Foucus

This morning at church part of the sermon talk about Philippians 4 specifically the following verse:

Phl 4:8

¶

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.                                                                                                                               This verse challenged me, what is it that I am thinking about daily. My thoughts need to focus on the good, pure, honest, lovely. Not worry, fear, anger or resentment.  How can I be giving praise to God through out my day if my thoughts are focusing on everything bad that is happening. I am not in control of what is happening, my circumstances may not change, but I am in control of what I am thinking, and changing my out look.  The bible it says to   hold my thoughts captive, and by doing so I can change to only be thinking on things that are honest, true, pure, and lovely. As soon as I notice a thought that doesn't fit in to those categories stop it. This week I am going to make a more focused try to do this in my life and see how it can change things.   My challenge to you is what are you thinking about?

Fear

Fear is something everyone has at one point or another in their life. The problem with fear is that it can become a driving force in your life and every decision you make is out of fear. Fear shows a lack of trust, you can fear your husband is going to leave, because you don't trust he would stick with you no matter what happens. When fear becomes a driving force in your life, as a Christian, you are not trusting God.

Absence of fear doesn't mean you think nothing bad will ever happen, it means that you trust that God is sovereign and he will use all things to help grow you and has a different plan than you thought. Everyone goes through tough times, it is all how you choose to deal with them and let them impact your future decisions. Learning to give all things to God is hard, even harder is leaving them there. It is like we take the ball from him and play with it a while, when we have no business playing with it in the first place. He is the only one qualified to take care of the things in our life.

Learn to give to God with an open hand, and let go of fear, for God is not a God of fear.

The Toungue

The  Bible makes mention of our tongue around 160 times. It mentions how powerful it can be in speech, how we need to be careful with it, how it can sooth some one, and even how it is used to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yes the tongue is a very powerful tool that we have been in trusted with, so often we speak with out thinking. We even say things intentionally to get a rise out of those close to us ( just a side note that is a sin in a big way it is causing them in incur anger, which is equal to murder, which is breaking a commandment and we are not supposed to cause our brothers to stumble). The tongue and the gift of speech is something we are entrusted with and we should be good stewards of.


So often our words can be used to strengthen someone else or build them up, just a kind word or compliment can change the day of a co worker or neighbor. Just knowing someone noticed them can change their day around.


Our words either tear someone down or build them up. Think before you make your next comment " what will this do to the person hearing this?" if it is not uplifting or for correction through love as led by the spirit it is better left unsaid. Start using God as you filter and let him do your talking for you and you will see the difference in others around you.