WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.... All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.... A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." Proverbs 15: 13, 15, 30

Our attitude colors our whole personality. We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can choose our attitude toward each situation.

The secret to a cheerful heart is filling our minds with thoughts that are true, pure, and lovely, with thoughts that dwell on the good things in life (Philippians 4:8). This was Paul's secret as he faced imprisonment, and it can be ours as we face the struggles of daily living.

We must look at our attitudes and then examine what we allow to enter our mind and what we choose to dwell on. We may need to make some changes.

"As a person thinks.... so is he." How we think affects our overall mental well-being more than anything else.

A famous preacher once commented that we may not be able to "stop a bird from flying over our head... but we can keep it from building a nest in our hair". W e cannot

Thoughts come from many directions. Some thoughts are like "fiery arrows"... sent from the enemy to distract us from the truth about Jesus and the life He purchased for us with His own blood... when He died on Calvary's cross in our place.

We may not be able to stop all these thoughts from coming through out minds... but we can certainly choose to reject those which are unfit, ungodly, or immoral. We have the power to set our mind upon those things that Jesus told us to think about... those things which are good and wholesome and healthy and of good report.

"The joy of the Lord is our strength." Thinking wholesome thoughts can fill us with joy, strengthen us, and bring a smile to our faces.

Choose to think on the things of God and the words of His Bible. These will lead us to a more peaceful and more contented life.

Remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us should fill our hearts with such gratitude that it would outweigh many emotions that would seek to divert us from the Lord.

Every wrong and evil act in life began with a single thought that should have been rejected and replaced with a positive thought.

Choose your thoughts carefully.

SLEEPING LIKE A BABY

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8) Is there anything more beautiful than a sleeping baby? Some of my favorite photos are those of my grandchildren who have fallen asleep in unusual positions.

We have photos of them slumped over on a toy or a book in the playpen… or sitting up in their baby bed… or riding down the road in their car seat... or in the shopping cart while shopping.

There is nothing more peaceful than the face of a sleeping child… unaware of any danger or worrisome thoughts that could prevent sleep… secure enough to let down all defenses and rest… safe in their parents care.

What about those of us who are children of the Father God? Do we put our full trust in our Father… and in His ability to keep us safe and protected from the worries and fears of the world? ”I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the LORD sustains me" (Psalm 3:5).

It is in realizing that God alone can protect us, can meet all our needs, and keep us safe under all circumstances that we can cease from our struggles to work out our lives on our own terms. It is in trusting Him that we find the security and peace which often eludes us. Knowing that I am in God’s care… and that HE loves me with a never-ending love provides me with the security for which I am looking in every area of my life. He will protect… and He will provide.

For those of us who are accustomed to taking care of ourselves, turning control over to the Lord can be very difficult… but very “freeing”. Time and again, the Lord has proven His faithfulness and His dependability. He will never let us down or fail us. We must be willing to "let go"... and let Him "be God".

When our trust is fully resting in the Lord, we can lie down and “sleep like a baby”… knowing that God is our refuge… our strength… our stronghold… our defender… and a “very present help in times of trouble”.

"Leaning on the everlasting arms.... safe and secure from all alarms...

Leaning on His everlasting Arms!"

HOPE FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Bruce, a close relative of my husband’s, had to travel to a large city in another state for heart surgery. The chance of success was not good but the alternative was sure death.

The surgery went well but within a few days vital organs began to shut down. The battle raged. Many prayers went up. Finally, Bruce passed from this life to the next. He was “absent from his body and present with the Lord“!

My hubby has “more first cousins than you can shake a stick at” so we were two of many who drove in to pay our respects and to support his family.

The funeral was crowded. This man was well known and loved.

As each minister stood to share his thoughts about Bruce, I listened intently to the things they said. One said he had never heard Bruce say a negative thing against another person. Someone else pointed out that he had been a deacon at two churches and was a very active believer all his life, raising his daughter in church. Another pointed out that when he was about to have his car repossessed, Bruce loaned him the money that enabled him to keep it… and many more wonderful things were said about his integrity and about his life as a believer.

It was observed what a wonderful family man he was and how his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandsons adored him. They had a very happy home. It was a good funeral… if there is such a thing.

I had a lot of time to think as we rode that 300 miles home. I wondered about what people will say about me when I die. Probably something like, “the first ten years she belonged to the church she was there every time the doors opened… and was involved in every activity that came along. She was on that committee and she liked to help out in the kitchen when we had meals at church. She was part of that group of ladies who met weekly throughout the year and did Bible studies together. She taught some of them.

But then what happened to her? She slowed down in her church attendance… just coming on Sunday mornings. Then she started missing Sundays here and there. Now it seems like all she does is go to work and go home. Work and home?"

Life has slowed down tremendously the last two years... almost to a crawl in recent months… slowing somewhat because of my husband's age... and the physical and emotional challenges we have faced.

Depression... anxiety... fear of crowds.... and then the headaches started. It has felt like like a downward spiral... with no end in sight

Still... I want to be a soul winner for the Lord. I want to be a daughter of whom He can be proud. I realize that I have issues that need attending to.

My “circle of life”… “circle of comfort”… circle of friends has grown smaller and smaller, each caught up in their own work and families. This “circle of friends” with whom I had shared so much for many years are leading busy lives, doing what the Lord is leading them to do.

The question on my mind today is how much have I accomplished for God… and how much was never done because I was too caught up in my physical limitations… too “bogged down” by depression and anxiety… too limited by my very real fears... to give God’s work the attention it deserved?

In so many ways I feel I have failed God. I haven’t been the bold and powerful witness that He desired me to be in quite a while. In many cases, I have given in to the physical and mental distractions…. and allowed them to be an excuse for being less than acceptable to the Lord.

All during this time, the Lord has remained near and dear. He has heard my every prayer and comforted my heart when it cried out to Him. He is a Father like no other... and He loves His children with an unconditional love.

Have you ever wondered how you will be remembered once you are gone? Would they say that you had lived your life with zeal... and vigorously completed the work God had assigned? I'm thankful there is still time left to work.

At the end my life I want to hear the Lord say, "Well done, You good and faithful Servant". I want to know that I have "fought the good fight, finished the course, kept the faith.”

As long as there is breath in my body, there is hope for a better future. I want to be a blessing to God... and a blessing for God. The thoughts He has for me are thoughts of peace and not of evil... thoughts to give me a future and a hope!