When You Look, What Do You See?

 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

 

As you know by now, I love thinking and pondering.  And as a result of this, there are times when my mind and I have an internal debate.  Yes, I talk to myself and answer myself.  And one think my mind and I agree on is the fact that we can seldom take anything at face value, because there's always more than simple 'yes' or 'no.'

 

We, my mind and I, agreed that if I didn't like something or didn't agree with something, I had the option to change the matter, change my perception of the matter, change my perspective about the matter, or leave the room.  

 

You see, there are things I cannot change. I cannot change the way I look (handsome though I may be) on my own.  I can have surgery to alter my appearance, but I cannot simply decide that I no longer wish to be taller, nor can I change the fact that I am older than many others, for a couple of examples.  

 

That being said, I CAN change how I react to others; how I think about others; how I choose to interact with others.  I can decide to be kind to others. I can decide to be helpful to others. I can decide to be encouraging. 

 

My Grampa, who was full of wisdom, told me that "Every coin has three sides."  I thought he had lost his marbles because I could only see 'Heads' and 'Tails', that is until he turned the coin so I would see the edge.  THEN it hit me! Everything is not cut and dry!  Not every situation is us versus them.  Change our perception! Change our perspective! 

 

See others as God sees us...  

 

 

Think But Not Overthink!

I have a problem.  I'm not sure if it is part of being an Introvert or just my own struggle.  You see, I have this tendency of overthinking.  Now, one of my favorite past times is to contemplate, meditate and think.  I find it refreshing.  However, there are times when I can think during the day and my mind is at peace, yet when I close my eyes to sleep the little whispers sneak out and I begin overthinking the weirdest things.  My mind fixates on the way said something to me, their vocal intonations, their timbre, their expression, their body language, then there comes the evaluating every possible meaning of what was said.  Because of this, sleep become elusive, anxiety grabs hold and I end up exhausted when the alarm sounds in the morning.

Yeah, I know...."You've got quite the problem, Padre."  Really?  Am I the only one who overthinks things?  I'm willing to bet not.  Where do we let out minds dwell?  

God gave us a mind to think.  One of the wonderful things about our minds is the fact we can focus our thoughts, yet that can also be one of the most dangerous things about our minds as well.  Where do you focus your mind?  Or, perhaps, you just let it wander aimlessly about peeking around corners, poking into the closets and corners, peering through the windows of your brain.  

When Paul tells us to "SET YOUR MINDS" he is tell us to focus our thoughts on God!  Focusing takes conscious effort and can be exhausting, but where our minds go so too do we.  Your mind wanders to hatred...you will be a very angry person.  Your mind wanders to lust...you will devalue others.  Where you mind goes, there you will be!

Thankful Thinking

If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

One of the greatest gifts we can give someone is ourselves.  And truly thankful people appreciate those who give that gift.  Whether as a friend, a confident, a best friend, a love, be thankful for those who share themselves with you.  Remind them that they are important to you and that you do thank God for bringing them into your life.

If we practice thankfulness to God, then we will have fellowship with each other.  Fellowship...we will become part of one another.  We will rub off on each other (don't roll your eyes).  We will share our gratitude with each other.

Here's how it starts: "If you are reading this, I am thankful to God for you.  Thank you!"  See? That didn't hurt at all.  :)

#dailythankfulchallenge

Think? Why?

Guard your mind above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23

 

I know you've heard them and seen them, those obnoxious and LOUD commercials demanding that you call RIGHT NOW!  Don't wait! Operators are standing by!

 

These commercials are geared to get you to act without thinking.  And sadly, we fall for this tactic more times than we would like to admit.  Why?  Because if we truly stop and consider and ponder and discern if we truly NEED the product or service, chances are we would find that we don't REALLY need it.  But we would rather just shift our brains into neutral because thinking takes effort.

 

Let me ask you something, if God had not intended for us to think and learn, why did He bother to give us a mind capable of thinking and learning?  Yes, it's EASIER to just DO without thinking (watch the traffic on any given work day and you'll see this is true).

 

THINK!  Ponder! Meditate! Contemplate! Be aware of what the Scriptures say!

 

"Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant." - Galatians 6:7.  If you sow ignorance, guess what you'll reap?  If you sow intelligence, guess what you'll reap?

Can You Understand Me Now?

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
    I will put them into practice with all my heart.

Psalm 119:34

Here is yet another confession:  I don't always understand what I read in the Bible.  That's right, sometimes I will read something and sit there through two, maybe three, cups of coffee pondering what I read and end up with a headache.  

I told a friend about my dilemma and he smiled and simply said, "You're overthinking it.  First, Ask God to show you what He wants you to understand from the passage.  Second, brace yourself because what He reveals to you may be so very simple that it blows your socks off."  I was stunned!  Then he went on to tell me that we tend to make the Scriptures much more complicated than they truly are. 

Here's a little tidbit that may just put me out of a job, but thought you should know anyway.  Early in the church, the priests and monks came from wealthy families and were usually very well educated.  Most of the people could not read much and very few could read the Latin, Greek and Aramaic which the Scriptures were written.  Now, the average household has at least 4 Bibles (might be in the attic, on the coffee table, under that wobbly table leg).  But if we follow the simple counsel of asking God to make the Scriptures make sense to us, ask what He wants us to take from the passage, you'll be astounded how clear the messages will be.

One other thing....I grew up reading the King James Bible.  No offense to this translation, but I don't know too many who regularly speak to their friends that way.  Pick a translation or more that is easier for you to understand.  That just a start.  

Words, Words, Words!

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.

Ephesians 4:29

Imagine if our words actually had weight and substance and force and sharp edges.  Would we be more careful before we threw our opinions or blame or gossip to others?  

We must be wise when choosing our words.  Our words DO carry weight!  The do leave scars!  They can destroy a person's self-perception.  They can obliterate a person's reputation, family, and career.  

Did you know that just the opposite is true too?  Our words do carry weight.  When we encourage someone, their performance usually improves.  Our words can enhance someone's reputation, help heal a family, and boost their career as well.

Our words......be careful which you launch and to whom and about whom.  Before you speak, would you want the same said of you? 

Learn

My troubles turned out all for the best—
    they forced me to learn from your textbook.
Truth from your mouth means more to me
    than striking it rich in a gold mine.

Psalm 119:71-72 

 

 

Today, I have spent 54 years on this Earth, every single one of those years have been filled with errors, mistakes, rebelliousness, and bad decisions.  I have managed to mess up my life in so many ways and so many times, that I am surprised to wake up this morning.

 

However, one of the things I can also say about all this time is that I have learned (hopefully) from many of the mistakes in life.  I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I can tell you that I am grateful for second chances.  

 

Did you know:

     *   David had been fired from every job he held.  Finally, while working at a gas station, he was frying some chicken in the back for lunch, and a customer liked what he smelled so much that he wanted to buy David's lunch.  The story of David's cooking got around and before long, the gas station opened a lunch counter for David's fried chicken.  You know him as Colonel Harland David Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

 

     *   Tommy didn't do so well in school.  In fact, he had trouble paying attention to the lessons.  His own teachers told his mother that Tommy was "too stupid to learn."  But Tommy was a tinkerer and eventually invented the incandescent light bulb.  We know him as Thomas Alva Edison.

 

     *   Theodor wrote books that told stories for children using nonsensical rhyming and rather odd drawings.  27 editors rejected his first book.  However, I am willing to wager that every adult reading this today has read "The Cat In The Hat" by Theodor Seuss Giesel, known to us as "Dr. Seuss."

 

Let me ask you, how many times did it take you to learn to leave the hot stove alone?  Probably just once, and God allowed you a second chance.  

 

We get in trouble when just refuse to learn from our mistakes.  We all know someone who makes bad choices and decisions and yet never seem to learn.  God has told us that He allows some things to happen to us for the purpose of teaching us.  Don't forget to put on your thinking caps today. 

Paradise

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:43 

 

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, he told one of the criminals that "Today you will be with Me in paradise."  Have you ever wondered what Paradise would be like?

 

I can't prove it, because I haven't been there, but I personally believe Paradise is going to be spectacular!  Individually Spectacular!  God made each of us as individuals, and each of us have different tastes, different likes, different ideas of 'wonderful'.  How boring would it be for someone who loves the beach if they were welcomed to a paradise that was made for someone who loves the Southwest?

 

Jesus reminds us that in His Father's house are many mansions.  He never said they were all going to be the same.  What you might find to be a mansion might be obnoxious and gaudy. 

 

Do you truly think that the same God who created us so uniquely would put us all in something cookie cutter?  I firmly believe Paradise will be individual where we will be ever inspired to praise God and be grateful to Him! 

 

But that's just me. 

Are You A Peacemaker?

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9

I have seen this used by Law Enforcement as one of their motto verses.  And it is true that one of the duties of Law Enforcement Officers is to make, and keep, the peace.  But guess what?  Jesus didn't say "Blessed are only the Police for they shall be called children of God."

Guess who is eligible to be a Peacemaker?  YOU!  That's right, YOU are eligible to be a peacemaker!  Just as YOU are eligible to be called a Child of God.  

Peace Makers are just that...makers of peace!  They aren't riotous! They aren't destroyers!  They don't demand their own way!  Peace Makers realize that, while each of us is different, we can all still work together and get along.  

I've watched some of the demonstrations across the country on the news.  Some are very peaceful, but some are, for lack of a better way to say it, a riot looking for a chance to explode. And when these demonstrations explode into rioting, what does that accomplish? Businesses pull out of those areas, thus jobs are lost; property is damaged or destroyed thus insurance rates go up and the cost of living also rises.

I remember watching movie about Gandhi.  He helped bring about MASSIVE change to India without riots, destruction, and violence.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. helped bring about MASSIVE change to the United States with his dream of people being united and living in peace.

Somewhere along the way, we seem to have lost that desire for peace.

Thankful Thinking

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

 

This week started off with the news that a dear friend from High School had died.  This started my mind to whirring and sparking with memories of the interactions we had shared over the years.  It's news like this that make me feel old.  Yes, to some the age of 53 is a "ripe (take that term as you will) old age" and to most of us who are in that range 53 is just a new start.  After all, a car with 53,000 miles on it is just getting broken in.  

 

The more I thought, the more I remembered something about my friend....she was always grateful for everything.  Even when she got cancer, I remember her telling me that "God's going to help someone through my struggle."  From this friend I learned, and know remember that somewhere along the way had lost, the habit of being Thankful!

 

We need to learn to be Thankful.  On Thanksgiving, we may have a passing thought about being thankful for the football game or the food or the fact that Black Friday will happen without my participation or some other irrelevant idea.  

 

But what are you truly thankful for?   

      *    Seeing a new day

      *    The fact that someone remembers you and thinks of you.

      *    The fact that you know someone and think about them.

      *    That I can help someone in need. Even if that means pushing them to do for themselves.

     *     People who have seen us at our absolute worst and still love us without judging us.

     *     Being able to recall the pleasant times in our lives. (Most of us seem to remember the horrible times in our lives with MUCH more clarity).

     *     The peace that prayer brings.

     *     The lessons we learn through our trials.

 

You see, when we develop the virtue of Thankful Thinking, our entire perspective will change.  Thankful Thinking is the realization that life is NOT ABOUT ME!  

 

Let's learn to be thankful for all things. Whether we like them or not, they have a purpose for us.

 

Brains.....They're Actually Useful!

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Ephesians 4:26-27

Remember Paul and Barnabas?  They spent years traveling together taking the Gospel message of Christ to places who had never heard such news before.  Barnabas was the one who actually got Paul and the Disciples in the same place to talk, because Paul, after all, had been Saul and had been going about the countryside terrorizing and punishing Christians.  And after years on the road together, Paul and Barnabas had a rather strong disagreement (Acts 15:39).

Paul was like a snapping turtle in the regard that once he set his mind to something, nothing was going to stop him.  He was, how can I say this politely, STUBBORN and hard-headed.  Which might explain why God chose to blind Saul in order to get his attention and turn him into Paul.

Have you ever been so angry with someone that you couldn't think of anything else?  Couldn't enjoy any activities?  Turned your whole mood to that of a rabid badger in a bad mood without coffee?  So angry that you couldn't sleep which made things worse the next morning because you were still ticked off AND now you're extra irritated because you're tired.  I have.  And there was not enough coffee in the world to make it any better.

Notice that Paul reminds us to not let our anger control us.  Anger, in and of itself, is not wrong.  BUT when we choose to hang on to the anger....that is when we get into trouble.  

Try this: next time you get angry, pick up a rock and squeeze it as hard as you can.  Eventually, you will get tired of squeezing and let it go.  

We can do the same thing with our anger.  Squeeze it....look at it from every perspective.....and then ask yourself, "Is my getting angry REALLY going to resolve this issue?"  You see, anger is a reflexive reaction and is an easier response.  A proactive action would be to see a situation, accept that we don't agree with it, and make a plan to find a peaceful resolution, which makes it unpopular because we have to actually think.

Remember, God gave us brains to actually use for something other than a way to keep our ears apart!  

It Starts With You!

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

 

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

~Ephesians 4:2-6 

As you know, I like to think.  Not just think, but contemplate.  Contemplation is exploratory thinking.  You take a thought and you explore it; you look at it from as many possible perspectives as possible; you turn it over and over in your mind; you touch every crevice and edge; you delve into the every corner.  

Well....I started contemplating Morale. And guess what I discovered?  Morale starts with me!  Good morale is MY decision!  Bad morale is MY decision!  I cannot always control my circumstances, but I can control my responses to my circumstances.  

Look at the words Paul writes to us...."Always be HUMBLE and GENTLE."  Does it say always be ticked off and aggravated because I don't think things are being done the way I want?  Absolutely not!  

"Be PATIENT with each other..."  REALLY?  Do we do that? I'm not always so good at doing that, but I am learning and trying.  Be patient..."making allowances for each other's faults."  Will this one punched me in the forehead!  I am not only am supposed to be patient with others, I am supposed to make allowances for them too!  WOW!  

And just when I am ready to punch the Venerable Apostle in the face, "making every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit."  Well now....if we are to be united in the Spirit [of God] then we are to be completely honest with each other.  If you ask my opinion, I should respect you enough to tell you the truth, even if it's not what you want to hear.  If I tell you only what you want to hear then THAT is proof that I have NO respect for you.  We lie to those we have no respect for.

Paul is reminding us that WE are either uniting or dividing.  We are either part of the same body or we are the cancer within the body.  WE must choose which we will be; honest and truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient or dishonest because it will get us what we think we want.

Bottom line: We CHOOSE to our morale!

 

Focused Thinking Reveals Much

Finally, brothers and sisters, 

whatever is true, 

whatever is worthy of respect, 

whatever is just, 

whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, 

whatever is commendable, 

if something is excellent or praiseworthy, 

think about these things.

~Philippians 4:8

 

Ever lost your train of thought?  Ever been so distracted that you forgot something important?  Ever tried to concentrate but found your mind wandering toward everything BUT what you needed to concentrate on? I have and still do.  Thinking is not as easy as it sounds.

 

Believe it or not, many people choose not to think!  They merely flow through their day following a stream of consciousness that is filled with rocks, rapids, clogs of stuff, and never seeming to stay on a thought for long.  Why is that?  Our society is one of speed and movement.  It is a visual society.  We no longer have time to read anything completely, much less study it, because we might miss the next fad or trend.  And as a result, we are quickly losing the ability to focus our thoughts and we are left to wonder why we are so stressed and exhausted.  

 

I consider myself to be a contemplative because I like to think!  I like to take time to think things through and try to perceive as many sides of a thought as possible.  I may have large ears but I am not Yoda, I'm just someone who likes to think.  I can sit and think for hours on end.  

 

Want to know why you are stressed and anxious? Take a look at what you allow into your mind. 

 

Want to know why you have trouble with relationships? What do you fill your mind with?

 

Want to know why you didn't get the promotion you wanted or thought you deserved?  Think it through and see if, perhaps, your skills are needed where you are.

 

You see, that with which we choose to fill our minds will impact every single aspect of our lives.  People who are hateful think hateful thoughts and allow others to fill their minds with hateful things.  Those who are cheerful fill their minds with positive thoughts and only allow positive thoughts into their minds (and have learned to look at what could be a negative situation and choose to look at it in a positive way).  

 

The philosopher, Rene Descartes, is credited with saying: "Cogito ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). We tend to become what we choose to fill our minds with.  By changing the way we think, we change the way we view the world around us.  And perceptions are very contagious, so make sure yours it one worth catching!