The Valley of Depression ~ David

Who isn't familiar with the story of David and Bathsheba? Do you remember the depression David experienced when he was punished by God with the loss of his son? It's such a good story for us to think about because David represents the chinks in our armor too. Here is the shepherd boy David who had risen to be a king. David loved God and followed His ways. And God loved David. Who would believe that this godly man could fall so far...failing in his duty to lead his army, committing adultery, murder and cover-up?
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Let's begin with the prophet Nathan's going before David at court. He tells him a story about a rich man and a poor man, which is actually a parable about the wrongs David had done. You might be wondering how this all came about--how was it that the king was so bored that he couldn't sleep. David was walking on his rooftop rather than leading his army, which was his chief duty. He had stayed in the city while he sent Joab and the army to finish the war Israel was fighting against the Ammonites. David the king was at home watching Bathsheba bathe. She was so beautiful that he sent for her and lay with her, and she conceived a child.

                                                                                                

When she learned that she was expecting his child, she sent a note to David telling him about it. David brought her husband Uriah home from the battle and did everything possible to get him to go home to his wife. But Uriah was a true soldier and refused to take pleasure while his men were fighting. So David sent him back to the war with instructions to Joab to put him in the front of the battle and pull back so that he would be killed.  What David did was to take care of the problems.  But in the very last sentence of 2 Samuel 11:26, it says: "But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord." So then, God sent Nathan the prophet before David to make him aware that he hadn't been as successful as he thought in dealing with his situation.

                                                               

But Nathan didn't tell David that he had sinned by committing adultery and killing a man. Rather, he told him a story about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had many flocks and herds, but the poor man had only one little ewe lamb, which was much-loved by the family because it had been raised up with his children. In fact, the story says that "It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his own bosom; and it was like a daughter to him." Then what happened? A traveler came to the rich man and rather than take of his own animals, he took the poor man's lamb to prepare for him.
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Now David was greatly incensed, and said to Nathan very angrily: "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity." But Nathan said to him, "You are the man!"

And then Nathan went on to tell David what the Lord God of Israel wanted to say to him. Nathan reminded David of what God had done for him:  He had made him king over Israel after delivering him from the hand of Saul, and had given David Saul's household. But David had killed Uriah and taken his wife. Then God's judgment was pronounced: The sword would never depart from the house of David, adversaries would arise in his own house, and his wives would be taken in the sight of all the people. 

And when David had heard this, he said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And although God didn't cause David to die, in regard to the child conceived in adultery, God said: "However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."

After the birth of the child of David and Bathsheba, God struck the child so that it became ill. Now comes the Valley of Depression for David. David pleaded with God for the child; he fasted and lay on the ground all night. After seven days, the child died. And when David knew that the child was dead, he got up off the ground, washed, and changed his clothes. His servants were puzzled, and he said to them: "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me'."

Can you believe that David could suffer through this terrible sin against the Lord, take his punishment for it, and wholeheartedly  return to God? Remember that for the rest of his life,  he had many judgments playing out against him because of his sin. In fact, David's sin had far-reaching consequences for his kingdom in the future as well.  But rather than staying in the Valley of Depression, David comforted his wife, and God blessed them with another child whose name was Solomon. And God loved him. So even though David sinned as we all do,  his love of God and his  life are an inspiration to us forever!

Blessings...Mimi

  

The Valley of Discouragement ~ Elijah

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9

The Valley of Discouragement is a valley that no one wants to enter, but most of us have been there. And many of us are there now. What can we do with discouragement?

Look at Elijah. He had done everything that God told him to do: he had challenged the priests of Baal to a contest to see whether their god or God would win. It was a pageant-like show to prove to the people that there is only one true God. And when God answered Elijah's prayer and rained  fire from heaven which consumed the sacrifice, the people shouted, "The Lord, He is God!" Then Elijah had all the prophets of Baal killed. God won the contest!

So why did Elijah feel so discouraged? In I Kings 19:10, he said to God: "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." Elijah had to run for his life from Jezebel, who had sent him a message saying she was going to kill him because he had killed the prophets of Baal. Elijah escaped  into the wilderness--afraid and discouraged by his predicament. But God was watching out for him, and as he slept under a tree, an angel touched him and gave him food and water to fortify him for his journey. 

                                                                

Why was Elijah discouraged? And here I'll quote my brother Ron: "Elijah was speaking to God. He had done great things by the power of God and for His glory. However, he felt that his efforts had been in vain; I am the ONLY PERSON on earth who is still serving You--I am so discouraged, please take my life." (I Kings 19:4)

Ron continues, and I quote: "But Elijah obeyed the angel by refreshing himself with food in preparation for a journey. God said, 'Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him'." (I Kings 19:18) "By this statement and other manifestations of His power, God showed Elijah that obvious reason may appear for discouragement, but there are much greater reasons to overcome discouragement and to continue in obedience to God."

Poor Elijah! He had obeyed God and now he was in trouble with Jezebel! Remember how the Israelites became discouraged by their circumstances in the wilderness? And their discouragement included their leaders Moses and Aaron. And Moses was certainly so discouraged with the Israelites that he wanted to quit. God was so discouraged with mankind that he brought a flood to destroy most of the world. Later on God was also discouraged with the children of Israel.  After being led out of Egyptian slavery, the Israelites were impatient that Moses was on Mount Sinai so long. He was there to receive the Ten Commandments, but because he was delayed in coming down, the people asked Aaron to make gods to lead them. So they took all their gold and made a golden calf. Discouraged, you say? Yes, even God gets discouraged by our behavior!
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Did you catch what God said to Elijah? He told him that He had reserved seven thousand men in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal! Now that was a news flash to Elijah. Here he was in a cave, feeling absolutely alone and fearing for his life, when God sent him to stand on a mountain. Then God spoke to him. God's plan was to destroy Baal worship in Israel. And he commissioned Elijah and Elisha to get it done!

Yes, of course, there are reasons for discouragement in our lives. But it's our job as Christians to use our faith and trust in God to find a way through it. We don't know everything that's going on, so we can't wallow too long  in discouragement, because the good we could do will dissolve before our eyes. It's our duty to stand firm in God's will. Think of Noah who found favor in God's sight because of his faith. And even though Elijah became discouraged, his prayers and actions showed that he was a faithful servant.

Blessings...Mimi

The Valley of Decision~Making the Wrong Decision

First, as a sidenote, my brother Ron left to teach and preach in Russia yesterday. Please pray for his safety and health. As I told you at the beginning of these lessons, he wrote detailed  outliness about attitudes and decisions from which my blogs are issuing forth to you! I'm simply taking his scriptures and expanding on some of it in my own style. I'd love for something said to be of help to you in living your best life--a godly life. 

Today I thought it might be helpful--after looking at ways to make the right decision--to look at some people who made the wrong decision, to see what can happen when we don't listen to God's will for us. No matter how strongly God puts His guidelines before us, we often choose to do what we prefer. Let's see how this worked out for some familiar characters in the Bible.

In I Kings 12:1-19 you can read about one of the most blatant refusals to follow God's law with Rehoboam. Remember how Rehoboam had become king after his father Solomon's death? And remember how arrogant he was? His downfall began when Jereboam brought a group of people before him to ask that their taxes be lessened from the heavy burden which Solomon had placed on them.  Rehoboam told the people that he'd consider their request and get back to them. And he first asked Solomon's counselors what to do. They advised Rehoboam to follow the lead of the people and be kind to them. But then he asked his friends--young men who had grown up with him--what to do. And the young men advised him to let the people know that even though Solomon had been a hard taskmaster, he would be harder. Rehoboam made the decision to follow the advice of the young men and let the people know that he would be the hardest master they had ever known.

Rehoboam's decision left the people feeling that their king didn't care about them, and that they had no stake in the future of the kingdom which David had built. So they went to their tents in anger. And when Rehoboam sent his tax collector to take their money, they stoned him to death. This scared Rehoboam and he went running back to Jerusalem in a hurry. Then the 10 Northern tribes made Jeroboam their king. Thus the kingdom of Israel was divided into two kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom called Israel, and the Southern Kingdom called Judah.

What had seemed to Rehoboam to be a choice he could make freely because he was king turned into his losing 10 tribes! Making a decision was serious business for Rehoboam, who in his arrogance made the wrong one. And making decisions is serious business for you and me. Decisions often change the course of lives--ours and others! A wrong decision cost King Rehoboam 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel; it cost his nation its powerful and important position in the world forever!

And I want to mention that after Jeroboam was made king of the Northern Kingdom, he too was faced with decisions which led to his downfall. God had chosen Jeroboam to rule the 10 tribes, and it looked as though he was going to be a good leader--he had all the qualifications for it. But he began to worry because the people were still going to Jerusalem to worship in Solomon's great  temple with its golden doors. His concern was that they would reunite with the people there. So he closed the road leading to Jerusalem and set up places of worship  with golden calves closer to home. This wasn't pleasing to God, partly because the kingdom had been divided physically and politically, but not spiritually. And partly because this began the worship of idols that continued as long as Israel was a nation. But Jeroboam paid no attention to God's law, even when Ahijah the prophet was sent to tell him he was doing wrong.

                                                      

Jeroboam continued his evil ways of making priests from every class of people and having the people worship golden calves. God's displeasure was shown in the death of Jeroboam's young son, and in the judgment spoken against his house by Ahijah the prophet, which you can read about in I Kings 14:1-18. Jeroboam brought disaster on his own house, so that if a king thereafter was said to have followed in the ways of Jeroboam, it meant that they were evil. Wrong decisions cost Jeroboam God's support, and the house of Jeroboam was eventually destroyed.


The story of Jeroboam shows that he made decisions based on his own fears and wants, not on God's will. And as the story continued, you could see that just like Rehoboam and Jeroboam, we may fall into the same pattern of deciding to follow our own way. Very often a small decision begins our walk down the road of disaster. 

These are just a few thoughts from the book of I Kings, using two great kings to show how decisions can change the course of many lives. Both kings continued on their way as kings, but both suffered severe setbacks in leading their people. Eventually Rehoboam's kingdom was a shadow of its former self, and  Jeroboam's people disappeared from the face of the earth. Perhaps a look at these kings  will help you consider your own decisions more closely. God bless you as you think about His will for you and your family.

Blessings...Mimi  

In the Valley of Decision ~ the Right Stuff

I will lift up my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1-2

Do you have the right stuff? No, I don't mean to be an astronaut...I mean the right stuff to make decisions for your life. How do you make decisions? Do you go on feelings or "think so's" or your mood to make choices--decisions that can change the course of your life? Are your decisions based only on what you want and not so much on what you really need? I want you to consider a way to make decisions which will make you happier, and move you closer to pleasing God at the same time. And that IS what you want, isn't it? I thought so! Now let's look at a few ways we can know our decisions are based on the right stuff.

Well, you knew that there was good advice in the Psalms, didn't you? There is a most beautiful psalm which tells us exactly how to have the right stuff, and that is Psalm 1:1-6. It says:

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

                                                                                   

So the very first thing you need to put on your list is to study the word of God often--like so many people who have commited to  reading through the Bible in a year. It's so valuable to expose your heart and mind to God's word every day. At this point in our history, I'd say that it's vital. The Psalm says to meditate day and night...which really means to keep its admonitions in your head and heart all the time.

                                  
God gave us His word so that we don't have to wonder what he wants us to do, or how we can please Him. He gave us a way to make sure our decisions--even the hard ones--would be the right ones. Sometimes our decisions seem impossible to make, impossible to see through to the other side, but as humans, we just do the best we can with the information we have. Not easy all the time, I know. And for some of you, never easy. But it will get better if you depend on God's help. You may learn to think like David, who says in Psalm 119:97: "Oh, how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day."

The reason David loved the law of God was that it was a light for him, a man who went from being a shepherd to being a king. He expresses his appreciation for God's law  in verse 105: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. And again in verse 130: "The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." So what can we learn from David's words? We learn that we too can be shown the right way through the light of God's word.

And to those who have neglected their duty through the years, Hebrews 5:12-14 says: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." We can only be discerning when we have a way to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, or best versus poor. And there has to be a basis for discernment, and that basis is the word of God.

Romans 1 tells us that the just live by faith--something that's impossible to do without knowing the gospel of Christ! And why is that? Because a way that seems right to us may be all wrong. Proverbs 16:25 says: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Whoa! The end is death?! I don't like that at all, do you? It's all a big package that we accept or reject.  

But if you've been keeping up, you'll remember the whole duty of man. In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, we are told by Solomon, who learned this lesson the hard way, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." Now I don't know about you, but that sounds like a serious statement made by the wisest king to ever live.

And why is that important for us to hear and understand and do? Because in 2 Corinthians 5:10, the apostle Paul says: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." That means you and me and everyone else that lives--or has ever lived--on the face of the earth. Now I think that gives all of us something to chew on for a while. 

Have a great week and may you have the wisdom to seek truth and light.

Blessings...Mimi 

The Valley of Decision ~ Ruth

One of the most dramatic decisions in the Bible comes in the book of Ruth. Her story is simple: She married Mahlon, a son of Elimelech, a man who moved his family from Judah to Moab because of famine. And when he and his sons died, his wife Naomi and his daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, were left alone. Because Naomi had heard that God had fed his people with bread, she decided to go back to Judah. She told Ruth and Orpah to go back to their own families to find husbands. Both women wept at being separated from Naomi, and Orpah returned to her family. But the decision for Ruth was very different. She clung to Naomi, and spoke these passionate words to her:
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"Entreat me not to leave you,

 Or to turn back from following

         after you;
 For wherever you go, I will go;

And wherever you lodge, I will
          lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
Where you die I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me also,
If anything but death parts you and me."

These words show the heart of Ruth--her passionate nature, her love and loyalty.  Her decision also shows her attitude: she was unafraid, having experienced a good life with her husband and his family.  So she went with Naomi back to Judah.

The two women arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Ruth worked in the field of Boaz--a wealthy relative of Naomi's husband--to glean heads of grain after the reapers. Boaz learned about Ruth and said to her: "It has been fully reported to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and you have come to a people whom you did not know before." Boaz saw that Ruth was an exceptional woman.

And he hoped that God would reward her for taking refuge with Israel. He told her to stay in his field and eat at his table. Then he spoke to the reapers and told them to leave some grain for her. When Naomi saw all the grain that Ruth brought home, she said, "Where did you glean today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you." Ruth had already been blessed by her decision to stay with Naomi. And throughout the barley and wheat harvests, she stayed with the young women gathering in the field of Boaz, while living with her mother-in-law.

                                                                              
Knowing she had no more sons for Ruth to marry, Naomi made a decision to secure Ruth's future. She gave Ruth instructions about making her situation known to Boaz. Ruth dressed herself and went to the threshing floor and asked Boaz to take her under his wing, as he was a close relative. After Boaz negotiated with her closest relative, who did not want to marry her, he took Ruth as his wife, so that Mahlon's line could be perpetuated.

 And when Ruth bore a son to Boaz, the women said to Naomi: "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him." And the child was named Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Now think again about what happened because of Ruth's decision to go with her mother-in-law. Ruth was blessed, Naomi was blessed, Boaz was blessed, and because of David through whom the Messiah came, the whole world was blessed! You and I don't think that our everyday decisions make a difference, do we? But like Ruth's decision, our own decisions mean a lot in our lives, because they add up to who we are and what we are as years go by. You can't expect to become a woman like  Ruth, if you're making the wrong decisions. Every bad decision you make takes you on a path that God didn't intend for you. If you want to make a difference for good in the world, you must listen to God's word and follow His counsel!

Blessings...Mimi

The Valley of Decision~ Joshua

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.  Joel 3:5

We've looked at ways to maintain the right and proper attitude in our lives, and now I want us to look at how our attitude influences our decisions. You make many decisions every day--choosing one thing to do or not to do all day long. But when you first wake up every morning, do you ask yourself this question: What shall I do for the Lord today?

As you're busily engaged in daily activities and making decisions which affect your life on earth, you may tend to ignore God's will for you. You may forget that today is the only day that you can serve the Lord!

When Joshua was talking to the people at Shechem, he recounted their history and what God had done for them. He tells them to put away the gods of their fathers because the one true God brought them out of Egypt and out of slavery, doing great signs along the way, and preserving them from the people whose land they had passed through. They had been given a land for which they didn't labor, cities to dwell in which they didn't build, and vineyards and olive groves to eat which they didn't plant. Asking the people to serve God in sincerity and truth, putting away the gods from Egypt, Joshua said:

"Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua knew what his attitude toward God would be, but he wasn't sure about the attitude of the people.
                                    
Joshua talked to the people to help them understand the commitment they would be making--that it would be better not to say they would serve the Lord, if they weren't going to. But then the people showed an attitude of gratefulness for all that God had done for them, and said: "We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God." And Joshua made a statute and an ordinance in Shechem that the people would serve the Lord. And he set up a large stone by the sanctuary of the Lord as a witness to the people.

What has God done for you? What is your attitude toward serving God? Is your decision to serve God or are you choosing other gods to worship...maybe money, fun, or work? Like Joshua and the children of Israel, you can choose to serve the Lord daily too! Think about what it means to your family--your parents, your children, your church family, and to the world at large. As Christians, we must stand against all the things in the world that drain away our energy for the service and worship of God.

I hope your week is going along very well.
Blessings...Mimi

The Proper Daily Attitude~

It's still very cold here, but has warmed up enough so that we don't have to worry so much about our pipes freezing and losing our heat source. I'm very thankful for that today too. I'm going to write a short lesson about something we can do every day to maintain the right attitude. I think we forget sometimes that this is the whole duty of man.

And now we ARE getting closer to the heart of what you and I can do to have the right attitude. Not in a general sense, but you and I in particular on a daily basis. You'll probably remember what was said in Matthew after the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees. They got together and one of them--a lawyer--asked Him a question to test Him: "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"

And what did Jesus reply? He said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." And He told them that this was the first and great commandment, and that the second was very much like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." In other words, that covers the whole Old Testament! What do you think of that? Don't you agree that is the most significant statement Jesus could have made?

And if we go to I John 5:3, he gives us the same instruction: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world." So there you have it in black and white--or in this case blue: Love God and love your neighbor. You may have to practice, but since it's the most important thing you can do, just practice! And John goes on to say that our faith in Jesus--faith that He is the Son of God--is the victory that overcomes the world! God has given us His Son and so many other spiritual and physical blessings. Ask yourself, what is your attitude toward Him? Do you show that you love Him by keeping His commandments?

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Blessings...Mimi

The Apostle Paul's Attitude ~

Hello! Hello! Is anybody there??? With so many states frozen over, I'm beginning to think the answer is NO! Our high today was 17 degrees, and we had a low of -6 last night. I'm praying that we don't lose heat. I'm not sure what I'd do, but probably go to Lisa's since she has electric heaters. I'm thankful that I have some choices. 

And so do you when it comes to your attitude. We all have choices when it comes to acting out our faith and beliefs. Think about the apostle Paul speaking to the elders at Epheseus as he was preparing to go to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit has shown him that "chains and tribulations" await   him, and he says:  "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. .... Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men." How could Paul say this with conviction? Because as he states: "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God." Paul's attitude was that he had said everything he could to give them understanding and counsel--not of his own wisdom--but the counsel of God. {Acts 20:22-27}

And to the Philippians, Paul shows much more about his attitude. He tells the brethren that the things which happened to him turned out to further the gospel. And even though some of the people were then preaching from envy and strife, others were preaching from goodwill.

This meant that whether it was pretending or truth, the gospel of Christ was preached, and Paul rejoiced at the news. The important thing, Paul says, is that he magnify Christ in his body, whether through life or death. And he didn't know which would be best, saying: "For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." What an attitude! He knows that the people need him, and he is willing to live in order to share their joy of faith and their rejoicing in Jesus Christ. {Phil 1:12-26}

                                                              

Further along in Philippians, Paul is rejoicing at their care for him. And his statement of acceptance and contentment is an attitude which would benefit all of us. He says: "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
 {Phil 4:11-13}

And when Paul spoke of doing things because Christ strengthened him, he was showing all of us that we too can depend on the strength of Christ in everything we do. With the world in the shape it's in regarding a lack of knowledge of God and the Bible, we know that things are seriously out of sync. And even in the U. S. today, we see so many problems on every hand--people who mistreat their families and friends without thinking, and problems within families because no consideration or appreciation is felt. There is an epidemic of unhappiness, laziness, and troubled souls who look to themselves rather than to God. But one of the things you and I can do is to keep the right attitude as we go through our trials and problems. That attitude rests in God. And for right now, I think we need some strength to get through this cold, snowy weather! I hope the best for all of you.

Blessings...Mimi  

More on the Proper Attitude for Your Life ~

There's snow on the ground and it's still snowing! On days like this, I want to sit and read or write all day--something I do often in any case. But, for now, I want to give you the lessons by Ron Roark on Attitudes. If you want to shift your life into a room where sunlight lives, learn from the good Book itself! There are so many examples of the proper attitudes for saints. Remember: beginning with the right attitude is important; keeping the right attitude is paramount!   

And what attitude did the people have when Peter was preaching on Pentecost? He was testifying and exhorting the people, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." What happened? "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." The people listening to Peter had the proper attitude and they were saved. {Acts 2:41}

On the other hand, Paul reasoned with Felix, the Roman governor, "about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come." Felix was afraid and said, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." Felix knew that he was hearing the truth, but he didn't have the proper attitude about it, so he sent Paul away. Do you close your ears to the truth?
{Acts 24:25}                                              

And the same thing happened with Agrippa, another Roman governor. When he heard Paul's teaching, what was his attitude?  He said, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." But was that the right attitude? "Almost" amounted to "no." {Acts 26:28} 

And what about the leaders of the day--the Pharisees and lawyers? Luke tells us what happened when they heard the preaching of John the Baptist: "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him." If any group would logically have the proper attitude, it should have been the Pharisees and lawyers, because they were the teachers and  leaders. They believed in a Messiah. But they rejected the truth because of their wrong attitude. {Luke 7:30}

And none of us would leave out Abraham when looking at the right and proper attitude, which was evident when he followed God "by faith." You may remember that "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." Also, by faith Abraham dwelt in the land of promise, and by faith Abraham offered up his only begotten son, whom Sarah conceived by faith. Do we have enough belief to live our lives "by faith"? {Hebrews 11:8}

These are good examples of those who showed their attitudes by their actions. You too are leaving an example which is either a right one or a wrong one. Who is following your example? Where will your example be recorded? Give some thought to your own life and what it means to have the proper attitude--not only for yourself, but also for the sake of those who look to you as an example. 

Blessings...Mimi