Ours is a culture largely run on discontentment. New phones every year promising life-changing improvements, leaving you discontent with your old phone. New gadgets for every task under the sun, promising the good life, resulting in your feeling discontent without them. Whether it is your vacuum, clothes dryer, car, or just about anything. New clothingContinue reading “The secret to being content when life is good or bad – Philippians 4:10–13”
Tag Archives: contentment
Be content, but don’t be – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Preview
Is there anything about yourself that you wish you could change? For as long as time, humans have tried to lose weight, get in shape, alter their bodies, learn new skills, and drop bad habits. We try to change jobs, change homes, and change relationships. Some of us are very dissatisfied with aspects of ourContinue reading “Be content, but don’t be – 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28, Preview”
How to overcome jealousy – 1 Samuel 18 & 19, Part 5
What in the world can we learn from 1st Samuel chapters 18 & 19? In this post early in the series, I wrote about Jonathan’s generous act of friendship. And because next week we’ll return to David and Jonathan’s friendship in chapter 20, in today’s post, I’d like to focus on another theme in chaptersContinue reading “How to overcome jealousy – 1 Samuel 18 & 19, Part 5”
My struggle with my basement – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 1
I don’t like the basement in my house. First of all, just getting into the basement is odd. The current placement of the basement steps is not original to the house. The previous owner did a near total rehab on the living areas of the house, and that necessitated moving the location of the basementContinue reading “My struggle with my basement – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 1”
What we can learn from Jesus’ battle with Satan – Sword of the Spirit, Part 3
Temptations pull at me. I struggle with the empty self. It is very easy to desire a new car to replace our 2010. It often feel discontent about my car. But that car continues to get me around. It is super difficult to know when the right time is to pull the plug and getContinue reading “What we can learn from Jesus’ battle with Satan – Sword of the Spirit, Part 3”
Why is temptation so powerful? – Sword of the Spirit, Part 1
Have you heard of the short story How Much Land Does a Man Need? by famed Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)? Tolstoy is famous for his mammoth works like Anna Karenina or War and Peace, as well as for his desire to live out Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. But How Much Land Does aContinue reading “Why is temptation so powerful? – Sword of the Spirit, Part 1”
How to overcome anger and discontentment, and have joy – Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, Part 4
Look at the woman in the picture. What do you notice? Longing, perhaps. Someone who is on the outside and wants to be on the inside. Frustration with life, maybe. Some who is upset enough to lean their forehead against a door. I wonder if something happened on the other side of the door thatContinue reading “How to overcome anger and discontentment, and have joy – Ecclesiastes 7:1-14, Part 4”
False Ideas Christians Believe About…God’s Will
Do you know God’s will for your life? How do you find out? A lot people wonder. In this post we are fact-checking Christian ideas about God’s will. There are a lot of thoughts out there about God’s will. And unfortunately there is much confusion too. Here are the ideas that we are going toContinue reading “False Ideas Christians Believe About…God’s Will”
How my Google Home taught me about discontentment (and how to be more content)
My smart phone was due for an upgrade recently, so when an advertisement came via email offering the newest version of my phone; I took a look. The advertisement on that email said that if I pre-purchased the new phone—it was due to be released in a few weeks—I could also get a Google HomeContinue reading “How my Google Home taught me about discontentment (and how to be more content)”
When I’m not feeling happy or content in my relationship – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Are you feeling discontent in your relationships? Maybe you’re not feeling happy about a relationship? But are you feeling joy? Is there a difference? And what does it matter? When we are unhappy or discontent, we are very tempted to RUN! In our passage from this past Sunday, Paul says “Remain in the situation inContinue reading “When I’m not feeling happy or content in my relationship – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24”
Engaging Scripture 