How Rich I Am

An inheritance is what we get for being part of a family that’s rightfully ours. If I am an heir to a multi-billionaire, and he dies, you’d better believe I’ll be there for the reading of his will. I am certain that I don’t have a wealthy grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle or anyone else who has named me in their will. I know that because every one of those family members have gone on to heaven already and my name was never called at the reading of their wills – if there were wills. I came to terms with the fact, long ago, that I wasn’t going to be wealthy in things that money can buy. I'm okay with that.

It's not the things or treasures or inheritance -- the tangible things that make us. What makes us, and the legacy we leave to our children, are the things that money could never buy. The influence of my passed family members are the values they left me and even if I didn't have faith and value-filled family members, God has given me mentors and role models who showed me what matters most -- to be honest, to love and care passionately, to put my faith in God during the best and worst of times, to give, to suck it up when I've been hurt or offended, to trust in God's plans for my life and to leave my family with something much more than the things that can be bought.

The Bible says, “Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance — an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Such good news! I AM in line for a “priceless inheritance” and so are you! But even better news -- we don't have to wait one minute longer. We have real reasons for hope because God's "will" has already been read and we can be living in the riches of His grace now.

What a shame it would be if we went through our entire lives and we didn’t know what benefits were available to us as children of God right here and now! Our loving Father didn't write a document that He put away in a safety deposit box and someday we’ll find out what the document says about our inheritance. He offers it to us now and for all eternity. We can already be enjoying the benefits of peace, joy, hope, love, overcoming faith, and walking in confidence in Whose we are, and best of all -- living eternally with Him! On this side of heaven, there seems to be so many reasons to be hopeless. Thank God, we are not those who live without hope. We are the rich kids of our Father Who paid the price for an abundant life right here. Right now! On this Thanksgiving Eve, let's get the gratitude on for our great inheritance!

Straighten Your Crown, Your Royal Highness!

Yesterday my post featured the blessings of God's inheritance for His children. But not only do we have an inheritance, we are royalty in the family of God! 1 Peter 2:9 says “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

The apostle, Peter, is reminding us of our status as sons and daughters of God; that we are heirs and heiresses to Jesus’ rewards. I've latched onto the word “royalty” and I own it. To me, it means “You’re powerful because of God in you!” What if we actually saw ourselves as the royal daughters and sons of God?

I've always associated royalty and heirs as an entitlement, privileged, born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Not so in God's royal family. We are invited to freely receive the blessings and fruit of royalty because Christ is our BIG brother. Romans 8:31: "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all -- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" How can that be? It's because of God’s amazing grace.

So, we really are royalty and royalty comes with responsibilities. As royal daughters and sons of the Most High God, we should be distinctly aware of our unique position to influence others by our behavior and words. Royalty knows that everything they say will be scrutinized so we must be conscious of our words and actions to make sure others feel loved, cherished, and valued. When we know we are royalty, other people seem to know it too. Even if they can’t explain what it is, people will want our time, attention, words of affirmation and just to be around us.

If we truly believed we are heirs to heaven, would we spend so much time worrying about little things or what someone thinks about us? Knowing how securely placed we are, how loved we are, and how provided for we are, we would start to take on a royal mindset. No longer would we be striving for more money, more power, more followers, or to be “the best.” We’d be pursuing excellence in our work and ministries, by putting people first by loving well, forgiving well, taking criticism with grace and setting examples with how we love and raise our families.

Everyone is craving intimacy with God whether they know it or not, and an encounter with you could be a taste of that for them. All it requires is our agreement with who God says we are. Believe Him when He says, “YOU ARE ROYALTY.” Now, go straighten your crown and go about Kingdom business, Your Royal Highness!

I'm Claiming My Inheritance!

"Inheritance" is the name of my grandchildren's church youth group. I love that! I’ve thought about my own inheritance. I didn’t come from a wealthy family in terms of financial status and means, but how rich I am in the inheritance I received in the loving, serving and living in God’s grace and peace of my parents. In that sense, I have inherited abundance.

An inheritance is what we get for being part of a family that’s rightfully ours. Let’s pretend that our father is multi-billionaire Bill Gates, and he dies. We'd be very foolish to not take the time to read the will. We wouldn’t receive and enjoy the benefits from what belongs to us as a child of Bill Gates. Even more status with riches beyond measure is becoming a follower of Jesus. At that point, we’re not just a believer — we’re a BELONGER. We become a part of God’s family. Family privileges come along with that decision. We have a spiritual inheritance. Galatians 4:7 says "So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir."

What a shame it would be if we went through our entire lives and we didn’t know what benefits were available to us as children of God! Our loving Father didn't write a document that He put away in a safety deposit box and someday we’ll find out what the document says about our inheritance. Oh, no! We have already received our inheritance! We can already be enjoying the benefits of peace, joy, hope, love, overcoming faith, and walking in confidence in Whose we are, and best of all -- living eternally with Him!

When we read the Bible, we clearly can see God's LIVING WILL for us. It is all available to us right here – right now! It helps us live out God's purpose for our lives and to know the inheritance He has provided for us. His Word helps us grow and walk in that inheritance. Thank goodness for knowing we have been chosen, not forsaken; He is for us, not against us. We are who He says we are. Our great King welcomes us, sets us free, and is for us! I am a child of God. Yes I am! And so are you!

This is Where the Best of Me Came From

My sweet Mom, Edna Pearl Wheat, is 107 years old today and she’s having the time of her “forever after” life in heaven. These photos are of her and my granddaughter, Alexia Wallace, 15 years ago. She was in her element when she was holding the babies. I love the "before" and "after" of Alexia getting hold of that bottle. LOL!

I treasure photos like this because it reminds me of where the best of me came from. If ever there was an angel on earth, it was her. She was my mentor, role model and everything a mother should be. She selflessly gave: "Just give me the fried chicken neck -- that's good enough for me." She always forgave -- "It's okay. God forgives me all the time. I sure can forgive you." She unconditionally loved: "It's okay that they (my siblings that lived in other states) don't write or call me much. I love and pray for them anyway." Her integrity and honesty were of utmost importance to her. I'll never forget the day as a tiny tot that I saw a package of gum on the floor in the store and put it in my pocket. I reasoned that "if it's on the floor, it's okay to have it". When she found it in my pocket, she marched me back into the store to admit my wrong-doing. That incident and lesson stuck with me like glue.

She gave me boundaries that worked: "Let your conscience be your guide." It was those words that guided me when I was choosing right or wrong. She rarely missed a church service -- Wednesday night, Friday prayer meeting, women's meetings, Sunday School AND church -- twice on Sunday. She sacrificed her own needs for my needs. She demonstrated undaunted faith and determination in the toughest of times when my dad was so sick and when our finances were so meager. I heard her praying for me and my siblings from her bedroom. She was the most tender, kind-hearted, loving, gentle, caring and pure woman I have ever known. She was my hero, and to this day, she remains my hero. Her example made me a better me.

The reason why I'm spotlighting her today is to emphasize it's not the things, treasures, inheritance or jewelry that matter. She had very few tangible things to leave us. Oh, but what she left us exceeded anything tangible. She left a legacy that money could never buy. Her influence on me caused me to be honest, to love and care passionately, to put my faith in God during the best and worst of times, to give and to suck it up when I've been hurt or offended, to trust in God's plans for my life and to pass on something so much more than the things that can be bought.

I intend to leave my children the very best of me......and the very best of me is my precious mother's example. What are those things that you'll leave to your children and grandchildren? "Her children rise up, and call her blessed...." Proverbs 31:28

Happy Birthday, sweet Mom!