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Attitude Adjustment |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 1/14/2009 2:58 PM | Greetings on this cold-but-it’s-gonna-get-colder day,
Today was one of those days when I couldn’t ignore God’s presence if I tried to. First, I woke up groggy after a less than perfect night’s sleep. As I was getting ready, I was suddenly hit with an epiphany that said to me, “You can either give in to starting this day off badly, or you can decide to make it a good day.” I looked in the mirror and decided it would be a good day. Came into the office having to deal with some administrative issues that need to be tied up and with one fell swoop, someone stepped forward and basically said, “the issue is resolved.” Alright…this day might be good after all. Got an e-mail from a friend who is battling some health issues but ended by saying, “But I am doing great…I have great faith that things will be settled soon.” His attitude will take him far. And then, I looked at my morning devotional where the following was written, “Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my attitude.”
God, do you think you could hit me over the head any harder? I get it!
The plain fact is that our attitude has a lot to do with how our day, our week, our month, our year, our life will go. Have you ever known someone who seemingly had it all but was always miserable because things weren’t perfect? And how about the person who suffers greatly from physical pain, or economic difficulties or any number of things, yet who at every turn sees nothing but hope and beauty and the blessings of God? Most of what dictates the mood of those two people is attitude. And while we can’t control everything, we can control our attitude.
When I worked at a residence for folks who were HIV positive and would have been homeless if not for the residence, I saw this played out in amazing ways. These folks who lived with a death sentence had been abandoned by their families and friends, lost all they had. But they never lost their faith and it affected their attitudes mightily. One man in particular, Flag, was a walking example of what a positive attitude looked like. He shared his story with me and the abandonment he had experienced was nothing short of total. But when you asked how he was doing, he always replied, “I’m blessed.” How could that be? Because he had friends in the place he lived; he had a roof over his head and food in his stomach. Because he knew that being bitter was not going to make his days any longer or his situation any different, so he decided to enjoy what there was to enjoy.
On a beautiful fall day in 1996, we walked together in an AIDS Walk to raise money. Carol and I stayed with Flag because as the walk progressed, he was walking slower and slower, his breathing became more labored and we worried he would drop at any minute. But he cheerfully marched on. Why? “Because I told the people who donated money I would finish the walk. And it’s a beautiful day, and it’s great to be alive and about on such a beautiful day.” He finished the walk, and we got him quickly in a car and home. He died later that week.
When there are days when my attitude needs a bit of readjusting, I simply think of Flag, and I realize very quickly, I am blessed…and I thank God that I have had people like Flag in my life to point that out.
How’s your day going?
For an updated prayer list and upcoming events at BCC, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer list:
Please keep Bob Harris, pastor at Friendship Christian Church in Athens and a dear friend of mine, in your prayers as he deals with health issues.
Please keep Carolyn Flemming in your prayers as doctors seek answers for her recent pain.
Please keep all those who seek shelter, warmth and food during this cold winter season in your prayers.
Announcements
Remember that this Sunday is the third Sunday of the month and so is also the day for our Third Sunday Fellowship Pot Luck Luncheon. Please bring a dish or two to pass and have some good fellowship and food.
The Super Bowl Party will be held Sunday February 1st at the home of Charles and Debbie Kinney beginning at 5:30 p.m. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. More information will be available shortly (directions, etc.) Mark your calendar now.
I hope you can make it to worship this Sunday as we once again celebrate the Lord’s Day together. The sermon is entitled “Doing Justice” and the scripture is Micah 6:6-8. Have a great rest of the week!
Be peaceful,
Brad | | | Permalink | Trackback |
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