Can you believe this is our last study for 2017? It truly has gone by so fast, and I pray you have been blessed whether you have just read along, journaled, or created art. I hope you will be sure to read the end of this post concerning 2018. I would love your feedback. Now onto today's study.
The Study
Are you content? Do you feel like you have to prove yourself to others? Do you always want what everyone else has? Maybe you are never happy with the way you look. Us women truly suffer a lot from that one. After 52 years, I have finally come to terms with my pear shape and thunder thighs. Even when I used to teach strength training and aerobics, my proportions didn't change. I will always be larger on my bottom half. Praise God I have finally come to accept that. It's so freeing. What do you need to let go of and feel the freedom and peace that God wants you to experience? Well, first, to help you figure that out, let's look at what contentment means.
Dictionary.com says "Satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else."
Yet, Crown Financial Ministries says "Contentment, contrary to popular opinion, does not mean being satisfied where you are. Rather, it is knowing God's plan for your life, having a conviction to live it, and believing that God's peace is greater than the world's problems."
So for me, I realized that God created me as I am. I can't physically change that I am a pear-shaped woman. Can I tone up and take better care of myself? Absolutely! But doing that won't change the fact that I am a pear though I will feel better and look better. I'm pleased now that God has given me the shape I have. It's me. I am perfectly and wonderfully made!
Psalm 139:14 "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Do I need to compare myself to the tall women with thin thighs? No, because I wasn't made that way. Nothing I do will increase my height or magically give me thin thighs. He created me perfectly as He wanted me. I can now after all of these years be content in that fact.
Crown Financial Ministries also says this "Contentment is so far removed from many Christians that it seems that they will never be able to find it or be at peace. However, contentment is not something that must be searched for and found. It is an attitude of the heart. Once the attitude has been modified and all has been transferred to God, contentment will be evident."
It is a heart attitude! In my heart, I don't want to tell God that He got it wrong when He made me. No, I am wonderfully made. He created me. He loves me thunder thighs and all. How about you? Where in your life do you desire contentment? Will you ask God to help you?
Psalm 131:2 "But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content."
Proverbs 19:23 "The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble."
Matthew 6:25 "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?"
Matthew 6:32-33 "For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Luke 12:15 "Then He said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:11-12 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for 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."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."
Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.'"
1 Timothy 6:6-7 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."
Journaling
- What do you need to let go of and feel the freedom and peace that God wants you to experience?
- How will you start the new year having a heart attitude of contentment?
- Journal a prayer asking the Lord to help you be content in Him.
Today I did something a little different. I found a new artist by the name of Andrea Walford on YouTube. Click here to see her channel. I loved one of her pieces so I did a near identical lift of her page. I changed a few things, however. For instance, I used washi tape instead of scrapbook paper, I made it a two-page spread instead of just one page, I created the title circle on book paper, and I used products I had on hand not the same products she used. This was really fun just to do a "lift" of someone else's work. I have been so busy that this really was super easy. If you are new to art journaling, this would be an excellent video for you to follow as she goes super slow and explains a lot of things. I fast forwarded through parts just because I have my own way of doing some things but it's still a great, great video for anyone!
Now here is my take on her piece using the Hebrews 13:5 verse from above. I wanted to use Philippians 4:11-12 but it was a bit too long for my page.
2018 Plans
I am not sure where the Lord is leading me for 2018. I have lots of ideas but I also am not sure if this is something my readers would like for me to continue. What changes would you like? Are you still interested? I have prayed and prayed but still just not sure where I will go with this study for 2018. Feel free to leave a comment about this year's study and what you would like to see in 2018. As always, I appreciate each of you! Have a blessed and Merry Christmas, and to see all of this year's studies, click here. Blessings,
5 comments:
Patter, you are such an inspiration to the Bible Journaling community. I have been a fan of your for a long time. Seeing your art and reading your reflections has brought so many people closer to His word. Creative worship is such a wonderful thing and you've brought it to so many people and have touched so many lives. When I fist started Bible journaling I found you and you have enriched my walk with Him, so thank you. Wherever the Lord leads you for 2018, you will have many followers. Hugs and prayers.
Splendid timing for this post. I enjoyed the content of your "content" study, Patter🤓 just prior to Christmas. Most of us can well use the reminder of these scripture truths just now. The ads try to shriek "You need this to be content," but they lie. Neither do my relatives and friends 'need' what I'll give most of the time. We do enjoy the sweet reminders of being loved, which are all the sweeter if we are already content within.
The lift layout is a sort of tribute, so thanks for encouraging us to borrow ideas and use as springboards for our own creativity. Your combinations are beautiful. I hope to watch the video eventually. For now, thanks very much for the study this year.
I hope you will continue, and pray the Holy Spirit will direct you.
Merry Christmas--Jennifer in OH
Patter, thankyou so much for the time you spend in preparing the Bible truths you share and the inspiring art you create.
As you may remember I have been following your Scripture challenges since 2008. I am always encouraged by the Bible Teaching you share. I pray that you will know the direction the Lord wants you to take for 2018. As I shared one other time, have you ever considered studies of the different women of the Bible?
I pray that you and your loved ones will have safe travels this Christmas time and that you all have happy and blessed celebrations.
Hi, Patter. I love your page and your study on being content. It was definitely a well timed posting. It's a good reminder this time of year so we don't get caught up in the materialism/commercialism that can sometimes accompany it.
As far as what the new year brings to you and your studies, let me say that I don't always post comments like I know I should (I'm bad about that and really should do better) but I do follow along and love your posts. I don't always create the art, and never post if I do, but I definitely read the posts and think about/reflect on the study. I hope that you find God's plan/direction for the new year, and I hope that it's something that we all can continue to follow with you. I do want to say that I like how you did things this year with the different types of art. It was like a Bible study and art lesson, all wrapped up in one. :)
Hope you and your family have a very blessed and Merry Christmas!
Hello, Patter!
I came over just to find out what you had in mind for the 2018 Scripture Challenge! I really missed participating in it this past year. I've lightened up my DT schedule expressly for the purpose of returning to your challenge. I will pray for the Lord's leading as you wait on His whisper in your ear! :o)
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