The ever-continuing Life Lesson.

I love this idea. I saw Kerrie write about it today and headed over to see what it was all about. The idea of writing every day for September. Not realistic at this point in life unfortunately but I love the idea of it. Since I had planned to share a little more personally today, I went ahead and went with today's prompt.

Blogtember Day 3. Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered. 

I don't know that I would necessarily call it advice, more like something I have learned am learning. I don't know that I can classify it as something I always remember, but its something I hope to always remember.

I saw myself learning it when I first got to college and experienced heartache (more on that soon I promise, but here's what came before). I found myself falling flat on my face before a choice right after I was married. Then last year it was on my heart a few times here and here. There was a choice to be made, to choose to dwell on things and allow myself to fixate on what had been taken away from me by the Lord, or the choice to trust that He knows what He is doing, even when I think I know better.   

To choose contentment with where He has me.

I really do believe it is a choice. We won't overnight become those pretty girls that always look so happy, whose lives seem to be perfect in all the ways we hope for. The ones we see living our very own dreams. We all too easily fall into the habit of comparison and longing (I know I can!).
But I am beginning to think that each of us makes this choice daily. No-one's life is perfect, as evidenced by pop culture today and those in our generation that may have everything the world tells us we need. Money doesn't buy happiness, popularity doesn't seem like all its made out to be and trends soon die out before most of us may even be on board with what is currently 'in.'

But we can choose to be thankful. To embrace what the Lord has blessed us with and given to us, even for a season. Even if we are in the midst of a rough season, thankful He has given us a season of clinging to Him.

So I think the only information I would pass along today friends, is that. Contentment is a choice, one I am always trying to work towards. I know I always need a little more practice.
But somewhere in between the practice of rejoicing with others, seeking God's heart for others and crying out to Him when needed....I hope to learn it fully.

Contentment. 

Contentment & Purity.

Contentment.


Isn't it funny how difficult the concept is behind this one word. As I sit at my desk this evening the idea of it weighs heavy on my heart. It’s cold outside, colder than perhaps it should be this time of year and the heat is blowing through the vent rustling my papers. I dislike the cold, I would prefer it was summer and I was feeling energized from all the outdoor activities that come from the summer season.
And this word is heavy on my heart tonight.


Contentment.


Perhaps it’s because just when we think we grasp the idea of it, something comes and knocks us down in life and once again we feel like we are aiming for it.
While talking with several friends this week, this topic came up. In totally unrelated life situations this topic came up time again. Because really, all of us battling with it in some form or another.
There are things that make each of us discontent with where life has us.

I don’t what that is personally for you. What makes you discontent with where you are.
Maybe you are single and waiting for God to write your love story still, or married waiting for a baby, having health issues or even struggling financially. Waiting for God to answer a question you have. All of us have this feeling of being discontent with where God has us at some time or another. Discontent with the season life is currently in. With the waiting.


The hubby and I were talking in the car about this topic on the way home from our date night. As we talked about purity and the significance it has on our entire lives, he wisely pointed out that since purity is about so much more than just sexual purity, contentment plays a role. Purity is about the way we live life, living in light of God’s amazing love. He mentioned how by being discontent we could actually be living impurely. We are being ungrateful for what God has chosen us for in this season. We are choosing to not live in light of His love but question His goodness and perfect plans for us. Purity is so much more than just about sex or keeping ourselves physically pure before marriage. It affects us in every stage of life, in every relationship situation.

For whatever reason, that situation we are holding onto for our contentment, we believe will make us happy. There is a part of us that really thinks if we just had that one thing, everything would be ok. That if God gave it to us, we could fully trust Him with the rest.
Often the thing we most want is withheld.
God in all His wisdom, does not do this to be mean....I don’t believe that for a second. But He knows what we really need in this season. What will grow us and shape us into the women we were created to be to accomplish His work here.

{Via}

A lot of people have said to me of course you say this, you’re married. You don’t have to struggle any longer with feeling lonely and discontent in your relationship. I will be brave here and tell you from my experience, that’s incorrect.
Getting married just shifts the discontentment from a desired relationship onto something else. Learning to be content with where God has us is something to be grasped regardless of where we are in life. It’s an ongoing lesson often for me.


Contentment is choosing to trust God for our joy.
To turn to him to fill us.
Regardless of our relationship situation.
Or the circumstances around us.


When single, I desperately wanted a relationship and to be engaged. Then once I was engaged, I noticed that instead of feeling content, I wanted to just be married already.
I began to see the ongoing pattern.
Once married, I would probably want a baby, then a house and well it never ends.
There will always be things that we desire or think will make us content in life.
But I don’t think it’s true.
We already have all we need.
We have to choose contentment. Regardless of our circumstances.

'Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.'

Philippians 4:11-12

How do you guys find contentment?

Much Love,

L

Back to Eden: 1000 Gifts.

{Via}

I feel it appropriate to start back at the beginning on this topic.

To really share how this topic was laid on my heart so heavily.

Actually, it began with reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp many moons ago now.

I realise many of you may have read her book and may even be starting to be frustrated by how much people are talking about it or continuing to talk about it.

I know I personally have mentioned it so many times on this blog here.

Honestly though, her book really opened my eyes in so many ways to something so simple, which changes one's entire heart attitude to life.

What a revelation to discover.

By being thankful for things, we can battle so many 'funks' we may find ourselves in. 

That was my main reason for feeling compelled to start the series in the first place.

These moods are often a result of life situations. Things we may have no control over.

But the Lord in all His goodness, is allowing them for a reason.

To grow us? To build trust in us? To allow us to change our attitude?

While we may have no control over the things in our lives which happen to us, we do have control over how we react to these challenges.

Ann in her book talks about how perfect things were back in the garden of Eden. 

How Adam and Eve were in perfect relationship with God, they were not lacking in anything. 

They saw God perfectly, in all His goodness, the way He truly is.

Notice how Sin's original root is in Satan tempting them to focus on what they don't have.

He shows them discontentment.

As Ann writes:

'we were lured by the deception that there was more to a full life,

there was more to see.'

Now, seeing God as someone we can trust is so much harder than it must have been in that garden, it becomes a choice now instead of a given. It becomes a battle to see things the way they really are, the way we were designed to see them. 

How old this idea of discontentment is right??
I look forward to exploring this topic more.


Much Love,
L