Contentment

Good morning. Welcome to CCC we are so glad that each of you are here this morning.

What a wonderful night we enjoyed last night. It was a busy time with graduation parties and many were enjoying and loving and celebrating their graduates as the should be.

Others were here enjoying the fun and laughter and fellowship in a paint class. It was such an enjoyable night. A night filled with laughter and as I painted but also looked and walked around the room it just reminded me of this is what the body of Christ is supposed to look like

All of us doing work in our own way. Jeannette Hawkins led us and she had painted an example prior to last night. She also painted with us modeling step by step and even her paintings were not the same.

Each of us have good works that we are to carry out in our unique way. It may be the same good work as another Christian but each will be done differently but the end result is the same bringing glory to God and someone toward salvation or growth through discipleship.

As we prepare for summer I pray as you transition seasons in your life that your focus is on God.

That you are focused on “IT” the only two things that matter salvation and discipleship. I pray that God has been moving in your life, that the Holy Spirit has been bringing to you the things He wants you to do

or maybe He has been asking you to give up things or start doing things that are preparing you for the season ahead

Preparing you to find your spiritual gift and to do the things that turn your crank......that is where you are gifted.....you will be passionate and will serve God with every fiber of your being in those areas.

Mark your calendars now for Sunday June 23rd. The elders are hosting a Potluck and Brainstorm right after services on Sunday June 23rd. The heart of this event is to come together in fellowship, break bread together and brainstorm and dream about “IT”

What is your IT

What is CCC’s IT

How do we work together to glorify God by bringing people to Jesus and growing people in christian maturity through discipleship

Let’s pray

START RECORDING

This mornings message is very personal. It is almost more of a testimony and teaching than sermon but it is what God laid on my heart.

It is also a culmination of the past several years in my own life.

A realization

A revelation from God into an area of struggle and strife in my own life

As you know I am bi-vocational. In addition to serving God as your pastor here at CCC I am also a teacher and coach.

Since the return to school following the covid shortened year I have been restless.

I have been anxious

I have been on edge

Far from being in the schools working for God.

I was argumentative

I was arrogant

I was a handful to say the least

Anyone who has worked in education and especially administration understands the handful.....I was that teacher

Got along well with some…even most of my peers but a pain to administration, certain administration anyway not all administration

I was doing what God created me to do

Where He placed me but far from satisfied

Far from content

I felt the need to find doors

obsess about those doors

and eventually try to kick those doors down if they were not opened

I was really living a triple life

one Josh here and in Bible studies and discipleship groups

one Josh at home

A completely different Josh at school

Very worldly, not in a lustful way, although those temptations and fleshly desires are still a battle in my life

but for sure in attitude and expectations

I was prideful

I felt entitled

I was difficult

I was far from humble and for sure not looking to edify and unify.

I failed to really realize the true spiritual battle I was in and the impact of my sin and actions and thoughts until God revealed it all to me on Monday of this week.

As I said since we returned to school in person after our Covid shut down I was anything but God’s ambassador

I prayed for and with other teachers

I prayed for and with students

I read my Bible.....even had my Bible on my desk most days

Talked with kids about Jesus and met needs. CCC even helped kids, Chromebook fees, supplies, we even bought a young man a welding helmet so he could be in the welding class.....speaking of that young man I saw him as he walked the halls of Benton Friday in his cap and gown and he gave me a big handshake and a huge smile and a thank you......You guys did that....you helped that young man graduate....great job

I even had many deep spiritual conversations....biblical conversations with staff.....friends....fellows brothers and sisters in Christ

On the outside I looked like a pastor working in a school but on the inside

anxiety

restlessness

pride

anger

entitlement

resentment

and so much more raged

it boiled up inside of me and sometimes it boiled over and showed up on the outside

I was bent on getting out of Special Education and into either a regular classroom or administration

i would have opportunities.....opportunities I created and tried to believe and sell they were God’s opportunities

I would make plans and then ask God to bless those plans and when He said no I charged ahead anyway.

Now at the time I didn’t realize this was happening but looking back that is clearly what was happening

here is how good our God is however…even in the middle of my chaos He was working

His will was being accomplished

Even in my chaos

I loved Him

I was trying to obey Him

He was working but I was blind because I was chasing me not Him

I was putting myself in charge instead of truly surrendering to Him

I was seeking my direction not His direction

At Nevada it reached a boiling point Logan’s senior year

I was done

I wanted out

I wasn’t staying in Sped and gave the administration an ultimatum....move me or I will find something else to do

They refused to move me so I left to be JR SR High principal at NEVC last year.

I kicked the door down but was convinced it was God’s plan.

Now in that year God grew me so much

When you are in a constant pressure cooker you break or grow....through God and the Holy Spirit I grew....

God grew me personally

professionally

spiritually

I grew tremendously but felt called back to Nevada R5.

As you know God put me in a 2nd grade special education behavior room

Not any place I would have ever chosen on my own

I was so very excited then the school year started and I was so far outside my comfort zone and wheelhouse

I was a fish out of water

I was failing

I was not, or at least thought, i was not equipped to deal with what I was being asked to deal with

I had never been hit or kicked or bitten in my 11 year educational career until the first month of school this past year when all three happened

I had students who could not read due to behaviors keeping them from the classroom

I have always taught High School

I had no idea how to teach them to read

Elementary and secondary are two very different worlds

I was an alien in a completely unfamiliar world

On top of that this was a new position for the school so the help I got was figure it out or the more politically correct answer....you are in a great position and get to build this program and room from the ground up.....that means there is no plan and it is your job to create the plan

I was defeated

I was broken

I was scrambling

I was anxious

I was far from content

I was trying to be moved at semester

It was horrible

It came to a head when my boss and I sat down together and I told him I want out

I regret taking this position....I can’t do it

I am failing get me out

I even laid out a plan…again my plan....to switch someone from middle school to my position and me to theirs

God began to get my attention

My boss said.....how fair is that to the other guy

You can do this

you are the right guy for the job

I realized I was failing because it was all about me and not God

God showed me I was where He wanted me to be

I began to calm

I began to settle in

I began to be content

For a while

Then the assistant principal position opened up

I thought this is it

This is exactly what God has been preparing me for

This the reason for the struggles.....the assistant principal position

Right back to pushing

right back to arrogance

right back to justification

right back to obsession and anxiety and lack of contentment

you would think a pastor could see the writing on the walls but nope

That took forever to play out and again I was spiraling

then i got an email.....We are sorry but we have gone in a different direction

Devastated…not so much that I didn’t get the job but angry it was an email......how dare they send an email.....they couldn’t even call or tell me in person....who do they think they are

Sound familiar?

My pride was injured

so again back to being

anxious

restless

angry

Then as I started to give those over to God and ask for forgiveness

I again started to be content but then middle school positions started opening up and again the ol door kicker showed back up with all of its anxiousness, arrogance, justification, aggression and all the darkness that accompanied those things

God began to show me some things…some truths that I was justifying away and ignoring

I truly love the teachers I work with

I love the kids

Why am I running but again I would quickly justify them away and continue in the hurt

continue in my feelings

continue in my emotions

Then Monday showed up

God revealed Himself to me in a way I had never had happen before

I got another email, this time from the middle school that said they were not looking to fill any positions from within the district due to teacher shortages and I was in the best place to serve the kids of the district

I am disappointed but not crushed

I was messaging Melody about it

Let me pause here for a moment

It is imperative that spouses speak truth to each other

I was chatting with Melody and God really spoke through her. I messaged her about not getting the position

She asked how I felt and I said I think it is not fair but it is what it is

That is not a Christian being content with God statement by the way

She responds and I quote “I feel like God has really shut doors about you being there more than once and you should not be too upset because God wants you there....you may not see it now but you will…you have been fighting this for so long and I feel you are now listening to Him…there is a reason for all of this God wants you there for those babies..for whatever reason”

My response to her “I agree and thank you for the rebuking I needed that. Thank you for loving me enough to speak truth”

Again spouses speak God’s truth to each other!!!!!!

As I thought about what God was saying to me verses began to flood my mind

Jeremiah 1:5

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“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.””

Jeremiah 29:11

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“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Psalm 33:11

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“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”

Romans 8:28–30

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“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

There were many others and I want you to dive into them this week so I am listing them in the notes

Psalm 32:8.

Proverbs 3:5-6.

Micah 6:8.

Hebrews 13:20-21.

Hebrews 10:35-39.

James 1:5-8.

II Peter 3:8-9.

God was revealing His character to me.....I said earlier He revealed Himself in a way that I had never experienced before

These verses are not new to me....I have read all of them before

I have used them in sunday school or other teachings even in sermons

I have heard them explained and used in discipleship groups

They are not new but they held a new meaning to me.......not that their meanings changed or I am trying to say something other than what God says.....no.....I was ready now for God to go deeper

For Him to reveal Himself and His character to me on a deeper level

I was ready to listen and obey

Through these scriptures He gave me such a clear picture of who He is and just how much He loves me and just how much He works in my life and that He has plans for me to bring Him glory and show the lost Jesus and help the saved grow through discipleship

As I was pondering what God was wanting me to see He began to ask questions

Why do you do what you do?

Why do you have the ministry you do?

Is your lack of contentment really a lack of trust in me?

Do you work for your employer or for me?

I found the answer in

Colossians 3:16–17

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“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

I want to quickly pull three things from this scripture that God showed me

1. Let Word of Christ dwell in you richly

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How can Word of Christ dwell in you if it is only on the outside

You must study and meditate on it day and night

Then submit to Holy Spirit and allow Him to apply the Word of Christ to your life

Change your life based on scripture....not change or ignore scripture to remain the same!

I have people tell me Pastor I am a Christian but I just can’t get into reading my Bible

I mean I try but I just don’t feel it

I am so busy

I don’t understand it

I Corinthians 2:6-16

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6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

The Bible is taught by the Holy Spirit. If you read the Word of God and truly have no idea what it is saying you must question do you have the Holy Spirit on board therefore are you saved

The Word of God was written by God for you and for me

It was written to show us His character

To give us wonderful promises

To show us the consequences of rejecting Jesus and the full wrath of God that will be poured out on all who reject Jesus

Church this is important

If the Word of God is not important to you they you must ask do I truly love God....am I truly saved

Now some struggle to read due to physical issues or not knowing how to read well.......keep reading....Jesus is bigger than those physical issues

Keep listening to the Word being read.....Jesus will work in you

The Holy Spirit will teach you.....give Him room to work!!!!!

2. Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs giving thanks

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Are you truly talking about scripture daily?

Every conversation must be about Jesus

Who He is

What His character is like

Speak about His Truth

Worship is to be your lifestyle

Not just singing songs but giving God glory and honor and praise....that is worship

Are you truly giving thanks for all He has done in your life

All He is doing in your life

And all He will do in your life

Do you speak from a grateful heart or an entitled heart

Do you speak from His Word or only use your words

3. Do all things for God

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Do you do all things for God and give thanks?

God said to me and to you this morning and this week as you dive into the scriptures I have given you to look at and pray over and study this week

God says

look at who I am

Look at what I have done

Is that not enough?

Do you need more?

IF I am not enough what is?

Are you still so focused on you that you continue to push me away and ignore my ways?

I got it

I was broken in a good way

I was mourning in a good way

I realized I was sinning and not living for God but living for me

I was working for me and not for God

I still struggle

I still fail but I get it

What I do and where I do it truly doesn’t matter at all.....not one tiny bit

What matters is that I do it all from and for God Himself and give thanks

Content

God truly is enough!!!!!

I don’t need anything else but Him

He gives all good gifts.....most importantly Jesus and salvation and forgiveness and eternal life!!!!!!!

The question I want to ask you is the same God asked me

Is God enough for you????????

If the answer to that is no come

We open the altars at the end of each service.....actually they are always open.....

If we are singing and God hits you with something to bring to Him come

If during communion meditation God hits you with something to bring to Him come

If during the sermon God is convicting and you need to bring you something come

Don’t wait till the end come when you need to

Maybe as I have been preaching this morning the Holy Spirit has been moving in you

speaking to you

asking you to move.....to be a doer of the Word

Maybe you relate to what I have been talking about and God has shown you that you are in the same place I was

Come

No matter what is going on.....not matter how dark or impossible it may seem Jesus is bigger and He is waiting for you to come so He can outshine the dark and do the impossible

Come.

STOP RECORDING

Invitation