The Biggest Lesson God Has Taught You.
Wow that’s a big one!! What is the biggest? There are so many to choose from and I still have many, many more to learn, God, by no means done with me yet, but one of the big ones I’m constantly learning is to be content, that the grass isn’t greener on the other side.
Matthew 5:5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. – The Message
John 14:8 Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content." – The Message
Our contentment comes when we have seen the Father, when we have made Him Lord of our lives. The only way we can be content is to ask God to examine our hearts and show us our blessings.
I spent a life of looking at others and thinking they had it all, especially with material things. Getting jealous, trying to keep up with the Joneses and of course believing the lies in gossip mags, that my life just didn’t measure up. I was by no means content. How does a family function when Mum isn’t content? Well it doesn’t function. I was so absorbed in my wants and failings that I stopped to consider others.
When God finally “clicked” and I surrendered my life to Him, he started to work huge changes in my life. I went from looking at what I didn’t have to what I did have. Or should I say what God had given Mark and I stewardship over. First we had God’s Love and Christ’s Salvation, the greatest gift ever given to the world; no grass is greener than that!! We had God’s word and direction for our life. Nup can’t find a better self help manual ever written than that one. We had prayer, a direct line to the Creator of the Universe, somehow I don’t think I’ll ever find a better help line. We had each other, a marriage that is unbreakable with God as it’s guide. We had 5 kids, 5 of God’s children that He had asked us to look after for Him. Then we had the promise of ALL our needs being met. Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Wow that’s a big one!! What is the biggest? There are so many to choose from and I still have many, many more to learn, God, by no means done with me yet, but one of the big ones I’m constantly learning is to be content, that the grass isn’t greener on the other side.
Matthew 5:5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. – The Message
John 14:8 Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content." – The Message
Our contentment comes when we have seen the Father, when we have made Him Lord of our lives. The only way we can be content is to ask God to examine our hearts and show us our blessings.
I spent a life of looking at others and thinking they had it all, especially with material things. Getting jealous, trying to keep up with the Joneses and of course believing the lies in gossip mags, that my life just didn’t measure up. I was by no means content. How does a family function when Mum isn’t content? Well it doesn’t function. I was so absorbed in my wants and failings that I stopped to consider others.
When God finally “clicked” and I surrendered my life to Him, he started to work huge changes in my life. I went from looking at what I didn’t have to what I did have. Or should I say what God had given Mark and I stewardship over. First we had God’s Love and Christ’s Salvation, the greatest gift ever given to the world; no grass is greener than that!! We had God’s word and direction for our life. Nup can’t find a better self help manual ever written than that one. We had prayer, a direct line to the Creator of the Universe, somehow I don’t think I’ll ever find a better help line. We had each other, a marriage that is unbreakable with God as it’s guide. We had 5 kids, 5 of God’s children that He had asked us to look after for Him. Then we had the promise of ALL our needs being met. Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
With God at our helm how could we be discontent? You would think that wouldn’t you, but I slip up….. a lot. I was born in sin and I fall short of the Glory of God. I had my camera break, it was covered by insurance and I wasn’t content to replace it, I had to get bigger and better and succumbed to my desires and not my needs. I didn’t allow God to have full control over it, I put the insurance money to pay for some of it and used my interest free card for the rest and now I have a GREAT camera, but I have debt to go with it. I also have a DH who is questioning himself at 2am in the morning, “Did we do the right thing?”. I allowed the perception of “the greener grass” to put stress on my husband he doesn’t need. I didn’t rest in the Lord to be content with borrowing Mark’s camera and waiting till I could get one without the debt. I had to have it……yesterday.
I still let the enemy get a foothold and look at the outside and not the inside but slowly and surely I’m working on it & I am very thankful that God gives us gentle reminders. I came across this quote over the weekend for a scrap challenge “Be Kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle” - Plato. It spoke volumes to me about my grass is greener battle and just like Lara said “It’s not about me, it’s about Him” and with it being about Him, it’s about being content with us and looking out for the situations of others, not just our own.
I still let the enemy get a foothold and look at the outside and not the inside but slowly and surely I’m working on it & I am very thankful that God gives us gentle reminders. I came across this quote over the weekend for a scrap challenge “Be Kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle” - Plato. It spoke volumes to me about my grass is greener battle and just like Lara said “It’s not about me, it’s about Him” and with it being about Him, it’s about being content with us and looking out for the situations of others, not just our own.
Journalling - Just like this photo is a little blurry so are our perceptions. Each one of us though smiling has struggles and made mistakes. I am so thankful that theses Sisters in Christ look beyond their own situation and think of others
"SPRING TIME FEVER" DIGITAL KIT BY TIA BENNETT – Paper, ribbon, flower
Kristin Aargard – Frosted Symbols
Word art quote – Kellie Mize
Kate Teauge – Brush
Font's Edwardian Script & Lucida Bright
1 comment:
The grass is greener - that's a great lesson. I can't help but think of Pauls words in Philippians 4:12 "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." It's a lesson I'm still learning. ;o)
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