Attitude in Your Life

Fanny Crosby wrote several thousand hymns. And she was blinded when she was only six weeks old because of a mistake of a doctor. When she was just a little girl she wrote:

Oh, what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world contented I shall be.
How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't.
To weep and sigh because I'm blind, I cannot--and I won't!





so keep playing the music, even when you are sad! the words will give meaning to the music.


Be as generous as you can, as often as you can. Good deeds make it easier to choose happiness.

“Happy is entirely up to you and always has been.”  




 Philippians 4:8-9 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

DON’T BE SAD

 What happened is over
Yesterday is past
Now it’s part of history
It will not come back forever

Don’t be sad
  What is coming, is coming!
Do not take any sorrow
Do not allow the fear
To cover your mind
Or destroy your heart
Just because something
May happen tomorrow!

 Don’t be sad, don’t be grave
Face the new reality
Struggle hard, with patience,
Remain strong and brave

 Don’t be sad
Stay happy
Think positive
Even when things go bad
This is the nature of life
Nothing will remain the same
Change is coming
Do what you can
And leave the rest for God.

Yassin Aref

The apostle Paul spoke of developing contentment in his own experience when he said, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13).

Notice that Paul speaks of contentment as something to be learned. We can learn to be content when we recognize the true value of things around us.

When a person can be content "everywhere and in all things," whether full or hungry, abounding or suffering need, he knows a source of contentment beyond anything the world can provide or understand.



Walk the Talk

Jesus said, "Just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions" (Matthew 7:20).

For the best fruit, connect to the vine. As Jesus said, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me" (John 15:4). True Disciples 21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’   “What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan.” ― Jason Fried, Rework

Perseverance Pays

Romans 5:3-5

³ Not only so, but we^[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

 

Philipians 3: 13-14

 

13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

I think of the Olympics as one of our greats tests of perseverance, reaching toward a goal until it is accomplished. Many sacrifices of our body, family, friends and finances go into reaching that goal and when it is over, we have a medal to remind us of the prize we sacrificed for.

 

Quote from John Furlong, former CEO of the Vancouver Olympics 2010 Organizing Committee:

This is the one event in the world that is a genuine celebration of peace and humanity. It is a chance for the world to grow a bit where cultures can connect better. I always thought the Olympic Games would be something that would inspire every Canadian child to live a better life and become a better leader, to believe in fair play and have good values.

Jack Poole, the Vanoc board chairman
 "There is only today and the moment you are in. So live it well with a loving heart."

That was his philosophy. Today is the only day that matters. Stop worrying about the next day or next month.

All goals are a test of perseverance..."Perseverance is the energy that drives the human spirit.  Such persistence has played a large part in the success of noted men and women in various fields.  All of us struggle with problems in which persistence may mean the difference between happiness and gloom, life and death. 

Finally, at Jericho, Elisha was tested once more in a similar way. Again, Elisha passed the test of persistence and accompanied Elijah to Jordan. It was thus that he got the double portion of the anointing – God’s best for his life (2 Ki.2:1-14).

What is the message here for us? There are various stages in our spiritual development at which God tests us to see whether we are satisfied with what we have already received or whether we will press on to God’s highest. Very, very few are willing to walk the way of the cross – “the new and living way that Jesus has inaugurated for us through His flesh.” (Heb. 10:20).

But it is these few, who are wholehearted enough to press on to total death to self, who receive the double portion – God’s best.

 

 

I Could Have Missed This Gift

 
 

I could have missed the opportunity that has been the most meaningful experience in my 63 years.  "I'm no nurse, I could never take care of another's personal day to day necessities".
I meant it when I said it, but when faced with the reality of how much they need you, it became no choice at all.  It was what I needed to do.

Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.




I will never, ever find anything that filled me so completely as that time of caring for my parents. If my older sister had been living, she would have been the one to minister, and I would have missed out.  She left us way too soon, but she gave me a gift I can never repay.

We should never allow the cares of the world to overshadow the things that are most important—serving God through serving people, especially the people in our own families. The Bible says, "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" (Ephesians 6:2-3).

Taking care of an aged parent is simply repaying the love they gave us in our time of need with love in their time of need. The only motivation for this kind of repayment is love, nothing else will make it worthwhile. My children witnessed the joy I felt, and the compassion I gave to my parents and it made an impression on them. It is what you do, and if you can't do it with love, don't do it,  be an example for future generations.

 

Proverbs 22:6            
Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

 

Even to your old age and gray hairs

I am He, I am He who will sustain you. 

I have made you and I will carry you; 

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4

Happiness Is....

Defining happiness can seem as elusive as achieving it
Let me start with an official definition. According to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, here is the definition of happiness:

• a state of well-being and contentment
• a pleasurable or satisfying experience

Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
Happiness is something everyone wants to have
Happiness is happenings
Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.  byMargaret Lee Runbeck
Happiness is something that you are and it comes from the way you think. byWayne Dyer
All in all, I would say that happiness is a decision. Your happiness is your decision to make.

Here's a thought

Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Jesus

I can say that I never knew what joy was like until I gave up pursuing happiness

 

"Happiness Is The Lord"
By Ira Stanphill

Happiness is to know the Savior
Living a life within His favor,
Having a change in my behavior
Happinesss is the Lord

Happiness is a new creation
Jesus in me in close relation
Having a part in His salvation
Happiness is the Lord
Real joy is mine
No matter if teardrops start,
I've found the secret --
It's Jesus in my heart!

Happiness is to be forgiven
Living the life that worth the living
Taking a trip that leads to heaven
Happiness is the Lord, Happiness is the Lord
Happiness is the Lord!

Get Beyond Yourself

Helping others brings good feelings to the giver and the receiver of the good deeds, like giving the best gift ever to yourself.  Giving service to those that can use your talent will also help you feel less stress, which in turn creates a feeling of gratitude for all that you have in your life.

We must trust the Lord and let Him guide our lives. The Lord will bless us with the needed strength, guidance, patience, charity, and love to serve His children.  May we find simple, yet profound ways to daily serve God as we serve each other.

John 13:12-14        
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

Luke 6: 38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

from the pen of Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

 

 from Helen Keller:  

Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves.



Epiphany

Epiphany means “manifestation.” It also means “appearance” and in modern usage often denotes a “revelation” or a new way of thinking.
..........a moment of sudden intuitive understanding; flash of insight
Epiphany means “a showing forth” — in this case a showing forth of Jesus to the Gentiles

Epiphany is not only a day itself, but to the church***a season*** because it ends when Lent begins, starting January 6th. It is the climax of the Advent/Christmas season. The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." In Western churches, it remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King.

The Wisemen gave of themselves, their time, to search for the Christ Child. The Magi were looking for a “Sign” they were looking for God. Their journey began with their Hope and Faith that they would find the Christ Child. They gave to God their best. The Magi gave the gifts of their time; for it was a long journey (approximately 600 miles). Then the Wisemen bowed down to worship Him. The Wisemen gave themselves to Christ; then they gave (Toddler) Jesus their Gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. These “Gifts” were practical gifts to help support the Holy Family on their Escape to Egypt and later their return to Nazareth.

  The Wise Men or Magi who brought gifts to the child Jesus were the first Gentiles to acknowledge

Jesus as "King" and so were the first to "show" or "reveal" Jesus to a wider world as the incarnate Christ.

The day is now observed as a time of focusing on the mission of the church in reaching others by "showing" Jesus as the Savior of all people. It is also a time of focusing on Christian community and fellowship, especially in healing the divisions of prejudice and bigotry that we all too often create between God’s children.

Dear Lord

Will you fill us full of your love leaving no room for intolerance. You have forgiven us much, will you help us with your strength to forgive others even more? Will you help us through your abiding Presence among us, together or alone, to live our lives in a manner worthy of the Name we bear?
May we, through your guidance and our faithful obedience, find new avenues in ways that we have not imagined of holding the Light of your love so that it may be a Light of revelation for all people.

Amen