Quote from Forum Archives on November 9, 2000, 9:54 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Have you ever watched the well-known movie, The Sound of Music?
If you have never done so, I encourage you to rent the video
sometime. I first saw it as a child at the brand new mall movie
theatre near home, and then I have watched it numerous times
since on TV or video. I think it has great music and a wholesome
message.

The reason I say that is that it seems quite consistent with the
scripture passages found in both the Old and New Testaments of
the Bible. Do you know that a positive attitude is infectious,
and can actually improve your physical health as well as your
mental health? Do you know that our hope comes, not from the
things we can collect around us, but from God Himself? One of
the best things of all we can ever hope to find is a satisfying
relationship with Him.

My experience, as well as my personal understanding of scripture,
tells me that it is because we seek to gratify ourselves so much
of the time that we get ourselves into trouble, and become
discouraged. But the apostle Paul has a completely different
message, a message of hope and joy.

I urge you to read it again today, and think deeply about it.
Then offer thanks to God, and go out into the world, being
courageous. Strengthen those who are weak, help those who are
hurting, honor everyone. Love and serve the Lord God, rejoicing
in the power that He gives us deep within.

Brother Brian

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do
not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything
is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen
in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with
you. (Philippians 4:4-9, NIV, copy courtesy of The Bible Gateway,
bible.gospelcom.net)

Guidepost
November 9

Job 8:21 (NIV) "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and
your lips with shouts of joy."

It had been a really hard day at work when a storm slamming into
Los Angeles took out the power to our office building. Not only
did the outage kill our electric typewriters and word processors,
it also took out our phones and our heat.

There were all sorts of groans and complaints and cries of "We're
never going to make the deadlines now!" We all came out of our
offices into the large-windowed reception area and sat around
complaining.

Then our departmental assistant, a bright young woman who had
recently seen The Sound of Music for the first time, told us what
a great song she thought "My Favorite Things" was, and suggested
we make a list of the things that make us feel better when we are
sad. After a little while, the complaining tailed off in the face
of her enthusiasm, and we got into the spirit of the game.

Some of the suggestions were: sleeping for at least twelve hours;
walking through a field of knee-high wildflowers; drinking
chicken noodle soup from a mug; buying lots of pairs of new
shoes; wearing a big old floppy sweater; having a dog with a cold
nose lick your face; playing old wartime songs from the forties
for hours. By the time the power came back on, we found that we
were in a great mood and eager to get back to work.

Sometimes, I think, what we need most when we're pressured is a
little laughter and a few of our most outlandish favorite things.

Prayer: Lord, when I'm feeling low, bless me with laughing
friends.

--Rhoda Blecker
devotionals.crosswalk.com/devo/display/1,8631,~8,00.htm?ref=lm

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/
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