The Secret is ...

Image cc: KayVee.INC

The Marshmallow Test

The whole world lives in either one of two tents

Content orDiscontent

Paul

I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it.

Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty.

In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.

learned to be contentThe word 'content' actually means 'contained'.

A description of the one whose resources are withinthem so that they do not have to depend on substitutes from outside of themselves.

learned to be contentBeing 'Contained'

Women - A feeling of being held/ secure Men - A feeling of being completely adequate to

the task

Why Women Talk and Men Walk: How to Improve Your Relationship Without Discussing It. Patricia Love; Steven Stosny

I have learned the secretMueo means to learn the secret of something throughpersonal experience or as the result of initiation.

Signifies the learning of something with preparatory toiland discipline

The Secret of Success

The Secret of Success

Everyone wants the secret, but no one wants the suffering.

I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I’ve been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once.

I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I’ve had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes.

I’ve been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I’ve known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.

And that’s not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones. When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut. 2 Corinthians 11: 23-29

Everyone wants the secret, but no one wants the suffering.

who strengthens me.

"to put power in" (like a car needs gas for power) and so to make strong, vigorous, to strengthen, or to be strengthened, enabled or empowered inwardly.

refers to spiritual or moral strengthening

The secret of contentment is not found in a 'what' but in a 'who'

Some sources of contentment and significance

My childrens success Possessions 'Big' people's approval Religous performance Athletic sporting ability Glory moments/ memories

Some sources of contentment and significance

Belonging to the culture, club or gang and gainnig status from it

Feeling needed Body image Important persons love/ loyalty Power over another/ subjugation of others

Some sources of contentment and significance Intellectual performance Career status/ promotion My uniqueness/ individuality

What will happen when it fails you? Which of these will live on for you past your last

heartbeat?

The only true eternal source of contentment and significance is the presence of Jesus Christ in me.

Time to get the marshmallows out of our life and fill it with

rock.

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living.

They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner

improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life

Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house.

It was fixed to the rock.

“But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.

When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” Matthew 7: 24 -27

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Phillipians 4:10-13

The secret to contentment is to be filled with Christ

and it is learned through the struggles of life

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life

Barry Pearman

about.me: Barry Pearman

Email: barry@turningthepage.info

Twitter: @barrypearman

Website: Connection NZ - Connecting you with others through Social Media

Website: Turning the Page - Inspiring Mental Health“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life