Contentment

Just as information, to you my dear readers, we are adding two to our ranks of grandchildren this summer. It made me smile today when a couple of people at church came up and visited with my son Tom this morning (who was in town from NY) and were so surprised to know that he was in town for a baby shower given for his wife Rebecka. "But", they each turned to me and said, "but we haven't read about them in your devotionals!" So here it is. Jennifer, my oldest daughter is due in May with her third and this will be the first for Tom and Rebecka. These babies will even out the gene pool, three boys and one girl here and two baby girls on the way. As far as Tom and Rebecka's little one, this will be my chance to walk in the shoes of those of you who have out of town grand babies. New York is far away, but with technology the way it is, we are sure to be able to keep up.

This was a fun filled weekend of family related events, but it flew by way too fast. And Sunday morning came and Rebecka had left Sat night with mom to go back to catch a flight from Austin to NY . She had come into Austin earlier the week on business and to spend some time with her mom and dad. Mel left town at 7:00 am Sun. , Tom at 3:00 pm Sun. and everybody was gone except me and Bentley, my lab. (Thank God for dogs.) But it was like someone let the air our of tires and I hadn't finished my ride.

I had so enjoyed the anticipation, the company the excitement, the celebration of a new baby and having all my kids in one spot. Molly even came in town for a couple of hours and then drove right back to school. The shower was small and at my house and was so much fun. Rebecka's mom and I to got to be a part of it with her friends who gave it and her special lifelong friends who attended it along my girls, including Catherine (age 2), who was very helpful in opening and describing gifts.

But you know that feeling when you are so excited about an event, and you plan and wait and and finally it comes and then before you blink it is gone. Weddings are like this. Well this was what was going on in my heart. So what do you do? You say a little prayer and see where God lands you. He landed me Sun. night at Jennifer's house for picnic pizza on the floor, a Sunday night Jodeit tradition, and later that night a phone call with Jamie. Both were answers, and laced in God's love and faithfulness.

But one of the things that stuck was in the conversation that Jamie and I had. She said, there are always going to be ups and downs, and she has found that when there is a down or you get in a funk, sometimes it is the very time that God wants to teach us something of his significance. He wants us to settle into his ways, and his thoughts through our faithfulness. He forces the quiet issue so he can be heard. So here I am in the wee hours in the quiet...and one of His lessons is this: Take time to enjoy the blessings that are before you. Focus not on what has been, except in appreciation and gratefulness... but what is and what is to come. Expect a new day with new horizons, and look around and cherish that which God has put in your life. The people, the events, the experiences, the opportunities and even the trials. For his thread of grace and growth prevails through each of them. And it is with expected joy that he gives them to me. God's expectations of joy hold great validity because his blessings are personally chosen and guaranteed by his hand of holiness. We just don't always take time or make time to recognize them.

Philippians 4:12
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

God answers our prayers even if we are not too sure how to word them or why our feelings are as they are. He is faithful and knows how we each are wired, and what our needs are. As I write this tonight, God landed me in His peace surrounded by the realized joy of my many blessings. I am grateful once again at the confirmation that he hears me and calms my ruffled heart.

This story may sound silly to many of you who are dealing with big, huge, overwhelming situations of grief and sadness. Those times are heartbreaking,and heart wrenching. But just as God knows the sufferings and heartaches that are among many of you, and helps us through those big crises he also is
cares about our everyday emotional hiccups. He stands ready to comfort us and redirect us no matter what we are dealing with .
God knows, God cares, God is involved in all aspects of each of our lives, and his love outreaches the bounds of our finite understanding. His peace endures, his grace sufficient, and his
almighty hand is stretched over us in his love. Whenever we come to him in help or distress, he is there to get us through it and help us find contentment in spite of it.

May you too find God's peace as your venture out on this new day and may you be surrounded by his blessings. May contentment be our sounding board when the waves of a funk try to sneak through and steal our joy. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!