This is a lesson I need re-taught over and over. I am content in most areas of my life. However, as I become content, the Lord reveals areas in my life that need work. If you have this thing of contentment mastered, you will not want to spend much time here today.
If you are like me--still learning and pushing through to contentment in the Lord--take a listen, make a comment and my prayer will remain that you would be blessed!
When we moved to east metro Atlanta (there is probably a more correct term for this area, I do not know it as yet) this spring, a couple of things became clear early on.
The first was that our circumstance, living arrangements and possibly location, were only temporary. Profound, as we have had many opportunities to know this for certain.
The second was that I had to focus on finding the blessing in each seemingly 'small' thing. This has been necessary in order to model our dependence on a faithful, loving, kind, merciful God to our children, all of them, because they are ever-watching. When I display doubt or fear, I single-handedly negate anything I've tried to teach about God's provision.
I beleive that if we do not strive to be content in the Lord's provision, He may not be inclined to bless our efforts with more, if we are not thankful for what He has given us.
From our home of twenty years, everything that had become familiar to us during our thirty years of marriage, we moved to a lovely house. There is a creek in the back (complete with a bench to sit and enjoy the view and the sound) and a hilly street/sub-division to walk each morning for our enjoyment and health. We have been comfortably cool this summer, even with high temperatures outside. I had a lovely desk, computer and book shleves to accomodate a summer of study and paper writing. After prayerful consideration, we found a church that we truly love. And, last but certainly not least, the girls love the school here. These are abundant blessings.
Hope. That's it. Hope in the resurrection of Christ...nothing can take that away. Nothing.
I Peter 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope though the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
We were blessed this past week end to spend time with dear friends and I've written about this annual gathering before, as to how much we love one another, and look forward to Labor Day each year. This year marked the ninth year we've gotten together, as not only friends, but family by choice...our love for Christ and His Body are what bind us together.
Contentment. Do I need more friends? Of course. However, it takes years to cultivate and celebrate the deep bonds we have with this group. Truly thankful for each one, that's the Bishops!
Two of these friends are on staff at the church we attended on Sunday morning, Kendall is the senior minister and the pastoral care minister is Kris. Another of the group, Trudy, is a creative arts/worship leader, at a different church four hours north. These times we spend together inlcude praise, worship, church services, eating and laughing...and laughing and eating and praying.
Kendall preached Sunday morning, about contentment. His Biblical text was Philippians 4:10-20...(you know the verses, and if you don't, turn to them, for they are spot on. I find it fascinating that Paul wrote these words from inside prison...where he had been for three years...yet his letter is full of words like joy, rejoice, praise, hope)...the verses say:
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opporunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
Kendall's points were to 1. rejoice in the Lord's provision, no matter how small the blessing; 2. to depend on the Lord for strength; and 3. to Trust in His promises to meet your needs. See what I mean? Exactly what we need when we need it, this is Our God!
Needs, not wants. For me, I need my children to be safe, and to enjoy their school experience. I need my husband to be constantly trusting the Lord for provision. I needed a place to study and learn all summer. We needed this time with our friends...all of them, from the oldest to the youngest!
One of the youngest children among these friends/family is a little boy named Joel. I call him a little boy, becasue I've known him since he was born, but he is growing up so fast. He is precious. Joel and our Macy were close in age. Because I got to see him, he helped me to be reminded of things she might have been doing at this point in her life. Of course, I do not dwell on her and the fact that she is not here, but sometimes it is sweet to be reminded of what true loss looks like and I am thankful for the conversation I got to have with Joel.
We were also very blessed to have been able to take our grandchildren with us for this gathering. Truly a blessing, as they are precious, and seemed to love being with us. Their laughter and little voices were music to my ears.
Randy and I have renewed hope, renewed goals, and a firm foundation in Christ, our King.
And so, while we are living in a temporary situation, we are content to seek God each day. I will continue to look for God's provision each day, esecially in the small things....depend on the Lord for my strength to face each day...strength to resist the temptation to doubt, or to put my trust in material possessions...to know and trust that God has this...
...He knew this day before I was born, and not only does He see me, He saw this day as it was formed, my circumstance is not a surprise to Him. He is more interested in my obedience to Him and His Word than 'fixing my circumstance to please me'. I am certain that blessings abound, I need to be very sensitive to them!
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