Discomfort

Not even sure if that's the right word.

What have I done?


Maybe this is not okay, maybe I shouldn't have.
But it's too late, it seems. Too late.

What to do now but to just let it be? Let it unfold and see.
Is this a test of will power and strength? Or of loyalty and trust?

Maybe all.

But all of our choices come with consequences, so I must be prepared to accept them.

Or do something to change it

Contentedness

What does it mean to be content?

- "to feel or express happiness or satisfaction" (WordReference)
- "the feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation" (Merriam-Webster)
- "accepting one's situation or life with equanimity and satisfaction" (dictionary.com)

Growing up in Sunday School, I have heard this verse many times, and it has been ingrained in my head, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"  (Philippians 4:13 KJV). I used to take this verse in a way of  encouragement, and reassurance, thinking that I was able and would be capable of accomplishing any task that I set forth to do.

But little did I know the full context of it; which is what I stumbled upon today.


11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 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. 13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

- Philipians 4:11-13 (NIV)

When I read this passage, verse 12 struck an interest in me, especially because it frames "being content in any and every situation" as a secret. So there is a secret to being content. What is that secret? Well, verse 13 says it all: "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength".

I noticed the difference between the two versions in KJV and NIV. I had been thinking that I could do all things (KJV), whereas it really meant that I could do "all this" (NIV).  Which makes a HUGE difference, in my opinion.

In KJV, verse 13 without context is saying that I can do anything, any task, any goal that I want to do
In NIV, the same verse without context says that I can do all this... which leads me to wonder; all what? What is "this"? ...which leads me to think that there is one specific thing that this passage is talking about - being content.

Reading the rest of this passage in context, it makes more sense. Paul is talking about how he has "learned to be content whatever the circumstances", and that it is a secret, which is that he can be content through Jesus Christ, who gives him the strength to do so.

So I used to think about verse 13 in such a way that meant anything that I wanted was possible through God, but it didn't seem to match up with the reality - because not everything that I prayed to God for happened, or happened the way that I had expected/wanted it to. That being said, I questioned this verse in the sense that it didn't seem technically true.

But now I know that Paul is not really talking about being able to do ANYTHING that I wanted to do. Paul was talking about being content - the fact that we are able to be content, in any situation that we find ourselves in. So no matter how God chooses to answer my prayers or not (in my point of view), it is 100% possible for me to still be content. I can still be reassured that since I have chosen to follow God, He will take care of me

(as Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) says,
 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.")

and I can use the secret that Paul has shared with us to be content with God's plans for me.


Going through this passage again,
Paul knows what it is to have and to not have.
Paul has learned to be content either way.
Paul says that there is a secret to how he learned to be content.
The secret is that Jesus Christ gives him the strength to be content in every and any situation.


So because I have chosen to follow God, and obey and trust in His plans, I too, can learn to be content in any and every situation.

http://youtu.be/2DN7KU_dzFQ - Switchfoot - Let That Be Enough

Can A Nation Be Changed?

http://youtu.be/McisWvo-SrQ - Matt Redman

Can a nation be changed?
Can a nation be saved?
Can a nation be turned back to you?

Let this nation be changed,
Let this nation be saved.
Let this nation be turned back to you.

We're on our knees, 
We're on our knees again.
We're on our knees, 
We're on our knees again.
We're on our knees, 
We're on our knees again.
We're on our knees, 
We're on our knees again.

James 1

I just read this chapter and thought it was very applicable. We also had a sermon on verses 19-25 today too, which I found was very relevant in my life. More on this later.

Copied from here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%201&version=NIV

James 1
New International Version (NIV)
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid ofall moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

He Reigns

http://youtu.be/Y8R9ZPT2T-I - Newsboys


It's the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It's the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God's holy fire
It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir

It's all God's children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It's all God's children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns

Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this

And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they've just heard
'Cause all the powers of darkness
Can't drown out a single word

When all God's children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
All God's people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns

Choice Makes a Difference

I think I've come to realize how much I need God in my life as a Saviour and a Guide.

I've always sort of "known" that I needed God to save me from my sins, God to forgive me and such, but it has never really struck me so much that I need to BE like Him, to learn from Him, and to want to really fully be just like Him. Wow.   In every way in my life right now, I can see how He can make me into a much better person. Just the love that He's shown me, the love that I have been capable of so far, and how much more love I am capable of having. The desire to strive towards being able to master loving people is such an awesome goal to have.

I am so thankful to God for the way He has beautifully crafted me, planned out my life, and led me through it while giving me free will and the power to make my own choices; whether to obey Him or not.

Even from one night of reflection and making the decision that I want to be able to love someone that I was feeling hot and cold with made a really big difference. From the moment I woke up til now, I have felt so relieved, so clean, so light, and refreshed. I no longer feel the burdens of having a pretense, my wall of meaner tones and comments has broken down, and I have been honest and genuine in my thoughts, and words. I feel so good.

Because of the decision I made to obey Christ in choosing to make things right and making the choice to want to show love to others, I am feeling like an athlete full of energy before a race. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me and to get closer to being more like Him and being able to love those around me. 

Greed

http://youtu.be/PtUUuVtURrc


Well, take a look around and tell me what you see
We are consuming everything
And I must confess that I fall
Oh, isn't this the story of us all?

Falsely advertised
Into believing that we need this stuff in our lives

'Cause what we got is what we need
And everything else is only greed
It's greener on the other side
Oh, why can't we be satisfied

Oh whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa

And I've seen some with little
And they seemed like they were doing just fine to me
And I've seen some with a lot
And they don't seem like they ever want to stop

Falsely advertised
Into believing that we need this stuff in our lives

'Cause what we got is what we need
And everything else is only greed
It's greener on the other side
Oh, why can't we be satisfied

Oh whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa

'Cause what we got is what we need
And everything else is only greed
It's greener on the other side
Oh, why can't we be satisfied

Oh whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa, whoa

- Shawn McDonald

Little Progress

Due to lack of effort?

What is holding me back?

Do I not want it, deep down, to change?

Am I unwilling to be obedient?

Do I not trust in the Creator, that His plan is superior to all else?



2 John 1:5-7
New International Version (NIV)
5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.


It's been four months since I've realized my issue, and my friend pointed it out today. Just said it straight up, that there was a problem, one that I hadn't expressed aloud before. The fact alone that someone else noticed this issue after such a long time just speaks volumes about how much I've done to try and fix it. To change myself to be more Christ-like, to obey in His commands to love. Love, love love.

I must figure out what this is in me that is making me feel this way first.
Then I must pray and ask for forgiveness and guidance to improve.
Then I must stay conscious of this, and put in more effort and watch myself.


http://youtu.be/L4PiNTeEkwo - Shawn McDonald