All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Shhhh----I've got a secret, but I promise you want it!

Listen along here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/40df19b8/shhhhh-ive-got...

Christmas hangs in the air, the hush of the Lord's birth in my heart. In the last days, many Christmas memories have popped up in my mind. Ah, memories. Today is my birthday and that too causes me to reflect and remember. So many memories over the days and years, fond memories of standing on the beach, scanning the horizon for two blonde heads on bodyboards in the water. Though the waves oft obscured my view, once I accounted for Dylan and Danny, I would return to my beach chair, take up my pen and trusty notebook.

One August afternoon long ago I was thinking about the matter of contentment - and why it is so good and right, so rare and oft fragile. One day is as clear in my memory as though it was yesterday, as I considered, ‘who is the most contented person I know?’ Wasn’t long before I realized it was my dear mother! She was the role model of contentment, even at 90 years old, partially paralyzed and living in a nursing home.

Mary (my mother) grew up in a very poor family in the Midwest, the second oldest of 11 children, often living in a tent, her mother terribly worried because ‘Daddy’ had gambled away his paycheck again. Mom was married to my dad for almost 62 years, but never had a wedding ring, never went on a honeymoon; instead, she was married at the courthouse at noon and went to work packing asparagus in a cannery at 3:00. She wasn’t educated by the world’s standards, not even having completed high school—but she was so wise. And even though she had many reasons not to be—my dad, for one—she was the picture of contentment. He was a malcontent and difficult to get along with—cranky, controlling and critical. Yet, Mom hummed a tune, sang a line of ‘Blessed Assurance’ and kept on cooking, ironing, sewing, cleaning or whatever. Mom did not let circumstances define her contentment.

Oh, I wish you could have known her and more importantly, I wish I could give you this very precious gift that she had--contentment! The apostle Paul knew something of it himself. Before pivoting Morning Briefings to prepare our hearts for Jesus' birth, we were in Acts chapter 16, Paul and Silas in Philippi, where they preached the gospel. (Link for Acts 16: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts 16.12-40&vers...) Some 10-12 years later, with his dear friends in Philippi in mind, he wrote a letter to them; we call it Philippians. [Often, when someone asks me what they should read in the Bible, I point them to this little New Testament book, just four chapters, filled with 'joy' and practical application for thinking and living well.]

Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from Rome, while under house arrest1--'for what? Preaching the gospel.

I was in my mid 30s when I was arrested - by the content of these words of Paul. ‘For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

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.’

And then he followed it up with his secret:

I can do all things through him who gives me strength.' Philippians 4.11-13

I have written on contentment before and I will again because while we desire to have it, it so often seems to be just outside of our grasp--a constant challenge. And

Contentment is closely linked with choosing a life of joy,

which comes from the heart of God.

Okay, so step a little closer. What can we learn here?

Paul said contentment is learned. How was it that my little mother learned contentment? She knew who she was, and more importantly, whose she was, and both determined her life course. She lived by two priorities daily, and they defined her life direction and daily choices--they were the parameters for her personal contentment: loving God and loving others.

So simple . . . and the two flow directly from Jesus who when asked about which was the greatest commandment, answered:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,

with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:

‘love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these.”2 When we are able to live by these—we are God-focused and other-focused, and are naturally less self-absorbed and have a much greater chance at contentment.

We can live freely because these two priorities act as guideposts for daily living. They shape decisions and responses, our character and our humility … how we live our lives, view the world, raise our children and conduct business.

And remember too that if we truly love God,

we will entrust each day and all of the cares of each day, to him.

Please give it some thought—and seek God in prayer~

Dear Lord,

I want to learn to live in contentment

and these thoughts really make sense!

Please grow my love for you and for other people too.

Open my eyes to ingratitude, remind me to be a thankful person today and

find my satisfaction in You alone.

What a gift, Lord - this thing called contentment that Paul learned through his daily trust in you.

I love you, Lord, and I want to live my life with You in mind,

unseating the person I think about the most.