And the Grinch raised his glass and led the Who’s in a toast, “To kindness and love, the things we need most!”
the Grinch *2018
Maybe Christmas is a Little Bit More
Every year in elementary school before our Christmas break they would roll a tv that was strapped to the top of a cart into our classroom and connect it to the small cable box in the corner of the room. We would watch that little square box that was strapped on that stand- intently. We watched Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, and my favorite, Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town! And of course, we would watch the Grinch, that’s right, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” However, it was the original cartoon, with little Cindy Lou Who and the animated Grinch himself. This was before Jim Carey did his incredible rendition and before the new animated version that came out in 2018 from Universal. Nonetheless, I have felt like for years that the Grinch has been given a bad rap. As a matter of fact, I actually believe in many aspects that he actually nails the consumerism mentality of humankind. Nonetheless, I also realize that although the story was entitled, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”– he could never truly steal Christmas itself. The Grinch stole the people of Whoville’s stuff, but he never actually could and he never truly did steal Christmas. He stole their stuff, but not Christmas or the spirit that was in their hearts. And, as we all know, Christmas is not about stuff! Therefore, no one could ever actually ever steal Christmas! That’s because it’s about a person, not presents. And, it’s a matter of the heart, not a matter of getting more stuff. It’s about love and hope and giving and sharing and caring! The Grinch took their stuff, but he couldn’t take what was in their hearts. Therefore, the people of Whoville forgave the Grinch for what he had done. And it was their joyful, grateful singing and the spirit of Christmas that made the Grinch’s heart grow that day. He had a change of heart and returned their gifts. He was then invited to dinner by those whom he had done wrong. It was a glorious day of reconciliation and the Grinch’s heart grew and he became a different person, all because of joy, love, forgiveness and generosity. Here’s the truth of the story for us: We’ve all done wrong. We’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Yet, God pursues us like Cindy Lou Who pursued the Grinch! He pursues us and He loves us! And, He forgave us through Christ Jesus and by grace through faith He made a way that we could be made right with Him. Then He invites us to the table to sit with him and to be part of the family, just like the people of Whoville invited the Grinch to eat with them on Christmas Day. So with all of that being said, the Grinch couldn’t steal Christmas, he could only steal their stuff. He couldn’t steal what was truly in their hearts and he couldn’t change his own heart, only love and God can do that. The Grinch had a heart problem and in all actuality, it’s always a heart problem when you’re dealing with things like: greed, anger, jealousy, resentment and unforgiveness. A heart that contains these attributes in reality is limited and small. The Good News is- God and His love can change a heart and make it grow! God gave us the greatest gift of all, Jesus. And that’s what Christmas is all about and that’s “Why the Grinch Couldn’t Steal Christmas.” So, I end with the words of the “How the Grinch’s Stole Christmas” narrator’s words: “It came without ribbons- it came without bows. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store- maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more.” So, no one could ever actually ever steal Christmas! Not even the Grinch! That’s because it’s about a person, not presents. And, it’s a matter of the heart, not a matter of getting more stuff. It’s about love and hope and giving and sharing and caring! Christmas is about Christ! It’s about God giving us the greatest gift of all, His Love and our salvation through Christ. Maybe Christmas is a little bit more…
*[Below is a link to a message I did back in 2018 after our family went to see the new Universal animated version of the Grinch- click the link if you would like to see the message]
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. Matthew 5:8 MSG
Mindsets either minimize or maximize our potential. They either limit potential or they cause the potential to be limitless. Mindsets are powerful and they control so many aspects of our lives. Mindsets either restrict or expand our opportunities to become better and to experience more. And before anything really ever changes in our lives- our mind has to change first. Your mindset in many cases determines what you see, how you think, what you hear and how you respond. Your mindset also determines how you see scenarios and handle problems. Mindsets are powerful! They are limiting or they are liberating. When adjusting your mindset to believe, receive or achieve what you desire, you must realize that most things of value are usually met with problems. For example, in most cases there will usually be a problem that needs to be solved, surrounding a promise from God. However, your mindset will determine what you see and how you respond to that problem. And, your mindset toward that problem will determine the peace of mind that you have and it may also determine the promises that you obtain.
However, when you are pursuing a new way of thinking, you must remember that old mindsets can’t be carried into new territories, that is, if you desire to experience something to be better or different. Don’t miss what God might be wanting to do in your life, just because you can’t wrap your mind around something different or new. The children of Israel had to be delivered from Egypt (a place of bondage). But, they had to die in the desert (a place of letting go of the past), before they could ever dominate in the promised land (a place of taking new territory). There’s always a sequence when it comes to your destiny. The children of Israel left Egypt, but they wandered in the desert before they possessed the original plan of the promised land. I’m seeing in my own life that the desert is the most significant place on the way to a destiny or in obtaining the promised things of God. The desert is a place where things die! And some things may have to die before you possess what you desire! Mindsets have to change before new things can become obtainable. The dessert is a place of limited resources. A place where relying on the things that we are used to, that bring us comfort, are scarce. It’s a place where we have to think differently. It’s a place where we have to think strategically. And most of all, it’s a place where we to learn to totally rely on God!
God’s plan was to lead the children of Israel out of bondage, but the desert was necessary so that Egypt’s mindset (a place bondage) wouldn’t be brought in to the promised land. Mindsets matter! They affect us and they in turn, affect others around us. Mindsets affect the atmosphere that surrounds us as well. Mindsets that are set in the wrong direction will produce the wrong results. 1. The children of Israel FLED Egypt. This was something that happened in a quick manner. 2. They DWELT in the desert. This is something that took more time and process. 3. They POSSESSED the promised land. This is where they began to receive and dwell in the promised things of God. T.D. Jakes says, “It took 40 days to get the Children of Israel out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of the children of Israel.” What did he mean? I believe that what he was saying is, the dessert is where their mindsets had to change. The old way of thinking had to go. The identities of the past had to change. Their mindsets (the old way of thinking) had to die in order for them to possess the promise land and the promised things of God. Some things have to die in order to experience something new and most of the time it is our mindsets (the old way of thinking) that must die first!
The way that we think about ourselves, others and even God may need to change in order for us to experience more or for things to ever be different. Most of us have a thinking problem. That’s right, we don’t think properly. We think too much. We think too little. We think the worst. We think about the wrong things. We need a new soundtrack in our mind. We need a new mindset! We need to begin to think differently. I will admit to you that the biggest problem that I have is not with you, the devil or someone else- the biggest problem that I have is with my mouth and my mind! My mindset is how I think, but many times it also determines what I say. My mindset always has to change first, before my situation ever does. Mindsets are important and when I think about mindsets I usually think about the story of Lazarus- Mary and Martha’s brother that had physically and literally died. And, when Jesus arrived 4 days late, but right on time, He called Lazarus forth and he came forth bound hand and foot with a grave cloth around his eyes. Was he still dead? No! But, was he stilled clothed with the grave clothes. Yes! Sometimes we are alive, but still bound.
Nonetheless, Jesus spoke to the grave clothes that bound Lazarus and said, “Loose him and let him go!” And the grave clothes- those things that were put on by someone else. The grave clothes- those things that went on one way, they had to come off the opposite way. You see, sometimes what you have learned or what you have believed- those “mindsets” that hinder you and keep you bound, those things that people have put on you with their words or expectations, they have to be unlearned and disbelieved in order for you to be completely freed. They have to be taken off in a way that is opposite of the way that they were received or put on you, so that you can experience the promised things of God. You have to think differently. You have to establish different patterns. You have to think, do and say the opposite of what you have learned and rehearsed for so long! Just like the grave clothes came off of Lazarus the opposite way that they were put on- so does your thinking! It has to be the opposite of your existing negative mindset. You can’t think, do or say the same things that you always have and expect different results! You must think differently in order to have peace and in order to receive what God has in store for you.
To repent means to turn. It means to go a completely different direction. It means to say what God and His Word says about you. It means having a change of heart that creates a change of mind that produces a change of direction. It means to think, say and do the opposite of what you’ve been thinking, saying and doing. Jesus shed His blood, tasted of death and came out of the tomb- providing a way for you to be in right standing with God. He provided a way for you to become a new creation in Christ Jesus. He made a way for you to be different and to also think differently. The Bible says, “Let this mind that is in Christ Jesus- be in you.” It says that we are a new creation in Christ- the old has passed away and we have been made new. Many reading this have become new creations- but you have the same old mindsets. You still think the same way. Like Lazarus you are alive, but you are not free! You are bound by negative thoughts and debilitating mindsets that hinder you and limit you in so many ways. I want to see you set free to think differently. I don’t want to see you miss out on anything- because your mindset limited you.
I don’t want to see you limited like Lazarus was when he came forth from the tomb of death. Just like Jesus spoke to the grave clothes of Lazarus, I believe that He wants to speak to your mindset and say, “Loose them and set them free!” Jesus, like Lazarus was wrapped in grave clothes. But, the Gospel of John tells us that the grave clothes that clothed Him were lying in a pile, while the cloth that was around His head was folded. Here’s the passage from John 20:1-7: 20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
Life had conquered death and Jesus had been freed from the grave clothes and the cloth that was around His head had been folded and He came out of the tomb victorious! He didn’t come out bound, like Lazarus. He had left the grave clothes behind and came out of the tomb victorious. He made a way so that we may be set free. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed! Now, it’s interesting that the the cloth that was around His head had been folded. It was separate from the other grave clothes. He had conquered the things of the mind. He had made a way to be set free from the old ways of thinking and from the patterns of the mind that will lead to bondage and destruction. It’s time to think differently! It’s time to embrace a new way of thinking. The children of Israel had to be set free from a bondage mindset and from a slave mentality. What do you need to be set free from? What mindset do you need to change? What has been put on you by people’s opinions or your own insecure thoughts or perceptions that needs to change? Here are some mindsets that will hinder you and hold you back in life and in your spiritual journey with God if not dealt with in a proper and timely manner:
1. The mindset of unworthiness.
2. The mindset that says, “Things will never be any different.”
3. The mindset that says, “I can’t and I won’t.”
4. The mindset of being the victim.
5. The mindset of doubt.
6. The mindset of pride.
7. The mindset of stubbornness.
Prayer:Lord, let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Heal me and help me to be set free from my own debilitating thoughts and from those mindsets that hinder me and that keep me bound. I believe that I am healed and whole in Jesus name! Give me the grace, the desire and the strength to maximize my thoughts and to think in a way that is pleasing to you and a blessing to others. I believe that I can be set free from those negative thoughts and debilitating mindsets that keep me from experiencing all that you have for me. I believe that whom the Son sets free is free indeed- I believe it and I receive it now, in Jesus name, amen.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, liveatpeace with everyone. Romans 12:18
This verse in Romans 12:18 has always been intriguing to me. However, I feel that it is very appropriate to share today since we are just a week out from having celebrated Thanksgiving in the United States and, just a few weeks away from celebrating Christmas and New Year’s. The reason that I feel that this verse is appropriate, especially for this time of year, is because this is the time of year when we are around people that we may never be around any other time of the year, except for these special occasions that we celebrate together as family and friends. This verse is intriguing to me because if you break it down, it’s obviously about living at peace with everyone! But, it doesn’t start out with that declaration. It starts out by saying, if it is possible. And then it says, as much as it depends on you! So is Paul saying that it may not be possible? And is he also saying, but if it is possible, then do everything that you can that is dependent upon you to live at at peace with everyone and for it to actually happen. Therefore, if you can, do everything that you can, that is dependent upon you to live at peace with everyone!
Also notice that he says, everyone! Not just those people that you like or that you get along with naturally, but everyone. That means even those difficult, antagonizing and challenging people in your life. Anyway, part of the equation of living at peace with everyone will be navigating through being offended, being disappointed, being frustrated, mutual disagreements with one another and dealing with strong opinions and condescending comments. And, another part of making it possible and doing everything that you can to live at peace with everyone will be- engaging in loving, constructive conversations, while learning the art of conflict resolution. Conflict Resolution is defined as: a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among themselves. The disagreement may be personal, financial, political, relational or emotional. When a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement. However, this takes love, courage and wisdom to navigate through the process, while coming to a successful and peaceful resolve for everyone involved. So, if it is possible and as much as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone!
Here Are 10 Ways to Know That You Desire Conflict Resolution:
When you want to resolve the issue of conflict more than you want to prove your point or be right.
When you want to hear what’s being said- more than you want to be heard.
When you are more concerned with bringing a resolution to the conflict, than you are with being right or winning the argument.
When the other person’s need is greater than your ego.
When you listen, and truly hear what the other person is saying.
When you’re wrong, and you recognize it.
When you’re in the wrong and you admit it.
When you stop saying the wrong thing, at the wrong time, in the wrong way, for the wrong reason just to prove a point.
When you don’t talk until you have something that is worth hearing.
When you consider how the other person feels, above how you may be feeling.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18
What Is Your Being Thankful Based On?
1. Being thankful is not based on how I feel; it’s based on what I know.
2. Being thankful is not based on what happens; it’s based on knowing God works all things for my good.
3. Being thankful is not based on where I am; it’s based on where I’m going.
4. Being thankful is not based on the possessions I have; it’s based on the person of Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation that I possess.
5. Being thankful is not about the absence of problems; it’s about the presence of God in my life.
6. Being thankful is not about the temporal things that surround me; it’s about being thankful for the everlasting promises of God’s word and the eternal promise that awaits me in Heaven.
7. Being thankful is not about being thankful for the problems of life; it’s about being thankful for the promises of God that get me through the problems of life.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” II Thess. 3:16
“I’ve come that you might have peace; not as the world gives but that only I can give.” Jn. 14:27
“I will give peace to the one who’s mind is fixed on me.” Is. 26:3
“The peace of God will transcend all understanding and guard your hearts and minds.” Phil. 4:7
“Blessed are the Peace Makers for they will be called the children of God.” Matt. 5:9
They say that a human’s greatest desire is to have and obtain peace. And, most psychologist would tell us that mankind’s desire to have peace falls into one or more of these categories: (1) Peace with God. (2) Peace with one’s self. (3) And Peace with others. Over the next five weeks I want to share with you practicalities on how to make and obtain peace in these three categories. Week 1 will be: Face It! You can’t fix what you won’t face. Week 2 will be: Fix It! Fix what needs to be fixed, but keep the main thing the main thing and don’t get distracted with what doesn’t matter. Week 3 will be: Forfeit It! Sometimes you have to forfeit your feelings! If you don’t forfeit what you feel and deal with reality, you will end up frustrated and fatigued in your pursuit for peace. Week 4 will be: Find It! Sometimes you have to find a way to make it work, so that you can work it out. Week 5 will be: Forget It! It is one thing to forgive, but sometimes you need to forget about it in order to have peace!
> Let’s look at week 1:
How Do You Strive to Make Peace?
You can’t fix what you won’t face.
12 Ways to Face It!
Ask God for wisdom and a way.
Make the first move if no one is else is moving and you feel impressed to move.
Don’t wait on someone else to make the first move; especially if you are the one in the wrong.
Don’t accuse or excuse.
Don’t build hateful or hurtful opinions when you don’t know all the facts.
Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Know that sometimes the only thing you can do is keep the peace; but don’t let it steal your joy or peace in the process.
Realize making peace is not contingent upon you alone.
Focus on the person more than the problem.
Focus on reconciliation more than being right.
Stop talking and start listening.
Quit confessing what needs to be forgotten.
Peace is an atmosphere that is produced by proper patterns that embodies a Spirit-Led and Christ-Centered life.
To be a peace-maker means that you produce peace in situations, circumstances and in the lives of others by giving what you have received from God first.
Sometimes you have to face it to fix it, but sometimes you have to release it to receive true peace.
Philippians 2:14-15: Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that you may be blameless and harmless, sons of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world.
I read this scripture a couple of Sundays ago as I was waiting for for church to start. I’ve read it many times and have also seen verse fourteen used many times in various applications. It is a challenging verse! I’ve often said that I could spend the rest of my life working on just one truth or principal from God’s Word and this could be one of those principals. Do ALL THINGS without murmuring or disputing. Wow! You mean all things? Even those things that I don’t like? Even those things that aren’t fair? Really? Then to top it off, Paul goes on to say that if we do this, we will be blameless and harmless, sons of God without fault. He even finishes the verse off by saying that we would be like shining lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. In other words, if we do things without complaining and disputing we will be lights in dark and perverse places.
Paul uses words in the passage that are intriguing. The original text uses the word complain instead of murmur, but when you look the word up it is defined as murmuring. It’s definition is: murmuring; grudging. A secret debate. A secret displeasure not openly acknowledged or declared. In other words, Paul is saying don’t complain quietly or under your breath. This word to me means complaining silently to one’s self in a negative or derogatory manner or expression. Compliant, frustration and disgust being expressed under your breath for what you are having to do. The next word is disputing and it is similar because it refers to reasoning, but reasoning- within one’s self. In the definition it actually says: imagine a man having a debate with himself while questioning what is truth. So, these words don’t necessarily even include someone else. It just means you and I murmuring and arguing within our own being about the truth of whatever it is that we may be doing. But, Paul says, “DO ALL things without complaining or disputing!” I could spend the rest of my life working on this one principal of truth, how about you?
9 Ways To Show Love and Be A Shining Light in a Dark Place:
Proverbs 3:5-6: God doesn’t desire for us to understand everything He desires that we trust Him.
• Trust is Faith.
• @robalancollins: “Fear and feelings can be fatal to faith.”
• @keithcraft: “Faith is believing God’s way is best.”
Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 that he had fought the good fight of faith and because of that there was a crown of righteousness awaiting him in heaven. Heaven is the ultimate reward for those who have kept the faith and have believed. Faith is a fight worth fighting and it has great rewards. The greatest battle in regard to faith is trusting God in spite of what you may see or feel in this present moment. Fear and pride are unwanted companions that attack trust. Fear causes us to lag behind and pride causes us to run ahead. I believe that God wants us to trust Him and to keep the faith by keeping in step with Him, not lagging behind or moving ahead. You must have faith that God is with you and that He is fighting for you!
Joshua 10 tells us how Joshua defeated the enemy armies because God was with him. It also tells how he prayed and the sun stood still, as well as the moon. But, there were 5 kings who ran and and hid in a cave. (vs. 16-27) Those kings were: 1. King of Jerusalem 2. King of Hebron 3. King of Jamath 4. King of Lacish 5. King of Eglon. Kings rule – but these kings hid. These 5 kings represent what tries to rule from a hidden state, instead of from a public authority or dominion. They were hiding out waiting to defeat Joshua at just the right time. When Joshua had the kings brought out of the cave he had his soldiers put their foot on the neck of each king. Sometimes you have to take authority over what is trying to take authority over you. There were 5 kings who had dominion, but instead they hid in a cave. We do the same things at times. We allow those things that are hidden, rule us.
We have 5 senses and those senses can control us at times if we let them. They hide out in the caverns and caves of our soul waiting for just the right time to defeat us. Our 5 senses are used to help us determine what is going on in our world. God gave us our senses for a reason, but when we are controlled by our senses rather than our faith in God – they will rule us, and ultimately defeat us. Just like the 5 kings in the cave! Kings rule. And we must decide whether we are going to be ruled by the 5 kings of our senses or by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords of our life and faith! The five kings are our flesh, not our faith, they are our senses, not our Savoir. These kings can be what we: 1)See. 2)Hear. 3) Smell. 4) Taste. 5) Touch. You can’t always trust your feelings! You can’t always trust your senses! But, you can trust God and you can put your faith in Him, because He is faithful
1. Are you controlled by what you Smell? (something smells funny)
God’s desire is that when you go through something you don’t come out smelling like it: The 3 Hebrew Children in Daniel 3- “didn’t even smell like smoke.” They were thrown in the fire bound, but what bound them was burnt up. They came through the fire better – not bitter! If we are going to come through fires and trails of life and not smell like it, we are going to have not allow how we feel dictate how we respond. Nonetheless, here’s the good news: God steps into the areas of our life that stinks, even if you feel like it’s too late. In Luke 11 Mary and Martha said, “It’s too late our brother Lazarus stinketh!” But, Jesus called him forth and he lived! You may need to put your foot on the neck of something that doesn’t quite smell right, something that stinks and declare in faith: “This situation may stink, but that doesn’t stop God and with Him all things are possible and it is never too late!
2. Are you controlled by what you Touch (Feel)? (Feelings…)
God desires for you to be moved by Him not just what you feel. “Don’t be so touchy”- refers to the fallacy of your feelings that sometimes misunderstand and reacts in an impulsive way to situations. In Genesis 27 Jacob went to his father pretending to be Esau. His father said, “Come here so I can touch you.” Then he said, “You sound like Jacob, but you feel like Esau.” Isaac trusted what he had felt, over what he had heard. Romans 10:27 says, “Faith comes by hearing.” You may have to put your foot on the neck of how you feel and declare: “It’s not all about how I feel, it’s about what I know and I know whom I’ve believed in and I’m persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him until that day!”
3. Are you controlled by what you See? (seeing is believing)
God wants you to see His face above what you are faced with. Sight can be a powerful king that controls you through your senses. However, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In Genesis37 Jacob was old when his sons brought him the coat they he had made for Joseph. It had been stripped from Joseph when they threw him in the pit. It was torn apart and splattered with blood. This shows it is possible to put faith in a lie. Jacob believed Joseph was dead when in fact he was very much alive and in a position to bless his family in their time of need. Jacob lived all those years in grief because he believed a lie. What are you believing? In 2Kings 6, Elisha prayed and asked for their eyes of his servant to be opened so that he could see the host of angel armies that were surrounding them – the angels surrounding them were more than the enemies that they were facing. You may need to to put your foot on the neck of what you see and declare: “God, above everything I see – help me to see you, first and foremost!”
4. Are you controlled by what you Hear? (I heard that.)
God wants you to hear His voice above the voice of everything else. The scripture tells us to: “Be still and know that I am God.” Elisha heard the sound of rain in the midst of famine. There are many voices that need silenced: 1. The voice of self. 2. The voice of others. 3. The voice of the devil. 4. The voice of doubt. and 5. The voice of fear. You may need to put your foot on the neck of what you hear and declare: “God help me to hear you above all of the other voices and noises that are keeping me from hearing you!”
5. What do you Taste? (taste and see that the Lord is good)
Don’t allow life to leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Don’t allow life to make you cynical and bitter. You may need to put your foot on the neck of what you taste and declare: “God is good all the time. And, all though I have reason to be disappointed, I refuse to allow life to leave me stale, sour or bitter. That’s because I have tasted of the Lord and He is good!”
The problem with our senses is sometimes we can’t trust them. In life we are not meant to understand everything, but it is God’s desire that we trust Him in spite of what we: 1. Smell. 2. Touch. 3. See. 4. Hear and 5. Taste. Trust is faith! Our senses will try to rule us and rob us of our faith. They hide out in the caverns and caves of our souls and wait for the opportune time to defeat us. Nonetheless, we are victorious as we put our faith in God and declare and believe that His way is best. Don’t lag behind in fear or step ahead in pride. Just trust God and stay in faith. You can trust Him, because He is faithful!
I Timothy 6:6-10: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.Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Main Thought for the Week:
First of all, let me start off by saying that I don’t feel that it is wrong to have money or material things. I also don’t feel that money is evil in and of itself either. I believe that Paul is telling Timothy that the quest of anything without God being the center source of fulfillment and joy, can be a trap. I also believe that He is saying, allow God to be the source of all that you have or desire to have. Take note that in verse thirteen of this same chapter Paul says this to Timothy: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” In other words, pursue the things of God, those things that produce true fulfillment. Food will run out. Clothes will wear out. Money will will cease to be available at times. Houses will eventually fall down and cars will rust or fall apart after a period of time. Most things don’t last forever and being content with things, especially things that are temporal and fleeting doesn’t last forever either. Contentment is a choice and this week I want to talk to you about 5 ways that you can learn to be content.
5 Ways to Learn to be Content:
Realize that contentment doesn’t come naturally for most.
Understand that there is a difference in being content and in being satisfied.
Be thankful for what you have.
Don’t compare.
Know that contentment is God’s plan for you.
Now let’s look at number five> 5. Know that contentment is God’s plan for you. Would you want your children to not feel fulfilled? Would you want your children to be in turmoil? Would you want your children to feel discontent? Me either! So what makes you think that God would want you as His child to not feel peaceful, fulfilled and content. I believe that it is God’s plan for us as His children to feel a sense of contentment in our everyday lives. God has a plan and He has a purpose. A time and a place for everything. Therefore, when you understand time and seasons; you envy know one. When you understand time and seasons you will be more content! And you will become more of a peaceful contented person in the process of experiencing the ebb and flow of life. Never forget this familiar phrase: “If it costs you your peace; it’s too expensive.” If your focus is on God and His plan and His purpose and His provision, than you will live a life that is more consistently content. Godliness with *contentment *(surety, sufficiency, a condition where no support or aid is needed, a mind contented with it’s lot) is great gain. See you next week!
Key #1: Focus on what you do have, instead of focusing on what you don’t have!
Key #2: If you’re never satisfied with what you have, you won’t be satisfied with what you get.
Key #3: God knows what you need, but He wants to know if you are thankful for what you have.
