1 Thessalonians 5:5-11
"For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up.........."
Our Pastor's message yesterday was WONDERFUL (Thanks, Pastor Sean). However, maybe one wouldn't think "wonderful' in just seeing the 'theme'......
GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING
Philippians 2:14 - "Do everything without complaining and arguing"
Possibly one wouldn't think so, but we all have a tendency to complain and 'bah-humbug' much more than we realize - I know that I do. This subject brought to my mind two books which I read years ago (and should probably read again). I really do recommend them both: "Me and My Big Mouth" by Joyce Meyer, and "It's Not About Me" by Max Lucado.
In the first, Mrs. Meyer writes, "Our mouth gives expression to what we think, feel, and want. Our mind tells us what we think, not necessarily what God thinks."
In the latter, Mr. Lucado reflects, "Self-promotion. Self-preservation. Self-centerness. It's all about me! They all told us it was, didn't they? Weren't we urged to look out for number one? Find our place in the sun? Make a name for ourselves? We thought self-celebration would make us happy......"
He continues, "We move from 'me-focus' to 'God-focus by pondering Him. Witnessing Him. Following the counsel of the apostle Paul, 'Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, [we] are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord' (2 Corinthians 3:18). Beholding Him changes us. Couldn't we use a change? Let's give it a go. Who knows?"
So, the next time we hear ourselves being a 'grouch', complaining, even arguing, possibly instead of thinking, 'What would
Jesus do', ponder 'What would Jesus say' !!!
Hope you have a wonderful day.
__________________________________________________________________
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Rhythm of Summer
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
We had been counting down the days to summer vacation, and it had finally arrived. No more cold lunches to pack, no more nights spent checking homework, and no more early morning alarms. Life was about to get a whole lot sweeter. But, of course, if I have one plan in mind, the opposite is almost always certain to occur. The kids all roused from their beds at 7:00 A.M., hungry and wanting breakfast. By 9:00, they were already bored and looking for me to start "Mommy Camp." Wasn't summer about sipping ice-cold lemonade in a hammock under the shade of a lovely oak tree? I guess not
when you are the mother of three.
But after a few days, we began to discover our summer vacation rhythm. The kids started to find things to amuse themselves. Climbing a tree and swinging down from a rope was absolutely thrilling for my five-year-old son. My daughter loved having a pretend tea party for her stuffed animals, serving them soggy crackers and water from her tea set. We didn't need to fill our time with busy theme parks and expensive attractions. Fun could be found in our own backyard or nearby park.
In my life as a mother, wife, and woman, it is so easy to get caught up in the drama of life. I micro-manage my life and fill every waking hour with things to do. What if I spent a day or two and started to notice the little things going on around me that could bring me joy?
Challenge yourself today to become more childlike. Look at this magnificent world that God created and find the wonderment in it. Laugh often, smile more, and appreciate all the beauty that exists around you. 'This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!'
Comments