Dear family of God,

Thank you for joining me with Heartstrings. May God's perfect peace be yours today. Will you raise up an offering of praise before the Lord for the great things He has done? I think it a good time to pray.

Father, thank you for going to such extremes to gain my trust in You. I know without the blood of Jesus and without Him rising from the dead, I would be dead. You know how my flesh cries out to be clean before you. 

I am so grateful Father, that even in my sin You gave me a way into bountiful blessings and a glorious heritage as Your child. My sins led to death both physically and spiritually. Now, I am free! Thank you Lord for this free gift! 

Romans 7:18 says, "I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it, [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]"

Romans 8:1 says, "Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live[ and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit."

Romans 8:5-6 says, "...But those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit."

"Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and herafter]. but the mind of the [Holy] Sprit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]." AMEN.

When I consider what God's Word says about sin, in regard to being discontent, I realize this too is sin. Why? Because when I am discontent then, my faith is weakened due to not fully trusting God. 

Whatever He is working on, it is for our good and His glory. Already this day has turned corners I wasn't anticipating. Would it do any good to grumble? No. Would it do any good to tell God that He needs to recheck my appointments? No, of course not. 

God is Holy. He is Righteous and True. We can depend on that! If we have commited our lives to Jesus Christ then, we can be guaranteed that He will accomplish what is best. 

Does that mean I understand it all? No. But, I can have that soul peace the Word speaks about regardless of my circumstances. It is worth it to me to bring my mind back to what God says about my life. To rest in who I am through the work of Christ in conquering death.

Last time we met I mentioned Mary and how I believed the Lord was preparing her for the loss and the heartaches to follow. Right now I have a friend who is dying. She loves Jesus. At first I prayed Lord heal her...but He didn't. Then I prayed Lord take her home quickly...but He hasn't. Now, this morning I found myself praying Lord you see her. You know the effect on her family. You will take the best amount of time for the individuals involved. Maybe, others will be saved through this.

It is really something when I think about the changes in myself, my thinking and how I process thoughts in the Light of God's Word. So, I say, "Lord change me and make me more like You. Use the circumstances of my life to complete the work You began in me. I know you are with me and will never leave me."

Are you ready to put your trust in the One Who knows all about you; the path you are on and the ones you will embrace along the way? We leave a mark in their lives. WE either leave a stain of darkness by our example, or we leave a mark of true Light on the flesh of others. Does this make sense to you? I hope I am saying it right. My thoughts are traveling so fast right now.

By my confidence in Christ Jesus, by my trust in Him to take care of all my needs and by staying content with His ways...this is my witness. As I grow in faith, I leave a marked impression for good or evil. 

My friend may have hours before she passes on, or she may be gone by the time I am done with writing this. Father knows best. I will be content with His timing. For He is perfect in every way. I do know that the mark my friend left on my life is so very good. I have been changed by her deep love of the Lord. 

Romans 8:35 says, "Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?" 

The answer to all our trouble and discontent is found in the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Finally and with much prayer I believe Romans 15:13 which says, "May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope."

Good day to you and God bless you with a contented heart and mind in HIm. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Abundance is...contentment