Kathe Matthews, Christian author and speaker

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

What is the secret to being content in every situation? It seems that contentment is not something that comes naturally to us; even the Apostle Paul had to learn it. 

As Paul's faith grew and he talked about Jesus, he experienced…

Have you ever looked in the mirror and gasped when you saw something unattractive hanging from your nose? I had been meeting with a group of women and we had been sharing deeply with each other. If it was there the whole time, they would have been viewing it dangling while staying silent about its presence. As I squirmed with the embarrassment at the thought, I had to take a step back and think about our conversation. It had been rich and Holy Spirit inspired, despite something offensive in my appearance. 

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The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19:7-8) 

Has anyone ever empathized with you and agreed, “the journey is too much for you”? God said these comforting words to Elijah as he ran for his life, with overwhelmed feelings of despair. These words and the provision of…

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."  John 9:1-3

As we sat in the doctor’s office and heard the bone defect diagnosis of my son’s knees, I asked the surgeon if it was my fault.  Had I done something or not eaten the right thing while he was in utero and inadvertently caused the…

“Come and sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.” “Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord. Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.” (Psalm 95:1; 96:1-2)

Have you ever been asked to do something that you felt you had no strength to accomplish? It was a few days before my uncle’s funeral when my cousin asked me to sing with a group at his memorial service. Although I love to sing, I felt that I couldn’t do…