are you content today with all you have?

Have you heard the phrase,"If I only had more money all would be well?" We tend to think money brings happiness. We tend to think if we only had money all would be well with our lives. So it brings about the question,"Are you content with what you DO have? As I have shared before we have gone from having quite alot to having very little with my husband out of work still. We have made big adjustments in our life. We have learned its not the things you have, its the joy you carry in your heart over the blessings God gives us. I too have been caught up in this way of thinking. If we only had the money to pay all our bills, if we had enough to travel across the world, if we had enough to have all we need. What girl doesn't like to shop? What girl doesn't like to go to her closet and find a new outfit? What man wouldn't love a hotrod in his garage to drive on the weekends? To go to dinner on a whim, to give gifts to put a smile on others faces are all things we tend to think of. We ask the question,"If you won the lottery what would you do with your winnings?" Everyone seems to have different answers, because we all have different wants. I have this friend who has helped me to teach myself,"Is that a want or a need?" I find her voice stuck in my head as I shop and end up putting things back only to leave with nothing. My husband has this coffee cup that says,"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!" I know he lives by this motto. For me as a daughter of a daddy who spoiled me this is a hard concept to learn. But I am getting there. Its not the things here that bring true joy to our lives. Things rust, they break and they grow old. How many purses does one girl need, or even how many shoes can a person really wear? I think we believe the more stuff we have the more happiness we have in our lives. That is a perfect example of joy in our hearts. Joy doesn't come from stuff, it comes from God, and it is lasting. It doesn't change, grow old, or rust. Happiness changes minute by minute, but joy lasts. It isn't a feeling, its a way of life. Its a choice to see joy in all that touches our lives. If the Lord has blessed you with much, praise Jesus, but don't make that the root of your happiness, because it can be gone within minutes. Don't live your life based on the things of this world, and what this world can give you. Pain and trials have no standard of living. They touch all who breathe. Its not the things that will in turn get us to heaven, we get there simply by the Son of God, nothing else. When we are content in all situations we can really find joy. "Now 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 clothing, with these things we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteouness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:6-11 In our desires to be rich or have more, we end up just wanting more and more to satisfy. Nothing is ever enough. This attitude leads us to a road of greed, selfishness and destruction. Money is not the problem in our lives, but the love of money, our desire to have more. Look at the blesssings bestowed upon you today. Your health, your husband or wife, and the smiles of your children. Laughter and love do not cost anything, yet you cannot put a price on it. So many who lose money, wealth and position seem to think that their lives are over, maybe they are just beginning, but we must open our eyes to all God has for us to really see the blessings all around us. Money is temperal, it doesn't last forever, but our awesome God does. His blessings are life long. What is it that you are desiring today? Are you desiring more than you have? Are you desiring power and influence that comes with money? Let it go, each and every desire for self gain. Look to our Father to fill us with His spirit, and to fill us with a joy that surpasses all things that are bought with money...