Phil 4:7-9 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I read this book while I was on vacation, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, if you have every seen him speak, you know the Word of God flows freely from his mouth because it's flows freely from his heart. A very good read to say the least, I'll tell you that this will probably be my Christmas book this year. WoW! It's actually the only thing I read while in Austria, said to say, I didn't even read my bible, but in so many things God's Word was alive in me. I would actually see something and a verse would come to me, and I'd pray on it. It was pretty cool, and there is a lot of scripture in the book to meditate on.
This book really opened my eyes to some behavior that I have to work on, and some of it (ok, a lot of it) was stuff that I need to work on, like again my "self-talk".
Yesterday was quite a day.
I have someone in my life who doesn't always treat me pleasantly. And I am the queen of making excuses for people. It's not a good thing to be queen of, let me tell you. But anyway, yesterday, I just thought "why are you my friend? you don't even seem to like me..." only for it to end in "Don't worry, you won't have to see me or hear my insults anymore". And I'll tell you it was relief and sadness at the same time. Only to be followed with more insults, like somehow this was my fault, like it's my fault that I would buy that person a gift to hear "you paid money for this?". I tried really hard not to react to the situation. Finally ending my last text "grace". And their last text to me "you could use a little more of it yourself". I had two ways to react, mean or not. So I closed my phone, prayed, and went on with my day. It wasn't easy, but it was like God just held me all day. Peace.
As I remember this friend, I will remember this scripture, not because it's easy because it won't always be. But if we're standing in front of a sunset and we happen to look down and see a smashed worm that's disgusting and gross and that's what we focus on, we lose sight of the beauty that God has created for us. And my friend was wonderfully made just like Psalm 139:14 says "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
And so I chose, to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy! Like a beautiful sunset, set before me by a God that loves me more than I will ever comprehend!
Malachi 1:2 "I have loved you," says the LORD
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I read this book while I was on vacation, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, if you have every seen him speak, you know the Word of God flows freely from his mouth because it's flows freely from his heart. A very good read to say the least, I'll tell you that this will probably be my Christmas book this year. WoW! It's actually the only thing I read while in Austria, said to say, I didn't even read my bible, but in so many things God's Word was alive in me. I would actually see something and a verse would come to me, and I'd pray on it. It was pretty cool, and there is a lot of scripture in the book to meditate on.
This book really opened my eyes to some behavior that I have to work on, and some of it (ok, a lot of it) was stuff that I need to work on, like again my "self-talk".
Yesterday was quite a day.
I have someone in my life who doesn't always treat me pleasantly. And I am the queen of making excuses for people. It's not a good thing to be queen of, let me tell you. But anyway, yesterday, I just thought "why are you my friend? you don't even seem to like me..." only for it to end in "Don't worry, you won't have to see me or hear my insults anymore". And I'll tell you it was relief and sadness at the same time. Only to be followed with more insults, like somehow this was my fault, like it's my fault that I would buy that person a gift to hear "you paid money for this?". I tried really hard not to react to the situation. Finally ending my last text "grace". And their last text to me "you could use a little more of it yourself". I had two ways to react, mean or not. So I closed my phone, prayed, and went on with my day. It wasn't easy, but it was like God just held me all day. Peace.
As I remember this friend, I will remember this scripture, not because it's easy because it won't always be. But if we're standing in front of a sunset and we happen to look down and see a smashed worm that's disgusting and gross and that's what we focus on, we lose sight of the beauty that God has created for us. And my friend was wonderfully made just like Psalm 139:14 says "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
And so I chose, to focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy! Like a beautiful sunset, set before me by a God that loves me more than I will ever comprehend!
Malachi 1:2 "I have loved you," says the LORD
Comments
"she makes ME look good!"
I hate this struggle in my flesh!
I have been gone to MO (just got home yesterday) for our annual Birthday BBQ Bash and playing catch up, once again amongst the blog world! Now I am heading over to see your pictures!
Connie