CONTENTMENT MOMENT
BY: Rev. Arnel Tan
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether, I have much or little.” Philippians 4:11 NLT
The source of Paul’s joy despite the circumstances around him was the fact that he is able to learn contentment. Contentment is not applicable to one’s relationship with God or to one’s spiritual walk; it is best applied to the material world rather than the spiritual journey. It is when we are walking in brokenness that a growing discontent in our lives becomes so strong while a loss of appetite for the temporary is also growing. To learn material contentment we must first learn to be spiritually not content with where we are. As we find such holy dissatisfaction in our spiritual lives we enjoy learning to live above our situations.
Moments or moment of contentment has always been a regular visitor. But we seldom take time to stop and have a chat with contentment. Perhaps too busy, too complicated and too proud to stoop and talk a while. But in some rare occasion contentment moments are enjoyed and there we finally enjoy a deep kind of rest out of an ordinary moment. Sometimes routinely, most often spontaneously we find ourselves not in hurry to finish something. It happens when we can drink a cup of coffee minus the presence of pressure. A time to read a chapter from a book that we have long planned to read, a smile due to a recollection of something pleasant. These are precious moments of contentment that we all need to humbly admit we need to learn and re learn as we go through this journey.
It is actually seeing every moment in the eyes of grace and living each moment under the control of God. Not every moment will be serene and nostalgic and romantic, yet a person who has learned the art of contentment have clearly fixed the boundary of wants and needs. And with the eyes of simple faith he enjoys the mixture of brokenness and blessedness, being full and being empty. Without pretending those who learn contentment admits that life is hard and difficult but in grace they stopped controlling what is not under their control. An authentic Christ like attitude is a result of being under the influence of Christ. Take peek on these lists of the process of leaning contentment:
• We learn contentment by not demanding our way instead we become understanding of others
• We learn contentment by not pretending that we don’t have a need but by becoming willing to adjust to situations God allow
• We learn contentment by not trusting our strength instead availing of Christ’s strength
• We learn contentment by not neglecting other instead affirming their partnership in fulfilling God’s purpose.
• We learn contentment by not forgetting that God is the ultimate supplier of our needs, remembering that others are His instruments.
• We learn contentment by not abusing the kindness of others instead we show gratitude and integrity in grace.
Enjoy the learning moments and enjoy more moments of contentment.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Pulpit To Pew
BROKENNESS IN WAITING
By : Rev. Arnel Tan
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 NLT
What’s the difference between waiting for the LORD and waiting patiently for the LORD? I think the first waiting is our response to the circumstances that demands our compliance to wait, while the second waiting is a result of God’s dealing with us in brokenness that now opens a willingness to wait for the Lord. Somehow life is designed by God with many deliberate stops or pauses. We see God’s appointed waiting sheds and from there we gain better perspective and live simple lives of faith.
On the outset to wait upon the Lord leaves us no choice. Like we wait for flights, for the weather to calm down, for our numbers to be called while falling in line at the government office or movie house waiting is a part of existing. Waiting patiently for the Lord is the result of God’s dealing with us in brokenness. Waiting for the Lord is compliance while waiting patiently for the Lord is friendship. It takes brokenness to see this point and more brokenness to appreciate and desire this state of waiting patiently for the Lord.
How long is our waiting time? Honestly, it is difficult to tell or to predict. One is certain the Lord will meet us in this appointed time. It is here that we are confronted with the humbling truth that we are not in control of everything. It is here that we see our helplessness. It is also here that we hear the invitation of the Almighty to cease striving and to slowdown and know God. This is not easy to appreciate but when we learn to wait patiently for the Lord it becomes hunger hard to deny.
The delays and denials are actually preparations for the blessings that God is more than willing to give. Why is it so necessary to be broken before enjoying whatever God wants us to have? Because it is in being broken that we actually learn to savor and truly enjoy God’s blessings. Here God is honored and we are humbled. In waiting patiently our need for grace is so clear, in waiting patiently our dark side is expose and our prayers are intense. It is also in waiting patiently that our appetite for the glory of God and for Him to be glorified grows strong and deep. Waiting, praying, worshipping patiently is now the delight of our souls.
By : Rev. Arnel Tan
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14 NLT
What’s the difference between waiting for the LORD and waiting patiently for the LORD? I think the first waiting is our response to the circumstances that demands our compliance to wait, while the second waiting is a result of God’s dealing with us in brokenness that now opens a willingness to wait for the Lord. Somehow life is designed by God with many deliberate stops or pauses. We see God’s appointed waiting sheds and from there we gain better perspective and live simple lives of faith.
On the outset to wait upon the Lord leaves us no choice. Like we wait for flights, for the weather to calm down, for our numbers to be called while falling in line at the government office or movie house waiting is a part of existing. Waiting patiently for the Lord is the result of God’s dealing with us in brokenness. Waiting for the Lord is compliance while waiting patiently for the Lord is friendship. It takes brokenness to see this point and more brokenness to appreciate and desire this state of waiting patiently for the Lord.
How long is our waiting time? Honestly, it is difficult to tell or to predict. One is certain the Lord will meet us in this appointed time. It is here that we are confronted with the humbling truth that we are not in control of everything. It is here that we see our helplessness. It is also here that we hear the invitation of the Almighty to cease striving and to slowdown and know God. This is not easy to appreciate but when we learn to wait patiently for the Lord it becomes hunger hard to deny.
The delays and denials are actually preparations for the blessings that God is more than willing to give. Why is it so necessary to be broken before enjoying whatever God wants us to have? Because it is in being broken that we actually learn to savor and truly enjoy God’s blessings. Here God is honored and we are humbled. In waiting patiently our need for grace is so clear, in waiting patiently our dark side is expose and our prayers are intense. It is also in waiting patiently that our appetite for the glory of God and for Him to be glorified grows strong and deep. Waiting, praying, worshipping patiently is now the delight of our souls.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
PROGRESS WITHOUT PRAYER IS PRESSURE
PROGRESS WITHOUT PRAYER IS PRESSURE
Rev. Arnel Tan
“Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word of God” Acts 6:4 NLT
The progress of the early church is now heating the pressure for problems. One thing hard with success is it can be fatal to the spiritual life of an individual or church. Progress is something wonderful to experience and admittedly this has been the driving goal of our hard works. While progress is a positive thing it has also its own side effects. The truth the person or any organization that is experiencing progress or success without spiritual reserves will soon wake up facing unbelievable pressure.
The Apostle and the membership of the early church showed a remarkable sign of deep spiritual maturity when they adamantly stood for prayer as the priority over projects. The prayer lives of the apostles and the prayer life of the church resulted to spiritual sensitivity that they detect the trap of progress without prayer. This dilemma of many of us today, aside from our depleted prayer lives; we are also depleted in our ability to discern what God desires. I want to clarify that to be progressive is not bad. The issue here is the forgetfulness of many to put prayer over progress.
When prayer is priority over progress the pressure of progress is controlled. In prayer we see the difference between our good intention and God’s approval. The desire to know God is intensified compared to just being busy doing Christian activities. In prayer pressure is off because we have the focus over the one thing that God wants us to do. In prayer we learn to rest and not join the rat race for further success. In prayer the Lord develops within us the spiritual sensitivity to detect when something is wrong even when the outside signs say nothing is wrong.
Progress becomes an unbelievable and unending pressure because prayer takes the back seat. Less prayer leads to prayerlessness. Here the work that God has started is now perfected by human effort. No wonder why Paul used the word “foolish” to rebuke the Galatians of their human effort in doing the work of God. The progress we see the more prayers we say. How impossible to handle the blessings of abundance when we are not intoned with the Giver of these gifts. Warnings have been issued all through out the bible from the books of Deuteronomy to the Epistles we have been warned not to fall to the trap of progress. As the Lord allows His favor to flow let us be on our knees to pray! If problems brought us to prayer the more we should be on our knees when things are progressing for it is here that we are most vulnerable to forget God.
Rev. Arnel Tan
“Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word of God” Acts 6:4 NLT
The progress of the early church is now heating the pressure for problems. One thing hard with success is it can be fatal to the spiritual life of an individual or church. Progress is something wonderful to experience and admittedly this has been the driving goal of our hard works. While progress is a positive thing it has also its own side effects. The truth the person or any organization that is experiencing progress or success without spiritual reserves will soon wake up facing unbelievable pressure.
The Apostle and the membership of the early church showed a remarkable sign of deep spiritual maturity when they adamantly stood for prayer as the priority over projects. The prayer lives of the apostles and the prayer life of the church resulted to spiritual sensitivity that they detect the trap of progress without prayer. This dilemma of many of us today, aside from our depleted prayer lives; we are also depleted in our ability to discern what God desires. I want to clarify that to be progressive is not bad. The issue here is the forgetfulness of many to put prayer over progress.
When prayer is priority over progress the pressure of progress is controlled. In prayer we see the difference between our good intention and God’s approval. The desire to know God is intensified compared to just being busy doing Christian activities. In prayer pressure is off because we have the focus over the one thing that God wants us to do. In prayer we learn to rest and not join the rat race for further success. In prayer the Lord develops within us the spiritual sensitivity to detect when something is wrong even when the outside signs say nothing is wrong.
Progress becomes an unbelievable and unending pressure because prayer takes the back seat. Less prayer leads to prayerlessness. Here the work that God has started is now perfected by human effort. No wonder why Paul used the word “foolish” to rebuke the Galatians of their human effort in doing the work of God. The progress we see the more prayers we say. How impossible to handle the blessings of abundance when we are not intoned with the Giver of these gifts. Warnings have been issued all through out the bible from the books of Deuteronomy to the Epistles we have been warned not to fall to the trap of progress. As the Lord allows His favor to flow let us be on our knees to pray! If problems brought us to prayer the more we should be on our knees when things are progressing for it is here that we are most vulnerable to forget God.
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