If someone gave you three minutes to get out of your house before it was to blow up, burn down, or otherwise disappear forever — what would you take with you? Never mind about your family, pets, plants, or anything else alive and/or breathing; let us assume for the moment that they would be fine. This whole exercise is about things.

What things would you grab and run with for the door? For one, it seems that women on the average would leap for their purses. That makes sense, since our whole world, as it were, is micro-contained in that little (or big) container. So that's fine. But what else? Pictures? Money? Stocks? How about your Bible? Would you know where to find it in three minutes? Ah, so that may be another situation entirely.

Let's say that you've grabbed your purse or wallet and your Bible — or not. As a Christian, that's about all I would probably take. As a sentimental woman, I would also like to take my 54-year-old teddy bear. But then there's all of my little bear's "extended family" — so where would I stop? Grab the bunny, but leave behind the floppy-eared dog? Better that I just stick with my purse and Bible!

Since the rest of the household is just stuff, and we can walk away from it all, why do we place so much importance on it now? It's still just stuff. Stuff and things and trinkets and gewgaws and widgets and whatever else: all just stuff, all things of the earth.

Wouldn't it be better to concentrate our time and energy — and resources — where they matter? And where they will matter for all eternity?

Prayer: Lord, help us to keep our eyes focused on You and not on the things of this world. Amen.

In my early years of office work, one of my (long-forgotten) bosses had a sign above his desk which said, "What part of no don't you understand?!" At the time, it was quite frightening, but now, in retrospect, it's somewhat amusing.

These two verses in Romans remind me of that sign. When we question if the Lord might forget us — "No." Perhaps we wonder if He would ever stop loving us — "No." Can we ever sin so terribly, in our own mind, that God would withdraw His grace from us — "No." And so on and so on. The answer will still be "No."

The word "no" is usually the first word we learn as a child. It's probably because in our baby years and on into toddler stage, it's what we hear most directed towards us. And for the rest of our lives, this little two-letter word is drummed into us with all of its accompanying rules and regulations. So, why are some people unable to believe what it means when the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of the universe tells it to us in His Word?

Paul then wrapped it all up in today's passage with "nor any other created thing", as though someone might bring up any other possibility of when/if/could God withdraw His love from us. That certainly does it for me. How about you?

Prayer: Most holy God, You are the One who forgives all our sins, and the One who quiets all our fears. Help us to rest in Your precious love. Amen.

We often hear of the "will of God" and often talk of trying to "find" it. We are told in Scripture to be in a constant mode of prayer, but also to be careful what we pray for. When we earnestly seek His will in our lives, we also need to be ready for God to move. We need to be ready for change, to be open for new possibilities, and generally to be prepared for stuff to happen.

All of us probably know people who say they earnestly seek God's will, but then throw out an anchor! "Well, I didn't mean that, God, or at least not that way. And I certainly didn't mean right now. I just wanted to know what You want me to do, but I've got things of my own I have to take care of first. I have this and that and thus and so; maybe next year will be better. Is that all right, God?"

Do we think God wants to hear that from us?

"I, the Creator, the Potter, the Originator of all things, am telling you what you need to do — and you, the creation, my little vessel — am telling me, 'No'?"

There's definitely something fearful about saying "No" to God — or even thinking about saying "No" to God. If we earnestly seek His will in our lives, we need to be prepared to act upon the answer, whenever it comes. And it's certainly not a very good time to drop our anchors.

Prayer: Lord, we want to be obedient to what You would have us do for Your glory. We delight to do Your will. Amen.