"The Donut and the Hole"

Day #16 - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." Proverbs 4:23

Are you a pessimist or an optimist? Barbara Johnson once quoted, "A pessimist is someone who believes that when her cup runneth over she'll need a mop." Do you see the glass half-filled with water, as half-empty or half-full?

Our devotion today starts out with a cute story, "On the wall of a little donut shop, the sign said: As you travel through life, brother, whatever be your goal. Keep your eye upon the donut, and not upon the hole." ('A Woman of Faith' Devotional. Day 12. ©2007 Freeman-Smith, LLC. Nashville, TN. 37202) Do you have the bad habit of looking at the negatives in life, such as the hole in the donut? Fortunately, there are such things as 'Timbits' which turn the negative hole into a positive (which I can hear some of you saying... well timbits if you are Canadian - or someone blessed with Tim Horton's).

God wants us to look positively at things in our life... that's why He told us to be joyful, be thankful and pray in ALL circumstances. (see a devotional on that verse here) "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing, give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV If you are a true Christian, then Christianity and pessimism should not mix... God should be filling you to overflowing with His joy and peace, and you should be looking on the bright side. (Well that makes me think of the funny song by Monty Python -- yes not a Biblical song, as it speaks of the crucifixions of the Jews by the Romans... but the words are super-true.) I posted the song in a little better version than the movie... at the end of this post. Sorry if I offended anyone by playing it... but I always try to look on the bright side of life... and it makes me smile. Hopefully it makes someone else smile too!

God wants us to be filled with His "joy unspeakable that won't go away" (I will post that song at the end of this message too). We will be filled with an inexpressible joy... "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV)

Our joy will be bubbling up inside of us, that we will want to share the joy and optimism with those around us. Then both you and they will feel better. When someone starts saying negative things, or even when you do... catch yourself, and think of a positive. Actually I've heard that for every negative, you need to say two positives... or something like that anyway. So try first to THINK positively, then you will act and speak positively. Your mind is a terrible thing to waste on negativity. Be glad and rejoice, even in the roughest and toughest of circumstances!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Here's the Monty Python song, "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life"...


... and here's 'Counting on God' sung by Desperation Band which talks about the 'joy unspeakable'... except we sing the words, "MORE THAN enough strength..." instead of "just enough strength..."

 
ENJOY!