Don't Make Your Pastor a Statistic?

Don't Make Your Pastor a Statistic?

This is a great article. I hope people will read it and consider what it says. Unfortunately, we are one of "statistics".

The Three "C's"

The words for this year are "CONTENTMENT" (mine) and "COURAGE" (my husband's).  I'm failing at the whole contentment thing right now.   I need a change in perspective.  Maybe my husband's "word"  would be a better one for me.  Things at work are challenging at best.
There's a third "word".... I realized this the other day as I was helping my daughter with a costume for her High School dance class.  She is wearing a shirt with the word "CHANGE" on it.  I'm thinking this might be a very accurate word for this year.  We are not sure if my husband will have a job in another 6 months.  There are some changes at "work" for him.  This could be a very exciting time and I really would like to have that attitude.  Right now I don't.  These 3 words are going to all be important for me/us in the next year.  We'll (I'll) need Courage to face whatever is ahead as we anticipate Change.  We'll (I'll) also need Contentment to simply rest in what the Lord is doing and trust that He will not only guide but provide.

Contentment is my word for the year.  I'm working on this in different areas.  The main verse that came to mind is "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."  I Timothy 1:8


Since the beginning of the year we have been on a budget, we have not used credit cards.  We are following Matthew 6 that talks about "Seeking God first".  It's been a wonderful experience trusting God and not running to other things, other "means" to satisfy.  
I have a feeling this is going to be quite an interesting year!

Desh - Miami University of Ohio - Collegiate Chorale

I love all the different kinds of music we get to learn and perform. This is one we'll be starting to work on next week. It's beastly hard, but will be SO MUCH FUN!!

It's like a collision in my head.  I'm reading "One Thousand Gifts" (and loving it!).  It's dove-tailing perfectly with  my own personal study on "Contentment".  I'm also doing a new Bible study called "The Lord's Table".  It's all very positive. Then there's other stuff going on that rattles me and messes up my "zen".  All the positive "good feelings" I'm feeling from the other stuff is colliding with the $%& and I'm in a quandary as to how to respond.  Bleh.

The Process

I was reminded yesterday that sometimes "the Christian life" (weird phrase as I think about it) is not "three steps forward, two steps back", i.e. gradual progress.  Sometimes it's just staying pointed in the right direction without even moving..... just being pointed in the right direction counts!  Yes, it is a process, but sometimes you can't quite move ahead and it's okay to at least have your head facing forward.
These things are a process:
Healing - of body, mind, soul
Journeys - whether it's an actual journey or a figurative one
Learning - yep, and that comes with study and practice
Forgiveness - and that's where I am.
Today I'm pointing in the right direction.

This Year's Word

Contentment.

"Synonyms: content, contentedness, pleasure, delectation,delight, enjoyment, gladness, gratification, happiness,relish, satisfaction

Antonyms: discontent, discontentedness, discontentment,displeasure, dissatisfaction, unhappiness

Examples of CONTENTMENT

1. He believes that people can find peace and contentment in living simply.
2. There was a look of perfect contentment on her face."

I'm kinda liking that first example... "finding peace and contentment in living simply."  This goes along with some other commitments we are making as a family this year.  We will be living within our means (what a concept!) and being creative with (and thankful for) what we have.  This will all be wrapped up in trusting God, in resting in His Sovereign goodness and control.   You know, in Star Wars (the very first one) when Luke is trying so hard with all the equipment to blow up the Death Star and then he hears Obi Wan's voice saying "use the Force"...  Yeah, it feels kinda like that.  We're going to stop trying so hard using so many other means to find peace and satisfaction.  We're going to trust God.  It's a much more relaxed "stance".  Although, even this morning I'm finding myself in a bit of a panic about some things.  I need to (and just did) take a deep breath and let go.  The Lord knows my/our needs.

These are some Scripture passages I'll be looking at more in depth over the coming weeks and months:

Matthew 6:25-24

Phillipians 4:11-13

I Timothy 6:6-8

2 Corinthians 12:9-10