ATTITUDES? GOOD CHOICES? NEEDS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
WHAT DO YOU WANT? WHAT DO WE NEED? WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO FULFILL GOD’S PURPOSE? …
Recall the story of the young lady that had a terrible battle with cancer. The chemotherapy and radiation had been very mean to her. She had lost many pounds. She could not eat so she was very weak and tired. The medication had burned her systems so bad. She had laid in bed for days. She refused her friends access to her. She spent much of her time in a dark room with the curtains pulled watching CNN. Life had become nothing but depression.
One day the Lord appeared before her and asked her: WHERE IS YOUR JOY? Have you counted your blessings recently? The Lord explained there was A GARMENT OF PRAISE YOU CAN PUT ON FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS. Jesus explained LIFE IS ABOUT YOUR CHOICES. He said you can make the choice to focus on what you don’t have and what’s wrong … BUT JESUS EXPLAINED YOUR DAILY MENIAL CHOICES HAVE GREAT INFLUENCE ON YOU. Jesus asked the young lady to change her attitudes and be thankful and grateful for each day. MAKE THE CHOICE THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY EACH MORNING. JESUS TOLD HER SHE COULD HAVE A GOOD DAY, A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY.
The next morning the young lady jumped out of bed and made the CHOICE THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY! A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY! She was so happy. She opened the windows and turned the TV to the 3 STOOGES AND LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. She thought I am still beautiful. She put on some make up and stood in front of the mirror. She said: THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY, A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY. She had 3 hairs left on her head. She laughed and said THIS IS A GOOD DAY. I BELIEVE I WILL BRAID MY HAIR THIS MORNING. She braided her 3 hair and she had a good day. When she went to bed that night she prayed and thanked God for His goodness. She was so happy she declared THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD DAY, A REALLY, REALLY GOOD DAY.
She had the best night’s sleep. The next day she woke up before the alarm clock went off. She was singing a beautiful song to Jesus and praising him for the gift of another day. She took a hot shower and put on a fancy robe. She went to the mirror and saw how pretty her smile was. She put on her makeup and looked, she had two hairs. She laughed and said: I AM GOING TO HAVE A GOOD DAY. I AM GOING TO MAKE THIS A BETTER DAY THAN YESTERDAY… SHE DECIDED TO WEAR HER HAIR IN PIG TAILS. Be dog gone if she had the better day she had in years. She laughed. She visited with friends. She prayed that night and thanked Jesus for the wonderful, good day she had. She said: Thank you Jesus this has been a good day, a very, very good day. She slept like a baby that night. She had made the choice that she would make the day good.
On the third day after the visit with Jesus she declared again: THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY, A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY. She looked in the mirror and saw God’s goodness radiate around her. Well, wouldn’t you know it, she had one hair left. That was not going to ruin her good day. She made the choice to MAKE TODAY A GOOD DAY. She added: TODAY IS GOING TO BE A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY. She decided she would wear her hair in a PONY TAIL. She said: LOOK JESUS HOW PRETTY MY HAIR IS… SHE SMILED A LOT. She went out and sat in the sun listening to the crickets and the birds sing. So she decided to sing to the birds. They landed all around her. She heard one bird sing to her that is a beautiful pony tail you have there. The day flew by, good visits with friends and she ate a big meal. She felt so good. SHE HAD A GOOD DAY, A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY. Before she went to sleep she thanked Jesus for His visit and explained she welcomed him anytime he wanted to come. She was sorry for all the wasted days of the poor choices she had made.
Of course you know, she slept like a log. She woke up early so refreshed and strengthened. The bright morning sun warmed her. As she prepared for another good day. She made the choice: this was going to be a good day, a very, very good day… She invited Jesus to visit with her and she said: JESUS THIS IS NOT JUST GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY, A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY --- I THINK THIS WILL BE THE BEST DAY EVER… SHE LOOKED IN THE MIRROR AND THERE WAS NO HAIR LEFT. SHE PRAISED GOD AND DANCED BEFORE HIM …SHE SAID THIS WAS THE BEST DAY EVER, I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT HAIR DO I WILL WEAR. She exclaimed WHAT A GOOD DAY… the best day!
YOU SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH TODAY IS YOUR CHOICE and attitude.… YOU CAN PUNISH YOURSELF BY MAKING THE CHOICE OF COMPLAINING AND BEING DEPRESSED ALL THE TIME. YOU CAN MAKE TODAY A GOOD DAY IF YOU WANT TOO… QUIT BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR MOODS.
WILL WE TRUST GOD AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS… WILL WE STAY FOCUSED ON THE MAIN THING… THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING…
WE NEED TO KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS… THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
WE NEED TO LOVE PEOPLE… LOVING HARD TO LOVE PEOPLE IS DIFFICULT. SOMETIMES BROTHERLY LOVE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
NEED? SOMEONE REMEMBER ME? EVERYONE SEES A SHEPHERD BOY? SAMUEL AND GOD SEE A KING… I WAS NOT EVEN INVITED TO THE PARTY… WE NEED TO FORGIVE…
1 Samuel 16:10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
THE NEED? DID YOU COME TO WATCH US DOING NOTHING? GOD ‘S NEEDS DO NOT RELY ON MAN’S OPINIONS…
1 Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
WHAT DOES GOD SAY WE NEED? HAVE YOU HEARD THE MICAH MANDATE?
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
1. TO DO JUSTLY--- Do what is right, to be fair, honesty, correctly, honorably.
2. LOVE MERCY--- compassion or forgiveness instead of punishment, forgiveness, kindness, tender.
3. BE HUMBLE--- low estimate of own importance, not proud, not stubborn, listen.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU NEED? WHAT DOES GOD THINK YOU NEED? PATIENCE WILL BRING PEACE!
We need endurance, patience… not just getting our wants. WANTS NEVER MAKE ONE HAPPY.
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
*PATIENCE: to wait and endure hardship for a long time without being upset, accepted—tolerate delays and problems, suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious, refuse to be frustrated, slow down.
PATIENCE IS A LEARNED SKILL REINFORCED BY PRACTICE. We must learn to think over feelings and emotions.
WE NEED TO GIVE… IT IS NOT THAT GOD NEEDS OUR GIFT… LOVE GIVES…
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Conclusion: MY FRIEND, WHERE IS OUR DAILY FOCUS? GOD IS OUR FATHER, A GOD OF LOVE… GOD IS ALL MIGHTY… OMNIPRESENT… OMNI POWERFUL,… OMNI PRESENT AND ALL WISE…
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Would love to hear from you.
