Barbara's Banter

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

“Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz,” was sung by Janis Joplin years ago. People either think the song is hilarious or they are appalled at the lyrics. Most health and wealth gospel supporters would probably not balk at such a prayer. After all, the Bible says, “Ask and it will be given…” (Matthew 7:7). Does not God exist to make us rich and happy (Jeremiah 29:11-13)?

That may be true—but not in the way we think.

Rich doesn’t always mean having lots of money or possessions. You can be rich in desirable qualities such as wisdom. Rich can mean deep, strong, or intense, such as being rich in faith. Rich can mean ample, such as having a rich supply of food.

Happiness doesn’t mean we get everything we want. Happiness can be a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. Happiness can mean being cheerful in all circumstances. Happiness can mean being fortunate.   

God is not the big sugar daddy in the sky who gives us everything we want. Rather, He is a loving father who supplies our needs. In the model prayer, we hear nothing about the disciples asking for bigger, two-humped camels (Matthew 6:7-15). This prayer is full of reverence for God, asking for His will to be done, forgiveness for others, and daily needs—not wants—to be met.  

Most of our prayers are not as ludicrous as asking for a new, expensive car, but if we aren’t careful, we can approach prayer with a list of things we want or deeds we want God to perform for us. God doesn’t exist to jump through our hoops or do our bidding.

It may well be that for our own growth and edification God thinks it’s best not to give us everything we want. Instead of healing, He might give us strength. Instead of deliverance, He might give us perseverance. Instead of a sparing a loved one’s life, He might give us peace. Instead of winning the lottery, He might give us a job.

We pray so that our will can be aligned with what God wants for us—not for God to align His will to ours. 

Perhaps instead of asking for a Mercedes Benz, we might pray not to have so much we forget God, or so little we curse Him (Proverbs 30:8-9). And if He wants to throw in a Mercedes Benz, don’t turn it down—just give Him thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18)!

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“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…

In the book of Romans, we are asked a rhetorical question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). Truthfully, nothing can separate us from Christ’s love, which is revealed as we read further in this passage: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).

We cannot be separated from God’s love because He loves us regardless. He loves whether we are good or bad, whether we win or lose, or whether times are smooth or rough. Whether we believe it or not, God loves us! He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). There is no greater love than to die for someone (John 15:13). So God loves us. It’s a given. No matter what happens, God loves us.

As Christians, perhaps the more important question to ask is whether or not we will still love God when hardships come? Christians are not immune from trials and distress. Hardships are a given in life whether we are saints or sinners. The Christian life was never promised to be without difficulties. Will we love God during the bad times as well as the good?

Habakkuk must have thought about this. He said, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

My personal favorite example is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When faced with the possibility of being burned alive, they basically said they knew God was able to deliver them. However, if God chose not to deliver them, it was okay with them (Daniel 3:16-18). They would love and praise God no matter what He decided to do.

You see, loving and praising God is not so much about good times or bad times, or when we win or lose. It’s about loving Him no matter what. After all, that’s the kind of love He gives to 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…

When I was a kid, one of the cruelest school exercises was choosing teams. Whether it was softball, debate, or whatever, captains were selected. Teachers would then have students stand against the wall while captains took turns choosing who would be on their teams. So everyone knew who was chosen first, second, and so on. And everyone knew who was chosen last. To be chosen last was humiliating—a sign of rejection.

Unfortunately, we live in a world of rejection. All of us have experienced it in one way or another. Maybe as a shy boy you were turned down for a date. Maybe the company president laughed at your re-org idea. Maybe your dad walked out on your family. Maybe your mom constantly berated you. Maybe you are a writer with a wall papered with rejection slips. Maybe you were always the last one chosen for the team. Even worse, maybe they wouldn’t even let you play on the team.

Enough rejection can lead to disorders like fear, feeling inferior, anxiety, or depression. Rejection can make us feel unwanted, unworthy, unappreciated, and unloved. It causes people to focus on the negative instead of the positive. For example, someone might say, “My, doesn’t your hair look nice today,” but instead of that making us feel good, we might say, “Are you saying my hair usually looks lousy?”

It can even lead to perceived rejection in other areas of our lives. We can think people are rejecting us when they aren’t. This perception becomes our reality because as a man thinks, so he is (Proverbs 23:7). If you think you’re a loser, you’ll act like a loser.

If you have ever felt rejected, you are in good company. Jesus was rejected by those in His hometown (Matthew 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6), by many of His disciples (John 6:60), and by those He came to save (Isaiah 53:3). After everything God had done for the Israelites, they rejected Him and wanted a king (1 Samuel 10:19).

God created us for acceptance not rejection. That’s why He will never reject us. We might reject God, but He won’t reject us. He wants us and loves us. In fact, He loves us so much He forgave us while we were sinners (Romans 5:6-10). He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 3:5). He is with us. All we have to do is embrace God and He embraces us.

The good news is that God has chosen us to be on His team (John 1:12, Acts 10:34). And it doesn’t matter what our skill level is because He’s going to do all of that for us. All we have to do is show up and be ready to participate.

*****

“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…

Each new day is a gift from God. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” This gift is given to enjoy.

However, some days are not all that enjoyable, are they??? They can be filled with inconveniences, mishaps, and setbacks. I remember reading Judith Viorst’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. There is much wisdom in some children’s books. We’ve all had some days like that. 

But here’s the deal—we only have so many days on this earth. No one knows how many except God. I think the older we get, the more we realize our days are numbered. And while it’s true some days are filled with rain, running late, long lines, flat tires, and disappointments, each day is still a gift. It can be used to draw close to God, reflect His light to others, and seek His peace in the midst of turmoil. If we have one of those Alexander no good, very bad days, we can still rejoice before we go to bed that it’s over and we survived.    

As I face each day I try to remember the old adage: “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is called the present because it is a gift from God.”

*****

“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’m down in the dumps, I try to remember little encouragements I have received through the years. It was about a year ago that something happened to brighten my day.    

My book The Choice Is Yours had just been released and I had almost 100 books to mail to various people. In order to send the books by media rate, each had to be weighed individually. When I took them to the post office, I ended up in Eugene’s line. As I read his nametag I noticed his dismayed expression. He wasn’t what I would call cheerful, but he was kind and efficient. He had a “we can do this thing” attitude. He commented about my return address labels which had something on it about Jesus and asked where he could get the labels. I told him through Current or Colorful Images.

The next day I came back with about 50 more books and it was Eugene who took care of me. This time I brought him a catalogue with that particular address label circled in case he ever wanted to get one.

The next day I was back but not with quite as many books. Because Eugene had asked about the address label with Jesus on it, I assumed he must be a Christian. So I gave him a free copy of the book he had been sending out for me and told him I wrote it. He deserved something for his patience. He couldn’t believe I wrote it and thanked me.

From time to time I would see Eugene at the post office. I wasn’t always in his line, but when I did go to his kiosk he would say, “Hi Barbara!”

About a month had passed and I was mailing out a couple more books. Eugene waited on me and told me how much my book had meant to him. He cited a couple of incidents where he put into practice some of the suggestions mentioned in the book and they really worked. I thanked him for sharing this with me.  

But what Eugene didn’t know was just that very morning I was praying about my writing. As always I asked God to bless what I write and use it for His glory, but I was wondering if any of it really makes a difference. It wasn’t a pity party, but just reflection. Many don’t realize that writing is a lonely profession in many ways—just you, your thesaurus, and the computer. You rarely know if anything you’ve written touches people. Most people don’t take the time to let you know how they feel about your writing—except the ones who don’t like what you’ve written. And for some odd reason, one negative comment impacts you far more than many positive comments. Needless to say, Eugene’s remarks meant a lot to me.

Of course, I give God the glory for this. God saw I needed a little extra encouragement that day, and He provided it. Praise God! Every time I pass the post office I ask God to bless Eugene because He used Eugene to bless me.

*****

“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…

It’s hard for us to think that what we are going through at any given moment is temporary, but it is. Paul realized this. He endured much hardship in his walk with Christ, yet told us that afflictions last for a moment, but what we learn from them far surpasses them because “… we do not look at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Not only did Paul have the vision to look beyond his dire circumstances to what they produced in his life—a closer relationship with God—but I think he knew the principle of “this, too, shall pass.” Anything that’s temporary will pass.   

The phrase “this, too, shall pass” is not in the Bible. There are many “and it came to pass” and “it will come to pass” phrases, but not “this, too, shall pass.” However, I think there is a biblical principle of hope there.      

There are things we go through in life that are difficult or hard, but they will eventually be over. They will pass—and there will be much rejoicing when they do. Even physical life itself is temporary and when it passes, the Christian knows there is a better life ahead.

So as we patiently wait for whatever it is we are enduring to pass, we need to focus on something greater than our circumstances. God! Grumbling and complaining will not help a situation (Philippians 2:14). Worry or fret will not help a situation (Matthew 6:25-27). Only God’s peace of mind and strength can carry us through (Isaiah 26:3, Psalm 37:39). That won’t happen unless we fill our hearts with the mind of God which is found in His Word. God’s words are not temporary—they will never pass away (Matthew 24:35). 

*****

“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…

Jesus has many names in the Bible. In addition to being the Son of God, He’s our Master, Mediator, Savior, Redeemer, and much more—too many names to mention in one short article. Each name has special meaning and should definitely be explored in our walk with Christ. 

However, I think the name I love the most is Immanuel. It means God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). We usually only use this name at Christmastime, but I think about it all year long. Jesus came so I would not be alone.

During difficult times, I think about Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV): “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid, for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” This was not just a promise given to Moses or Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5). God confirmed this promise is for us, as well, by naming Jesus Immanuel. The message in this name is that we are never alone. Hebrews 13:5 tells us God will never leave or forsake us.

At times I may feel all alone or forsaken, but I’m not. Immanuel is just as close as I will let Him be. Immanuel is in me! Immanuel is with me! And He will be with me always—even until the end of time (Matthew 28:20).

*****

“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…

With a new year upon us, I’ve been praying about a blog theme for 2021. None of us will be sorry to leave 2020 behind. It was a year filled with disease, distress, and disappointment. As if the pandemic wasn’t bad enough, we had to deal with political turmoil, fake news, shutdowns, financial setbacks, finger-pointing, and hate. Unfortunately, we will probably have more of the same in 2021. The world can be a very negative place. It can be a challenge to keep negativity from creeping into our lives and consuming us.

Just how does one remain positive in a negative world?

Using the Bible as a resource, the first scripture I thought of was Philippians 4:8 (KJV)—one of my favorites: “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.” I just kept repeating the words “think on these things” over and over in my mind.

Either God was whispering in my ear or I have a one track mind, but my 2021 blog theme will be to think on the things mentioned in Philippians 4:8.

The Bible also tells us that as a person thinks, so he or she will live (Proverbs 23:7). So what we think about makes a difference. Yes, it is good to know what’s going on in the world, but to feed on murder, injustice, politics, hate, and health crises 24/7 is not healthy. After a daily update, we can move on to other things. Do we really want to spend our precious time looking for conspiracies which, if they do exist, we can do nothing about? Would it not be more productive to improve our outlook or make a difference in someone’s life? What we fill our minds with in life determines whether we will curse the darkness or light a candle.

It’s not enough to block negative thoughts from our minds through some form of escapism. To make progress, we have to actually replace them with good thoughts. A person with good thoughts is an asset to the world. It reminds me of this quote from The Twits by children’s author Roald Dahl: “A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked chin and stick out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

So come along with me on a lovely new journey this year. Let’s explore some positive thoughts that might help us cope in a negative world. Then maybe we truly can have a happy new year! 

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“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)

A Journal of Joy: Things that make my heart smile…

Christmas has passed and the New Year will soon be upon us. Perhaps it’s wise to carry the message of Christmas into the New Year—a message of joy. Joy to the world because the Lord has come.

There was much joy when Jesus came. Before He came, there was no hope. When Jesus was born it was a joyous time. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men’” (Luke 2:8-14).

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room.” Is my heart so full of other things that I don’t have room for Jesus? If I have Jesus in my heart, I will have joy. Jesus is my joy. His joy needs to be in me and it can’t be in me if I don’t make room for it (John 15:11).

I remember the song I sang as a young child. “I have that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Down in my heart to stay.” I want that joy down in my heart throughout the coming year and every day of my life. So each day I need to acknowledge that God is the source of all joy (Psalm 45:4). There is joy in the presence of God (Psalm 21:6; Psalm 16:11). There is joy in praising God (Psalm 43:4). There is joy in thanking God (Colossians 1:2). There is joy in believing what God says (Philippians 1:6). There is joy in trusting God (Romans 15:13).

There is joy in Jesus. There is joy in knowing He came to earth. There is joy in knowing He accepts, loves, and died for us—inexpressible, glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8). It’s the kind of joy that’s hard to put into words. One has to experience it. It’s genuine and can’t be faked. It’s a joy that no man can take away (John 16:22). It’s a joy that is always with me in good times and in bad (Philippians 4:4).

Yes, that’s what I want this next year. I want that joy, joy, joy, joy of Jesus down in my heart—down in my heart to stay.

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Oh Jesus, You are my joy! As the New Year approaches help me stay focused on You. May there always be room in my heart for You. May I always rejoice in Your presence. May I always praise and worship You. May I always trust and believe You. My prayer for this next year is that You will live in my heart and let it overflow with Your presence and love. 

A Journal of Joy: Things that make my heart smile…

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens” are cute but not my favorite things, especially at Christmastime. Have I mentioned that I love Christmas? So here’s a list of just a few of my favorite Christmas things guaranteed to make me smile.  

Nativity Scenes: It doesn’t matter if they’re big, little, or miniature scenes, with or without animals. I love them all. Seeing them reminds me about the birth of our Savior, a gift for the world.  

Christmas Music: So many of the latter verses of familiar Christmas hymns or carols, the ones that aren’t usually sung, focus on the reason Jesus came. Even piped-in Christmas elevator music has me humming along.

Christmas Cookies: In years past, if my parents couldn’t make it out here to California from the Midwest to celebrate Christmas with us, Mom sent a mega amount of cookies—more than enough to share with everyone. We put them in a huge, red box labeled “Grandma’s Cookies” and snapped pictures of everyone who took one out. The photos were placed in a mini album and sent to her. One Christmas Mom used salt instead of sugar in her cookies. Ah, the joy of aging! We never told her but boy does this memory make us laugh.

The Messiah, Christmas Performances: It’s great to see a performance of The Messiah and sometimes they actually let the audience sing along. This is very nostalgic for me since I sang it in high school and college. “The Hallelujah Chorus” alone is worth the price of admission. I also like live performances of Christmas stage plays and musicals.

Snow: Newborn snow like we see back East or in the Midwest is beautiful. What a miracle snow is! Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike? What a testament to God’s creation.

The Giving Tree: Each year our bank sponsors “The Giving Tree” which allows me to buy gifts for homeless families or toys for needy children. These people have made a little wish list and I have the opportunity to grant it. Imagine the smile of a child who doesn’t have much when he or she receives that special gift.  

Christmas Caroling: Some of our friends used to do this in their neighborhood each year a few days before Christmas and we loved going with them. We only sang at the decorated houses so as not to offend. The people we sang to loved it. They gave us cookies and drinks. We felt like we are on an old Currier and Ives postcard.

Reading Christmas Stories: I read O’Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” almost every year. This poignant story captures the true meaning of Christmas. I also love an article by Taylor Caldwell entitled “My Christmas Miracle” which has my favorite Christmas quote: “And this is the message of Christmas: We are never alone.” What a Christmas message! One of the names for Jesus is Immanuel which means God with us! I also love Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.” Tiny Tim says, “God bless us everyone!” Amen!

Family Dinner: We always have a meal together. Sometimes it’s a repeat of the turkey dinner we cook for Thanksgiving. The meal is always good, but the family time is better. Sometimes we sing Christmas carols afterwards and open our Secret Santa stockings.

Christmas Movies: Many know that I’m a movie buff so this list could get a little long, but I feel compelled to share it. Some aren’t familiar with the older movies so this might help when trying to choose a family movie to watch during the Christmas season.

• It’s a Wonderful Life (could watch it a hundred times and probably have)
• Miracle on 34^th Street (definitely the original, not the remake),
• Christmas in Connecticut (the one with Barbara Stanwyck, not the TV remake)
• A Christmas Story (all he wants for Christmas is a BB gun)
• White Christmas (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney)
• Meet Me in St. Louis (Judy Garland at her best)
• Home Alone 1 (2 is okay but skip 3)
• The Bells of St. Mary’s (Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman)
• The Bishop’s Wife (only the old one with Cary Grant and Loretta Young, not the remake The Preacher’s Wife)
• The Lemon Drop Kid (only the old one with Bob Hope)
• I’ll Be Seeing You (Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton)
• Elf (William Ferrell)
• The Santa Clause (Tim Allen)
• A Christmas Carol (just about all versions and remakes, including the cartoons)
• All the animated cartoons (except the bizarre ones like Santa Meets the Martians, etc.)

Putting a Dollar in the Salvation Army Pot: When I give a dollar the bell ringers smile and say, “God bless you!” He already has. That’s why I can put a little in the pot for others. Who knows? When they ring that bell maybe another angel gets his wings.

Christmas Shopping: Yes, I said Christmas shopping! I know it’s a hustle and bustle. I know it’s crowded and hectic. I know it’s full parking lots and long checkout lines. But what can I say? I love smiling at any Scrooges I meet and saying, “Merry Christmas!”

Next to giving someone Jesus for Christmas I think the best gift I could give would be trying to reflect Jesus through a smile or kind word. I can’t help but feel that when I smile at others, Jesus smiles at me.  

Merry Christmas! God bless us everyone!

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Jesus my Jesus, many don’t know You are the reason for this season, but I know. As I go from task to task during this busy time of year help me never lose sight of You. Please use me to be a reflection of You to others, especially at this time of year. It’s a time when many are more receptive to Your message and Your gift of salvation. Joy to the world! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room. I pray there will always be room in my heart for You.