What’s Your Attitude?

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I ran across this by Charles Swindoll and felt it was worth sharing. See what you think about it:

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.

by Chares Swindoll

Are You Making a Difference?

I don't know about you, but there a times when we can become very discouraged, disappointed, and upset with ourselves. Do you ever wonder if your life is pleasing to God? Do you make a difference in someone's life? We have been studying Jennifer Rothchild's book, Me, Myself, & Lies in bible class on Wednesday nights and tonight's lesson was great. The word that kept coming up this week was "perseverance" in the wake of our battles. Life is not always pleasant and can heap lots of troubles, heartache, and misery.  What can we do to get through the rough battles? Balance is important in life if you want to remain UNSHAKABLE. If you picture a table's four legs, we can remember the four areas that are important for us to keep grounded and firm.

1. The mental leg (keep mentally strong, don't get bored...learning never ends)
2. The emotional leg (not every feeling is a fact, nor are feelings all productive)
3. The physical leg (our body is God's temple with basic needs: eating, moving, & resting)
4. The spiritual leg (this leg bears ALL the weight and is most important to remain unshakable)

I want to leave you with this awesome video I ran across today (thank you Lord for that) which made me realize how very short a time we have on earth. I want to make each day count! Time's a wasting and too many 'beans' have gone. See what I mean by watching it for yourself.

Rules for Life - #1

I mentioned in  an earlier post that I wanted to take the seven Cardinal Rules of Life and search out scriptures for them. Today, I will focus on the first one:

1. Make peace with your past so it won't disturb your present
   
   
   Isaiah 43:18 (NIV)
   Forget the former things;do not dwell on the past. 
   
   John 14:27
   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
   
   John 16:33 (NIV) I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
   
   Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
     
   Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

   
   Colossians 3:15 (NIV) 
   Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

   
   

   2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV) 

   Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

   
   

   Romans 8:6 (NIV)
   
   

   The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 

   
   

   
   

   2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV) 
   
   

   Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
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   My thoughts:
   Dwelling on your past brings you down as you think about life before accepting Christ as your savior. Once you become into the blood of Christ, your former life is no more, it has been washed clean and God remembers it no more. I love the scripture in Psalms 103:12 that says, "As far as the east is to the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Folks, the east and west never meet! This means your sins are no more. If you continue to dwell on that sinful life and all the wrongs you committed; you are not trusting in God's word and His power of forgiveness. May you spend time on God's grace and mercy, thanking Him for bringing you peace as you live daily for Him.