Minding Our Thoughts in 2012

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
- St. Paul, Philippians 4:8 NLT

What do you think 2012 will bring to you, your family, and AUMC? Will it be a year filled with blessing or difficulties? Will this New Year bring fresh victories or defeats? Will it be a year of plenty or lack? Will 2012 be a year of joy or sadness?

The truth is that in the New Year each of us will experience some blessings and difficulties, victories and defeats, times of plenty and lack, health and sickness. Each year that passes is a mixed bag filled with both joys and sorrows.

I believe the key to getting through our mixed bag years as “more than conquerors” has to do with our minding our thoughts. What
we allow our minds to “fix” on will either help us or hurt us, bless us or curse us. We need to learn to mind our thoughts.

Our thoughts are powerful. They shape the course of our lives. Many of us live far below our God given potential because our thinking has limited our ability to trust God, trust others, and believe that God could use us in Kingdom enlarging and enhancing ways.

In a book entitled Power Thoughts Joyce Meyers has a quote that reminds us how powerful our thoughts are…

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
- Anonymous

So brothers and sisters are you minding your thoughts? I confess that this last year I didn’t always do a good job of minding my own thoughts. As a result, I struggled inwardly at times. I know that in 2012 I need to do a better job guarding against a negative mindset that limits my ability to partner with the Lord in what He is doing in me, my family, AUMC, the community and the world.

St. Paul urges us in the verse from Philippians quoted above to “fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure…” One way to do that is to spend time meditating on and filling our minds with the promises of God as recorded in Scripture. You see it is not enough to avoid negative thoughts we must fill our minds with good thoughts. Spending time in prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and Scripture are powerful ways of minding our thoughts.

I urge you for your own sake, for your family’s sake, and for the sake of the kingdom to mind your thoughts in 2012!

All for Jesus,
Pastor Tim

“O come let us adore Him…”

The Christmas story is a story filled with people passionately worshiping the LORD! In the story, we find…

• The faithful gathered outside the temple praying while Zechariah visits unexpectedly with the angel Gabriel.
• Mary submitting to God’s plan for her life, which is the essence of worship.
• The baby John leaping with joy in his mother Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of Mary and her unborn Son.
• Elizabeth being filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaiming loud praise when Mary shows up on her door.
• Mary’s breaking out in a song of praise in response to Elizabeth’s recognition that she was the mother of the Messiah.
• Zechariah, after naming John, found he could once again speak and his first words were words of praise to God.
• Angels filling the skies around Bethlehem with praise and song while announcing the good news of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds.
• The shepherds praising the Lord after finding Jesus lying in a manger.
• Simeon praying and then blessing Mary, Joseph, and Jesus upon meeting them in the temple.
• Anna giving thanks to God for Jesus when she comes upon Him in the temple
• The Magi bowing down and worshipping Jesus when they found Him with Mary in Bethlehem.
• Mary pondering and treasuring all these things in her heart.

The Christmas story is in large measure the story of God’s people passionately worshiping. In the story, they
each demonstrate a willingness to draw near to God and passionately worship.

This Christmas season will we take time to draw near to the Lord? Will we take time to passionately worship the Lord? As we draw near and passionately worship the Lord, God can use us each to bring His Son into the world afresh.

All for Jesus,
Pastor Tim