The extras

Whitney and I were talking the other day and she made the comment that at volleyball practice she does "the extras". I didn't know what this meant. She explained that Denae will set and she will hit for 30-45 minutes while the rest of the team works on passing, because her and Denae are stud passers already. She volunteers and that allows the coach to stand with the girls and give direction while they work.

I thought about this as I was reading the book of Malachi. Chapter 2 verse 2 says "Listen to me. Pay attention to what I say. Honor my name," says the Lord All-Powerful"

I did a brief search of my heart and I'm not sure I'm listening, paying attention and honoring his name. After this phrase it says "If you don't, I will send a curse on you and on your blessings. I have already cursed them, because you don't pay attention to what I say. 3 "I will punish your descendants. I will smear your faces with the animal insides left from your feasts, and you will be thrown away with it."

Ewwwwww...this is certainly good reason to obey that command.

I really love the first chapter, even the scolding that comes with it. The word pictures in Malachi are so vivid. Malachi 1:8 (Patsy paraphrase here) "Don't bring me any lame sacrifices." God expects - seriously expects and makes no apologies about it - our best. He deserves it, wants it, expects it.

Chapter 3:16-18 are wonderful, ones I remember, along with the heading the Lord's Promise of Mercy. "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. “On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."


I want to be a treasured possession.

He is worth "the extras".

BONUS PIC OF WHITNEY GIVING HER ALL