LATELY THE LORD HAS BEEN PUTTING ON MY HEART ABOUT CONTENTMENT. AS I LOOK OVER MY LIFE UP ONTO THIS POINT…I CAN SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT SEASONS OF PLENTY AS WELL AS SEASONS OF MORE SIMPLICITY AND APPRECIATING THEM BOTH.

SOMETIMES IT’S SO HARD TO GET USED TO LIVING A CERTAIN WAY THAT WE GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT AND ARE BLIND TO WHAT OTHERS EXPERIENCE AROUND US. WE SEEM TO ALWAYS BE CHASING THE NEXT BEST THING OR SITUATION. THAT’S WHY IT IS CALLED A “DREAM HOME” OR “DREAM VACATION” OR “DREAM CAR” ETC. WE ARE FOREVER DREAMING ABOUT WHAT WE THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A COMPLETELY FULFILLING OR SATISFYING LIFE. WHEN IN REALITY THOSE THINGS ARE SO TEMPORAL AND OUR INTEREST FADES IN THEM SOMETIMES AS SOON AS WE ACQUIRE THEM…LOOKING FOR THE NEXT NEW THING.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY I HAVE FALLEN TO THIS IN MY LIFE AND IT SOMETHING THE LORD HAS REALLY BEEN TEACHING ME LATELY IN THIS SEASON OF MY LIFE.

SEASONS OF CHANGE

THERE WAS A TIME THAT WE WERE WORKING 2 TO 3 JOBS AND ALWAYS HAD A STEADY FLOW OF INCOME. WE COULD BUY OR EXPERIENCE WHATEVER WHAT I THOUGHT WAS “THE NEW THING” OR  NEW OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION WITHOUT EVER THINKING ABOUT IT. SINCE I KNEW THERE WAS ALWAYS ANOTHER PAYCHECK COMING SOON.

PERU LIFE CHANGING TRIP

IT WAS AT THAT TIME I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING ON A MISSION TRIP TO PERU. ACTUALLY THE AMAZON JUNGLE TO HELP GROUNDBREAK AND BUILD AN ORPHANAGE. THAT WAS THE BEST EYE OPENING TRIP OF MY LIFE. HOW PEOPLE HAD LOVE, PEACE, AND JOY WITH SO LITTLE. THEY KNEW NO DIFFERENT. JUST THE SIMPLICITY OF LIFE. SOME NOT EVEN EXPERIENCING ANY MODERN CONVENIENCES. WHEN I WATCHED CHILDREN PLAY IN DIRT AND WASH CLOTHES IN WHAT WAS LIKE DIRTY MUD WATER AND NEVER KNOWING ANYTHING DIFFERENT. BUT THEY JUST PLAYED AND LAUGHED AND LOVED WITH ALL THEIR HEART.

I CAME ACROSS SOME AWESOME SAYINGS ON CONTENTMENT AND THEY ARE SO TRUE. THEY REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART.

• “The happiest people are not those who have the most, but those who appreciate the most.”
• “Find your happiness within, not in what you lack.”
• “Embrace the simple moments, the treasures of everyday life.”
• “True wealth is a contented mind.”
• “Contentment is the secret to a fulfilling life.”
• “Happiness is not found in what you have, but in how you choose to see it.”
• “Let go of the want, and discover the joy of the now.”
• “Be content with what you have, and you’ll never feel poor.”
• “Contentment: the quiet strength of appreciating what you have.”

WE ARE BOMBARDED SO MUCH EVERYDAY WITH ADS AND COMMERCIALS THAT YOU WATCH THEM ENOUGH, YOU START TO THINK THAT IS WHAT I NEED. THEN I WILL BE SO HAPPY. WHEN REALLY OUR HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT IS WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP IN THE LORD AND FOCUSING ON BALANCE.

WE CAN GET SO OFF TRACK WITH THE MATERIAL WORLD AND LOSE SIGHT OF THE SPIRITUAL OR ETERNAL

1 Timothy 6:6–10

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Hebrews 13:5

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Philippians 4:11–12

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me

NOW I AM NOT SAYING THAT THE LORD DOESN’T WANT TO GIVE US GOOD THINGS… IT’S WHEN THEY BECOME IDOLS OR GOALS THAT ARE PUT ABOVE OUR LORD AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

Psalm 37:3–4

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 

 

NEW SEASON OF LIFE

MY HUBBY AND I  ARE IN A NEW SEASON OF LIFE.  AFTER WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS OR HAVING A BUSINESS …WE HAVE MADE SOME LIFESTYLE CHOICES THAT MATTER MORE TO US. WE ARE MORE OR LESS RETIRED AND IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO US TO LIVE A SIMPLER LIFE FOCUSING ON QUALITY NOT QUANTITY.

WE VALUE OR RELATIONSHIPS, OUR FAMILY, OUR HEALTH, AND THE TIME SPENT TOGETHER, HOWEVER MANY YEARS THE LORD CHOOSES TO GIVE US WITH EACH OTHER. YES WE COULD WORK OURSELVES TO DEATH AND NEVER SEE EACH OTHER, BUT OUR PRIORITIES DEFINITELY ARE DIFFERENT IN THIS SEASON OF OUR LIVES.

THE NEW PHASE OF MINIMALISM

YOU HEAR OF THE PHASE MINIMALISTS MORE AND MORE. PEOPLE BUYING TINY HOMES OR DOWNSIZING. GETTING BACK TO NATURE OR HOMESTEADERS. A SIMPLER WAY OF LIFE. WE AREN’T COMPLETELY THERE, BUT THE SOUND OF A TINY HOME SOUNDS INTERESTING. WE HAVE DOWNSIZED IMMENSELY AND YET WE SEEM TO LACK NOTHING.

OUR TRUE JOYS COME IN EXPERIENCES AND OUR LOVED ONES AND MAKING MEMORIES…

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I CATCH MYSELF DAYDREAMING AND SAYING WOW IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE MORE SETTLED OR TO HAVE THIS OR THIS…..BUT HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF AND SNAP BACK AND SAY YOU WILL MISS THE JOYS OF “NOW” BECAUSE YOU ARE FOCUSING ON TOO MUCH OF THE FUTURE…..

SO, LIKE I SAID, I AM LEARNING WHAT THE LORD IS TRYING TO TEACH ME IN THIS SEASON AND I ENCOURAGE YOU WHATEVER SEASON OF LIFE THE LORD HAS YOU IN….TO APPRECIATE AND FLOURISH IN IT. DON’T FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS ALONG THE WAY AND AS YOUR RELATIONSHIP GROWS IN THE LORD ALLOW HIM TO FILL YOU WITH CONTENTMENT AND SATISFACTION IN HIM AND THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY SATISFY YOUR SOUL.

AS ALWAYS I ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOUR LIFE SEEMS OUT OF CONTROL AND TRYING TO FIND HAPPINESS AND TRYING TO FILL A VOID THAT ONLY HE CAN FILL….REACH OUT TO HIM …HE IS RIGHT THERE PROBABLY GENTLY SPEAKING TO YOU FOR A LONG TIME NOW JUST WAITING ON YOU TO LOOK TO HIM TO FILL THAT EMPTINESS.. THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE YOU ARE READING THIS….THIS MAY BE YOUR WAKE UP CALL LIKE HE HAD TO DO WITH ME MANY YEARS AGO.

I WILL LEAVE THIS SIMPLE PRAYER JUST AS AN EXAMPLE. BUT HE KNOWS YOUR HEART… JUST POUR IT OUT TO HIM…LET HIM FILL THOSE EMPTY PLACES AND GIVE YOU A FULFILLMENT LIKE NEVER BEFORE . THAT WAS NEVER FOUND IN PEOPLE OR THINGS.. TRUE WHOLENESS.

IN HIS LOVE,

P.S. YOU MAY SEE SOME ADS ON THIS SITE AND I MAY MAKE A SMALL COMMISSION ON THEM. IT IS NOT MY SOLE PURPOSE, BUT JUST WANTED TO BE UPFRONT. HAVE AN AWESOME DAY!!