What do you have in your house?

In my youth I was a bit restless. I could never just embrace the time and place and moments I was living. I seemed to believe that something better was always ahead of me and I longed for the future. Because, "then it would all be great." "Then I would be happy."

I can remember like it was yesterday when I was babysitting once. I was probably a teenager, maybe 13 or 14 years old. I held the baby in my arms and walked to our dining room mirror to see what I would look like as a mom. Even at that age I dreamed of being married and having children. I had a longing for the future.

In college, I was so homesick for my boyfriend, longing for the day everything would be wonderful when I would be married. Even as a young married woman I longed to buy a house, have children, have more children.... you get the idea.

Now there is nothing wrong with looking forward to the future but in me there was a discontentment that really hindered me from enjoying and taking advantage of all the amazing experiences that were my present. Boy, I have so many regrets of the missed opportunities to experience such wonderful things during my college years. I spent too many days sad for where I wanted to be instead of embracing where I was. Waiting in contentment was not a talent of mine.

I wish I could have grasped the concept of embracing the present and living in contentment. Certainly as a young person it is difficult to understand how quickly time will seem to pass as you age but the art of contentment is such a gift. The apostle Paul says in Philippians 4 that he has learned to be content. I guess it is something we must, as he said, Learn. It doesn't naturally happen. Satan is a formidable enemy and takes every opportunity to convince us that we should not be satisfied with our life as it is. Dissatisfaction is a great tool of Satan. It keeps us from a full life.

In 2 Kings chapter 4 we read of a woman who had a most difficult situation. Her husband had died and she owed a debt she could not pay as creditors were at her door ready to collect. And that meant taking her two children into slavery. I think we can all agree she had a good reason to be discontent! Being a God fearing woman, she turned to the prophet Elisha and cried out for help. I believe his first questions to her can give us some amazing insight. He said, "what shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?"

"What insight does that give?" You may ask. Think about it. That question caused her to turn from thinking about what she did not have to thinking about what she did have; just a small pot of oil. Elisha instructed her to borrow as many jars as she could from her neighbors and to pour her oil into those that she collected. As she poured a miracle took place. As long as there were jars the oil continued to pour filling all that she had. Through Elisha, God took what she had, meager as it was and multiplied it into enough to pay her debt and enough to sell. She would be able to live on that money for quit some time. This miracle shows us that we should focus on what we do have and use what we do have for God's glory.

Gratitude for our present blessings developed in us a spirit of satisfaction. It trains us to be content. God can then take what we have, meager as it may be, and multiply it to bless us and His kingdom.

I always have to fight against that selfish nature to want more and to fixate on what I lack. God says to use what you do have for His glory. Appreciate the here and now. Stop and really see the blessings of today.

So I challenge all of use to ponder the question Elisha asked this woman, "what do you have in your house?" I challenge us to take what we do have to serve the kingdom.

I have known women who baked and so they used this gift to bless others. Marian was known as the "muffin lady". She gave lovely gifts of baked goods to bless and encourage her brothers and sisters in Christ.

I have known women who are mighty prayer warriors praying everyday for individuals and following up so to give God glory for answered prayers. And ladies, we can all pray.

I have known older women who would offer childcare to young, tired moms so they could enjoy a Bible class in peace. Tell me that's not a huge blessing?

I have known beautiful women in the Lord who used their gift of letter writing to send encouraging cards to those who needed it. In fact, one of my most humbling experiences as a young Christian was when I privately judged an older woman thinking that she really didn't do much to serve the church. My arrogant attitude was spanked by God one Sunday when I found out that the same woman I had judged was the very person who was faithfully writing weekly letters to a Christian sister you was severely ill. You see, not only was she serving but she did not need it to be known by everyone. She just saw what she had in her house and used it to bless a dear sister in Christ. Her humble servant's heart must have been fulfilled as well. She did not have much in her life but what she did have she used and used it faithfully. And I learned a lesson I have never forgotten.

I pray we can all learn to be content, and recognize all we do have. I pray we will use what we have and then be able to praise God as we see him multiply our offering!

So, What do YOU have in your house?