On most nights while tucking my 9 y/o daughter in, we take a few minutes and dive into God’s word. This is usually followed by a short impromtu discussion on the verse(s) we’ve just read. She loves God’s word and so enjoys reading it. It is truly a joy to see & hear!

Recently we read most of Philippians 4. As we finished, I went back to verses 11-13:

“Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13″

I read it again v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y , hoping she would soak up the richness of this verse. Hoping she would glean the fullness of contentment.

Discussion started with a simple question for her, “what is contentment?”

Daughter: Being full?

Daddy: Being full can be part of it…I guess. What else?

Daughter: Being satisifed?

Daddy: Yes. Paul wants us to learn how to be satisfied in every situation, whether we are in good times or bad times, we need to understand that we can and should be content or satisfied.

Daddy: Last question, are you content?

Daughter: YES…when I am sleeping!

We talked for a while longer about and hopefully she will start working on contentment during the daylight hours as well!

As I write this and think about contentment, I know God had something for me in there too. He always does.

You see, I’m not very good at being content in every situation.

Often I want to “take control” and try to improve the situation a little bit here & there.

More times than not, I feel like I deserve better or more or whatever…

But I am learning that I can live without most of the “stuff” I think I deserve. I’m also learning that most of the “stuff” doesn’t actually make things better. Sometimes it can make things worse.

Lord, thank you for Your rich and powerful words. I can do all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens me. Not of my own accord, but according to Your will. In Jesus name, Amen.

Love is everything I am not.

I am impatient & unkind. I am jealous and boastful and proud and rude. I demand my own way, rejoice about injustice and do not rejoice when truth wins. I give up, lose faith and am never hopeful. I know nothing of endurance.

I’m a broken, wrecked guy who, on my own, can do nothing remotely close to love.

Thankfully, God knew this when he formed me. He had a plan for my life. He ultimately sent his son Jesus to pay for the penalty of my sin (John 3:16). And it is only through my relationship with Jesus that I am able to love. The very nature of love comes from God. (1 John 4:16).

May God pour his love on my life. I need it desperately. May He become so much more in my life and me so much less. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” Matt 6:33

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” Heb 12:2

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” John 14:6

I’m not even sure how to blog about this topic, because it is so unfinished in my mind. I can’t seem to get my head around it. The thought process is this: If Christ is the center of our lives, then why do we spend so much time away from the center? Instead of going to the center (Holiness), we constantly try to get as far away (world) from the center, but still close enough to be considered in the center. Does that make sense?

We like to push away from the center and see who goes with us. If other Christians are with us, then over time that edge becomes the norm. The circle of Christ somehow becomes wider and we feel safe “in Christ.”

Eventually someone else pushes further outside and looks around to see who is with them. As long as fellow believers are there, then they feel safe and can continue on as a “Christ Follower.”

The circle continually gets larger, but at the same time we are going further and further from Christ. We claim that we are close…but are we?

Now if someone ventures too far outside and no one goes with him, then he becomes exposed and possibly an outcast. Ted Haggard can tell you more about this place. But I digress…

Sometimes I think we push away from the center with our finances, relationships, and responsibilities. I also think churches can push away from holiness with their music, sermon titles & marketing.

So here’s the deal. One of the great things about blogging is that I do not have to have the answer. Therefore I’m presenting this for discussion and I’d like to get your opinion. Let’s discuss it.

I started blogging on my personal life in 2006 at tracekuhn.com. I was using a simple blog platform and hosting it on my personal server (an old laptop set up in a spare bedroom). My adventure didn’t last long and I eventually lost all of my posts when the old laptop finally quit working.

So in early 2008 I purchased mark135.com and started over. But my plan was different. I was hoping to get a group of guys to read a chapter of the Bible and then all post their thoughts. My idea was that through comments and feedback, we would keep each other accountable and it would be a great learning tool/accountability group.

As it turned out, God had a different plan and I ended up as the sole blogger. Several guys were interested, but not one actually posted anything. (BTW, I haven’t given up on that idea as I felt like God was calling me to mark135.com. So I will just let is sit for now and then see what happens).

So today is moving day. Since I ended up posting personal stuff at mark135.com, I thought I should shut that down and bring the personal blog back home.

So from this day forward, you can read my random thoughts as I pursue Christ and live on the fine line.

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