{"id":4442,"date":"2015-04-22T12:37:18","date_gmt":"2015-04-22T12:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/?p=4442"},"modified":"2015-04-22T12:37:18","modified_gmt":"2015-04-22T12:37:18","slug":"s-blogging-a-to-z-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/?p=4442","title":{"rendered":"\u201cS\u201d \u2013 Blogging A to Z"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Here we are, nearing the end of the alphabet in this A to Z challenge. What\u2019s even more amazing is that as we come to the close of this challenge, May will be upon us! That means we are 1\/3 of the way through 2015! Yikes!<\/p>\n

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\"s\"<\/a>Today we are going to chat a bit about the letter \u201cs.\u201d From the article I\u2019ve been using for my venture through the alphabet, Ms. Marquez suggests that if we save up, our happiness will be boosted.<\/p>\n

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It seems that the clink of coins in a piggy bank is the sound of happiness. Someone named Howell in this article says, \u201cYou reap pleasure from literally seeing savings grow. If you save for something special, you\u2019ll also get the satisfaction of anticipation.\u201d[i]<\/a><\/p>\n

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I get it. We live in a world that encourages having something in the bank. But I also know what Jesus has to say about this topic.<\/p>\n

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In Jesus\u2019 discourse from Luke 12:22-34, Jesus points out that we are to do one thing in relation to saving up. We are to \u201cseek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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I get it. It\u2019s hard to seek God\u2019s kingdom above the things we need\u2026or maybe I should say the things we want. There is a little verse in here that I believe we overlook. Luke 12:30 (NIV) says, \u201cFor the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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God knows what you need. And when we seek God\u2019s will for our lives; when we pursue God\u2019s righteousness; when our minds are focused on kingdom things; everything we need will be provided.<\/p>\n

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The last verse in this section of Scripture also gives us some insight into this idea. \u201cFor where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\u201d<\/em> (Luke 12:34 \u2013 NIV) If all we can think about are the cares of this world (what will I wear, what will I eat, is there enough money saved, etc.), we will neglect and ignore what God wants us to be focusing on. We will toil and spin because we<\/em> have to do it. It\u2019s all on us.<\/p>\n

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Instead, when we focus on what Jesus has asked us to focus on (God\u2019s Kingdom), then there is no need to worry, spin our wheels, or work endlessly and tirelessly to make ends meet.<\/p>\n

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Just one more piece of Scripture. In Luke 12:28, Jesus accuses His audience of lacking faith. I believe Jesus can accuse you and me of the same. Why isn\u2019t my faith strong enough to believe that my needs will be provided by my heavenly Father? Well, because I\u2019m busy with all the toiling and spinning to make it work on my own instead of seeking God\u2019s Kingdom first.<\/p>\n

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So what do we do about it? I believe it\u2019s a journey. One step of faith at a time. Day-by-day getting a little closer to Jesus and further away from the trappings of this world. Before you know it, we are right where we should be. Seeking God\u2019s Kingdom first and allowing the rest to be covered by God. That\u2019s the goal friend. Not the big savings account.<\/p>\n

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Now, don\u2019t go out and get rid of your savings account. I\u2019m not asking that. But what I am asking is \u201cwhat do you put first? God or your savings account?\u201d At the end of the day, what does Jesus<\/em> say to you? \u201cOh you of little faith?\u201d or \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Saving money may bring happiness for a moment, but seeking God\u2019s Kingdom first will bring abundant joy for eternity. That is definitely an attitude booster!<\/p>\n

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Grace and peace be yours in abundance,<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Donna<\/p>\n

[i]<\/a> \u201cMore Bliss, Less Stress: A to Z Happiness Boosters to Try Today,\u201d Jennifer Rainey Marquez, Good Housekeeping<\/em>, Vol. 260, No. 4, page 115.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Here we are, nearing the end of the alphabet in this A to Z challenge. What\u2019s even more amazing is that as we come to the close of this challenge, May will be upon us! That means we are 1\/3 of the way through 2015! Yikes!   Today we are going to chat a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_s2mail":"yes","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,22,14,21],"tags":[4156,1019,4155,3547,4050,841,2195],"class_list":["post-4442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asking-god","category-believing-god","category-seeking-god","category-trusting-god","tag-consider-the-lilies","tag-faith","tag-good-and-faithful-servant","tag-luke-1222-34","tag-seek-gods-kingdom","tag-treasure","tag-s-blogging-a-to-z"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4442"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4444,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442\/revisions\/4444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fullmeasureofjoy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}