Puttin’ Up is in my blood. As a child, I knew an exhausting night or preserving was coming when my folks picked up boxes of peaches and cherries. I remember being so tired that I felt physically ill as I peeled and processed until the wee hours of the night. I begged to go to bed. When I was finally able to scamper down the hallway to my room, I usually flopped on my bed and fell asleep with my clothes still on.
Much of that became worth it when I enjoyed those canned goods as an after-school snack.
Matthew 6: 19-21 talks about puttin’ up for our eternal lives. 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, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV)
We Went to AWANA
One of my other intense childhood memories was attending AWANA clubs through our church. My parents were heavily involved and for several years were Commander and Leader. Although I didn’t understand it then, I was learning to store up treasure in heaven with the habit of memorizing scripture. It wasn’t easy. In fact, I often groaned and moaned. Others seemed to memorize easily whereas I had to repeat the verses fifty million times to make it stick. But as an adult, I am often grateful for the experience and rewards. God brings specific verses to mind on a regular basis and not just for my pursual, but also to use to bless others.
Renewing & Preserving Our Minds
God often talks about the importance of renewing our minds. This is something else memorizing scripture provides. As verses come to mind, I concentrate on His Words. My mind is renewed and I am heaven-focused. Another advantage-when God brings a certain topic to mind, such as “Puttin’ Up”, I sometimes already know the verse that should be attached to it. 🙂
Recently we were gifted free Gravensteins, my favorite apples of all time. Hubs came along to help and we picked two bins full of apples. Preserving time! Although the peeling took forever and stretched out to ten days, today the chest freezer in the garage holds a decent amount of applesauce and apple butter. Some went out for gifts today and a couple more will go out for gifts tomorrow.
Puttin’ up allows me to bless others, just like storing up treasure in heaven does.
Oh my goodness! I so remember when my boys were little and I would head out with all four of them to the berry fields in the morning and I would still be hard at making jam late into the night. I can smell the berries just thinking about it. Thanks, Julie for the spiritual reminder to “put up.”
Excellent!