from poverty to abundance - it is an attitude

my personal ponderings on the inner paradigm of poverty and abundance

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from an attitude of poverty 

(There is never enough. I am never enough.) 
 to an attitude of abundance 
(I have been given so much. I have so much to give) 

It really is an attitude.  We can see that it is because there are those with very few material things who live lives of abundance and generosity.

Gratitude and Thankfulness are a key part of this.  They give the ability to look into the mess and see the blessing right before you in the midst of the mess. Until you see the blessings, you don't know you have them. Until you know that you have them, you can't use or give them. You can't even manage your resources well if you are blind to many of the good things within your reach. Because until we have taken a full inventory of everything in our lives including the hard to see blessing seemingly hidden in the mess, we may make decisions based on a perspective that there isn't enough. But when we know what we have, we will be able to manage boundaries and resources well. And there will be enough along the boundary of each resource for us to give and for others to gleen from (abundance). 

hhmmm.... This reminds me of what the Apostle Paul taught us; to make an account of these things (to daily take inventory of these things):

Philippians 4:6-9,12-13 [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)]   6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.   7 And God’s peace shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.   8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things fix your minds on them.   9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.           . . .[following Paul example] . . .    12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.   13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.

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So what, oh my soul, are you being reminded of ?   hhmmmm..... I think it is to remember to look up and look around.  I think it is to remind myself again of all the beauty and blessings that surround me ("surely goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life"), as well as all the things that have been given to me as a person (my personalities, interests, aptitudes, passions, with all it's attached strengths and weaknesses, all the intangible things that make me me).  

The attitude of "less than" (of poverty) can plague my soul leading me to believe that all that I am and all that I do will never ever even come close to enough. And this attitude over time depletes my faith, my confidence and it makes me hesitate and be timid, or conversely to be overly rashly and unwisely motivated to please people and fit in, making me "follow" instead of contribute.  

I am not saying that we shouldn't follow. There are many times when following the lead or following a good example, is a good and needful thing producing order, honor, and productivity. I am not saying we should be rebels. What I am saying is that when my attitude and thoughts are focused on doing and saying things only to fit in and follow whatever crowd I am with, this is when I am operating in an attitude of poverty, believing that what I have and who I am isn't enough. This impoverished attitude (belief in my mind/heart) leads me to only give and do things in a measure, limited by what I see others doing.  But God has created me in me an abundance to contribute to my world. I have much to give and contribute in harmony with my world and to beautify my world. (Listen to what I am saying to myself: contribute not fix everything; contribute not control, contribute not complete; and yet contribute means fixing what I can, protecting and enhancing what is in my power to do so, and strengthening the good when and where I am able.) I have an abundance to give, beauty and value to contribute, not because I am better than anyone else or have more or less than others, but simply because I am uniquely created (oh and loved with an abundant everlasting love).  And so are YOU! We all have an abundance to give.  My wish, hope, and prayer is that we would learn to give without cutting diminishing comparison, but rather give in a way that our differences add to the beauty. 


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[Taking a brief inner self inventory]

When I am in that peaceful state of releasing worries and needs, and taking account of the good stuff and being intentionally thankful, I can look up and see the abundance, and can see the amazing and unique combination of good stuff in others and myself.

I believe in definite truth. I believe in right and wrong, and in light and darkness but I am NOT a black and white thinker.  I do not perceive things as black and white.  I believe one of the "lovely things" God has given me is the ability to see this world in brilliant and beautiful variations of technicolor. And I want to hold on to that. It means I will sometimes see darker hidden things (hard things, scary things, secret things, painful things), but I also will see "lighter" hidden things (the beauty of someone's tough skin, the loving protection of someone's firm and hard ways, the inner strength of someone's learned endurance, quiet pain in someone that produces deep compassion for others, the creativity someone sprinkles into our daily grind making it a more enjoyable journey).  

ah ...but I am a woman of opposites too ... too timid (doing nothing or too little when the situation needed action) but then rashly bold (jumping in and making commitments that I can't keep) ... sometimes too quiet (keeping quiet when the situation needed someone to speak up or speak encouragement) and then too loud and boisterous (saying too much too quickly without giving thoughtful consideration) ... Oh this woman of opposites, needs to remember to find security in the stronghold of God, as the creator and master workman, who created me for love and good works. He is faithfully at work in me (even when I am unfaithful; even when my people pleasing brokenness leads me to be unfaithful to God).  


~Gratitude~
This morning, I am grateful for the long "look up and and look around".  I am thankful for all of the unhidden beauty (the sunrise over a beautiful backyard, quiet solitude, a home, a job, a family I love, friends near and far, candles, God's Word, health, and so much more), and for the hidden things too (the Holy Spirit who teaches and reminds me of things, the ability to see beautiful "easy to miss" things, the sensitive tenderness inseparately bound to a dear one's strength, for hope, for faith that knows even in dark painful places there is hidden hope, and so much more). 

I am thankful for time to think on these things and take account of them.


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Just a reminder that these are only just my personal ponderings on the concept of poverty and abundance.