Your Attitude

Charlie Brown · #1 02-24-2007, 04:46 PM

Your Attitude

by Steve Ares

Job 2:8 - But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (NKJV)

In 1863, during the Civil War battle at Chancellorsville, Stonewall Jackson lost his left arm. The next day Jackson said to Chaplain Lacy, "You see me severely wounded but not depressed. I am sure that my Heavenly Father designs this affliction for my good. I am perfectly satisfied, that either in this life, or in that which is to come, I shall discover that what is now regarded as a calamity, is a blessing. If it were in my power to replace my arm, I would not dare to do it, unless I could know it was the will of my Heavenly Father. "

It's been said that "we cannot change our past ... we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. " Our attitudes create the "panes of glass" in the "window" of our mind, through which we see the world and react to the events that happen in our lives. We have a choice; we can either focus on life's problems or on life's promises, such as " all things work together for the good."

Vitkor Frankl, World War II concentration camp survivor, said "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way ." Paul's choice is revealed in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, when he said. "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (NIV) Paul could have said: we are "hard-pressed", "perplexed", "abandoned" and "struck down", but instead he said: we're " not crushed", "not in despair", "not abandoned" and we are " not destroyed." Paul focused on his mission - not his misery.

You need to continually guard your attitude from becoming infected by the Emotional Cancer of complaining, criticizing, and comparing. Clearly, one part of God's Will for your life is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, when Paul tells us, " In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Remember: God decides the trial, you decide your attitude. But before you decide, just make sure you "Count Your Blessings"

Count Your Blessings
Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

#2 02-24-2007, 04:48 PM

Count your marbles so you know when you have lost one or two

Nahum · #3 02-24-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Brown

Your Attitude

by Steve Ares

Job 2:8 - But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (NKJV)

In 1863, during the Civil War battle at Chancellorsville, Stonewall Jackson lost his left arm. The next day Jackson said to Chaplain Lacy, "You see me severely wounded but not depressed. I am sure that my Heavenly Father designs this affliction for my good. I am perfectly satisfied, that either in this life, or in that which is to come, I shall discover that what is now regarded as a calamity, is a blessing. If it were in my power to replace my arm, I would not dare to do it, unless I could know it was the will of my Heavenly Father. "

It's been said that "we cannot change our past ... we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. " Our attitudes create the "panes of glass" in the "window" of our mind, through which we see the world and react to the events that happen in our lives. We have a choice; we can either focus on life's problems or on life's promises, such as " all things work together for the good."

Vitkor Frankl, World War II concentration camp survivor, said "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way ." Paul's choice is revealed in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, when he said. "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (NIV) Paul could have said: we are "hard-pressed", "perplexed", "abandoned" and "struck down", but instead he said: we're " not crushed", "not in despair", "not abandoned" and we are " not destroyed." Paul focused on his mission - not his misery.

You need to continually guard your attitude from becoming infected by the Emotional Cancer of complaining, criticizing, and comparing. Clearly, one part of God's Will for your life is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, when Paul tells us, " In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Remember: God decides the trial, you decide your attitude. But before you decide, just make sure you "Count Your Blessings"

Count Your Blessings
Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

Good stuff, Charlie! You really needed this.

Charlie Brown · #4 02-24-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Good stuff, Charlie! You really needed this.

Well, with looks like mine, I have to encourage myself some way or another.

Brett Prince · #5 02-24-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Brown

Well, with looks like mine, I have to encourage myself some way or another.

Amen! I love it when you starting preaching truth!

BoredOutOfMyMind · #6 02-26-2007, 01:34 AM

bump for the Monday Crew.

(who on a Monday does not need a better attitude?!?)

#7 02-26-2007, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Brown

Your Attitude

by Steve Ares

Job 2:8 - But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (NKJV)

In 1863, during the Civil War battle at Chancellorsville, Stonewall Jackson lost his left arm. The next day Jackson said to Chaplain Lacy, "You see me severely wounded but not depressed. I am sure that my Heavenly Father designs this affliction for my good. I am perfectly satisfied, that either in this life, or in that which is to come, I shall discover that what is now regarded as a calamity, is a blessing. If it were in my power to replace my arm, I would not dare to do it, unless I could know it was the will of my Heavenly Father. "

It's been said that "we cannot change our past ... we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. " Our attitudes create the "panes of glass" in the "window" of our mind, through which we see the world and react to the events that happen in our lives. We have a choice; we can either focus on life's problems or on life's promises, such as " all things work together for the good."

Vitkor Frankl, World War II concentration camp survivor, said "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way ." Paul's choice is revealed in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, when he said. "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (NIV) Paul could have said: we are "hard-pressed", "perplexed", "abandoned" and "struck down", but instead he said: we're " not crushed", "not in despair", "not abandoned" and we are " not destroyed." Paul focused on his mission - not his misery.

You need to continually guard your attitude from becoming infected by the Emotional Cancer of complaining, criticizing, and comparing. Clearly, one part of God's Will for your life is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, when Paul tells us, " In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Remember: God decides the trial, you decide your attitude. But before you decide, just make sure you "Count Your Blessings"

Count Your Blessings
Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

Good stuff!