Chapter Ten Comments

                The Gate of Praiseworthy Thoughts...

In thinking about having thoughts on things that are praiseworthy.  The scripture verses in this chapter are real encouraging to me.  Ps 78:4. Encourages us to continue to share  things that the Lord has done in our lives with our children.  So many praises happen that we need to share with them so that not only we remember what the Lord has done so that our children can see what the Lord has done.
1 Peter1:7 says the trial of your faith being much more precious then gold and....found to be praiseworthy. Even though our trails are not enjoyable at the time.  As we endure grief and wrongfully sufferings it is praiseworthy it says in 1 Peter 2:19.  Ps 150 says that we are to praise Him ... in fact all of the verses say praise Him.....everything that has breath Praise the Lord.  Eph 1 where it says, to the praise of the glory of his grace...everything is from him and is worthy of praise.  Sometimes this is very hard to do.  This week in an attempt to praise the Lord in everything has been found to be difficult.  The stories in the chapter are very powerful. It speaks to me to do things in secret so not to draw attention to myself.  I hadn't heard the testimony of the couple that started the voice of the martyrs.  As I read it I wondered if I could do the same. Something to think about.
Blessings,
Cathy

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I was in a worldview class and the instructor was talking about how the secular construct of life always ends up borrowing from Christianity. Why? Because there are certain concepts and behaviors we instinctively recognize as praiseworthy. We feel them resound in our spirits as what is good and right. The same can be said when you look at secular media (books, movies, TV, reporting, etc.) They cannot help include what they know we marvel and praise when such actions are taken. A major example of this is self-sacrifice. Our lives are the most precious thing we possess and when someone is willing to risk that for the sake of another, it is praiseworthy. Why? Because

it reflects Christ and the love He gave us, placed in us, and expressed to us when He died on the cross. Every aspects of His character and nature is praiseworthy and when we see it anywhere else it triggers that same marvel and praise, even if it’s the criminal who pushes an innocent bystander out of the way of a bullet, the hero who gives the last of his food to his companion and goes hungry himself, the mom who stays up all night to keep her sick kid company, the dad who skips his golf game with his boss to go to his son’s basketball game instead, the older brother who in the middle of the night runs to sooth his baby brother back to sleep so his mom doesn’t have to, the list could go on and on. We are surrounded by praiseworthy acts and moments all reflecting Christ.

 

Given

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I am moved by the kindness of Ebed-Melech and hope that I would be so kind and courageous and the example of the life of Richard and Sabrina Wurmbrand.  The following three paragraphs stand out to me:

"Some praiseworthy acts are accomplished in the dark where no one notices.  These actions are particularly commendable because they are done with no hope of recognition or praise; they are just the natural behavior of people who are committed to the singular task of pleasing the God who has demonstrated His love for them.  These are particularly praiseworthy." pg 104

"While in solitary, Pastor Wurmbrand lived in squalid conditions, without books or other comforts and often in total darkness.  During this time when many would lose their sanity or surrender to self-pity he made it his practice each day to mentally compose a fresh sermon.  When the sermon was fully developed in his mind he would deliver it aloud to the darkness and when he had delivered it he would memorize an outline of it.  His spiritual and mental discipline was worthy of great praise."  pg 105  

And "Surely in all those years of torture and prison and harassment this couple must have encountered thoughts of revenge and bitterness and hatred.  Surely the walls of their minds must have seemed fragile in the face of a battering army of resentful and hostile thoughts, and yet their walls were strong and their gates well built.  We cannot know their minds, but their actions suggest that they had uncommon success in thinking about things that were true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admireable, excellent, and in the process, modeled for us something that was praiseworthy."

This verse blessed me, "These (trials) have come so that your faith--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."  I Peter 1:7

This chapter gave wonderful examples of praiseworthy things to think on.  I'm looking forward to the next chapter on taking thoughts captive.

Chapter Nine Comments - Excellent Thoughts

The Gate of Excellent Thoughts

This chapter begins with the following quote by Charles Swindoll:  "The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence.  Really, it's a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free."

I appreciated the focus on forgiveness in this chapter.  This is a theme which I seem to need to visit again and again, maybe because the need for forgiveness in human relationships is so ongoing and necessary.  I was blessed by his explanation of forgetting as not remembering in contrast to not having any memory of a thing, it is instead the renewing of our minds to not recall it or seek revenge.

"This is hard spiritual labor.  Not remembering means coping with the insidious attacks of memory that would bring the offense to mind over and over.  It means taking control of our thoughts with the personal discipline necessary to avoid talking about the forgiven offense, to pass up any opportunity to remind the offender of the offense or to allow it to interfere with our relationship.  It is tough.  It was tough for Jesus, who sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane at the very thought of enduring the physical and spiritual pain required to forgive us.   And it is tough for us, but it is a thing of excellence."

I loved the quote by Mark Twain, "Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."  That is what I want to characterize my life and I have a LONG WAY TO GO!!


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Excellent thoughts:  So often our thoughts miss the mark of Philippians 4:8.  Paul's letter to ask them "what are you thinking about?" hasn't changed for us today.  It has been a roller coaster ride with thoughts this week. The author's writing about forgiveness is so good.  It is such a blessing that God doesn't remember our sins.  I have tried this week to not remember some of the things I have done and it is not easy for me.  It is hard spiritual labor. The story of Jacob and Fuchida is an incredible story. Praise the Lord for the "Black Book" that gives us the excellent word.  I have been blessed lately with the all the studying I have had in the past and how I can recall different passages and be blessed or instructed by them.
The idea in this verse speaks to me but I tried looking it up and I know it is not Titus in the King James or NIV  (if any one knows where it comes from I would be interested in knowing).
 
 "I want you to stress these things, so that those who have   trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing      what is good.  These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."





     Titus 3:5
Thinking excellent thoughts
Blessings
Cathy

Chapter 8 Comments

Comments have really fallen off - I'm not sure if that is because we are all busy with Spring things.  I'd like to hear from more of you on this next chapter later this week.  I've started it and am already convicted!  It's a much-needed message - I look forward to hearing your responses to it.

Thank you, Given and Cathy for your faithfulness - Given, your comments have been in my inbox for 10 days already and I was glad to get yours today, Cathy!! 

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How can we better focus on admirable things? Well, one of the things I loved about attending Ellerslie Bible School is the focus on who God really is. It's easy to just be like, well yeah, He’s God, and just leave it at that, but to really study who He is and all that He loves and desires and has done is to find what is of “euphemos” of good repute. When asked the question who or what do you admire I often struggle to answer, because often I admire part but not the whole. It’s not this way with God, all of Him is admirable, and that is wonderfully amazing.

Given

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This chapter on admirable thoughts was very encouraging to me.  He starts out with the question "Hey what are you thinking?"  I have found since we started this book I have been asking that question of myself lately.  What is it that I am thinking about  there is a whole list in the first paragraph:  finances, responsibilities, and fears and anxieties are the ones
that get me off on tangents.

The thoughts we need to have are the ones that would be a  Good Report. Things that have the character and quality that is worth talking about. Things that are commendable.
The story of the women with the 2 mites means so much more after reading the background on the chests that were called "trumpets" because of the shape and causing a sound when the coins were dropped in to it.  The 2 mites could not have made the sound that the other coins would have but Jesus heard them because they were given from the heart. The story of Glenn Cunningham is one that speaks to me.  He never gives up. He  continued to persevere. When we read the account of the three Hebrew men I have realized that they were truly blessed.  They stood for what was right which was admirable in an of itself.  God chose to use them in a deeper way by not dying in the furnace and witnessing to the king. 

Been thinking on doing things with my whole heart, persevering and doing what is right so God can use me.
Blessings to all
Cathy
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I appreciated the stories he gave as examples of things that are admirable to think on.  This gate isn't just a gate to keep out what is not admirable, but a gate to welcome in that which is worthy of our thoughts.  So many things influence what we will spend time thinking about.  I think books, movies, and friends all play a very important role in providing admirable things to think on along with time in the Word.  As we raise our children we are helping them learn what to choose to think on.  Our conversations as well as our book choices for them will play a part in what the whole family thinks about.  I feel blessed to live in an age when so many good books are available to us.  

I appreciated the quote on perserverance -
"Perserverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." -Walter Elliot  It's easy to get discouraged and tired when we need to keep on keeping on, but this reminds me, I only have to conquer this bit at this moment.  God's grace is sufficient for this moment and the many moments add up to a life.  

Blessings on your week and I hope to hear from more of you this coming week.  Blessings, Patti
  
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