So… Is it possible to change our attitude?
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
* In last week’s blog we looked at values, beliefs and principles and how they form the basis for our attitudes and behavior. Today I want to continue exploring that topic a bit.
* Here is a bit of history. The English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, “What are you doing?” The first replied, “I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day.” The next answered, “I’m putting in 10 hours a day on this job.” But the third said, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals.” Our attitude makes a huge difference in everything in life.
* Well, but what about if our lot in life is arduous, can we still have a good attitude? Or is it so that if life throws us only curve balls then we have the right to have a bad attitude and retaliate with an antagonistic behavior against everything and everyone?
* We need to remember that we may not always be able to change our circumstances, things that happen in life, but we can change the way we view them. Our text above says that a “joyful heart is good medicine…” It is good medicine for a bad attitude!
* Life can be hard and we can view it as a drag, but the beginning of change starts inside our heart. If we have joy, then we will look for blessings and positive things each day, and we will find them, even if we at the beginning they are hard to find.
* A great number of people wait for a better future, as if somehow next month… next year suddenly everything will magically change. A man with a bad attitude went into a restaurant & said, “Do you serve crabs here?” The waiter said, “Why, yes sir, we serve anybody here.”
* I believe that Instead of resenting every moment of the delay for a better future, we need to use our time to draw closer to God and try to learn what the experience can teach us.
* I have to acknowledge, life is not always easy… For some life is very hard & when life is tough it is easy to revolt and become bitter. We can even become less than gracious with people around us when life takes a turn to the south. I also have to admit that it is hard to know what the purpose of certain events in life is. And I find it a bit of a “holier than Thou” attitude of those who say, “You know, God is allowing you to go through this because He wants to teach you this or that...”
* The reality is: We live in a broken world, and God will somehow turn the bad things in life turn into something good for those who love Him. And yes, God can change us through any and all experiences
* Hopefully we will always learn something with our life-experiences and become a smidge wiser every day. If our attitudes are bad, we will learn little or nothing. A good attitude is required to acquire wisdom. And don’t forget, we also need to remain morally and spiritually upright in everything, in all circumstances, even pain, then we will reach a higher level of wisdom and a better quality of life.
* Here is a little story to conclude my “rambling” blog… A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital: “You have lost an arm in the great cause.” “No,” said the soldier with a smile. “I didn’t lose it - I gave it.” In that same way, Jesus did not lose His life. He gave it purposefully.
* What is your attitude about life… about troubled times… problems that are asking for your attention? Since I am asking - what is your attitude about church? Many people when they find a little fault in the way their church-home operates they abandon it – forgetting the 95-99% that happens at the church that is really great and spiritually edifying? And by the way, have you considered your own faults? Read your Bible, go to church, Sunday School and Bible study and give yourself a chance to change your attitude!
* Is it time for an attitude check? The author of Proverbs says: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
Your pastor, Rev. Don Sonntag
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
* In last week’s blog we looked at values, beliefs and principles and how they form the basis for our attitudes and behavior. Today I want to continue exploring that topic a bit.
* Here is a bit of history. The English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, “What are you doing?” The first replied, “I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day.” The next answered, “I’m putting in 10 hours a day on this job.” But the third said, “I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals.” Our attitude makes a huge difference in everything in life.
* Well, but what about if our lot in life is arduous, can we still have a good attitude? Or is it so that if life throws us only curve balls then we have the right to have a bad attitude and retaliate with an antagonistic behavior against everything and everyone?
* We need to remember that we may not always be able to change our circumstances, things that happen in life, but we can change the way we view them. Our text above says that a “joyful heart is good medicine…” It is good medicine for a bad attitude!
* Life can be hard and we can view it as a drag, but the beginning of change starts inside our heart. If we have joy, then we will look for blessings and positive things each day, and we will find them, even if we at the beginning they are hard to find.
* A great number of people wait for a better future, as if somehow next month… next year suddenly everything will magically change. A man with a bad attitude went into a restaurant & said, “Do you serve crabs here?” The waiter said, “Why, yes sir, we serve anybody here.”
* I believe that Instead of resenting every moment of the delay for a better future, we need to use our time to draw closer to God and try to learn what the experience can teach us.
* I have to acknowledge, life is not always easy… For some life is very hard & when life is tough it is easy to revolt and become bitter. We can even become less than gracious with people around us when life takes a turn to the south. I also have to admit that it is hard to know what the purpose of certain events in life is. And I find it a bit of a “holier than Thou” attitude of those who say, “You know, God is allowing you to go through this because He wants to teach you this or that...”
* The reality is: We live in a broken world, and God will somehow turn the bad things in life turn into something good for those who love Him. And yes, God can change us through any and all experiences
* Hopefully we will always learn something with our life-experiences and become a smidge wiser every day. If our attitudes are bad, we will learn little or nothing. A good attitude is required to acquire wisdom. And don’t forget, we also need to remain morally and spiritually upright in everything, in all circumstances, even pain, then we will reach a higher level of wisdom and a better quality of life.
* Here is a little story to conclude my “rambling” blog… A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital: “You have lost an arm in the great cause.” “No,” said the soldier with a smile. “I didn’t lose it - I gave it.” In that same way, Jesus did not lose His life. He gave it purposefully.
* What is your attitude about life… about troubled times… problems that are asking for your attention? Since I am asking - what is your attitude about church? Many people when they find a little fault in the way their church-home operates they abandon it – forgetting the 95-99% that happens at the church that is really great and spiritually edifying? And by the way, have you considered your own faults? Read your Bible, go to church, Sunday School and Bible study and give yourself a chance to change your attitude!
* Is it time for an attitude check? The author of Proverbs says: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23.
Your pastor, Rev. Don Sonntag