Be Of Good Spirit And Keep Heart Positive

Keep your heart so full of good thoughts that bad thoughts will find no room to enter.

“Finally, 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. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

The other day I smashed my finger. I really did it up right. I lost part of my fingernail, the whole thing turned black and it bled for about three days.

Yes. I was doing some- thing stupid.

But that ’s not the point.

My reaction is the point. In days of old I would have gotten mad. But this time I just said, “Ow” and put a Band-Aid on it.

Maybe I’m getting more mellow as I get older. Maybe I’m getting more mature. ( Oh. Wait. No, that’s not it.)

I think I know why. When I smashed it I was getting ready to go to church. I was thinking about who all I would see that day. I was singing a song that we had in our bulletin and I was smiling because I knew I’d get to visit with people who always puts a smile on my face.

I was in a good mood and my spirit was rejoicing. And something like a smashed finger wasn’t going to stop it. I just kept on singing.

And, this is the important thing, I was at peace.

It was a stark reminder for me of the great power and Blessed Assurance of God. I know that if I was all grumpy and in a bad mood the smashed finger would have played a bit more important role in my life that day.

But I wasn’t. I was thinking of God and Godly things. Of fellowship and worship and praises and — huh, I feel better just talking about it.

And. I just stubbed my toe. Let us pray. Father, we are your people, chosen by you. As we come to you this day, help us to listen, to understand, and to remember. Make us aware that we are with you.

Let your presence be real to each of us. As we pray, may it be just like speaking with you.

And help us to take in and retain all that we hear, see, and experience this day. Hear our confessions of those things we have done.

Hear our confessions for those things we should not have done. And hear our confessions of what we could have done in a different way to better reflect who you are in us. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.