Month: January 2018

Cultivating Godliness with Contentment

1 Timothy 6:6 says, “But Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

We have goals to pursue, we have dreams to fulfill, and at times a never ending list of tasks to complete. With so much to focus on, it can be easy for the pursuit of our future endeavors to overshadow the enjoyment of our present reality, making it seem impossible to find peace with where we are today. Of course we can believe and have great faith for our tomorrows, but at the same time we must have balance, and be willing to accept where we are today and make the most of it.  We can always bloom right where we are planted.

The scripture says godliness with contentment in our lives is great gain. Finding contentment requires some intentional moves on our part, because contentment is not something the world willingly dishes out to us in generous portions. We must make a conscious effort to keep our lives simple and drama free. It is wise to ask God to reveal areas of our lives that could use more order, because there maybe things that need to be changed to better suit his plans for us. He can guide us by showing us the most efficient way to get things done. I’ve always been a firm believer in quality over quantity because more doesn’t necessarily mean better. We must be careful to make sure the things we are pursuing are God’s will for us.

Putting forth effort to experience contentment can be just as simple as having a talk with the Lord while you walk in the park (one of my personal favorites), or adding things to your calendar so you don’t forget to do them and get stressed out.  It may also mean cutting back on some of your activities so you can be more at peace, and have some time to yourself. Never forget to place Bible verses all around you where you can see them often (another one of my favorites), this way you can be reminded of who God is, this will also help to keep your soul content and cause you to grow in godliness.

I trust God daily to give me contentment with where I am in life, while at the same time giving me wisdom and motivation to take the necessary steps to accomplish my goals for the future. It’s always astonishing to see how he works to bring things together, even in the little ways, every day is a piece of the puzzle. Therefore, we must learn to rest in him and enjoy the journey.

Father,

Please help us to grow in godliness and experience the contentment Jesus died to give us. Every day is an important part of Your dream for us. When we are fully committed to you, we can be confident that the ambitions we have in our heart, originated in Yours. So please help us to trust You with our desires.

In the name of Jesus Amen.

The Last Will Be First

Matthew 19:30 reads, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

Years ago I was traveling with my mom and daughter along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. We were on our way to our family reunion which was being held in Philadelphia. At some point, we came to a stretch of road on the turnpike that was lined with dead trees. The strange thing about it, was that although the trees on the front row were all dead, immediately behind them, as far as the eye could see, were beautiful, vibrant, healthy green trees. However, these lifeless trees on the front row, stood very tall and erect almost as if they possessed an inner confidence. Because of the green background behind them created by the other trees, they appeared to stand out even more. Odd as it may seem, even though these trees were dead, they were still very much alive. They had a mysterious beauty radiating from them that drew attention to their presence.

As I continued to observe this peculiar scene, God brought to my mind these words, “The first will be last and the last will be first.” I have no idea what natural events may have occurred that caused those trees to end up like they were. But to me they represent many people who may not measure up to the world’s idea of beauty. But because they follow God’s ways He has elevated them to a certain level. Like those trees, you may never know what someone has endured to get to where they are, but because they did endure, God has shown them favor. Never underestimate what God is doing in someone’s life just because things appear a certain way on the outside. As Christians, we should have an inner beauty that radiates from our hearts and changes the world around us. People should be able to sense a distinct difference and want to know more about us and our lifestyles. Ultimately who we are should lead people to want to know more about the God we serve.

Those of us who call Jesus Savior, need to take a stand and be all that God has called us to be for the sake of the cross and the glory of the One who died there.  2 Corinthians 6:17 says, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, then I will receive you.”

If those trees could speak, I know the stories about life on the “Penna” Turnpike would be unforgettable. The good news is that you and I can speak. We can speak life to those around us. Not only with our words, but through our actions. We must let the life we live speak for us. Ask God to show you how you can “come out from among them and be separate.” When you are serving God, even if you think you are last, in God’s eyes you are first. We need to make sure that wherever we are standing, is the place God really wants us to be. When we are where we should be, we can then be effective and make a true difference.

Father,

Please let the beauty we have in you through your Holy Spirit shine brightly so that those around us may be inspired and changed. Help us not to get caught up in things that do not matter but instead to focus on what matters most to you.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength…

Isaiah 40:31

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

When a mother and father are expecting a little baby boy or girl they wait with excitement and anticipation. From day one when they find out a new life is on the way, they begin to prepare, even if it’s only mentally. They know in about 9 months their lives will be changed forever by their new tiny bundle of love. Sometimes those months as the baby grows inside of a woman can be easy, but other times it can be difficult. Some mothers go through so much sickness that they end up on bed rest or in the hospital. When I was expecting my daughter, I’m thankful my pregnancy never put me out of commission, and I never even had morning sickness. However, I did occasionally get migraine headaches. My doctors only solution to this issue was, “sometimes when you’re pregnant,  your body is going through so many changes and often times there is no explanation for the things that happen.” So at that point I figured, oh well, I’ll just have to endure these headaches until the baby gets here. Now to me,  it would have been much better if I didn’t have to wait and if there had been some type of instant fix but the doctor was basically saying I would just have to wait it out.

Pregnancy, like life is unpredictable. We try to make plans, but many times things can occur that alter those plans and we must wait to see what will happen. There is not always a course of action we can take, we must simply wait. As a mother waits, the baby continues to grow and her body continues to change. Her body is a safe place for the baby to develop by helping to create an environment suitable for growth. She can’t do anything to make the baby grow faster, but there are things she can do to help the baby grow healthier. Even so, at times things may still go wrong with the baby that are beyond her control.

As we wait for God to work in our circumstances there is also growth and change going on in our hearts. We are growing stronger as we learn to wait on God and to trust in God. We may not always perceive what he is doing in our situation at the time, but there will come a time, maybe even sooner than we think, that God’s resolution and his truth will be revealed. We will be able to look back and see the difference he has made. In the meantime, we must believe that he is stretching us by creating an environment in our lives that will promote our maturity in him.

So what do we do as we wait? We pray, we keep trusting God, we meditate on his word. And as he leads us, we can take any necessary actions that will help our journey. We should be like that expectant mother and father who wait each day with joy. Regardless of any pain they may experience during the wait, they know in the end it will be so worth it to see and hold their new baby.

I’ve heard it said that anything good is worth waiting for. Well we know that God is good, and everything good comes from him. So as we wait,  we can rest knowing that he is worth waiting for. It may not be a new baby you are waiting to give birth to, but whatever it is you are waiting for God to birth into your life,  wait with joy. He has your best interest at heart,  his intentions are good, and he has promised to renew your strength as you wait.  So do not worry about anything. Be strong and courageous. Everything will work out well for you.

Father,

Thank you for renewing our strength as we wait on you.  All that we experience, rather good or bad, is part of the environment that you are creating in our lives to help us to become all you want us to be. Help us to wait with joy, expectancy, and trust.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.