attitude

Our Hearts And Minds

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What are the thoughts and things that stir up your heart and your mind?  Sometimes, we make it too easy for evil to ensnare us.  We get so easily distracted and consumed by the things of this world and forget what we have learned from God.  Daily time with God’s Word and in prayer is the only resource I know of, for helping us to reset and refocus our hearts and our minds.  The self and the sinful nature will not give up on tearing you down and breaking you apart.  Find wisdom, strength and courage in Jesus Christ.  He knows more than anyone the battles we are facing as He too lived on earth and was tempted by the devil.  Seek Him and God’s Word and your heart and mind will be restored.  Amen.

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“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Colossians 3:1-2

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 while traveling through southern New Mexico)

Servant Leadership

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This is a way of being a leader that has care and empathy for others as much as anything.  A servant leader understands that we is far greater than me.  They include others in decision making, they pay attention to the growth and potential of those around them, they are not only good for a group or organization, their presence is necessary for sustainable growth and success.  You know a servant leader when you see one as they tend to be different from the majority of leaders…they listen, they have high self-awareness and they are often shining a spot light on others.  The greatest example of a servant leader we have is Jesus Christ…He gave of Himself to everyone and anyone, no matter what the “rules” of society were at the time.  He taught others and set them up for growth and success, and with Him as their leader, the disciples spread the message that has changed the world like nothing ever has or ever will.  They shared the Good News and it is still impacting the world today.  They were leaders working to serve as they were taught, knowing the greatest success will come when you empower others to be future leaders.  Seek the Lord Jesus Christ and His leadership as He is always working for your good.  Amen.

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“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 near the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior)

Living By The Spirit

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Life by the Spirit is a life that is conscious of our impact on others.  It is not always  looking inward and seeking to satisfy the self.  It is a balanced life, aware of the present more then the past or future.  It is a life that strives to put Christ in the center of everything…it is not easy to achieve in a dark and broken world nor are we able to do this alone.  I pray we seek a life that is led by the Spirit.  Amen.

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“The entire law is summed up in a single command:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Galatians 5:14-15

(This photo was taken in July of 2018 while hiking in Wisconsin near Lake Superior)

Change

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Life is not about what the world and other people are doing to us, it is about what are we doing to be a light, to encourage others, to be helpful and supportive, what are we doing to be different?  Micah Tyler released a song last fall…he introduces the story behind the song in the video I am sharing today about change and being different.

Different by Micah Tyler

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“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalms 51:10

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

Trust

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Why is it so hard?  What are we trusting?  If my foundation of trust is related to how everything affects me…I will have very little trust of others…and they with the same perspective will have very little trust in me.  If everyone has a center of self, then we all will be disappointed, frustrated and unable to trust.  Stephen Covey talks about trust in relationships as an emotional bank account…with deposits and withdrawals.  These are the behaviors we exhibit in our relationships.  The faith perspective is what relationship is at the center of your life, your heart and your mind?  Is it you with everyone else…or is it Christ and your relationship with Him?  The world tells you that you are at the center of everything…the Scriptures tells us that Christ should be.  This is a change in values, a change in perspective, a change in attitude…it takes time and Jesus Christ will be there with you every single step of the way.  Amen.

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

(This photo was taken in July of 2012 while on a walk in northwestern Wisconsin)

How We Connect

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People and relationships, these are two important elements in seeking and finding peace and joy in life.  The world says that money and comfort/convenience is what you need to be happy.  Focusing on others feeds our spiritual life and focusing on the self only feeds the self.  As with everything in life it is our choice.  God is pretty clear about the value of free will.  He is not interested in having a people that just do things at His command.  We are responsible for our behavior and the way we treat each other.  The best place to start is with our relationship with Jesus Christ…begin, continue or renew your relationship with our Lord and Savior and will find peace.  Amen.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Colossians 3:12-13

(This photo was taken in December of 2018 on Paradise Island, Bahamas)

A New Self

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There are many factors that play into how we think and behave in our everyday life.  Past experiences, our personal expectations and our routines all have a significant impact on us.  It is so easy to slip into a way of thinking, believing and living until we realize we aren’t really living we are just existing and going through the motions.  If we want to see things differently then we must be willing to change something in ourselves.  Change is difficult and uncomfortable, yet we must remember we are not alone.  God is with us and He will guide us through our efforts to change.  May we seek the will for God for our lives and be open changing our attitudes and perspective in developing a new self.  Amen.

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“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self…”

Ephesians 4:22-24

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 near Glacier National Park in Montana)

Attitude And Perspective

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These are two key elements that drive our thoughts, our actions and our behaviors.  The  amazing thing is we are in charge of our attitudes and our perspectives.  Which also means we are accountable for the attitude we choose or the perspective we believe about everything.  We try to blame the things we can’t control for why we choose the attitude or perspective we have, yet our responsibility is in how we choose to respond to events and actions or the behaviors of others.  At this time I would like to share an item written by Charles Swindoll that states a similar perspective about Attitude…

Attitude

by Charles Swindoll

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  It 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 that people will act 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.”

I pray we look to the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us to choose our attitude according to God’s will.  Amen.

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“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:21

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in White Sands National Monument in New Mexico)

Living In The Light

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Choose to be optimistic…choose to have gratitude…be thankful…appreciate all that you have been blessed with each day.  Some days you may feel like there is not much to be thankful for, yet I encourage you to seek something to have gratitude about receiving or having available.  The more you practice gratitude and thankfulness the easier it gets.  The world is full of good things and good people…we have to want to see them.  This is about changing our perspective and our attitude, not about the world and others changing things to fit our wants and desires.  May we be filled with the light of Christ in our everyday interactions.  Amen.

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“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Ephesians 4:29

(This photo was taken in June of 2018 near the border of South Dakota and Minnesota)

Give Thanks

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Grateful…to show appreciation…gratitude…content with what you have…to recognize others.  It is important to pause and to give thanks for what is good, for what we have been given or for what someone else has done for our benefit.  It is a choice of attitude to be thankful instead of feeling you deserve somethings or demand and expect things.  Choosing an attitude of gratitude focuses our thoughts the positive, the good and helps to drive a feeling of greater appreciation for something or someone.  Take a moment to look around you and around your life…who needs to know you appreciate them, who are you thankful for in your life.  Tell them, and remember Jesus Christ and what He did for you so that you could be reconciled with God…and tell Him how thankful you are for what He did and is doing.  May the Word of the Lord be planted in you.

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“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:4-5

(This photo was taken in March of 2018 in southern New Mexico)