Barbara's Banter

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Some say the story of Christmas begins with the birth of the Christ child, but here’s the rest of the story…

Long before Jesus was born, there was something wonderful: the promise of His coming and the promise of redemption for mankind. Over 300 prophecies were fulfilled through the birth of Jesus, His life, His ministry, His death, and His resurrection.

Psalm 130:7-8 told us, “O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption. He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”

Jeremiah 23:4-5 said a day was coming when God would raise up a king who would reign wisely and do what was right. His name would be “The Lord Our Righteousness.”

Isaiah 11:2-5 said the Spirit of the Lord would rest on Him, and the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, fear of the Lord. He would not judge by what He saw or heard, but with righteousness.

Isaiah 9:6-7 told us, “Unto us a Child will be born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”

Not just the promise of Christ’s coming was revealed in Scripture, but the details of how it would come to be. He would be from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10/Luke 3:3). He would be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:3/Matthew 1:1), Isaac (Genesis 17:19/Luke 3:24), Jacob (Numbers 24:17/ Matthew 1:2), Jesse (Isaiah 11:10/Romans 15:12), and David (Jeremiah 23:5-6/ Matthew 1:1).  

He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:11/ Luke 1:26-31) in Bethlehem (Micah 5: 2/Luke 2:4-7), worshipped by shepherds (Psalm 72:9/ Luke 2:8-15), and honored by kings (Psalm 72:10, 17/Isaiah 60:3/ Matthew 2:1-11). The slaughter of children (Jeremiah 31:15/Matthew 2:16-18) and flight to Egypt (Hosea 11:1/Matthew 2:14-15) were foretold as well.

These lists can go on and on and on. So the birth of Jesus was truly a miraculous event!

I love Christmas. I love the thought of jolly old St. Nick, stockings hung with care, sleigh bells jingling in the snow, trees twinkling with lights, halls decked with holly, colorful presents lovingly wrapped, a snowman coming to life, Christmas card greetings, kissing under the mistletoe, and a red-nosed reindeer. I laugh when I hear “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”—although it’s not quite as funny now that I am a grandma. I even secretly wish Santa would slip a sable (faux sable, if I want to be politically correct) under the tree for me. It all adds to the festivities!

However, all of that can’t compare to the gift Jesus brought—the redemption of mankind. We must never forget that without Christ there is really no “Christ”mas. So this Christmas season as you sing your favorite carols, may you remember the birth of Jesus. Because here’s the rest of the story…only in honoring Christ can we truly partake of the genuine joy in celebrating!

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Oops! I apologize if you received an unexpected Barbara’s Banter post titled Indoor Plumbing. Unfortunately, my blog system posted this way too early since it is scheduled for January. Sometimes computer systems and programs have a will of their own. Sorry for the inconvenience! Life is just one glitch after another, but we muddle through. Have a great week! Think positive thoughts as we enter the Christmas season. Merry! Merry!

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

When I need a spiritual reality check I go to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Here are three key elements to a relationship with God: rejoicing, giving thanks, and praying. We should rejoice always, regardless of circumstances. We should find something to be thankful for in the good times and bad. And we should pray without ceasing, but exactly what does that mean?  

We all know that prayer should be a big part of the Christian life. There are times when our hearts ache and we kneel to pray in a secluded place. Sometimes we stroll in a park and pray. Maybe we sit in a garden and think about God’s Word. One aspect of praying without ceasing is to never give up praying. Even if we are discouraged, going through trials, grief stricken, tired, or weary, Jesus told us we should always pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).

Another facet of that phrase refers to God walking beside us throughout the day, like our best friend. We have access to God all day long. What a privilege! We can dialog with Him day in, day out. Our daily experiences become opportunities to share our lives with Him. As we totally surrender our lives to God, we can look beyond circumstances and set our minds on what God would have us think about (Colossians 3:2).

Short, little talks with God throughout the day can help us build a relationship with God and keep spiritual perspective. When we wake up we can say, “Good morning Lord. What do we have going on today?” We can thank Him for the taste of that cup of coffee we enjoy so much because it helps us start our day. When we read a passage of scripture or our daily devotional, we can ask God how we can apply it today.

On the way to work, we can discuss that problem we are having with a coworker and ask God to give us patience so we don’t say something we shouldn’t. When we pass a car accident or hear an ambulance, we can pray for the people involved. As we drive, perhaps thoughts of certain people pop into our mind and we can ask God to protect, encourage, or comfort them depending on what’s currently happening in their lives.

When we are held up in a traffic jam, we can ask God to help us realize there are so many worse things that could be happening to us. When a friend calls, talking about some trouble she is having with her teenager, we can ask God to give us the wisdom to say something helpful. When a difficult situation comes up at work, we can ask God to help us be part of the solution, not the problem. As we fall into bed at night, we can tell God three things we are thankful for.

The list is endless. Of course, we want to take time to listen as well. God may speak to us through a beautiful sunset exclaiming that He is the Creator, or through a child’s laughter reminding us to become as little children. Prayer can be a conversation we have with God all day long. We are conscious of His presence. Letting God walk with us and be part of our daily lives will not only enhance our relationship with Him, but it will keep our minds focused on spiritual things. Then we will be better equipped to rejoice always and give thanks!  

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Blessings are mentioned specifically over 400 times throughout the Bible and implied many more. No wonder Christians use the term freely in their walk with God. Prayers are filled with asking God to bless our children, grandchildren, spouses, parents, relatives, friends, co-workers, and so on. We sign our cards with “God bless” and use phrases like “Have a blessed day.” There is no better word to describe God’s goodness towards us and hopefully we thank Him daily for our blessings. However, I think it’s also important that we be a blessing to others.

When God told Abraham to leave his country, God told him what he would do. “I will make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make you a great name and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:1-2) The NLT says, “…and you will be a blessing to others.” I meditate on that scripture a lot. Am I a blessing to others?

We know it is more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35). We know that we should share our blessings with others (Matthew 10:37). But I think being a blessing to others goes deeper than that. A blessing is something conducive to happiness, good fortune, or a godsend. Do people feel better or blessed just being around us? Or would they rather hang out with someone with a brighter outlook on life?

As Christians we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Our job is not to solve the world’s problems, but show forth a little light in the darkness. Does our very presence light up the world of those we meet? Or do we light up a room and make everyone happy by leaving? Which is just another way of asking, “Are we a blessing to others?”

Being a blessing to others is not contingent on everything going right in our lives. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned, they chose not to curse their situation, but to praise God. Their example blessed the other prisoners and the prison guards (Acts 16:25-31). Sometimes our actions during times of adversity can bless others and we won’t even know it. If we yield to God, He can do miraculous things through us that we are totally unaware of.

We really don’t know how many lives we touch. It is said that one person can influence up to 10,000 people in a lifetime. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could be a blessing to each and every one of them in some small way? I think I’d settle for just being a blessing to my family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

My nature isn’t one to spread sunshine where ever I go, so I need a little extra help to be a blessing. That’s why I continually ask God, “Please make me a blessing to others!”

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Through the years, the Dahlgren family has learned to roll with the punches, go with the flow, and take calamities in stride. Our children have become very adept at adapting quickly. If you read my book Zorro and Me, you will see they’ve had lots of practice. Well, this Thanksgiving was no exception.

After over a year of our family being separated with COVID restrictions, this was the first time we would all be together. I was so excited! It would be a whole week of activities which started with our grandson Dakota and his girlfriend flying in for the weekend. They are part of a dance troupe called On2ourage which would be performing for several nights in San Francisco. Our daughter Sherisa would come on Sunday and stay through Thanksgiving. The rest of the family live locally and would be in and out of the house all week.

The fun started the day Dakota arrived. The main light in our kitchen went out. We thought we would have to replace it, but then the upstairs and downstairs bathroom lights went out, along with the stair and hallway lights. Fortunately, the outlets and all the other lights in the house worked. It wasn’t the circuit breaker. We knew an electrician was needed, but we thought we could get through the holiday with lamps in all the rooms requiring light. Nothing like a little ambiance when you need to cook or take a shower.

Speaking of showers, on Thanksgiving morning the upstairs shower got stuck and would not stop running. Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink because we had to turn the water in the house off. The only solution was to take the faucet out of the shower. We decided to wait until after the holiday to call a plumber since everyone could still use the downstairs shower.

While the water was off, we were having a kitchen crisis. Our daughter Shelly was trying a new turkey recipe which called for parchment paper to cover the bird while cooking. After about twenty minutes, a noxious odor came from the oven. When we peeked in to see, we discovered that the parchment paper was on fire. We closed it quickly while Zorro grabbed a fire extinguisher. When we opened it again, thankfully the fire was out.

There was ash residue on the turkey, so we decided to rinse it off and try, try again — this time with tin foil.  But wait, the water was turned off so how could we rinse it? I grabbed a gallon container of distilled water I had on hand and we scrubbed Mr. Turkey clean. Back in the oven he went.

To add to the festivities, my knee decided to “go out” which it inconveniently does every few years. So I’m hobbling around on a cane. Sherisa’s greyhound and Matthew’s Chiweenie dog are trying to adjust to each other. I could go on but I think you get the idea…

Needless to say, our Thanksgiving dinner was two hours late. However, the turkey was done to perfection as well as all the side dishes. Navigating family dinners is not as easy as it used to be, but all our vegans, gluten free, and FODMAP people had a feast.

And boy, were we thankful! This may qualify as the most memorable Dahlgren family Thanksgiving EVER! The food was delicious. The family was fun! God is good!

P.S. We are also thankful for the plumbers and electricians who are scheduled to come this week.  

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

The heart is at the core of our physical existence. We can live without a foot, leg, arm, hand, gall bladder, ear, eye, or even brain function, but without a heart—we die.

The heart is also central in reference to emotions, illustrated by these idioms. When we eat our hearts out, we are envious. Our heart breaks when we are sad. We lose our hearts when we fall in love. We follow our hearts when we are happy. When we say something from the bottom of the heart, we mean it sincerely. The cold-hearted are unforgiving. When we pour out our hearts, we are telling others how we feel.  

God talks a lot about the heart from a spiritual perspective. At times, it can be difficult to know and rule our hearts. We are emotional beings who can easily be led astray by our feelings. That’s why God says the heart can be deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).

God knows our hearts better than we know ourselves (Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 9:4). We can pretend we feel a certain way but eventually our hearts reveal our true attitudes. A good heart will bring about good for others. An evil heart will bring about bad for others. The truth will always come out. Our words eventually belie our true intentions (Luke 6:45). We will put time, money, and effort into where our heart is (Matthew 6:21).

Evil thoughts start in the heart. It is here the thought process can lead us to be prideful, foolish, envious, stubborn, rebellious, and lustful (Mark 20-23; Hebrews 3:8). However, it is also in the heart where we can have love, hope, compassion, and forgiveness (Romans 5:5; Matthew 18:35).

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy can rot the bones (Proverbs 14:30). A cheerful heart is as good as medicine to heal, but a crushed spirit brings us down (Proverbs 17:22). How we feel guides what we do. That’s why God says to guard our hearts. Our hearts determine how we live our lives.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV).

How does one guard a heart? The Bible tells us that we become what we think about in our hearts (Proverbs 23:7). So it might benefit us to dwell on the positive aspects of life, not the negative. Philippians 2:8 gives us some good advice: “Finally, brothers, 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.”

Sometimes we use the phrase “to get to the heart of an issue.” That’s what God would like to do with us. Get into our very hearts and live His life within us. God wants to be a part of our lives. When we seek Him with our hearts desiring a relationship with Him, He readily makes Himself available. With God in our lives, our hearts are much easier to guard. 

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

To worship God means we admire, adore, esteem, exalt, venerate, honor, glorify, respect, revere, pray to, invoke, supplicate, sanctify, and extol Him.  

Why do we worship God? Is it so God will be pleased with us? Do we feel if we worship God, He will be happy with us and give us favor? Not really, because God has already accepted us.

We worship God because He is our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. We worship out of gratitude for who God is and what He has done. Worship acknowledges God’s greatness, His kingship in our lives, and our willingness to have Him rule over us.

Here are just a few reasons to worship God:

• God is our Creator.
• God is our Sustainer.
• God is our Redeemer.
• God loves us.
• God is with us.
• God will never leave or forsake us.
• God is good.
• God will deal with those who have done us wrong.
• God does not condemn us.
• God is for us.
• God will supply our needs.
• God understands us.
• God hears our prayers.
• God loves us enough to not give us everything we want.
• God answers our prayers.
• God is our Comforter.
• God extends His love and grace to us.
• God is our friend.
• Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.
• Jesus rose from the dead.
• Jesus is our Savior.
• God gave us the gift of salvation.
• God has a plan for us.
• God desires a relationship with us.
• God cares about us.
• God has only our best interests in mind.

With Thanksgiving approaching, meditating on these reasons to praise God becomes even more meaningful because thanking God is another way to worship Him. Thanking God means we are appreciative and grateful for all the things listed above—and so much more!

God desires an intimate relationship with us, so try this little experiment. On Thanksgiving Day, take a little time to repeat the list above to yourself, but put the words “I’m thankful that” in front of each phrase. To really make it personal, replace words like “us,” “we,” and “our” with “me” or “my.” Looks like we have a lot more to be thankful for than just a turkey dinner and football.

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Programs like Facebook actually give a false concept of what friendship is all about. Through Facebook, we can now have more friends than people we have met in real life. But imagine getting a notification from Facebook saying: Jesus wants to be your friend. Would you press the accept icon? We should—because Jesus really does want to be our friend.

And what a friend He is! People will always disappoint us. Even our best friends can sometimes let us down, but Jesus never will. Jesus is that friend closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). He’ll never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). 

Jesus told the disciples in John 15:15, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

The disciples might have been surprised when Jesus called them friends. But that’s how Jesus felt. He walked with them, talked with them, and even washed their feet. He shared intimate details of His own relationship with God the Father and invited them to participate in that relationship. 

In John 15:13, Jesus also said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” I guess He meant it because that’s what He did. He died for His disciples and He died for us, because Jesus is our friend. 

There is no better friend to have than Jesus. Just think about it. He accepts us unconditionally. He loves us when we are unlovable. He wants to spend time with us. He’ll never leave or forsake us. He wants only the best for us. He rejoices with us when we accomplish something. He comforts us when we are weary. He picks us up when we fall. He stays with us when we are frightened. He cries with us when we are sad. He laughs with us when we are happy. That’s what friends do. 

As we travel life’s highway, friends can come and go. Sadly, some BFFs will drift out of our lives and become distant memories. Sometimes they move and it’s hard to stay in contact. Sometimes they get offended and no amount of apologizing can soothe the hurt. Sometimes they change and don’t want to have us in their inner circle any more. However, the friendship with Jesus can remain constant.

Jesus does not change (Hebrews 13:8). If our friendship with Jesus dwindles, it’s because we no longer desire to be friends with Him. And through Jesus, we will always be welcome in that Trinitarian “in-crowd”—that “inner circle” of friends—Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and us.

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

 “If only” are two little words that keep us from contentment.

In the family favorite movie The Wizard of Oz, little Dorothy from Kansas longs to fly over the rainbow to escape her problems. In a way, she gets her wish when a tornado propels her house into a mystical land called Oz. Of course, Oz is not without problems, so she longs to go home. To do this she must go see a wizard. On her journey, she is joined by a scarecrow, tin man, and cowardly lion—all wishing to get something from the wizard.

The scarecrow feels he would be happy “if only” he had a brain. The tin man thinks he would be happy “if only” he had a heart. The cowardly lion would be happy “if only” he had some courage.

How many of us assume we would be happy or content “if only” we had this or that?

That’s how the Israelites felt when they left Egypt. Just read the accounts in Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Their journey to the Promised Land was not without hardships. They thought “if only” God would give them what they wanted they would be content and happy.

• “If only” they had food: God gave them manna and they got tired of it. They wanted meat.
• “If only” they had meat: God gave them quail to eat and they got tired of it.
• “If only” they had water to drink: God gave them water, yet they still complained.
• “If only” Moses would speak to them instead of God: Moses spoke to them and they weren’t happy.

Each time, God graciously gave them what they wanted and they still weren’t happy. That’s what “if only” thinking will do for you. Not only does it foster discontentment, but it skews one’s memory.

For example, the Israelites thought that “if only” they were back in Egypt they would have great food to eat (Numbers 11:4-5). They had forgotten how miserable they were in Egypt (Exodus 1). They didn’t have good food to eat. As slaves, they had scraps. The Egyptians made the lives of the Israelites “bitter with hard bondages.” The king even had their first born sons killed. The Israelites, just like us, had a tendency to idealize the past.  

“If only” thinking keeps us from enjoying the moment. We think we would be happy “if only” we had a bigger house, “if only” we had a better job, “if only” we had married our high school sweetheart, “if only” our children were perfect, “if only” we were thinner…if only, if only, if only. Well, there are plenty of people who have all of these things and are not happy.

Paul learned how to be content in all situations (Philippians 11-13). Whether poor or rich, hungry or full, healthy or suffering, living in peace or affliction, Paul knew his relationship with Christ was the only way to achiever true happiness and contentment.

Sometimes we already have what we think we are seeking, but can’t see it.

The scarecrow thought he had to have a physical brain but he already had wisdom. The tin man thought he needed a physical heart but he already had the capacity to love. The cowardly lion was more courageous than he thought when someone he loved was in danger. And Dorothy found out that there is no place like home. She said, “…if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.”

Where is our backyard, our home? It’s said that home is where the heart is. If our heart is with God, we can be content. “If only” we could learn that lesson, we would all be a lot happier.

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…

Primary colors are colors in their own right. In other words, they cannot be generated through the mixing of other colors. The basic primary colors are considered to be red, yellow, and blue. However, when we look at the world around us we see more colors than these. Amazingly, God has taken these basic colors and created a multicolored, multifaceted world. We have rich, brilliant, dynamic, and vibrant tones mixed with muted, soft, and subdued hues. Light and shadows are added to produce variances. God knew that a limited palette would be boring, so He created contrast.

God in His infinite wisdom also allows contrast in our lives. The range of emotions He has given us adds texture to our existence. Like a fine tapestry, our lives are woven with a mixture of joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, happiness and despair, peace and turmoil, jubilation and grief, success and struggle, faith and doubt, and so on. We can’t really appreciate the good times unless we’ve experienced some bad times.

This is true of every aspect of our lives. Food is more delicious if we have known hunger. Sleep is more blissful if we have worked hard. A drink of water is more quenching if we’ve been dehydrated. Friendship is more valued if we’ve been lonely. Dawn is more beautiful if we’ve lived through the darkness. Life is more precious if we’ve seen death.

We come to know God and appreciate Him more fully because we don’t live a one dimensional life filled with just the pleasantries we want. Through adversities, we learn to walk by faith, not by sight. We learn to trust God and rest in Him. We learn to hear God’s voice and feel His presence. We experience the peace that passes understanding and the comfort of God’s love. We come to know that God’s grace is sufficient for us. Only in our weakness can we acknowledge and rely on God’s strength (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10).

It’s true that we live in a multicolored world full of contrasting hues, tones, and shades. God designed it that way so we could more fully appreciate Him as Creator. I think God also allows contrasts in our lives so we can more fully appreciate Him as our Lord and Savior. 

*****

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)