"THINK ON THESE THINGS..."

Recently, I found a new recipe for tuna salad. The recipe called for fresh grilled tuna steak. I substituted canned tuna. Result: Disaster! Fortunately, I had both the time to scrap this negative creation, and the ingredients to prepare something entirely different. The end result was both successful and enjoyable.

As I reflected on this experience, I saw it as a parable about life. Substituting a lesser product can produce disaster.

Consider the things with which we fill the territory of our minds.

I am thinking of Philippians 4:8-9 -

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

The Word of God tells me to fill my mind with good things and to dwell on them. And to practice them! The end result is most enjoyable. I, and indeed, we, are told the God of peace will be with us. Filling our minds with the good and the positive, dwelling on, and practicing these positive things gives us a recipe for success with enjoyable results ... (great tuna salad) ... God's peace.

The alternative is a recipe for disaster. A train wreck! When we choose to fill our minds with negatively impacting substitutions or alternatives to these good and positive choices, and we further choose to dwell on them and practice the outcome of our thoughts, the result for ourselves and others can be destructive and destroying.

Morning has broken on this new day in January 2014. My first thought is "Thank You, Lord!"

Thanksgiving is a great way to start any day! It is good to remain in a spirit of thanksgiving. Why not try it? Watch how your life will change!

How do you like YOUR tuna salad?!

Think Thanksgiving! Pray Thanksgiving!

Filling our minds with good and positive thoughts determines on what we will dwell and practice. It affects our peace.

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

~ Amen ~