THE PRACTICE AND ART OF CONTENTMENT

“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 all this through Him who gives me strength.”  (Philippians 4:11b–13 NIV)

Contentment isn’t passive satisfaction. It is the grateful, faithful, and fruitful use of whatever God has placed in our hands -- little or much. It is lifting the cup Providence gives us and calling on the name of the Lord. The contents of the cup are God’s provision; drawing deeply from it is the practice and art of contentment.

To refuse the cup because it is only half full, because its flavor is unfamiliar, or because someone else’s cup seems finer is to miss the goodness within -- and that loss is the quiet penalty of discontent. No one lives discontented who fully employs and fully enjoys what God has already given.

It may sound lofty to say we can have what we desire if we learn to desire what we have -- but this much is true: contentment is receiving the most and best from life by making the most and best of what God has entrusted to us in Christ. 

-- Updated and adapted from Maltbie D. Babcock (1858-1901) 

#6452 

DO YOU LOVE TO WORRY?

Jesus told His disciples, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  (Matthew 6:31-34 NIV)

Nobody loves to worry any more than anyone loves to pay taxes or have a root canal or host their in-laws for a week. But those things need to be done, so we do them. Maybe the real question is, do we love our stuff more than we do everything else, especially worry?

When we lean into our troubles instead of God, worry replaces worship; in effect, we’re saying, “God, I don’t think You’ve got this.” We would rather trust our worry than His strength and provision. Worry impacts our witness: Who wants to listen to Christians who think their God isn’t big enough to handle every problem?

Worry is a warning -- a yellow light telling you that a choice is coming up fast. Choice one: take your worry and turn your concerns over to God, trusting Him to help you get through them. Or choice two: take your worry as a badge of honor, bravery in the face of God’s apparent abandonment -- a sign that you care more about your problems than God does.

Worry is a sign that you’re paying attention, that you care about what’s going on. That’s good. But if you hang on to that worry, you risk making it an idol. So really, who do you love more, worry or God? 

-- Quentin Guy in “The 5-Minute Bible Study for Men: Pursuing God”

#6300

GOD’S AMAZING GRACE

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV)

Take all your anxieties to Calvary, Paul urged. Stand in the shadow of God’s crucified Son. Now pose your questions. Is Jesus on my side? Look at the wound in His. Will He stay with me? Having given the supreme and costliest gift, “how can He fail to lavish upon us all He has to give?” (Romans 8:32 NEB)

“’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” When John Newton penned this promise, he did so out of personal experience. His greatest test came the day he buried his wife, Mary. He had loved her dearly and prayed his death would precede hers. But his prayer was not answered.

Yet God’s grace proved sufficient. On the day she died Newton found strength to preach a Sunday sermon. The next day he visited church members, and later he officiated at his wife’s funeral. He grieved but in his grief found God’s provision. He later wrote, “The Bank of England is too poor to compensate for such a loss as mine. But the Lord, the all-sufficient God, speaks, and it is done. Let those who know Him, and trust Him, be of good courage. He can give them strength as their trials increase… and what He can do He had promised that He will do.” (From “But Now I See: The Life of John Newton” by Josiah Bull.)

Let God’s grace dethrone your fears. Anxiety still comes, for certain. The globe still heats up; wars still flare up; the economy acts up. Disease, calamity, and trouble populate your world. But they don’t control it! Grace does. 

-- Max Lucado in “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine”

#6184

 

WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE NEED IT – Part 2 of 2

Remember the Lord’s Prayer? “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

What we really wish is that it said weekly or monthly or yearly bread. That way we wouldn’t have to depend on God on a daily basis! But that’s when God has us right where He wants us. Spiritual maturity is not self-sufficiency. In fact, our desire for self-sufficiency is a subtle expression of our sinful nature. It’s a desire to get to a place where we don’t need God. We want God to provide more so we need Him less…

Everyone wants a miracle, but no one wants to be in a situation that necessitates one. But you cannot have one without the other. So God gracefully puts us in situations where enough isn’t enough. We find ourselves in a situation where we need to feed 20,000 people and we have two fish to our name.

-- Mark Batterson in “The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible” 

#6027

WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE NEED IT – Part 1 of 2

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  (Philippians 4:6)

Few people have witnessed more miracles than George Müller (1805 – 1898).

Along with pastoring one church for sixty-six years, Müller established the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. He cared for 10,024 orphans while establishing 117 schools for their education throughout England. Adjusted for inflation, George Müller raised $150 million dollars for those kingdom causes. This is an incredible sum of money by any standard, but what makes it even more remarkable is the fact that George Müller never asked anyone for anything – not a single penny. He made a covenant to ask only God. Müller figured that God knew exactly what he needed and when he needed it, and God could make provision for it. It is estimated that Müller experienced thirty thousand specific answers to prayer, as recorded in his journal. Time and time again, food would be dropped off on their doorstep right when they ran out, a donation was made right before a bill came due, or a plumber offered his services right when a problem needed to be fixed.

I live by an Oswald Chambers maxim: “Let God be as original with other people as He is with you.” So I’m not prescribing George Müller’s methodology across the board. I think it’s okay to verbalize a need or ask for help, but shouldn’t we put it to prayer first rather than last? And why do we take matters into our own hands when we can put them into the hands of God? Few things are harder than letting go and letting God, but that’s what George Müller modeled. And I can think of thirty thousand reasons to follow his example. 

-- Mark Batterson in “The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible” 

#6026

GOODNESS AND MERCY

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  (Psalm 23:6 NKJV)

If the Lord is the shepherd who leads the flock, goodness and mercy are the two sheepdogs that guard the rear of the flock. Goodness and mercy. Not goodness alone, for we are sinners in need of mercy. Not mercy alone, for we are fragile, in need of goodness. We need them both. As F. B. Meyer wrote in “The Shepherd Psalm,”  “Goodness to supply every need. Mercy to forgive every sin. Goodness to provide. Mercy to pardon.”

Goodness and mercy -- the central escort of God’s flock. If that duo doesn’t reinforce your faith, try this phrase: “All the days of my life.”

What a huge statement. Look at the size of it! Goodness and mercy follow the child of God each and every day! Think of the days that lie ahead. What do you see? Days at home with only toddlers? God will be at your side. Days in a dead-end job? He will walk you through. Days of loneliness? He will take your hand. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me -- not some, not most, not nearly all -- but all the days of my life. 

-- Max Lucado in “Traveling Light: The Promise of Psalm 23”

#5316

THE FIVE P’S OF PEACE

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  (John 14:27 NIV)

There are at least five aspects to the peace of Christ. They all start with ‘P’ so it’s easy to remember. Peace comes from the PRESENCE of Christ. Peace is what He gives because it is what He is. Second, peace is the result of Christ’s PARDON. Peace is knowing that we are forgiven. Third, peace is the assurance of Christ’s PROVISION. His strength in our needs, given to us on time and in time in life’s problems. There is no peace as long as we are constantly worrying about whether or not we’re going to make it through difficulties. Fourth, peace is having a clear PURPOSE, knowing that we have surrendered our lives to Christ and that He will guide us hour by hour. And fifth, peace is the experience of Christ’s PLEASURE. It is knowing that He loves us, that not even our mistakes can cause Him to stop loving us. Knowing that motivates us to live our lives to His glory. A part of that aspect of peace is knowing that He has defeated death, that through Him we are alive forever and can live now without fear. 

-- Adapted from Lloyd J. Ogilvie in “If God Cares, Why Do I Still Have Problems?”

#5312

OUR SHEPHERD - Part 1

The wonderful picture of God as our Shepherd is found in many places in the Old Testament. One of the Psalms begins, “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock” (Psalm 80:1). It’s great to think that the Everlasting God, the Almighty Creator, condescends to be the Shepherd of His people. 

David makes the relationship a personal one in the best known of all Psalms. “The Lord is my shepherd,” he cries exultantly, “I shall lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1, italics mine). The rest of the Psalm tells us what we shall not lack. It speaks of the Shepherd’s provision as He leads us to the green pastures, His guidance along the paths of righteousness (that means the right paths), His presence with us in the dark valley. No wonder David testifies, “My cup overflows” (verse 5) – such are God’s boundless blessings.

Isaiah adds a further touch to the picture when he says, “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart” (Isaiah 40:11). The figure here indicates the tender care with which the Lord supports His people on their journey and the strong love with which He enfolds them. 

-- Billy Graham in “Who’s in Charge of a World That Suffers?”

GRASPING THE CROSS

Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”  (Matthew 16:25)

Ever feel you’re losing your grip on life? Congratulations! Let go of your own grip. Grasp the cross. You are loved, cherished and valued. The Lord won’t ever let go of you. Give your life over to His control. He’ll take it and give you back a more exciting, fulfilling life than you’ve ever known. Give your time to Him and He’ll give you back eternity. Give yourself to people in need and He’ll give you a heart overflowing with love. Give your money over to His management and He’ll give back more than you need. 

-- Lloyd J. Ogilvie in “If God Cares, Why Do I Still Have Problems?”

#5047

PASS IT ON

The grace of our loving heavenly Father has filled our lives, giving us a solid hope.  Now we have the privilege of sharing that grace to those around us.  As grace-filled men and women relate to each other, they communicate in tangible ways the value placed on each other's lives. We share in the abundance we have been given. And we bear witness that our lives are significant to another person.

We live in a throwaway culture. Sadly many people move through numerous throwaway relationships.  The beauty of someone who prizes and protects relationships is obvious.  Our challenge is to be daily renewed and refreshed in our Lord's grace and His provision, and then pass it on to others.

-- Adapted from Dr. Norm Wakefield & Jody Brolsma in “Men Are from Israel, Women Are from Moab”

#4029

A PRAYER FOR DIFFICULT TIMES

Editor’s Note: The following prayer is an adaptation of the Lord’s Prayer for difficult times. My wife first introduced this to me over 25 years ago. On this National Day of Prayer during the Covid-19 Pandemic I thought it particularly appropriate for today’s SOUND BITES.

A PRAYER FOR DIFFICULT TIMES

Our Father, in spite of the present difficulty, You are still in heaven and the world is still ordered. May my response hallow Your Name. The coming of Your Kingdom is more important than my own difficulty -- so, may I not hinder its coming by my worry. Cause this event to be an opening up to Your will on earth, which I can see as clearly as if I were in heaven. I must recognize that You still provide the necessities of life; I have bread enough. May this event help me to recognize how important it is to secure Your forgiveness and to forgive those who have sinned against me. And may this not be an occasion for temptation to lose faith or respond as an unbeliever. Deliver me from any evil response or action in this difficulty. The overriding and all-important fact of life is that to You belongs the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, and even this event is caught up in that fact. Amen.

--  John Killinger

#4838

LIVING BY GRACE

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”  (Matthew 6:26 NIV)

Though it is a wonderful truth to know that we are saved by grace, it is equally wonderful to know that we live by it as well.  Though we labor, just as the birds of the air labor, we do not need to grasp and grab frantically, because we have One who cares for us just as He cares for the birds of the air.

-- Richard J. Foster


#4665

GOD’S HELP IS TIMELY

“He leads me beside still waters.”  (Psalm 23:2 NKJV)

God leads us. He tells us what we need to know when we need to know it. As another New Testament writer would affirm: “We will find grace to help us when we need it.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

Listen to a different translation: “Let us therefore boldy approach the throne of our gracious God, where we may receive mercy and in His grace find timely help.” (Hebrews 4:16 NEB)

God’s help is timely. He helps us the same way a father gives plane tickets to his family. When I travel with my kids, I carry all our tickets in my satchel. When the moment comes to board the plane, I stand between the attendant and the child. As each daughter passes, I place a ticket in her hand. She, in turn, gives the ticket to the attendant. Each one receives the ticket in the nick of time.

What I do for my daughters God does for you. He places Himself between you and the need. And at the right time, He gives you the ticket…

God leads us. God will do the right thing at the right time. And what a difference that makes.

Since I know His provision is timely, I can enjoy the present [without worry.]

-- Max Lucado in “Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Meant to Bear”

#4622

THE GOSPEL IN A NUTSHELL -- JOHN 3:16

FOR GOD -- The Greatest Deity
SO LOVED -- The Greatest Caring
THE WORLD -- The Greatest Company
THAT HE GAVE -- The Greatest Gift
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON -- The Greatest Perfection
THAT WHOSOEVER -- The Greatest Invitation
BELIEVES -- The Greatest Simplicity
IN HIM -- The Greatest Attraction
SHOULD NOT PERISH -- The Greatest Promise
BUT -- The Greatest Difference
HAVE -- The Greatest Certainty
EVERLASTING LIFE -- The Greatest Possession

-- Source Unknown 


#4547

FAITH AND A PILE OF ROCKS

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral. 

-- Antoine De Saint-Exupery 


#4513

VISION BEYOND YOUR RESOURCES

"[Pastor,] we want to give [the church] a gift, and there are no strings attached.  But before I tell you how much we're going to give, I want you to know why we're giving it.  We're giving this gift because you have vision beyond your resources."

I'll never forget that phrase: "vision beyond your resources."

The rationale behind the gift was just as meaningful as the gift itself.  And that rationale has inspired us to keep dreaming irrational dreams.  Those four words, vision beyond your resources, have become a mantra for the ministry of National Community Church.  We refuse to let our budget determine our vision.  That left-brained approach is a wrong-brained approach because it's based on our limited resources rather than on God's unlimited provision.  Faith is allowing your God-given vision to determine your budget.  That certainly does not mean you practice poor financial stewardship, spend beyond your means, and accumulate a huge debt load.  It does mean that you take a step of faith when God gives you a vision because you trust that the One who gave you the vision is going to make provision.  And for the record, if the vision is from God, it will most definitely be beyond your means.

Having vision beyond your resources is synonymous with dreaming big.  And it may feel like you're setting yourself up for failure, but you're actually setting God up for a miracle.  How God performs the miracle is His job.  Your job is drawing a circle around the God-given dream.

"We want to give the church $3 million dollars."

I was speechless. And I am a preacher.

-- Mark Batterson in “The Circle Maker”


#4509

ONLY IN GOD’S ECONOMY

[In Matthew 14:13-21] a crowd of five thousand is listening to Jesus speak.  He doesn't want to send them away hungry, but there aren't any eating establishments anywhere.  Then a nameless boy offers his brown-bag lunch of five loaves and two fish to Jesus.  It's a nice gesture, but Andrew verbalizes what all the other disciples must have been thinking:  "How far will they go among so many? … Andrew starts doing the math in his head and it doesn't add up.

In terms of addition, 5 + 2 = 7.  But if you add God into the equation, 5 + 2 ≠ 7.  When you give what you have to God, He multiplies it so that 5 + 2 = 5,000.  Not only does God multiply the meal so that it feeds five thousand; the disciples actually end up with more leftovers than they had food to begin with.  Only in God's economy!  The twelve baskets of remainders means the most accurate equation is this:  5 + 2 = 5,000 R12.

If you put what little you have in your hand into the hand of God, it won't just add up; God will make it multiply.

One footnote. Do you recall what Jesus did right before the miracle?  It says Jesus "gave thanks." He didn't wait until after the miracle; He thanked God for the miracle before the miracle happened.

-- Mark Batterson in “The Circle Maker”


#4415

OUR DAILY PROVISIONS

“Give us this day our daily bread.”  (Matthew 6:11)

Truth is, I think, if God just gave us our daily bread, many of us would be angry. “That's all you're going to give me? You're just going to give me enough to sustain me for today? What about tomorrow or next year or 10, 20, 30 years from now? I want to know that I'm set up.” And yet Jesus says just pray for your daily provisions.

-- Francis Chan

#4388

THE MOUNTAIN IN YOUR LIFE

“Who is like You, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and Your faithfulness surrounds You.”  (Psalm 89:8 NIV)

There comes a moment when you must quit talking to God about the mountain in your life and start talking to the mountain about your God. You proclaim His power. You declare His sovereignty. You affirm His faithfulness. You stand on His Word. You cling to His promises.

-- Mark Batterson in “Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge”

#4346

MADE FOR ANOTHER WORLD

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were sojourners and aliens on the earth.”  (Hebrews 11:13)

God does not always provide and care for us in ways we might expect in this life. The Bible does not promise this. Peter, James, John, and Paul gave their very lives for the gospel. They viewed the gospel as a treasure not to be lost at any cost. They suffered gladly because they had something in the gospel that had far more worth.

This life is fleeting. This life is fragile. This life is but a vapor’s breath. The next life, the age to come, is where all God’s provision and care for us will ultimately make sense and come together as a whole.

We may not receive healing in this life, but we will receive perfect healing in eternity. We may not see answers to our greatest prayers in this life, but we will receive fully in eternity. Some days God’s provision and care may seem distant, but it will be ever-present in eternity. We long for our world to stop raging and be at peace, but ultimate peace will only come in eternity.

Our hearts ache under the pressures of this life, but it is only because we were made for another world. We are sojourners and aliens on this earth.

-- Matt Brown in an article entitled “Four Truths About God’s Provision"

#4260