Tag: contentment

Measuring Life

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1

What do you measure your life with?

The yardstick of worldly success, fame, or money?

The ruler of putting yourself first?

Counting your possessions, 401k statement or stock market?

Or just God?

When we measure our life, we decide how happy we are or not.

How content we are, how peaceful, or fearful we have become.

Your focus equals your measuring stick.

What you focus on helps determine your level of contentment.

Take your family for example. They are needy, sometimes too much so, and you find yourself in a bad mood with the work load.

You are focusing on what you are unable to do at that moment while stuck helping others.

Focus instead on God and what He has you doing at this moment. Make your work an offering to Him.

Changes your mood.

God must be our first focus, our second, our third, and on and on it goes.

When you change your perspective, your measuring stick disappears.

When you focus on knowing God is always with you, walking beside you every moment, life suddenly brightens.

Remembering your inclusion into the family of God Himself yields the ultimate acceptance.

You don’t need the world’s love. It’s fleeting anyway.

God allows us wonderful times here on earth, but when you focus on those, disappointment is right around the corner.

Focus on God and His love for you.

When you put Him first in all things, you’ll begin to depend upon Him more and more.

And that, my friends, is the best life ever.

Photos by Diana Polekhina, Elisa Michelet, Roberto Sorin, & Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Our Focus

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Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Proverbs 4:25

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It’s not about me

or you.

Life.

Our lives are not to be lived for us.

Really?

Really.

Jesus is our focus.

Our lives should be lived for Him.

To realize His purpose.

To be used for His glory.

Sometimes life throws us a hard choice.

Our flesh screams no, but God’s spirit in us whispers yes.

We know.

Maybe if we remember why God put us here, we will listen to His voice first.

Because He is in every circumstance.

What does He want you to do?

And will you do it?

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What Moves You?

Published on by amylinnea7 Comments

My dear mother shared this verse with me today:

“But none of these things move me….” Acts 20:24

Paul goes on to explain his pristine focus on the mission God had entrusted to him.

Earthly things didn’t move him.

Including death.

How about you?

What moves you?

Or should I rephrase this:  what shouldn’t move you that does?

Moods

Disappointment

Unfairness

Jealousy?

I’m so guilty.

Situations can move us in an instant towards ugliness, selfishness, or (gasp) distrust in Almighty God’s plan for our lives.

“But none of these things move me….” Acts 20:24

Plaster this verse somewhere to retrain your brain.

Try replacing the word “things” with a more personal noun:

None of the children’s moods move me.

None of the sales calls annoy me.

None of the traffic moves me.

(Literally, I’m not moving.)

None of my mindless chores move me to irritation.

None of my unanswered prayers will move me away from God.

Notice the key word repeated in each phrase?

None.

That means ZERO percent of it affects you.

NONE of it dares to move you from living in peace to living with fear or worry.

Wow.

Why is it even possible for none of these worldly things to move us?

Because we’ve already won.

Jesus is victorious.

The power that raised Him from the dead lives in me.

And you.

I’m going to wave my arm like a princess, declaring “But none of these things move me”.

Join me and keep your peace.

Photos by Church of the King, Ales Maze, Esther Ann, Ben White, & Alex Perez on Unsplash

Right Where You Are

Published on by amylinnea4 Comments

In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. Psalm 95:4

He has you where He wants you.

Jesus.

He places us in spots where He can use us.

Do you ever wonder why He chose this spot?

I do.

Sometimes things don’t make sense.

Logically.

But that’s not our job.

To make sense of it all.

That responsibility rests on God’s shoulders.

Our job is to trust Him.

Trust that He knows what He’s doing and will cover us with His feathers (Ps 91).

His protection. His grace.

I’ve had quite the journey lately.

My favorite teaching place never materialized.

My first teaching job nicely pushed me out the door.

My “dream” teaching job evaporated.

My first long-term sub job was a mistake.

My next job offer I refused as I knew it wasn’t God’s plan.

But the very next day, God flung wide the door.

It is so right.

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My job doesn’t make any logical sense.

Why?

Because I jumped multiple grade levels.

I’m implementing a new program with a new subject.

And was hired less then a week before school starts.

But I know God’s here.

I’m right where He wants me.

And I know I’ll do an amazing job – ONLY because He will guide me every step of the way.

I don’t have my teacher safety net filling me with lessons from years past.

Everything about this job is foreign.

(might launch into a kindergarten calendar poem with 13 year olds)

The absolutely only thing I can do is rely on Him.

It’s comforting.

Peaceful.

Step out of your comfort zone.

See where God takes you.

And yes, my first day was fabulous.  🙂

Photos by Nadine Shaabana, Priscilla Du Preez, & Anton Sukhinov on Unsplash

Your Precious Little Heart

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

I find this funny.

Funny like haha, yea, right.

Oh wait – is God serious?

How can I possibly ignore life’s troubles?

Well, God didn’t say ignore life’s troubles…

Just don’t let my heart become overwhelmed with them.

Oh.

How in the world can I do this?

I’m still searching for a job.

My child’s faith is lost.

Sometimes my heart still mourns the child in heaven.

My……… (insert anything you could possibly worry and fret over).

Now take a breath and listen.

~~~~~

God knows.

He really does.

He knows and He is above all of it.

He will lead you down the right path.

He will pour wisdom over your brain and quiet your soul.

He will fill every corner of your body with peace.

But you have to decide something.

To let not your heart be troubled.

Trust God will take care of it and you.

Trust, and God will be faithful to fill your mind with His perfect peace.

Ready?

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Photos by freestocks & Joice Kelly on Unsplash

Sprinkles on Ice-cream

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We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” Psalm 126:2

Why not?

Have sprinkles on your ice cream?

It’s way funner.

Ok, more fun.

Or how about using your grandmother’s dishes every day instead of only on special occasions?

These are mine.

Life is meant to be lived.

Not watched from the sidelines.

Put on that cute dress as you waltz through Target.

Dance to car tunes as you wait in the carpool lane.

Serve fresh chocolate chip pancakes to your sweet daughters on their last day of school.

Buy some amazing flowered to adorn your table.

For your regular everyday dinner.

And for heavens sake put sprinkles on your ice cream.

Full disclosure: we eat our sprinkles outside

as I abhor finding sprinkles on my floor

as you all know most of them never land inside the bowl

or find their way into the mouth of the child

who wants those sprinkles.

I call it sprinkle sanity.

Perfect balance.

Photos by Alexander Grey, Glen Carrie, & Karolina Bobek on Unsplash

Audience of One

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“You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” Genesis 16:13

Pulled the chicken out of the oven and assembled the many dinner plates.

Peas, macaroni & cheese, and chicken on my blue dishes looked appetizing.

As I said out loud to thin air, “Good job, Amy”, I knew at that moment God had heard me.

I felt His smile.

Then it hit me.

I work for God.

Who do you work for?

Ok yes, your boss who signs your paycheck.

Your sweet spouse as you help each other tackle life.

Can’t forget the little people who depend on you for continuing their very existence.

We could add friends, church, volunteering, and society.

Let’s face it – we work for many.

Lots of people depend on us.

Too bad the amount of work we do doesn’t equal the thanks flowing to our ears.

What?

Most of what we do is unnoticed.

Unsung.

No thank you’s.

And that’s ok.

Why?

Because God sees it.

He notices.

And He’s the One we work for.

Every time you pull dinner from the oven

Fold sweet smelling laundry

Wipe up spills you never created

Greet a lonely neighbor

Go the extra mile at work

Cut out box tops for your child’s school

Soothe a crying baby

You are noticed.

Next time you do something for someone, remember God is well pleased.

Very pleased.

You helped God smile.

And that, in the end, is all that matters.

Because we work for an audience of One.

“….but as we go on in grace, we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute.  If we have God’s say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways….”  Oswald Chambers

Photos by Ogulcan Ercal, Andrés Gómez, & Daniil Silantev on Unsplash

Taking Offense

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Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

As a general rule, are people out to get you?

Overall, are your loved ones decent and loving?

I’m talking about deep into the heart.

Come on- keep looking.

Bottom line? People love you.

You know I’m right.

They’re not out to get you.

So stop acting like they are.

Stop getting offended at the slightest infraction.

Are you so fragile that one word can send you into a puddle of tears?

So insecure that a crooked misleading glance or sigh can ruin your day?

Or send you into a torrent of angry retorts?

I hope not.

But I see that in so many.

Choose life.

Choose to believe the best about your child or spouse.

Or, gasp, parent.

Don’t hold others to a higher standard than even your own behavior demands.

You can’t behave badly and expect others to never follow suit.

Overlook things.

Because people are not out to get you.

Instead of focusing on yourself and your needs alone, turn your attention to others.

Smile and let things roll off your back.

Don’t hold it in, gathering stones to keep.

Let go of the stones.

Let go of the offense that was never given.

Leave it all at the cross and take your peace.

You are loved.

Photos by Shawn Rain & Iva Rajović on Unsplash

Anger? You betcha!

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Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. Psalm 37:8

Is it OK to be angry?

Yes.

Is it OK to be upset?

Yep.

Is it OK to be full of anger?

No.

Is it OK for anger to dictate my emotions?

Heck no.

Is it OK to dwell in anger?

Absolutely not.

There is a difference between allowing yourself to be angry and dwelling in anger.

When something terrible happens, it’s OK to become angry.

It’s an emotion. Perfectly natural.

Jesus became angry.

God has been angry.

It’s OK.

BUT when anger moves from simply a reaction to an emotion that dictates my actions and moods, it’s not OK.

You cannot allow anger to rule in your heart.

If anger dictates your actions, you are a nasty person.

Not someone anyone cares to be around.

If anger rules in your heart, you are bitter and full of rage.

Angry people spread their poison to anyone within earshot.

They believe life is terrible and all hope is lost.

They want revenge and will do or say whatever they feel in the moment.

Angry people don’t care if or when they hurt other people’s feelings -because they themselves are hurt.

Wounded people can become angry if they allow anger to dictate their emotions.

Wouldn’t it be almost comforting to be angry?

Is it justified?  Yes, sometimes, it is.

But we can choose life or we can choose death.

We can choose to be victims or we can choose to overcome.

We can choose to let anger rule our emotions or we can become an example of humility.

What did Jesus choose to do when He was faced with the injustice of the cross and stood before His accusers?

Jesus would have most certainly been justified to feel anger.

He would have been justified to become sarcastic and tell those false accusers a thing or two.

Instead, He chose to be silent and choose life.

If Jesus would have succumbed to anger, He would have changed history.

When we are in the midst of injustice, we can choose anger or we can choose to be like Jesus.

We can choose life.

Let’s be honest.

It’s fun to be angry.

It’s WAY more pleasant to plan revenge then wait and pray about our response.

Keep quiet? Are you kidding?

An eye for an eye, right?

 When we are slow to respond in a bad situation, we allow God to work through the details.

He might have us react in an entirely different way than we planned.

He might have us use strong words.

He might have us quietly observe.

He might use us as bold expressions of His love.

But we will never know how He wants us to respond if we continually respond in the flesh only as we want.

Photos by Japheth Mast, Jason Rosewell, Caleb Woods, & Leo Rivas on Unsplash

It Starts With You

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. Psalm 52:8

Everything.

How will you respond to what life throws at you?

When stress stares you in the face, how will you behave?

Panicky?

Unable to breathe?

Grumpy pants?

If that’s your response, your body will respond in fear.

You will lash out in anger.

At the very least, your mood will be in the toilet.

You will think everything is impossible.

Peace.

Calm within the storm.

You can choose to dwell on the promises of God or not.

If you do, God will be with you in the midst of the smallest infraction.

Or the giant storms, too.

And when He’s with you, He gives you unbelievable peace.

Life might be in a whirlwind, but you can stand without falling in the center, because God is there with you.

At the end of this week, my beloved and I are marrying.

So incredible.

God has blessed us with each other.

Along with these amazing weeks comes work.

Lots of work.

Packing and moving.

Combining and organizing our new home.

Wedding details.

Children and their sweet needs.

Start of school.

Putting together my classroom.

Normal family stuff like meals.

(how bout cereal for dinner?)

Brain space becomes extremely limited with the to do list.

Small tasks look enormous.

But God is in control.

He is fully able to cross every t and dot every i for me.

For us.

I just have to ask.

So do you.

Let Him take your worries, big or small.

He’ll take care of them as He walks beside you.

And focus on your blessings.

The incredible moments God brings to you as He fills your heart’s desire.

And joy will be your companion as you walk down the path of life God has for you.

Photos by Jakob Owens, Katie Moum, DESIGNECOLOGIST, & Greg Shield on Unsplash

Contentment

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Waiting on God.

Trusting the process.

Surrendering – and finding peace along the way.

That’s contentment.

Are you content?

Peaceful?

Or are you filled with anxious thoughts?

What if nothing ever changed in your life ever again.

What then.

Would you be miserable all the rest of your born days?

Maybe.  Some people are like that.

They hate their life and refuse to do anything about it.

Or they hate their lot in life and unless they wake up in a new body and lifestyle with everything going their way, they will never be content.

So what if God told you this was as good as it was going to get?

Would you be utterly disappointed?

I have to admit I would be.

I have things I’d really love to do.

Living on the beach is at the top of my list!

Don’t laugh, it is, but that in itself would not cause me my greatest disappointment.

But that will be solved in a matter of days when I marry my beloved. !

Psalm 37 reminds us if we trust in God, He will give us the desires of our heart.

When you align yourself with God’s heart, the desires He places in you are His.

But it doesn’t say He gives us the desires of our hearts whenever we demand them.

God will deem the perfect time to reveal His plan for you.

In the mean time, are you content in waiting?

Happy to let God be God?

Or are you griping at every passing unfulfilled moment.

Maybe, just maybe, God is refining you in the process.

Maybe He is teaching you to trust.

Maybe He is testing you.

Pass the test with flying colors.

Then, when you least expect it, God will be there in the midst of your contentment, handing you His plan on a silver platter.

And the timing will be perfect.

Photos by Mark König, José Pinto, & Krists Luhaers on Unsplash