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In Whatsoever State I Am...
therewith to be content.
Philippinas 4:11

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus... (Eph 2:4-7 NIV)

Ten Commandments - The Law	John Wesley: Free Grace
Christian/Family Links	Looking for That Blessed Hope
Fighting the Good Fight	Overcoming the World
Promises of God	The Christian's Secret...
---	---

Table of Contents:
In Whatsoever State I Am...
Some Featured Sites | Family and Christian Links | Begin Outline
#	LOCAL OUTLINE SECTION:	CORESSPONDING PAGE:
I-a.	On Counting Your Blessings	When You're Worried...
I-b.	On The Psalms	Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
II-a.	On Those You Need to Forgive	My Blacklist
II-b.	On The Great Mercy of God	They Shall Obtain Mercy
III.	On Those Who Hate Me	People Who Hate Me
IV.	On Praying for Others	Did You Pray for Me Today?
V.	On Bearing the Cross >>>>	This Never-Ending Road to Calvary
VI-a.	On The Resurrection	Looking for That Blessed Hope
VI-b.	On Serving God	Occupy Till I Come
VII.	On Resisting the Enemy	Fight the Good Fight of Faith
VIII.	On the World, the Flesh...	Promises of God \| Overcoming the World

This site is still under construction.

In Whatsoever State I Am...

Paul in Prison "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. {12} I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. {13} I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

(Philippinas_4:11-13 KJV)

Have you ever heard that comical saying about life:

"This life couldn't be the real thing, or there would have been better instructions!"

Well, I believe there are "Better Instructions" - in the Bible - and here are some gleanings from that Good Book. This Outline for Contentment is meant to be a reminder that you can turn to when you have trouble recalling the Goodness or the Wisdom of God.

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: {7} Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
{8} For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. {9} For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
{10} For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: {11} So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah_55:6-11)

Outline

When You're Worried, And Cannot Sleep:

Try Counting Blessings, Instead of Sheep -

And you'll fall asleep, counting your blessings!

Section I - ON BLESSINGS AND PSALMS:

Begin a list entitled "Today's Blessings."

Start counting your blessings, one by one, and giving thanks to God.

Don't stop counting and giving thanks for your blessings, no matter how tired or depressed you are.

Write those for today, plus the ones you forgot to record yesterday. Practice the Art of Thankfulness.

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord..." (Eph._5:18-19)

True praise and thanksgiving is exemplified beautifully in a poem received in our email from a Campus Crusade university student, Do You Love Me?

My Blacklist

Section II - ON FORGIVENESS AND MERCY:

Put as the heading "List of People to Forgive:"

Try and get at least two names on that list today, for starters; and then make a determination to do it - mentally and even verbally (if you're alone).

It may be appropriate to call someone who needs to hear this and apologize on the phone; or send them a note.

Make a note of how you handled each Act of Mercy. Add to the list at least two items daily.

Remind God that He promised to forgive you, if you forgive others! (The Lord's Prayer)
Forgive others 70 times 7, every day.

Never forget or take for granted the Great Mercy of God toward us, as we agree to show that same kind of pardon toward our fellowman.

Bless and do not curse them.

Watch what you say, because you will be known by your mouth!

Watch what you think, because you will become what you think about!

If you are a Christian, and say that you love God, you simply are not allowed to hate! Let's stand against it whenever we see even a tiny trace of it starting to settle in our hearts.

People Who Hate Me

Section III - ON REJECTION AND GUILT:

This time, make a list of People Who Need to Forgive Me:

Ask for God's forgiveness; and also go and be reconciled with that person I offended, if appropriate.

Practice The Habit of Keeping Short Accounts with God and Man! Don't let the sun go down on your angers. Get ready to meet your Maker every evening, in case this is the night!

Keep a list of the Ten Commandments on your night table, and get straight with God each night.

Remember that a certain amount of hatred of others toward us was prophesied long ago. We learn to live with it and not hold it against them.

Bless and do not curse them.

Did You Pray For Me Today?

Section IV - ON PRAYER AND INTERCESSION:

This topic should be entitled: "List of Prayer Requests:"

Think of a few concerns that cause you the most stress.

Write them down, while you are petitioning God about them.

Form the Habit of Taking Everything to God in Prayer!

Don't forget to pray about the concerns of friends; let them know that you prayed for them, when they are upset. Don't write down their names or confidences.

Make Intercessory Prayer a priority in your thoughts.

Pray together with other like-minded people. If you can't get together in one place, have a *virtual* prayer meeting! (phone or modem)

Don't pray around mockers or scorners, but retreat to a private place.

Pray that you may not have to enter into temptation.

Pray for healing and for pardon for one another, according to the Apostle James' "formula." If you have no "elders" or "presbyters" to call on, seek a "seasoned" old (figurative) "prayer warrior" whom you know to be "righteous" in his attitudes and behavior.

Keep your priorities in order (The Kingdom of God must come first) and He has promised to take care of the rest.

Exercise faith, such as the Holy Spirit grants to you to have.

Look for Jesus to calm the storms of life.

We can walk by the Laws of the Kingdom, if we are determined to avoid doubt, in which case the Laws of Nature would cease to have priority! Jesus tried to teach us to walk by faith, and not by sight. It is a hard but rewarding way to go. Many missionaries walk a faith walk. If it is done truly under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it can be a great witness to the reality of the Gospel.

It is hard to fathom that Jesus spoke so often about His desire for us to exercise earnest faith, comparing the amount we need to the size of a mustard seed, to accomplish great feats!

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Another Day, Another Destiny...
...This Never-Ending Road to Calvary:

Line from: Les Miserables ~~ One Day More ~~ Lyrics

Section V - ON BEARING THE CROSS:

Now comes the most difficult: "My Crosses"

Begin right now to thank God for your daily crosses; not trying to "enjoy" them, but enduring them bravely as soldiers of Christ!

Write each one down, as it comes to mind; try to begin by thinking of at least two. Crosses include:

Deep agony of a parent's bleeding heart...

Afflictions (illnesses), aches and pains; troubles within and without;

Job problems; family problems; aggravations of all kinds;

Persecution; loss of loved ones; torments of heart; trials and tribulations; imprisonments;

Suffering of every sort; waiting for help; waiting for events to take place; waiting on God.

Wounds from friends; abandonment by friends, or those we thought were friends; derogatory or callous treatment from those expected (by God) to love us (both from within the Family and within the Church); discovery of false brethren (fake Christians or any sort of "impostor"); perils of all kinds; betrayal.

Pray for the strength to bear each cross.

Pray that you may Carry your Daily Crosses well; and that they will do the cleansing work in you that God intended:

As a Loving Father disciplines his sons;
As our Divine Husbandman (Gardener), who purges and prunes us into the image of His Son;
As a Great Teacher, who teaches us and tests our faith:

Perhaps there has been a hedge of protection around us for some time, and now comes the testing time.

Early testings may be severe, but mainly pertaining to things and people around us, and not our own flesh.

What if we have been tested already in many ways, but not yet in our flesh and blood bodies? May we then, as Job, after having been tried, come forth as gold!

Another example of testing, such as Abraham's test, is called the Test of Faith. Ordinary people would not be tested in like manner, but we can still expect some tough ones. Abraham knew God face to face, and could recognize that this was truly God, and that He could and probably would raise Isaac up from death.

Jesus not only foretold Peter of a coming test, but even told him he would fail at first, but finally persevere in his faith! It was the same enemy who would do the sifting as in Job's testings.

(to be continued)

Looking for that blessed hope,

And the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
(Titus 2:13)

Section VI - ON RESURRECTION AND SERVICE:
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

There is a special crown waiting for those who love His appearing. (2Tim.4:8) We know that when we see Jesus, we shall be like Him. (1John3:2) We know too that we shall appear with Him! (Col.3:4)

However, we are told by the Apostle Paul to stay busy and not idle our time away (2Th.3:10-11); and in numerous parables of Jesus we are instructed to spend our time and resources fruitfully, and to "Occupy till I come."

So how do we fulfill Jesus' command to occupy?

Here are four ways that Scripture points to:

Serving God:
The Great Commission (Evangelism)
"Go ye therefore and teach all nations..." (Mat.28:19-20 KJV)

Teaching and Admonishing One Another... (Ministries)
"...in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," (Col.3:16-17)

Caring for These, the Least of our Brethren... (Missions)
"...ye have done it unto me." (Mat.25:31-46)

Helping One Another (Good Deeds!)
"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John_13:13-17)

This may seem like a heavy burden, but really, it is just the opposite. When you begin to give, somehow your "burdened feelings" get lighter! That probably explains the Lord's words that "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)

Never forget the Golden Rule - to do unto others...

Resist the devil...
and he will flee.

Section VII - ON RESISTING THE ENEMY:

Put as the heading "List of Strategies:"

Write on this list a few of your besetting sins -
those habitual sins that daily entangle and cling to us -
the sins that you would like to get rid of -
and also list some simple strategies for fighting them.

" {7} Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. {8} Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands..." (James_4:7-8)

{11} Reckon yourselves dead to sin: [Think or count yourselves to be dead to sin.] (Romans_6:11)

"{12} Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on [seize] eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1_Timothy_6:12)

Mortify the Flesh:

"{2} Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth... {5} "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth..."
[Subdue your bodies. Get them under control.] (Colossians_3:2,_5)

"{13} For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
[Put to death carnal passions through self denial.] (Romans_8:13)

"{1} Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin..." (1_Peter_4:1)

{23} Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke_9:23)

"{16} This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. {17} For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh..." (Galatians_5:16-17)

"{11} Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians_6:11-12)

Fight like the children of Israel, when up against Amalek (the Amalekites): face the enemy in the valley, while holding up arms of prayer on the mountain top!
"{10} So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill..." (Exo_17:10)

We should be like the Apostle Paul, fighting not as one that beatheth the air (shadow boxing!) - but bringing our bodies into subjection to our spirits, rather than subordinating our spirits to our bodies! Simply put, we must strive for mind over matter.
Do not follow the poor example of the Children of Israel in the desert, when they provoked The Lord with their complaining and murmuring about their difficult situation; but
"{13} There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Bridle (curb, control) your tongue:
"{1} If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." (James 1:26)

Fasting and Prayer:

Mustard Seeds and Mountains:
" {20} If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. {21} Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (Mat_17:20-21)

All things are possible:
"{23} Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. {24} And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:23-24)

First, you must forgive:
"{24} What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. {25} And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:24-25)

Importunity: Boldness
"...Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, "yet because of his importunity [boldness] he will rise and give him as many as he needeth." (Luke 11:8)

In My Name...
"{12} He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. {13} And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do..." (John 14:12-13)

Believe, but Beware:

Don't cast your pearls before swine.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you... He will not give you a serpent when you ask for a fish!

Beware of false prophets who come in "sheep's clothing," but really are "ravenous wolves." You will know them by their fruits. Many of those who call Jesus "Lord," prophesy in His Name, cast out devils (demons) in His Name, and do great works (miracles) in His Name, do not even belong to Him. Jesus says He will reject the false prophets on Judgment Day, telling them that He never knew them!

Disobedience to Christ is like building your house (your life) on the sand. You will not be able to withstand the storms of life. Obedience to Christ is like building your house (your life) on a Solid Rock. The storms of life will come. But after they have come and gone, you will be left standing.
God does nothing but in answer to prayer:
from The Plain Account of Christian Perfection by John Wesley

Overcoming the World, the Flesh...

and recalling the
Promises of God

Section VIII - ON OVERCOMING THE WORLD:

Put as the heading "List of ---:"

Write on this list... -
------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- -------------------------------------.

Guiding Principles:
Love not the world...

I have overcome the world...

Not as the world giveth...

Human Nature, Frailties, and Passions Lethargy, Apathy, Listlessness, Numbness, Stupor, Indifference

Tapping in on the Wisdom of God...
The Wisdom of God is not the wisdom of man. The Wisdom of God is spiritually discerned. It is for the spiritual man. The carnal (or earthly-minded) man cannot understand the things of God.

Loving God with all thy Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength...

The Desert Shall... Blossom
As the Rose
and the parched ground shall become a pool...

The Serenity Prayer

Prayer of St. Francis

(to be continued)

This site is still under construction.

By Grace:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them."
(Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

Family and Christian Links

Featured Sites:

Happiness is a Choice

Missing Heaven by 18 Inches

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Updated: 5/10/05
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In Whatsoever State I Am... therewith to be content. Philippinas 4:11

Table of Contents: In Whatsoever State I Am...

In Whatsoever State I Am...

Outline

When You're Worried, And Cannot Sleep:

Try Counting Blessings, Instead of Sheep -

And you'll fall asleep, counting your blessings!

Section I - ON BLESSINGS AND PSALMS:

My Blacklist

Section II - ON FORGIVENESS AND MERCY:

People Who Hate Me

Section III - ON REJECTION AND GUILT:

Did You Pray For Me Today?

Section IV - ON PRAYER AND INTERCESSION:

Another Day, Another Destiny... ...This Never-Ending Road to Calvary:

Section V - ON BEARING THE CROSS:

Looking for that blessed hope,

And the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)

Section VI - ON RESURRECTION AND SERVICE:

Resist the devil... and he will flee.

Section VII - ON RESISTING THE ENEMY:

Overcoming the World, the Flesh... and recalling the Promises of God

Section VIII - ON OVERCOMING THE WORLD:

By Grace:

Featured Sites:

Rated for Families by:

In Whatsoever State I Am...
therewith to be content.
Philippinas 4:11

Table of Contents:
In Whatsoever State I Am...

Another Day, Another Destiny...
...This Never-Ending Road to Calvary:

And the glorious appearing
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
(Titus 2:13)

Resist the devil...
and he will flee.

Overcoming the World, the Flesh...

and recalling the
Promises of God