Are You Content?

"To experience happiness we must train ourselves to live in this moment, to savor it for what it is, not running ahead in anticipation of some future date nor lagging behind in the paralysis of the past." -Luci Swindoll

I'm in the process of reading and going through Dr. Katie Brazelton's new book, Character Makeover. One of the topics she discuss is contentment. She states that "Any one of us can be content, because contentment is a state of satisfaction that is independent of circumstances, and we learn contentment by trusting in Christ, who gives us strength. Contentment is a sense of satisfaction in God that doesn't go away because of what you lack, how you're hurt, or where you're stuck. Real contentment is perspective."

Today, it's very easy to allow ourselves to get caught up in what it is that we lack, how we've been hurt, or where it is that we feel stuck. Whether it be the house we feel we need, the job that is going nowhere, or the friend that wounded us deeply, we tend to focus on these aspects rather than the positives. We forget to thank God for what it is that He has blessed us with and what it is that He is doing in our lives. When was the last time you thanked God for anything?

Believe me, I know how easy it is to get caught up in the contentment game. I too have seen houses that I've longed for and in turn, have felt as though my house didn't compare or wasn't good enough. I've also wondered at times why I didn't get a certain job or position, or even, how people that are younger than me could possibly afford the things that they purchase. I've been there, and each time that I have been there, I have had to stop and think about all the wonderful things that the Lord has blessed me with. It's only then, when I begin to thank Him, that I once again realize that I have all that I could ever need and want.

One of the areas that most people tend to lack contentment in is in regards to their jobs. Katie states that "to some degree, everyone has drudge in their days. The administrative assistant has filing. The teacher has grading. The doctor has charting. The lawyer has briefings. The athlete has training. The musician has practicing. Everyone has to deal with activities that are draining, demotivating, or dull. If you start to focus on the dullness and the drudgery, it will zap your joy! If, instead, you see your work as a holy calling, not a daily grind, you'll rediscover the joy and meaning in your tasks."

How would your day be different if you began to see it as a holy calling? How different would your attitude be if you took the words of Colossians 3:23 to heart:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people."

Let me encourage you to take some time today and just thank the Lord for not only what He has given you, but what He has done in your life. When you allow yourself to get into the habit of thanking God for all that He has done, your attitude tends to change and in turn, your days are filled with joy. Every time I've allowed myself to focus on the good things, not only is my outlook better, but those around me feed off of my joy.

So, what are you waiting for? Go tell God how thankful you are and in turn, watch how your attitude and outlook will change!


Brazelton, Katie. Character Makeover: 40 Days With A Life Coach To Create The Best You. Zondervan, 2008.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages through the Life Purpose Coaching Centers, Int'l. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:
www.coachjenniferbennett.com

Happy New Year!

Can you believe that the year 2008 is upon us already? It's hard for me to believe that Christmas has come and gone. It seems as if it was just yesterday that my husband and I were setting up our decorations and in turn, getting excited about spending the holidays with family.

With the new year upon us, take a minute to think back on 2007. Think back to January 1st 2007. Did you set out goals to accomplish, only to find that 2 weeks later you had lost sight of those goals? Was 2007 a year of joy and happiness, or one of sadness and sorrow? As you think back to 2007, what is it that you would like to do differently in 2008?

I want to encourage you to take some time to write down your thoughts. One thing that I like to do at the beginning of each year is purchase a new journal that I can start off fresh with. If you have no journal, I want to encourage you to go out and buy one. Be determined to write down your thoughts, ideas, goals, joys, sadness, etc. It's amazing what a difference writing can make in your life. What's even more amazing is the fact that within a few months, you will be able to go back through your journal and realize how far you have come in your thoughts, ideas, and actions.

So with 2008 upon us, what are you striving for? If you are not sure, spend some time with the Lord asking Him to show you what He would like to do within your life in 2008. If you ask, He will reveal. Let me share with you a few things that I know that the Lord wants to do within my life this year:

* Healthy eating and exercising-Yes, many of us make this a goal and unfortunately, fall short within a few weeks. I'm determined to shed some pounds and in turn, get back in shape. I've been feeling convicted about really taking care of the temple of God. So, to help keep me on track, my husband and I have hired a personal trainer to help keep me going. No, it's not cheap, but if I want to accomplish this goal once and for all, I have to be willing to do whatever it takes. Watching the Biggest Loser helps too!

* With the healthy eating, my husband and I have decided to not spend any money on eating out in 2008. Last week, Luke and I tallied up the receipts from 2007 that we spent on eating out, and the amount of money we spent was, let's just say, too much. So needless to say, we will only be eating out this year if we have gift cards. We really want to be better stewards of our money, so we are determined to not eat out. In turn, this will help us lead a more healthy lifestyle and will help us afford that personal trainer to keep me in line!

* Last but not least, we want to live lives of simplicity. We want to cut back on so many of the things that we allow ourselves to get caught up in. Our goal is to live simple lives.

There's my goals for 2008-what are you planning on accomplishing in 2008? I would love to hear from you regarding your goals!

Happy New Year!