Phil:4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there
be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.9: Those
things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me,
do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
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A winner ...shows he is sorry by acting different.
A loser.... says, "I'm sorry", but continues to do it again.
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Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
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You would like to get victory over weaknesses, wouldn't you? That is what
Jesus is all about. In the book of the Revelation there are many promises
to the one who overcomes, stays till the end, "takes a likin' and keeps on
tickin", keeps moving on. Our weaknesses, insecurities, nuances of
personality haunt us in the path of the winner. Over and over we will make
mistakes, glitch in performance, slip climbing the ladder, fall on our face,
get egg on our face, boondoggle......sin.
Yes, one key word used for sin in the Bible is simply to miss the mark.
Shoot at a goal and miss it. Decide we want to be loving and react with
anger. Decide to keep our minds pure then fill it with trashy books,
magazines, and the boob tube. Promise to a wife or son or daughter or
friend or neighbor or coworker or employee or employer and then not follow
through. Sin.
The question is, "What do we do then?" Do we take a winner's stance or a
loser's escape. Do we face up, fess up, and clean the mess up? Or do we
put on a face, say, "I'm sorry", and fade away only to do it again and
again?
Winners change. Winners find a way to do life different the next time.
Some years back a famous jewel thief was being interviewed over his life.
He had spent many years in prison. His modus operandi was to only steal
from the rich and famous. The interviewer asked him what his biggest theft
was. His reply was, "Me." The explanation was simple. He had stolen his
own life. What could have been a great creative mind used productively was
used to steal and hurt. When you refuse to change and use the talents and
strengths God gives you, you are stealing from yourself. Your time, energy,
and talent go into actions that only produce hurt and pain for you and
others. Why not change to a better way? Why not get a new thought process
and quit doing what doesn't work, what only hurts?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who
for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12: 1-2 NIV. Feedback?..... mailto:plarson@copwoc.org
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What needs changing in your thought life?
What can you fill your mind with that will cause the old thoughts to go out
and new ones come in?
Make a date with destiny. When are you going to start?
Feedback?..... mailto:plarson@copwoc.org
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Father, quicken my mind and heart. I make mistakes everyday. Help me not
repeat them. Help me overcome the items in life that are so easy to do
wrong. Focus my thoughts on good things, pure, lovely, true, honest,
excellent things that cause me to follow through with real change not just
being sorry.