Monday, Jun 09, 2008

TWG - June 9, 2008

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TWG - June 9, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Exodus 20; Psalm 31; Matthew 27: 11-31

Today is June 9, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Together we are strong. As we walk though the word together we help each other grow.

Today is Monday. Today I plan to work on the stage of the amphitheater with Ken and John. Saturday I laid carpet. Rich came over to help me. Thanks Rich. I went to David’s grad party. The food was good. And we had a good time. I got to see a couple of people on the TWG list: Melissa and Chris! I forgot to take pictures though! Was great to see you! Then we went to Josiah’s birthday party. That was a good time as well. Yesterday was the Lord’s Day. We sure missed a lot of folks. Some families were out for graduation, but there were a lot missing! In the afternoon I went to lunch with Kyle & Marcia’s entire extended family at Kowloons. We had a blast. Sunday night we watched one of the final videos in the creation series, it was good. After that Susan and I went to see Don. He was asleep. On the way back we tried to run over Mike – he was out in the street talking to Dave and Barb. I put a picture of Josiah’s BD fun on the blog at timewithgod.mypodcast.com. check it out.

This week’s theme verse is Philippians 4:11-13 …I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I 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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Have you learned the secret of contentment? The secret is that you can be content no matter what your circumstances are. Contentment is the inner sense that you are ok with your lot in life no matter what it is. Let’s try to understand it by what it is not. Contentment is the opposite of dissatisfaction. There are a lot of people who are unhappy with life. They don’t like themselves. They are too fat, too short, too tall, too blond, too talkative, too quiet, too much nose, too big of a behind… you name it, we have a problem with it. They don’t like their circumstances. They are unhappy with their spouse if married. They are unhappy with their job if employed. Contentment is the opposite of covetousness. A discontent person always wants what someone else has. They don’t like the house they live in, the car they drive, the clothes they wear… nothing they have is good enough for them. They are envious of those who have more. Contentment is the opposite of anxiety. We worry a lot. We worry about the future, especially during these economic times and this presidential election cycle. We worry about our finances. There just isn’t enough to go around. Times are tough and we are afraid we won’t make it. We worry about our friends and family; what they think of us, will we get along… etc. And Contentment is the opposite of complaining. Complaining is the way we express dissatisfaction, covetousness and anxiety. It is the result. It results in the pessimist. (A pessimist sees himself as a realist! Go figure!) It results in the disgruntled... A person who is cranky and grumpy about everything. It results in greed… the desire to get what you want no matter who it hurts or what the cost to others. If you were to take an X-Ray, a discontent person looks like a shriveled up old raisin on the inside whereas a content individual is like a juicy, plump grape. I’m thinking that I want my X-Ray to show a, fresh, juicy, plump, contented and smiling face on the inside. But I have to be willing to make some spiritual changes. I have to decide that God is in control and that He knows exactly what he’s doing with my life. Once I accept that, it’s all sunshine, sandy beaches and contentment for me.

Dear Father. I know that you are the blessed controller of all things. I wish to learn contentment, so I want to learn to accept every circumstance of life as a gracious gift that comes from the hand of a loving father. I don’t understand it all. I don’t know why I’m going through all these things, but I do know that you have my best interest in mind, so I will be content. That’s a better feeling anyway! Thanks Lord!

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