 Life would be filled with more joy if I was more content. I am usually pursuing or reaching for something that I do not have: more knowledge, more exercise, more tools and more “stuff”. The apostle Paul shares the secret to contentment in his letter to the Christians in Philippi.
Phillipians 4:12-13 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. 13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. The secret of contentment comes from knowing that Jesus will get you through anything. Paul has already gone through beatings, jailings, a shiprwreck, a poisonous snakebite, and stoning. He has learned not to center his contentment on circumstances. Favorable circumstances may come and they may go. His contentment is centered on the fact that he can get through anything by relying on the Lord Jesus who is his source of strength. Are there areas in your life that you are not content? What are you going to do about it
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 The most compelling love stories have an element of tragedy. The greater depth of tragedies become the greatest depths of love. Movies such as “Return to Me” and “The Vow” are examples of tragedy turned to love triumphing. God sending His Son, Jesus, to save us is the ultimate love story. Jesus was rejected, beaten, killed on a cross and rose from the dead for our salvation.
John 3:16 For God so loved…. Why? Why does God love us? Not “How do we love God or how does He love us” but Why??? This is important to know because you want to keep doing what you did to make your spouse, child, friend, and Jesus love you. It is not because you and I are loveable or deserving #1 We are His. Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. #2 He is committed to us. Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” #3 His nature is love. God loves us because He is love 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. So now what: Every day pray: “Thank you for loving me because You made me, You are committed to me and You are love”  Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, during an interview earlier this year on “America with Jorge Ramos” is asked by Ramos when life begins. Her answer, “For me, I am the mother of three children. Life began when I delivered them.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdK--xwxwBA Biologists and embryologists say that life begins at conception. “At the moment the sperm cell of the human male meets the ovum of the female and the union results in a fertilized ovum (zygote), a new life has begun,” according to the 1976 Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia. The 1993 book Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and Birth Defects says fertilization “represents the beginning of a human being.” Numerous other textbooks reveal the same conclusion. What does the Bible say? Psalms 139:13-18 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-- when I awake, I am still with You. God created life – in His image. He formed us and knows every detail about us before birth. And, God thinks about you all the time! |
Mark Radeke
Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many. Archives
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