As you can see from the pictures, this has been such a glorious week in OKC. Visiting Amy, her husband Kenyon and sweet little Abigail has been a fun, encouraging vacation! But let me tell you how the Lord grabbed my attention on Wednesday night to remind me to let go of earthly treasures and value treasures in heaven.

That afternoon I had been using MovieMaker when the program froze up. I thought some time might help it process so I let it sit while Amy and I began another game of Cities and Knights of Catan. It was a good game but I could tell Amy was gaining momentum and I was not quite going to be able to pull it off. I took a quick peak at my computer, shot my computer expert a text, and realized there was no way I was going to be able to save the 1 ½ hours of work I had spent on the video that afternoon. Suddenly, the game didn’t feel quite as important – just so I could somehow find a way to save my work.

I hit control-alt-delete and clicked on “end task” for as many programs as possible. It wasn’t helping. I started ending tasks even though I had no clue what they were (bad idea) hoping it would maybe unfreeze MovieMaker. Then something happened. The screen went black. Nothing worked. I turned it off and on, I plugged it in… Just this black screen! Oh no! Suddenly, the video didn’t feel quite as important – just so I could somehow find a way to save my computer.

The next morning nothing had changed. During my devotions I read in Ezra about broken family relationships. The Lord used it to really open my eyes. Suddenly, the computer didn’t feel quite as important – just so nothing was wrong with my family relationships.

So how long does this pattern go on? Ultimately our relationship with the Lord – abiding fellowship with Him – is our most important treasure. Everything else is worth letting go to stay in full fellowship with the Lord. And that is something you can control! I felt like there was nothing more I could do to win the game. I felt like there was nothing I could do to restore my work. I felt like there was nothing I could do to save my computer. Often much more serious problems are out of our control too. But THE most important treasure, fellowship with God, cannot be lost unless we allow it to be lost.

God so mercifully allowed my computer to be restored and I am grateful to be typing on it right now! But that, and so much more, is all extra when compared to my walk with God. It was a good reminder to me to hold things loosely and value treasure in heaven.