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Thoughts on Thinking – Part 2

It’s pretty amazing really.

So yesterday I had that verse running through my head all day  – “as a man thinketh so is he”.  And then I foundeth myself adding ‘eth’ to every verb I saideth.

No, not really, let me start over.

So yesterday I had that verse running through my head all day  – “as a man thinketh so is he”. And then I would look at my thoughts – and just shake my head.  It is so amazing that I could think this verse one minute and then next thought be a thought about something so removed from what I am striving to become.

Ok, show of hands – or by adding comments ( hint hint) – who else experienced this same thing?

Well, no matter, I know I am not alone, because the writer of a huge chunk of the New Testament of the Bible says the exact same thing.

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7 NIV

I have a feeling he was just as dismayed as I am today when he penned those words. But, just like Paul, the author of those words, we have a way of escape from this trap.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!  Romans 7 NIV

Yep, there’s the way out.

So, keep working to put your treasure in this Christ and I think you will see the car begin to drift in a direction you want it to go – despite this ridiculous war that is waging inside out minds.  But boy, I wish that war was not going on.

 

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Our Thoughts

I have been spending some time recently examining what I spend my time thinking about.  And let me tell you, I am not sure I like what I have learned about myself.

This little exercise started when I discovered this quote sometime last week

“Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act.” – Leonard Cohen

After reading that I started to think about how I acted, but I decided to also take a investigatory look at what I was thinking about – especially since at this time I spend a lot of time alone in my office at work.

As I mentioned above it’s a little sobering.  I was surprised how little time I spent on certain topics and how much I spend thinking about other topics.  Even more surprising was how much time I spent thinking about me!

It’s even more sobering when the Proverbs echo the quote above ( more than likely its the other way around!!!)

 7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Proverbs 23:7 King James Version (KJV)

Of course then there is this little diddy as well

 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34 King James Version (KJV)

Hm.  The other day Alex was driving on the interstate for the first time.  We started to swerve toward the shoulder, and Alex said as he was straighten up the car, I was looking over there at that barn ( or whatever it was on the side of the road).  Yep, he learned an important fact, the car goes where you look!  And from that we know, we go where we think.  Spend a little time thinking about what you are thinking about!

 

 

 

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Finally Friday

“finally Friday, free again, got my motor running  for a wild weekend”.  Nothing like starting off the morning with a little George Jones, and yes it Friday!  The rest of the song does leave a little to be desired!  But yes its Friday, the end of the week, and for a lot of people, a seemingly lighter work load. ( not me – con calls 8-4 straight!)

Since its Friday, and since my mind is still sort of stuck in Philippians 3–today is garbage day at my house, so I have been thinking about the whole concept of a spiritual garbage day, and what needs to go go go!  (Man that sentence got away from me).  Anyway, since its Friday, here is a little lighter thought, from just a page over in Philippians to help set your mind up as you head off in the weekend ( by the may, if Saturday is the end of the week, and Sunday is the start of the week, why is it not called the weekends, like bookends.) And to represent the two days of the weekend here are two versions

8Finally, 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.Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)

8-9Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (Philippians 4:8, The Message)

Think on those things, and see how that changes your day!