Take Your Pick

Some interesting sites or articles you may want to check out!

Coffee and Timing: When is the best time to drink coffee?

Don't Lose Your Cool: It's not wise to lose your temper. God's word says so.

Reading More: Good tips on reading more.

Autumn: Wow pictures to check out!

Pic of the day!

Early morning sunshine lights autumn leaves on Oct. 24, in London, England. Fine weather is expected in parts of the United Kingdom on Oct. 24. (Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Lay Aside the Weight of Discontentment

by Jon Bloom | November 1, 2013

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11–13)

In the race of faith, it is crucial to remember that our contentment is not determined by our circumstances. We often want to blame circumstances for our discontent, but that’s barking up the wrong tree.

Contentment is determined by what we believe. And our belief is fueled by what we’re seeing. So if you need to lay aside the weight (Hebrews 12:1) of discontentment today—the sinful kind that stems from disappointment and leads to grumbling—begin by looking at what you’re looking at.

Contentment Comes by Seeing the Treasure

When Paul wrote the words above, he was in prison (again). Prisons were nasty places in Paul’s day and he knew he could potentially die. The death he contemplated would not be pleasant. That’s why he wrote,

…it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:20)

How could Paul sit in prison, suffering regularly from hunger and exposure, knowing he might be killed, and say, “in whatever situation I am… content”? Because he saw the Prize:

I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

Jesus was a treasure to Paul. What Paul saw in Jesus was what the man in Jesus’s parable saw in the field:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)

Fifteen minutes before the man saw the treasure, would he have been content to sell everything and buy the field? No way. Fifteen minutes after he saw it he was off to the auctioneer. What was the difference? He saw the treasure.

The secret to contentment in “whatever situation” is seeing the Treasure that trumps them all.

Three Steps to Get Your Eyes on the Prize

Sinful discontentment is a weight to lay aside. But you can also think of it as a gauge in your heart that tells you when your spiritual eyes have strayed from the real Prize. When it shows up, stop what you’re doing, look at what you’re looking at, and redirect your mind to the real Treasure.

1. Stop

When you recognize discontentment, the first thing to do is stop what you’re doing. Stop grumbling and complaining. Stop sulking or stomping around the house. Stop the critical tongue toward others that often comes from the abundance of a discontented heart. Stop looking at the covetousness-producing catalogs, Tweets and Facebook pages. Stop and…

2. Look

Look at what you’re looking at. You’re discontent because you perceive an obstacle between you and your prize. Name the prize you want. It’s probably not Jesus since Romans 8:38–39 tells us that nothing can separate us from him.

3. Think

Getting our spiritual eyes back on the right prize only comes by thinking. What we ponder is what we perceive. We’re discontent because we’ve been meditating on the wrong things and become weighed down with lead-like frustration. It’s time to pick up the easy yoke (Matthew 11:30) of delight in Jesus by doing what Paul instructed the Philippians to do:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Don’t let discontentment govern you today. Lay aside this heavy weight by fixing your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), whose surpassing worth, when you see it, makes the worst circumstances this world can throw at you nothing but rubbish.

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Recent posts from Jon Bloom:

• What to Neglect to Have a Rich Life
• How to Humbly Give and Receive Correction
• God’s Bright Design for Your Bitter Providences

Topic: Killing Sin  

Jon Bloom (@Bloom_Jon) is the author of Not by Sight: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Walking by Faith and serves as the President of Desiring God, which he and John Piper launched together in 1994. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, Pam, their five children, and one naughty dog.

Downton Abbey

I came across this name a couple of times while checking blogs online. So I kept wondering, ‘What in the world is Downton Abbey? For starters, it’s a British period drama television series that was first aired in the year in 2010. It closely follows the lives of an aristocratic family called the Crawleys along with their dozen servants.

For some reason I was quite reluctant to watch these series. Who in the world wants to get entangled with the lives and happenings of the aristocrats? But entangled I did and now I am so much a part of their lives. It’s fun to watch the way things were in the last century and how people in that era responded to the rapid changes that took place.

It also makes me appreciate the things that I often I take for granted in my own life, like freedom, no class system, modern technology and so much more. But there are times when I wish I was born in that era. If only wishes were horses....

Halloween Howls

Be Prepared!

Trials don’t come knocking at your door. They just knock you down. There’s always the element of surprise. Before you know, you are already surrounded by this new pressing circumstance. But a great source of comfort in these times is that it’s never a surprise for God (Job 42:2). He alone is the designer of the trial He sends.

He is the wise loving Father who knows exactly how much we can bear under difficulty (1 Cor 13:10). He may never explain His ways but we can rest assured with His promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). His presence will be with us at all times. (Isaiah 43:2)

Our hope and trust comes from His word. (Romans 15:4)

It is only through these trying times our hearts are drawn to the things of eternity. We begin to see the futility of running after perishable things. Our desires are transformed by the gentle Spirit who resides within us.

No wonder, James said, “Count it pure joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Let steadfastness have its full effect so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.”

Trials reveal our real treasure. Jesus very rightly said, ‘When your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ Like someone said, we are either going through trials or just come out of a trial or preparing for one!

So, be prepared!

5 Reasons Why I Love to Exercise!

1. Discipline: It trains my mind and body to be disciplined and exercise self control.
2. Fitness: I can do a particular task with ease and use less energy to accomplish it.
3. Time: I am able to use my time effectively and reap rich benefits.
4. Denial: I have learned to give up something that I love to gain something better.
5. Reward: I have enjoyed the rich rewards that exercise brings every single day.

Why Should I Worry?

We live in a world where it is somehow considered cool to be worried or stressed about things. How are you doing? We ask and the common reply we hear is ‘I am doing ok. I am worried about the weather or I am worried about my job."

What does it mean to worry? The dictionary meaning says that this is to ‘allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. I like this explanation. "Allow my mind to dwell on troubles." Hmm. As a Christian, I am called NOT to worry. The bible is very clear on this issue. Jesus commands us not to worry. So, every time, I worry, I sin.

He says in Matthew 6: 25-27:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"

We are people who worry over earthly matters. Food, drink, clothing! We are folks made in the image of God and yet, we live as if our life is all about what we eat and what we should wear.

What is sad is that we live in a generation where we are not concerned about what happens once we die. What about eternity? Can we assume that we can live as we want and forget that we will have to give an account to the Eternal Judge?

Am I concerned how will I appear before the judgment seat of Christ?Am I concerned about the things that I take for granted and constantly complain? Am I really concerned about the kind of life I live that often betrays my faith?

Every time, I am tempted to worry over things that are truly trivial and passing, I pray that I think of things that matter for eternity, things that please my Father in heaven.

Like Paul who says in the book of Philippians 4:8:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

As it says in Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Help me O Lord not to be like the world!

Source of real joy

Psalm 16 is one of my fav. psalms that I come back to time and again when I need gentle reminders of where my true joy and pleasures lie—in the presence of God!

Psalm 16
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from You.”

 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.

 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.

 I have set the Lord always before me;
    because H

e is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.

 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

 You make known to me the path of life;
    in Your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

NH7 Weekender—A Musical Experience

My sister and I attended the NH7 Weekender last year and it was an experience for keeps. It was more than we bargained for. The ambiance, the colors, the crowd, the stage setup, and of course, the artists added all the needed excitement.

We had booked the tickets online and decided to attend one day of the fest since we weren’t sure what to expect. We checked out the website and listened to some of the artists and band who would be performing on that day. We were pleasantly surprised to see that they were many upcoming Indian bands who dabbled in rock, punk rock, indie music. The list was endless.

As the D-day drew closer, our excitement began to rise! How would it be? What would be the feeling when we hear so many bands play live? For that we just had to wait…patiently!

The D-day arrived and lo behold, we woke up feeling a bit tired. The weather was humid and the sky was a bit overcast. I kept peeking out of the window to check the sky and said a small prayer of thanks every time I saw the sun.

We arrived minutes before the event began as we did not want to miss a single thing. The event was not open to public as yet. Waiting in the heat seemed to drag for eternity! Finally, we were let in and escorted to a corner for a thorough checkup. The entire venue was beefed up with security. I was pretty impressed. Even as I entered the place I couldn't help getting excited. It was so beautiful and I didn't know where to begin or where to go!

We attended a couple of stages and enjoyed just listening to live music out in the open. I bumped into some of my office colleagues, said a quick hi, and continued visiting one stage to another. Overall, it was a great experience and it was there when we decided that the coming year we would attend for 3 days.

Back to the present, my sister and I are attending NH7 for 3 days and guess what, we have a big gang!

I can’t wait for next week!

Things that make me smile!

There are so many things that immediately bring a smile on my face. Thought of listing them down:

Watching kids ride the bicycle

Every time I enter the cinema theatre

Listening to Christmas songs

When Friday draws near

When winter is near

When I hear from my friends

Reading the newspaper comics

Sunday lunch

Sharing chocolates with my sister

When my sister says ‘Good morning’

When I cook something for my family

Every time I eat potatoes..yeah!

Pic of the day!

Waiting Upon God

Waiting upon God is good for my soul. And to remember that when I do wait upon Him, He will renew my strength and I shall mount up with wings like eagles! My soul is refreshed in my God! His word gives me hope.

"Why do you say, O Jacob,
    and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
    and my right is disregarded by my God”?

 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might He increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:27-31

Jesus I My Cross-Indelible Grace

I love this song  as it reminds of the fact that following Christ means denying everything, even my own life. 

In His Time

In a matter of two months, I will be completing 3 years at my job. Sometimes, I look back and wonder, ‘How did I come so far?”

This job is important to me coz it reminds me of God’s faithfulness in answering prayers and how greatly He does so. I got this job after 16 months of waiting. But those 16 months weren't easy as I had 2 dental surgeries that weakened me physically. When I did recover, I had a fall in the gym class causing my ankle to be severely sprained. I needed an elbow crutch to walk. It was a humbling experience.

I must confess that it was one of the lowest points in my life—jobless and in much physical pain. But it was here that I learned to completely trust God’s plan for my life. I had to recall God’s faithfulness and meditate on His goodness in this lean period.

Month after month passed by and no decent job was in sight. But finally, in God’s appointed time, He blessed me with a wonderful job. It was not what I expected but it was way better than I dreamed of.

In a nut shell, I love my job! Wow! I would not have planned this for myself. His plans for me are way better than mine. I am so glad that I waited upon God even though at times it felt like forever!

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.