Contentment: Our Choice

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite days of the entire year. Basically, we  get to walk around all day long and tell people how fabulous they are, how much we love them, and how much we enjoy having them in our lives.

From conversations, not quite everyone (you know who you are) has the same sort of joyful expressions towards a holiday focused on love. Granted, it is a really great reminder of your Facebook relationship status…but it shouldn’t be a day that instills doubt.

One doubt in our mind sparks a whole series of questions because we’ve all been there….well at least i have.

"Am i loveable? If i’m not what can i do to change that?Will i ever find someone who can find me worthy to be loved? Why do i go unnoticed?

Speaking for all of the ladies, these questions plague us continuously, or they can if we allow them to.

At a campus ministry relationship panel a staff member quoted “The degree to which we’re content in singleness is the degree we’ll be content in marriage.”

Awesome. That’s a lot easier said than done, but resolving to be content starts with setting our focus on what is of God.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right. Think about things that are pure, lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  ~Philippians 4:8

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Reasons to Find Contentment in Singleness:

* We Want God’s Best- His best is found only in following God’s path.

*This is a time to prepare for marriage-it’s hard to be a servant, to give one’s life away to another. If we want to be the best spouse someday, God-willing, we should start learning how to be a servant to others now.

*Character qualities don’t appear overnight. It takes years to create a track record of character.

*Never again will we have so much time to give to God. Relationships take time. Build a foundation with God now.

*We’re worth it.

         

Even as a kid we knew that waiting to open Christmas gifts until Christmas morning was worth it. Waiting until God’s perfect timing—i’m absolutely convinced---will be worth it.

He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.  ~Romans 4:21

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Best Advice i ever heard on Relationships:

If i want a King, i must focus now on becoming a Queen.

An Inconvenient Truth

Driving home on a recent road trip this billboard captured my attention and has captivated my thoughts over the last few days…

Convenience, i get it. Convenience is a part of our culture. The Western culture thrives on a lifestyle that takes shortcuts and delegation. Could you imagine life without cell phones, iPods, laptop computers, Free Wi-Fi, garage door openers, remote controls, or light switches?

Friends, i enjoy my one-touch coffee maker as much as the next person, but there is a BIGGER truth, than finding a good time for church, that has caused me to be so unsettled by this ‘Church for sleepyheads.’

(Sidenote:Though this billboard caused a personal struggle, let’s pray this church is able to reach a group of people that otherwise may not be able to be a part of a community of believers. )

As much as we enjoy technology making our lives easier, there are truths in this world that offer only inconvenience to our own plans.

We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.                       ~1 Thessalonians 2:2

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].  ~Ephesians 6:12

Truth: The Gospel is NOT for our Convenience.

Whoa. The Gospel can’t simply be ‘slipped’ into our schedule when we have some free time. We can’t become a follower of Christ when it’s the ‘cool’ thing to do. Nor can we decide when God’s perfect timing is.

A life being poured out for the Gospel is not easy, it’s painful and frustrating at times. But as Paul modeled:

I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls.                     ~2 Corinthians 12:15

On K-LOVE radio yesterday, there was a news report about a pastor who was endorsing technology. He said in the time of the apostle Paul, Paul used the most advanced technology available to share the Gospel; so we should as well.

Awesome. Tweet Away. Like your Church on Facebook. Write a blog. Skype a bible study. G-chat with your pastor. Download a Bible app.

However none of these conveniences can replace the very way that Jesus taught us to relationally share the Gospel.

 We must live life with people. We must be a living witness to non-believers. We must be willing to inconvenience our own lives to invite others to join us in chasing the cross.

As the transition back to being a college student begins, as the school semester starts, as friends are making grand New Years’ resolutions…i am continuously reminded:

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  ~Luke 9:25

Hit up the 6:30 pm church service, by all means. Maybe even invite some friends to join. But take time and question if Jesus is your Lord of your life, or someone you turn to only when it fits into your schedule?

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Jesus makes a Commission of our lives,        ……………  not a Convenience.

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