So, I'm in the college/career group at church, and we meet on Sunday nights.  It's such a great group!  I feel so blessed to have a support system like this where I can come and share what's going on, my questions, and then pray for each other.  Anyway...we have these handouts (not as corny as I first thought) and they give us a guide for the week...certain things we should do throughout the week to keep us on a particular topic.  This week is....tada!...CONTENTMENT!  Yikes!  Such a big word with such a big meaning!  So, I thought...why should I just keep my reflection on it in my own personal journal, when I've got this wonderful piece of technology here to record such thoughts as these.  So, here ya go:

1. Preparation Time

Philippians 4:11-12

List the areas or situations of your life where there is discontent:

1. Personal Life - the depth of my friendships, and not having a boyfriend (in my locality)
2. Family Life - the closeness to my mother and sisters
3. Church Life - I want to do so much more, but I can't...and though it's ok that I can't, I still feel like I don't give enough...funny huh?
4. Business Life - I would love to start my career right now, but I have to finish college first and work at a bank in the meantime...though it's def not a bad job
5. Other - Though I want to serve God with my life, I find that I don't give Him enough of my life right now...not like in service or whatever, but mostly in my thoughts...they tend to fly from Him when they have the chance.

2. Waiting Time

During your waiting time, let God...

1. Love you
   "God, I feel your love today, especially in the area of..."
The words of the song I'm listening to, the words that I read in the Bible, my friends, the sogginess of my cereal.

2. Search you
   "God, you have permission to reveal any areas of my life where there is a complaining or grumbling attitude."
So, though I have this great desire to do more in church or wherever, I think it's falsely motivated.  I know that I am highly keyed on how others perceive me, and I act according to that "need." 

3. Show you
   "God, is there any specific area of my life you want to focus on today regarding contentment?"
I should be content to worry only about what God thinks of me, and He loves me.  No one else should matter, nobody.  This need to be affirmed by others shows in my want to do more things in life, to be "beautiful," to have a boyfriend.  When the time comes, it will all happen, if it is good.  I should trust God to determine that for me and to try not to force these things.

3. Confession Time

  "In everything you do stay away from complaning and arguing." - Philippians 2:14

Confess any areas to God where there has been a negative, critical, or complaining attitude.  Confess areas of ungratefulness.

My college situation...dating...the music at church...my relationship with my mom...I guess a lot more complaining than I gave credit for...hmm...

To be continued after a short break...