Today's Devotion
Thursday, April 19, 2001


"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content."  (Philippians 4:11)


Today's Thoughts

Contentment . . . we would all like to think we're content with our
surroundings. However, very often things come up that remind us that we
have to find our satisfaction and contentment in our Lord rather than in
material things. Allow me to share from my heart about a personal experience
nearly a year ago along this thought . . .

Being a woman and having a bit of creativity churning around inside of
me all the time, I always loving going to new places and seeing the
decorations and feeling the atmosphere, wondering how I could implement
some of the same ideas in my own home! We went to a restaurant where we
had never had the opportunity to go before and as I walked in I was in
awe . . . everything was so beautiful and although it was a restaurant,
the atmosphere was "homey" yet elegant. Suddenly my heart was pierced
because it hasn't been very long since we've had to leave a large, very
old, historic home in the country and move to a small two-bedroom
apartment in a large city. I began to feel sorry for myself . . . my
sisters-in-law were with us and they have their own homes and here I was
with no house to call my own that I could enjoy decorating. To be
honest, I was nearly weeping on the inside because I missed owning my
own home and my thoughts nearly ruined my entire evening.

After we ate, we all retired to the "front porch" of the restaurant
where we could sit and visit before we all went our own ways. The
conversation (for the ladies) was on decorating and "homey" things and
it just about reduced me to tears. All I could think of was how my
husband and I have led such a different life and didn't have the
"security" of owning our own home and it didn't really look like we ever
would again. The pity-party continued, although I doubt that anyone
really knew what was going through my mind.

While everyone was talking, I noticed a family sit down not far from us
. . . parents with one young boy about six or seven years old. The boy
didn't have any hair, he looked a little pale and he wasn't running and
jumping like other kids his age, he just wanted to cuddle on his mama's
lap. When I contemplated this sight, I suddenly knew in my heart that
this little boy was dealing with some major heatlh problems that required
chemotherapy and he had lost his hair . . . it also impressed me that he
may be losing his life as well. I thought about the parents and how they
were coping . . . I thought how I didn't know if I could cope under the
same circumstances!

Suddenly, I became very ashamed and had to fight the tears of repentance
. . . I was feeling sorry for myself because I was not content to have a
loving husband, six healthy children, nine healthy grandchildren, and
here was this family that had only one child (from what I could tell)
and that one child was fighting for his life while parents helplessly
looked on.

My problems suddenly faded and I quickly repented and asked the Lord to
abundantly bless that family and to touch the child and bring peace to the
parents as only He could!

Now, nearly a year later, I look back at this evening filled with emotions
and find that God has blessed us abundantly with a home that is beyond our
wildest expectations.  Admittedly, my struggles with self-pity and lack of
contentment with my circumstances continued to be a struggle for me, but
somehow the picture of this little guy in his mama's lap never faded away.
It has continued to be an example to me of how easily our priorities in life
become unbalanced and our contentment misplaced.

My Friends, it is so easy to weigh our successes and possessions against
others, but that is not pleasing to God. We need to thank Him for every
thing we have regardless of who has more . . . regardless of what we've
had in the past. If we truly trust Him, we WILL be content with what He
has given us for this time in this season of our lives. He alone knows
what we need, when we need it, in order to position us to bring Him the
greatest glory through our lives! I pray that my experience will never
be erased from my memory . . . I pray that it will help you realize that
God has been so good to you, whether you have much or nothing! It's not
what we have that makes us successful in His eyes, it's what we do with
what He has given us! Lord, help us all learn that lesson well!


Today's Prayer

Father, forgive me for not always being content . . . for measuring my
wealth against others and asking "Why?".  Lord, help me to understand
that there is much more to life than "things", that there are people who
have so much less than we do but find their contentment in You. Lord,
when I begin to complain, remind me that You are sufficient for all
my needs and that as long as You are with me, I have more than
I could ever hope to have.

And, Lord, although I don't know that family, please be with them, comfort
them, touch them, strengthen them, and reveal Yourself to all of them in
such a real way and bring them that peace that passes all understanding so
they can walk the path that has been set before them. Lord, help them all to
hold on to Your unchanging hand!

Father, You are my all in all . . . O Lord, You are everything to me!  Amen
and Amen!


Blessings,

Jan Ross
rross@...
ICQ #18767082

"Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim"
(Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem) Psalm 122:6

*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*