"The trick to life is not getting what you want, it's wanting what you've got."

Today on facebook I found the quote that has become the title of today's study. I found it ironic because I am currently selling stuff, that I bought to make me happy, so that I will have money to buy other stuff to make me happy. The joy in my stuff is always very short lived. I have hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of stuff that just sits around taking up space because it no longer brings me joy.

As I was contemplating what to say here I thought about spouses cheating. Why? Because they are not content. They seek more to make them happy.

I thought about the debt that I'm in. Why? Well as Dave Ramsey put it, "People spend money they don't have to buy things they don't need to impress people they don't even like." I've purchased so many things that I did not know I "needed" until I was told.

I am now thinking of the fact that I'm over weight. Why? Simply because I always want MORE.

Philippians 4:10-12
10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I 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.

Paul learned to be content. What is the secret?

Proverb 19:23
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

First we must fear the LORD. I don't think we really do this. Yes God is gracious. Yes He is full of mercy. However having grown up in the Church I have lost some of the awe and majesty of who God really is. I am not content to rest in God. So many of the troubles I deal with today are dirrect result of doing things "MY" way.

1 Timothy 6:3-10
3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For 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.

I think of all the time and effort and money that I put into my stuff and my comfort. What happens to it all when I die? My kids get some of it and the tax man takes his chunk. However I leave it all behind. Sure I could chose to be buried with it, but I don't take it with me. The Pharoah's of Egypt thought they could but their stuff is either still buried or in museums around the globe.

Now I compare the above effort with the ammount of effort I put into godliness, which I will take with me to heaven. We are told in 1 Timothy 6:11-12 to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." and to "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called". I can't do this if I'm burying myself with stuff for my own pleasure.

Do I "pursue" godliness? Not often enough because I'm too busy pursuing what I want.

Hebrew 12:1-3
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 13:5
5Keep 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."

The last line is promise. Unlike human promises God won't break His. If you are His child He is right there waiting for you to turn to Him.

I hope God has blessed you with the lesson He has taught me today.

Do you forget what you look like?

James 1:23-25

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Sounds kind of silly, yet how many times do each one of us do something we know goes against God's word or principles? How often do we willfully chose to walk in the flesh and feed our own desires?

25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

God's word gives us freedom. Freedom from sin. Freedom from following our lusts and desires. I'm drawing a line in the sand. I want to start applying God's principles right now.

Self-sufficiency is no prize; it is a trap.

The title is quote right for Charles Stanley's devotional this morning. It's interesting that once again God's grace is brought to my attention.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

No commentary today. God's still working on me with this passage.

Amazing Grace

Listening to Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace on my way home today.

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

The words in bold really struck me. God's grace that should be so precious to me and yet how I all too often take it for granted.

^{Romans 3:21-26}

²¹But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²²This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 5:1-2

¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

I hope you too may benefit from this lesson the Lord has taught me today.

Casting your cares

1 Peter 5:6-7

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Do you suffer from anxiety or worry? I sometimes do. 1 Peter 5:7 is one of the earliest verses I ever memorized. However, though true it is incomplete without verse 6. Until you humble yourself and place yourself under His hand you never will truly cast your cares. Trusting God is not and over night process. We may have to cast our cares to Him over and over again.

Humble yourself before God today and give him your burden.

Broken Dreams

As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried,
"How could you be so slow"
"My child," He said, "What could I do?
You never did let go."

Robert J. Burdette

Woman who survived abortion

This is all I have to share today. Take 16 minutes and let the Lord touch your heart.

Gianna Jessen from LMF CAM on Vimeo.

Who are you when you are alone?

Today I'm working from home till my 11am meeting. The children are at school and my bride is off to her work and to help a friend. I'm alone. I can do whatever I want. My mind is flooded with the thing I USED to do. Then Psalm 139 comes to mind. Guess what. I'm not alone. God is here.

This is what is meant in Roman 12:1-2 when it speaks of renewing your mind. Scripture has shown me that the way of my past is not right. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 the old me is gone. The new me has come.

Short and sweet today folks. Have a blessed day.