Contenment

Phl 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.   I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Quite a mouth full in that verse...don't you think?

It's a verse that has come up several times over the last couple of years in my life. I tend to be a contented person in most circumstances and I think it is because of that that I failed to see my discontentment in some areas. Areas that are out of my control but FIRMLY and completely controlled by our Abba Father.

Let me see if I can bring this into focus:

That's Joey. Our sweet mini dachshund. She's been with us since October of 2004. She will soon be 10 years old! She was an early Christmas gift from my husband. Isn't she a cutie! We think so. Joey likes her bed(s). She has three. 2 she LOVES the other one she uses when she has to be shut up in her 'room'. But this one in the picture may well be her favorite! She also LOVES covering up in blankets. 

Yesterday, as I do most weeks, I washed her blankets and beds. She was NOT a happy puppy. I also gave her a bath (she really really really dislikes bath time -- we can't figure out why. We tried everything. She just dislike water and getting wet totally. When it rains she has to be forced outside to do her business and good luck getting her to do anything but sit under the gutter that hangs over the roof) Anyway, so since she was already not happy I figured I would take the opportunity to also clip her nails. Another activity she dislikes with a passion.

Back story:  Joey has a breath issue (its terrible) That issue carries over into her bedding and just makes everything around her stink. I have always washed her bedding but I do so weekly now. I have also always bathed her but do so more now. As for the nails, I have done that rather often but had dreaded doing it between May and June and finally decided to when her nail got stuck on her blanket (it had cracked and the thread from the blanket got stuck in the crack) It wasn't fun loosing her and when i did I noticed her nails were so long they were starting to curve under. Yikes, I hadn't realized it had been that long. So I cut them.

Back to yesterday:  We did the bath and the nails and she was not happy with me at all. She stood on the floor glaring at me for a while then walked away in an attempt to retreat to her 'happy place' aka her bed. They weren't there. They were in the washing machine. She came back to me glaring and then finally decided to hop up on the sofa by me while I ate. All the while giving me those sad eyes and side way glares. As she did that God worked in me teaching me a very real life lesson.

When the storms of life hit and what makes us comfortable, or those things that bring us comfort is taken away will we still be able to find rest and contentment? Can we say with Paul in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

See Joey finds her bed comfortable and comforting. I had taken that away when she thought she needed them the most. She was not happy, cold and wet not to mention I had cut her nails! Terrible aren't I! Or am I? See, this uncomfortable situation would only play out for a bit. It was for her benefit as well as those around her and once I had finished she would feel better, smell better and look better not to mention her beds would as well. The above picture shows her in her bed after I got it out of the dryer. Fresh, clean, warm and smelling wonderful. I think she liked it too! Because she heard me coming from the laundry room and saw me...walked with me every step to where her bed lives and hopped in before I had it on the floor good!

During her few hours of being uncomfortable Joey found a place to rest. She didn't roam around the house watching and waiting for the laundry to be done. Whining and complaining. She found a place to rest and wait.  And wait she did because for anyone who knows me I forgot the beds in the dryer until after I got back home! HA!

The lesson applies in our lives as well b/c no matter the uncomfortable situation we can find a place of rest. That place of being content no matter what state we find ourselves in. Instead of lamenting what was, or what isn't we can be content where we are choosing to focus on what we have and finding our own place of rest. Things don't have to be perfect for us to find rest and contentment. I am learning that I can find contentment by focusing on God, reminding myself I am where He has me, HE IS WITH ME, HE will NEVER leave me or forsake me, He has a plan,  He IS in control no matter what it looks like, He IS working ALL things together for my good, and no matter the situation I can do it through HIM as He gives me strength! HE IS MY STRENGTH! 

So the next time we feel the urge to grumble or complain, get down and discouraged (believe I've been there and done that more than I care to admit) about our uncomfortable situations let's choose rather to find the good in the situation -- there is ALWAYS something good, right? - and focus on the truth of the Word of God, His provision and protection, how He has delivered in the past and pray pray pray! He not only has the answers He IS the answer! We can choose to be content. Whether we have a little or a lot. Whether our lives look like we thought they would or not. Whether life is hard or easy. Even if life continues on as it is in a hard and difficult situation...we can choose contentment.

 And as I heard from another believer this weekend at the Beth Moore conference I attended  "Calm down and enjoy the ride"

**Disclaimer** the above is from my heart. Something God is working into my life. I have not yet arrived but I press on toward the mark! Please look over spelling and grammatical errors and love me anyway :)