2009--THE YEAR OF CONTENTMENT

My devotional today focused on discontentment. When is discontentment healthy and when is it unhealthy? God uses discontentment to get me back on track. To move me in a new direction. I'm discontent that I can't give financially to causes I find worthy, so I will take charge of my finances better. I'm discontent that my clothes feel tight, so I will exercise more and eat less.
Discontentment becomes unhealthy when my desire to have "more stuff" becomes the focus of my life. That "stuff" can be material possessions or recognition or whatever makes me feel better about me.
Rick Warren goes on to say that God gives us strength to be content. This is an important spiritual truth to learn because if wealth, good looks, and a star-quality spouse brought us lasting contentment, then Hollywood would be filled with some of the most content and happy people on earth.
The Apostle Paul taught that true contentment must be learned:
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 well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want Phillippians 4:12.

the REASON for the SEASON

It has been said "God works in mysterious ways". I've never found that in the Bible. I'm not so sure that He is really mysterious as much as He is just smarter than me. His ways are perfect. His plans do not fail. His purpose is far reaching. I just don't always "get it". I trust with my heart, but my head continues to try to provide answers. That's probably how Mary felt. Confused, scared, totally out of her comfort zone, but knowing in her heart that she needed to trust. She HAD to. There was only One big enough, smart enough, faithful enough to handle her problem. I have often thought that we don't honor Mary enough. Yet, I think that If I sat down to talk with Mary over coffee, she would be quick to point out that she just did what we all should do...Trust, Honor, and Obey the One who came to give us Hope and Life.

CHRISTMAS IS...

PEACE

I'm feeling a little indecisive these days. Perhaps it's because I've been out of my normal routine for the past 2 months. I feel a little unsure of myself. Afraid of doing the wrong thing. Making a decision that I may regret later. Not wanting to take the "next step" ...probably because I'm not sure what THAT is.
Yet, I feel a real peace in my spirit.
Sounds like a contradiction? Perhaps. Maybe not.
I think God is teaching me to depend on Him. I'm used to being very structured. I like things orderly. I like to have schedules and plans and routines. But I've read the Jeremiah verse a million times...ya know the one where God says He knows the plans He has for you, to give you a purpose and a hope.
I believe I have a purpose.
And I do have Hope.
Which brings me to PEACE.

Thankful

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is next week!! It is probably my favorite holiday. I love that little bit of calmnest before the hustle of Christmas begins. I love the orange, red and brown decorations on the table and of course the pumpkin pie! My family always plays dirty bingo and it's fun to see which items reappear year after year on the "prize" table.
I have much to be thankful for this year. My mom is doing well after surgery (cancer is all removed !) and my dad is stable although weak. God has provided Terry with not one but 2 jobs !! And I have been able to be home for awhile to help my parents and do some projects around the house that I have been putting off for awhile. Our kids are doing well. Our friends are supportive. Our church is a blessing.
God is definately good. He is indeed worthy of my thanks!

Am I Teachable?

Sometimes I ask myself...Do I learn ANYTHING from the circumstances of my life?
At times I can give a resounding YES! But there are times when I feel the discouragement of realizing I haven't gained any ground at all. Didn't I listen? Didn't I take into account? Didn't I recall that...? Won't I EVER learn?!


What has God taught me from failure?
What has God taught me from a lack of money?
What has God taught me from pain or sorrow or depression?
What has God taught me through waiting?
What has God taught me through illness?
What has God taught me from disappointment?
What have I learned from my family, my church, my relationships, my small group, and my critics?

PSALM 119:13
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I'll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you've done it.
I relish everything you've told me of life,
I won't forget a word of it.

"CRY OUT TO JESUS"

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
(THIRD DAY)

Thoughts from a Starbucks Cup...

You can learn a lot more from
listening than you can from talking.
Find someone with whom you
don’t agree in the slightest and ask
them to explain themselves at
length. Then take a seat, shut your
mouth, and don’t argue back. It’s
physically impossible to listen with
your mouth open.

Valuable Lessons from a Wise Woman

Just finished reading LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER by Maya Angelou.
Very good book. Some light stories and personal accounts of her life. I enjoyed her insight. Since this is a library book and must be returned I have jotted down one passage that was particularly meaningful:

" There have been people in my life who meant me well, taught me valuable lessons,and others who have meant me ill and, have given me ample notification that my world is not meant to be all peaches and cream.
I have made many mistakes and no doubt will make more before I die. When I have seen pain, when I have found that my ineptness has caused displeasure, I have learned to accept my responsibility and to forgive myself first, then to apologize to anyone injured by my misreckoning. Since I cannot un-live history, and repentance is all I can offer God, I have hopes that my sincere apologies were accepted.
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Try to be a rainbow in someones cloud. Do not complain. Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution."

Very wise woman.

ELECTION WOES

I'll admit it. I'm confused.
All of this election stuff has my brain jumbled.
Apparently I'm supposed to be for one candidate or another. I don't find it that easy. I listen and read and try to decipher what they are saying. And I find good and bad in both. I'm not convinced that either one is the answer to this world's problems. My husband gets frustrated with me. He is very outspoken in what he believes and doesn't understand why I don't always agree with him. It's not that I don't agree, but I do tend to see things from a different angle at times.
I'm not sure, yet, who I will vote for in this election, but I was thankful for this passage that God gave me today in my devotions. Again, an assurance that whoever wins...God is still in control !

Isaiah 65:17-22 (The Message)

"Pay close attention now:
I'm creating new heavens and a new earth.
All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain
are things of the past, to be forgotten.
Look ahead with joy.
Anticipate what I'm creating:
I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy,
create my people as pure delight.
I'll take joy in Jerusalem,
take delight in my people:
No more sounds of weeping in the city,
no cries of anguish;
No more babies dying in the cradle,
or old people who don't enjoy a full lifetime;
One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal—
anything less will seem like a cheat.
They'll build houses
and move in.
They'll plant fields
and eat what they grow.
No more building a house
that some outsider takes over,
No more planting fields
that some enemy confiscates,
For my people will be as long-lived as trees,
my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work.

A God-Season

I like fall. I don't love it. It is too close to winter for my liking, but it is a pretty season. And I do enjoy the crispness of the air that requires pulling out fluffy wool sweaters to wrap up in. I think I'm noticing this changing of the season a little more this year. I'm not so distracted with other things. Maybe I should be...with the economy, the upcoming election and the pain and struggles that I see all around me.
I guess in all the changing of the colors I see someone who is the same. Who is consistent and giving me assurance that whatever changes come there is One who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is as comforting and warm as my big, bulky sweaters...I need to put them on with the first chill of autumn, not wait until I'm cold!
Luke 12:54
Then he turned to the crowd: "When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, 'Storm's coming'—and you're right. And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, 'This'll be a hot one'—and you're right. Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don't tell me you can't tell a change in the season, the God-season we're in right now.

TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE (PART 2)

--Don't take yourself so seriously-NO ONE ELSE DOES.
--Get rid of everything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
--Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.
--However good or bad a situation is it will change!
--Do the right thing!!
--No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
--Forgive everyone for everything.
--Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
--GOD heals & transforms everything that YOU LET HIM!!
--THE BEST IS YET TO COME !!

TIPS FOR A BETTER LIFE (PART 1)

--Take a 10-30 minute walk every day.
--Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes every day.
--Read more books.
--Take time to pray.
--Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
--Eat more foods that grow ON plants, eat less food that is made IN plants.
--Don't waste precious energy on gossip, energy vampires(we all know people that feed off negativity),issues of the past, negative thoughts or
things you cannot control. Invest energy in the positive present moment.
--Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
--Eat breakfast like a KING, lunch like a PRINCE, and dinner like a COLLEGE KID with a maxed out charge card.
--Life isn't fair, but it's still good!

I had just pulled into Target and my mind was spinning. Decisions. Next steps. Wondering what God has in store for me and my husband. When this little sparrow hopped onto the cart rack beside me and looked at me through my car window, as if to tell me "Ya know what? I don't worry about what I'm going to wear, or what I will eat,or even what tomorrow may hold...I have a heavenly Father who takes care of ALL my needs!" We looked at each other for awhile, then I began to smile. Thanks God for that simple reminder...you are all I need!

My interpretation influences my situation. It’s not what happens to me that matters as much as how I choose to see it. The way I react will determine whether the circumstance makes me better or bitter. I can view everything as an obstacle or an opportunity for growth – a stumbling block or a stepping stone. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4 NIV). (Rick Warren)

Good job, son !!!

Photo caption: (L-R): Brandon Heath and PLG’s radio promotions team member, Matt Ingle, celebrate Heath’s No. 1 radio hit “Give Me Your Eyes” this week with a victory lap organized by Ingle.


Photo caption: Brandon Heath joined the Provident Label Group radio team and friends in a ‘victory lap’ around the Provident offices yesterday in celebration of Heath’s No. 1 at AC-Monitored this week with “Give Me Your Eyes.”


BRANDON HEATH TAKES NO. 1 SPOT AT AC RADIO
WITH FIRST SINGLE “GIVE ME YOUR EYES” OFF SOPHOMORE ALBUM

Multi-Format Hit Song Remains No. 1 for Fifth Week on R&R CHR;
Tops iTunes Chart for Tenth Consecutive Week with more than 70,000 single downloads.

Wishes

I Wish....
I Wish I could understand things like He can...
I Wish I could speak words the way He would...
I Wish I could love the way He wants me to...
I Wish I could react the way He tells me ...
I Wish I could trust the way He promises...
I Wish I could see the way He sees...
I Wish...

What I'm Listening to These Days.....

What I'm Reading These Days.....

1st Wednesday

Alright, God...
I will admit, you ALWAYS know just what I need. And at just the right time.

You prepared the songs that were sung at 1st Wednesday just for me... I am thankful.

You allowed me to serve others through the hand-washing knowing that I would be the one to be touched deeply and feel the cleansing of the water...I am honored.

You spoke to me through the breaking of the bread...I am humbled.

You encouraged me through the fellowship of your people...I am blessed.

I will press on, now, feeling hopeful...I am renewed.

LIFE PACKAGES

It's said that some of the best gifts come wrapped in the ugliest packages. We see the unattractive wrapping and our (my) first reaction is "How can anything good come out of this?"
I'm learning that God reaches out to me in the midst of some "unpretty" gifts. He wants me to see beneath all the cardboard and tape to the real present deep inside. It may take some digging. I may get frustrated and not understand why all those packing peanuts are sooooo necessary (they can be so messy!).
There is an awesome gift in that box for me. Handpicked and carefully wrapped by my creator.

1 Corinthians 1:7
Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.