Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
Jesse spending time with the special treasures of Jesus’ heart!
2014 has come upon us, rushing in and charging ahead! For Abogar International Ministries, the year has begun with our Annual Board of Directors’ Retreat; a meeting of the Directors for the purpose of vision casting, strategic development, budget setting, and organizational development to give us a unified and strengthened ministry and outreach to the children of Latin America. It was a great opportunity to process and plan our direction as an organization for 2014, and beyond.
A word that was shared and spoken over our board at the beginning of the retreat was that of joy. We want and are committed to serve God by the work we do, in a true spirit of joy. This word triggered in my memory and spirit how the Word of God says that it was for the joy set before Jesus that He was willing to endure the cross (Hebrews 12:2). I like to think about that joy. What is is? What joy was set before Jesus? I truly believe it was the freedom for God’s creation to be in relationship with Him that was the motivation for Jesus to endure the cross. God sees us as Treasures! We are His joy, worth living and dying for!
If God sees us as His treasure, being in relationship with Him is so large a joy that He would endure a cross, how can we not also see others as treasures? These children that Abogar International Ministries gets to work with are just that… treasures! In this world we could pursue being a business of making large profit and amassing treasures that this world offers. But as we look at the heart of Jesus, considering the admonition of Mathew 6:19-21, we are committed to pursuing the things of God. The treasures we seek to store up are eternal; offering hope, love, and an intentional love relationship with Jesus for these children. We do hope to also impact their physical, emotional, and mental circumstances as well…. seeing them placed in homes, families, and having opportunities to increase in education and knowledge.
This past year Abogar International Ministries had the privilege and blessing to lead more than 60 children into a committed love relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. We are storing up treasures in heaven. May the joy that was set before Jesus also be set before us, that we will be committed to endure any challenge or struggle to be able to share the news, hope, love, and joy of Jesus Christ to the treasures/children of Latin America!
