Tag: attitude

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Hunting peace.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peter offers amazing results for those of us who want the good life. In a world of decisions that have immediate consequences, this is GOLD. Peter writes if we want a life filled with love and see good days… what is required? Simple – just “pauó,” restrain our tongue! And something even more difficult – stop our mouth from trash-talking “dolos,” deceit. Wow. Was Mom right? Even Thumper, from the Bambi movie knows this, “If you can’t say somethin’ nice.., don’t say nothin’ at all.”

The Apostles all write about this in one form or another. Paul in Colossians 4:6, Ephesians 4:29, James in James 3:6 – they all speak of controlling the little fire-starter organ, known as our tongue. Apparently our mouth is the gateway to the hateway!

Peter’s godly, Spirit-filled advice is to help us control our mouths. It starts by controlling what we think about, even starting with what we look at. He writes, “zéteó,” seek or search for peace. Peace, “eiréné,” is the Hebrew equivalent to Shalom. Peter follows that up with not just seeking it, but when we find this peace we should, “diṓkō,” pursue it or aggressively chase after it! Search for peace, targeting it, then hunt it down and make it ours.

This godly peace must do some deep work inside our hearts, allowing our heart to see the world, our friends and our circumstances differently. Can a peace perspective have that kind of dramatic effect on my mouth? Writing under the influence of the Holy Spirit, directing thoughts and quill-strokes on parchment, I believe this is direct wisdom from God! When I feel my heart is angsty and out of sync with God, I can easily see my hot, viperous words flying out of my mouth. But if I hunt down peace and allow the Spirit of God to settle my soul and de-escalate my rabid rise of evil thoughts, maybe – just maybe, I can put the kabash ( a real Hebrew word) on my wild tongue.

Prayer

Dad,
I try really hard to guard my words. They seem to fly out of my mouth faster than I can put a stop to it. It’s flat out embarrassing to think the battle started in my heart. It is sad to think that my heart was seeking, and desperately searching for anything other than peace. My heart was looking for trouble, looking for a reason to validate my feelings and emotions that actually came out of some poor attitude or pity-party I was having. I am so sorry. Help me with my thoughts! Help me with the posture of my heart. Remind me to hunt down peace rather than something awful and evil. Thank you for your supernatural peace that will eclipse my soul, helping me think right and therefore speak better words, godly words. Amen.

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Humanity, the epitome of humor in heaven.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.” Proverbs‬ ‭15:30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Are you happy? Please tell your face. I know the world doesn’t run on giggles and smiles, but I wish it did.

A smile, a cheerful look and countenance changes the environment of a room full of people. Of course the suspect types will wonder what you’re up to, but it’s still worth it.

Science says that a smile will trick your brain into thinking you’re happy! One of the most striking truths of a new series on the life of Christ (The Chosen) is that Jonathan Roumie, playing the role of Jesus smiles A LOT. He laughs, jokes and is playful around children. Most depictions of Jesus are ONLY of a man of sorrows – clearly dying for humanity’s sins will do that. But, to think for one moment that God isn’t joy-filled in the core of His character is a serious mistake.

Besides, humanity may be the epitome of humor in heaven! Wisdom writers got this one right. Jesus even spoke this truth in John’s gospel, “Be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”

Prayer

Dad,
I have to force myself to remember how absolutely and totally lost and miserable I was before you found me! And, when I get bogged down with excessive minutiae about non-eternal things, I get cynical, grumpy and lose my joy. I hate swimming in muddy, mucky minutiae! I want to be a life-giving person and spend my life in life-giving ways. And, for heaven’s sake, your Church, your people should BE the most life-giving, cheerful, joyous place in this crazy chaos called humanity. It’s not that we have no sorrow or pain, it’s that we know that you hold our future and that you are good.

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Backing away from the mental edge of a cliff.

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Rescue me from my enemies, O God. Protect me from those who have come to destroy me. Rescue me from these criminals; save me from these murderers.” Psalms‬ ‭59:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How to pray when you’re attacked! David knew how to bring his honest, earnest thoughts, fears and prayers to God. Again, how many of us talk with God with such specificity? David lists their methods of stalking and trash talking. “They come out at night, snarling like vicious dogs as they prowl the streets. Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths; their words cut like swords. “After all, who can hear us?” they sneer.” Isn’t it interesting that David KNOWS that God hears his prayer, but also hears the profane disregard for decency of the thugs that work for King Saul.

David also asks God to NOT kill them, but to throw them off balance, “Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield.”

But while all of this is going on, even amidst the prayer for protection, David decides to behave in a very specific way. He decides, “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.” He sings about God’s power, not the thugs. He starts his day by singing with joy about God’s unfailing (secure) love! David owns his attitude and sets his behavior everyday that he is going through this incredible pressure of being hunted down by the King. This is a lesson for me, for us when we feel that we are under the threat and pressure of attacks – real or perceived!

Prayer

​Dad,
You know that when I am feeling out of control or certainly under any kind of attack, that my mind obsesses, for days, over the possible negative endings. And if it feels like an unjustified correction or complaint against me – it just sends me spiraling.

I’ve have tried and tried to shorten the amount of time it takes me to gain my mental footing and talk myself back into anything healthy. David met his enemies both external (the thugs) and internal (his own fears) with a very practical action – he prayed, he sang. He reminded himself of who YOU are and then sang about how trustworthy you are until joy and a sense of peace brought him back from the brink of that mental cliff.

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Meme for your heart : Guard it or you’ll crash

Reading Time: 2 minutes 
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We live in such a “quippy” world. Back in the 70’s & 80’s it was all about bumper stickers, fridge magnets and cross-stitched plaques otherwise known as ancient memes. Now, short, punchy, even purposely vulgar pics, sayings and gifs are ubiquitous across social media, hanging on earth-toned, organic, reclaimed barn wood or pallets in our homes or printed on T-Shirts, hats and even derrières! I don’t know if Solomon or his wisdom crew had sayings hanging in the palace schoolhouse or sewn into their draperies at home.

Let’s just say that, as humans, we’ve always wanted quick, shortcut style sayings to help us memorize and hopefully internalize complicated ideas.

GUARD a heart? He’s not talking cholesterol here. Attitude determines altitude! So whether Edwin Louis Cole, Zig Ziegler or John Maxwell said it, it’s true. Proverbs says, my heart determines my course! No one wants to go on a hike in the forest with a broken compass, no one wants to sails the seas with a faulty sexton. We want our guiding instruments to be in good working order and TRUE! For us, it’s our heart.

So how do I guard my heart from anger, frustration, bitterness, comparing, jealousy, stress, guilt, depression or a whole slew of emotions that are negative? I don’t want those emotions determining my course or my relationships! I can’t advise on what your heart triggered solutions might be, but for me these have been helpful.

One, name it to tame it. I have to force myself to identify what I’m feeling, this isn’t easy. I get lost in the emotion then the blame of someone or something that made me feel so _ fill in the blank. I have to say it first to myself, then to God in real, psalm-like prayer (honest and unguarded). Then, just so I don’t spew verbal acid and emotional toxicity on my wife and close friends, I often need to tell them as well.

Two, I need to find or get into a physical space where it’s quiet and I can slow down to think.

Or three, contrarily, be with our Garvin circus troop filled with chaotic noises of children crying, squealing and the beautiful sounds of conversation and laughter with our adult children. Our FULL house means cacophony of kids, dogs and the making, eating or cleaning up of a meal. It’s weird, but it works! Maybe it overwhelms my senses and temporarily puts brain into shock, thus distracting the fact that my heart was being attacked by runaway emotions.

I’m in this current phase of trying to MINIMIZE the emotional fallout of an unguarded heart. It used to take days to get control of and turn my attitude around. I’m working on getting down to hours.

What are your methods of guarding your heart?

PRAYER:

Dad,
Just knowing that you KNOW me and are aware of my situations and my weaknesses are really helpful. Also, finally being honest and telling you how I feel. Even telling you about the misperceived actions of others. I know that you are my greatest source of peace and my trusted perception adjuster. I feel safe and loved when I spend time reading and reflecting on your Word and listening to the gentle voice of your Spirit.