Notes of Faith November 7, 2026
I will continue to post the link to the “Go Fund Me” account for our friend, John Belle who lost his brother earlier this year and his mother last week, now alone, trying to continue to live in very expensive California. Thank you to those who have already helped and thank you to those who are going to. His current need is great, but God is helping us to help him make choices, that, although he will have to move to survive financially, he should be able to keep his job and have enough to make it from day to day. Again, I thank you and pray that your reward in heaven is multiplied greatly!
A Life of Gratitude: For the Present
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.
Philippians 4:11
In a materialistic world one of the hardest character traits to acquire is contentment—being satisfied and patient with the way things are while trusting God for changes to be made. We can take some comfort from the fact that the apostle Paul said that he had to learn contentment, that it didn’t come naturally or easily to him. In fact, when he wrote about learning contentment, he was in jail!
Being discontent often manifests as an insistence on change. We are not happy with our possessions or our position in life, and we attempt to change our status by our own efforts. But rather than being achieved through change, contentment is frequently learned by waiting on the Lord: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Waiting on the Lord is not passive; it is the active pursuit of God and His will through prayerful, patient seeking.
Gratitude is a sign of contentment and can be learned while waiting on the Lord.
Contentment with what we have is absolutely vital to our spiritual health.
Jerry Bridges
Phil 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (being content)
Ps 100
100 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
3 Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.
1 Thess 5:18
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus
Heb 13:5
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,
1 Tim 6:8
If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
Phil 4:11
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
1 Tim 6:6
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
Let us become like the Apostle Paul and learn to be content in whatever circumstances that we happen to be enduring! This too, shall end!
Pastor Dale