Sunday, November 11, 2018

Contentment...


After a few years of striving to eliminate debt before buckling down to save a good deposit for our first home, the drive we had to push harder, work harder, give more, and put money aside for future security did not alter. 
In late September we moved in to that home, we still have no debt other than our mortgage, and there is nothing urgent on the horizon. Yet until a few days ago this compulsion to save, to feel financially secure, to be extra generous and to work harder for the future was still with us. 

Earlier this month the Holy Spirit had begun nudging me into particular passages of Scripture and in my prayer time I sensed changes afoot in the area of finances so I shared this with my husband and together we prayed about it and sought the Lord for more understanding.
Well, every day for the next week a particular aspect on how to manage our finances came to mind until when we considered doing otherwise a heaviness fell on our spirit. So we agreed to trust God and pull back a bit, again waiting on His direction to become clearer.

Now you know, Blossom and I have a saying we use a lot - "God is in the details" - and this morning as my man and I discussed further revelation the Lord had made clear for us we kinda wondered if we could have some confirmation from Him, after all, this change of financial direction we were being asked to allow God to make in our lives was very different from what we've had for the past four or five years.

We sat outside with our coffee and turned on the radio to listen to a Christian program we have supported for a long time. And you'll never guess what the topic was? Finances.
Never before has this ministry had a sermon on finances so believe me when I say our ears pricked as the teaching began!

In fact the sermon was about being content with what we have right now, putting our trust in God to provide our needs tomorrow and not putting faith in our bank account or other assets. 
It touched on the need to pour our lives into relationship with Christ above all else and not allowing the desire for financial security to drive us, cause us anxiety, lure us to work harder than we need, or be a temptation to climb the career ladder because this is us building security in our own strength apart from the Lord. This is us putting confidence in our bank account, our position, our own talents and what we believe we need to be happy and secure.

Afterwards Mr E and I sat and pondered just how much God loves us that He would expand and confirm with us through a radio sermon everything He had been gradually placing on our hearts this month. I was able to acknowledged how years ago when my husband was at university and we had small children that I homeschooled, the very tiny budget I had to work with each fortnight never caused me anxiety. I trusted God with my whole heart and would be excited to see how He would provide each week during those four years of my husband's teaching degree...never did I fear, never did I see us begging bread, never were we in lack. We had what we needed and felt incredibly blessed.

It wasn't until the children left home, I was designing and Mr E was teaching, that a subconscious element of 'we can provide for our needs/wants' slowly took hold, and it was insidious because if you asked us who our provider was we would instantly answer GOD. We really did not notice the big shift in our attitude, so slow was it to manifest and take root. We worked harder and were able to give more, again outwardly we would say it was God providing for the recipient, but there was also a sense of personal satisfaction too. 

I sit here today and marvel that we did not see all this along the way, but I marvel more at our Father God who gently took hold of us and revealed in His mercy how our faith in Him had become mixed with our faith in self. 

I am humbled to be loved so much that He never leaves me where I am but at the right time molds and shapes me to be more like Christ and less like worldly Jenny. Knowing who I am inside, only God can take on such a big challenge, but boy I'm glad He's doing it.

Warts and all...that's His mission for me. 
"Tell them your life, warts and all, so as you grow and change they can see what I am doing and that nothing is too hard for Me if only they will let Me in."

God bless you wonderful human, and remember, God is in the details. Every one.
hugs,


19 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you Jenny for your honesty and transparency!! God is a good Father!!

Nancy J said...

We have waited so long to sell our home on a large area of land, with a lot of garden. Earlier in August, a wonderful family from further north came and looked and loved it so much. They moved in on 2nd November, meantime we struggled to find a home for both of us and our dear friend Joyce ( older than us ) who lives with us. Then a family were on transfer with the New Zealand Defence Force, we looked, and we bought it. Again, we were so thankful, like you, to find a home that would be ours for many years. Faith is always there, and will show us to be strong and trust,always. Maybe with your alphabet patterns I can do a pattern for your new home, and celebrate the delight of it all with your words and letters there.

Nancy J said...

p.s.I have decided," Faith, Hope and love" will be the words.

Unknown said...

I have had this very topic weighing heavy on my heart. Your words came at just the right time. ❤️

Jody said...

I am still astonished to have a Heavenly Father who knows my very specific needs. So often I will pray about something (sometimes small, sometimes overwhelming) and my husband will makes several comments, scripture springs forth from the page, often talks on tv or books----all have pieces of the puzzle. So often, God works through the angels amongst us. Sometimes the answers come immediately, others may take years. It's all about making our hearts and minds open to the Spirit.

How wonderful that these miracles happen all over the world and to those who would hear. We having a loving Father who wants us to experience joy and blessings. Jenny, I so appreciate your words. How wonderful to have a husband who works with you. What a comfort that provides. You have such a lovely way of expressing your testimony and discussing things of the Spirit. You are such an inspiration.

I hope we all remember we're never alone and God is as close as our humble prayers. We are adored children of a loving Father in heaven.

Little Penpen said...

You listened to the still small voice and He even provided reassurance for you! Nothing feels better than having peace!

Tammy said...

He speaks in mysterious ways to us. And me need to stop and listen. I call this a wake up call. He will provide and take care of us . He is faithful to his flock. That is for sure. I am not good at words to express myself. I never have been. I wish I had your way with words. You are so blessed in so many ways. Thank you for sharing this testimony with us.

Winifred said...

It can take hold of you worrying about financial security when we were younger we never took on any debt other than mortgage & car which were essentials. Everything else we saved for & really appreciated it. Most of these things I still have I'm not of the throwaway generation more a repairer & re-cycler. I never cease to be amazed at the greed of so many people & businesses today instead of being satisfied & thankful for the things they have they seem to want more & more. Happiness doesn't lie with more.
It's such a pleasure to read your Blog Jenny a gem amongst the dross on the Internet. God bless.

Unknown said...

Jenny,
As I arose from my bed this morning, heavy on my mind was the prayer I would utter for my deliverance from my financial bondage, and constant need to increase my fabric collection with the textiles I find so appealing when I surf my Facebook friends and photographic "eye candy". I really love the soft world of textiles, and am constantly feeling an urge to search the thrift stores for vintage clothing and fabrics. I have been praying for a change of heart, to desire more of a purpose for serving others with my sewing and designing talents, and hoping for that to come about. You see, I like you, as you wrote today, have been working out the changes in lifestyle as children and grandchildren move away, and purpose changes from caring for loved ones to just my husband and I to make sense out of "what now?" Well, without going much further into the details, I want to let you know that your writing today was spot on, including the details of the background photo of the scripture of choice, to be content. Pink snapdragons. I have pink snapdragons growing in my garden, and now and then, I will pull off the drying ones, and bring them in to fill a lovely china saucer by my bed. This morning, I picked up a few drying petals from the table, and put them in the saucer with the others, while calmly putting the fragrant dish up to my nose. At that moment, I began to realize how grateful I am for the little things that I am blessed with, and how a loving God, my Heavenly Father, can and does provide for my needs, and I can find comfort in that knowing, because He has done so my whole life. I, too, have gone too far in trying to supply my own comforts, while knowing that all things have been provided for me and my family, through His tender mercies, and understanding of what my needs are. I just have to put into perspective what my wants are and how I can merge them into the needs that my Heavenly Father shows me are His to provide. Thank you for inspiring so many with your experiences in life, and sharing your understanding of how it all aligns with a purpose in serving God.

Farm Quilter said...

Amen!! Choosing to be satiated with what I have is my goal. I truly don't need anything more materially, I need to use what I have, because it is more than enough. I have been blessed, pressed down and running over! Living debt free (completely) is amazing and opens so many doors for me to be able to bless others.

Susan said...

I don't need more for me, but I want to reach a place where I can do more to help others. The Lord is showing me how, providing for everything, as I follow his plan. He has said to seek the kingdom of God first, so I'm working on that. =) This was a very inspiring post, Jenny.

Peascod said...

Oh Praise Him!!! Again, God has used you to be spot on in encouraging me, gently changing me, and loudly whispering to my heart that it is Him who is in control and that means my finances. I am on disability and can not work, needless to say I am on a very limited budget and God has been teaching me the differences between needs and wants. So many times you blog has been timely and instrumental in encouraging me, gently nudging me to see things differently, and knowing that God is truly in the details!!! (Here in the US we say that the devil is in the details, but I love your way of saying it!!) Thank you for sharing what God is teaching you...

Carol said...

God has been dealing with me on this exact subject for a couple of months now, so I know exactly what you mean as I have lived my life as you have with finances. His nudge is to trust Him for my financial security instead of a bank account as you say with the emphasis on giving rather than telling myself I can't afford to give. The truth is I can't afford NOT to give as that implies a distrust. This is a weak spot for me so I would appreciate prayer to help me through this change.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

I'm glad you have been blessed by this, Carol. We have never had a problem giving generously, no matter what our income was like...but it's important to God that we also learn to receive. Lesson for hubby and me. :-)

Eliane said...

Ola bom dia!!! estou como vc pasando por mudanças! estava a espera de uma luz para minhas finanças e vc acabou de me dar essa luz. Muito obrigado!!! DEus sabe o que fa. Um beijo da eliane aqui do Brasil.

Karla said...

Hello, today your words were the answer that i was waiting for. God is wonderful. My son allways says to me "keep calm and pay attention, the answer is allways in a way that you will recognize it. Don't expect lightning in the sky or that a dove speaks to you" because I'm very distracted and impatient. He is so right, God is so Great and loving. Thank you so much. God bless you.

Joyful said...

Jenny, Thanks for sharing this message of faithfulness.

Anonymous said...

I have been weighing quitting my job and staying home to be a house wife at the age of 59. Letting go and letting God has been difficult for me as I have worked since I have been 17 years old. We still have a house payment with only a few more years. I married late in life. My husband has a secure job and its steady. I have just felt this tugging that this is what I should do. Any advice on taking the leap of faith. I am scared.... Beth Shaw Masontown Pennsylvania

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Beth, if God is tugging at you to go a certain way, trust Him and do it. You're holding on to what you can see, what you can touch, what you think you can be sure of...but you need to step out in faith to experience the 'better life' God has for you. He never calls us to something unless He's going to provide what we need. He only has the best in mind for us, and though we may not think of it as 'best' He sees the bigger picture with all its twists and turns and directs us to the path that will serve us and HIM best. Just trust. No fear. Never be scared of God. Never.