Living with nagging regrets and destructive resentments will make you miserable. Contentment provides peace even in less-than-ideal circumstances. You can learn the secret to contentment.
"When you're feeling so blue that no sunshine breaks through and you haven't the ghost of a smile, just hunt up a few who are bluer than you, and try cheering them for a while." -- Russ Sharpe
ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?
October 14 , 2018
Dr. Joe Pettigrew
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.”
Philippians 4:11
We’ve heard the stories:
A man leaves his wife of many years for a woman he has met at work—disorienting and disillusioning his family.
A woman turns from her husband, opting for the man she connected with online, leaving her family heartbroken and bewildered.
A couple, longtime pillars of their local church, suddenly bolt to join a new fellowship that just opened its doors—prompting their home church of many
years to wonder what went wrong.
A family is ripped from its community—their friends, their schools, their church—when an unexpected job change demands relocation.
What these stories have in common are displacement and disruption. And circumstances like these can easily and understandably lead to discontentment. We’re
troubled with the way our stories have unfolded, unhappy with the life we know. Things weren’t supposed to be this way.
The apostle Paul had every reason to be discontent. He endured shipwrecks, beatings, whippings, being stoned, going without food and drink, being betrayed
and being cold and sleepless. And undoubtedly he did struggle with discontentment. But the apostle wrote, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.” With God’s help, this is something we can develop
by treasuring our good gifts no matter the circumstances.
Even in our most difficult times, we can find things to be thankful for. It takes practice to think about what is pure and lovely when confronted with corruption
and ugliness.
Thought of the Day: Because of what God has provided, you can be content with the good in your hard situations. May you rest in Him as you pray for His
kingdom to come.
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DO WE REALLY NEED ALL THIS?
December 30 , 2018
Dr. Joe Pettigrew
“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 this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:11-13
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure
in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:33-34
The presents have all been purchased, wrapped, given and many have even been returned. Most homes have stuff everywhere. Think what you received and what
you gave this Christmas. Think what your children and grandchildren received this Christmas.
As much as I would like to point the finger of blame toward everyone else, my wife and I were as much a part of the problem as anyone. Yes, our children
and grandchildren were showered with gifts as we showed our love by providing more toys and books and art supplies and clothes than they could ever use. We were guilty of filling our home and theirs to the brim with really
nice stuff that none of us needed.
A simple trip to Target would inevitably result in a cute toy or a limited edition pair of rain boots from the latest designer-inspired line. We could barely
open the internet without finding just one more present, one more gift, one more “happy" for someone.
Finally, we woke up and realized that we were literally drowning in stuff. Our family may be different from yours, but I doubt it. Is it time to start a
mission to purge the chaos in our life and start getting rid of all the excess stuff we have accumulated?
I realize your home is not filled with junk; it’s filled to the brim with really nice stuff. The question is, do we really need all of it. Could others
use our excess? It’s easy to purge things that are broken or damaged or old or junky, but it is a lot harder to justify eliminating things that are still useful or valuable. It seems so wasteful.
Thought of the Day: Have you filled your home and your life with stuff? Why not be an example to your children and friends by making your life more simple
this next year.
1. Don’t worry about
anything. Worrying doesn't change anything. It’s stewing without doing.
There’s no such thing as born worriers; worry is a learned response. You
learned it from your parents. You learned it from your peers. You learned it
from experience. That’s good news. The fact that worry is learned means it can
also be unlearned. Jesus says, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34
NLT).
2. Pray about everything.
Use the time you've spent worrying for praying. If you prayed as much as you
worried, you’d have a whole lot less to worry about. Some people think God only
cares about religious things, such as how many people I invite to church or my
tithing. Is God interested in car payments? Yes. He’s interested in every
detail of your life. That means you can take any problem you face to God.
3. Thank God in all things.
Whenever you pray, you should always pray with thanksgiving. The healthiest
human emotion is not love, but gratitude. It actually increases your
immunities; it makes you more resistant to stress and less susceptible to
illness. People who are grateful are happy. But people who are ungrateful are
miserable because nothing makes them happy. They’re never satisfied; it’s never
good enough. So if you cultivate the attitude of gratitude, of being thankful
in everything, it reduces stress in your life.
4. Think about the right
things. If you want to reduce the level of stress in your life, you must
change the way you think. The way you think determines how you feel, and the
way you feel determines how you act. So if you want to change your life, you
need to change what you’re thinking about.
This involves a deliberate,
conscious choice where you change the channels. You choose to
think about the right things: focus on the positive and on God’s Word.
Why? Because the root cause of stress is the way you choose to
think.
When we no longer worry, when we
pray about everything, when we give thanks, when we focus on the right things,
the apostle Paul tells us the result is, “The peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NLT).
What a
guarantee! He is guaranteeing peace of mind.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
What is the
best thing that happened to you this week?
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity -- Philippians 4:1-23
1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long
for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same
mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help
these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel,
along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book
of life.
Final Exhortations
4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such
things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard
from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with
you.
Thanks for Their Gifts
10I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your
concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show
it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I 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. 13I can do all this through him who gives me
strength.
14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the
early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,
not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you
only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent
me aid more than once when I was in need. 17Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is
that more be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am
amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according
to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
21Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The
brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.22All God’s people here send you greetings, especially
those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit. Amen.a
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
God is ... What do we learn about God?
We are ... What do we learn about people?
What does it mean to stand firm in the Lord? v. 1)
What do we know about Euodia and
Syntyche? How are these women harming the church? (vv. 2-3)
What is the book of life?
Where else is the book mentioned? (v. 3)
What is Paul’s prescription for
stress? Why should we rejoice in the Lord always? (v. 4) How does
compare to philosophy and psychology?
In what sense is the Lord near?
(v. 5)
Why is the command to not be
anxious about anything so difficult? (v. 6) What is the greatest
thought pollution of today?
How are we to pray? (v. 6)
What will the peace of God bring
us? (v. 7)
What are we to think about?
(v. 8)
What is our Father the God
of peace? How would you explain it to someone who is not a Christian? (v.
9)
What did the Philippian congregation
do that made Paul have great joy? (v. 10)
List the things Paul had learned
since coming to Christ. (v. 11) What is Paul’s secret to contentment?
How could Paul "be able to
do all things in Christ"? (v. 13) Please explain.
How did the Philippians share in
Paul's distress and trouble? (v. 14)
How long had the Philippians been
assisting Paul? (vv. 15-16)
What we Paul seeking? (v. 17)
What did the Philippians send to
Paul? (v. 18)
What will God supply to
His children? (v. 19)
In light of Paul’s imprisonment for
the sake of his preaching, could some “tongue in cheek” irony be intended in
verse 22? (Hint: Caesar Augustus was emperor of Rome at the time.)
Who were "those who belong to Caesar's household"?
(v. 22)
Reflective
Questions — Live it today.
What are you “standing firm” in your
life?
Who do you disagree with in Christ’s
church and what conversation needs to be had to “agree in the Lord”?
On a scale of 1 to 10, what is the
stress level in your life? What is your body saying to you?
What are some things from this
chapter and God that you need to “learn”?
What outside force is most likely to upset your contentment? Since God
does not always change negative outside forces, what can he change in you so that contentment is possible?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this
passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?
How does
this equip us be a better disciple and help empower us to “make disciples”?
Contentment is not found
in having everything--but in being satisfied with everything we have.
“My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ
Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
What am I doing in Nacogdoches, Texas. It's certainly beautiful, just a heat index of 108 today. It is the oldest town
in Texas. I love my church and our friends. But I'm not a Texas guy, I sometimes wonder, "Hey God, why am I here?"
In the next few days I will reach a milestone birthday. I never thougth being 39 would be a milestone but evidently some
people believe it actually is. Actually, full disclosure, I am a few years older than that.
With an upcoming birthday it caused me to reflect on my life and ask myself some questions. How did I get where I am today?
How did someone who grew up in a small town in rural Tennessee happen to find himself living in the great state of Texas, in a town that took me over two years just to learn how to spell it.
Why did I have the privilege of being a teacher, owning a Consulting Firm, and serving as a college Dean while growing
up in a family where I was the first person to gradate from college.
To some people, the answer is quite simple: we are where we are because of our choices. We choose where we live, whom we
marry, and what we do with our lives. If we make good choices, things work out well, and if we make bad choices, things work out poorly.
Some people might also say that Paul was in prison because of the choices he made. He could have refused to become a Christian;
he could have turned down the challenge of becoming a missionary for Jesus. He could have been more careful and compromising. It seems that some of the early Christians even felt that Paul being in prison was a mistake and
was never meant to be.
Paul responded by saying that it was God who put him there. God had Paul where he wanted him. Through his imprisonment
Paul was able to bring the gospel message straight to the seat of government in Rome. Thank God that in spite of our good, bad, or even sinful choices, when all is said and done, the Lord always gets us where he wants us.
Thought of the Day
The Lord always gets us where He wants us, He makes no mistakes. Ask God to help
you live wisely and look for your direction each day. You are where God wants you today. Settle in and enjoy the ride.
=======
MEETING YOUR NEEDS OR YOUR WANTS
Dr. Joe Pettigrew
“My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ
Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19
My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
I have known people that interpret this verse as if they had a genie in a bottle they are carrying around just waiting for them to ask
for things they want.
When Paul wrote the words, he was speaking from experience. Ever since he'd become a Christian and a missionary for the Lord, he had
faced almost every need imaginable.
He'd been thrown in prison, he'd faced persecution, and he'd suffered at the hands of those who hated him. But God had faithfully met
Paul's needs every step of the way.
God had never let him down. Whether in plenty or in want, hungry or well fed, Paul had experienced God's providing hand.
God promises to meet our every need. He already knows what we'll need, and he promises to meet our needs. God will be with us every step
of the way, providing for us in ways that only God can. It's guaranteed!
Make sure you don't misinterpret these words of Paul. God does not promise to give us everything we want. Sometimes God's answer to our
prayers is "No." Sometimes God will answer our prayers in ways that we don't want or expect. There may be lots of things God will withhold from us. But he does promise to give us what we need in order to fulfill
his purpose for our lives.
Thought of the Day
We have been given today to serve God. As God meets our needs, he also asks us
to help meet the needs of people around us. This is one way in which God shows his presence through us. Help us to see the needs of others, and move us to be willing to help meet those needs.
Series: Be Different “Making
Transformative Moves” Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind.
Opening
Thoughts: What does it mean to be a non-anxious presence in
your home, work and in the world? Is it even possible? Learn how the voice of
chronic anxiety can be stilled by the truth of the gospel.
vNewly discovered asteroid may collide with the
earth.
4 Rejoice in the
Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be
evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be
anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayerand petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is
true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or
received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be
with you.
Summarize the main
story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.
vReview and
retell the story.
Reflections
for applications:
vAnxiety
(Acute
Anxiety vs. Chronic Anxiety)
vPhilippians
4:4-9
oRejoice
(Celebrate)
Be joyful.
oAnxious
(Pull
apart)
vJesus used the same word in Matthew 6:25, 31-34 “Therefore
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or
about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body
more than clothes? … 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or
‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all
these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek
first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to
you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
vHelpful Insights and suggestions:
oBe
present – don’t worry about tomorrow.
§Worry doesn’t change the past or the future.
§How long have you lived?
oBe
prayerful – Prayer is the faith response to worry.
oBe
thankful – You can choose to focus on what’s best.
oBe
at peace – Be at peace with God and one another.
§Worry
doesn’t remove tomorrow’s PAIN, it just removes today’s PEACE.
§Anxiety
is often generated by false beliefs & false needs as well as assumptions
& expectations. – Steve Cuss
§Peace
is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God.
Digging
Questions:
·How
will you respond in being different? What transformative move needs to be made?
·What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·What is God calling us to do?
Take Away
Challenges
·What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in
this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
·Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What
beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis is a very creative approach to Christian psychology. The letters are an imaginary correspondence
between Screwtape, an experienced demon tempter, and his nephew, Wormwood, a novice demon recently assigned to tempt a man in order to win him over to the devil. Frequently Screwtape suggests subtle temptations to subtle sins.
Screwtape also suggests that a certain amount religious practice is not bad for the devil's cause, as long as it is done in an outward way with little or no influence over the man's will. At one point Screwtape writes to Wormwood
about moderation:
Talk to him about "moderation in all things." If you can once get him to the point of thinking that "religion is
all very well up to a point," you can feel quite happy about his soul. A moderated religion is as good for us [devils] as no religion at all and more amusing.
If Jesus had taught a religion of "moderation in all things," he would have been welcomed by the Sadducees and could have
avoided the cross. Not only were the claims of Jesus about himself extravagant, but also the demands he laid upon others were pervasive.
“Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment...every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery...If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away...If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away...Do not swear at all...Do not resist one who is evil...Love your enemies...You
must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect...Judge not...Enter by the narrow gate...whoever would save his life will lose it...Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
This does not sound much like "moderation in all things."
==============
HELP ME PRAY
October 16 , 2018
Dr. Joe Pettigrew
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6
When you pray, how much of your prayer is spent praising and thanking God, and how much is spent making requests?
We should take advantage of every opportunity we get to say “Thank You” to God in prayer. If we’re happy, our joy will be multiplied by sharing our
gratitude with the One who made it possible. If we’re down, we’ll feel better when we focus on the good things God is doing in our life.
Too often my prayers, even during my devotional time, sound like a fast-food order. The problem with that approach is that it’s one-sided. Shouldn’t
prayer be a conversation, a way of exercising and celebrating our relationship with God?
Constant asking may not make for a good relationship.
If we’re serious about having a relationship with God, a good rule of thumb may be to begin our prayers with praise and thanksgiving. That way, if we
run out of time, we will have gotten to the critical, relationship-building part. God will take care of our needs and honor our requests. He proves that every day.
Thought of the Day: Ask God to forgive you for the times you forget to tell Him how much you appreciate what He has done for you.
=======================
August 31, 2009
What Are You Worried About?
by Rick Warren“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4:6–7
MSG).
Two businessmen were talking about the economy:
Jack: “I’m about to lose my job and our house is in foreclosure,
but I don’t worry about it.”
Bob: “How can you not be worried?”
Jack: “I’ve hired a professional worrier. He does all my worrying
for me. That way I don’t have to think about it!”
Bob: “That’s a fantastic idea. How much does it cost to hire a professional
worrier?”
Jack: “$50,000 a year.”
Bob: “$50,000! Where are you going to get that kind of money?”
Jack: “I don’t know. That’s HIS worry!”
Worry is something you learn to do.
There is no such thing as a “born worrier.” It is a learned response to life. You learned to worry from two sources:
1. You learned to worry from experience. After years of mistakes, failures, and unfulfilled expectations, you’ve discovered that things don’t always turn out right. Out of these experiences, you formed the habit
of worrying.
2. You learned to worry from examples. There are many models around you. Studies show that children usually pick up their parent’s worries. Anxious parents raise anxious kids.
Since worry is a learned response to life, it can be unlearned!
The starting point for overcoming worry is to realize it is useless. It does you no good to worry. It is “stewing without doing.” Worry has never changed
anything. Worry cannot change the past. Worry cannot control the future. Worry only makes you miserable today.
Worry has never solved a problem, never paid a bill, and never cured an illness. It only paralyzes you so you can’t work on the solution. Worry is like
racing a car when its engine is in neutral; it doesn’t get you anywhere, it just uses up gas.
The Bible teaches, “An anxious heart weighs a man down” (Proverbs 12:25 NIV).
On top of that, worry exaggerates the problem. It plays on your imagination. Have you ever noticed that when you worry about a problem it gets bigger? Every time you repeat if over and over in your mind you
tend to add details, amplifying it so you feel worse.
What’s the solution? Instead of worrying, talk to God about what’s worrying you. He is someone who can do something about it.
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you
know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4:6–7 MSG).
