Eyore, Who Me?
Video Clip: I have to tell about the new hive
Video Clip: Saving someone
Eyore had a chance to use his talent to spread the word
He had a chance to save Roo
Acts 16:19-24 reads:
"And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks."
That was not a good day for Paul and Silas. It was a horrible day.
If anyone had reason to complain, they did.
However, Paul and Silas did not do that. They did not think on their negative circumstances.
What did Paul and Silas do?
Verses 25-28 tell us:
"And at midnight [at the darkest hour] Paul and Silas [they did not complain and grumble] prayed, and sang praises unto God [no doubt people were watching them, wondering how they were going to react]: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, thinking that the prisoners had fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." All the prisoners were right there; no one had escaped.
"This is our chance to escape! Let’s get out of here!" However, that is not what they did.
people are watching your life.
Verses 28-30 say:
"But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
How you react in adversity and the attitudes you take have a great impact on winning souls for God.
Paul and Silas could have sat in that prison and felt sorry for themselves,
cried over their open wounds,
complained about how they had been wrongly imprisoned and unjustly beaten.
Yet, they chose to praise God, and it reaped great rewards.
As people watch your life, are they drawn to Christ or pushed away because of how you react in adversity?
The men in the prison were drawn to Paul and Silas, and the jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?"
Life may not seem fair, but you must think on good things. Take the trial or the persecution that you are going through and turn it around for the betterment of souls just as Paul and Silas did.
Paul and Silas did not see their trial as a place to become discouraged. They saw it as an opportunity to reach out to souls. Are you reacting in a way that draws souls to Christ?
attitude is everything. People cannot see what is in your heart, but they can see how you react to things. They can see whether you are really
happy in the life that you are living.
Video Clip: House, bad and still bad
I have a story that I would like to share with you. It is a good illustration of how one’s attitude affects self and others.
Jerry was the kind of guy some people just did not like. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say.
How do you do it?"
Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, ’Jerry, you have two choices today: you can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.’ I choose to be in a good mood.
Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.
Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it’s not that easy," I protested.
"Yes, it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice.
You choose how you react to situations.
You choose how people will affect your mood.
You choose to be in a good mood or a bad mood.
The bottom line is, it is your choice how you live your life."
I reflected on what Jerry said, and soon afterward, I left the restaurant business to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him, and I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later I heard that Jerry did something that you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business. He left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Fortunately, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to a local trauma center.
After eighteen hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullet still in his body.
I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I would be twins." Then, he said, "Do you want to see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door. Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die, and I chose to live."
"Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Paramedics said I was fine, doctors faces told me different
"What did you do?" I asked.
He said, "Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me. And she asked if I was allergic to anything." ’Yes,’ I replied, and the doctors and nurses all stopped working and waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and said, ’Bullets.’ Over their laughter, I told them, ’I’m choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’ " Jerry lived,
I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
Friend, you have a choice concerning how you live each day. You can choose to be a happy Christian or you can choose to be depressed.
The man named Jerry in the story chose to live, and his positive attitude allowed him to do that. The same applies to you.
Looking to God’s Word for Encouragement
You may think, "This situation is impossible," but you can look to the Bible. Jesus said in Luke 18:27, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." You may say, "I’m too tired." Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." You may say, "No one really loves me," but you can read in John, Chapter 3, that God loves you. You may say, "I can’t go on," but 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, ’My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." You may say, "I can’t do it," but Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
You may say, "I’m not able," but 2 Corinthians 9:8 says "God is able." You may say, "I can’t forgive myself," but in 1 John 1:9 God says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." You may say, "I can’t manage," but God says in Philippians 4:19, "God shall supply all your need." You can say, "I am afraid," but 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear." You may say, "I am always worried and frustrated," but God says in 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." You may say, "I don’t have enough faith," but Romans 12:3 says, "God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." You may say, "I am not smart enough," but in James 1:5 God says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." You may say, "I feel all alone," but in Hebrews 13:5 God says, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
You can be like Eyore and find bad even in the good or you can not.
Video Clip: Didn’t think it would work
Video Clip: Not that anyone will miss me
You can think of many negatives, but God wants you to look on the positive side.
God wants you to lean heavily upon Him and look to His Word.
God wants us to be see our situations as he sees them,
Is your life more like Eyore or Paul and Silas?
