THINKING

“Quality of Life Series”

9/07/06

 

LEADER:  “Irons rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.”

Leonardo da Vinci 1452-1519

Italian High Renaissance Painter,  Inventor, Mathematician, Singer

                                From http://www.quotegarden.com/thinking.html

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #1

http://www.quoteland.com/topic.asp?CATEGORY_ID=144

“The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office."

Robert Frost 1874-1963 American Poet

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #2

http://www.quotegarden.com/thinking.html

 “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”

Winnie the Pooh

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #3

                   http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/Thought4.htm

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason so few engage in it.”

Henry Ford 1863-1947 Founder Ford Motor Co. Father of assembly line

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Watt Counts”  

http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/thinking.htm

Watts of power used by the human brain when it's engaged in deep thought: 14; watts required to operate an IBM personal computer: 90 

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #4

http://www.quotegarden.com/thinking.html

“Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”

John F. Kennedy 1917-1963- 35th US President

HAVE SOMEONE READ:   “Think First”

By Capt. Alan Bean, USN, Apollo Astronaut, in Reader's Digest

 http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/thinking_quick.htm

Test pilots have a litmus test for evaluating problems. When something goes wrong, they ask, "Is this thing still flying?" If the answer is yes, then there's no immediate danger, no need to overreact. When Apollo 12 took off, the spacecraft was hit by lightning. The entire console began to glow with orange and red trouble lights. There was a temptation to "Do Something!" But the pilots asked themselves, "Is this thing still flying in the right direction?" The answer was yes--it was headed for the moon. They let the lights glow as they addressed the individual problems, and watched orange and red lights blink out, one by one. That's something to think about in any pressure situation. If your thing is still flying, think first, and then act.  

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #5

http://www.giga-usa.com/quotes/topics/thinking_t001.htm

“Small is the number of people who see with their eyes and think with their minds.”
Albert Einstein 1879 – 1955 German physicist

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #6

http://www.quoteland.com/topic.asp?CATEGORY_ID=144

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."

Plutarch  45-125 A.D. Celebrity writer in the Roman empire

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #7

                   http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/Thought4.htm

“Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.”

Henri Bergson 1859-1941

One of the most famous and influential 19th/20th Century French philosophers

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #8

http://www.woopidoo.com/business_quotes/thinking-quotes.htm

“I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.”
 Donald Trump1946 - Tycoon

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE # 9

http://en.proverbia.net/citastema.asp?from=1&ntema=Thoughts&tematica=1217

“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.”

Benjamin Disraeli 1804-1881 British politician and author

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #10

http://www.quotegarden.com/thinking.html

“The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

Albert Einstein 1879 – 1955 German physicist

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #11

http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Thinking/1/index.html

“A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and an invisible labor.”
Victor Hugo 1802-1885 French Poet/Novelist

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #12

http://www.giga-usa.com/quotes/topics/thinking_t001.htm

“The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.”
Thomas Alva Edison 1847-1931 Inventor/Genius

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #13

http://www.giga-usa.com/quotes/topics/thinking_t001.htm

“No man thinks clearly when his fists are clenched.”
George Jean Nathan 1882 – 1958  Drama critic/Editor

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #14

http://en.proverbia.net/citastema.asp?from=1&ntema=Thoughts&tematica=1217

“When I'm getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds thinking about him and what he is going to say.”

Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865 – 16th US President

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #15

http://www.giga-usa.com/quotes/topics/thinking_t001.htm

“We must think anew--and act anew.”

Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865 – 16th US President

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #16

http://www.quoteland.com/topic.asp?CATEGORY_ID=144

"The empires of the future are the empires of the mind."

 

 

 

Sir Winston Churchill 1874-1965 British Statesman/Prime Minister

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #17

                   http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/Thought4.htm

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”

Anne Frank 1929-1945 Author Holocaust victim

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

 2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

LEADER:   “How to Reconfigure Our Irrational Assumptions with Scriptural Thinking” By Paul Fritz  EXCERPT

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=49287&ContributorID=6170
Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the USA’s Federal Reserve Bank said of Americans in 1997, "I am afraid that too many have given in to the thinking of irrational exuberance."
Too many times we allow ourselves to be overly elated or discouraged because of irrational assumptions. Faulty thinking tends to lead to negative reactions about our problems, relationships or circumstances.
The following is a list of ten irrational assumptions drawn up by a famous counselor named Dr. Robert Ellis. These ten irrational views often lead to destructive feelings and behavior. He writes, "People are responsible for getting or remaining hurt if they keep thinking irrationally in the following ten areas." Only when we learn to replace, reconfigure and be renewed with scripturally based Spirit led thinking are we able to overcome any irrational assumption.
Let us ask the Lord to give us the wisdom to know how to reprogram our thinking so we can not only be renewed, by transformed into pro-actively looking at every situation with the mind of Christ Jesus.
Reconsider replacing the following faulty assumptions with scripturally based Spirit filled perspectives, assumptions and reactions to your problems.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Ten Irrational Assumptions” CALL OUT #s

                   From:  “How to Reconfigure Our Irrational Assumptions with Scriptural Thinking”

By Paul Fritz  EXCERPT

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=49287&ContributorID=6170

1.     "I must be loved and accepted by those who are most important to me and live up to their expectations." Too many people falsely assume that their well being is based on upon being loved and accepted by people.

2.     "I must be perfectly competent and successful in achieving before I can be happy with myself." Paul wrote, "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from god. He made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians. 3:4-6)

3.     "It is easier to avoid certain difficulties and responsibilities rather than face them; if I ignore them, they may go away." Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)  Most people are willing to pay a price for something they value. If we really prize being a follower of Jesus Christ we will be willing to deny ourselves of our rights, shoulder the cross of responsibilities that Christ gives and follow Him wherever He leads.

4.     "Certain people are bad and deserve blame or punishment for their sins." Jesus said, ’Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:24) Jesus prayed for people who are yet to know God in a personal way. He interceded for people who need to grow up in all spiritual, emotional and mental dimensions instead of condemning them. We should follow the fine example of our Lord Jesus by praying for people instead of writing them off.

5.     "I must be prepared for the worst by constantly dwelling on what may be bad, dangerous or feared." Instead we should program our thinking according to I John 4:18 where John writes, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts our fear...We love because He first loved us." Our thoughts should be filled with what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, admirable and praise-worthy. Stop filling your mind with a scenario of the worst possible situations and concentrate on letting love overcome all fears, disappointments and troubles.

6.     "I have been shaped by the past and it is too late to change." Paul wrote, "If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." Thank God that you do not have to be a prisoner to the past. Let the past be passed away. Paul wrote, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

7.     "It is terrible when things to not go the way I have planned." Jesus said, "Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me; yet not what I will but let your will be done." (Mark 14:36) God has the capacity to make all things work together for good as long as we love Him and fit in to His plans. (Romans 8:28-29)

8.     "I have no control over my own happiness; what happens to me determines my happiness." Paul wrote, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed by not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:7-9) Overcomers have a way of overcoming their difficulties through the empowering of the Spirit and the word of God.

9.     "I must find the quick and perfect solution to my problem." Paul wrote, "Let gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:5-7) Allow the Lord to work out His greater will in and through your life according to His schedule not your own. Joseph allowed God to carry out His greater will through his life as it took nearly twenty years before His purposes became evident.

10. "It is easier to keep doing things the way I am doing them without taking on new commitments." Paul wrote, "Love is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, it rejoices with the truth... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (I Corinthians 13:5-7) God always wants us to keep growing, progressing and giving love in ever increasing measure. Allow the word of God to produce in you a greater love for the Lord, for yourself and for your those around you. Do not be afraid to risk loving more.

LEADER:  Dare we let God know what we are thinking?

From:  “Thoughts on Thinking”  By Colin Coombs

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=89340&ContributorID=13371

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Psalm 139:23

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: Psalm 94:11

The LORD knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: Psalm 139:2

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

HAVE SOMEONE READ: Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Proverbs 15:26
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Ecclesiastes 10:20

Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

LEADER:  The Lord knows our thoughts:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Matthew 9:4

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Matthew 12:25

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Luke 9:47

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and made him stand beside him.

LEADER:  We can control our thinking…we can shut God out:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Psalm 10:4

In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Psalm 55:2

hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

LEADER:  We can bring God in:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Psalm 92:5

How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Psalm 139:17

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

LEADER:  We can focus our thinking:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

LEADER:  The Word of God will reveal our thoughts:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

LEADER:  Thought control involves a spiritual battle:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  II Corinthians 10:5

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

LEADER:  Our choice of thinking reveals who we are:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Proverbs 23:7a

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he

LEADER:  We can choose our thoughts:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Philippians 4:4-8

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” #1

Rick Duncan         EXCERPT

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=82522&ContributorID=8439

Some of you walked in here this morning carrying a heavy load. Some of you are up against the wall in your business. Some of you are in the middle of family conflict that seems almost impossible to resolve. Others are battling personal illness. Still others face problems that I can’t even begin to imagine. And there’s not much light at the end of the tunnel.
About the only thing you can do is to pray, trust God, and have a positive, faith-filled attitude. You are where you are and what you are largely because of the dominating attitudes that occupy your mind. If you allow your negative situation to control your attitude, you might as well turn out the lights because the party’s over. You’re going nowhere - in your relationships, in your career, physically, emotionally and spiritually - with a negative attitude.
There are two key questions to ask in predicting a person’s future. "Can he?" ... which is an issue of ability and "will he?" ... which is an issue of attitude. Attitude is the major difference between success and failure. Our attitude determines our altitude.
Some of us are struggling with an attitude of worthlessness. “I stink.”
Others of us are struggling with an attitude of loveless-ness. “You stink.”
Some of us are struggling with an attitude of bitterness. “Life stinks.”
When a person is really thinking about something, we sometimes say that we can see the gears turning. The gears are always turning. Our minds are always working. In fact, we think so much faster than we can speak. So, the gears are turning. But too often they are turning in the wrong direction. When our attitude in life is negative, the gears are grinding the wrong way. When the gears in our minds are turning in the wrong way, we call it stinkin’ thinkin’.
Defining stinkin’ thinkin’
Worthlessness “I stink” No peace with myself
Loveless-ness “You stink” No peace with others
Bitterness “Life stinks” No peace with God
When we think this way, we are robbed of our peace! We are not at peace with ourselves when we think, “I stink!” We are not at peace with others when we think, “You stink!” We are not at peace with God when we think, “Life stinks!”

LEADER:  God has the antidote!   

“Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” Rick Duncan/Excerpts  CONTINUED

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=82522&ContributorID=8439

Philippians 4:8….whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

LEADER:  Whatever is true:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  John 17:17

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

LEADER:  Whatever is right:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Psalm 139:14  (KING JAMES PLS)

will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

LEADER:  Whatever is lovely:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Lovely”

Lovely means “winsome,” “pleasing,” “attractive,” “amiable.” It’s describing something sweet or gracious or generous or patient. We are to think thoughts about others that serve to cultivate and increase love, friendship, and goodwill among family members and friends.
“Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” Rick Duncan/Excerpts  CONTINUED

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=82522&ContributorID=8439

LEADER:  Whatever is pure:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Pure”

Our verse says, "Whatever is pure… think on these things.” It speaks of the morally clean, undefiled. Whatever is morally pure and morally clean, I will think on that, not the other junk.
I’m going to stop the gears from turning the wrong way. I’m going to start the gears turning the right way. I choose to do biblically correct thinking about my family and friends.
“Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” Rick Duncan/Excerpts  CONTINUED

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=82522&ContributorID=8439

LEADER:  Whatever is honorable:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Honorable”

That means worthy of respect. Whatever is noble, whatever is dignified, whatever is reverent, whatever is lofty, not trashy, mundane, common. The word really comes from a term meaning to worship. Whatever is worthy of awe, whatever is held in high regard, whatever is greatly respected, whatever is worthy of adoration, that’s what I think about.
“Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” Rick Duncan/Excerpts  CONTINUED

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=82522&ContributorID=8439

LEADER:  If there is anything worthy of praise:

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  Psalm 105:2

Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvelous works.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” #2

Rick Duncan         EXCERPT  CONTINUED

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=82522&ContributorID=8439

The Bible says that the weapon we must use when there is spiritual conflict is our mind. II Corinthians tells us that we are to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Proverbs tells us, "As a man thinks within himself, so he is." Romans 12:2 reminds us that we are to renew our minds. When I have a problem in my spiritual life, I can inevitably trace it to an undisciplined mind. When garbage comes out, it’s because garbage has gone in. Garbage in and, garbage out is not only true for computer programmers. It’s also true for Christian people.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Bubbles”

                                “Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” Rick Duncan  EXCERPT  CONTINUED

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=82522&ContributorID=8439

She has every reason to be bitter.
Though talented, she went unrecognized for years. Prestigious opera circles closed their ranks when she tried to enter. American critics ignored her compelling voice. She was repeatedly rejected for parts for which she easily qualified. It was only after she went to Europe and won the hearts of tough-to-please European audiences that stateside opinion leaders acknowledged her talent.
Not only has her professional life been a battle, her personal life has been marked by challenge. She’s the mother of two handicapped children, on of whom is severely retarded. Years ago, in order to escape the hectic pace of life in New York City, she purchased a home on Martha’s Vineyard. It burned to the ground two days before she was to move in.
Professional rejection, personal setbacks - perfect soil for the seeds of bitterness and negativity.
But her friends don’t call her bitter; they call her "Bubbles." Her real name is Beverly Sills, internationally acclaimed opera singer, retired director of the New York City Opera, a person who Mike Wallace, of CBS’ 60 Minutes, called "one of the most impressive - if not the most impressive - women I’ve interviewed."
How can a person handle such professional rejection and personal trauma and still be known as Bubbles? "I choose to be cheerful," she says. "Years ago, I knew I had little or no choice about success or circumstances ... But I knew I could choose to be cheerful."

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Chuck Swindoll”

                                “Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” Rick Duncan  EXCERPT  CONTINUED

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=82522&ContributorID=8439

Chuck Swindoll writes, "The remarkable thing about human beings is that we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is to play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude."

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Think About It”  Our Daily Bread 3/20/03

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-03-20-03.shtml

If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. —Philippians 4:8

According to one little boy, "Thinking is when your mouth stays shut and your head keeps talking to itself."

The way our head talks to itself tells a lot about how we are doing morally and spiritually. To guard our mind and to keep out the influences that will hinder our walk with God is to use our mind in the way He desires.

The Bible gives us clear guidelines—spelling out the kinds of things we should think about. For example, Psalm 1:2 and Psalm 119:97 tell us to meditate on God's Word day and night. That should be our first priority in the thinking department.

But we have a life to live, and we can't spend all of our waking moments meditating on Scripture. Yet even when we are thinking about the mundane aspects of life, we need guidance. Paul told us that we should think about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). In our daily activities, those words should govern what is on our mind.

When our head "talks to itself," it needs to say, "Keep the impure and ungodly thoughts out of here!" When we're thinking that way, we'll know what to do, how to behave, where to go, and what to say. —Dave Branon

Let us think about what's good—
What's right and pure and true;
May God's Word control our thoughts
In everything we do. —Fitzhugh

Right thinking leads to right living.

LEADER:  “How To Renew Your Thinking”  By Paul Fritz EXCERPT

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=57122&ContributorID=6170

Paul urged the early Christians to replace their old sinful natural responses to difficulties with new attitudes. The great apostle wrote, "Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be made new in the attitude of your minds and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph. 4:22-24) The following are some guidelines to help us learn to replace negative thinkin with Christlike positive thinking.
By knowing, believing and practicing these attitudes you will demonstrate that you are more than a conqueror through the One who loves you.

 LEADER:  (CALL OUT LETTERS)


A.   Replace evil with good. Paul wrote, "Do not be overcome with evil, but

overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
People who are able to utilize the power of the word of God and the Holy Spirit that indwells them in all of their relationships, thinking and activities will form the basis for healthy living.

B.     Replace worry with faith. Paul wrote, "Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-8)  Do not get upset when things do not go your way realizing that He can use disappointments to develop in us greater godliness.

C.     Replace despair with hope. David wrote, "The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love." (Psalm 33:17-18) Hope in God instead of yourself, your friends or your circumstances.

D.     Replace sorrow with joy. Paul wrote, "I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, poor, yet making many rich, having nothing and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:9-10) Take an inventory of all the great things you have in Christ Jesus.

E.      Replace anger with love. Jonah wrote, "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love."  “Love is patient and kind, not jealous or envious or boastful or proud or haughty or selfish or rude. It does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It does not easily become angry. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” I Corinthians 13:4-8 Christ’s love for you enables you to love others instead of allowing anger to get the better of your attitudes.

F.      Replace suspicion with trust. Solomon wrote, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insights. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) It is amazing what God can do with people who are loving and trusting. Love and trust breeds an environment of multiplication of His kingdom and righteousness. People who know they are loved and trustworthy can accomplish anything with the help of Christ who gives them the strength and power.

G.     Replace cynicism with belief. We live in a very cynical and skeptical world. Abraham did too but it was written of him. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith and gave glory to God. Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." (Rom. 4:20-21)Let faith give you the victory that overcomes the world.

H.     Replace gloom with cheerfulness. Paul wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 Happiness is a choice that requires determination to be happy amidst sad situations. “Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing. Power and majesty praise to the king. The joy of the Lord is our ever fountain of strength. Nehemiah 8:10

I.        Anxiety with Security. Job said, "For I dreaded destruction from God and for fear of His splendor I could not do such things. If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ’You are are my security." (Job 31:23-24) My God shall supply all you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

J.       Distress with confidence. "I praise you Lord for giving me your sense of certainty. For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." (Psalm 71:5) Be confident in His mighty power, plan and sovereign will for your life. He works in ways you cannot see. He will make a way for you amidst the foggy times and feelings.

K.    Jealous with contentment. "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." (Philippians 4:12-13)

L.      Resignation with Determination. "Be strong and courageous and act. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. He will not fail you or forsake you until all of the work of the house of God is finished." (Joshua 1:9)

M.   Defamation with Inspiration. "Whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.’ (Philippians 4:8) When people try to put you down overpower them with the inspiration you receive from God’s word and Spirit.

N.    Attacks with prayer. "Casting all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around you like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (I Peter 5:7-8) Appropriate the fact that the prayers of a righteous person avails much. James 5:16. You have not because you ask not. James 4:1-4.

O.    Confusion with wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. (James 1:5) God longs to give us insights, knowledge and supernatural wisdom if we will call on Him in our times of need.

P.      Extremism with balance. "and Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52) “Learn to speak the truth in love so you can grow up in all aspects of maturity in Christ." Ephesians 4:15

Q.    Fleshly attitudes with Spirit led thoughts. "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6-8 . Make a choice to be led by the Spirit or you will succumb to your own self-destructive desires and impulses.

R.     Indiscipline with Discipline. “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. For godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (I Timothy 4:7-8) With godliness comes all kinds of blessings but indiscipline leads to captivity to our sinful desires.

S.      Impulsiveness with Carefulness – “Flee evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord our of pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels." (2 Timothy 2:22-23)
Be objective in your thinking instead of allowing subjective feelings to determine your course of actions and attitudes.

T.      Error with truth. Jesus said, "You err because you do not know the scripture or the power of God." Mark 12:24 Learn how to know, obey and love the truth found in the scripture. Only then are we set free from negative attitudes and actions.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Prayerful Thinking”  Our Daily Bread  3/18/06

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-03-18-06.shtml   EXCERPT

What is man that You are mindful of him? —Psalm 8:4

Augustine was one of the most brilliant Christian thinkers of all time. Interestingly, he did some of his most effective and intimate praying while engaged in deep thought. He was what might be called a “prayerful thinker.” Often Augustine began a line of reasoning, then concluded it with a prayer. Here is a sample from Confessions, one of his works on theology:

“Too late came I to love You, O Beauty both ancient and ever new; too late came I to love You. . . . You called to me; yes, You even broke open my deafness. Your beams shined unto me and cast away my blindness.”

These are not the dry musings of some pseudo-theologian or armchair philosopher. They are the thoughts of someone with a passionate prayer life.

Prayerful thinking is not unique to Augustine. David pondered the beauty of creation and felt compelled to worship his Creator: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?” Psalm 8:3-4.

As we walk life’s journey, our deep thoughts and feelings and our praying can be interwoven. Seeing the beauty of nature, or even solving a problem, can be opportunities for prayerful thinking. —Dennis Fisher

with glory and honor”? (Psalm 8:5). What does that
mean for me today at work and at home?

Prayerful thinking leads to purposeful thanking.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  “Advice”

From:  Nine Errors to Avoid in Our Thinking” By Paul Fritz

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 22.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=50505&ContributorID=6170

Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, "The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master".
Here is some advice learned from the life lessons we experience.
No one can ruin your day without your permission.
Most people will be about as happy as they choose to be.
You will never have it all together.
Biggest lie the world has told us - "when I get what I want, I will be happy"
Ultimately, takers lose and givers win.
Look for opportunities - not guarantees.
Now is the most interesting time of your life.
Success depends on getting up one more time.
Life’s precious moments don’t have much value unless they are shared. So share them.

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #18

http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Thinking/1/index.html

“One must live the way one thinks or end up thinking the way one has lived.”
Paul Bourget 1852-1935 French novelist

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #19

http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=57122&ContributorID=6170

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.”
Viktor Frankl, concentration camp survivor

HAVE SOMEONE READ:  QUOTE #20

http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=1561

·         Watch your thoughts; they become words.

·         Watch your words; they become actions.

·         Watch your actions; they become habits.

·         Watch your habits; they become character.

·         Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Frank Outlaw

LEADER:  Let the mind of the Master be the master of your mind.

http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/thinking.htm

 

 

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QUOTE #1

 “The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office."

Robert Frost 1874-1963 American Poet

 

QUOTE #2

“Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?”

Winnie the Pooh

 

QUOTE #3

 “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason so few engage in it.”

Henry Ford 1863-1947 Founder Ford Motor Co. Father of assembly line

 

“Watt Counts”  

Watts of power used by the human brain when it's engaged in deep thought: 14; watts required to operate an IBM personal computer: 90 

 

QUOTE #4

 “Too often we... enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”

John F. Kennedy 1917-1963- 35th US President

 

“Think First”  By Capt. Alan Bean, USN, Apollo Astronaut, in Reader's Digest

Test pilots have a litmus test for evaluating problems. When something goes wrong, they ask, "Is this thing still flying?" If the answer is yes, then there's no immediate danger, no need to overreact. When Apollo 12 took off, the spacecraft was hit by lightning. The entire console began to glow with orange and red trouble lights. There was a temptation to "Do Something!" But the pilots asked themselves, "Is this thing still flying in the right direction?" The answer was yes--it was headed for the moon. They let the lights glow as they addressed the individual problems, and watched orange and red lights blink out, one by one. That's something to think about in any pressure situation. If your thing is still flying, think first, and then act.  

 

QUOTE #5

 “Small is the number of people who see with their eyes and think with their minds.”
Albert Einstein 1879 – 1955 German physicist

 

QUOTE #6

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."

Plutarch  45-125 A.D. Celebrity writer in the Roman empire

 

 

QUOTE #7

 “Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.”

Henri Bergson 1859-1941

One of the most famous and influential 19th/20th Century French philosophers

 

QUOTE #8

 “I like thinking big. If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.” Donald Trump1946 - Tycoon

 

QUOTE # 9

 “Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.”   Benjamin Disraeli 1804-1881 British politician and author

 

QUOTE #10

 “The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”   Albert Einstein 1879 – 1955 German physicist

 

QUOTE #11

 “A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and an invisible labor.”  Victor Hugo 1802-1885 French Poet/Novelist

 

QUOTE #12

 “The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.”
Thomas Alva Edison 1847-1931 Inventor/Genius

 

QUOTE #13

 “No man thinks clearly when his fists are clenched.”
George Jean Nathan 1882 – 1958  Drama critic/Editor

 

QUOTE #14

 “When I'm getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds thinking about him and what he is going to say.”

Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865 – 16th US President

 

QUOTE #15

 “We must think anew--and act anew.”

Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865 – 16th US President

 

QUOTE #16

"The empires of the future are the empires of the mind."

 

 

 

Sir Winston Churchill 1874-1965 British Statesman/Prime Minister

 

QUOTE #17

 “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”

Anne Frank 1929-1945 Author Holocaust victim

 

Romans 12:1-2

 

1.      "I must be loved and accepted by those who are most important to me and live up to their expectations." Too many people falsely assume that their well being is based on upon being loved and accepted by people.

2.      "I must be perfectly competent and successful in achieving before I can be happy with myself." Paul wrote, "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from god. He made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians. 3:4-6)

3.      "It is easier to avoid certain difficulties and responsibilities rather than face them; if I ignore them, they may go away." Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)  Most people are willing to pay a price for something they value. If we really prize being a follower of Jesus Christ we will be willing to deny ourselves of our rights, shoulder the cross of responsibilities that Christ gives and follow Him wherever He leads.

4.      "Certain people are bad and deserve blame or punishment for their sins." Jesus said, ’Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:24) Jesus prayed for people who are yet to know God in a personal way. He interceded for people who need to grow up in all spiritual, emotional and mental dimensions instead of condemning them. We should follow the fine example of our Lord Jesus by praying for people instead of writing them off.

5.      "I must be prepared for the worst by constantly dwelling on what may be bad, dangerous or feared." Instead we should program our thinking according to I John 4:18 where John writes, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts our fear...We love because He first loved us." Our thoughts should be filled with what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, excellent, admirable and praise-worthy. Stop filling your mind with a scenario of the worst possible situations and concentrate on letting love overcome all fears, disappointments and troubles.

6.      "I have been shaped by the past and it is too late to change." Paul wrote, "If any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come." Thank God that you do not have to be a prisoner to the past. Let the past be passed away. Paul wrote, "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

7.      "It is terrible when things to not go the way I have planned." Jesus said, "Father, if it is possible, take this cup from me; yet not what I will but let your will be done." (Mark 14:36) God has the capacity to make all things work together for good as long as we love Him and fit in to His plans. (Romans 8:28-29)

8.      "I have no control over my own happiness; what happens to me determines my happiness." Paul wrote, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed by not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:7-9) Overcomers have a way of overcoming their difficulties through the empowering of the Spirit and the word of God.

9.      "I must find the quick and perfect solution to my problem." Paul wrote, "Let gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:5-7) Allow the Lord to work out His greater will in and through your life according to His schedule not your own. Joseph allowed God to carry out His greater will through his life as it took nearly twenty years before His purposes became evident.

10.  "It is easier to keep doing things the way I am doing them without taking on new commitments." Paul wrote, "Love is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, it rejoices with the truth... Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (I Corinthians 13:5-7) God always wants us to keep growing, progressing and giving love in ever increasing measure. Allow the word of God to produce in you a greater love for the Lord, for yourself and for your those around you. Do not be afraid to risk loving more.

 

Psalm 139:23

 

Psalm 94:11

 

Psalm 139:2

 

Isaiah 55:7

 

Proverbs 15:26

 

Ecclesiastes 10:20

 

Matthew 9:4

 

Matthew 12:25

 

Luke 9:47

 

Psalm 10:4

 

Psalm 55:2

 

Psalm 92:5

 

Psalm 139:17

 

Hebrews 3:1

 

Hebrews 4:12

 

II Corinthians 10:5

 

Proverbs 23:7a

 

Philippians 4:4-8

 

John 17:17

 

Psalm 139:14 

 

“Lovely”

Lovely means “winsome,” “pleasing,” “attractive,” “amiable.” It’s describing something sweet or gracious or generous or patient. We are to think thoughts about others that serve to cultivate and increase love, friendship, and goodwill among family members and friends. … about my circumstances.

 

 “Pure”

Our verse says, "Whatever is pure… think on these things.” It speaks of the morally clean, undefiled. Whatever is morally pure and morally clean, I will think on that, not the other junk.
I’m going to stop the gears from turning the wrong way. I’m going to start the gears turning the right way. I choose to do biblically correct thinking about my family and friends.

 

“Honorable”

That means worthy of respect. Whatever is noble, whatever is dignified, whatever is reverent, whatever is lofty, not trashy, mundane, common. The word really comes from a term meaning to worship. Whatever is worthy of awe, whatever is held in high regard, whatever is greatly respected, whatever is worthy of adoration, that’s what I think about.

 

 

“Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” #1

Some of you walked in here this morning carrying a heavy load. Some of you are up against the wall in your business. Some of you are in the middle of family conflict that seems almost impossible to resolve. Others are battling personal illness. Still others face problems that I can’t even begin to imagine. And there’s not much light at the end of the tunnel.
About the only thing you can do is to pray, trust God, and have a positive, faith-filled attitude. You are where you are and what you are largely because of the dominating attitudes that occupy your mind. If you allow your negative situation to control your attitude, you might as well turn out the lights because the party’s over. You’re going nowhere - in your relationships, in your career, physically, emotionally and spiritually - with a negative attitude.
There are two key questions to ask in predicting a person’s future. "Can he?" ... which is an issue of ability and "will he?" ... which is an issue of attitude. Attitude is the major difference between success and failure. Our attitude determines our altitude.
Some of us are struggling with an attitude of worthlessness. “I stink.”
Others of us are struggling with an attitude of loveless-ness. “You stink.”
Some of us are struggling with an attitude of bitterness. “Life stinks.”
With a person is really thinking about something, we sometimes say that we can see the gears turning. The gears are always turning. Our minds are always working. In fact, we think so much faster than we can speak. So, the gears are turning. But too often they are turning in the wrong direction. When our attitude in life is negative, the gears are grinding the wrong way. When the gears in our minds are turning in the wrong way, we call it stinkin’ thinkin’.
Defining stinkin’ thinkin’
Worthlessness “I stink” No peace with myself
Loveless-ness “You stink” No peace with others
Bitterness “Life stinks” No peace with God
When we think this way, we are robbed of our peace! We are not at peace with ourselves when we think, “I stink!” We are not at peace with others when we think, “You stink!” We are not at peace with God when we think, “Life stinks!”

 

Psalm 105:2

 

 “Get Rid of Stinking Thinking” #2

The Bible says that the weapon we must use when there is spiritual conflict is our mind. II Corinthians tells us that we are to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Proverbs tells us, "As a man thinks within himself, so he is." Romans 12:2 reminds us that we are to renew our minds. When I have a problem in my spiritual life, I can inevitably trace it to an undisciplined mind. When garbage comes out, it’s because garbage has gone in. Garbage in and, garbage out is not only true for computer programmers. It’s also true for Christian people.

 

 

 

“Bubbles”

She has every reason to be bitter.
Though talented, she went unrecognized for years. Prestigious opera circles closed their ranks when she tried to enter. American critics ignored her compelling voice. She was repeatedly rejected for parts for which she easily qualified. It was only after she went to Europe and won the hearts of tough-to-please European audiences that stateside opinion leaders acknowledged her talent.
Not only has her professional life been a battle, her personal life has been marked by challenge. She’s the mother of two handicapped children, on of whom is severely retarded. Years ago, in order to escape the hectic pace of life in New York City, she purchased a home on Martha’s Vineyard. It burned to the ground two days before she was to move in.
Professional rejection, personal setbacks - perfect soil for the seeds of bitterness and negativity.
But her friends don’t call her bitter; they call her "Bubbles." Her real name is Beverly Sills, internationally acclaimed opera singer, retired director of the New York City Opera, a person who Mike Wallace, of CBS’ 60 Minutes, called "one of the most impressive - if not the most impressive - women I’ve interviewed."
How can a person handle such professional rejection and personal trauma and still be known as Bubbles? "I choose to be cheerful," she says. "Years ago, I knew I had little or no choice about success or circumstances ... But I knew I could choose to be cheerful."

 

“Chuck Swindoll”

Chuck Swindoll writes, "The remarkable thing about human beings is that we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is to play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude."

 

QUOTE #18

 “One must live the way one thinks or end up thinking the way one has lived.”
Paul Bourget 1852-1935 French novelist

 

QUOTE #19

 “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.”
Viktor Frankl, concentration camp survivor

 

QUOTE #20

·         Watch your thoughts; they become words.

·         Watch your words; they become actions.

·         Watch your actions; they become habits.

·         Watch your habits; they become character.

·         Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Frank Outlaw

 “Think About It”

If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. —Philippians 4:8

According to one little boy, "Thinking is when your mouth stays shut and your head keeps talking to itself."

The way our head talks to itself tells a lot about how we are doing morally and spiritually. To guard our mind and to keep out the influences that will hinder our walk with God is to use our mind in the way He desires.

The Bible gives us clear guidelines—spelling out the kinds of things we should think about. For example, Psalm 1:2 and Psalm 119:97 tell us to meditate on God's Word day and night. That should be our first priority in the thinking department.

But we have a life to live, and we can't spend all of our waking moments meditating on Scripture. Yet even when we are thinking about the mundane aspects of life, we need guidance. Paul told us that we should think about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). In our daily activities, those words should govern what is on our mind.

When our head "talks to itself," it needs to say, "Keep the impure and ungodly thoughts out of here!" When we're thinking that way, we'll know what to do, how to behave, where to go, and what to say. —Dave Branon

Let us think about what's good—
What's right and pure and true;
May God's Word control our thoughts
In everything we do. —Fitzhugh

Right thinking leads to right living.


A.   Replace evil with good. Paul wrote, "Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
People who are able to utilize the power of the word of God and the Holy Spirit that indwells them in all of their relationships, thinking and activities will form the basis for healthy living.

B.     Replace worry with faith. Paul wrote, "Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-8)  Do not get upset when things do not go your way realizing that He can use disappointments to develop in us greater godliness.

C.     Replace despair with hope. David wrote, "The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love." (Psalm 33:17-18) Hope in God instead of yourself, your friends or your circumstances.

D.     Replace sorrow with joy. Paul wrote, "I am sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, poor, yet making many rich, having nothing and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:9-10) Take an inventory of all the great things you have in Christ Jesus.

E.      Replace anger with love. Jonah wrote, "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love."  “Love is patient and kind, not jealous or envious or boastful or proud or haughty or selfish or rude. It does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It does not easily become angry. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” I Corinthians 13:4-8 Christ’s love for you enables you to love others instead of allowing anger to get the better of your attitudes.

F.      Replace suspicion with trust. Solomon wrote, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insights. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) It is amazing what God can do with people who are loving and trusting. Love and trust breeds an environment of multiplication of His kingdom and righteousness. People who know they are loved and trustworthy can accomplish anything with the help of Christ who gives them the strength and power.

G.     Replace cynicism with belief. We live in a very cynical and skeptical world. Abraham did too but it was written of him. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith and gave glory to God. Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." (Rom. 4:20-21)Let faith give you the victory that overcomes the world.

H.     Replace gloom with cheerfulness. Paul wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 Happiness is a choice that requires determination to be happy amidst sad situations. “Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing. Power and majesty praise to the king. The joy of the Lord is our ever fountain of strength. Nehemiah 8:10

I.        Anxiety with Security. Job said, "For I dreaded destruction from God and for fear of His splendor I could not do such things. If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ’You are are my security." (Job 31:23-24) My God shall supply all you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

J.       Distress with confidence. "I praise you Lord for giving me your sense of certainty. For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." (Psalm 71:5) Be confident in His mighty power, plan and sovereign will for your life. He works in ways you cannot see. He will make a way for you amidst the foggy times and feelings.

K.    Jealous with contentment. "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." (Philippians 4:12-13)

 

 

L.      Resignation with Determination. "Be strong and courageous and act. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. He will not fail you or forsake you until all of the work of the house of God is finished." (Joshua 1:9)

M.   Defamation with Inspiration. "Whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about su