SCRIPTURE:
“I am not saying this because I am in need for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what stood out to me in this verse 4:11?
Two C's stood out to me: CONTENT and CIRCUMSTANCES

Interpretation:
I asked myself what does 'this' refer to?
It reminded me of Paul's exhortation to the Philippians in v.10.

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of Paul's statement in v.11 ?
Paul's contentment was not based on things always going well for him or him having his way. On the contrary, Paul was shackled in chains and imprisoned. Yet, he is has learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Interpretation:
I asked myself how could Paul be content whatever the circumstances?
What came to my mind is JESUS CHRIST. Paul had learned from walking with Jesus Christ and being in a personal relationship with Him to be content. His contentment was learned and not inherited. He chose to be content having his focus on Jesus Christ, which is evidenced by the verses 4:1-9, that I looked in the previous devotionals. Contentment to Paul was also related to thankfulness no matter what the circumstances.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. Contentment is not something that will just come to me. I need to learn to be content whatever the circumstances as I look to Christ. For in Christ is the hope of glory. Contentment in life should not be based on my circumstances but having a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who will look after me. I need to use situation the Lord Jesus has put me in to be content as I my focus is turned to Christ for apart from Christ, I cannot even be content. When I choose to be thankful to the Lord for things happening in my life, then contentment flows too.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING C.O.N.T.E.N.T:
Recently, I was very troubled about a situation that I talked to the Lord about it. Yesterday, the Lord Jesus used His servant Edwin, one of our church leaders of Oakland International Fellowship to address the situation. You see as I was focusing on what I did not have, I became very troubled but forced myself to pray, "Lord, I  choose to be content, help me" The Lord Jesus heard my prayer and used Edwin to address this particular situation.

For those of you who have known me through the years, you know how much I love to do student ministry because this is something I believe so strongly that the Lord Jesus has called me to.

Yet, I told Edwin that I have no opportunity to directly do student ministry because of issues that happened in the past. For me directly meant, 'leading Bible studies for students', 'teaching the Word of God to students' etc face-face in a ministry.

When I was saying this to Edwin, I realized that I was not content where the Lord Jesus has placed me and I wanted more.

I was happy to serve as a game leader for our 1st - 3rd graders at Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship BUT I had told myself 'it was not student ministry' and realized I was not being CONTENT.  Shame on me!

I must say though how excited I am to be working with the children again this time with Heather Cheng rotating during Sunday School at the game station. Last time, I helped out with my first VBS ever with Pastor Hugo Cheng.

I was happy to be used by the Lord to share the devotionals on http://www.pittsburghstandard.com and http:///www.facebook.com BUT I told myself 'it was not hands on student ministry' and realized I was not being CONTENT. Shame on me.

I am very excited and love using Pittsburgh Standard and Facebook to reach others with the love of Christ.

I realized when I was not being CONTENT, it became an issue of PRIDE too. Subtly, what my discontentment was saying was, "Lord, I know what is best for me and makes me content and not you"

I prayed later, "Lord forgive me for that is the wrong path to go. You know what is best for me and whatever you place in my path, I choose to be content and ask you for your help to be joyful in you Lord as the Apostle Paul found contentment and joy in you no matter what the circumstances. Help me Jesus.'

I decided to write down this morning at least 15 things that I can be thankful to the Lord for that happened yesterday. One of them of course was my meeting with Edwin. Being thankful is the best remedy to be content.

In my trouble, I stopped writing down things to be thankful for and that's what made me discontent too.

I was much worst in the past that I hurt my friends Paul, Chloe, Oliver, Pastor Ed, etc because of my DISCONTENTMENT ATTITUDE.

I saw that attitude creeping up again on me recently with different situations that I needed the Lord's help to put an end to it.

Lord used Edwin to let me know something to the effect: Yes, Ramesh you are not doing direct student ministry now as you love to do because of things that happened in the past, but the Lord Jesus has placed you in a strategic area where He wants to use you with children, with each student that comes into Market Central that you can affect positively, and with the Pittsburgh Standard to minister to others. No one else can do what you are doing because the Lord Jesus gifted you to do that work. You need to be content and think of your role as a funnel. You funnel the love of Christ to children, students, and use the Pittsburgh Standard so that those same people can be ministered through the Word of God by others. Each of our roles is important and significant even if it is not everything we hope for.

I was so uplifted by that meeting with Edwin yesterday because the focus was JESUS CHRIST. Just as Paul focused on Jesus Christ of the Gospels, my mind had to be turned to Jesus Christ to be content realizing I should be thankful where the Lord Jesus has placed me for His honor and glory.

I chose to be thankful and it is amazing how many different opportunities Jesus has let me come across by His favor. Thank you Lord Jesus.

When I share negative things about myself and my shortcomings, I do that to let you see that I am not perfect and do have issues. But, the Good News for me is that I can stand on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

No matter what my sin is whether it is discontentment, pride, selfishness, etc, the Gospel of Jesus Christ addresses all areas of life.

Chris Ansell, the campus minister for Cornerstone said it best in his talk to over 200 students which Pittsburgh Standard got excerpts of which I will paraphrase:
If we think the Gospel is just about us being sinners saved by Jesus so we can be with Him in Heaven, we have missed so much else. The Gospel is not just to gain access to Heaven but the Gospel should address all facets of life. When we turn to Jesus and allow Him to work in us, every action we engage in has to have its answer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is for Salvation but it is also to give us a joyful and abundant living here on earth.

I was so excited to hear Chris give that talk to the students because it reminded me of one of our pastors, Pastor Ed of Oakland International Fellowship had impressed upon me that every facet of our life needs to be measured by the Gospel whether it is academia, relationships, career, character, etc. All our church leaders focus on JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH THROUGH GRACE but also SANCTIFICATION BY FAITH THROUGH GRACE.

Because I am JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE, I can be SANCTIFIED BY HIS GRACE. It is a daily process thought but through my weaknesses and shortcomings this I know: "He who began a good work in me will finish it to completion" (Philippians 1:6)

I share with you some of my shortcomings under the title: HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING..... to show you that in all my weaknesses, the Gospel is what has the answers to life.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is where I have found the answer for contentment, the answer for joy, the answer for concerns, etc

I need the Lord's help to put it into practice so others can see the Gospel lived out in my life. All the devotionals I share with you all mean nothing if my actions do not match the words, Jesus teaches me.

I need the help of Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of my faith and He is the perfect candidate to give me help because the Gospel belongs to Him and therefore is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Without Jesus Christ, there is no Gospel. That means I cannot follow the Gospel if I do not ask Jesus to help me follow it by His grace. I need His grace to change and transform me. And I need His grace to be content.

I am so thankful even in my sin and shortcomings, Jesus does not leave me but reminds me of characters in His Word who had so many flaws but yet how God chose to use them and that He can use me too. Thank you Jesus. I know in Christ I can be content and so can you. Help me Jesus!

I ask you now dear friends, how can you be C.O.N.T.E.N.T in life?
Dear friends, in my own life I know what makes me content is what I like to do the most, what I like to read the most, what I like to hear the most, etc. You get the picture where it is all about ‘what I like’. Yet, that is not what I see in Paul. Paul is content where he is placed at. He makes the best of the opportunity he has where he is at.

Friend, I do not know what you want and what makes you content. Maybe where you are at right now is not making you content, maybe you are doing an upward comparison with others and it is not making you content, etc but this I know in our flesh and humanity, we will never be content with what we have for human tendency is to want cold when it is hot and want hot when it is cold. This carries on to other areas of our lives too!

Being content is a choice we have to make remembering there will always be someone more handsome than who we are with, someone more beautiful than who we are with, someone with more education, someone with more talents, someone with more prestige, whatever it maybe. When we focus too much on the peripherals and not the essentials we have forgotten Christ.

I am so glad even though I have messed up and have not been content so many times, I can find my encouragement in Jesus Christ. You too can! As you and I focus on Jesus Christ wherever we are in our lives, we will have contentment. Not only that when we do things it won’t be because of selfish ambition but when we excel in an area it will be because we are choosing to give our best to the Lord for His glory. It is good to know that contentment is not an excuse for mediocrity but being thankful for where the Lord has placed us and working from there.

If we look for anything else other than Jesus Christ, we will not find contentment. Any worldly desires will not give us contentment in the long run because it will only be temporary and we will be trapped and possibly addicted.  I am reminded that it is a lack of contentment that caused the first sin with Adam & Eve. They just could not be happy with what God gave them and wanted what they could not have. The best addiction we can have is to Jesus Christ!

When you or I are not content with what the Lord Jesus has given us or made us to be, we will not be content with the Creator either because we will continue to find fault, etc thinking we know what is best when we really do not.

How can a book tell what should be in a book other than the Author of the Book. In the same way, the Author of our Lives created you and me and we are His perfect Creation who He loves with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength. You and I are precious and special in His sight and we should never forget that.

Yes, friend, you are so special and precious in the Lord's sight and are called by Name. That is how much Jesus loves you. Isaiah 43:1-3 describes how much the Lord loves you. As you and I depend on the Lord alone, you and I will find contentment in Him. I know we will because in Christ is where true contentment, joy, and peace are found.

It starts with being thankful to the Lord for the things that have happened each day in our lives. I write down 10 things that I am thankful for that were good things and 1-5 things of things that I am disappointed about but need to be thankful because the Lord Jesus reminds us, "Be joyful always, giving thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4)

It won't always be easy but we have Jesus with us. Help us Jesus!

Wherever you are, may you know that Jesus loves you so much and wants to help you! He will give you the peace and joy when you find your first contentment in Him. Christ opens new things everyday nicely treating! This will help us to be content! It is exciting to know as we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart. Yes, my friend He will fulfill your desires. I know He will as you seek Him. May you seek Him with all your heart and find your contentment from Him! Amen!

As I finished writing this, a song by 'Greg Long' called 'Days of Grace' came that ministered to me very much! Thank you Jesus!

"Christ Opens New Things Everyday Nicely Treating! (C.O.N.T.E.N.T)/"How can you be C.O.N.T.E.N.T in life?"

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!