Just a Daisy in the Meadow

The choices we make daily . . . will decide our outlook on life in a “few” years . . . these ladies made wise ones . . .and we have a Godly example of contentedness and cheerfulness in our midst . . .

Yesterday I was challenged to be content in a new way. And I quote from yesterday’s sermon, “Our reason to be content is not because we have enough, but because God has said that He will provide enough!” Remember . . . God’s ways are so much higher than our ways . . . and we so, so often think that we don’t have enough . . .

Let your conversation (Lifestyle, the way we live our lives) be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,

And I will not fear what man shall do unto me. - Heb 13:5-6

Quoting again here, “So it seems apparent to me, that true contentment lies not it just being satisfied with what I have, but from resting in the knowledge that God will always be sufficient for me, and has already provided what He knows I need.”

“Let me illustrate it this way

(take the large can)

This is sort of like our expectations.

I come to God’s throne of grace with my petition.

-after all, God said that He will give liberally

And God pours some blessings into my life.

(Pour blue cup full into large can)

(look in can, Look back at ceiling)

Uh God, I have six children to feed.

(look in can, Look back at ceiling)

And uh God, the van’s tires have hit the tread wear mark.

(look in can, Look back at ceiling)

We need to order school supplies for next year.

(look in can, Look back at ceiling)

We need a piano for the children to learn how to play.

Etcetera!!!

Notice what happens, we notice what is missing and focus on that far more than on what He has given, and we long for more because we have expectations.

Not much contentment here.

Now let’s see what happens from a different perspective.

(take the small can)

Heavenly Father, you know what We need to live. I know that you have promised to never leave us or forsake us, and Lord, this week we need to get some groceries, and we need to pay the heat. If you could provide the necessary funds for these we would be grateful.

(pour the same amount of water into the smaller can)

Thank you Lord! . . . For the electricity too . . .For the special donuts on Thursday! . . .For the money to fill up the gas tank again! . . .For the healthy smiles on my children’s faces! . . .For the vehicles smooth running again this week. . . .For the food on our table . . .

You get the picture.

Which one do you think is content with the blessing they have received?

I believe that we often perceive the size of our needs to be greater than what God knows them to be.

It belongs to us to change the size of our desires, and not to demand a fuller bucket. “ (There are exceptions . . . there are times God prompts us to ask for big things . . .)

Ok, now you got a bit of my husbands sermon yesterday . . . no he is not an ordained preacher, but is in a bit of leadership training . . .and at our church some of the lay members are called to preach on occasion.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 10:40 am and is filed under Encouragment, Friends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.