**I AM NOT BLAMING PINTEREST FOR DISCONENTMENT. YOU CAN BE CONTENT AND STILL HAVE “DREAM…” BOARDS. PLEASE DO NOT TWIST MY MEANING. THE SAME COULD BE SAID USING MOST ANY MEANS OF SOCIAL MEDIA. I AM SIMPLY USING PINTEREST AS A VERY VISIBLE EXAMPLE. I LOVE PINTEREST AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPILY WASTE HOURS OF MY TIME LOOKING THROUGH COMPLETELY POINTLESS PINS TO MY HEART’S CONTENT

I love Pinterest. For a couple of reasons: 1. I get to reap all of these amazing ideas and plans that these creative-types naturally come up with and while I love to claim that I am creative; my mind doesn’t naturally flow as colorfully as some of these ladies who blog everything from their dinners, desserts, and every decoration that I never knew could exist. 2. THEY TELL ME ALL OF THEIR SECRETS! So not only do I get the inspiration, but it is usually packaged nicely with a brightly colored bow on top (which they will also tell me 10 different ways to tie that magnificent bow).

But more than the ideas or even the step-by-step guides, I love Pinterest because it allows me завораживающие прогулки на яхте в Москве по реке to dream and to dream BIG! I have a board for all of the amazing meals (complete with desserts) that I want to attempt making. I have a board for my dream wardrobe of every style that I could possibly imagine with the perfect pairing of sweater, jeans, and boots (if you look at that particular board, the majority of the pins depict my taste for that type of clothing. I adore fall clothes). I even have a board for dream vacations and all of the breathtaking places around the world that I desire to visit. There is a board for each of my girls, for girl’s ministry, for my writing, even for my organizing fantasies. I can dream about anything, look it up and pin it onto the appropriate board and perhaps, someday, go back and institute them into my reality.

But what I love about it is also possibly the greatest flaw. You see, I follow girls who are already planning a wedding and aren’t even old enough to date yet (and that is not even recognizing the issues revolving around the fact that they are planning the wedding but not the marriage). I see boards about the best name-brand clothes and shoes that would put dent in a millionaire’s bank account, let alone any average Joe. Even my own “dream house” boards create a sense of “if only” that have the potential of robbing me of my joy in the moment that I am living.

If we are so focused on all of the stuff that we don’t have, how can we possibly find joy in the blessings that are surrounding each and every one of us?

For Timothy 6:6-7 says this:

 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (NIV)

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that having more (of anything) is not the answer to being content. In fact, in Philippians Paul tells us,

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)

Trust is God, seeking righteousness and godliness…these are things that will bring us contentment. Not translating our “dream closet” from Pinterest into our real closet. Not measuring up to the crazy SAHM bloggers that tackle cleaning the house, packing a different non-GMO/gluten-free/dairy-free/peanut-free/whole foods only lunch that every child is sure to love and gobble down thankfully, all while building and sewing every single thing in their house. Not planning the perfect, “I’m sure the go viral with likes,” picture-perfect wedding. (I could spend an entire post alone discussing the wedding boards, so for now, I’ll let them alone)

God alone will bring contentment. The reality of all of this is: if you can’t find a way to be content with little, you will never find contentment in a lot.