The Blessing of Contentment

Today I want to talk about being content. I believe that contentment is one of the greatest blessings in life, and I am amazed at how many people think differently. My life isn't perfect, and by the end of 2015 I struggled with major discontentment. I wasn't enough, my friends weren't enough, my family wasn't enough, God wasn't enough. I was in a self-imposed state of misery. 2016 came and, at first, nothing was different. Day 1: Discontent. Day 2: Discontent. But as I finished going through my blessings jar (You can see my post about that here: http://aditlohp.blogspot.com/2015/02/my-cup-overfloweth.html ) something began to change in me. I wrote 34 pages of notes on each person, place, thing, or whatever else was in that blessings jar, and I was in awe that in a year that had seemed so terribly difficult, I was blessed in such abundance! That wasn't the end of my discontentment though. Many days following were full of feelings of helplessness and loneliness. One day I could bear it no longer, and late at night I sat down and began to cry, pleading with God to do something, to help me. Slowly, my prayer changed from one of begging Him to take away my sorrows, to asking Him to change my heart. I suppose it must have happened somewhat slowly, because it wasn't until just this evening, as I was thinking about a few things that need done, that I realized I wasn't panicky. I wasn't afraid, or lonely, or angry, or miserable, I was content. I am content. Even though not a single circumstance has changed, I feel so... free. There are many forms that discontentment can take. You can be discontent with your money or belongings (or lack of the money or belongings you want) "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.'" ~Hebrews 13:5   You can be discontent with your circumstances "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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" ~Matthew 6:25-26  There are many other things you may be discontent with, but the Bible says "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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." ~Philippians 4:12-13
   Next time you're feeling discontent, think about all the ways in which you are blessed, and thank God for them, and then ask Him to turn your heart, and train your mind to be content with your money, your circumstances, your relationships, and your life. To be content is to let go of the chains that bind you.

                                      ~Katie Stone~

Regret, The Monster Inside

         In life, we usually end up having a few regrets, some greater than others. My biggest regret is probably a regret over someone I never got to know. He was the little brother of a couple friends of mine, and he was what I call a beautiful soul. When he smiled, he could light up any room, he was full of kindness and forgiveness. At only 13, he lived his faith every single day. He loved to have fun with his friends, and his joy came from the Lord and not circumstances. A beautiful soul. Late December 2013 he died. It was an accident, he was playing on a rope swing and somehow it got tangled around his throat. By the time his family found him, it was too late. His family and friends were devastated, but they pulled through. Still, I felt guilty every time I comforted someone. Did I really have the right to comfort them when I hadn't even taken the time to know this wonderful kid? Every year late December the regret comes back, and it's a monster. I tears at me and tells me that I'm a horrible person. That I'm selfish and useless, because of one small thing. Regret is not to be taken lightly. If you let it, it will crush your spirit and steal your confidence. A quote from Lion King comes to mind "You can either run from your past, or learn from it." ~Rafiki. Ah, that wise, crazy old baboon. That quote is one of my very favorites, because it can be applied to so much. In the Lion King, after Mufasa dies, Scar tells Simba that it's Simba's fault Mufasa is dead. From then on, fear and regret take over, and Simba runs. He avoids his past, because if he thinks about it, the regret comes back, and all the feelings of uselessness. You can't wallow in regret, it will destroy you. You can't run from your past, it will always catch up with you. But you can learn from every thing that has ever happened in your past. You can't change the past, so letting it determine who you are is a dangerous path of constantly losing your self-worth and climbing down into deeper gutters, because you believe that's what you deserve. Don't. Every mistake, and every shot not taken. Every regret that stains your past is the very thing that enables you to become a better you. Everything you've done wrong is a lesson, so learn it, and let it help you make better decisions in the future. There's a reason I'm posting this today. Starting midnight, it will be a new year. 2016. 2016 is not a new beginning, it not a fresh start, is not a new chapter unless you MAKE it one. So please, let go of your regrets, take up your lessons, and make this a new and beautiful year, because you CAN!!! And remember that in this new year, you can and should make plans, and have hope, but you are not your own master, and greater things are at work. "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." ~Proverbs 19:21

                                         ~Katie Stone~

So, About the Refugees...

     Okay, so normally I'm not one to talk on social media about a lot of current events. Who's listening anyway? However, I need to say something now to anyone who might be listening. What is this nonsense about completely closing our borders?! Look, I understand. There are a suspicious amount of fighting age men entering our country from Syria, they probably aren't refugees. I also understand that there are just as many families. Mothers, fathers, children, trying to flee from ISIS, desperate to get their families away from this persecution. I know that it can be hard to figure out who's a threat and who's not, but we live in the 21st century people! Never before in History have we had so much information at our fingertips! Are we really unwilling to try a little, for the sake of these families? For many years, people have viewed America as a place of light and hope. A country based on the Christian faith, full of compassion, mercy, refuge, and morality. Now I know we've been going downhill fast, but how can you pretend to be against ISIS when you're working for them? Some of these people may not really be refugees, but many are, and if everyone closes their borders out of fear and selfishness, then where can they go? They go back to Syria where they will face persecution. They are desperate and alone, fleeing anywhere they can. Weren't we all once? Fleeing from a country, or fleeing from our sin. Is there a difference? Can we call ourselves Americans if we do not accept those who flee as we once did? Can we call ourselves Christians when we will not accept those who are lost as we once were? If there is no hope, no compassion, no mercy, and no willingness to take a risk, then who are we really? Sometimes, not helping is the same as hurting. Above all, remember this... "After they were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Get up! Take the child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to destroy Him." ~Matthew 2:13 Friends, Jesus was a refugee. Would you turn Him away out of fear?
                                        ~Katie Stone~

I'll Be Praying for You! (...but not really)

It happened again, you were scrolling Facebook, saw a need and naturally commented "I'm praying for you!" but by tomorrow, you've completely forgotten the person ever had a need, and you're certainly not praying for them. Too often we don't take these words seriously, we toss them around, as if saying you're praying for someone call make their situation or their attitude better. Are you even well-meaning anymore, or just joining the crowd? Among a sea of "Praying!" comments, it would seem heathen not to add yours! But please, if you're not actually going to pray for me, don't tell me that you are. Just don't. Praying for each other is important! "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." ~James 5:16  
      So can can we support one another, and actually pray for each other? What works for me, and for a lot of other people, is keeping a prayer journal.

As you can see, mine is a 3-ring binder. The paper in the front says "Have you prayed about it asmuch as you've talked about it?" Great reminder!

Inside, I have a tab for each day of the week, and a tab for "Daily" My daily includes the needs of my immediate family and myself. I definitely don't want to be pointing out the splinter in my neighbor's eye when I have a log in my own! The other tabs hold different things. Sunday I pray for my church and it's leaders. Wednesday I pray for my friends. And so on and so forth. Of course, I try to pray for every request as soon as I hear it, but then it goes in one of these dandy little tabs, and is prayed for once a week, more if God lays that person or request on my heart. There are many different ways to design your own prayer journal, this is only one girl's way of doing it! I encourage you to explore ideas and commit to pray for those around you, and those in other countries. If you say "I'll be

praying for you, then mean it. 

                                                  ~Katie Stone~

The Search for a Hero

           Somewhere deep inside, we're all searching for a hero. Girls are looking for a hero to sweep them off their feet and make their dreams come true. Guys are looking for a hero to teach them what it means to fight the winning battle. The only problem is that most of us are looking in all the wrong places! We're looking in the movies, books, and video games. We're looking in the world around us, but our hero isn't there. The heroes in the comic books saved the day, Jesus saved the world. The heroes in the comic books fall in love with the pretty girl, Jesus fell in love with each of us before we were born. The heroes in the comic books had flaws to overcome, and fell prey to the desire for power, Jesus is God, more powerful than anyone on earth and He humbled Himself and lived in the filth of the earth. The heroes in the comic books risk their lives, Jesus came knowing He would die. There's nothing wrong with the heroes in the stories, or the real-life heroes around us. They are something to look up to, and we should always thank the real-life heroes for their service. But who is your ultimate hero? Who is the one that your life will revolve around? Who really saved you? 
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.The same was in the beginning with God.All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." ~ John 1: 1-5
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." ~John 1:14
                                                        ~Katie Stone~

Finding Joy in the Crazy

      I'm the oldest of 5 kids, and my youngest two siblings are a 2 year old, and a 4 month old. Needless to say, life gets really crazy sometimes. The house we're renting has crayon all over the walls, and the floor is always covered in something; dish soap, cooking oil, water, you name it! Today I was babysitting the two littlest and the baby was screaming, the toddler was getting into everything, and I was ready to pull my hair out. Sometimes I'm just so done, but then I see the light in my little brother's eyes. To him, all the world is new and exciting! When my baby sister is screaming she'll hold tight to you and nestle her head in your shoulder. It doesn't stop being crazy, but joy is oftentimes found in the crazy. Years later, all the memories will be in the crazy. So don't give up when life is insane, instead open your eyes, keep them wide with child-like wonder and find the beauty in life.
                                   ~Katie Stone~

The Warriors On Their Knees

       The world is a controversial place. Sometimes it seems like it's gotten worse, and maybe it has. But standing for truth is very rarely the popular thing to do. In England, anytime a Catholic was on the throne, Protestants were persecuted. Anytime a Protestant was on the throne, Catholics were persecuted. This is only one example of times throughout history when it has not been safe to stand up for the truth. I guess because America began as a Christian country, we all got too comfortable. Christianity was celebrated in America! It was popular to go to church on Sunday, and wear a cross necklace! However, America has been thrown into more and more turmoil these past few years, to the point where true Christianity is criticized, and Atheism and other religions are taking hold. We should not be surprised at this "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you" ~John 15: 19. Now, some are called to speak out, and certainly there are some things that we can do! But I think we've too easily forgotten the most powerful effect we can have. My dear friends, our own strength will never be enough to break through the lies of the enemy. Indeed, we will ourselves fall prey to lies and deceit. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." ~ Matthew 26:41 The last part of that verse is quoted all the time! But did you ever realize that the answer to the predicament is there too? "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." That, my brothers and sisters, is where our power lies. In prayer. Because we will never be strong enough, the most world-changing, heart-changing thing we can do is pray to the Creator of the universe. The Savior of our souls. The Great Judge. Nothing is beyond His power and His influence! He is the King of the universe, and nothing can stand against Him! It is by Him we were created, and it is only in Him that we are able to learn the truth! So sure, post some articles. Definitely talk to your friends about controversial topics (With love and biblical truth) but brothers, sisters, friends. The winning battles will be fought down on our knees. Pray together “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” ~Matthew 18:20. and pray alone "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." ~Matthew 6:6. Above all, "Pray without ceasing" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
                                                     ~Katie Stone~