

I love the Message version of Mark 10:27

Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself.

Every chance in the world if you let God do it".

No more coupons with Christ

because from my ongoing testimony it is evident that

when I try to cut corners with Jesus I don't save anything,

but it can cost me everything.

So not worth it.

14 comments:

Jennifer said...

Great Word Lelia!! So true! Isn't that just like us to give part of ourselves but expect everything in return. I am guilty too.

What a wonderful reminder that we need to be "all in"!

ThreeGirlyGirls said...

Oh Lelia...I loved this post so much! You KNOW the title caught me. :) You are so right, and this was just a great reminder!

Sharon said...

Oh Lelia, this is so good and so true. You have such an amazing gift in your writing. Speaks to me everytime :)

By the way, I've been listening to the messages from Church of the highlands, and loving them. Thanks for hooking me up.

I'm keeping you and your family in my prayers.

God loves you :)

I love you too :)
Sharon

Vickie said...

What a powerful post Lelia! So skillfully written. Love it. Thank you for sharing. I too have committed to fully and wholeheartedly following Him>

Blessings,
Vickie

Pamela (His maidservant) said...

I realy like this post Lelia, especially
"I want to see His plans that He has for my life, but I don't want to obey Him.
I want to see my children live a life full of Jesus, but I don't commit time to pray for them.
I want to see Christ as the center of our marriage, but my flesh wants to flirt with the devil.
I want to see the branches of my life produce fruit, but I don't stay connected to the Vine."

Received some definite conviction here...

Thank you? Yes, Thank you.

In His Graces~Pamela

Stacy said...

Mark 10:27: Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it".

Really like the version you chose for this message. What a timely reminder for ones, like me, who tend to think 'if it's to be, it's up to me'.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Wow! I just hopped over here from another blog, and these words are con-VIC-ting! It's exactly what we need to hear, and I loved the clear truthful way you presented it.
Thanks for sharing, I'll be back!

Sonja

Donna said...

Thanks Leila for your words today! How powerful and timely! Your words spoke to all of us and brought conviction. They encouraged us to give our all and not cut corners with Jesus. Yesterday in church we had a guest speaker who spoke on following Christ - being imitators of Christ. In being an imitator, we can't use coupons or cut corners. Being an imitator of Christ, we must give our all.

Blessings to you and your family!

Runner Mom said...

Amen!!!
Love you girl!
Susan

Anonymous said...

oh I love this and so needed to read this. xo

Paula V said...

I've seen that episode, girlfriend. I like Doug...not so much Carrie. Doug and his cousins are a hoot.

You know girl you have such a way with words and such a way with taking something ordinary as a tv show and bringing it to such a higher level in our spirit.

You're the bomb, girl!!!

Ate any dough or icing lately?

Love you,
PP

Connie said...

This is why I love you...totally honest and sharing what WE ALL need to hear! Thanks again for encouraging me to stay true and give it my all because in the end WE WIN!!! It's all worth it!

Our small group bible group is studying Daniel and Chapter 7 tells us that there will be war and tough times but in the end CHrist returns and "WE WIN!" I love that!

Connie

Anonymous said...

...So so true... I love how you write what my head and heart have jumbling around inside of me - you help me make sense to myself!!! :) :)

Joyfulsister said...

Wow Sis...
This post took my breath away!!This precious little girl is a blessing to behold, through her eyes there is such a beauty in her soul. I am so glad you got to go to the conference..is the best is yet to come.

luv Ya Lorie