Beyond Being — Doing Good!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Goodness: uprightness of heart and life, moral excellence (virtue), beneficence

Goodness goes beyond just being "good" or moral. It means that moral excellences translates into dong — beneficence, charity, making a contribution. 

Notice the progression: what God prefers (love), grace recognized (joy), God's gift of wholeness (peace), and attitude of uncomplaining (longsuffering) is the foundation for our actions kindness (favorable attitude — that is serviceable) and now goodness (beyond being good — doing good).

Goodness, moral excellence that goes beyond just being — and translates into doing!

Uncomplaining

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Longsuffering: patience, forbearance, longanimity, slowness in avenging wrongs

Patience: the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance whenconfronted with delay. (http://www.dictionary.com)

When I looked up the word in the thesaurus, the synonym that stood out  to me was, "uncomplaining".

It's easy to complain! We are quick to express to everyone the wrong that has been done to us! And the more we focus on that wrong the angrier we become. Then we want vengeance! 

If we change our mindset to one of "uncomplaining", to one of patience, one of "slowness in avenging" — then we will be able to show what God prefers (love) experience grace recognized (joy), and accept God's gift of wholeness (peace). 

Uncomplaining. Longsuffering. 

Thanks Living: Create a Habit!

Do all things without complaining and disputing. Philippians 2:14

Do: perform repeatedly or habitually 

Without: rendering something invalid or valid; through the idea of empty expanse

Complaining: secret displeasure, not openly avowed, a grumbling -- grudging, murmuring

Disputing: a deliberating, questioning, about what is true

This verse is a like a BIG RED stop sign!

 

Stop the complaining and bickering! Did you notice the definition of "complaining"? Secret displeasure. That mumbling under your breath, silent dissatisfaction—that UGG and sigh.  That  silent displeasure begins to gnaw away at our spirit and opens a featuring wound. And soon that silence can no longer be kept quiet—and soon that habit turns into a roaring lion. 

Do all things without complaining and disputing is NOT just a suggestion.... but NO, really.....STOP!

Stop the complaining and start creating a habit of appreciating, enjoying, praising and harmony—or simply put, create a habit of Thanks Living! 

STOP the complaining and START creating a habit of Thanks Living! 

Cheerful Attitude

If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all.

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.   

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, Colossians 3:23 (AMP)

Work hard and cheerfully at all you do, just as though you were working for the Lord and not merely for your masters, Colossians 3:23 (TLB)

Whatever the task—no matter what it is—do it with a cheer attitude and to the VERY BEST of my ability. Remember I am working for GOD, not just your employer. 

If you do all your work in that spirit, how noble it becomes, and how cheerfully you will get through it! You may have a master who is unworthy of your service; yet, if you “do it heartily, as to the Lord,” you will have rest of heart even in serving those who are froward and perverse, and the Lord will reward your service in due time. Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible

How often do I do something to the very best of my ability, but the entire time I'm grumbling and complaining about the task at hand? The two (hard work and cheerful attitude) must go together. 

I can't help but think of "Mary Poppin's" as I read this verse. 

"In every job that must be done, there is an element of funYou find the fun and snap, the job's a gameAnd every task you undertake becomes a piece of cakeA lark, a spree, it's very clear to see...."

In each and every task, I am to put my whole heart into it, cheerfully to my utmost best — because I am serving our Great God! 

When my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God, then that will be evident in my cheerful attitude as I carry out each and every task I'm given.

Take Notice of God’s Works—and Smile!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 92. Here is what I learned.

For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; at the deeds of Your hands I joyfully sing. Psalm 92:4 (AMP)

Because You, O Eternal One, thrill me with the things You have done, I will sing with joy in light of Your deeds. Psalm 92:4 (VOICE)

You made me find joy in what you have done, O Lord. I will sing joyfully about the works of your hands. Psalm 92:4 (GW)

"For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work." It was natural for the Psalmist to sing, because he was glad, and to sing unto the Lord, because his gladness was caused by a contemplation of the divine work. If we consider either creation or providence, we shall find overflowing reasons for joy; but when we come to review the work of redemption, gladness knows no bounds, but feels that she must praise the Lord with all her might. There are times when in the contemplation of redeeming love we feel that if we did not sing we must die; silence would be as horrible to us as if we were gagged by inquisitors, or stifled by murderers. "I will triumph in the works of thy hands." I cannot help it, I must and I will rejoice in the Lord, even as one who has won the victory and has divided great spoil. In the first sentence of this verse he expresses the unity of God's work, and in the second the variety of his works; in both there is reason for gladness and triumph. When God reveals his work to a man, and performs a work in his soul, he makes his heart glad most effectually, and then the natural consequence is continual praise. The Treasury of David

As I recovery from surgery, from a human stand point, there isn’t much to be glad about. I’m uncomfortable and in pain. But when I think of all that God has done, my heart rejoices and sings. When I think back over all the people I met while at the hospital, I smile. It was a joy to share smiles with each person I met. 

One lady mentioned that I was the “most positive person she’s met”. What a great compliment. But that is due to Who God is and what He is accomplishing in my life. I can choose to see God at work and praise Him for what He has done, and what He is doing, or I can choose to complain and miss out on those great opportunities to share that God is bigger than I am. 

God has made me glad, and even as I deal with the additional pain from surgery, I can smile because of God’s goodness and all He has done! To create a positive day, I need to take notice of God’s works—and smile!

The Message of My Music

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 47. Here is what I learned.

Make music to praise God. Play music for him! Make music to praise our king. Play music for him! Psalm 47:6 (GW)

Sing praises to God. Sing praises. Sing praises to our King. Sing praises. Psalm 47:6 (EXB)

Sing: to make music (in praise of God); to celebrate in song and music—give praise, sing forth praises, psalms; original meaning hum, murmur.

What is the message of my music? Am I praising God and telling of His great power and mighty works? Or am I murmuring about my troubles and pain? 

The message of my music

has an effect on those who hear it.

First, it has an effect on me. Yesterday, I found this to be true. I was doing some housecleaning, and that always increases my pain. Chores actually hurt. But, I put in my CD’s and found that the song “God is Good” by Don Moen, changed my attitude. I found myself singing along and smiling... in spite of the pain. The message of the music effected my attitude and perspective and sure made finishing the chores easier. 

Secondly, the message of my music has an effect on those around me. If all I do is murmur, complain and talk about how bad things are.... that creates a message of hopelessness and despair. That is not a very uplifting or positive message for others to hear. 

And lastly, but most importantly, the message of my music has an effect on God. On March 28, I wrote about “Praise Looks Good on You”. When we praise God, it’s looks good on us to God. I like to think of it as “making God smile”. When I’m praising God, giving Him the honor due Him, it’s pleasing to Him. 

The message of my music—praise or murmurs of complaints—both will have an effect on me, those around me, and God. The choice of the message of my music is up to me. I can choose which song to sing. I can pick one of “nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen” or I can pick one of “God is Good!” 

To create a positive day, the message of my music must be that of praise and honor to my Almighty and loving God, for then and only then, will my music effect me and those around me in a positive way.