Life's Little Frustrations

Of all the questions wives dread to hear

There's one that's the all time winner.

As soon as a husband comes in from work

He wants to know, "What's for dinner?"

Contentment

Content--satisfied; not wanting more or anything else; finding enjoyment, pleasure, in what you have.

I Tim. 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

Phil. 4:11b-12a, words of Paul, "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......"

The world's philosophy is summed up in this saying, "You can never be too rich or too thin." Many affluent people just want more. There will always be people who are richer and smarter and better looking and more talented than we are, and there will always be people who are poorer, less educated, less gifted with beauty or intellect or talent than we are. Paul might well have written in Philippians, "I have made up my mind, I have decided, I have determined, to enjoy whatever I have without wishing for anything more or different."

Actually, being discontent is being dissatisfied with the provisions God has made for us. It's like telling our Creator that He has shortchanged us on the good things of this world. Do we have comfortable homes, good food to eat, and clean clothes to wear? Do we have all that we really need? There is a vast difference between need and greed.

What is Paul's secret of being content in his varied circumstances? I think it is two fold. First, contentment comes from a grateful heart. It's a matter of looking at all our blessings and saying, "Thank You, God," rather than focusing on what we don't have and saying, "God, I want that." Second, it's a matter of realizing that who we are is not bound up in the material possessions we own but in who we are in Christ. We are children of the Lord of lords and King of kings, bound for an eternal home in a city whose streets are paved with gold, a city where we shall live forever in the presence of Jehovah. We are destined to be the very bride of Christ. No one can have greater standing than that. That's as good as it can get!

Thank You, Father, that the best thing in life is free and available to all--salvation through Jesus Christ. May we be always grateful for all You have given us and done for us, content in the life that you have planned for each one of us. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

When baby arrives, a good night's sleep flies right out the door.

Your toddlers seek your bed at night--and wait, there's even more.

The teen age years you're waiting up at night 'til they come in.

Not until your kids leave home will you get a good night's sleep again!

Walking on the Waves 5

There is another great lesson from Peter walking on the water with Jesus, and it is summed up in a book title, "If You Want To Walk On The Water, You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat. Jesus called Peter's faith "little faith," but he was the only disciple to climb out of the boat and try to balance on the whitecapping waves.

Theodore Roosevelt summed up this emphasis when he said, "It's not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena......who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Many times Jesus will ask us to get out of our comfort zones, out of our boats of self-reliance, and attempt to do things we cannot possibly do by ourselves. If we dare to follow Him, He comes alongside us and gives us whatever power, strength, and wisdom we need for the tasks to which He has called us. We may not always be successful, but if we fail, He is right beside us and will reach down and pick us up just as He rescued Peter from the stormy sea. As we answer His call, we will discover that Jesus is absolutely trustworthy, and the greatest excitement in life is doing what we can't.

Father, may we never be afraid to follow wherever You lead. Thank You for Your power and strength and wisdom in our lives. May we never say, I can't," because You can. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

When you're in a waiting room, the t.v.'s always on.

You might want to talk or read a book or simply be alone,

But whether you want to watch it or not it will endlessly continue to drone,

Whenever the room is full of folks and when everyone is gone.

Walking on the Waves 4

Matthew 14:29b-31, "Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me.' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"

Of course the greatest lesson from Peter's walking on the water is the importance of focus. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he as fine. It was when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind and the waves, at his circumstances, that he began to sink.

Hebrews 12:2a gives us great advice, saying, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus." There are so many frightening circumstances, and so many attractive distractions, in life that it's hard to "keep the Main Thing the main thing," but it is of primary importance to do so in order to stand firm and stay balanced.

What is the primary focus of your life? To what end do you spend the most of your time, energy, and other resources? When you come to the end of your life, what do you hope to have accomplished? What epitaph would you choose to sum up your life? One of my sister-in-laws has chosen, "She did what she couldn't." The only way we can do what we can't is to stay focused on Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us.

Father, may we say with Paul, "One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in C'hrist Jesus." May we stay focused on Your Son. Amen.