Embrace the Within no. 210

“Not that I am saying this to call attention to any need of mine; since, as far as I am concerned, I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. I can do all things through him who gives me power” (Philippians (Php) 4:11-13). Am I content regardless of my circumstances? Paul writes he “learned to be content regardless of circumstances”. Paul has known prison and freedom. Paul has known plenty and poverty. Paul has known persecution and acceptance. He has seen the ends of the spectrum and what lies between the poles. And Paul writes that the “secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. I can do all things through him who gives me power”. Am I content regardless of my circumstances?

Paul is not secret about his struggles, “Therefore, to keep me from becoming overly proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from the Adversary to pound away at me, so that I wouldn’t grow conceited. Three times I begged the Lord to take this thing away from me; but he told me, ‘My grace is enough for you, for my power is brought to perfection in weakness.’ Therefore, I am very happy to boast about my weaknesses, in order that the Messiah’s power will rest upon me. Yes, I am well pleased with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties endured on behalf of the Messiah; for it is when I am weak that I am strong” (2 Corinthians (2 Co) 12:7-10). Regardless, he has found the “secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need”. And that simple secret is that God allows him, God allows you, and God allows me to “do all things through him who gives me power”. Am I content regardless of my circumstances?

If I am not content, then why? And that is a great question to ask both myself and Him. “For this mitzvah which I am giving you today is not too hard for you, it is not beyond your reach” (D'varim (Deu) 30:11). He will not make following Him difficult because I cannot do difficult things. He will not make my contentment difficult because I cannot do difficult things. Am I content regardless of my circumstances?

Grace and Shalom to your home.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH

People are Not Easy to Love no. 22

“Two are better than one, in that their cooperative efforts yield this advantage: if one of them falls, the other will help his partner up — woe to him who is alone when he falls and has no one to help him up. Again, if two people sleep together, they keep each other warm; but how can one person be warm by himself? Moreover, an attacker may defeat someone who is alone, but two can resist him; and a three-stranded cord is not easily broken” (Kohelet (Ecc) 4:9-12). Marriage brings two together into a union that is stronger than each of its two parts alone. Two are better than one.

Two are better than one when we fail. If one falls physically, mentally, or spiritually, then the other is there to help the partner up. Too often in this world folks are falling all alone. In marriage, there is the assurance of help in our times of need. Marriage is an opportunity to serve each other and give help when times are difficult.

Two are better than one when life gets cold. Many of us have seen how cold and dangerous the world can be. Alone we cannot get ourselves warm. Alone we can not bring the comfort that a warm bed and a gentle embrace provides. Marriage brings the two together to keep one another warm in the midst of the coldness of the world.

Two are better than one when life gets dangerous. There are going to be attacks brought against us by the world. These attacks can stem from our typical situations of life. Alone we can easily fall to our attacker. Marriage provides a partner to keep us safe despite the dangers of this world.

Two are better than one when walking this world of failure, discomfort, and danger. Together we are stronger than a three-stranded cord, bound together by God’s love, grace, and mercy.