I have to admit. Reality shows get the best of me. As an old friend of mine used to say, “it reminds me I’m not crazy, THEY are!” So true. But the truth is, I am stunned that people seem to be ok with living in this drama and turmoil that they create on a weekly, if not daily, basis.
A devotional writing came my way, and I couldn’t resist sharing it with you. I didn’t feel it was random. Enjoy.
A Sweet, Winsome Melody
by Charles R. Swindoll
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is of good
repute . . . dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Let me urge you to take charge of your mind and emotions today.
Let your mind feast on nutritious food for a change. Refuse to grumble and criticize! Let your life yield a sweet, winsome melody that this old world needs so desperately.
Fix your attention on these six specifics in life:
Not unreal far-fetched dreams, but things that are true . . .
Not cheap, flippant, superficial stuff, but things that are honorable . . .
Not things that are wrong and unjust, . . . but that which is right.
Not thoughts that are carnal, smutty, and obscene, but that which is pure . . .
Not things that prompt arguments and defense in others, but those that are agreeable . . .
Not slander, gossip, and put-downs, but information of good report, the kind that builds up and causes grace to flow.
Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Wisdom for the Way (Nashville: J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001). Copyright © 2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Here’s a verse from antiquity that is quite appropriate I feel as well:
Neh. 6:8-9
I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
Wow. Talk about living truth. That talks! What say you?
S.
