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Finding Contentment In Spite Of Your Circumstances

July 14, 2006 By 4 Comments

Life on the road is… well, it’s interesting.

There are challenges. Things aren’t the same home. Some of the things we take for granted and simply just do out of habit have to change.

Spilling Coffee PotFor example I haven’t figured out how to pour anything from the little 4 cup coffee pot here in my room without massive amounts of spillage. Fortunately there is a little kitchenette with a sink to spill over and contain the mess.

The cheesy little clock radio in the room only gets two stations across the whole dial for some reason. I discovered I’m really not at all into hip-hop! (Sorry David) Fortunately for me Gorgeous felt sorry for me and loaned me her iPod. I really need a significant music fix throughout the day so I might be going a bit nuts without it.

It can be very hard to be content when things are not the way we would like them to be.

Some people harness discontentment and use it to propel them to make major positive changes in their lives and often in the world around them.

Unfortunately it is far more common for folks to fixate on the things they don’t like in their lives and only use them as a source of complaining. And often it turns into envy of what others have, which can be very destructive. James warned folks about this.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Fortunately it doesn’t have to be that way for us. Paul figured out how to be content even when things weren’t the way he wanted them to be. He said

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

Are things the way you want them to be? Are you content anyway?

Just a little something to think about on a Friday.

Enjoy!
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Filed Under: Life, Principles Tagged With: , , ,
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Ready to Travel

July 13, 2006 By 3 Comments

Technology is a wonderful thing. Here I am sitting in O’Hare airport waiting for a shuttle to my hotel and yet I can still do many of the things I do from my home or office. Pretty amazing.

It is interesting to me how many folks really aren’t prepared to travel when they go on a trip. For example how about the whole experience when it is time to get off the plane?

It is amazing to me that some folks seem to be so disoriented by the flying experience that they can’t seem to gather up their belongings. Why do some folks wait until it is time to deplane to reorganize their stuff?

A window viewYou wouldn’t think they could be surprised by the plane’s arrival at the destination. I mean there was that big bump and all that noise when the plane landed. And yet I get the feeling that some folks are genuinely surprised. “Oh, hey! We’re here.”

Meanwhile the back half of the plane is all hunched over waiting to move toward the exit.

Me, I tend to just wait in my seat until it clears up a bit. I figure I’ll get there eventually. Hopefully in time to make my connection. I usually just stuff my carryon under the seat in front of me because I like having my stuff accessible so it is easy to grab my things and go.

Jesus told his followers they should be ready to travel too. He said that he was going to come back one day and folks would be surprised by his arrival.

“Be dressed for service and well prepared, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. There will be special favor for those who are ready and waiting for his return. I tell you, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, there will be special favor for his servants who are ready!

“Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would not permit the house to be broken into. You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Traveling takes some effort. There is preparation involved. We should all be ready to go when the time comes.

Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Jesus, Life, Travel Tagged With: , ,
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