Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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 peace of God will be with you.             Philippians 4: 4-9 (NIV)

I wonder if his perspective about life would have been any different if he had a television set.   Then or today?

Probably not, since life was tough enough for the Apostle Paul without hearing about all the other stuff that was going on in the world.  It’s a wonder he lived as long as he did actually—five floggings with forty lashes minus one, three beatings with rods, one stoning, three shipwrecks, robbed by bandits, confronting danger lurking around almost every corner due to his beliefs, often hungry, thirsty, cold and without a shelter to rest his head except during one of his many imprisonments.

I’m not sure anything he saw on television about what was going on then in the world could have been any worse to change the hope he carried in his heart.  It seems that nothing could have or would have changed that hope to despair—nothing.  Instead he says “Rejoice in the Lord always…Rejoice!”

I must admit that I haven’t said that too often in the last few weeks or months.  I must admit that it’s probably because I have been watching too much of the sad displays by would-be leaders in our government.  If our children behaved, twisted the truth and treated each other in the ways we have witnessed coming from our Nation’s capitol—they would find themselves banished for life to “Time-Out”, at the very least.  My expectation level is always much higher than I guess it should be for those in elected office.  And we know better, yet we continue to watch and listen, and hope.  And we begin to think that what we are watching and hearing is the reality and center of our lives, when it is not. 

Paul suggests a better way to focus our hearts, minds, and in which to use our time. 

“…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 peace of God will be with you.           

            My bride, Lynda, seems to do that on a daily basis.  I sometimes assume that she is just not engaged in what’s going on around her.  Wrong assumption.  She is very aware, but chooses to be engaged in much higher and loftier pursuits—such as what Paul says we should focus upon.   

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

            That’s her.  That’s Paul. 

And that should be us—you and me. 

Because at the end of it all—no matter what goes on in all the game-playing around us which has absolutely no lasting or eternal consequence—Christ remains.  On the throne—forever and ever and ever.  Amen!

            Think on that for awhile.  I will. 

It really will make all the difference in your day…and your life.

I expect it will in mine.  Thanks sweetie!

                                                                        In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2010.  Scott L. Whitaker.  All rights reserved.