Am I Satisfied With My Life? (What is enough?)

Paul teaches us and emphasizes that we are to be satisfied with what the Lord has blessed us with, whether it is in riches or the total opposite. We all go through difficult times. Other times, we are very satisfied with what is going on around us. At all times, we are to be content and continue to remember that our goal is to be forever with our Lord Jesus. Sure, we have concerns in this life. We need to clothe, feed, and shelter ourselves and our families. We work hard to do these things. But we should not be anxious about it, since the Lord will always provide enough. Key word: enough. If "your ship comes in", praise God. If it doesn't, praise God. And remember that we have our treasure stored up in Heaven.

Philippians 4:11-13 says:

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  (NLT)

God's Patience

"The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

I've been pondering lately the fact that God has been so wonderfully patient with me. He's been known to take a life on the spot (like Ananias and Sephira, who lied to the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 4)... as well he should, considering that we all deserve it, if we're willing to be honest about it.

God is infinitely and patiently waiting for us to repent. When we repent, it's not that we stop sinning and never sin again, but that we continue this short life in constant battle with sin in obedience to God's word. There is a saying that explains, "Failure is not falling down, but refusing to get up". Therefore, if we fall (and we will), we get up and we keep on pushing for the finish line. It's important to remember that we are saved by grace, but are now filled with a desire to obey God's commandments. 1 John 2:3 says, "And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments." (NLT)

Galatians 5:22-23 shows examples of the "fruits of the Spirit", of which one is patience. These "fruits" are of and from God. Patience is one of God's attributes. We are impatient at our best as humans. When God enters our lives, he puts the Holy Spirit into us. As we continue on our trek in this life, we stumble, struggle, and fall, but throughout all of this, God is growing our patience as we strive to be "Christ-like" as we are called to become.

God's patience is amazing. When someone commits a horrible act, we demand immediate justice. But when we ourselves do something that we should not do, we hope and pray for patience from God. He does not want us to perish (or be destroyed, as the NLT translation of the Bible puts it).

The fact that you are alive enough to read this blog demonstrates God's innate goodness and the wonderful fact that God is indeed a patient God, since we continue to goof up and commit violations of the commands that were lain down before us through His Word.

Back to 2 Peter 3:9, it says that "...he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." (NLT) I believe that the Lord has not yet returned because he is patient with us, not desiring that any of us perish, allowing us time to repent. Exodus 34:6-7 says,

The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!

The God of compassion and mercy!

I am slow to anger

and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.

I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.

But I do not excuse the guilty..." (NLT)

In conclusion (in case you are still reading :), Romans 5:6-8 explains something awesome!

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (NLT)

Additionally, one of my favorite verses says in Romans 8:1,

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." (NLT)

Remembering My Mom

This Mothers Day I am reminded of what a good mother my mom was. When I was growing up, she was always there for us children. She worked hard. She used to keep the house so clean we could eat off the floors. She always made sure we were clothed in clean clothes and ate well. Even during times of financial struggle, she would make the beans, potatoes and tortillas taste like Gordon Ramsey's mentor made them.


I can remember, very clearly, how my mom would sit in her chair, taking a break from all that she did, reading the Bible. When I was small, I would see her there reading it, but didn't really ask her any questions about what she read, or what she learned -- I was too busy with me.  But being exposed to this example, something was instilled in my heart. That image of my mother was burned inside of me all these years, and when I take time to read the Bible I can still see her sitting in her chair with her Bible, her feet curled up underneath her, half-covered by a small blanket, reading glasses on. When I saw her reading her Bible like that, I would try not to bother her. It was something I respected, but didn't understand at the time. Now I do. The Word of God is what our soul feeds on. It edifies us, grows us, enables us to overcome temptations and to resist sinful things, and keeps us remembering that we can set our eyes on the better world that is to come and that this world we are presently in is only a temporary experience.


In Proverbs 31, the Bible gives us an example of what a woman (mother as well as wife) should be like:


¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
      She is more precious than rubies.
 ¹¹ Her husband can trust her,
      and she will greatly enrich his life.
 ¹² She brings him good, not harm,
      all the days of her life.


It goes on to say:



²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity,
      and she laughs without fear of the future.
 ²⁶ When she speaks, her words are wise,
      and she gives instructions with kindness.
 ²⁷ She carefully watches everything in her household
      and suffers nothing from laziness.
 ²⁸ Her children stand and bless her.
      Her husband praises her:
 ²⁹ “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
      but you surpass them all!”
 ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
      but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
 ³¹ Reward her for all she has done.
      Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. NLT




Love ya, Mom!