Fishermen
aren’t the only ones who can tell tales about “the one that got away”! I
recently missed a special photo opportunity and, like the fishermen, I’ll have
to elaborate on what I missed at the Children’s Sermon on August 8th. Due to a
small group of children, Rev. Mark called for some “young at heart” adults to
join them. Kathy Scott grabbed Carl Hazlett’s hand and before he knew what had
him, he was seated on the floor in the circle around Rev. Mark. That’s when I
discovered that my camera battery was dead!
That picture
is still stored in my head and I could kick myself for not realizing my battery
was not charged. It would be so easy for me to concentrate on the losses of the
past, keep kicking myself and get bogged down in negative thoughts and
feelings. Instead, it is best to recharge my battery and get on with my life.
In
Grace for the Moment
by Max Lucado,
Philippians 4:8 is
used to remind us: “Whatever
is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable— If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think
about such things.”
Thinking
is the
operative word in this scripture, and thinking involves studying and focusing.
It is so easy to focus on the negative things around us. It’s impossible to
pick up the newspaper, check the Internet, or listen to the news on t.v. and not
come away without negative thoughts and feelings. Paul is telling us to keep
the bad stuff out. Just like focusing the camera on positive activities and
moments in time, we need to focus our thoughts on all of the positive things
happening in our lives.
How sad it
is to be so focused on negative thoughts, living in the past, and constantly
thinking and blaming others. I can just imagine how miserable a person such as
that must be. Sooner or later such a negative person is bound to implode upon
him or herself. Just imagining this does not give me a sense of satisfaction.
Rather it makes me realize how unhappy and miserable that person must be. Just
as it’s easier to get negative attention than positive, there are some people
who do not know how to focus on the good things in their lives. If I could
advise such negative thinking people, my advice would be the words to the
following song,
Count
Your Blessings,
written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1897:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Paul is
telling us, in his letter to the Philippians, to cultivate a list of blessings.
If today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions, just think what focusing on our
blessings and the positive aspects of our lives and circumstances can achieve!
Note: "Learning to Lean" performed by the
Blackwood Brothers Quartet