Listen; do you want to know a secret?

I have a big secret!  Are you ready?

You are allowed to be content. Content with you clothes, your technology devices (phones, tablets, etc.) It’s a crazy thought, especially as we are constantly being told to have the latest and greatest products and models on the market.

You can be content with your spouse who may have lost their hair or gotten old.  You are allowed to be content with your clothes, your job and your life.

(Quick definition)

Contentment: a state of happiness and satisfaction.

So many times we are stressed, over extended and exhausted because we are trying to portray that we are hip and up-to-date.

Paul breaks down his thoughts on being content in the below two books.

Philippians 4 11b-13

"…For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

 The secret to contentment:  know that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens.

 1 Timothy 6:6-7

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either."

Growing up I’ve always heard “you can’t take it with you when you die…” When you believe in the Lord as your savior you have nothing else to worry about. HE strengthens us and will get us through everything.

I am learning everyday to be more content with the things that I have. I have a phone; it’s not the newest. I have a guitar, its not the most expensive…

Be thankful for what you have and focus on loving people and not the loving things.

~adam

That's Why We Pray

This week I was reading “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” by Jim Cymbala. The book emphasizes the power of prayer and how prayer can completely change your life and everyone around you.

This got me thinking about prayer in my own life.  I pray constantly and sometimes it’s without thinking about it.

There are two Bible passages that really explain my practice of Prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“ Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

James 12-4

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I have found that everything is a lesson learned.  Although not every lesson was a lesson from God, (Sometimes I or people around me have gotten ourselves into situations we shouldn’t have been in) God as always brought a lesson out of it. Which allows me to grow and be a witness to others when I see them struggling as well.

I am constantly praying and talking to God through out the day, which I consider to be a strong point in my life. However, something I feel I can work on his giving God the time and prayer when things are going good.  Jim Cymbala spoke one this in his book as well. I seem to know that when there is trouble or when I need help God is there. But He is also there to take part in my joy.

If you find yourself in need of a friend, or have questions and need answers. OR feel extremely sad or happy. Pray, Let God know that you recognize what is going on around you and that He is a part of it.

-Always praying for you, Adam

Potter and Clay

While playing with the kids this week, we introduced them to molding clay. They loved it. Squishing it through their hands and tearing it apart. Then my wife pulled out some old cookie cutters, we carved out footballs and flowers… They had a fit over them, they were so exited to see these shapes that had been made.

We then decided to make a bigger object, something new. As we only had one jar of molding clay for each kid, the previous designs had to be tore down before we could make their next request. 

Before God was truly in our life , we were unforgivable sinners, he ripped up our old selves and made something new and amazing in His sight.

Jeremiah 18:3-7

   3 So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working with clay at the wheel. 4 He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be.5 Then this message from the Lord came to me: 6 “Family of Israel, you know that I can do the same thing with you. You are like the clay in the potter’s hands, and I am the potter.”

God can make us into the people he needs us to be. You are not a lost cause because you are broken or think you are useless.  Ask God to mold you into the person He wants you to be….

-the ever-forming mold, Adam

Hurry up and Wait

Times have changed… they are always changing. It’s amazing to me,  the way we receive and gather information is much more easier and faster than even when I was a kid. 

If we wanted to do research on a country or animal, we would have to pull out our Encyclopedia or go to the library to find a book on the subject.  Although we still have these tools available, there is now… the Internet. Information at our fingertips…

We have a question… we search it…  Someone quotes a famous leader or gives a fun fact about a subject; we pull out our phones and make sure they are right… we know it all (as long as our tablets or phones are around…)

Answers to our questions are available to us in the here and now. This can be frustrating when we pray and ask God to guide us, or change a situation and we don’t see results as fast as we think we need them.

2 Peter 3:9 encourages us to remember the timing of God.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

When you think God is not working fast enough, do not be discouraged, our timing is not God’s timing.  God sees the biggest picture, maybe your situation effects or impacts the lives of others and needs to stay that way a little longer.  You are doing the right thing in praying, just allow God to work on His time.

Hurry up and pray, but then wait…  God will answer.

Love, adam

What’s that Smell?

We bathe, we wear deodorant, wash our hair, put on perfumes and lotions, but why? Because we don’t like to smell bad or we want to smell better.

We all have odors we like to present and odors we try to cover up.

Paul writes a passage in the Bible pertaining to aromas and smells.  In comparing the times when the Romans would have “victory parades” the general would burn incense… of course to the victors this smelled sweet and brought happiness, to the losers and captives it was the smell of slavery and death.

2 Corinthians 2:14,15 Paul writes:

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For, we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

When we accept the call to follow God and become a Christian, we take on an aroma or Smell. 

To some it’s recognizable as life and victory through Jesus Christ. To non-believers it may be a disgusting smell or even the smell of death.

Coffee has a very distinct smell. For me the smell reminds me of times with family and friends, and brings me a little boost of energy for the day. To others (who may not have had it or maybe had tried a bad cup) it is a disgusting, repulsive smell.  But once you are a coffee drinker, the smell can change its meaning.

Don’t be afraid to let off the aroma of Christ.  By our speech, our actions and our way of living we will always Smell.  Our hope should be that the aroma soon brings joy to others and brings those around us closer to God.

--adam