Contentment

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

So here we are, the week of Thanksgiving. I just got back from South Dakota for a speaking engagement with Project 52, time with family and a deer hunt with a great friend of mine. I think God has a great sense of humor. I was trying to think of what I ought to blog on and contentment popped into my head. (like I'm really the guy to write on this)

But Paul is the guy. In Philippians he says he has learned to be content whatever the circumstance! Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself and maybe you shouldn't either. He says "he has learned" That means he probably wasn't always. But he trained in learning that secret. And the writer of Hebrews reiterates it: Be content with what you have! Wow!

I was working out this morning and the song by Casting Crowns was playing, Somewhere in the Middle. I guess they are training in this secret of being content. One of their lines is- somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more, and then they go on to say, somewhere in the middle that's where you'll find me.

So that's where you'll find me this Thanksgiving week 2009, somewhere in the middle of being content and somewhere of wanting more. Grace is this-God loves me anyway and He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. And His Spirit is with us now through the Word and that's why we can rejoice at the words, never will I leave you or forsake you! You have Jesus, that means you have everything that counts! I hope that helps you when you find yourself sad over things you once had but no longer have this Thanksgiving season.

In Christ,
Pastor John