Content in Life

Ecclesiastes 1:6-8  "The wind blows to the south and turns to the north, round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.  All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.  To the place the streams come from, there they return again.  All things are wearisome, more than one can say.  The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing."

Beautiful words...can we ever be satisfied?

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25  "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.  This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?"

1 Timothy 6:6-8  "But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

Oh, To find contentment in all things, in any situation, and in any circumstance of life.  God has amazing things planned for us right where we are.  

The Older Woman's Wisdom

So, I've started the book of Titus now.  And BAM!  Good stuff right from the start!  :)  Titus 2 really spoke to me this morning.

vs. 3-5 "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

The Lord showed me a few things in these verses.
1.  There is a cause, effect and a final result.  It really helped me to be able to look at it this way and piece it apart in order to come back to the whole.  2.  There is a lot of value in seeking out the guidance and wisdom of an older woman who possesses these godly traits.  Young women, we should be praying for this type of older woman in our lives.  Arrogance is probably the main reason we think we know more and don't need to be taught anything by "old people" who are just "old fashioned".  Guard against this attitude.  It doesn't honor God.  3.  Whatever we do in this life, the ultimate goal is that we promote, back-up, and solidify the word of God through our walk.

vs. 11-13 "For the grace of God... teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..."

Even if we feel like we don't have a strong, godly woman to look up to, God's grace, His Word, and wisdom - which He gives freely to those who ask (James 1:5) - is sufficient.  So we are without excuse.  I have been blessed with many older godly women in my life from family members to friends.  My challenge?  Pray for them.  Seek them out.  Learn from them.   But first and foremost, seek out God.  The Holy Spirit is called the great counselor (John 14:26).  No person's wisdom is greater than His.  It can be too easy to say a quick prayer and then just go and talk to someone about whatever is going on in life.  Rather, we need to be counseled by God first.  Then we will be best equipped for when he does use people in our lives.  We will be more discerning for when questionable things come up.  Our understanding of what our mentors are saying will be increased.  And ultimately it enhances our walk with the Lord and our testimony to others.

Do Not Be A Stumbling Block

Luke 17:1-3 "Jesus said to his disciples, 'Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.  It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.  So watch yourselves.' ..." (NIV)

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another.  Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." (NIV)

1 John 2:10 "Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble." (NLT)

We are told that we are set free from bondage of the old law because of what Christ did once and for all on the cross.  Eating an idol-sacrificed piece of meat is not sinful.  Having one drink of wine is not sinful.  Galations 5:1 says that we are free and we are not to entangle ourselves in a yoke of slavery because of the old law any longer.  However,

1 Corinthians 8:9 "But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble." (NLT)

Do not judge others because they have not fully accepted the freedoms from the old law.  If they have a conscience that says they should not do something and you entice them to do it because you think it doesn't matter, then you have sinned and you have caused them to stumble.

Trust in God, Not Mortal Men

Psalm 146
"Praise the Lord.  

Praise the Lord, O my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
  

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - the Lord, who remains faithful forever.  He upholds the cause of the oppressed the Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.  

The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.  

Praise the Lord."

John 12:43

"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Where do I put my trust and hope?  Where do I find my worth?  From God alone.  He is the God who was, who is, and who is still to come.  There is nothing he does not know and I can put my trust fully in him.  He calls me beautiful and holy.  I am a daughter of the King.  My worth is in the Lord and how grateful I am for that!  Look to the Lord for the praise you need.  Seek out His will to know if you are doing well.  For only He can satisfy.  His opinion is worth for more than we can hope.  Man's opinion is worth so little.  

Father, help me to cling to you.  All that I am and all that I do should be for you and you alone.  Remind me of who I am in you.  Let my discouragement go by the wayside.  You are true, just and loving.  I praise you!

Daughter of Eve, Heir of Christ

Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."  And then there is the encouragement.  I do not answer to a dead god or to a priest who doesn't understand or who plots my destruction because I am not holy enough.  Hebrews 4:14-16 "...let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Someday I will give an account for what I have done in this life.  Nothing will come as a surprise to God.  I lay bare before him.  My heart is open.  Nothing I do can cover up.  Adam and Eve tried to hide and put makeshift clothing over their bodies as though it would keep the Lord at a distance.  Can I learn from their mistakes?

A daughter of Eve, but an heir of Christ.  That is what I am.  

I have been adopted into the family of Christ and that is where I must reside.  My life, body, mind, everything that makes up this child - it belongs to God.  HIS WORD.  That is where I find out who I am.  It's the place I can go to seek out the answer to life's hardest struggles.  It's the place I can always be assured of God's passion for my life.  How beautiful it is to know the truth.