Attitude Adjustment

My mother in law used to have a large wooden paddle hanging in the door frame between her dining room and kitchen. It had the autographs of her sons written all over it. But also, in big black letters was written the words, “Attitude adjuster.” Hmm, I wonder if it really did adjust attitudes?

This morning I was listening to the radio on my way to work and I heard a man talking about attitude. He described attitude as- a pattern of thoughts.

Your attitude is just a roadway, a pattern, of how your thoughts run.

Do you have a negative attitude? Your thoughts must be running negative.

Do you have a grumpy attitude? Your thoughts must be grumbly.

Do you have a superior attitude? Your thoughts might be a little selfish.

Do you have a care free attitude? Your thoughts, are they avoiding the issues?

Do you have a positive attitude? Are you believing in God’s goodness?

Do you get it? How is your attitude? Where are your thoughts leading you?

Scripture talks about our hearts, it aligns our feelings with our hearts, our attitudes, feelings, emotions, and thoughts are all coming from what is in our hearts.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us- “KEEP YOUR HEART with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” How do we “keep our hearts?” What is it that is up to us to do? We have to be aware of our thought patterns. We are in charge of the pathways that our minds and hearts follow. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE to the obedience of Christ.” By being conscious of what our feelings and thoughts are saying we can, if we are vigilant, get control of thoughts and feelings that are not godly. Remember if it’s not godly, it is devily, satanic. Don’t give yourself permission to think things that are ungodly.

Instead, Phillippians 4:8-9 gives us something to think about.“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.” See, it says to “dwell on” these things. But too often we dwell on the ungodly, unfruitful things. Let’s work hard to change our ways of thinking into what God wants.

So, what’s in your heart? What is your attitude? Does it need adjusted? Luke 6:45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Pt2

Part 2

Yeah, but...

Let's journey again in the mind's eye back to when Jesus was teaching.

I would've loved hearing Jesus, himself, teach what is written.

I can picture it this day, however, it might not have been exactly just this way. I like to vision it so.

The crowds are big, many sitting in the dirt, some standing. Jesus is sitting on a rock telling them parables, earthly stories with heavenly meanings. 

He isn't preaching. It's not formal, although he has their full attention. Well, maybe not the squirming toddlers. They are fussy, hot and tired. 

Jesus holds out his arms and the mothers bring their kids to him. The disciples are frustrated. They, too, are hot and tired. They just want him to be able to finish his teaching so they can go back into town for a bite to eat. "Don't bother the teacher," they try to tell the young mothers, but Jesus scolds. "Let these little ones come to me. This is how Heaven shall be, full of innocent, loving minds."

When he is done speaking a young man comes to him. He looks well to do. He asks Jesus a question. It goes exactly like this,

“A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, 'D O NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, D O NOT MURDER, D O NOT STEAL, D O NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, H ONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'" And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”

Luke 18:18-23 NASB

Whoa, we saw the proud young man stroll right up to Jesus. He wonders how to obtain eternal life. "What's the fast track?" He seems to want to know. Or maybe it's "How can I be sure?"

Jesus quotes some of the Jewish laws. We see the man's chest puff out. He is pleased with himself. "Yes, I've got this. I've got this!" He seems to say to himself.

He says to Jesus, "Yes, Sir. I've done all of that for years."

But when Jesus tells him to sell all that he has and follow him, the air is knocked right out of him. You could almost hear it, whoosh.And his shoulders slumped and his expression changed dramatically.

Did he really have to sell ALL that he had? Did he really have to leave his home and family to follow Jesus? He wasn't sure that he could do that. He was pretty sure that he could not.

Can I not just give some? Can I not love you from my home? 

No, Jesus said, give it up, follow me.

Shame on him. Did he not understand who Jesus was? Did he not realize that this was his SAVIOR? 

But am I guilty of the same? I want Jesus. I want a Savior. I believe and live by what He has taught. But do I give until it's a true sacrifice to further His kingdom? Do I deny myself to follow Him, to be in His presence? 

If I really love The Lord with all my heart(emotions,) with all my soul (spiritual being,) with all my mind (knowledge,) and with all my strength (my physical self) then what can I withhold? Nothing!

I can't be emotional (grumpy, moody,) and stay away from Him. I, for sure, can't keep my spiritual being apart from God. I have to always be in His presence and growing in my knowledge of Him. And even when my physical body aches and pains, I can't stay away from Him.  Or do I not truly love Him with ALL of me.

When I stand before Jesus will the wind be knocked out of ME? Will MY shoulders slump? Will MY expression change because I was unwilling to give my all?

Lord, help me.

Help us all.

Yeah, but

Yeah, but...  

I want you to go with me back in time. Put on your imagination hat, block out all distractions and get a good picture here, even though the scene probably wasn't just like this. The scripture reference is intact.

Jesus is popular with almost everyone. He walks around the dusty streets and picks up a giggling little girl. Maybe she's the daughter of a young man he healed of leprosy. 

Women run up to him and give him biscuits flavored with honey, enough for all the men traveling with him. They are grateful because he gave them something to eat when they traveled to hear him speak.

But then over there, standing in the shadows of the buildings, are three men. They look important, dignified. They are looking at Jesus, but talking to each other. It is plain to see that they don't like him. 

One breaks away and comes up to Jesus. The little girl hides behind Jesus. The women back away. The disciples stop their eating and look up. The dignified man asks a question.

Let's read it from the scripture,

“And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 

And He (Jesus) said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?" 

And he answered, "Y OU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 

And Jesus said to him, "You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE."

 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"”

Luke 10:25-29 NASB

Do you see what he's doing? He is saying, "I can love God. Of course I do. I know what The Law says. I am very familiar with God's word. But who is it exactly that I have to love? Is it those who live in the other extravagant houses near mine? Is it my dear family? And those that I work with?"

He looks at the skinny women, the ones with worn out clothes. He looks at the little girl. She's filthy! Her hair is stringy and matted. I'm glad these aren't my neighbors, he thinks as he walks away.

"We got this." He tells the other two men. "We got this."

Have you ever justified yourself against the teachings of Jesus? You know what He means, but, "yeah, but" comes out of your mouth and thoughts. 

I have. I hate to admit it, but I have. 

Jesus says love others.

Jesus says deny yourself.

Jesus says obey My Father.

Jesus says give.

Do we know what He says? Do we know, but don't heed?

Lord, forgive me. I need to be more obedient. I must understand that if I want eternal life, just as this snobby man was seeking, I must have ears that hear and understand. 

 I want/need You as my savior, but I don't always want You as my Lord. By trying to justify myself I am not doing what You truly intend. By trying to make it easier on myself, Am I truly denying myself to follow you?

Help me, Lord.

Help us all.

The Good News

The Good News

Those who DO NOT OBEY the gospel will be dealt eternal destruction.

"when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 NASB

What is the gospel?

The word gospel means good news. It is knowing and believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

We obey the gospel by following God's command to be like Christ. And to be in Christ.

“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,” Romans 6:3-5 NASB

But many argue that baptism is not necessary. They believe that it is just an act carried out after they are saved simply by their belief. They say that salvation is a free gift and we can not "work" for it. They consider baptism a "work" on the part of the believer.

However, baptism is actually a work of God on our behalf as evidenced in Colossians 2:11-13

“and in Him you were also circumcised with a CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him THROUGH FAITH, IN THE WORKING OF GOD, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,”

Can you see just how very important baptism is?

We cannot just hear a sermon, believe it, ask Jesus into our heart and think we are saved. If that were true, why then did the people after hearing and believing Peter's first sermon about Jesus ask, "What MUST we DO?" They knew there was more then belief.

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:37-38 NASB

God's plan for our salvation is easy to see and follow:

Hear the gospel, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, confess publicly that Jesus is the Son of God, obey the gospel in baptism by dying to your old self, being buried under the water where God's hand will circumcise you of your sin and indwell you with the Holy Spirit, then raise you up a new creation in the likeness of Christ. 

Then you must continue to be transformed. Your mind must be renewed and expanded as you learn, study and grow. And you must remain steadfast and stand firm daily as your faith is tested over and over by Satan, who is always trying to snatch you from God's hand.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB

It is my hope and prayer that you have obeyed the gospel and that you are producing fruit by sharing this good news to this lost world.

I love you all, but God loves you more.

Blocks

My 7 year old granddaughter plays with my wooden building blocks every time she visits. She stacks them on top of each other trying to get higher each time. Her record so far is 19 high before toppling over.

However recently she discovered that if she makes the stacks bigger at the bottom and then builds upward she can go higher.

It reminded me of these verses from 2 Peter. You see, FAITH is our base. And we need to be diligent as we build on the faith. Keep in mind that as we build we may have to go back and reinforce our faith at the base, just like Eastyn does with the blocks.

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence,

 in your FAITH supply moral excellence, 

and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

 and in your knowledge, self-control, 

and in your self-control, perseverance, 

and in your perseverance, godliness, 

and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, 

and in your brotherly kindness, love. 

For if these qualities are yours and ARE INCREASING, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It seems simple and it stands to reason that we are to be growing in all of these things. Yet every once in a while we need to be reminded, myself included.

Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,”

2 Peter 1:5-8, 12-13 NASB

He's coming

At the end of my work day as a truck dispatcher, I was sitting at my desk talking to several of the drivers about their day. My phone rang and I could see by caller ID that it was my "big boss" from Washington, DC. My first thought was, "Ugh, what does he want?"

I answered the phone and he greets me by saying, "Hey," He then proceeds to tell me that he will be coming up tomorrow, we need to go over some things. Again, "Ugh!"

So hanging up the phone, I go back to talking to my drivers. They guessed by my end of the conversation who I had been talking to. 

One of them told me that he was calling in sick tomorrow. And he began to fake coughing.

The other one was like me, "What's he coming for? I hate when he comes. Something always changes."

Yes, he was right, something does usually change, and it never seems to benefit me or the drivers.

Great, now we all dreaded coming in to work tomorrow.

It's a fact. I am one person that doesn't really like things to change. I like routine, which is already in short supply in the trucking business.

But some of my job duties are pretty routine, the data entry is one example. It is done the same way all the time.

So now, I speculate on what new, bright ideas might be in store. I know that sleep will be difficult as I imagine every scenario. Goodness, is that the same as worry?

Lord, help me.

But there is one Man that will be coming and He will bring incredible change. This is one man and one change that I long for and anticipate. 

When Jesus returns, we will be changed, we will be like Him.

There is no dread in that.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NASB

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

1 John 3:2 NASB

Intimacy

I stopped by the store on January 2 to pick up a few things and the first things I noticed were baked goods from the store's bakery just inside the door. These items were of a certain theme, Valentine's Day. 

Now I may not be the brightest red crayon in the box, but I do know that Valentines Day is SIX WEEKS AWAY!!!

Does anyone really buy these things now and save them that long?

However, it wasn't just baked goods, the flower section carried the theme, the stationary section had their VD cards on the end caps, even the healthy food section was highlighting their "heart" healthy grub.

I realize that this is how the marketing world works. It's always on to the next thing.

Then I thought, well just maybe it takes some people 6 weeks to get the hint to do something nice for their partner.

Really?!? Well, maybe. 

Does getting an item on THAT DAY really prove someone's love of you?

What is love? For years, centuries and eons, people have been trying to define it. Love is:

Most people think of love as intimacy. And true, it is. This one word probably best defines love. But what is intimacy?

I heard a preacher once say, "Remember, intimacy is In to me see." It is really looking INTO another person, really having an understanding of everything about them. Knowing what hurts, what heals, what they need without saying, what they feel without sharing. It means hearing their heart with your heart.

And intimacy isn't just for two people in love. Yes, they definitely must have it, but intimacy is the lifeblood of a true and honest relationship. 

We are to have intimacy with God. We are to have intimacy with Jesus. We are required intimacy with the Spirit that lives in us. And we are to have intimacy one with another.

When we have intimacy with others we have:

1. Anticipation- Are you anxious to be with them, see them, hear from them?

2. We long to be one- Do you want to be as much like the other person as you can?

3. Everlasting love-Do you have love that doesn't fade or shrink away from tough times?

4. Longing- Do you have a deep need to be near that person?

5. Abiding love- Does your love have staying power?

6. Complete love- Do you love with all of yourself, beyond emotions?

7. Joyful praise- Do you sing to Or about the one you love?

It is my prayer that each of us know this love. I hope you love God intimately. I hope you love His Son intimately. I am praying that the Spirit and yourself share this bond. 

I also hope that you now or at one time, have known or will know the intimacy with a loving, caring, kind man. 

But My biggest prayer is to have a friendship that is biblically intimate. A woman to share my deepest self with, one that will love me enough to share her deepest self with me. 

A sister-friend is my desire. And I pray that you all have one too.

God loves us very much and He desires intimacy with us.

Isaiah 65:24- anticipation- “It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

John 17:22-23- being one- “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

Jeremiah 31:3- Everlasting love-  "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

Psalm 42:1-2- longing- “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?”

John 15:4-6- Abide together- “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”

Deuteronomy 6:5- love completely- “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Zephaniah 3:17- Sing over you- “ He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”