Shhh! Please Don’t Say That!

I came out of the fitness center yesterday and saw a couple loading up their air mattresses and other swimming gear. They had been enjoying a Sunday afternoon of swimming and playing water volleyball. I commented: “Looks like you had fun in the sun" and the woman replied “Yes! It was such a beautiful day!” And to her comment, I said, “Well, enjoy it while it lasts because before long it will be snowing!” She returned: “Oh, please don’t say that!” And then I thought….for goodness sake, where did that come from? I just brought in a negative image into their otherwise beautiful day. That's just not like me!

I’m the one that is usually wanting to put my finger to people's lips and say "Shhh -- don't say that!" Especially when I hear them say things like “I’m so stupid", "I can just look at a cookie, and I gain weight", "I get a cold this time every year", "I could never win at that", "I’ll never be able to afford that", "I’m too old to do that", etc. And, you know what…..they will continue to get what they are saying and thinking. “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit" (1 Peter 3:10).

I am typically an optimistic thinker and speaker. I wasn’t born that way, but through conscious effort and repetition, it's now my mode of operation….usually, except for that “snow” remark yesterday. Can I blame it on a "senior moment"? In all seriousness, I anticipate happiness, good health and success, and I sincerely believe that I can overcome any obstacle and difficulty with a "can-do" attitude.

Optimistic and positive people really do experience happy feelings; their eyes are bright, they're almost always smiling, they have more energy and their whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even their health is affected in a positive way, and they walk tall, their voices are more powerful and their body language shows the way they feel.

Positive thinking and speaking is contagious, but so is negative thinking and speaking. We really can become optimistic and control and change our thoughts and what comes out of our mouths.. It’s like changing the channel on a TV – we see a program we don’t want to watch, so we change the channel. In the same way, when a negative thought comes to us, rather than continuing to think that negative thought….change the channel to something good and positive.

If we make a conscious effort to speaking positive, writing positive, reading positive, watching positive and take actions that make us feel positive, eventually, it will be second nature for us to shift any negative focus to positive. If we persevere, we will transform the way our mind thinks, as well as the beautiful things that will start coming our way. So, let’s start thinking before we speak. Those positive thoughts might produce the harvest we’ve been believing for!” Right Thinking. Right Words. Blessed Life!

Proverbs 18:4 “A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”

Keep the Bouncer at the Door

Day 311 of Photo Inspirations -- Keep the Bouncer at the Door
Yesterday, as I was having my morning devotion,  two different friends came to my mind. I try to live "in the zone" so that when a name pops in my head,  then I pray for them.  And there are times when I not only pray for them, but a particular encouraging word or scripture comes to mind that I text it or email or call them.  I did that yesterday.  That scripture had a lot to do with "fixing our thoughts on good things".  In the face of adversity, that's not easy to do, especially when those circumstances are staring us down.  But, from my own experience, I know it works, because it's replacing negative thoughts with God's Word which always brings light to the darkness.

Later in the morning, I was on a conference call and the guest speaker was giving us incredible words of wisdom.  He said, "You've got to get your thinking right.  You become what you think about. Be mentally strong.  Stop negative thoughts."  I've never heard it put this way before, but he also said, "Keep the bouncer at the door of your mind."  

It sure does make sense to have "security" on guard for our minds.    You know a bouncer is the beefy, muscular guy employed by a nightclub or similar establishment to prevent troublemakers from entering or to eject them from the premises.  Well, that's what the speaker meant about protecting our minds.  Keep the bouncer there to eject those negative thoughts from entering and kick them out if they do slip in through the back door.  I like to say "Change the channel" when negativity, worry, concern, depression, tries to creep in.  A better station to listen to is one that speaks optimism and can-do-anything.....Channel WWHB (World Wide Holy Bible).  Hmm -- maybe that really should be a TV Station.

I knew, as I was listening to this conference call, I had been on the right track when I sent words to my friends about guarding their thoughts.  This is that scripture and today, I urge you to change the channel or if this illustration makes more sense to you, make friends with the bouncer so you and him can "clean house" of those troublemakers!

Philippians 4:6-8  "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Worry FREE Guarantee

Day 181 of Photo Inspirations – Worry FREE - Guarantee!
"Don't Worry???"  You may be saying "That's easy for you to say -- you're not facing what I'm facing today."  Perhaps not the exact challenge or situation, but I've known troubles and I've had reasons to worry.  And, out of those times, I survived -- so much so, that I sincerely desire to help comfort others with the same comfort that I was comforted with.  (2 Corinthians 1:4).  A while ago, a young mother contacted me when she was facing some tremendous challenges.  Her mind was bombarded with the worst thoughts.  Her imagination was getting the best of her.  She was expressing so much worry, fear and concern.  These are the words that I gave her.

"Sweet Friend, I want to put my arms around you and help you through this time. Mostly, I want to give you a "Worry-FREE Guarantee".  As you know, I am a huge believer in "If God said it, I believe it and that settles it -- no ifs, ands, or buts.  It's a done deal!"    That has been our anchor and our mode of operation for many years.  Plain and simple......God's Word (the Bible) is the key to overcoming fear, sickness, discouragement, etc.  There's an answer for everything in God's Word.   In Joshua 1:8, God gave a "key" to success when He told Joshua:  "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; FOR THEN you will make your way prosperous, and THEN you will have good success."

Wow, there's the key -- we always think that it's up to God to take care of this and do that.  But, very clearly, God is saying that if we do our part (not letting His Word depart out of our hearts -- thinking/meditating on His Word) that we will be successful.

Proverbs 23:7  "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he......"    Obviously, this means you want to do your best to stop thinking the negative thoughts.  How do you get a handle on your thoughts?   A shortcut to this is to THINK the things that you feel good about, and avoid thinking about what you don't feel good about."

Philippians 8:4   "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."

Isaiah 26:3  "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."  

It is a matter of absolutely disciplining ourselves to put a halt to negative thinking. It's like "changing the channel on the TV".  A negative thought comes in....quickly change the channel to the positive thought. Let this prayer be your prayer:

Father, I commit to live free from worry.  I cast the whole of my cares -- all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns -- once and for all on You.  You care for my family and me affectionately. You sustain me.  I cast down imaginations and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of You.  I lay aside every worry.  I think on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and deserving of praise.  I will not let my heart be troubled.  I abide in Your Word, and Your Word abides in me.  Thank You, Father, for helping me to be care-free.  I walk in that peace that passes all understanding, in Jesus' name!  Amen.

Stay tenacious in your faith.  Don't give up.  I love you and please don't hesitate to call, e-mail or ask us to come over for a "faith pow-wow" anytime.  You are so precious and you are going to make it!"

Perhaps you, my sweet FB friends, needed this "word" today.   I urge you to take this "word" like medicine.....DAILY.  Put it in your heart and mind.  You will come through with flying colors......just like the gal that I wrote this original letter to.  VICTORY was and is hers,  Victory is yours, too!

Think Before You Speak

Oh, how I want to put my finger to people's lips and say "Shhhh -- don't say that!" when I hear then say things like “I’m so stupid", "I can just look at a cookie, and I gain weight", "I get a cold this time every year", "I could never win at that", "I’ll never be able to afford that", "I’m too old to do that", etc. And, you know what…..they will continue to get what they are saying and thinking.

I am an optimistic and quite experienced, positive thinker. I wasn’t born that way, but through conscious effort and repetition, it's now, my mode of operation. In all seriousness, I anticipate happiness, good health and success, and I sincerely believe that I can overcome any obstacle and difficulty. Optimistic and positive people really do experience happy feelings; their eyes are bright, they're almost always smiling, they have more energy and their whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even their health is affected in a positive way, and they walk tall, their voices are more powerful and their body language shows the way they feel.

Positive thinking is contagious, but so is negative thinking. And, my heart is to inspire others to stop having stickin’ thinkin’. Thinking positively and speaking positively really works. We really can control and change our thoughts. It’s like changing the channel on a TV – we see a program we don’t want to watch, so we change the channel. In the same way, when a negative thought comes to us, rather than continuing to think that negative thought….change the channel to something good and positive. Those who think themselves a failure or unworthy of success and live in fear of what tomorrow may bring, will encounter stumbling blocks, closed doors, being late to appointments because of losing their keys, and other distractions that will keep them from succeeding.

But, if we make a conscious effort to speaking positive, writing positive, reading positive, watching positive and take actions that make us feel positive, eventually, it will be second nature for us to shift any negative focus to positive. It doesn't matter what our circumstances are at the present moment. If we think positively, expect favorable results, then our situations and circumstances will change. If we persevere, we will transform the way our mind thinks, as well as the beautiful things that will start coming our way. So, let’s start “THINKING BEFORE WE SPEAK”. Who knows? Those positive thoughts just might produce the harvest we’ve been believing for!”