Do You Have an Attitude?

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27)

Do you sometimes find that your attitude is difficult to control?

What can you do when the “grouchies” take hold?

I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude, and although my “choice” is to have a great attitude at all times, sometimes it’s just hard to shake off an unsettling bad or grouchy mood! It’s probably one of the most frustrating things I am challenged with, because I know that today’s attitude matters! And although attitude isn’t always obvious to others, the liabilities (to self) associated with a bad temperament can simply limit our potential and drag us down. According to scripture, our attitude towards life, circumstances, and towards others should be like the Lord’s. The attitude we that we show in our daily living is a witness to others.

“And to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:23)

 If you think about it, our attitudes toward ourselves and others is a direct result of our attitude towards God, because we aren’t choosing (or acting or feeling) to be the way He wants us to become. After all, our attitudes are really the inner character of our heart and thoughts; they are hidden expressions and feelings that can eventually serve as a basis for our actions. Of course, there are certainly times when we have a legitimate reason to be upset about things, but God wants us to lean heavily upon Him and look to His Word. He wants us to look to Him to see what to do and how to react. Bad attitudes are responsible for needless worry, and God promises us that if we truly have an obedient heart--a good attitude--He will supply all our needs in abundance.

“If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God and others will approve of you too.” (Romans 14:18)

Our attitude is an indicator that shows God, others (and ourselves!) the work and ways that He is exhibited in us; it displays who Christ is in us. We have a responsibility to have the best attitude possible so that it will impact and be contagious to others. We love being around people with a great attitude; it’s uplifting, inspirational and contagious. And it’s definitely something that is positive and worthy of being shared and spread around! We need to lift others up, and bring our attitudes into obedience to God’s Word. There are days when it will take discipline to our thought life, and we will have to really submit our thoughts to those of Christ’s and disregard feelings of discontent, with a determination to embrace God’s outlook and disposition.  

Linking up with Joan to "Share His Beauty"

Gift of Self

"Giving the gift of friendship and celebrating God's life could simplify the season and magnify the reason." (Lois Tupyi)

I believe that one of the best gifts God has given us is the privilege to give, and to take advantage of the energy that flows through our life and relationships by sharing. When we give the gift of friendship or when we share with someone who is lonely or unhappy we can feel the presence of God flow through us with love and compassion. When I do a good deed for someone it puts love in action! When I give myself away, I can just feel a passage opening up and allowing an abundance of happiness and grace in my heart that no one can ever steal from me. :) Too many times circumstances or the business of my life distracts me from giving and sharing myself with others, but when I do give it results in an experience of love, joy, peace, and caring.

"Even in the darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. God will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever." (Psalm 112:4-6)

 After all, the greatest gift God gave to us was His Son Jesus Christ, so the greatest gift we can give back to God is ourselves! God gave us the gift of eternal life so that we would have something precious to give back to Him. What a gift of love! He sent His one and only Son to earth as the most supreme gift of all; to die for our sins and give us everlasting life. Our God is full of compassion and He loves to give, and He thinks about us continuously all day and night. So I want to give back; I want to give and share a compliment, prayer, or a smile with everyone I come in contact with. And I want to gratefully thank God for all the gifts He has bestowed upon me and at the end of everyday, reflect on how I feel about the gifts I have given and received.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

 Linking up with Tracy at "My Daily Walk in His Grace"

Alone, but Never Lonely

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

(Psalms 34:17-18)

There is loneliness, and there is aloneness. Loneliness is different from being alone; at times everyone needs to be alone (like having time with God or ourselves away from the distractions of the world). But loneliness can occur when a person doesn’t feel whole when he’s alone. I actually love alone time…which doesn’t happen very often! But my heart goes out to the lonely; people who are filled with gray emptiness and sadness. Anyone can be affected by loneliness at times; isolation, depression and loneliness are among the most painful of human experiences.

Loneliness is…

• Affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone; lonesome.

• A feeling of isolation; solitary; without company; companionless.

Alone is…

• To be separate, apart, or isolated to the exclusion of all others or all else.

• To be unique, unequaled, superlative.

With Christ, you will never walk alone.

The world’s greatest
tragedy is unwantedness;
the worlds
greatest disease is
loneliness.
—MOTHER TERESA

Feelings of loneliness are very real and can result from feelings of not belonging or not being understood. It creates an emptiness inside that drains all energy and spirit. During these painful times, our faith is vital. God did not intend for people to be lonely; even if people turn on us, forsake us, or shut us out, we are never alone. God promised it Himself in Hebrews 13:5 when He said “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. God is always there, and no matter how abandoned, deserted, or empty we feel, or how difficult and painful the situation-we are not alone. When feelings of emptiness and isolation begin to creep in, it’s not the time to look inward, but instead reach out to God. Our faith turns loneliness into alone time with Him.

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1)

I have always found that I become renewed and regenerated when I spend time alone; filled up with the love from the Spirit. During my quiet times, I feel anything but alone or lonely; the stillness is actually a restorer of energy. When God gets us absolutely alone, away and unconcerned with our own ideas, friendships, and cares, that’s when He begins to refine and shape us. There is no substitute for time spent alone with God where you can tell Him anything and everything. His presence is all we need in order to maintain the proper balance our lives require. We never have to feel lonely, instead we should take advantage of our time alone and embrace it with a Godly purpose.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Linking up on Spiritual Sunday and Sharing His Beauty 

God's Promise to The Humble

“Humility is the gateway into the grace and the favor of God.”
(Harold Warner)

 

Humility is a word that defines how we should submit and respond to trials, fear, rejection, and disappointment; not my will but yours God! So often we face situations and feel scared, inadequate, or inferior and react with pride and self-importance, or anger and aggression, rather than obeying and submitting to God and trusting that He has a greater plan; and in the end He always wins! I can think of times when I didn't act with humility because during the situation I wanted to do it my way. I have never liked being around prideful people, however pride has many symptoms that are often hard to see even in myself! Many times those who dislike pride the most are the ones who find it most difficult to be humble. Rachel Olsen says it perfect, "Humility can be defined as the absence of pride. In that sense, we can think of humility as what's left when our pretense is stripped away."

 "Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." (1 Peter 5:5-7)

Our pride carries our worries, stresses, and daily struggles within instead of trusting God fully with our lives. We all have our crosses to bear, and we are called to take up our crosses daily and follow Him. But these crosses can crush us if we try to carry them ourselves! Trust and humility is the confidence that the mighty hand of God is not over you to crush you, but to care for you just like His promise says. When we cast all of our anxieties on God, it means that we trust in His promise that He will take care of us, and that He has the power and wisdom to put that care to work in the most glorious way. It takes faith, trust, and humility to completely submit to God and die to ourselves, because we can’t be full of God if we are full of ourselves!

"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

I believe that nothing is hidden in God's eyes, and He is there for all of us who are struggling, in pain, or whom the world rejects. God is humble and He doesn't have favorites! He takes delight in blessing all of His children regardless of their wealth, fame, poverty, handicaps, or intelligence. Rather that react in a prideful manner just for self-approval or for the sake of popularity, God blesses those who are humble. I know that many times when I am not feeling as close to God as I would like, even when prayer, fellowship, and/or worshiping is not softening my heart, it's more than likely that I am just in need of a bit of painful humbling. There are so many times in my life that I need to (sincerely!) confess to Him and admit that I need to change; to be willing to do so! It takes humility to turn to God in repentance and recognize that He cares, and can handle all my anxieties and struggles. What I must realize is that I am dependent on God for everything good in my life, and that His recognition counts more than human praise. I need to be humble enough to release all pride.

"Obedience is the road to freedom, humility the road to pleasure, unity the road to personality." C.S Lewis

Linking up with Spiritual Sundays and The Beauty in His Grip

Sounds of Spring

The arrival of spring is always a reason for joy. What is more delightful and refreshing after a long winter than when we open our windows to the sounds of spring and sunshine beaming through our windows? It’s not just the warmer weather that brings joy into my heart, but the many sounds that seem to magically signify the arrival of spring.

…..spring comes alive with so many sounds…..

 

“Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.” (Psalm 104:12)

The birds are all busy chirping and chatting up a great noise, and it’s impossible to ignore the joyful sounds of fluttering flocks of birds outside our windows! They seem to be saying, “we’re back, we’re back; spring is here!”

 

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face” (Victor Hugo)

The joy of hearing my grandchildren’s laughter as they finally make their way outdoors on a beautiful spring day is powerful stuff!  As I stop and listen to children’s happy wonderful voices it makes me smile and creates an instant sensation of laughter. Do you notice how laughter instantly lifts all our moods, makes us feel great, and gives us more energy!

Another one of my favorite outdoor sounds is the sizzling of food on the BBQ grill (not to mention the addictive smell!) The arrival of spring brings out my giddy excitement about changing our weekly menu, and I always wait with great anticipation to fire up the grill when spring announces its arrival.  It’s a great time to bring families and friends together after being stuck inside and enjoy the sounds of friendship, laughter, and games.
 

  

“Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” (Leviticus 26:4)

What better way to end a beautiful day in spring than to relax to the soothing sound of rain and (even better!) a thunderstorm? As the clouds and rain start to roll in I can’t help but to step outside and listen to the rain start to pour, hear the music of the winds, followed by the crackling sounds of thunder.

…Spring is when life’s alive in everything…

Spring is a time for renewal, and all of the flowers and trees that bloom, and the magical sounds of joy and beauty this time of year are a reminder that God gives us renewal through faith in Jesus!


Linking up with Tracy at "My Daily Walk in His Grace" on Winsome Wednesday!

God Has Something to Say About Our Day!

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Who’s in charge of your day?

There is nothing more fulfilling than being rested and ready for the brand new day that God has planned for us. I love to start my day with thoughts of having Him by my side and helping me with whatever the day brings. God has something to say to us the minute we start our day, and if we begin our day without setting our minds on what He has to say, we simply don’t start out on the right foot. God can soothe, comfort, and embrace us with His never-ending love and desires to draw near to us. When we give our day to Him we are calmer, more organized and in control of being the kind of person He wants us to be. One of my favorite verses to start my day is Psalm 143:8: “Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean, and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You."  If we focus on being thankful in all things, and enjoy all He created throughout our day, we can embrace an attitude that will bring honor to Him. I know that if I do what God tells me to do, He will bless me with joy, peace, rest, and wonderful relationships.

“I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places-firm muscles, strong bones. You’ll be like a well watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.” (Isaiah 58:11)

I feel so humbled to have God on my side helping me handle whatever comes my way. I have found that my days start off so much better when I give my day to God. Life would be so much better if we didn’t feel we had to be in control of everything all of the time! What a relief knowing that God has a divine plan set up for our lives, and that He will guide us every step of the way. Even in the midst of our despair, He is always by our side, encouraging us and giving us strength as long as we communicate to Him through worship and prayer. He leads us to where we are supposed to be, and He is going to be with us every step of the way. As we look ahead and wonder about the future, we have hope in all things, because we know this single truth: God Himself planned it long ago. God has a rich and wonderful plan for us, and He will bring His plan to a perfect completion; I’m pretty excited to see what His plans are! 

“Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:23)

Linking up with Joan to Share His Beauty! 

Never Say Never

“Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23)

I recently read this quote…

“Never say…

God I have a big problem!

But instead say…

Hey Problem, I have a big God!”

What “nevers” do you need to hand over to God?

“What is impossible for people is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

We need to be careful when using the word “never” with God because it limits His ability to work in our lives, and I have learned that I must never let the words “I can never do that”, or “I will never be able to handle this problem” come out of my mouth. We should never say never when it comes to what God can do! God’s power is displayed in our weaknesses and that should give us courage and hope; when we allow God to fill us with His power, then we are stronger than we could ever be on our own….

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians4:13)

When we say “I can’t do it”, God says “You can do all things!” Strength comes to those of us who desires to follow God’s path, and we must forsake the things that block His presence no matter what the circumstances or obstacles are that stand in our way.  Sometimes we just want to throw up our hands and say, “What’s the use; I can’t beat this thing; it’s too big for me to handle.” But we can’t roll over and quit because as God’s people we have the spiritual assurance to live free of fear; there is no “Never” that God can’t break through!

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

Is there something new on our paths that we feel led to pursue? What’s stopping us? If we want to be more active and engaged in our lives, then we need to find the courage, faith, and trust to pursue our hopes and ambitions. When we really explore and face our excuses and fears we may realize that they aren’t real; they are just a by-product of worry and not believing in ourselves. God’s promises are very clear; His purpose is to strengthen us no matter what the situation may look like. Drawing near to Him insures us that His strength will dwell in us because His presence will be with us, and we have to have courage and faith when we draw near knowing that it is His will to make us stronger and to clear a path for us. Let’s quit saying “Never Lord”, but instead cling in faith to the promises that come from Who we put our trust in!

 “Never say never, for if you live long enough, chances are you will not be able to abide by its restrictions.  Never is a long, undependable time, and life is too full of rich possibilities to have restrictions placed upon it.” (Gloria Swanson)

Linking up with Joan to “Share His Beauty”