Internet off, lights out, and heat abounding!

"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." -Philippians 4:12

Paul said in Philippians that he had learned to be content no matter what the circumstances. Well, I realized that I am still learning. 

This week, Monday through Friday, the internet was out. It wasn't to bad, just rather annoying to not be in touch with friends and see what's happening in the world. I am SO thankful though that it is back up and running! Yeah!

Wednesday night around 9:30pm the lights went out... ok, not only the lights... the lights, fans... all our electricity. It wasn't a huge deal in the cold season, but now... wow! Hot doesn't even begin to describe how it felt! I don't think I have ever sweat more at night than on that night! It was to hot! Finally Thursday morning at 7:30am the electricity came back on! Yeah!

Speaking of the heat... it is scorching over here! It is the hot season! But these first few months of the hot season are hot and dry! It should start raining around December. As for now, we go through the day sweating up a storm and drinking gallons of water! It is over 90ºF in the house with the fans on! I'm melting! 

Okk, enough complaining. I was thinking through this all last night. Not really thinking it through, just complaining about it. Complaining about the internet, the heat, the fickle electricity. I wasn't content. I didn't focus on the things I did have. I had food. Ice! (So nice in the hot weather!) I had family, friends. I had the love of God!! Yet there I was complaining about the trivial things. Wow! It was high time I realized how blessed I was and how much there was to be thankful for. :) 

So, as you can see I'm still working on being content in all circumstances... it's tough! But I realized there really is SO much to be thankful for! :D It's amazing! We serve an amazing God Who blesses us with more than we can ever fathom! :) Wow! 

Contentment

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:6-7

This morning while reading in my Bible, I came across that verse. Wow what an amazing verse or verses about contentment! First of all, what is godliness? Well, my dictionary/thesaurus says that it means to be devout. So in this sense, I think it means to be a devout follower of Christ. A true follower. Anyways, Paul continues to say that godliness with contentment is great gain. Contentment: satisfaction. I love how he words this sentence.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain."

Great gain! We usually use the word 'gain' in talking about money. Such as, "I gained money from babysitting." So what a perfect place to use the word gain here. Paul uses it with contentment. Contentment, that no matter what happens, no matter if he has no food, no clothing, nothing he still has great gain because he has Christ! He has that everlasting peace and assurance! He has the hope that one day Christ will come back to take His children home! 

The second verse:

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."

First he, Paul, says it wasn't from things of this world that he found great gain. For we brought nothing, nothing into this world! How true! The things of this world seem to overwhelm us and all we want is more, more, more! Yet, we didn't bring any of those things into the world and we can't, not, "We might not be able to..." no we cannot take anything out with us! So my question is, why are we (myself included) so wrapped up in the things of this world? The latest clothing, gadgets, you name it! We have true gain when we have godliness with contentment. Being content whether we have the newest whatever or not! Being content, as Paul says in verse 8:

"...if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

Amen! We don't need the best of those things... just food to keep us living and clothes to cover ourselves with, and we can be content with that! :) I pray that we can find our true contentment in Christ! Knowing that He is our All in All!!! All we ever need and all we ever want! :)

I thought I'd end with the chorus from a Barlowgirl song I recently heard:

"My God's enough for me
this world has nothing i need
in this whole life i've seen
my God's enough, enough for me."