“CONTENTMENT!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 657

November 14, 2023//

Our weather in Georgia seems to go from hot to cold in a moments time.

Let me admit to you that I have a temperature span of about 5 degrees. I can go from cold to hot in a matter of minutes depending on the feel of the area around me.

In the last few days, as we have gone from the eighties to the forties, I was thinking about how cold I was. And I was also thinking about how just a few months ago I was complaining about how hot it was. (except in church where the air was always making it seem like winter, ha-ha)!

I am not the only one who complains about the heat and cold in various degrees and ways!

This reminds me of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day who complained because of what John the Baptiest did not eat and drink and complained because Jesus did eat and drink those same things, and neither of them lined up with all their rules!

They were never satisfied!  We are like that not just in the weather but in all areas of life.

We can always look at someone who has more possessions, more talent, more breaks, is more beautiful, has less problems, has almost no physical ailments, more success, and a better job or at least has a job!

And yet we are all Blessed in so many ways. Even though I may complain about the cold and hot, I never fail every morning to Thank God that I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and awesome friends and family. I Thank God that I am not homeless, hungry, nor all alone!

I believe the Apostle Paul summed up how our life should be lived in the following verses!

PHILIPPIANS: 4: 11-13

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 I can tell you no one I have ever known suffered as much as Paul did. And yet he declared he was content in whatever situation he found himself in!

May I share with you that I am not at that place at this point in my life. I cannot say I am content with everything and in every way!

No doubt like us Paul understood that God has good things for His Sons and Daughters and He will move mountains to give us good. He has blessings and healings and miracles, but for various reasons, even though we pray and believe as best we can, sometimes we must stand firm in the knowledge of His nature and His Love for us!

Paul was in prison many times and always used it is an avenue for sharing the truth of Jesus sacrifice for all humans!

He was stoned and left for dead, he was beaten, and in the Roman prison where we last saw him, he was teaching those who would come to see and hear him, write letters to the churches, and continue to fulfill his calling to spread good news.

Yet, he was content! Wow, I truly would love to be able to tell you that you will never have a problem in this life!

But the world we live in is not perfect and neither will all things in our life be perfect!

I believe the key that brought Paul contentment, and that we can also find, is in understanding who Jesus is and who we are in Him. It is in understanding that this world is not our home. We are citizens of heaven.

As Paul and Silas, sang and praised God in stocks in a Philippian Jail, we need to sing and praise God in every circumstance of our life.  

We are never alone. God will give us strength for the journey and peace that the world cannot give. That dear friend is contentment!

1 TIMOTHY 6:6-7

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

HEBREWS: 13:5

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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Father, forgive each of us when we whine! Forgive us when we look at our lack instead of our blessings! Forgive us when we seem to have our eyes on the things of this world instead of the eternal and on you! Thank you, Father, that you Love us as we are, but you Love us too much to leave us that way!  Mold us into a vessel of honor! I ask this in Jesus’ name! A-men!

BE CONTENT! LOVE, MEMAW!