Attitude Is Everything
Rick Lett and Weston Allison were celebrating birthdays as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church.
Vibrant lilies adorned the alter, and Wayne Johnson opened our service with prayer. Special prayers were requested for Daffney, Sheri and travel prayers for several. Linda Abercrombie shared the devotional, “His Help Will Surely Come,” with scripture from Ephesians 3:20. We admit that we need prayer when we become broken and desperate for God’s grace. That is when we come to the end of ourselves and the beginning of faith. None of us can survive without His grace. Sometimes we depend more on ourselves than God. When our lives become unmanageable and we feel powerless in the midst of life’s challenges, we must wait on God’s help. It will surely come.
We were blessed with special music from Susan Cory who sang “Shall We Gather At The River” in reference to Revelations 22:1 about The River of Life, and Jerry and Linda Abercrombie sang “What A Friend.” Karen Gardner and Jerry led the congregation in singing “Just A Little Talk With Jesus” with Becky Johnson at the piano. Tyrel Lett asked the blessing upon the tithes and offerings, and he and Rick served as ushers.
Brother Mark Hall brought us God’s word, “Attitude is Everything,” with scripture from Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus,” which tells us to see things as Jesus Christ sees them.
Brother Mark told us that we never get too old to get something new out of the word of God.
“We never get too old to learn a positive attitude. It gives you power over your circumstances instead of your circumstances having power over you. The mind of Christ is a positive attitude. Nothing contributes to your overall healthier, happier and quality of life than a good positive attitude. With the right attitude you will be happier, healthier and holier. Paul wrote the scripture from his prison cell in Rome about the attitude that Christians should have.”
“Jesus maintained a perfect attitude in everything because he prayed about everything. If we have the attitude and mind of Christ, we would never be defensive, discouraged or depressed. Attitude is everything.”
Brother Mark referred to Philippians 1:27. “No matter what unexpected curve balls life throws at us, we are to respond with a Christ-like attitude. People hear your words, but they feel your attitude. It easier to maintain that Christ-like attitude when your goal is to please our Father rather than chasing our own goals.”
Brother Mark continued by asking, “How do we keep that Christ-like attitude?” He referred to Ephesians 4:17-27, which talks about attitude adjustment. “One of the most attractive things about Jesus is His attitude. It is good to be around someone who has a positive and upbeat attitude. If you choose to live with a negative attitude, always expecting the worst and never enjoying what you already have in your life, you will find that your inner choices will reflect on the outside. It is a choice we make. Life is worth living, and the quality of it depends much more on your attitude than anything else. A positive attitude is the driving force in your life. You may not be able to control every situation and its outcome, but you can control your attitude and how you deal with it and that will make all the difference in the end. People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude.”
“Abraham Lincoln said, ‘We can complain because roses have thorns or we can rejoice because there are roses among the thorns.’ We have a choice. Would you rather complain or rejoice?”
Brother Mark referred to Philippians 2:14-15 which says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
Brother Mark offered that as our challenge in the coming week. “Do not complain or dispute anything this week and report back next Sunday. If you can do that, you will shine as a light in the world.” Brother Mark talked about what a pleasure it was to work cattle for someone who is very patient, quiet, never complains, never raises their voice and is always good humored compared to working cattle with someone like it is a wild west rodeo, cussing and complaining that no one does anything right. “The difference between the two is attitude.”
As Brother Mark talked about our attitude challenge for the week, he told us that Psalm 23:6 is what will make it easy for us to give up grumbling and complaining. It says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Brother Mark challenged us to look at that scripture every morning for the next week to help us start out the day with the mind of Christ and remind us that we are saved and, as Christians, we have something to look forward to because of what it says in that scripture.
“What do we really have to grumble about anyway? We have so much to look forward to. Having that positive attitude and the mind of Christ will take a lot of the grumbling and complaining out of your life.”
Our hymn of invitation was “Amazing Grace,” and Wayne gave the benediction. We invite you to worship with us on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. and hear God’s word. Everyone is welcome.
Mill Creek Baptist Church is located 3.5 miles east of Noel just off Highway 90. Come see what you are missing.