Contentment in God's Hand

Contentment in God’s Hand

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14) God, use what I have studied and strive for to encourage these women to desire You. May they listen to You and not my voice. Amen.

We are here today to bless and encourage T and her family in honor of the newest blessing God has seen fit to give them: Baby. Not yet 5 weeks old, she is dependent upon her mother for everything. She will not survive without the care, feeding and love of her mama. She is helpless. She came into this world, as all of us did, with nothing. We leave this world in the same way. I Timothy 6:7 says, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” Seeing her helplessness is a good reminder for God’s children, to consider our dependency on our Father. He sustains us completely but do we choose to acknowledge this? Do we give Him the credit? To live knowing this in a real way? Does knowing this shape our lives and who we are?

I used to spend much time pondering how I could know the will of God. For years I thought the “will of God” was this mysterious and elusive ideal that we would know in Heaven someday. Over the past year and a half, God graciously has begun to show me how to know His will -- here in this life. It is really not very mysterious at all. It’s simple. I read my Bible. Really read it - to learn and to understand.

While reading, I found a few verses that directly told me God’s will. I Thessalonians 4:2-3 God tells us, “For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus Christ. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, the ye should abstain from fornication.” So just obey that command for my marriage and I will be in the will of God? Yes.

Ephesians 5 says, “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” How do I do that? Well, the next couple of verses say not to be drunk, to sing songs, to be melodious to God and to give thanks always for all things.

I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So if I do not give thanks in everything, then I am not in the will of God? Correct. Colossians 3:17 says that “whatever you do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” This is a command.

There are commands to not murder, not steal and not fornicate that I must obey. Just as to be thankful for everything is a command. Thankfulness is a harder command. This one involves my heart deciding to govern my thoughts. But unless Christ first changes my dead and stony heart there is no way I even want to consider thankfulness because I love darkness and evil rather than light and anything good. When He gave life to my dead soul, the Holy Spirit began to cause me to seek Him. Seeking Him and being thankful is something that I have to continually work on, intentionally pursue. I MUST – not an option, be thankful to my Creator that I am who I am. I MUST be thankful to be living here on this street. I must be thankful for my husband, for who he is and what he does and how he loves me. I must praise God daily for this man. Of course I must be thankful for the resources to have plenty to eat and the shelter that I have. This is being content. Contentment is thankfulness. It is not wanting things to be different. If I wish something to be different than it is, I am not being thankful. Even if I wish there was a big oak tree in my front yard or wish the day was less cloudy or less hot….this is not practicing the attitude of thankfulness.

This is humbling. To not be able to figure it all out and have the plan is a very hard place for me to be. To be thankful for something that seems to be not quite right, not according to way I knew God would work things out for me.

A couple weeks ago I started walking my friend's dog, Titus. That first day, he didn’t like that I was going to put him on leash. He thrashed around biting and screaming and writhing on the ground. I held him down gently but firmly. When he finally realized that I was controlling him and I wasn’t going to eat him, but was going to take him for a walk and be his leader, he surrendered.

I finally quite struggling against God, quit thrashing around trying to do life my way - against God’s plan. I finally realized that I was living in sin because I was not trusting Him. I was not living my life in an attitude of total thankfulness. I could not and cannot do this. It’s impossible………….without my Redeemer. He must change my heart. Only He gives me the strength to resist sin. He mercifully changed and is still changing, my heart and my thoughts to show me that His way is simple: be thankful in everything. When I stopped complaining, stopped trying to change situations to be what I thought was better, I looked to my God. I began realizing peace and relaxation that was new to me. I had not been able to rest. I could take a breath and lean back. Why? Because when I finally looked through thankful, grateful eyes I realized that I was in the palm of God’s hand. My Father gently says to me, “My child. I have grabbed you out of these wide rapids headed for hell and now I hold you and love you and will not leave you. I am your God. Trust Me. I am holding you. If you love me then you will just simply obey my commands. I have selected this life, this husband, these children, this dog, for you. This life that you live is how I shape you and mold you. This is how I am glorified, by your dependency on Me.” (Ps. 56 & Jn. 14 & Mt. 7)

How can I not but fall on my face in reverence and gratitude and awe?! This thankful-grateful-contentment issue seems to be far reaching and foundational. I didn’t obey the command to be thankful in all things. I thought I knew what would be a better way. This was selfish pride. I was only making myself and my family miserable. Who am I to question my circumstance? I realized that I have not been giving God credit and glory because I was not trusting Him. My God knows what I am capable of and will not ask me to do anymore. He provides grace for each particular situation. I just must surrender. Trust. REALLY trust. Not just say it but truly live knowing that God’s hand is beneath me. Just as this baby trusts her mother without thinking about the concept of trust, we must see our own helplessness without God and know/understand how He sustains His children every minute.

I want us to consider this. We are here at a baby shower and yet God has decided that each one of us would come here. I was given this commission to talk to you and to focus our time on our Creator. So please truly think. Don’t focus on my human frailty and inadequacies. Listen to what God is saying in His Word.

Do you KNOW this wonderful dependency on God? Do you know and feel the palm of His hand under you? Are you thankful, trusting God for the place, situation, life that He has given you? The moment God saves His child, he/she is placed in His hand. And in this Hand you WILL know why and how to be content. Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Beg God for the faith to believe and to KNOW Him and this will lead you to gratefulness.

God, give us hearts of thankfulness. Cause our hearts to seek you. May all of our words and thoughts only reflect our incredible awe of your greatness. In your name and by your strength only I pray. Amen.

The following hymn (Daniel Whittle: 1840-1901) is taken from II Timothy 1:12. It is a beautiful reflection on why I should be thankful.

I know not why God's wondrous grace to me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love redeemed me for His own.

I know not how this saving faith to me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word, 
wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing us of sin,

Revealing Jesus through His Word, creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill may be reserved for me,

Of weary ways or golden days, before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come, at night or noonday fair,

Nor if I walk the vale with Him, or meet Him in the air.

But I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able,

To keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day.

What is modesty? The Bible doesn't say exactly what we are to wear. Is it ok to wear short-sleeved shirts? What about tank tops? Is it ok to wear them what it's really hot? Should you wear them to church? Does it really matter about what you wear to church and other places? What about "spaghetti strap tops"? They are just sort of a different tank top, right? Where, really do you draw the line? What is right? What is modest and what is not? Why does life have to be so confusing!

I do not wear any shirt that exposes my shoulders. Here's why. When my daughter was 3 years old she talked to me about how some ladies don't dress politely when they show their shoulders to other people. What kind of mother would I be to tell her that it's ok to show her body when she thinks it's immodest. A week or so before she told me this, I had pulled out the little plastic pool. I filled it with water in the yard and her two older brothers put their swim suits on and began jumping in and out of the cool water. I helped her out of her clothes and into the swimming suit. Once on, I said, "Ok. You're all set. Have fun." She looked at me oddly. "What do I put on now, Mommy? I can't go outside like this. I feel funny. I don’t have clothes on." I told her, "No, Honey. That's it. It's a swimming suit. It's ok. You can go outside now." While saying each word, I clearly remember my speech becoming slower. What was I saying? Was I actually saying that even though she didn't feel dressed, because of the name of that particular article of clothing, it was fine and right and good that she leave the privacy of her bedroom?

Well, we don't wear swimming suits anymore. My children still play in water on warm days. They wear their clothes and then when they are done, we hang them on the line and they put on dry clothes. It is amazing how God uses the questions and simplicity of our children to teach us.

What is "modest swimwear"? If there was ever an oxymoron, that phrase is up there with the greats! There is absolutely nothing modest about swimwear. Oh! Two inches less of your thigh shows?! Please. Who are you trying to kid? People put on “swimming/bathing suits” because that's what people do when they go sit or stand next to large containers of water. Does it have to be deep enough to cover your ankles or is spraying water around sufficient to justify taking off your clothes? Is a puddle big enough?

Do we stop to think about the messages that we are sending to others? There are a few. First. If you are a believer, a follower of Christ, how are you visibly set apart from the sexual image that the secular world has set up? Have you been tricked into thinking that these are our cultural norms? Maybe our culture does not have holiness in mind when they promote these trends.

Secondly. What are our brothers in Christ to do when even Christian women are covering or exposing their bodies with the culturally normal coverings clinging to their bodies? What kind of example are we putting forth for our daughters? Why do people think that modesty changes with the location and name of the fabric? Are men really inclined to look/lust more or less based on where the women are located and what the name of their clothing is? Ask them!

The real issue is this. Are you living your life to bring glory to God or to yourself? Really?! I Peter 1:14 says, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

If God has saved your soul from hell, then your aim in life should be only honoring Him by striving for holiness. May we walk worthy of our calling to not be conformed to his world, but to be transformed and changed by His Grace only and do all for His glory.

How Great is my God!

How Great Thou Art

by Swedish poet, Carl Gustav Boberg

Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

When burdens press, and seem beyond endurance,


Bowed down with grief, to Him I lift my face;


And then in love He brings me sweet assurance:


'My child! for thee sufficient is my grace'

O when I see ungrateful man defiling


This bounteous earth, God's gifts so good and great;


In foolish pride, God's holy Name reviling,


And yet, in grace, His wrath and judgment wait.

Then Christ shall come with shout of aclaimation!

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart

Then I will bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim my God how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Here I am after about 7 months of having no internet at all. For the first 2 weeks it was frustrating and weird. Then I went to the library to send out to my email list that I would only be available by phone or postal mail. After that it was so free-ing. People could not believe how I was able to survive. Now we have the internet again.

Just a thought.....

I have deep thoughts now and then.  Often I think about too many things at one time and am not able to clearly explain myself.  This blog will be somewhat of a journalling of my thoughts.  I am trying to work through issues myself.  The past year and a half has been a major learning time for me.  One of the themes that has emerged is that I must know what and why I believe and do.  Motives must be questioned.  I cannot do or believe just because "people do" or "they say".  (are "they" the people who live in Greenwhich, England and tell us the "real" time?)  Anyway, I am constantly made aware of how little and sinful I am.  And prideful.  In my spiritual self I want to glorify God with all of me.  But then my fleshly self gets in the way.  It is so annoying!  Life would be so much easier if I wasn't human.  But I am.  I am here on the earth for a short time for His glory alone.  

So, in everything I do and say I want to glorify Him.  

My original point was this:  I am just going to write as if I am talking.  That way I don't think too hard about the actual typing and grammar.  It just comes out of my head.  I truly welcome anyone, if anyone is out there, to critique anything that I say or how I am saying it.  I strongly believe that we learn differently and I welcome your advice.

Thanks for your patience.

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer."  from Psalm 19:14

If God is my Redeemer then He will provide the strength to resist temptation and make my speech and thoughts honoring to Him.  He has commanded me to hide His Word in my heart that I might not sin against Him.  And in Phil. 4:8 we are given a list of the topics of our speech and thoughts:  TRUTH - HONESTY - JUST - PURITY - LOVELINESS - and things of GOOD REPORT.  

The speaker at our church luncheon on Saturday reminded us to listen to that old song, "Be careful of your hands what you touch, be careful of your ears what you hear, be careful of your mouth what you say, be careful of your feet where you go, be careful of your eyes what you see...For the Father up above is watching you in love so be careful what you see and touch and hear and say and where you go."  I am not sure of the exact wording, but you get the idea.

Our sermon today, about the responsibility that I have, as a mom, to train and teach my children.  The part that made an impression on me was how important the Word of God is.  I am here on this planet to share the gospel and the first mission field for me, as a mom, is my children.  Truly, nothing else matters other than sharing my faith with the children God has given me.  I Peter 1 tells the subjects that I am to faithfully teach my children.

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

Deuteronomy 6 gives direction on when and where and how often to teach my children.

"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

My children are sinners.  They must be saved or they will go to hell.  I am commanded to teach them all I know and learn as often as I am with them.  It is true that I can not save their souls.  God knows who His children are.  Yet, the command to train them up in the way they SHOULD go, is very clear.  It is my responsibility.  I must obey.  

As I plan next year's lessons and books for school, I must consider what my focus is.  Is it more important to memorize the dates and places of various wars?  or hide God's Word in our hearts so that we might not sin against Him?  Not that academics are wrong, but so often they take over.  Bible becomes a class, a workbook to do and then move on to the next subject.  God's ways are to be a part of our every moment.

May God grant me (and anyone who even might read this) His grace to fulfill this immense role of mommy.