{"id":24773,"date":"2018-12-27T03:30:34","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T11:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=24773"},"modified":"2018-12-19T12:13:03","modified_gmt":"2018-12-19T20:13:03","slug":"december-27-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/12\/27\/december-27-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"December 27, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”\u00a0<\/em>Colossians 3:2<\/p>\n

Think About It!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I’ve had some intense times recently\u2014busy, stressful, emotional.\u00a0When my days get like this, I find my mind wanders all over the place.\u00a0It’s hard to stay focused.\u00a0My thoughts bounce from one thing to another.<\/p>\n

The Lord has been directing my attention to a well known verse from Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable\u2014if anything is excellent or praiseworthy\u2014think about such things.”<\/em><\/p>\n

I’ve always loved that verse.\u00a0But it has taken on a fresh, new significance for me.\u00a0The truth in it is not only good\u2014it’s powerful.\u00a0We have a “spiritual tool” at our disposal through our thought life.<\/p>\n

We are surrounded with negative messages filled with tragedy, pain, sorrow, disappointment, lies, ugliness, and myriad hurt. Our mind is bombarded with messages of doom and gloom.\u00a0And that’s not even considering things that are happening to us personally!<\/p>\n

If we let our thoughts follow this process, we will be overwhelmed with heaviness.\u00a0It is vital to stay focused on the list from Philippians 4!\u00a0If I think upon those things, then my heart immediately wants to thank the Lord for them.\u00a0Worship begins to well up in my heart.\u00a0The whole “atmosphere” of my mind is transformed. I find it can turn a hard day around to being a good day if I think upon who God is and His goodness to me.<\/p>\n

The Message\u00a0<\/em>version of the Philippians 4:8 verse:\u00a0“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious\u2014the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The secular world realizes the power of our thoughts\u2014there are so many books and articles written on this topic.\u00a0But God was way ahead of them.\u00a0He instructed us what to think on, knowing it would bring health and life to us if we think upon what is good, and turn it into worshipping Him.\u00a0I’m finding the beauty and the strength that comes from doing that.\u00a0Once again\u2014God is such a faithful teacher!<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, help us to think thoughts that are pleasing to you. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

P.S.\u00a0I had written this update before I had a doctor’s appointment today.\u00a0Yesterday I had a PET scan\u2014today I saw the oncologist for the report.\u00a0The results were not what I was hoping and praying for.\u00a0The cancer has returned.\u00a0The mass that was seen in August\u2014that I had the biopsy for that was inconclusive\u2014it has now shown to be an active cancer.\u00a0It’s amazing that I can be feeling so good, looking good, and even my blood work showing health\u2014and yet there is cancer growing in my body.\u00a0It was a bit of a surprise.<\/p>\n

I’m actually so grateful that the Lord had been speaking to me about my thoughts and what to focus on. I certainly need that now!\u00a0It’s very easy to be overwhelmed and discouraged by this news.\u00a0I need to “take my thoughts captive,” and go to Jesus with this news. I have lots to process, and many decisions to make in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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