Sit on those hands

Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. (C.S. Lewis)

Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil. (Proverbs 15:16)

Back in the day, we watched wholesome programming depicting the 'ideal family'. Leave It to Beaver, My Three Sons, and Happy Days seemed to depict people all getting along, easily resolving any kind of conflict that might arise, and working together on projects to see the best of life emerge. How many of us realize that 'real life' isn't all that smooth, people don't always work together well, and conflict is almost inevitable? Inner turmoil is the outcome of striving for what we don't have, probably don't need, and almost certainly don't have the best of motivation in seeking in the first place. Aim is important - without proper aim, we could hit almost anything, but 'anything' may not be what we really want!

God's plan is to put him first. What does that mean really? If you are anything like me, you probably find yourself asking God to take the reins in your life, then you reach out to tug on one of them again, not really fully trusting him to get you to the hoped for destination. As soon as you tug on that rein, he loses that position of 'first' in your life. Almost as soon as you tug, there is this 'conviction' that comes putting you on notice that you just took back the control you said you desired him to have. God's intent is to honor your intent - you might 'say' you want to put him first, giving him full control of your life, but your actions speak much louder than those words!

Contentment comes when we stop striving for control and settle into the wonder of all God has prepared for us. To move from being 'in control' into the place we allow God to actually have the reins fully in his hands requires trust. All contentment begins with establishing trust - full trust in the one who has control of the situations and circumstances we call 'life'. The 'little' we have in Christ will far outweigh the 'much' we can obtain in our own power. In actuality, the 'little' we imagine is really a whole lot more than we'd ever obtain on our own. As we launch fully into this new year, let us begin to trust God with the reins. It might mean we sit on our hands a bit, allowing that trust to be built, but when we do, God's plans outdo anything we could 'control'. Just sayin!

Time well spent indeed

I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do. (Philippians 4:12-13)

Most of us live in such a way that we have all of what we need, even though we might be wanting much more than we have. Some might actually live with more than they need. What Paul learned was contentment in lean times and in times of great advantage. He developed a 'consistency of heart' - something we all would do well to learn sooner than later. Christ is the one who gives that consistency of heart, but we have to be open to receive what he gives when he gives it. Maybe consistency really comes when we learn to be open to receiving whatever it is he has for us.

Christ gives us the strength to do whatever we must do - in good times, or bad, in lean times, or times of tremendous blessing beyond measure. Leaning into him to learn his heart is what brings the greatest contentment. Whenever we are struggling a bit with contentment, always wanting more and more, we would do well to spend a little more time with Jesus. When we do, we find ourselves drawn into his presence, finding the peace and contentment that eludes us when we are way over-extended, busier than is best for our bodies or minds, or vegged out so much that we don't really engage in the things we should be doing.

The strength Paul references here is not just physical strength to 'do a job', but emotional, spiritual, and relational strength. Contentment of heart brings a great deal of strength - because we aren't wasting that strength in the pursuit of what will not last or what is really outside of God's will for our lives. The strength we need - sometimes we don't really appreciate the amount of strength God gives because it comes in the ways we least expect it. We might expect physical strength, so we can endure whatever it is we are facing without tiring. God may give emotional strength instead, simply because he knows the things we are facing are going to drain us in that area more than they will physically. When our emotions are drained, physical strength soon goes out the window!

God isn't going to magically make all this 'strength' appear in our lives. We need to press into his presence, learn from Christ, and live close to him. As we 'spend' time and talent with him, we soon find 'time and talent' for the things we have need of come our way! Just sayin!

Life Lesson #15 - Hungry

Life Hack #15:

Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—that’s where your future lies. Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing. (Proverbs 23:17-18)

That ugly, green-eyed monster often known as jealousy or better known as discontent can grab onto us so quickly. Discontent breeds all manner of other issues, so it is best nipped in the bud before it festers and multiplies! Envy enters in anytime we think someone else has any advantage we don't have in life. We might not know how frequently we actually evaluate ourselves in light of what we see another "have" - whether it is knowledge, privilege, or possession. When we sense this "discontent" with what the other person seems to have or get, it can lead to a lot of ugliness in our lives we really don't want to deal with later on!

Discontent is really a sense of inequity. If you haven't already figured it out - all things are NOT equal in this life! We are all created different sizes, shapes, hair colors, skin tones, with different IQs, and born into different families. There is one place that makes the "playing field" level for all - the family of God. Regardless of station in life, aptitude, or attitude - all are equal in his eyes. All are sinners. All stand in need of a Savior. All have fallen short of the glory he intended for their lives. All need the sanctifying work of the cross. 

No one can make another grow any faster - even when well fed and in an environment which fosters growth. Growth is individualized and a response of one's inner man to the forces surrounding him/her. Growth, or maturity, may not be equal because we each embrace things we are taught in different times, perhaps even with different interpretations of what is taught, but learned from the same lesson. This makes us unique - equally human and in need, but not equal in the application of truth.

God knows discontent makes for a lot of messy stuff later on if allowed to take root. It damages relationships, causes us to struggle with issues of pride, and then leaves us just wanting more, but believing we will never have what it is we desire. Guard yourselves well against discontent because it will leave you destitute! Is it possible for discontent to drive us closer to God and his purposes in our lives? When it is recognized early and does not become a thing which drives us into the realms of envy and jealousy, that may be possible. Envy or jealousy carries the attitude of wishing "ill will" on another. It goes beyond motivating us to search for things which will drive us deeper into our relationship with Jesus - causing us to turn inward, feel deprived, and then complaining bitterly about our deprived state.

In the hands of God, it can be turned into an opportunity to open our arms and heart to receive something new from God - something we may not even have known we really needed in our life, but which he knows will bring us tremendous blessing. Discontent has a way of motivating us - but we need to make sure our motivations are God-driven. In the course of time, we will see that he takes this discontent with whatever our inability is, and he begins to drive us deeper into his hope, promises, and the privilege that comes with being a child of God. In this sense, discontent has an advantage in our life - it creates a hunger.

We need to be aware of our hunger, though - for not all hunger is to be fed. When discontent enters, the very best thing we can do is ask God if this is him creating the desire, or our "self" getting us into the region of envy. With this in mind, we will be sure to avoid the pitfalls of envy but allow godly discontent to be built into a driving force which propels us forward into the good things God desires for our lives. Just sayin!

Life Hack #6 - But I Want It

Life Hack #6:

Do you ever watch those "do it yourself" remodeling programs? They have so many inspiring ways to do the hard work, often at a fraction of the cost of having someone else do it. I don't tackle many of those projects myself because I don't possess the know-how or muscle, but I time to do them. I "want" the nice back splash, shiny new vanity, and hardwood floors, but I won't be "doing" the work! Do you ever struggle with wanting what the "rich and famous" seem to have at their disposal? Or maybe just seeing someone who seems to have a little better home, car, or wardrobe than you do? You get all these ideas in your head about how "nice" all their "amenities" are, and you forget how absolutely blessed you already are! "Life Hack #6" is to be content with what we have so much of already.

When you go out to dinner with an influential person, mind your manners: Don’t gobble your food, don’t talk with your mouth full. And don’t stuff yourself; bridle your appetite. (Proverbs 23:1-3)

Do not desire what others of "fortune" or "position" or "fame" possess, because these "things" are often quite deceptive. Even the neighbor next door who does a little better than we do with income, is able to amass a few more "toys" in their garage and is able to set off on ventures here and there - they may be someone we come to envy. Why is we struggle when we see what others have, lured in by the deception of "having"? It might just link back to the first sin recorded - the eyes being a window where we "take in" and then begin to consider what it is that has been declared to be out of reach for us right now. Seeing is the beginning of wanting - when we dwell upon what it is we have seen, we begin to form a desire to obtain what it is we have seen.

The eyes behold - the mind begins to unfold the possibilities - the heart directs the hands to reach out in order to take hold. We are not to crave the delicacies set out by the "rich" or "famous". The reason is that what is set out before us is deceptive - there is no real knowledge of how much bondage has occurred in order to actually provide obtain those things! Kings used to overtake other nations, placing their people into captivity - making them work their lands and ranches for the benefit of the conquering king's coffers and storehouses. The king's profit came at the back-breaking labor of those he put into captivity - bondage for them meant increasing benefit for him. To desire what brings bondage is not something we want to be engaged in, is it?

Our eyes "see" a great deal - but not all we see is meant to become ours in the end. We need wisdom in discerning those things which might bring bondage into our lives - bondage of any sort can be introduced by little more than considering with the "eye" what may look nice but be declared as "off limits" for us right now. Be very, very careful with what you see and then pursue without really thinking about it. The wisest thing we can do is 'consider' those things at the foot of the cross - then leave behind what God has not planned for us to 'have' at this moment - remembering all we have been given in the 'right now'. Just sayin!

Something isn't right

Something that has become quite apparent to me after viewing ad after ad on TV, in the magazines, and on social media is the fact most of us seeing these ads had absolutely no idea we actually "needed" or "wanted" this stuff until we saw it! Have you ever seen those little videos featuring some product they 'found' on some shopping site and didn't know they needed? That's what I am talking about. It is just like us humans to be content with what has worked for so long until we see the next amazing device and then our appetite is whet! We want it! Wouldn't it just dazzle God to no end if we had such a tremendous desire for the things he reveals to us of his power, grace, and truth?

You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. (Matthew 5:5)

The ads cultivate a sense of "need" for somethings we had no previous desire for - in other words, they cultivated our discontent!
Sensing the "next move" in your life is a little different from having a sense of discontent, though. Discontent really is a restlessness coupled with a craving for something you don't have - even when you might not actually need it. In one sense, discontent has a positive effect - it gets us up off our posterior end and gets us moving toward what it is we see as our need. We need to tap into our discontent - but only as far as it leads us into the things God has purposed for our lives. If I was married and I no longer found the "love of my life" to meet my "needs", it would be totally wrong for me to allow this discontent to drive me to find a new mate or to have an affair. That would be using my discontent to drive me in the direction of my flesh, not my spirit. When we allow God to direct our contentment, he also influences the sense of discontent we might experience in life. In turn, the discontent drives us toward the things of the Spirit he desires for us to engage with and incorporate into our lives. In this sense, discontent is a good thing - it drives us closer to God.

Learning to rely less upon what makes us content and focusing on what might actually be the object of our discontent may not seem like a big deal at first, but if we are to accurately respond to our discontent, we need to focus on it. The issue arises when we focus on our discontent apart from the advice and guidance of scripture, mature brothers or sisters in the Lord, and good biblical counsel. We cannot figure out our discontent on our own - we need God's oversight in order to evaluate the source, the potential ways of dealing with it, and how it will impact our lives once we deal with it. Just sayin!

In or Out?

And then he prayed, “God, I’m asking for two things before I die; don’t refuse me—banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence. Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little. If I’m too full, I might get independent, saying, ‘God? Who needs him?’ If I’m poor, I might steal and dishonor the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9) 

Neither too much, nor too little - are we operating by the "Goldilocks Principle"? We don't want too hard of a bed, nor too soft - it has to be just right. We don't want too much food, nor too small of portions to satisfy - we want them to be just right. We don't want too much hardship, but neither do we expect to live totally without any - it just cannot be too overwhelming to deal with. Most of us want to live by the standards that "suit" us the best. The only problem with this is our inability to really decide on what "suits" us best. We have a "warped" idea of what is "best" for us - because we base what is "best" on what brings us the most comfort, suits our present needs, or just plain doesn't cost us very much to obtain. Not always the best way to make decisions, if I may say so myself! Too much allows us to live just a little too independently and too little might just lead to us making a few unwise decisions which we not only will regret, but which will bring dishonor to the name of God. If I get this scripture correctly, there is a fine balance God is looking for - one which keeps us close enough to him to feel deep peace, yet just hungry enough to move whenever he moves! Being so content with God's love that we desire no other - our hunger drives us closer, not searching for something or someone else to satisfy us.

Nothing satisfies quite like the magnitude of God's riches. Some of us imagine getting closer to Jesus than ever before. Indeed, a good starting place for our day - yet, if we draw closer to him and still don't reach out to others, we really haven't grown in the closeness he desires. We might just have become a little more "religious" instead of growing in the depth of our relationship with him. It is this relationship that brings us to the place of reaching out to others in need, seeking to share from the abundance of what we have found in our relationship. To become so "heavenly minded" that we are of "no earthly good" is not what God desires. In fact, he desires we become so "heavenly hearted" that we cannot help but be of "earthly good"! Neither too much - for it leads to independent thought and action. Neither too little - for it leads to misconduct and damaged reputations. Is the "middle-ground" what some may refer to as "mediocrity"? Nope, I think God has a perfect middle-ground for each of us which really makes us more "grounded" individuals. It is when we are close enough to his heart to experience his heartbeat firsthand, and yet not content to experience this alone. We want others with us in this experience, so we continue to reach out to those who haven't drawn close to him yet, drawing them into his presence and close to his heart.

Independent thought leads to independent action. I am a pretty strong individual - sometimes too strong for my own good. I can fix my own plumbing, but whenever I have to get down on my knees for too long to actually fit into those tight spaces, I find I don't bend as easily as I did before! I can mow my own lawns, but I pay the price of dealing with my allergies when I do. There are a lot of things I can do in my independence and strength, but the consequences of always doing things independent of God's direction and wisdom are not always those we'd like to experience! A lack of contentment can drive us in many different directions, cannot it not? Sometimes it drives us right back to square zero and we find ourselves relying heavily upon developing our relationship with Jesus a little deeper or afresh. At other times, it drives us toward more "promising" ventures - but the "promises" of any venture that takes us further from Jesus is really not any venture we'd like to be on. Trust me on that one! My prayer for us today - neither too much, nor too little. You in? Just askin!

The root of many evils

I Timothy 6:6-10 reminds us: "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." Let that one sink in for just a moment. We probably have all heard someone misquote this passage from time to time, telling us that money is the root of all evil. It is not what it says, though. It says the 'love of money' is A ROOT of all kinds of evils - one root, not the root - and not all evil, but many kinds of evils that can enter into a person's life.

Taking this apart, Paul is really saying godly content is to be desired - to be satisfied and appreciative with the 'basics' of life - such as food and clothing. To desire more is not sinful, but to desire or crave more and more can lead us down a destructive path - one that allows the root of discontentment to take root. The desire for more can sometimes be senseless and lead us into harmful pathways. Take for example a desire to live outside of our budget - to make purchases that must be placed upon credit because we simply cannot afford them. Sometimes we need to put something on credit, such as a visit to an emergency room for much needed treatment. This is not what is meant here - but rather to buy that 75-inch TV on credit card when the 55-inch one we have is working just fine. We wanted 'better' or 'bigger' and that is something that can lead us down a destructive or harmful path. 

If we read on in this same chapter, Paul tells us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Why? These are the things that keep us from being caught up in the 'more and more' syndrome. We learn to seek first righteousness (things and activities that lead to right living) - then there will be great contentment with the things God brings into our lives. We pursue godliness and faith because they are a natural outcome when we are putting God first in our lives. We enjoy deeper aspects of God's love as we keep him first in our lives and this leads us into places of 'surety' of foundation - steadfastness in his ways. In turn, we begin to live in such a way that our actions are 'gentle' and 'kind'. 

Paul wasn't telling us it is wrong to desire a new car - but to focus so intently on getting it at the cost of godliness and contentment may just open the door to greater evils in our lives. Satisfaction is not the result of being full - it is the result of learning how to curb our desires. The desire for 'more' is not wrong - as long as the 'more' we desire is more of God's character in our lives. Just sayin!

An elusive goal?

Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit. (Hosea Ballou)

We can find many ways to seek happiness in this lifetime, but few measure up to true happiness. In fact, ask any ten people for their definition of happiness and you will receive ten different answers. What becomes evident is that happiness is pretty much 'accomplished' when something we want comes to fruition. We are happy when it is a sunny day, and we are not working so we can enjoy it. We are happy when there is money in our bank account, sufficient to pay the bills, but with a bit left over to enjoy some 'free time'. Contentment differs from happiness, because it is not based upon some external condition being met. When the heart and mind are at rest, peace abounding within, spirit in communion with God, we are content. We may not be 'happy' because there are clouds in the sky, but we can be content to know God is at the helm of our day.

I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever— what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say— I always have and always will. (Psalm 119:112)

True happiness is based on who we are, not what we can achieve or accomplish. We are redeemed children of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. We are heirs of grace and benefactors of forgiveness. We are restored lives, broken no longer by life's bad choices. Happiness is an emotion we experience because we realize these things - contentment is a state of mind, heart, and soul because we know these things. God's Word has a way of creating 'discontentment' within us - it drives us to seek with all we possess, confess what doesn't belong any longer in our lives, and reach out to be enveloped in God's open arms. Why? To bring us into the place of contentment - the place where we don't just seek the 'highs' of happiness, but we abide in the 'evenness' of true contentment.

What a gift! Yes, the Word of God can produce many emotions within - ranging from angst over something we knew wasn't the best for us to pursue to the peace of knowing we are right where we need to be right now. Are we to dwell on these emotions? No, but we are to allow them to stir within us the desire to understand why it is we are experiencing them at that moment. The angst should drive us to stop, turn around, and take a different course. The peace should assure us we are traveling on a good course. Too many times we pursue the emotional avenue - if it feels good, we do it; if not, we don't. Truth be told, not every step of obedience will come with the emotional 'high'. Some steps of obedience actually come with some emotions like 'fear', 'doubt', and 'frustration'. 

How can that be if God's desire for us is to take those steps of obedience? Obedience doesn't mean the way will be easy - it just means the way will be marked by his presence affirming we are on the right path. If we live by the standard of 'happiness', we will be chasing an elusive goal. If we live by the standard outlined in the Word of God above all else, we are likely to experience this 'condition' of contentment. Just sayin!

Content with what I have right now

No matter how had we try to avoid it, we all have moments when we just "envy" the other guy a little bit, don't we? As hard as we try to resist the green-eyed beast we call "jealousy", it rears an ugly head and suddenly we are seeing things through eyes of envy and self-defeat - wanting more, believing we deserved better, or just plain thinking we didn't get whatever it was we should have received. It is an age-old problem, indeed. Did you ever stop to consider just how blessed you are, even if you don't possess all the luxuries the other guy seems to possess, didn't get that promotion as quickly as the other guy, or just don't seem to live as 'worry free' as he does? Blessing isn't just material - it can be emotional, spiritual, and even a sense of just 'being all right' in the midst of what some may think is a bad situation.

When I was beleaguered and bitter, totally consumed by envy, I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence. I'm still in your presence, but you've taken my hand. You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me. You're all I want in heaven! You're all I want on earth! When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful. Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they'll never be heard from again. But I'm in the very presence of God—oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord God my home. God, I'm telling the world what you do! (Psalm 73:21-28)

Just like our writer had one of those moments of self-pity, we can drift into those mully-grubs, as well. The shadows of deepening depression engulfing him as he stopped to consider the "people at the top" - those we'd say have finally "made it". They live pampered lives - styling the latest fashions, sporting the newest fads and trends, not a care in the whole wide world. Yet, he describes several characteristics of these individuals which tell us a great deal about what is like for THEM, but that may actually reveal something about how they see and treat US. 

They use words to kill. They have a huge outward show of importance, elegance, and pompous sophistication, yet their words betray the emptiness of their hearts and the lack of connection within their spirit to anything or anyone outside of what will satisfy and meet their own motives. They are full of hot air. They talk big, but really have very little substance in their emotional and spiritual make-up. They get away with everything (or so it seems). He sees the riches amassing and thinks God must be looking the other way, or worse yet, allowing them to amass all this 'stuff' in lieu of others having it. In dealings of the everyday business, they succeed - honest and trustworthy, or not. They just don't "play by the rules" and it has seemingly "worked" for them.

Oh, how easy it becomes to envy those who seem to have it made, huh? Yet, if we stop to consider the true "emptiness" of their lives, we might just turn that envy into pity - not for ourselves, but for them! A little later, he says, "When I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache!" This stuff just doesn't make sense to one who serves God! We see the wicked exceedingly at ease in their success and the righteous facing struggles. It is easy to get confused about who is really blessed, huh? Take the message in context and you will observe that our writer tells us of the conundrum we all face - understanding how the wicked succeed and the righteous struggle. He seeks to help us unravel this mystery by changing our perspective - how we view the success of the wicked and the blessing of the righteous. As one who might be struggling with envy, we are described as "dumb oxen" in the presence of the Almighty God. What do oxen do? They pull! What does envy do? It pulls us! Does it pull us closer to God, or farther away? I daresay, it pulls us in the opposite direction than God would have us to travel!

In the presence of God, we find ourselves undone. As we change perspectives - seeing the success of the wicked through the eyes of God - we see things we never really saw before. Things like the abuse of power, the painful inflicting of wounds with words, or the insincerity of their heart. Then we feel the hand of God - taking us gently, guiding us closer to him. There we find something the wicked don't have - foundation! We might envy the "glamour" of the wicked - the glitz, the showy pretense - but we've got something they don't possess. We have rock-firm foundation - the presence of God in our lives. It may not seem like much at first, but when we let that sink in, really beginning to settle our minds, bring stability to our emotions, and to strengthen our resolve to live pure lives, we begin to display "fine-linen" attire that far "out-styles" the trendy clothes of the wicked! We find the words of our lips to be far more "elegant" and "uplifting" than those of the "big talking". We may not always "get away" with stuff, but we are made stronger by what God encounters. Truly, like the psalmist, we can say, "We are in the presence of God - how refreshing it is!" Just sayin!

It isn't what I want

God you owe me...

Have we ever said this in one fashion or another? Stop for just a moment to assess your motivation behind that thought. At first, it is possible that we just want something a little bit better than what we have because what we have gives us troubles, such as a poorly running automobile. It might be we want a matching suit of clothes instead of the second-hand stuff we are wearing. Or perhaps it is the sinking feeling that we aren't going to get as much in our stocking this year at the holiday season as someone else will. Regardless of the motivation, the root of the motivation is discontentment - we haven't really accepted the blessings we have been given. We are not content with what we have been given or will receive in the near future - believing "something else" will be more satisfying or rewarding may be sort of naive on our part.

We may believe there is something "unfair" when others are blessed in ways we may have wanted to be blessed ourselves. Some of us have kids who love us and are actively engaged in our lives.   What we may want is for our kids to call more often, be less dependent upon us for financial support at some point, or to produce us some grandchildren because all our other friends have some. Others have strained relations with their loved ones. The one who has that strained relationship with their children might just long for nothing more than the immediate restoration of that relationship above all these other things that give us such discontent. Discontentment often discounts the circumstances of the other person, my friends. When we learn to see life through the eyes of the other person, we often realize just how blessed we are and how much we should want to share that same blessing with the others God has placed in our lives!

Riches and honor come from you.

    You rule everything. You have the power and strength in your hand!

    And in your hand is the power to make anyone great and powerful!

13 

Now, our God, we thank you,  and we praise your glorious name!

14 

All these things didn’t come from me and my people.    All these things come from you.     We are only giving back to you things that came from you.

(I Chronicles 29:12-14 ERV)

Discontentment takes many forms, but at the root of it all, we desire "more" or "different". We want shinier, bigger, newer, and the list goes on. In God's eyes, maybe the one thing we need "more" of is him. God's hope is that we will acknowledge his desires in our lives, seeing them as the only thing that really brings contentment and fulfillment. Discontent gets us looking externally. Contentment is found first inwardly, in the grace of God working in our hearts and minds. Then it gives blossom externally in the giving of ourselves to one another in love and gratitude for the many blessings we have been given in each other. Just sayin!

Playing the hand you are dealt

If you live your life animated by the flesh—namely, your fallen, corrupt nature—then your mind is focused on the matters of the flesh. But if you live your life animated by the Spirit—namely, God’s indwelling presence—then your focus is on the work of the Spirit.  A mind focused on the flesh is doomed to death, but a mind focused on the Spirit will find full life and complete peace.  (Romans 8:5-6 VOICE)

We all probably have been around some individual who is always looking back at the way things "used to be".  They recount all the "good things" of yesteryear while totally missing all the stuff happening around them right here and now. Their determined link to the past is totally destroying their ability to even see one thing good about the present.  Suffice it to say that what we focus on becomes the sole object of our attention so many times.  When that focus is on what "has been" instead of what is "now" and "will be" as we move forward is to really limit one's focus to things no longer in our control or influence.  Our focus "shadows" or "colors" what we can see right now.

I have said this before, but it bears repeating on occasion:  Change is just something out of our control.  We cannot possibly control all the change around us. There are some things within our control, but in life we find that all the variables which impact our lives are pretty much external to us and therefore, they are not fully in our control.  We may have some "influence" over them, but we really don't control the way things will "turn out".  There is only one thing within our control and that is our focus.  What we choose to make the center of our attention, even for a little while, will eventually begin to play on our imagination, invade our thoughts, and pull at our heart strings.  

If the object of our focus is Jesus himself, then what innervates our imagination is his creative power.  Our thoughts become filled with the possibilities of his power, not the limitations of our abilities.  Our heart swells with joy at his presence and yearns for more time with him when our attention has drifted elsewhere.  If we want to move beyond our "fleshly desires" being the things which control our lives, then focus is where we start.  We have to pull our attention away from the things which only feed those thoughts solely focused on things which don't point us toward right-living.

How do we re-center our focus?  One of the first ways we begin is by breaking ties with the past.  I remember telling one of my friends struggling with some changes in our work environment this means we "play the hand we are dealt" instead of always looking for another hand.  Even in poker, you cannot ask for a totally new hand - you must at least play part of the cards you are dealt.  When I played canasta with my family, my heart would sink when I'd get the hand dealt to me that was about one of each card in the deck.  When you are trying to make "books" of 7 of a kind getting one of a kind is pretty disappointing. The only thing I could do was play the hand I was dealt.  The crazy thing about canasta is that you don't play alone!  You have a partner who may just need those cards you have in your hand, so you play what you have.

We sometimes try to move our focus beyond what we have in front of us today. The truth of the matter is that Jesus wants us to use what we have today - not yearn for what we once had, or constantly be looking for a "new hand".  The "cards" may be pretty lousy at times, but learning to use what we are given is the first step in the process.  Leaving behind the past isn't always easy, but once the "hand is over", it doesn't really matter how many "good cards" you held in that hand.  The next hand awaits.  It is time to pick it up, sort it out, use it to the best of our ability, allowing God to keep us focused and centered on the stuff which matters.  Some might call this contentment.  Others might call it "focus".  Others call it trust.  I think it is all three.  Just sayin!

Enjoying what we have

I enjoy a good meal, a little time with a close friend, and hugs from my grandsons.  I also enjoy rainy days, a good book, and a sappy movie.  You could probably make a list of things you enjoy, as well.  Some might list things like a sporty car able to zip on down the road with wind blowing wistfully through their hair, or perhaps a long walk on the beach at sunset. Some of what we enjoy is because of where we are or what we possess - the car or beach make the occasion.  For others, it is about who we are with that the "cements" the enjoyment factor.  I would go with the latter - for the company I keep makes all the difference in how much I enjoy the moment! As some of you know who have been following me for some time, I am "single again" - meaning I was married, but have been without a spouse in my life for over 26 years now.  You could say my life's journey has not been the same since the divorce, and you would not be far from the truth - because the past 26 years have done more to "cement" my relationship with Jesus and brought me much enjoyment in the process!  Now, I am not advocating divorce, but if you find yourself in the situation of being "alone" in this world, you can choose to bemoan the fact or you can allow God to turn your moaning into dancing!  

It’s better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind.  (Ecclesiastes 6:9 CEV)

Always wanting something else is a dangerous habit we sometimes fall into in this life.  I know I run into this in my own life as it applies to food!  I have fruit, veggies, and the like in the refrigerator, but when I get the munchies in the evening hours, I want "something else"!  You know what I am talking about, don't you?  We have hamburger in the freezer, but want steak.  We drive a Ford, but want a Ferrari.  We live in a comfortable house, but we want a mansion of sorts.  What we don't recognize is what Solomon was trying to reveal to us in the Book of Ecclesiastes:  Life is filled with choices - choose wisely and you will enjoy life much more than if you make the choices of a fool!

I Timothy 6:6 reminds us "Godliness with contentment is great gain".  Nothing is farther from the truth than the idea that God wants us poor or "impoverished" in any manner.  In fact, he wants us to know all he has is at our disposal - for we are his kids.  What Paul was telling Timothy was that when you enter into this relationship with Jesus (what some call religion, but I call relationship), you find yourself learning true contentment.  The things which once held such an appeal to you begin to take on lesser importance - the shiny sports car is fun to drive, but it isn't all we live for anymore. 

Learning to enjoy what we have - not what we could have, should have had, might someday have - but what we have.  This is something mom's try to teach their kids when they are little tykes - when they tell them they cannot have every toy in the store just because they want it!  It is something we continue to learn when we get into grade school when the teacher reminds us we need to apply ourselves to get the "A" or "Outstanding" on our report care, not just show up in class.  So, why is it we come into adulthood still so conflicted with this lack of contentment?  Maybe it is because we have this little thing called "eyes" - cuz what the eye sees long enough, the heart somehow comes to want!

Back in the day, when I was a kid, we lived in a time when Sears would issue their Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer catalogs.  Anyone remember those days with me?  We'd pour through those catalogs in the evening hours, imagining how we'd look in that new dress, admiring the shiny appliances, and thumbing through endless possibilities of all we could own if we had the money to buy it!  Catalogs were "fodder" for the discontented heart!  Today, we have such things as EBay, Amazon, and all manner of internet shopping experiences.  Now, lest you think I am against any of these sites, let me clarify that I am an Amazonian!  I like the prices I find there, the convenience of having it delivered to the house, and I often find selections of items there I cannot find in my local stores.  When I needed a shed, I went that route because I didn't have a truck to pick one up at the local retailer and it came it a huge box!!!  I needed it to be forklifted into my backyard close to where it would be erected, so Amazon it was!

My point is this little problem we have with our eyes - for they are often the very thing which allow the first "niggling" of desire to begin to take root within.  If we realize this, we might just treat what we allow our eyes to behold and / or how frequently we behold those things a little differently.  For example, I am in the market for a new washer and dryer.  I have used the internet to help me "filter" the ones I am most interested in as I have a limited space in which they will fit.  Then I can read the reviews by those who have already used these models.  In time, I have come to filter it down to just a couple of choices.  If I keep pouring over and over these sites, I become more and more confused.  So, I found a couple which will work well for me, and am now waiting for them to come on sale.  Wisdom is needed in what we allow our eyes to behold and / or how often we take in what it is which forms desire within.

In time, we learn that some things (like God's Word) can be taken in ad infinitum, while things like some of the reality shows on TV we are better off not to take in at all!  Learning to control what comes in the "eye gate" goes a long way in determining how content we will be in this lifetime!  Just sayin!

I Want That!

This recovery from knee surgery has involved a little more daytime TV than I am used to, but I came across a show on cable yesterday which made me stop to take in a few back-to-back shows.  It is called "I Want That" and is a show featuring all these handy devices, kits, etc., which will make decorating, gardening, woodworking, crafting, etc., a little easier and less messy.  What amazing stuff there is out there if you want to do gardening indoors with only a hydrophonics kit, or perhaps use your reciprocating saw without having to vacuum up all the sawdust everywhere when you were done.  Something which became quite apparent to me after about one hour of the series is the fact most of us viewing the show had no idea we actually "needed" or "wanted" this stuff until we saw it!  Hence the name:  "I Want That"!  It is just like us humans to be content with what has worked for so long until we see the next amazing device and then our appetite is whet!  We want it!  Wouldn't it just dazzle God to no end if we had such a desire for the things he reveals to us of his power, grace, truth, and the like?

You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.  (Matthew 5:5 MSG)

I think the show not only featured wonderful devices and kits to make life a little easier, safer, or jazzier, but it also cultivated a sense of "need" for somethings we had no previous desire for - it cultivated our discontent!  There is much in society aimed at doing exactly this - preying on the unsuspecting and unguarded to stir up the sense of discontent which drives us to get, get, get - even when we don't need, need, need.  I love those DIY shows where they show you how to remodel a room, redo a little decorating by reconditioning stuff you already have, etc.  They spark a little creativity in me which gets me going on projects periodically - things I have had a hankering to do because it would make life easier for us, or keep us a little more organized around the house.  One such project is about to begin in the next week or so, once I am up to organizing my new workshop I put up just prior to the surgery.  My son has blessed me with a very well made workbench which fits the space perfectly and will be the start of my movement of tools from the garage "spaces" where they are tucked out of reach right now.  In turn, I hope to reclaim my garage as just that - the garage.  

Recently, I had a neighbor pass away and was able to purchase a variety of power tools from his estate (he was a woodworker by trade).  Some I have no idea how to use, but plan to learn.  I have these stashed in every available open spot in the garage shelves until I could settle on what to do about having a little workshop of my own.  Well, the day has come.  It is a hot climate, so I am not sure how much use it will get this summer, but I plan to purchase a free-standing cooler to assist with reducing the temp in there, allowing for some creativity early in the mornings or later into the evenings. The dream of several years is finally beginning to become a reality - something I have wanted for a long time, but just haven't been up to putting together.  Why now?  Perhaps it is because I am sensing the next several years will begin another place of transition in my life as my mother continues to advance in her age and her decline in health becomes more and more apparent.  Perhaps it is the fact I am nearing my last decade of work and hope to retire into some venues of business outside of the healthcare field as I do.  Maybe it is just because I want to use my talents to create - something maybe my daughter and I could pursue together down the road.

Sensing the "next move" in your life is a little different from having a sense of discontent, though.  Discontent really is a restlessness coupled with a craving for something you don't have - even when you might not actually need it.  In some sense, discontent has a positive effect - it gets us up off our posterior end and gets us moving toward what it is we see as our need.  In this sense, we need to tap into our discontent - but only as far as it leads us into the things God has purposed for our lives.  For example, if I was married and I no longer found the "love of my life" to meet my physical needs, it would be totally wrong for me to allow this discontent to drive me to find a new mate or to have an affair.  That would be using my discontent to drive me in the direction of my flesh, not my spirit.  When we allow God to direct our contentment, he also influences the sense of discontent we might experience in life.  In turn, the discontent drives us toward the things of the Spirit he desires for us to engage with and incorporate into our lives.  In this sense, discontent is a good thing - it drives us closer to God. 

Learning to rely less upon what makes us content and focusing on what might actually be the object of our discontent may not seem like a big deal at first, but if we are to accurately respond to our discontent, we need to focus on it. The issue arises when we focus on our discontent apart from the advice and guidance of scripture, mature brothers or sisters in the Lord, and/or good biblical counsel.  We cannot figure out our discontent on our own - we need God's oversight in order to evaluate the source, the potential ways of dealing with it, and how it will impact our lives once we deal with it.  Just sayin!

Sermon Lessons: Contentment

 ⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

(Matthew 5:5)

^13-16Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

(James 3:13-16)

Contentment is a lost art!  We live in a world of discontent.  We cannot balance our national or state budget because we cannot come to agreement on how to do it.   We find fault with our neighbors - just because they drive different vehicles, don't have a lawn service, or just simply are a different nationality.  We are always trying to outdo each other - simply because not being the "winner" makes us the "loser".  Where did we ever get this messed up?!?

The greatest discontent we have to deal with is the tendency we have to not be content with who WE are. There is too much gray in our hair - so we rush to color it or pluck it out.  The mid-section has too much "beef" - so we buy the "love handle" exercise widget of the hour.  The clothes we just bought three months ago are already classified as "out of style" - so we send them off to the thrift store while we rush to the department stores to buy the latest in fashion.  All the while, we neglect the biggest thing that brings contentment in life - being happy with who and what we are!

Yes, my mid-section could use a little work and I am not up-to-date on my wardrobe selections.  My hair is almost not recognizably brunette any longer.  But...I am who I am!  No more, no less.  There is nothing I can do that will change that!  I can make myself "look" better - but it is the "inside" that counts!  We have lost sight of the fact that inner character is the true measure of a man or a woman.  This is something we'd do well to relearn!

When I look at my neighbors, I see a single mother who is doing the hard job of raising four children on her own.  I see a single man, enjoying the reward of time at the lake in his fishing boat after a long week at work.  I see a mother raising her Down's Syndrome child compassionately and with such deep dedication.  Look around you - if you really begin to look through the eyes of Jesus, there is so much in your world that really begins to stand out as both commendable and valuable.  It is not the "things" - it is the people!

We are all "what we are".  No more, no less.  When we come to that realization, we are liberated to begin to live "just as God made us".  With all the quirks and nuances of our character.  We stop judging others for what they have, how they act, or what they say.  We start seeing others as gifts in our lives - someone placed there for this moment in time.

The idea of contentment is being satisfied with what or who we are - not wanting anything else.  It is coming to a place of satisfaction - knowing that we are "perfect" in God's eyes.  Yes, he encourages us to keep our bodies in shape - but he doesn't want us to make our bodies our gods.  Yes, he desires for us to have things that will make life easier - but he doesn't want us to elevate those things to a level of importance that exceeds his in our life.  What we "are" first and foremost is children of God - direct heirs of his grace and his love!  

No more, no less!