Thought Provoking EASTER GREETINGS

Philippians 4:8 is always thought provoking. This Easter card was a shared reminder from high school/college chum, Joyce Ann.

A verse memorized years ago. In the past. 

A verse shared this week on a "Mindful" blog entry. In the present.

A verse to continue with me in the future as I strive to fill my mind with positive pondering.

Attributes, from Scripture,  worthy of provoking in one's thought life. In the future.

MINDFUL

Mindful. A full mind. 

What should the contents of one's mind be? 

Not regrets. Not fears. Not financial worries. Not distress.

So.....I've been meditating on filling my mind---
(happy thoughts, pure thoughts, worthy thoughts, Phil. 4:8)
Acrostic reminder (Draft form)---

M - ini moment celebrations as I
I - ntentionally & thankfully
N - otice God's hand and
D - elight in Him & discover more of His truth--
F - inally... fully forgiving myself and others so that I
U - nderstand my
L - Lord's lasting love!

Then, I found this----

Others must need a handle on their thought life as well!

Mind Speed

"90 to nothing."

The term is slang, used heavily in the South. For me, it means y'ull (Southern for you will) have a millon things to do and y'ull be moving fast to get all those things finished. 
Admittedly, in our household, 11th hour is the default timing for productivity. Wait 'til the last minute. Crisis management style = most accomplished in the least amount of time. 
But....I no longer want "90 to nothing" accomplishments or productivity---I want peace. 
Peace of mind.

This little, old, streaked blonde, lady I know, way down South, talk's "90 to nothing," drives "90 to nothing", and is "90 to nothing" at everything...and I mean everything...unless she's asleep, then I imagine she dreams "90 to nothing!" When she can sleep, that is.

If  my mind is going to continue in what I see as warp speed, I need to make sure my mind is full of worthy thoughts. (Philippians 4:8)
Worthy NOT worrisome. 
An acrostic is needed. (A work in progress---help me out)

M
I
N
D
F
U
L

Mindful Queries

I have a field on my mind that needs plowing. (Anne Wilkes Tucker) 

Do you have weeds in you mind that need to be "pitched?" How does one plow under weeds of fear?

Lately my "mind field" feels more volatile than weeds---more of a "minefield." 
Unseen hazards but they are there. Explosive. Fearful dreadful thoughts waiting to erupt. An area planted with explosive mines, that need to be tempered by God's truth. Too often the war of fear wages on.

In yesterday's Jesus Calling, Sarah Young wrote that the mind is the last bastion of rebellion. Rebellion! I'm fighting with myself---I didn't see it as fighting against God. But God has a way of opening my eyes to my misunderstandings.

...but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6b)

GOD's Word has the answer!

s-TEA-rife tempered by captivi-TEA

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIT)

Strife. What is it? What causes it? What can one do about it?

My life must have it as I often realize my teeth are clenched. Even my shoulders seem to stay "clenched" lately. Up around my ears----until I intentionally pull them down, willing myself to calm down and relax.

Then, yesterday my iPad notes from 2 years ago opened wide for me to see:

• Strife---an inside job---it springs from within
• Strife---the enemy of peace and calm
• Root of strife = SELF-Worldiness, aka pride (opposite of pride is humility)
• Strife is conflict between our thinking and God's word.
• Mood-induced thoughts can keep me in turmoil, aka strife.
• Real issue--Whom will I love? God or the world? James 4:4 asks, "don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?"

Good riddance for strife---submit to God, draw near to Him and as He reciprocates by drawing near as well, it becomes much easier to take every "rebellious self" thought captive.

(Continue reading).....God's word, that is.

God gracefully serves us cuppa after cuppa of humili--TEA, puri-TEA, and in-TEA-macy once we pour out the dregs of enmi-TEA and s-TEA-rife that have stained the insides of our former cuppa.

"Twis-TEA" Turning Thoughts

My sheep listen* to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27, NIV)

How appropriate to have a cuppa tea with a wooly sheep on it and read the day's Jesus Calling entry (4/22) and realize that I can be as deaf and hard-headed as sheep. That's why they (& I) NEED a shepherd! Sheep need to continually listen to their shepherd. Uh-h-h, me too!

"Mind spinning," according to Sarah Young, comes from a multitude of thoughts that block out God's voice. "No mind spinning" was written beneath my tornado sketch. That's what my whirring mind looks like to me as I try to make all things (people, places, & events) fit "my"plans, even God.

Too often, my mind reflects Young's words, "pre-occupied with planning,"---even in the night watches.

But it gets worse. Compulsive planning, is not only a form of bondage, it's an "idol of control." 

I don't want any idols in my life---I didn't even consider that control (an extension of self) would be labled as such. To rid myself of this idolotry, I need to turn toward Him with a listening ear in order to "still" my "twist-TEA" turning thoughts and allow His voice to "control" my mind.

*NASB translated "hear" but I want to do more than hear-. I want to listen and recognize the voice as His and "respond" to it as the God's Word translates it.

Steeped in Excellence

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8, NLT)

Regardless of what cuppa life serves us, each of us should steep it in excellence. Whether circumstances of disturbing dispari-TEA, unfamiliari-TEA, unclear directionali-TEA, lack of sereni-TEA or frivoli-TEA and gaie-TEA are poured out, one must measure these "thought" events by today's verse. 

As Kay Arthur taught me years ago, if you can to know if a thought is excellent and praiseworthy.....just "Philippians 4:8 it!" If one's thoughts don't t measure up to the excellence put forth in that verse; true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good repute, don't dwell there. Don't "brew" unwholesome thoughts in your mind. Steep goodness----it might take time, but it's the key to allowing God to make any cuppa (circumstance) palatable. Similar to looking for beauty.

Hm-m....covering a cuppa when steeping tea can keep the flavor in and the "bugs" out--
just like in our thought life when we steep it by covering it in the excellence of God's Word.

Keep those good thoughts brewing. Steep all thoughts in excellence. Cover them with God's word.

Steeping releases flavor for us and favor to God from us. A worthy cuppa.

♪♪ Music of Faith ♪♪

 8/4/12 Strolling the streets of St. Ignace (Ig-nis) last night, I noticed several musicians were “out and about,” ranging from Native American to gospel duos. All had an instrument case open. It’s the American way.

Though all were enjoyable, it was the familiar tunes that ”stuck” in my head. Too often it’s other things that get "stuck" in my head. Those fearful whirring thoughts that can predominate my thought life.

To combat this, I've loaded favorite hymns and praise and worship songs on my iPod and my iPad and chosen to "listen" and to be attuned to spiritual music on a more regular basis. It seems to keep me more attuned to Him.

How about you? Are you attuned to Him through music? Is music of faith filling your mind?

KUDZU Thoughts

9/9/11 Kudzu….the weed that eats the South in the summertime. (can’t remember where I read that.) So true of that invasive plant. Sort of like wisteria, give it an inch (you know the rest)---but at least wisteria has pretty blooms.

How do you combat kudzu? Can you even keep it in check? Is there anything good about kudzu?

My thought life can be like kudzu if I don’t hold it in check. “Take every thought captive.” ( I Corinthians 10:5) An unchecked thought life can be destructive. Sometimes on the roadways, kudzu can take on the form of animal shapes, a Kud-Zoo, of sorts…..but underneath, living trees can be smothered and barns and cabins are so thoroughly covered as to be on no use. That’s also what can happen to my uncontrolled thoughts, especially if I have been “wounded” by the actions of another.

Can anything good come out of kudzu? Today’s CA advertised a “brown bag lunch and learn” at the Memphis Botanic Gardens, “Cooking with Kudzu.” (Had link) A positive life approach resemblant of “if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

So how do I make a positive thought out of my resentment toward my “hurter” when it pops into mind. First thing is to begin to pray---forgiveness is key. Filling a mind with thankfulness and rejoicing always helps too. (I Thessalonians 5: 16-18) BTW, rejoicing when the offender has put on a few extra pounds does NOT count. That’s just a kudzu thought disguised---your heart will reveal the real motive.

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. (I Thessalonians 5: 15)

All people----even the one who is the source of your kudzu thoughts.

*Blog in honor of dear friend, Abe, who when playing Scattergories™ with "K"s puts kudzu as the answer for every category b/c as he puts it, “Kudzu covers everything.” I think he has a point!

Monday Mind Seeks Refuge

2/22/10 Our inner refuge is where we go when the world gets to be too much. It’s the place we turn to when the hurts /concerns seem to drive us away. It’s a place without walls. It’s our mind. That’s where our reasoning power resides. It also houses our beliefs and opinions and lots of feelings. To me it can only hold so much---something that seems to lessen with age. Thus it needs to be filled with “worthy” thoughts. A Monday Mind. That’s what meditating Mondays are about---filling our minds with His word which is worthy. We create a refuge of thoughts. Then the right thoughts are there when we need them.

Today fill your mind to capacity with His truth.....

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth give way
and the mountains fall
into the heart of the sea
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake
with their surging.

(Psalm 46:1-3)

.....and your mind will find refuge.