Over the past few weeks we've been thinking about Philippians 4:10-14. A lot. And the Message puts things into a different frame sometimes, and here's what it says:
"I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my trouble."
We live a sort of "strange" lifestyle these days. We're living on Buster, parked at our friends house. Sometimes its hard to explain to people that it's OK. That we actually like it. Most of the time. When Joe recently said that he was thinking about listing Buster for sale, Emily was the first to pipe up with "NO!". It's our home, and has been for the better part of 3 years. Maybe it's our "comfort zone" now. You know what THAT means...must. get. out.
"I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my trouble."
We live a sort of "strange" lifestyle these days. We're living on Buster, parked at our friends house. Sometimes its hard to explain to people that it's OK. That we actually like it. Most of the time. When Joe recently said that he was thinking about listing Buster for sale, Emily was the first to pipe up with "NO!". It's our home, and has been for the better part of 3 years. Maybe it's our "comfort zone" now. You know what THAT means...must. get. out.
The part that says "hands full or hands empty" - has become a monthly reality. Sometimes we don't know where the next dollar will come from, but it always does. I don't know why God does it this way, but I suspect that He is still teaching us to rely on Him for everything. Everything. We know it's true that when things are going well, or coming easily, we forget that we need God. That we rely on Him for everything. All that we have. Every step. Every breath.
So whatever your situation, you can trust Him to take care of you. What's the worst that could happen when you are living in the One who makes you who you are?
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