What's Your Mind Set?

WHAT’S YOUR MIND SET?

by Debbi Weeks

One of my favorite books is written by Elizabeth George and is entitled, Loving God with all Your Mind. It has always had study questions as part of the book, but now there’s a new anniversary edition and a workbook that goes with it. This book has been so powerful in my life that I like to “do” it every year or so – I’ve just recently started it again. What I appreciate most about this book is that it challenges me and gives me practical help in training my mind towards godliness.

Romans 12: 1 and 2 says, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 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.”

Renewing my mind and having the proper mindset is essential to a healthy and growing spiritual life. Our mindsets are interesting because we have great control over what we set our mind on and it impacts every area of our life.

Lorraine Maksoudian, a mature, godly woman, who has imparted much wisdom in my life, once shared this exercise with me: she told me to look around the room and take in all the colors in the room. Then she told me to close my eyes and open them again, but this time to look for the blue things in the room. All the blue items just “popped” out. I began to see blue everywhere! She said this is what it’s like to have a mind set on something – what I have my mind set on will make it “pop” out.

Check out these exhortations from God’s Word in regards to our mindset:

Colossians 3:1-3

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Romans 8:5-8

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Philippians 4:8-9

“Finally, brethren, 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. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

So what is your mind set on today? Perhaps you can write out one of the verses above and begin to commit it to memory. God’s Word is a wonderful thing to have your mind set on! J

Father God I praise You that You alone are God. Praise You for being always faithful.

I confess that I set my mind on things that distract me from being fully devoted to You.

Thank You for Your faithfulness in my life to grow me up in You.

Please renew my mind and keep me focused on You. Help me to train my thoughts to dwell on the honorable, right, pure and lovely things, and the things that are of good repute, worthy of praise and excellent.

In Christ’s Name, Amen.

Each One, Teach One

Each One, Teach One
by Sue Donaldson

God’s in the business of passing on the truth. And it works best one-on-one.

As moms, we do it all the time, sometimes without thinking. The younger our kids, the more ready they will listen (believe me) – so start as early as possible! You never know how many others your child will touch.

I remember when Bonnie was in 5^th grade and her girlfriends were discussing their “Health and Family Living” class during recess—an awkward conversation at best. Bonnie spoke up in her matter-of-fact tone, “Well, sex is God’s gift after all.” (Whew-- she got that one right. . .)

Paul said, “And the thing you’ve heard from me, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (II Timothy 2:2)

Here are four generations of teaching:

Paul

to Timothy

to faithful men

to others. That’s exciting! And it could start at the breakfast table or with a fishing pole (or, at recess.) And it means I am always in the position of getting the truth and giving the truth. Who is your Paul? Who is your Timothy? We don’t wait until we are giants of the faith to teach another person.

Father,

Thanks for what You are teaching me. Someone I talk with today may need to know the same thing – help me get it right. Amen

PS Uncle Steve taught Mary to fish last week. The fishing was good – the catching was awful. . .

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary!
by Peggy B.

34 years ago, at this very moment, I was walking down the aisle of the church I grew up on. I was on my father’s arm, heading toward the man I loved!

Yes, today is Wayne and my 34^th anniversary, and we are on our way out to dinner to celebrate. We have done many different levels of celebration, from dinner out to 10 days in Ireland on a bike tour. I love our anniversary. It reminds me of how blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband.

What today makes me think of also is choices. By God’s grace, I was blessed to marry my best friend and lifelong love! In any relationship, friendships, marriages, parents, children, there are ups and downs. What I’ve learned over the years is that love is not a feeling! Love is an action. On those rare occasions when I don’t feel loving, and yes maybe I don’t even like the guy very much, God’s command is for me to love him.

I have the choice to be selfish, react in anger or be loving. I can choose to speak hurtful words or soft, kind words, even when we are having a “fight”.

Whatever relationships you are in, the choice, by God’s power, is yours to make. It isn’t always the easy choice, when our flesh wants our own way. I want to encourage you, though, that I have found that as the years go by, it has gotten easier and easier.

Well, we’re off to celebrate, so I’m going to sign off for now. But please remember as you go through your tomorrows, it’s all about choice!

Philip. 4:13

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Lord, thank you for your gift of relationships! Thank you for the wonderful man that you have blessed my life with. May I always strive to choose love! Amen

God Bless America

by Kate Hasson

The Fourth of July! Oh how exciting! I tried to explain the importance of this day to my daughter this morning and began to be so proud and glad to be an American. I thought of what Christ said to the Pharisees, “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s” and saw how even He confirms that there is an appropriate allegiance we are to pay to our country. How thankful I am to be an American, where I have been granted so many privileges and freedoms. How I have an English bible in my own hands and a church of my choice to attend every Sunday, owning a home and two cars, food on my table three times a day with treats and snacks interspersed, two closets full of clothes for my family, a steady and enjoyable job for my husband, etc...

God certainly has blessed America. But as the saying goes, has “America Blessed God”? I pray today that my heart and all Christians’ hearts across America will be set on blessing the One True God and will be focused not on being blessed by Him but living for His glory alone! There are many things to praise Him for and today is the day to praise Him for our country’s freedom. May we use this freedom to stand for what is Right and True and in whatever circumstance may we never shy away from proclaiming Jesus to the rest of the unsaved in this country. May we use our freedom to do only what is holy. America, lets bless God!

I love the last verse of

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”

“Our fathers’ God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing:

Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light;

Protect us by They might, Great God , our King! AMEN

The Lord Provides

by Lisa Leonard

Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them." (Matthew 6:26)

The Lord provides for our needs. We can cast our cares on him and TRUST that he will lovingly care for his children. How are you seeing the Lord provide in your life?

This is the day...

by Debbi Weeks

One of my all-time favorite commercials is one that came out a few years ago for Disneyland. The main line of the commercial is given by a young boy, probably about 6 years old, who says in anticipation of going to Disneyland the next day, “We’re too excited to sleep!” He’s just so cute, and then at the end of the commercial his mom and dad are in bed and the mom leans over to the dad and asks, “Are you asleep?” Mutteringly the dad mimics his son (but with much less enthusiasm) and says, “No, I’m too excited to sleep.”

Much like the kid in this commercial, I sometimes find myself “pushing time.” I wish for time to pass and pass quickly. Sometimes it’s to get something over with (like last week in Mexico – “I just wish it was Sunday and I was in my own home, showering alone and sleeping in my own bed”). And, I’m not so far removed from having small ones that I don’t remember pushing time to have them in school – or later to have them drive themselves! Or, sometimes I’ve pushed time to get to something I’m looking forward to (lately it’s been, “I can’t wait until the end of July when Seth gets home and we can be together as a family”). The problem with both is that I end up not enjoying or appreciating the place that I’m in at present.

The truth is that God uses everything. And not just the big things; not just the trips to Disneyland, but even the seemingly unimportant nights before the trip to Disneyland! He uses waiting, He uses suffering, He uses . . . everything! And what is He using it for? Our sanctification - to make us more Christlike. There are lessons that can only be learned in the here and now . . . not in tomorrow or the future. God had lessons for me to learn in Mexico that I can’t learn in the luxury of my own shower!

I’m reminded of the little ditty I’ve heard quoted before, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. That's why it's called The Present!” I need to bask in the present of today realizing that God is using today to make me into the person He wants me to be.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Note that it doesn’t say tomorrow is the day the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad that you have something to look forward to! Rejoice with me in today and be glad that God is faithful to use everything and everyday to shape you into the woman He wants you to be!

Father God, I praise You for you are good; Your lovingkindness is everlasting.

I confess that I sometimes want to “push” time to avoid the tough times where there are lessons I could only learn there or to get on to a place I’d rather be – when I really need to rest in the place You have me today.

Thank You that You have a good plan for each of my days and that You are faithful to sanctify me unto Christlikeness.

Lord, please let me really live in appreciation for the here and now, rejoicing in this day that you have given me.

In Christ’s Name, Amen

Fill My Cup, Lord - Part II

Fill My Cup, Lord - Part II

by Sue Donaldson

Someone said, “Ministry is overflow.”

When our cup is full to the brim with Him, ministry is the overflow.

I thanked Colleen for coming to speak to our ladies. She replied, “Oh, I don’t consider myself a speaker. I’m just so in love with Jesus that I can’t help talking about Him.” Her cup was full. And we got the overflow.

Two things about full cups--

First, we find out what’s inside by what comes out (when it’s bumped.)

It can be an embarrassing awakening. Someone jostles me and out comes Niagara Falls-- but there’s nothing pretty about it. Complaints, whining, “Poor me’s – feel sorry for me, please,” and “Who do you think you are, doing that to me???” My cup is full, but it’s full of me, not Jesus.

If you are not sure what’s in your cup, take note of what spills over next time someone runs into you (intentionally or not.)

Secondly, we don’t need to ask God for a ministry – we just need to ask God to fill our cup on a regular basis. He’ll do the rest. (It’s very fun to watch!)

Hyatt was outside in his front yard when his neighbor happened by. He made the usual polite inquiry, “How are things with you?” Surprisingly, the man replied quite openly: “My baby boy is very sick. We are so worried.” Hyatt asked gently, “Can I pray for you?” The man nodded. Hyatt put his hand on his neighbor’s shoulder and prayed right then and there at the curb.

That’s overflow. God will bring those to us who need to know Him. When our cups are full of Him, we will be ready when He does.

Psalm 90:17 – “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.”

I would add: “--yes, establish the work of our cups.”

Lord God,

Fill me with Yourself. May Your favor flow from my life so that others know Who You are. Thanks that You do the work and the filling. Amen.