Moments of Contentment

Contentment in the 2lst century is not a natural response for us. We are faced with so much pain, economic stress and struggle that place demands on our peace.

Listen we don’t even have to sow these brambles they just come up naturally. Apostle Paul says, “…I have learned to be content” (Phil 4:1) Paul even knew to be content doesn’t come naturally, but it must take time to be learned.

I like the smell and look of beautiful flowers. However, I don’t have the greenest thumb to care for them at times. But someone said if you want flowers there must be a garden and a gardener’s care in order to cultivate the garden. Therefore just liking flowers was not good enough. There must be the cultivation for life.

That is how peace and contentment is to God’s kingdom. Peace is given to us, as Christians, but we must know how to cultivate it. We must take on the discipline of the gardener and exercise contentment in an unstable generation through our continual relationship with Him.

Discipline allows us to experience powerful moments of contentment on a daily basis. This kind of contentment will come naturally and be acquired gradually as we need it.

So together let’s quiet our murmurings, natural though they may be, and become a student in the School of Contentment.

Check out Bishop Courtney McBath’s messages on “Pursuing Kingdom Life” at http://www.crcglobal.org/

Picture This!

Have you ever found yourself reading a good book and all of a sudden you began to imagine yourself as one of the characters in the story? Or maybe you were watching a good movie and suddenly you became so engaged in the storyline that you saw yourself acting out the part you connected with best?

Now picture that! All of us at one time or another put ourselves in the middle of some director’s script only to realize that we are not the actual actors or actresses in the movie, but our passion for the role or the story became so real and close to our heart.

December 2009, I was in Uganda and had the opportunity to visit an orphanage during my trip. I put myself in the story, as I listened to the director of the orphanage share the daily struggles and heartache of caring for these children. Due to the lack of sponsorships, some of the children did not get to eat during the day, but I get to eat when I want too. My children get to eat everyday. I listened as they sent the children back home at the end of their day at the orphanage, as they coaxed them how to protect themselves from guardians who would rape and abuse them. I put myself in the picture and saw how difficult it would be for me to give this kind of advice to five year olds. By placing myself in this picture my heart ached and was torn with grief. I left that country determined to sponsor as many children I could so that they could experience a better life.

Over the last twenty-five days, America became a part of a picture when the nation of Haiti was hit with one of the worst earthquakes ever. Personally, I tried to put myself in the picture by being a mother who was thankful for being alive, but yet devastated because I could not find my children. Better yet, being a mother who had to bury her husband and children after pulling them from the rubble. Herein is a role that I would struggle to play and opt to give to another.

However, these are the moments when we must refuse to shut up the bowels of our compassion, and step into the picture with our hearts willing to serve in any way we can. Many of us cannot take a trip to Haiti and get in the picture, but we can put our money into the picture.

Today, take a moment and decide to get into the Haiti picture. The director is auditioning for roles. What role will you play in helping life to be better for someone else?

Find an organization that you can link to and put your resources into the picture. If you do not have one, link to http://www.crcglobal.org/ today and become a role player for the good of others.