Right Attitude

     It amazes me that at my age, I sometimes still don’t get it. Don’t get what you ask? Well, that my attitude affects my life. I know that I should be getting it by now, and yes at times I do, but there are those times I don’t.

     Why is that? I guess it goes back to not wanting to have the right attitude. It says in Philippians 2:5 that we must have the same attitude as Christ. That attitude is in verses 1 – 4; it is encouragement, comfort, fellowship together in Him, tender hearts, compassion, agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, working together with one mind and purpose, not selfish, not trying to impress others, humble, thinking of others above ourselves and not looking out for our own interest but that of others.

     WOW! I so paraphrased that but I want you to go read it for yourself. What a passage. Did you notice that is said attitude and not attitudes? Think that is a coincidence that it isn’t plural? I don’t. I believe that it is the same as having the fruit of the Spirit, not fruits. It is all ONE thing. There are several different translations and they use the same two words, attitude or mind. You only have one mind or at least you should!

     Having the right attitude does affect all you do. When you are upset, mad, sad, depressed, feeling lost, angry, bitter or however you are feeling, try putting on the attitude of Christ and see how much better you are. I know that I find myself needing to do that at times. If my attitude isn’t what it should be then it seems like nothing is right. My mama used to tell me and still at times feels the need to remind me that my attitude affects my whole house and that of my family. You know the old saying “if mama ain’t happy no one is happy”. That isn’t far off the mark.

     I know there are going to be times we all need an attitude adjustment so when you find yourself at that point, go back to these verses and ask yourself where you need your attitude adjustment to begin. Maybe you find yourself doing this less and less the older you get. I know that I want to have the attitude of Christ and in time I will get there. I have some of them some of the time but not all of them all of the time. I am not sure anyone does. Just like anything else, time and maturity is usually what it takes.

    What attitude do you need to work on this week?

See you next time!

Exercising your Mind and Body

     Do you ever find yourself wishing you didn't have to exercise to stay in shape and healthy? I sure do,  and it sometimes makes me want to scream. Scream for not being blessed with a great metabolism or genes that some people have. You know who I am talking about right? Those who have had 3 kids and within months are back to their "girlish" figure. The one they had before they found out they were pregnant,  or those who can eat anything, and I mean anything,  and still keep their "girlish" figure. Yeah, I hate them, too. Well, maybe hate is a strong word, but since I started working out today, I want to say... hate! After months of saying I was going to start working out and putting it off, because I really just didn't want to, I decided to start today. I got my iPod and towel (the one to wipe the sweat I know I will get) and headed to the gym. I got on the tread-mill and started walking. I started slow, and after a couple of songs, increased my speed. A couple of songs later I increased it again and then increased it again. I was doing pretty well. I made it 37 minutes. Some of you are probably thinking, what a wimp!  Thirty seven minutes ??  That is nothing! Well, for me it is.... and I know if I go every day,  I will increase in speed and time. I may miss a day here and there, but for right now, I am determined to make it faithfully.

     I know it is that way sometimes in the Christian life. We don't take the time to read God's Word, study and pray, and then we wonder, when things go wrong, or we get discouraged and lose focus, why am I feeling this way? Well, like our bodies, when we don't continue to exercise and keep it healthy, we can get overweight, have health problems and a variety of other sympoms. The same, or actually more important, is keeping our spiritual mind healthy. I Timothy 4: 8-9 says it this way: “Exercise daily in God - no spiritual flabbiness please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful but a disciplined life in God is far more so making you both fit today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart.”

     I hope that in a couple of weeks I can say to you that I have been faithful in my daily exercise of my body. I am also working on my spiritual exercise. I am going through Beth Moore's daily devotion of Paul. I like this,  because you are in the Word first answering questions that only you can answer for your life, not anyone else's, and then spend time giving over to the Lord what you need to and taking your requests to Him.

If you aren't already exercising, and you know ....you know you need to be (I am), take time to start this week. It doesn't have to be anything major; baby steps first.

Most importantly, make sure you are exercising your spiritual mind. What are you doing daily to keep your exercise what it needs to be?

See you next time! 

Jeremiah 29:11 is a very powerful verse and one of my favorites. There are usually three different versions of the Bible that I use when I am studying or just wanting to get a different variation. Here they are for this verse. 

Message: I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

NIV:  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

New King James: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

It is amazing to me that I can read this verse in multiple versions and it still says the same thing, over and over. Yet I find myself trying to out think what the Lord has for me or better yet, tell Him what I need or want. Don't you think that at some point I might get a clue and look in the mirror and say "Hey Gretchen, I know that the Lord has my future planned and He wants me to prosper and have a great future. He is not going to leave me."

This doesn't mean that bad times won't come or that you won't lose sight of your hope now and again or wonder what your future holds but just knowing that He has it all in His hands and wants the BEST for ME is amazing. The next time you find yourself wondering what in the world is going on in your life, just think on this scripture and know that HE HAS IT ALL PLANNED just for YOU!


See you next time!