BEST LIFE

 

Recently a friend posted this on their FB account.  It could be a photo of any number of beautiful places where she lives.  Just behind the cleared field is a creek bottom which is teeming with beautiful majestic trees, native vegetation, and wildlife of many sizes and shapes.  Another friend commented on her post, 

"Living your best life"

I know the photographer fairly well and can tell you she is living her best life.  She is an adventurer, traveler, spontaneous  fun seeker, fisherwoman who can haul them in, hunter, and on and on.  Occasionally I tag along with her and have found each and every time I have laughed until I hurt, held on for dear life to the edge of my seat, run for my  life, and thanked God for her spirit of fun and inspiring friendship.  It is a thrill to be along for the ride at select times as she lives her best life.

She is generous without seeking acclaim,  a loving kinswoman, a great friend, a herdsmen who cares for her charges with diligence, and one of the hardest workers I have ever known.  She has no fear and can sling a quip without blinking an eye.

From my vantage point she is living her best life on Heaven's acres where she grew up.  I may be wrong, but I would bet money she would tell you her best life is right there on the family compound.  She is living her best life--right where she started life and where I am pretty sure she will end her days. 

Her best life is not necessarily in the midst of possessions, but in the midst of a plethora of friends and family.  She is living her best life by not being self serving, but always having an eye out for others.  She is not seeking fame, fortune, friends in high places , but instead content to bloom where God has planted her.  She has the wisdom to know the best life is often found right in front of your eyes.  The photo caption says it all-

"Out here.

Listening to birds cows, donkeys, chickens, roosters, & dogs"

She gets it!

"Trust in the Lord,

and do good;

dwell in the land

and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord,

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:3--4

WAAAAAA!!!!

 We all know complainers.  NEVER satisfied---always complaining---never happy--always whining.  I have learned to run for the hills--duck behind a bush--develop a terrible cough when I spot one of them heading my way.  NO ONE wants to hear a litany of complaints!  

I am pretty certain most of us are guilty at some point of complaining.  Exactly what is a complaint?  Merriam-Webster gives this ~

expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction

THERE YOU GO---DISSATISFACTION.  We are not satisfied with the ways things are or what we have or  who is in charge or our station in life    ~ ~ ~

Malcontented comes to mind.

However you define it---none of us like listening to another's complaints.  

It really had not occurred to me that God also does not like hearing complaints until I read one of today's scriptures in my daily reading ~

"Now the people became like those 

who complain of adversity 

in the ears of the Lord;

and the Lord heard them and

His anger was kindled, 

and the fire of the Lord

burned around them

and consumed some at the outskirts of the camp."

Numbers 11:1

WHOA!  I would say at a minimum God does not like complainers.  To quote Pippa Gumball in the daily devotion- "I don't think God likes complaining.  This is quite a warning.  I'm going to be a little more careful in future!"

May we all pause and change our words of complaint to praises for blessings the next time we begin to lament our dissatisfaction.  Amen?  AMEN!

SUSPICIOUS EYES

Grand # 3 and #4 are 18 months apart.  CLOSE---they are old enough now-- 
4 1/2 & almost 3 to do a LOT of fighting.  Physical assaults upon each other--tears--injuries---hand to hand combat.  I well remember my older brother making my life miserable during childhood--he denies it all now--or makes light--BUT I avoided him like the plague before we were grown.  Love him dearly now--perhaps it helps to not be sharing a living space!

I recently had those grands for an afternoon.  During this brief period of time, #3 rolls a large plastic car off the bed and hits #4 in the head with same car--OF COURSE--resulting in tears.  I send #3 to timeout---and soothe #4.  AFTER the tears have stopped flowing--I go in to talk to #3.  "Why did you hit Brother in the head with the police car?"  "Because I wanted to."  Well I give him points for honesty.  WHY the need/desire to fight with our brothers and sisters?

The Bible is full of just such scenarios---check our Cain--Joseph---David--Jacob--the list goes on and on.  We are born in sin--and we sin---over and over.  Many times we are not satisfied and often jealous of those around us.  We look upon others with suspicion and distrust and envy.  

I recently told a R friend that I suspect that I am looked upon with suspicion --as a new FW resident .  She told me about a chapter in a Beth Moore book on insecurity.   A chapter on women attacking women---perhaps because of our suspicions about the intentions of one another.  I have NOT suffered any attacks--but also feel like I am being watched and wondered about.  People would like to know the story without asking what it is.  Since they do not know me nor the story, they look at me with wary--perhaps suspicious eyes.  One of the things I decided when I moved to FW was I would not discuss my life story-to try and not say anything that does not edify the cause for Christ.

Bottom line---we can be malcontents with green eyes and sinful natures.  Thank the good Lord for grace!  I am praying that I will have the eyes of Christ and the peace of contentment for all that I have been blessed with.  When I am showered with so much love and so many blessings, what else could I possibly want or need?

Today I am thankful for the joy of peace and contentment

that only comes from The Source of all my needs.

"Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Phillipians 4:7