Whatever is lovely

When I started writing in 2010, I was going through a severe depression.  My thoughts spiraled constantly into negative patterns and I found it hard to be happy or positive about anything.  In November that year, on my late fathers birthday, I decided to start looking for just one positive thing about each day and write about that. 

Philipians 4:8 reads, "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'll be honest, its not always that easy and I can truly say that when I find myself going down that rabbit whole again, it is because I have taken my eyes off these principles.  Focusing our minds on God and the beautiful things of life now really takes discipline.  The world is constantly bombarding our minds with negative news and bad reports, we need to choose to think God's way. 

 

A Divine Contradiction

Freedom inside the law sounds like such a contradiction, but that is exactly what Paul is proposing in Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in this one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."  This means that if we put others first and treat them with love we will never step outside of God's perfect plan for us.  

Now loving your neighbour can be tough, especialy when they are being down right difficult and causing harm left, right and centre, but when we remember the grace that Christ has had with us, then putting up with someone else's nonsense becomes a little easier. 

Next time you are struggling to love someone, remember that Christ died for them too.  He paid the same price for their freedom as he did for yours. That does not mean we won't have emotions to battle with, we will, but making a decision to love them will make getting through the difficult situation so much easier. 

Lasting Impact

It has been three months since my boss passed away and reflecting on this time and the relatively short time that I got to know him, he made a huge impact on my life.  He has left behind a lasting business legacy.  He touched our lives with his faith and determination for success and his drive and passion to have a people centred business. 

Thoughts came to mind of my own life and what I would leave behind in this world when I pass and I was brave enough to ask my team to share with me their thoughts, which surprised me and made me giggle.  

Uplifting - The ability to grab someone's hand and keep pulling them upward and onward towards success is not a job for the faint hearted.  Like children, people can get disheartened by failure and want to give up.  It takes strength, courage and determination to continue to motivate them to strive forward and not give up. 

Patient - (Ja right!)  Not a word I would use to describe to my self, when one of my favourate ditties is: Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace and grace is a little girl that didn't wash her face.  No this is a different kind of patience.  Patience to bear with one another, patience to have grace with those who are weaker than you in any particular area, patience to perservere through difficult learning curves and to keep on training until the understanding is there.  Well for me that can be easy, when you have willing, eager and enthusiastic people to work with. 

Opportunity - Seeing the needs of others to learn and grow and being willing to give them opportunities to learn and push themselves further than they dreamed possible.  Well maybe that's because of my incredible curiosity and never being satisfied with what I have learned already.  But yes, I love to teach, train and raise others to higher heights, that is something I ferverantly believe in. 

An amazing choice of words and they speak to me so clearly about what the work of the Holy Spirit can do in us when we are hungry for more.  As we allow the fruit of the spirit to be developed in us, we will display characteristics that will change how we define our lives.  I want to encourage you to yearn and pray for the fruit to be made manifest in you!

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.