Positive thinking from an unexpected source
The Master Mind group I’m in has had trouble meeting this winter, due to weather and illness. But we plan to get together very soon and make up for our long separation.
I almost felt like I was meeting with my inspirational partners yesterday in church when my pastor, Larry Sprinkle from the First Church of Christ, started talking about Expecting the Best out of life.
He based his sermon on the Bible verse: Ephesians 3:20
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
We can take 2 approaches to life:
1. Pessimistic. Job said, “What I always feared has happened to me, what I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25
2. Or we can take the Optimistic approach.
The Apostle Paul was in prison for his belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, yet he wrote to the believers in Philippi:
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20
Paul believed that his beliefs would not be disappointed, even though he might have been what some might call “Down on his luck.”
My preacher also said, “Faith is a muscle. Exercise it.”
He then listed some ways for us to stay optimistic and exercise that muscle:
1. Start your day with faith.
We can do this by reading our Bibles each day. I do this through http://www.biblegateway.com/. It makes it handy and its large print is easier for these old eyes to see! Here’s a verse to remind us of starting the day out right:
“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3
2. Then we should look for good in every situation.
This is based on Romans 8:28, my favorite verse since I was a teen:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
This can be difficult, but our thoughts are not God’s thoughts as it says in Psalms. Who knows what good can come from the tricky situation?
Other points my pastor made were to give our problems to God (2 Corinthians 1: 9-11); eliminate negative words (Ephesians 4:29), associate with positive people (Ephesians 4:29), and to remember our future! (I Corinthians 2:9)
I hope these words will strengthen your desire to make something of yourself and to see that life can be one opportunity after another if we put our priorities in order.
Take care.
I almost felt like I was meeting with my inspirational partners yesterday in church when my pastor, Larry Sprinkle from the First Church of Christ, started talking about Expecting the Best out of life.
He based his sermon on the Bible verse: Ephesians 3:20
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
We can take 2 approaches to life:
1. Pessimistic. Job said, “What I always feared has happened to me, what I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25
2. Or we can take the Optimistic approach.
The Apostle Paul was in prison for his belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, yet he wrote to the believers in Philippi:
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20
Paul believed that his beliefs would not be disappointed, even though he might have been what some might call “Down on his luck.”
My preacher also said, “Faith is a muscle. Exercise it.”
He then listed some ways for us to stay optimistic and exercise that muscle:
1. Start your day with faith.
We can do this by reading our Bibles each day. I do this through http://www.biblegateway.com/. It makes it handy and its large print is easier for these old eyes to see! Here’s a verse to remind us of starting the day out right:
“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3
2. Then we should look for good in every situation.
This is based on Romans 8:28, my favorite verse since I was a teen:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
This can be difficult, but our thoughts are not God’s thoughts as it says in Psalms. Who knows what good can come from the tricky situation?
Other points my pastor made were to give our problems to God (2 Corinthians 1: 9-11); eliminate negative words (Ephesians 4:29), associate with positive people (Ephesians 4:29), and to remember our future! (I Corinthians 2:9)
I hope these words will strengthen your desire to make something of yourself and to see that life can be one opportunity after another if we put our priorities in order.
Take care.
posted by Kayleen | 12:36 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Momma, I read your post and agree with the optimist view. Every morning, on my 5-minute drive to school, I pray for God to give me energy, a positive attitude, and to show me how to be patient with situations and dumb kids. :) He's faithful!
Love you!
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