What You Want Now Isn’t Always What You Want Later | Monday
Christmas At C3 | Life Is Wonderful
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Read The Daily
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
Post by Alisha Miller
When I was in elementary school I was obsessed with New Kids on the Block (NKOTB). I had the dolls, t-shirts, posters, accessories, and even went to see them in concert a couple times. They were all the rage in 3rd grade! I remember the last concert I went to there was a NKOTB jean jack that I thought was amazing. I had to have it! My mom looked at the price tag, and gave me a hard no bc it was outrageously expensive. I begged and begged for it so she made me a deal. I had to give her the money I had been saving up to help pay for it. I didn’t think twice about it. I rocked that jacket the entire time at that concert, and felt like the coolest kid there. That night I got home and hung that jacket up like it was a shiny trophy. Two days later I shoved it in the back of my closet, and never wore it again. Looking back, I laugh at how quickly that “must-have” jacket lost its shine. It taught me an early lesson: just because something feels like a big deal in the moment doesn’t mean it’s worth the cost.
It’s easy to get caught up in chasing things that seem urgent in the moment. George Bailey wanted adventure, wealth, and escape from Bedford Falls. But as his story unfolds, he realizes that what he truly valued—relationships, community, and purpose—was right in front of him all along. Similarly, we often spend time, energy, and resources chasing temporary desires, only to discover later they don’t satisfy. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:21 that where we place our treasure, our heart will follow. This isn’t just about money—it’s about what we value. Are we investing in things that matter eternally? Or are we pouring everything into pursuits that will fade? The Christmas season invites us to refocus, not on what we can acquire, but on what we can give, and who we can cherish.
Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.
Read The New Testament In A Year
4 x 6 Plan | 4 minutes a day/ 6 days a week
Read: Acts 27:27-44
About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard. When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.
Read: Revelation 21:9-14
Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side—east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Bible Project Overviews: Acts, Revelation