Starting a braided rug and contentment and joy in suffering

 Hello ladies, I know I have been remiss of late not telling you all whats going on in my life. Lots has happened since I did a proper update! The Lord is good and His faithfulness stilll reaches the clouds, its never ending and I am thankful for that! What a comfort. I have been pondering contentment and joy lately. They have been two things I have struggled with my whole life as a born again christian. I always heard the sermons as I grew up that were filled with fluff and really did not tell me that there would be times of suffering in my life as a follower of Christ. I did not start realizing and reading, and hearing that this was not the reality until I was a teenager. I came to realize that life was filled with tough times and joy and contentment started to become a difficult character trait for me to instill in myself. I came to realize that joy and contentment come only from Christ and when we are leaning on Him and His truth instead of our false perspectives.

I have read 3 blog posts today about contentment and I received the book called  Contentment A Godly Woman's Adornment by Lydia Brownbackand have really been challenged and encouraged by her devotionals in there. She said in the devotional today why are we always focusing on the negative, (which is what I tend to do! ) instead of focusing on the little blessing and wonderful things God has in our life right now? Why are we reaching for something we do not have when we should be contentment and joyful for what we do have right now?!

 The verse for the devotional I read today was, "Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said," Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt thaat cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." Numbers 11:4-6

WOW! The people of God were so content weren't they?! They had food and the Lord was promising them a land just for them where they would not have to be in slavery anymore and it would be filled with milk and honey! But they were not content with the mana he had provided and the promise of a land filled with even more were they?! I think I am like the Israelites so many times! I say God oh I have to eat crackers and cheese and an apple again today for my lunch, that is boring and I have had to eat this every day this week. Is that being content?! No! God has provided nourishment for me that is good for my body and I am scoffing at it. These verses really made me think about am I content? I  in America, the" land of plenty" and I am not content with all that God has provided for me. This made me get a reality check big time!

I have also come to realize that joy is needed even in suffering these past years. I will admit to you all that I struggle with lonliness and depression. Its not chronic or a big state of depression and no I am not taking meds for it, because I have the best meds on the earth! I have Christ my Lord! Every time I feel lonely and I give into my depression of feeling alone and like if I had more friends I would be content and joyful I have to say, " Rebecca you have the best friend you could ever have! A friend that will never leave you nor forsake you! He is the best lover you could ever have, He will never leave you when hes fed up with you or throw you in the ditch when hes tired of you! He gave up his life by being tortured and killed on a cross for you! Look at the cross and remember that your best friend died for you and He's right here with you always!" Then I read my Bible and pray and ask God to help me not give into the temptation from the evil one to give into my self pity or depression. With Christ I can be joyful even when I feel like I have hardly anyone who understands me or also loves my Lord that is in my life. Even when I feel discouraged or not joyful, I can turn around and be joyful because Christ has conquired my sin and conquired death! So I praise God that these past months even though sometimes I have sinned by giving into my fear of lonliness and given up sometimes and just cried. God has triumphed even when I failed Ladies!!! He has conquired my sin when I could not, He has thrown it as far as the east is from the west. So I would encourage you if you are experiencing lonliness or depression or discontentment or lack of joy go to the Father who in the same room as you and embrace Him in prayer and reading His WORD! This always points me to the truth that I have a best friend right there with me that will always love me and He will be there for me when I am down.

Some verses that have comforted me I was at breaking point are
," God is our refuge and strength,
  a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
  though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
 though its waters roar and foam,
  though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
  the holy habitation of the Most High.
 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;  God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
  he utters his voice, the earth melts.
 The LORD of hosts is with us;
  the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
  how he has brought desolations on the earth.
 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
  he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
  he burns the chariots with fire.
 “Be still, and know that I am God.
  I will be exalted among the nations,
  I will be exalted in the earth!”
 The LORD of hosts is with us;
  the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

(Psalm 46 ESV)

So remember that He is our refuge and our strength!!!! We have no refuge in computer time, texting a friend, crying our eyes out, or yelling at others when we have given into the temptation of depression because of lonliness! There is no excuse for this because Christ is our refuge. If we just go to Him He there and He able to take our burden and take away that sin of giving into depression!

"Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who redeems my life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103: 2-5

I was reminded by these verses above yesterday that we should bless the Lord all the time and forget not his benefits! Do not forget that He forgives our iniquities and crowns us with steadfast love and mercy! How beautiful and encouraging is that! That gives me joy! :)

Please email me if you need someone to talk to or if you enjoyed this post please comment or email! I just thought I should not keep my struggles under the table. I am not a perfect person and I struggle daily with the sin of lonliness and discontentment and lack of joy. But praise God He is able to give us joy even in suffering and pain!

I have been working on a rag rug the past few days in my spare time when I just have to do something with my hands. I love how its turning out and will post more pictures when I get more progress. I think its going to take quite a while to do! I hope to finish it by spring and put it in my room. Well may God bless you this lovely weekend! Its 50 degrees farenheit here! I cannot believe it! Its like fall and my sister and father and I enjoyed it by walking around the neighborhood while we still can without the bitter cold weather.