Contentment

Happy Fall friends! Hope you are all staying warm. I think it is pretty ironic that during this season of over indulgence, of giving to top what you gave last year, trying to keep up with the people who "have it all" that I have seen at least a dozen articles about, Teaching your child contentment", "How to raise a grateful child"...


Since before Halloween was even over we saw evidence of Christmas coming. Lights for sale at target and all the red and green coming out at various other stores all in preparation for the millions of dollars that are about to come in over the next 2 months. I get all the "reasons" why...but seriously? unnecessary...because get this we all know that Christmas is coming. I mean how could we forget? You see taking our kids and serving with them is amazing. Telling them about the boys and girls in India and even here in Arlington that live in the various shelters that don't have the luxuries they have available at their fingertips is certainly a great start and even exposing them to these peers is awesome. BUT its so much more than doing those things during November and December to help us feel better about spending thousands of dollars on each other because we are supposed to...necessity and guilt shouldn't drive us to serve or give.


Thanksgiving and Christmas are so much more than the gifts, than the things we can acquire. Its about the moments, the memories, celebrating and enjoying our families and friends Ever since India there has been a pivotal change in our family, I love shopping as much as the next person and retail therapy with some chocolate...yes please...but its so hard to think about shopping when there are little boys and girls who don't have the basic necessities let alone their wants.


A few weeks ago after the boys had been spending way too much time fighting over their toys we packed them all up and took them away. They have since earned a few back based on good behavior and not fighting over them any more. However, there was something that happened when they didn't have anything to fight over. They played with their books, each other, they shared and used their imaginations. They now play with blocks and build things.


Epiphany


total palm to forehead moment


Our boys...just like us...merely have way too many options...


One thing I've heard over and over from my friends and husband who have gone to India was the joy these children had, despite what they lacked in our western culture standard. How come I cant live maybe a week without coming up with something else I "need." We are surrounded by advertisements and marketers telling us from every angle that we need more and more importantly we deserve more. Another thing my hubby has come back with a fire to fix is to build a new orphanage for some boys that are living there. The kicker...the home they need built, is 2000 sq ft, and it will cost them$40,000 to build it, the well for clean water, sewer and electric. Here is some perspective...there will be 14 boys that move into this home and it will home several more as needed, and they will build up. Our home is over 2000 sq ft and we have 4 people living in it. *Mind Blown* and how self serving can I be? here I live in a home that is considered modest to some, a mansion to others. Its warm, clean (well for the most part), clean water, food lots and lots of food, and stuff. It is really hard to sit in my home with more than most of the world could dream of and think about going out and buying more stuff to celebrate the birth of our savior....


Christmas isn't sitting the same as it has in the past and I'm thankful for that. I don't want to be status quo, I don't want to be normal and I don't to raise our boys to be ungrateful or entitled, I want to raise them to be mighty warriors, with a passion to change the world and make it better. I'm really looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving and just being with my family and being grateful for the abundance that we are blessed with. May it be used and transformed as God's will may have it. May we see the ways we can use these blessings of abundance to impact the world around us. Help us be good stewards. Help us teach our boys to be content by us first being content...


This is something we are working through, praying through, its new and I challenge you to join us.




Philippians 4:10-12
Thanks for Their Gifts
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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 want.


1 Timothy 6
All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.
These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many greifs.
But you, man of God, flee from all of this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time -- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, who no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever.
Amen
Command those who are rich in this present world not to arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.
Grace be with you all


until we meet again!