Thankfulness and Contentment

Happiness is in the heart, not in the circumstances.—Author unknown
“I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.”—Philippians 4:11
These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity (tendency) of man. “Ill weeds grow apace.” Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous (native) to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. 

Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be especially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us.

Spending time with God

Your Christian life is no stronger than the time you spent with God this morning.The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God, will make poor headway seeking him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, he will be in the last place the remainder of the day.

Whose Hands?

If our lives are in God’s hands, “all things work together for good.”—David B. Berg

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million.     

              

A baseball bat in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball bat in Mark McGwire’s hands is worth $19 million.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a Wimbledon championship.       

A rod in my hands might keep away a small dog.
A rod in Moses’ hands parted the sea.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid’s toy.
A slingshot in David’s hand was a mighty weapon.


Two fish and five loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and five loaves of bread in Jesus’ hands fed thousands.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.

Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands produced salvation for the entire world.

Story Time...

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with cookies and a six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey. When he had gone a few blocks from home, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park near the water, just staring at some birds.
The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer, when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a cookie. The old man gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so incredible that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Once again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.
As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was, and he got up to leave. But before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, and ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. The old man gave him his biggest smile ever.    
When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked her son: “What did you do today that made you so happy?” The child replied: “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? He’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”
Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and asked, “Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied: “I ate cookies in the park with God.” But before his son responded, he added, “You know, He’s much younger than I expected.”
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring-all of which have the potential to make someone’s day a very special one, or even turn someone’s life around.

We need eachother

Nobody is a whole orchestra ...........


Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.----Alexander the Great

One could conclude we are getting more and more self-centered as a society. But can you imagine paying to hear an orchestra and watching only the clarinetist play his part?
Nobody is a whole orchestra. Each one is a musician. But take away one musician and the symphony is incomplete.
Nobody is a whole team. Each one is a player. But take away one player and the game is forfeited.
Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take away one link and the chain is broken.
We need each other. You need someone and someone needs you. Isolated islands, we’re not.
To make this thing called life work, we gotta lean and support. And relate and respond. And give and take. And confess and forgive. And reach out and embrace. And release and rely.
Why? Because each one of us is worth it. Even when we don’t act like it or feel like it or deserve it.
Since none of us is a whole, independent, self-sufficient, super-capable, all-powerful hotshot, let’s quit acting like we are. Life’s lonely enough without our playing that silly role.
The game’s over. Let’s link up.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent …