contentment.

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Cor 12:10

At church this morning, Pastor Todd talked about embracing our weaknesses. How our normal reaction is to push the things that are our weaknesses away but that we should embrace them as it's then and there that Christ is able to demonstrate his strength and his over abundant provision. I was looking at this again tonight and thinking about how much this makes sense. Todd said that our strengths can actually become Christ's rivals as we depend on them instead of depending on Christ. And yet, when we're weak Christ is able to act and remind us how much we're dependent on Him. As I was looking at this again tonight I began to think about the word contentment.

How are we content and what does that even look like? This is a question I struggled with last year and it was then that I wrote the following. I came back to it again tonight and wanted to post this. My prayer is that as we learn to be more and more content in our circumstance and in who Christ is, we would rest in Him and more than anything abide in His amazing love.

Someone once told me that the way to be content in my situation was to be happy with what was on my side of the fence. The age-old analogy tells us that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence but I really just think it looks that way. As humans we always tend to look at what we don’t have and see it as better or improved. And yet, chances are everyone else is looking at our grass and thinking it’s the better pasture.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:11-13 (NIV)

“Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (self-sufficient lit. Greek word autarkas) (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I also know how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength into me; I am self sufficient in Christ’s self-sufficiency).” Phil 4:11-13 (AMP)

As Christians we are not resigned to circumstances, we are content in them. To be content we need to believe God when He says He is strong in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”) With this knowledge we also need to rest in knowing He is God (Psalm 46:10-11, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”) Paul learned to be content, there was a process and unwittingly a struggle in learning to be content in spite of imprisonment and everything else he faced throughout his time of ministry.

“Contentment, then, is the product of a heart resting in God. It is the soul's enjoyment of that peace which passeth all understanding. It is the outcome of my will being brought into subjection to the Divine will. It is the blessed assurance that God doeth all things well, and is, even now, making all things work together for my ultimate good. This experience has to be "learned" by "proving what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2). Contentment is possible only as we cultivate and maintain that attitude of accepting everything which enters our lives as coming from the Hand of Him who is too wise to err, and too loving to cause one of His children a needless tear.

Let our final word be this: real contentment is only possible by being much in the presence of the Lord Jesus... It is only by cultivating intimacy with that One who was never discontent that we shall be delivered from the sin of complaining. It is only by daily fellowship with Him Who ever delighted in the Father's will that we shall learn the secret of contentment.”

A.W. Pink

amazing grace

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see."

This is one of my favorite hymns which we actually sung Wednesday night this week at Crossfire, our youth group at church. It was beautiful for me to hear a new generation of youth singing a song that has been such a blessing to generations before. The words, and the grace of God doesn't change in any moment, and I was simply reminded at how amazing the gift of this grace is that we have.

christopher

We were back on campus this week for the first time since classes let up for exams in December and it was a super encouraging week. The atmosphere on the universities is one of tranquility as the number of students is down and the it simply feels like summer... because it is here! Juan Carlos and I went out sharing and met a young man named Christopher. He's a Christian and we had a chance to share with him about the Spirit filled life. It was simply a fun conversation as we got to know him a little more and asked he asked questions and we simply got to talk together about our lives. I had to run off for a lunch meeting but later that afternoon Juan Carlos looked at me and said, "did you hear what happened after lunch?" Christopher actually went sharing himself with Karina and Juan Carlos. I guess as they went out Juan Carlos was doing most of the talking but every now and again Christopher would engage in asking a question like, "how would you explain salvation?" ... questions that we had asked him only a couple hours before. And that was the entire tone of this week, one of encouragement as the entire team had the chance to meet new students and share with them the love of Christ. Steve even changed a tire for a young lady in law as Raquel talked with her about Christ. It was a great week! Please keep praying for us and for this summer semester. It's such a special time to be on campus, we're having a blast!

where we've been....

(the team at Christmas)

It's been a while.... a month actually and I'm amazed at how quickly time flies. Christmas came and went and in 2nd year Panama stint tradition we made a turkey and headed to the beach on Boxing Day. Christmas seemed really special this year as we went to a Christmas Eve service and even throughout Christmas Day we took time to pray and read the Christmas story. It was a great time of simply being together as I was reminded of how special Christmas is all year round.

From there I was blessed to be able to head back to Canada.... the land of crazy snow this year. I had a great time reconnecting with everyone even if it was freezing. I hadn't thought I was going to be able to go home and so every moment was special as it was an unexpected blessing to be home.

(back to snow in Canada!)(My dad, brother and I at home in High River)(Costa Rica... back to the sun!)

I flew directly into Costa Rica last Tuesday and the team (+ Mackenzie and Mark, Steve's friend and brother) had a great 5 days. For me it was a blast to reconnect with the team and have some good time to simply catch up and hear how everyone's time off had been. The weather wasn't great by any means but we made the best of it and spent one afternoon renting bikes and biking up the coast watching surfers and getting caught in sudden outbursts of rain. The 13 hour bus ride home on 3 buses was kinda a bummer but we made the best of it and arrived in Panama at 5:15am in good spirits. Crossing the border in itself was one of my favorite moments as we simply walked over a single lane bridge, got our passports stamped on both sides and we were good to go. Not a lot of security and the bridge itself was looked like it had seen some better days.

(crossing the border)

As I was waiting for the rest of the team to come through customs I had a chance to chat with some little boys, two brothers that worked cleaning shoes and watching suitcases and cars. They were in a great mood even though they were in such need. They put a smile on my face as they asked me how to say some things in English and asked about a Canadian nickle that one of the team members had give them. I think more than anything they reminded me how we need to be open and willing to take the time for the people that can surround us but that we sometimes don't even see.