CONTENTMENT

Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction.

One beautiful evening, a middle-aged fisherman was sitting near his small boat by the shore. A rich man appeared there and asked him, “Why aren’t you out there fishing?” The fisherman replied “Because I have caught enough for today.” The rich man asked “Why don’t you catch more fish than you need?” In reply the fisherman asked another question, “What would I do then?”

The rich man answered, “You could earn more money and buy a big boat, so you could go farther and catch more fish.” The fisherman looked into the eyes of the rich man and asked, “Then?” He proudly replied, “You can make more money to purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money, then you would have a fleet of boats and you would be rich like me.” The fisherman did not stop. He asked, “Then what will I do?” The rich man replied, “You can sit down and enjoy life.” The fisherman, looking out at the sea, replied, “What do you think I am doing now?” ....(Written by Mr. Jeby T. John) 

Just like the rich man from our story, a lot of people are never satisfied with what they have, they want to have and have and have, this leads them into a prison of needs. When they achieve something, soon they wanna achieve another. Contentment does not mean having a passive, laid-back attitude that just accepts whatever happens without a whimper of protest. Contentment does not mean being indifferent as to whether or not your circumstances will ever improve. Contentment does not mean settling for less than you are capable of. Nor is contentment a spiritual quality reserved for those who have unusually strong faith. 

Contentment is a virtue that even Christians are lacking in. Dont misinterpret the term contentment with the term Zeal. Some Christians arent satisfied with one experience and press on to get more...this is different. We are talking majorly on Contentment in relation to external circumstances.

The major problem most of us have is, we cannot differentiate between needs and wants. We all want things, we want, we want, we want. Sit and ask yourself, do i really need it? Have you been in the position where you have a lot of things and you just discover one day that majority of the stuff you have are not needed and the needed are not available.

I had a friend who likes to have everything, when she sees me with this or that, Off she goes to get same by all means. Had another like that also. I came to a conclusion that they had issues with contentment. The truth is that you are either content or you are coveteous and most time, coveteousness leads such a one to a lifetime of competition with no one. Do you know that most atimes, the people whose items or character or achievement you covet, dont even know you exist or like we say "dont send you". Discontentment can send you to an early grave because you keep pursuing and pursuing and when it becomes a habit, it grows to become your character.

 

The command of the Lord stands forever. God wasnt missing words when he told Moses to tell the Children of Isreal in the 10 commandments "Do not covet". God knew that coveteousness is bad. The goodnews is that if you have found yourself in this state, you are not worst than anyother bad person. Remember we can be Christians lacking contentment. So dont beat yourself up if you discover you are lacking too. 

For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phil 4:11–13)

Paul was not content just because he was Paul. When he explains his secret he does not reveal anything super-spiritual or super-human about it. That place of happy contentment is achievable by anyone through very ordinary means. No one is naturally content when faced with difficult circumstances. Contentment must be learned, and the only way to learn it is to go through some things that test it. Paul learned to be content. That means I can learn contentment, and so can you.

• Contentment is learned behavior. We learn to be content like babies learn to walk.
• Contentment is not dependent on circumstances.
• Contentment is a state of being, not a state of doing.
• Contentment is based on the riches of God in Christ Jesus.

EVILS OF COVETEOUSNESSFirst of all let me tell you that if you are discontent as a christian, it is time you cry out to God for help because you are bredding an evil seed which will one day grow into a tree with many branches and these branches would bring forth fruits. These fruits are what become evident and visible to everyone in the form of character.
There are a lot of evils associated with a discontent person.

• A discontent person will be angry with everyone for no just cause.
• Such a one will hate people around him/her.
• Murder isn't far from a discontent person because he/she would want to go to any length to get what he/she wants.
• Unhappiness characterizes the life of a discontent person, because he is simply not satisfied with where he is or what he does and what he has. 

Have you ever asked yourself why we have cheating husband and wives or wayward kids? A woman who is discontent in little things will be discontent in big things. One day she would wake up and cheat, So also men. No body suddenly starts been unfaithful, a seed of discontentment is resident in such a ones life. My dear married ones, watch it, if you discover you suddenly have started picking up on trivial things, pray and pray and pray. My beautiful singles, find contentment in singleness(with God) and the Lord will reward you with a spouse who is content. If you arent, you might just miss him and end up off track. That all your mates and friends are getting married should not be a yard stick to be discontent and start the search you dont have warrant for. You might just end up in your own prison.
My lovely young ones, that mum and dad cant meet that need in your life doesnt mean you should be discontent, He will surely provide a way. Young girls, do you know that when you stop being content, you become gullible.

Also, most jobless people are victims of this evil seed. They keep runing from one place to another in search of less work, good pay. Hahahahaha, Christians too do same. Didnt you read that part of your bible that says "he that is faithful in little"? If that page is missing in your bible, i will just take a copyright permission and photocopy that page for you. You really need it so u would understand why you have to be content. Old and Young, Rich and Poor, we can learn contentment just like Paul.

"A glad heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Prov 17:22) "Keep your lives free from the love of money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, I will never leave you or let you be alone." (Heb 13:5) "All the days of the suffering are hard, but a glad heart has a special supper all the time." (Prov 15:15) "A heart that has peace is life to the body, but wrong desires are like the wasting away of the bones." (Prov 14:30) "A God-like life gives us much when we are happy for what we have." (I Tim 6:6) "Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always. For sure there is a future and your hope will not be cut off." (Prov 23:17-18).

BENEFITS OF CONTENTMENT
Contentment removes anxiety and obtaining peace. 
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Phil 4:6-7.
Contentment is the condition out of which the power of Christ better operates and manifests.
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Phil 4:13
Contentment kees us protected from the love of money and wandering away from the faith.
“For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.  If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”  1 Tim 6:7-11.
Contentment draws us to dependence on God and faith in Him.  
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have;  for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”Heb 13:5-6.

Whatever it is that God has blessed you with or is blessing you with, be content my dear.

...Beautiful Inside...

FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is a DECISION to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge of a wrong done to one.
At one point or the other in our lives, we have been hurt so deeply that to forgive was a huge problem. I am not saying this because im perfect or havent had issues with forgiveness. If you must know, i have had housed unforgiveness, resentment for years and was looking forward to revenge in one way or the other.

Like a popular saying goes, "to err is human, to forgive is divine". Hmmm, it trully is divine. There are situations that have occured in our lives that has caused us to hold people or even ourselves in the prison of our hearts.

I am not promising you a perfect life, so long we are human beings, get ready to be hurt. Take a look at the time Jesus was asked, how many times should one forgive his brother his wrong doings in a day? Our Lord said 70 X 7. Wow!!!! 490times? has anyone ever offended you for that amount of time in a day? If your answer is Yes, come here, we need to pray for you real hard if possible fast. Some of you may laugh here, but my dear its serious.

In this episode of Forgiveness, i'm not talking about someone stepped on your toe, someone took your pen, someone ate your food. I am talking of real hurt that you almost gave up on Life. The act that hurt or offended you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other positive parts of your life. Forgiveness can even lead to feelings of understanding, empathy and compassion for the one who hurt you.

I heard this and you should hear it too. "When someone offends you they take your power from you, when you dont forgive them, they keep the power with them. If anyone can change your mood from happy to sad, laughter to cry, change your route from right to left, that one has power over you. The moment you forgive such a one, you collect your power from them." That power you got back is the power to be happy, to laugh, the power to keep walking in the direction of the offender head up high and you are ready to help him/her.

You say, "I cannot forgive him, he just jilted me for another, i cannot forgive her, she betrayed me, i cannot forgive him, he was never there as a father for me, i will not forgive her, she abandoned me while i was a baby". What do you want to do now that you dont wanna forgive? The funniest thing is that the offender has moved on, probably forgotten that he/she had offended you. Im not saying its easy, but i am here to tell you to Sit, think and decide to forgive. Letting go of grudges and bitterness can make way for compassion, kindness and peace. Some physical benefits includes:

 

• Lower blood pressure
• Promote healthier relationships
• Reduces depression
• Great psychological well-being.
• It makes you free.
• It gives inner peace.

I decided one day after the death of a close friend that what is one living for, if at the end of life's race you are turned back, all because a spot of unforgiveness or a wrinkle of resentment was found on your gown. I told God in tears that I forgive everyone who had wronged me(both major hurts and minor hurts), i released them from the prison of my heart. I asked him to put in me genuine love for them, one that i can pray for them, help them and i told him to make it evident.
Before i tell you How to forgive, let me inform you that Forgiveness is a process, its a healing of the mind so it takes some time. Be careful not to go that same way that brought about that hurt in the first place. For example, you talk alot and you told someone some confidential things and you started to hear it all around, therefore you got hurt. My darling, forgive and you know what? dont go back telling such a fellow another deep thing because you might hear it outside again and you would get hurt again. Especially if the person never saw what he/she did as wrong. You have just saved yourself a trailer load of hurt.

"I want to forgive everyone that has hurt me, i dont just know how." Alright, let do this;
DECIDE. I am not going to be a victim anymore, no human is gonna have any power over me and make me their toy of offence. Dont say I will forgive with time, you dont own your life, God does. This takes us to the next path which is;
OBEY. Hmmm. God is not a partial God, so he wont repent of his word.
"When you stand to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him. Then your father in heaven will forgive your sins also." (Mark 11:25) "But i tell you, love those who hate you. (Respect and give thanks for those who say bad things to you. Do good to those who hate you.) Pray for those who do bad things to you and who make it hard for you. Then you may be the sons of your father who is in heaven. His sun shines on bad people and on good people. He sends rain on those who are right with God and on those who are not right with God."(Mat 5:44-45) " Do no say, i will punish wrongdoing. Wait on the Lord, and he will take care of it." (Prov 20:22).

Faith,
Obedience,
Righteousness,
Grace,
Inheritance,
Victory,
Edify.
You should know that forgiveness is not easy on your own. You have to tell HIM who forgives all sins to come help you in this. He is available, just page him and he will be right there to begin the operation that will bring about the healing of your mind which will in return bring life and health to you.
The Last and most important benefit of Forgiveness is that God will forgive you all your sins and you will in the end save your soul from damnation. "If you forgive people their sins, your Father in heaven will forgive your sins also."(Mat 6:14)
Gradually make it a habit to forgive everyday, and you wouldnt go to bed with any iota of hurt.
Don't do false forgiveness, do FULL and TRUE forgiveness.

...Beautiful Inside...

ANGER!

Anger can be defined as "a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility." One would ask, what is the best way to get angry? Hmmmmm!
From a research done, it was discovered that there are different kinds of anger (as designed by man). It includes:

Behavioral Anger - this describes an aggressive person, a troublesome person. When he is angry, he doesnt mind physical abuse.
Passive Anger - this describes people who take to sacarsm and mokery when angry. Usually they avoid confrontation with people and situation.
Verbal Anger - this is one that is expressed through words not actions. You have verbal abuse, insults and complains in the lips of someone who portrays this kind of anger. Worst is, they pull people down as well.
Self-Inflicted Anger - this is expressed by the charcter taking action on himself. they either begin to starve themselves, over eat, sleep alot or even physically abuse themselves.
Volatile Anger - it comes and goes, most times nothing triggers it. This type of anger can lead to physical or even verbal abuse.
Chronic Anger - im sure you must have met people who are just angry for no reason. Many atimes we term them as being mad. Wow!!! its not out of place to say that people which chronic anger as mad in general.
Paranoid Anger - So so common around us. This defines people who are jealous because they feel others got what is rightly theirs and he/she cant get what is his/hers. How pitiful! People like this always feel intimidated for no reason and hence get angry without a cause.
Deliberate Anger - Using anger to gain power over a siyuation or even someone. Have u noticed someone just come to control you angrily. Yes yes thats the kind of anger. Deliberate!
Retaliatory Anger - Very common, even you and I have been victims once or twice. This anger describes a situation when there is a direct response to another who is lashing it out on you. Hmmm!
Overwhelmed Anger - Hahahaha! Have you ever been in a place where someone comes in and just start shouting, scattering the whole place, getting on ur nerves, talking stuffs that are uncalled for? All these as a result of Stress? Have u seen such a scenerio? thats the name of that kind of anger.
Judgemental Anger - Expressed by making people feel bad about themselves or their abilities. It goes as far as making people feel worthless.
Constructive Anger -The kind that pushes you to speak up for the good of others, go out of your ways to make another happy.

I can almost hear some of you reading and saying,  "hmmmm!, that is my kind of anger, that is so and so's kind of anger". Hey! stop that, dont personalize anger. Its not a sin to be angry, but what comes after being angry determines whether its a sin or not. Is it engineered by the Sprit of God or by our flesh? Lets see some few verses of the Bible and discover what Scriptures say about anger (New Life Version):

My Christian brothers, you know everyone should listen much and speak little. He should be slow to become angry. A man's anger does not allow him to be right with God. -----James 1:19-20

Put out of your life these things also: anger, bad temper, bad feelings towards others, talk that hurts people, speaking against God and dirty talks. -----Col 3:8

Christian brothers, never pay back someone for the bad he has done to you. Let the anger of God take care of the other person. The Holy Writings say, "I will pay back to them what they should get, says the Lord". "If the one who hates you is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water. If you do that, you will be making him more ashamed of himself." Do not let sin have power you. Let good have power over sin!
---Rom 12:19-21

A man's understanding makes him slow to anger. It is to his honour to forgive and forget a wrong done to him ----Prov 19:11

If you are angry, do not let it become sin. Get over your anger before the day is finished. ----Eph 4:26

A man of anger starts fights and a man with a bad temper is full of wrong doing. ----Prov 29:22

He who is slow to anger is better than the powerful. And he who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city. ----Prov 16:32

Do not be quick in spirit to be angry. for anger is in the heart of fools. ----Eccl 7:9

The Lord is full of loving favour and pity, slow to anger and great in loving kindness.(ps 145:8) For His anger lasts only a short time. But his favour is for life. Crying may last for a night, but joy comes with the new day. (Ps 30:5)

My Beautiful Ones, whose report will you believe? I believe the report of the Lord and I know that Heaven and Earth will pass away, but not one jot of the word of God would pass unaccomplished.
Whatever your definition of Anger? God's word will stand. His grace is sufficient for us all.

Beautiful Inside.

DON'T DISCRIMINATE

Did you ever know that it was as a result of Paul the Apostle that we got the message of salvation? I was in a bus enroute Mowe alongside a man. He got into a conversation with a Christian sister and he began telling her of what he is enjoying being who he is. He was so so confident and bold. I was sitting by the corner of the bus listening and listening. He told her, you only have 10 commandments but i have *cant remember the exact number* of commandments and the Christian sister out of innocence kept arguing that we just had 10. Wow!!!
Some days ago, i discovered this deep truth, i am a GENTILE saved by Grace. Little did i know the reason why beloved Apostle Paul said:

 "Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be HIS through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love God has already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his SONS and DAUGHTERS - this was his pleasure and purpose. Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear son." --Ephesians 1:3-6(GoodNewsBible Version).

How sweet to know that God had plans for us from the foundation of the world. When you see that lady or that young man by you every day, in the bus, on the street, dont discriminate. He can just be as beautiful as you are. All he/she needs is to recieve this free gift we have. Intrestingly, some people dont know that we all are blessed and the beloved of God, thats why we sing "Abraham's blessing are mine..."

Dont discriminate, just Thank God for Jesus and for Apostle Paul...

Beautiful Inside.

I : my character, my choice (final)

As studied earlier from our key scripture verse (mark 9:50), we would be studying the last letter of the word SALT.

Lets visit the letter "T"
If i ask everyone to give a meaning to the letter T as regards living a beautiful life, we wouldn't run short of them. Let's see a few of them as the list is inexhaustible.
* Temperate
* Tolerant
* Tender
* Terrific
* among others.

A beautiful YOU has all the attributes mentioned above and more. In this last study, we wouldn't be preaching much, it will be more of practical study. Take some time to examine your life thus far most especially for those who have had an encounter with God.

Study tips:
- Take every situation that happens from the moment you read this post and put it into writing.
- At the end of the day, bring out the list and go through all over.
- Write the actions that resulted from such incidents by the side of the incident.

All these would help you know if you have been leaving the beautiful life and discover where it is you are lagging behind. When you discover them, send a mail to your father that knows all things and he would grant you the desires of your heart.

For those who haven't had this encounter, what are you waiting for? The arms of the Lord Jesus Christ is open wide in readiness to accept you. Do not delay or procrastinate, accept him NOW. I love you but God loves you most.

God bless you and God give us the grace to be all that he expects of us. You can and You will live the beautiful life

I : my character, my choice (part 3)

Lets discuss letter "L"

Lowly
This term has been defined to mean different things. "Low in status or importance; humble; modest; low; unassuming; meek. Not forgetting the key word of this topic which is "SALT". This substance clearly depicts what lowliness is all about.

Let me ask some soul stirring questions, if your answers is more of yes, then check and check again. I would want you to put your name in the place where SALT is mentioned.
Does the Salt remain at the top of soup when prepared? Does Salt jump out of the soup simply because its hot? Does Salt tell all the other ingredient in the soup that without it, their taste wouldn't come out? Just as the Salt wouldn't do any of the above mentioned, so also a character that is beautiful.

You may be the reason your friend got that Job, or that promotion or even that Spouse. Let me put this to you, be thankful to God that he used you because without you he/she would still have gotten the job, promotion or even the Spouse. Have u taken note that its the Salt that does the underground work of making other ingredients noticed in the soup? A beautiful YOU would be concerned about beautifying others, other than been everywhere broadcasting yourself.

A character that is Lowly sometimes goes unnoticed but in the long run gets rewarded. Take a very good look at Moses, there is something about this man that keeps me wondering. The bible recorded it that he was meekest man that ever lived and God was not afraid to show himself to him. Hmmm, a great food for thought. "A meek or lowly man is pure and it is him that will see God."

There is so much to say about a man who is Lowly, but words cannot express the in-depth truth that lies in this five-lettered word.

Lord Jesus, there is this fleshly nature of mine that always wanna pop his head high, I bring my heart, spirit and soul under your authority asking that you create in me a lowly and humble spirit. Let the nature of Christ override the fleshly nature in me. Cause me to have a record of lowliness and humility before you oh Lord. When it gets to that point when all things go well around me and i become a blessing to others, help me remember that if it were not for you, i wouldn't be here.

Touch me on the inside and make me Beautiful. Amen

I : my character, my choice (part 2)

Lets discuss the letter A.

Acceptable of Appalling
When something is acceptable you find it everywhere. Even in our everyday life, we go to shops and we see posts like "Verve, Visa card accepted". That's to inform you that you could pay for the services rendered to you with your credit card. Coming down to the definition of our character, the A in the word SALT tells if we choose to be acceptable or appalling.

Salt is universal, it does not exist only in Nigeria. It is acceptable everywhere and by everyone. There are some people who are told to eat without salt due to one health reason or the other. They can tell u how it taste. Have u ever prepared soup and you forgot to add some salt, how does it taste? It is not acceptable to the mouth, so also is a character that has no salt, it is appalling.

For every where that Jesus entered, he was accepted and things changed for good. When he was at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, water became wine and the master of the ceremony said "usually the good wine is given at first, but instead the good wine was preserved till the end". This is applicable with us, a place can be so hot as a result of an argument or misunderstanding and immediately we step into the matter, everyone leaves happy and settled. This is attributed to an acceptable character. It lives on the inside and overflows to the outside.

I say often, we cannot hide smoke, a little or minute escape route is all it needs to let out itself. So also is character, no matter how long a period of time, you suppress or try to hide an appalling character, it still shows forth. Our inside unknowingly and unconsciously is displayed in full force on the outside. You can not be beautiful inside and be ugly on the outside, not at all. Even if you are the most ugly person that lives on earth, when your inside is beautiful, your ugly looks would never be noticed because you would be accepted everywhere you find your self.

I hear people say, "she is so beautiful in her looks yet she is very ugly". The truth of the matter is that you cannot be beautiful inside and be ugly outside. I pray that God gives us the grace to truly be beautiful deep within and every traces of an appalling behavior will be erased totally from our lives in Jesus Name. Amen.
We will be an epitome of true believers and young Christ wherever we find ourselves. God bless you all and Remain in God's love.