Crunch time! (AKA Contentment)

Call it pinchin' pennies if you prefer... I think most people are really feeling the effects of our troubled economy. For those of us who were living on a fairly tight budget before, it can be an incredible challenge at times -- okay, all the time. I won't go into the details of our finances -- boring. There will always be those who are better off and always be those who are worse off than we are. I am just thankful we have our home, can pay our bills on time and have all our needs -- and then some...

With Josh gone for the entire summer, I don't think we have felt the crunch from rising food prices quite as drastically as others -- yet. In my very, very excited state of anticipating his homecoming (nine days -- but who's counting?), I am also trying to think through the practical things like menus, groceries, school lunches, etc. It seems with every purchase I make these days -- anything from clothes to gum -- I stop and ask myself, "Do we really need this?" There are those things I have decided we don't need that I have either completely stopped buying or drastically cut down on (chips, for instance). These are things that we might enjoy but that aren't beneficial and certainly not budget-friendly. These have become what they should have been all along -- an occasional treat. There are also things I feel we really do need that we just can't swing right now, which brings me right back to the evaluation stage.

Philippians 4:11-13 says, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

I Timothy 6:6-12, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Wow! It's time to really start believing and living these verses. So, I evaluate:

1. Do I really trust that God will provide all my need?

2. Do I really believe He knows my needs versus my wants better than I do?

3. Am I satisfied just to have food and clothes?

4. Am I satisfied to have just enough food -- no excess?

5. Am I satisfied to have just water to drink?

6. Am I satisfied with any clothes?

7. Is my focus to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness?

8. Am I fighting the good fight of faith or am I fighting "giving up" things to make ends meet?

9. Am I "laying hold" on eternal life, or am I trying to get my hands on more?

I have always measured my state of contentment based on being satisfied to have less than others are satisfied to have. (How silly is that?) Now for the true heart test... Am I content with God? Is He enough? Is His judgement of what I need at this season of life enough? Friend, how can I say no? How can I be discontent at the supply given by the One who was willing to give up everything, including His life, for me? There is much contemplating to be done on this matter.

One last thought on this.... Today, our pastor spoke on how the church in America has allowed much compromise. We have stepped out of the Light and become accustomed to walking in darkness. (I wrote about this in the blog http://foofycoffeelover.blogspot.com/2008/04/light-versus-darkness.html.) Do you think if we are forced to become somewhat minimalistic in our lifestyle, we might also be forced to take a look at what things are truly valuable versus the things we have or do that have no eternal value? What about things that truly are ungodly that we passively or actively allow (TV, music, etc)? Perhaps there will be much, much benefit in our lives if we are forced to place a value on everything in order to assess whether it is something we really can do without... Maybe, this is the exact place we want to be! "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content..." Is it true?

The Breadmaker's Workout

Now, now, I'm talking about the image on the left, but if the right side works for you...

Today I was kneading bread. The bread I make requires a 20-minute kneading period, and as I was beginning the process, contemplating just how long 20 minutes can seem, I started thinking about a comment my friend, Laura, made. She said something to the tune of a longer kneading time is probably just what flabby arms need. Hmmm... I have already incorporated a leg workout into my weekly cleaning at Dramatic Truth. Could it be that I may be able to also make good use of my kneading time? So, I tried it. As I folded and pushed, I did so with vigor, adding leg lifts with each push -- back, then side, then angled at the side. I also tried a few squats. For good measure, I even tried to turn backwards and knead the dough to get my triceps into the workout. Ummm, well, that one is going to require a bit more practice... Perhaps I will come up with a specific arm/leg workout for 20-minute kneading periods. I could add some music and no doubt make millions! Okay, so maybe working off the effects of too many carbs while making more carbs doesn't make that much sense, but, hey, I've got to squeeze in those workouts whenever I can! Yes, I'm an ex-aerobics instructor gone domestic...

You know, though, there is some "food for thought" in all this bread talk. As I was kneading and doing my little workout, the thought occurred to me that I am much like that bread dough in the hands of my Maker. He puts specific ingredients in me -- His Spirit, His Word, other Christians, life experiences, etc. -- and He works all those things carefully together for a purpose. There will be times when I can sense His hands working me over -- times of pressure, times of gentle forming. There will be other times of rest when it seems as though He has completely forgotten His little potential "loaf". Other times, there is intense heat! Ultimately, God desires us to grow into the image of His Son, who is called the bread of life (John 6:35, 48). So all those "ingredients" God adds to our lives will, according to Romans 8:28-29, "work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son" -- little bread-of-life look-a-likes! So, The Breadmaker's Workout? Philippians 2:12-13, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."