Tears
I have watched this video two dozen times over the last two days with the same result, tears. I think of my kids and my life and how I take the opportunities I have to truly LIVE for granted. I challenged teenagers last night to realize how precious their life is. That it is a gift. That no matter how difficult it gets or how much junk builds up, there is a God who loves us. There is a God who is bigger than our hurt and our pain. There is a God who is bigger than even our hopes and dreams because we have no idea the plan that God has for our lives.
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. -Ephesians 3
Just a reminder today to not just make it but to LIVE. LIVE with passion and excitement. LIVE with purpose. LIVE today with an intention to make somebody else’s life better. And may you not just exist but end today releasing a balloon knowing that you truly LIVEd.
How To Attain Contentment
Love my life group and last night we had an incredible discussion on what does it mean to be content? Can we actually attain contentment or does the pursuit of contentment really reflect my desire to “feel” a certain way regardless of what it is that God wants for me? They say the opposite of contentment is greed. I would also say that the opposite of contentment is selfishness, not just with the physical but with the spiritual and emotional. I can be selfish for more than just the physical.
I think I am a selfish person by nature and yet that is the area that God has been working with me the most on. Here’s the deal, I will do almost anything for anybody, I will help out whoever but in the back of my mind I am asking the question, “What will I get out of this? What’s in it for me?” Taking mental notes and keeping track of favors. Ever do that? If so, chances are your selfish and may not have even known it. Greed can be self deceiving and it can also be easily justifiable. It may be near to impossible to discern in my own life but I can pick it out in someone else very clearly.
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 12a Fight the good fight for the true faith.
As I read this passage in 1 Timothy 6 I think that I am not to pursue contentment but I am to pursue righteousness and a godly life and faith and love and perseverance and gentleness and by pursuing those things that have nothing to do with me but have everything to do with God than I possibly will be content. Maybe true contentment is a response to full submission to God.
How would you define greed? How would you define contentment? Can we ever attain contentment?
YouVersion
If you have not checked out YouVersion.com then you are missing out. Customizable reading plans that you can take with you from many different versions. Great time of year to make a commitment to get into God’s Word and see what He has to say about your future. Check out the post about YouVersion on my friend Greg Davis blog.
25 Days Of Christmas_Day 25
Today I simply wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your support and passion and passion to serve Jesus, Fellowship Church and me this year. It has been an honor and we are looking forward to an incredible 2010.
Take a moment to stop with your family and read through the Christmas story in Luke 2.
