Extravagantly Affordable

There are things, important things, that money cannot buy. But most everything has a cost anyway. Time. Energy. Control. We ‘pay’ and ‘spend’ something as we choose throughout our days.

I am blessed when I deliberately considering my ‘spending habits’ and how I speak about them.

“I feel like I accomplished NOTHING today.”

“Where did the time go?”

“That (moment, conversation, trip to town) felt like such a WASTE.”

“I wish I had done (fill in the blank) INSTEAD OF (fill in the blank).”

I am defining my circumstances from the standpoint of Me. 

My choices and my strength.

And I realize, I am depleting a shallow fund.

Not only that. 

But I am paying for something already purchased. Spending from a savings that is not mine.

Instead.

“…You are not your own; you were bought at a price….” 1Corinthians 6:19b-20a

I belong to Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

He has PLANS.

“But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11

Plans that are not currently, nor will they ever be, failing.

Plans that are good.

And the most amazing thing. The most astounding truth.

His benefits arrive in the PIT. In the MUCK. Where we are DISEASED.

“Praise the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who REDEEMS your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion

who SATISFIES your desires with GOOD things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.” Psalm 103: 2-5

He finds us over our heads in the ugly and ridiculous and buys us right back.

To SATISFY.

He affords. So I can too.

I can afford

Time to read aloud to my children

 Stolen kisses in the kitchen

 Lingering cuddles

 Deep, healing breaths

 Quiet

 Memorizing scripture

 Forgiveness

 Writing

 Laughter

 Another cup of coffee

I cannot afford

Fret or worry

 Bitterness

 Self-pity

 What-ifs

 Regrets

Afforded unto Me

Coffee on the veranda in the cool of the morning

 Sweaters and cooling rains

 Time with sister-friend on my porch, in my house, in my world

 Time to write

 the book of Nehemiah

 Ability to read

 Watching the Olympics

 Time to think

 Being Home

 Today’s bread

 Opportunity to ‘not know’ but obey

 Witnessing initiative when (and where) I least expect it

 forgiveness

 Dinner time conversation

 Front row seat to God’s crafting, refining and shaping of the four Cashlings

 Every single hug

 Jeff

 “Praise the Lord, O my Soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” Psalm 103:1