"Godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)
Feeling a little discontented these days? Ask yourself, "Why?" Do a little soul-searching and while you are searching, remember that you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). You are a unique creation of the Creator God.
Paul said in Philippians 4:11b, ". . . . .I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Paul had learned the secret of being content in every situation. That secret is found in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." God can and will give us a spirit of contentment. We have to ask.
I confess, this is an area I have prayed about consistently because I often find myself lacking in the area of contentment. God gave me the verse in 1 Timothy 6:6 years ago when I was confessing my lack of contentment.
I desire above all else to be the godly woman God wants me to be, therefore, I must learn to have a spirit of contentment. The key (secret) can be found in learning to lean on Him and trust Him in everything. Contentment may not come quickly, but it will come when we completely depend on Him for our strength.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Have We No Shame?
The LORD was referring to all the people, even the prophets and priests, when He stated, ". . . .they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush" (Jeremiah 6:15b). The people had gotten so far away from God they had no shame.
America comes to mind. Have we no shame at all? Do we ever blush? The depths to which our morals (as a country) have fallen, cause many to have no shame about anything they do. Our country's standards may have changed, but God's remain the same. He remains unchanged. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). His commandments are still as applicable today as the day they were engraved on two tablets by God.
Prayer: Convict us Holy Spirit if we feel no shame when we sin against God. Lord, cause us to blush once again at the wrongs around us. Help us protect our eyes, ears and minds from anything that does not please you.
America comes to mind. Have we no shame at all? Do we ever blush? The depths to which our morals (as a country) have fallen, cause many to have no shame about anything they do. Our country's standards may have changed, but God's remain the same. He remains unchanged. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). His commandments are still as applicable today as the day they were engraved on two tablets by God.
Prayer: Convict us Holy Spirit if we feel no shame when we sin against God. Lord, cause us to blush once again at the wrongs around us. Help us protect our eyes, ears and minds from anything that does not please you.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Did I make the right decision?
I have been pondering all week the sermon Ray Pritchard preached at our Awaken service Sunday evening. He began with examples of people asking, "Did I make the right decision?"
Don't we all second-guess ourselves? What can you do now if you did make a wrong decision? Well, you can't change the decision you made in the past, you just have to go forward. One thing Ray said has stuck with me all week. "Quit trying to have a better past. It is what it is."
How many times have you wished you could change your past? The fact is, no one can change their past so let's "quit trying to have a better past." Let's get on with the process of living, of going forward because how we view our past affects how we live out our future.
Ray used Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."
If this verse is true (and it most certainly is!), then even our past will work together for our good if we are one of His children.
Did I make the right decision when I (fill in the blank)? We may not know here on earth, but we can rest in the fact that God is Sovereign and He will work out even the wrong decisions for our good and for His glory if we will allow Him to.
Ray Pritchard: "I can't go back, I can't stay here, I must go forward."
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:18-19a)
Don't we all second-guess ourselves? What can you do now if you did make a wrong decision? Well, you can't change the decision you made in the past, you just have to go forward. One thing Ray said has stuck with me all week. "Quit trying to have a better past. It is what it is."
How many times have you wished you could change your past? The fact is, no one can change their past so let's "quit trying to have a better past." Let's get on with the process of living, of going forward because how we view our past affects how we live out our future.
Ray used Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."
If this verse is true (and it most certainly is!), then even our past will work together for our good if we are one of His children.
Did I make the right decision when I (fill in the blank)? We may not know here on earth, but we can rest in the fact that God is Sovereign and He will work out even the wrong decisions for our good and for His glory if we will allow Him to.
Ray Pritchard: "I can't go back, I can't stay here, I must go forward."
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:18-19a)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Seeing God In Everything
It is easy to see God in the good things in life. It's even easy to praise Him for all His blessings. But, if we could learn to see God in everything that happens to us, that would be a major breakthrough in our Christian lives.
Do you want to become more Christ-like? If you do, then learn to ask God what He wants to teach you through your difficulties rather than asking Him why you are having to experience tough things. Learn to see God in everything.
God always has a purpose in allowing everything that touches our lives. Sometimes, God takes me through difficult times because He sees something in my life that needs some pruning - some cutting away. He sometimes allows deep hurts so I will rely on no one or no thing except Him.
When we come to a place where we can truly say, "Your will, not mine Lord," then He will teach us. He will give us what we need to endure our trials and He will bring us out on the other side changed into one who looks more like Jesus. Isn't that what we desire - to be more Christ-like? (I confess, it is an ongoing process in my life.)
Because God is Sovereign, we must learn to see Him in everything. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Do you want to become more Christ-like? If you do, then learn to ask God what He wants to teach you through your difficulties rather than asking Him why you are having to experience tough things. Learn to see God in everything.
God always has a purpose in allowing everything that touches our lives. Sometimes, God takes me through difficult times because He sees something in my life that needs some pruning - some cutting away. He sometimes allows deep hurts so I will rely on no one or no thing except Him.
When we come to a place where we can truly say, "Your will, not mine Lord," then He will teach us. He will give us what we need to endure our trials and He will bring us out on the other side changed into one who looks more like Jesus. Isn't that what we desire - to be more Christ-like? (I confess, it is an ongoing process in my life.)
Because God is Sovereign, we must learn to see Him in everything. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Friday, September 24, 2010
Is it Well With Your Soul?
Can you say, "It is well with my soul" no matter what happens in your life? As I listened and sang this song, It is Well With My Soul, at the funeral of one of God's saints who suffered from MS for over 34 years, I asked myself the question, "is it well with my soul?"
When life throws me curves, and it will, am I experiencing wellness of my soul? As I ponder this question, I think of my friends who have experienced really hard things - the loss of a spouse, prostate cancer, breast cancer, kidney transplant, broken wedding vows - my difficulties seem so trivial.
I have watched friends go through tough trials and most, if not all, can truly say, "It is well with my soul." How can we do that? By faith and trust in "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20). There is no other way.
Our God is sufficient to meet all of our needs. He is able. We just have to trust Him to give us victory in our every day lives - whatever our circumstances.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow." (Doxology)
When life throws me curves, and it will, am I experiencing wellness of my soul? As I ponder this question, I think of my friends who have experienced really hard things - the loss of a spouse, prostate cancer, breast cancer, kidney transplant, broken wedding vows - my difficulties seem so trivial.
I have watched friends go through tough trials and most, if not all, can truly say, "It is well with my soul." How can we do that? By faith and trust in "Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20). There is no other way.
Our God is sufficient to meet all of our needs. He is able. We just have to trust Him to give us victory in our every day lives - whatever our circumstances.
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow." (Doxology)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Songs in the Night
God has a sense of humor, don't you think? It is amazing how He teaches me when I am preparing to teach others. As I prepared a lesson on how we respond to our difficulties, I realized I didn't score very well.
Paul and Silas were thrown in the inner cell of prison with their feet in stocks after they had been stripped, beaten and flogged (Acts 16). All this happened to them because they did the right thing - commanded the demonic spirit to come out of the slave girl, in the name of Jesus.
While Paul and Silas were in jail, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." (Acts 16:25) Is that how you respond to difficulties?
Prayer is one of my early responses when difficulties come, but I often spend a lot of time in tears before the song comes. God is the only one who can give us songs in the night - songs in our suffering. "Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?" (Job 35:10) The psalmist said, "at night His song is with me" (Psalm 42:8). We must surrender/release our hurts, difficulties and sufferings to Him and trust Him with them.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to surrender everything to You - all my hurts, disappointments, changes in my plans, interruptions, etc. As I learn to surrender, help me trust You with the results - even the timing of the results. Give me songs in the night.
Paul and Silas were thrown in the inner cell of prison with their feet in stocks after they had been stripped, beaten and flogged (Acts 16). All this happened to them because they did the right thing - commanded the demonic spirit to come out of the slave girl, in the name of Jesus.
While Paul and Silas were in jail, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." (Acts 16:25) Is that how you respond to difficulties?
Prayer is one of my early responses when difficulties come, but I often spend a lot of time in tears before the song comes. God is the only one who can give us songs in the night - songs in our suffering. "Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?" (Job 35:10) The psalmist said, "at night His song is with me" (Psalm 42:8). We must surrender/release our hurts, difficulties and sufferings to Him and trust Him with them.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to surrender everything to You - all my hurts, disappointments, changes in my plans, interruptions, etc. As I learn to surrender, help me trust You with the results - even the timing of the results. Give me songs in the night.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
God's Eyes Are On You
Most are aware that Satan roams throughout the earth and goes back and forth in it. (Job 1:7) What is his purpose? "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8 NIV) Satan, who is the thief, "comes only to steal, kill and destroy." (John 10:10 NIV) Satan wants to devour us, steal, kill and destroy. That paints a frightening scenario, but never fear, God is everywhere. He is Omni-Present. He doesn't have to roam, going back and forth, He is everywhere at the same time!
Did you know that God's eyes range throughout the earth? "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV) Notice God's purpose is to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
I am glad I serve the God who is Omnipresent, who is El Ro-i (the God who sees me). I am blessed to know Him personally for a very long time. But, Satan has a purpose and He is not easily discouraged. He sometimes gains a victory in my life for a time, but praise God, it is temporary. My God's eyes range throughout the earth to strengthen His children. His eyes are on ______________ (put your name in the blank if you are a believer.) He has promised He will not leave me (you), not ever.
Did you know that God's eyes range throughout the earth? "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV) Notice God's purpose is to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
I am glad I serve the God who is Omnipresent, who is El Ro-i (the God who sees me). I am blessed to know Him personally for a very long time. But, Satan has a purpose and He is not easily discouraged. He sometimes gains a victory in my life for a time, but praise God, it is temporary. My God's eyes range throughout the earth to strengthen His children. His eyes are on ______________ (put your name in the blank if you are a believer.) He has promised He will not leave me (you), not ever.
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