con·tent/kənˈtent/ Adjective: In a state of peaceful happiness.
Verb: Satisfy (someone).
Noun: 1.A state of satisfaction: "the greater part of the century was a time of content". Synonyms: adjective. contented - pleased - satisfied - glad - happ
verb. satisfy - gratify - please - indulge - suffice
noun. contents - satisfaction - contentment
It's been awhile since my last post. Lots has happened over the last few weeks. Went to East Africa. It was amazing! It was everything I could have hoped for and more. It was life changing to say the least. On this trip the Father gave me much to think and pray about. Including Phillipians 4:11. Specifically, where Paul says, " 11 ... for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
Learned to be content. Who would of thought? In all my years as a Christ follower, I've always kinda just assumed that if I wasn't content, I was doing something wrong or that I was saying that Jesus wasn't enough. That I was missing something or other that made me content and therefore, the "content boat"-whatever that is- sailed without me. Why wasn't I "content"? As if it was this "state of being" that one acheived at Christian maturity. Like nirvana, or something. Of course, when I see that in writing I have to laugh, because that doesn't even make any sense. There's no magic "content" pill or Fairy Godmother that sings "bibbity boppity boo - now your content too!" I'm sure I've read Phillipians 4:11 a bunch of times and just floated right over the word "learned". I kept expecting to one day wake up and find contentment. I'm not saying I've been living in this constant state of dissatisfaction with life, all sad and depressed. However, there have been times when my - as the definition reads - state of satisfacton or peaceful happiness has waned. And then in East Africa something changed. I changed. My understanding changed. All it took was Mike speaking those words to someone else on our team. I wasn't even involved in the conversation. I just overheard him. Talking to one our teammates he said, "Paul said he learned to be content." It was like a light bulb went on. There almost was this audible "click", like something snapped into place. What? Paul said what? Where? I immediately pulled out my bible and looked it up. There in Phillipians chapter 4, verse 11 - Paul said he "learned" to be content. It was so liberating. I think I even got a little giddy. It was like the final puzzle piece I needed from the Father to know which way I was headed. As I said earlier, the Father gave me much to think about in Africa, a decision that would effect my life greatly, including if I follow the path that I believe God wants me to follow, it might mean closing a door on another path that I've wanted to take for some time. (sorry for the vagueness, not ready to share specifically yet). Not that I've got it all figured out, but I've had some major progress. I'll let you know how it goes....
It's been awhile since my last post. Lots has happened over the last few weeks. Went to East Africa. It was amazing! It was everything I could have hoped for and more. It was life changing to say the least. On this trip the Father gave me much to think and pray about. Including Phillipians 4:11. Specifically, where Paul says, " 11 ... for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
Learned to be content. Who would of thought? In all my years as a Christ follower, I've always kinda just assumed that if I wasn't content, I was doing something wrong or that I was saying that Jesus wasn't enough. That I was missing something or other that made me content and therefore, the "content boat"-whatever that is- sailed without me. Why wasn't I "content"? As if it was this "state of being" that one acheived at Christian maturity. Like nirvana, or something. Of course, when I see that in writing I have to laugh, because that doesn't even make any sense. There's no magic "content" pill or Fairy Godmother that sings "bibbity boppity boo - now your content too!" I'm sure I've read Phillipians 4:11 a bunch of times and just floated right over the word "learned". I kept expecting to one day wake up and find contentment. I'm not saying I've been living in this constant state of dissatisfaction with life, all sad and depressed. However, there have been times when my - as the definition reads - state of satisfacton or peaceful happiness has waned. And then in East Africa something changed. I changed. My understanding changed. All it took was Mike speaking those words to someone else on our team. I wasn't even involved in the conversation. I just overheard him. Talking to one our teammates he said, "Paul said he learned to be content." It was like a light bulb went on. There almost was this audible "click", like something snapped into place. What? Paul said what? Where? I immediately pulled out my bible and looked it up. There in Phillipians chapter 4, verse 11 - Paul said he "learned" to be content. It was so liberating. I think I even got a little giddy. It was like the final puzzle piece I needed from the Father to know which way I was headed. As I said earlier, the Father gave me much to think about in Africa, a decision that would effect my life greatly, including if I follow the path that I believe God wants me to follow, it might mean closing a door on another path that I've wanted to take for some time. (sorry for the vagueness, not ready to share specifically yet). Not that I've got it all figured out, but I've had some major progress. I'll let you know how it goes....
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