"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." ... Romans 12:2
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Darn.
They cancelled Longmire. That was a show both Tom and I enjoyed watching together here at Hobbit Cottage, though why I liked it, I'm not even sure. And the final season felt dark. But still.
Of course, we could go all negative about the cancellation. All:
They always cancel the shows we love!
Once again Hollywood has ripped out our hearts!
No Longmire = nothing good on anymore. Grrr!
But, no. That's the easy thing to do. The lazy thing, actually, because most (average) minds naturally flow downstream. It's like a default mechanism: Don't get your way? Suffer a disappointment? Uh-oh! Go down, down, down.
And a lazy head is a miserable head. That's what I always say.
For the past 20 years, God's been teaching me how to retrain my brain. He's showing me how to reprogram that Go Down default switch to Go Up, instead:
A favorite show gets cancelled? Be thankful you watched it at all, I tell myself. Hope that a different network picks it up (help fans campaign, even, if you're so led). Believe you'll soon discover a show you love even more.
A friend walks away? Remember the good times you shared. Be grateful God gave you that season of friendship and recall that He made seasons, temporary. In sincerity, wish your friend well. Believe a new friend is awaiting your smile, your kind words of welcome.
A household appliance breaks? Thank God for the money to repair it(even if you're not sure the money's available yet). The appliance is hopelessly broken? Believe that you'll find one at a terrific price and that God will provide all money(and means of delivery, etc.) required.
You get it, right? The examples could fill a blog for years.
I'm on a mission to refuse to let my mind go (and stay) down:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]" ...John 14:27
See, I believe it is a choice.
And if I must heft up my mind 1,000 times, over and over, well, I heft it up 1,000 times. Even when it seems like smoke is coming out of my ears from exertion, I choose good thoughts rather than bad. :)
And then? One day, one year, surprise! It eventually comes to me that my Go Down default mechanism, in a new area, got switched to Go Up. It's nearly automatic now. Living inside my head feels way more pleasant than it used to.
And Life has changed its appearance from dark to light. Again. On a deeper level.
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"We refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ." ... 2 Corinthians 10:5
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." ... 2 Corinthians 4:16
“Behold, I make all things new.” ... Revelation 21:5
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I've been playing around with my kitchen counters again and hooray! I finally found a perfect spot for my much-loved photo of Eunice, Esther and Alice, three sisters who I told you about here.
How blessed I feel to own this long ago photo from their fun day together. Always, I smile at them smiling at me.
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Free Kindle books:
While We're Far Apart
Grandfather's Uncle
Amazing God Stories
I wish posts had LIKE buttons. I love your little kitchen and the sweet way it looks old fashioned now with your lovely things.
ReplyDeleteAww Terri... You can check the "cool box" and I'll take that as meaning you liked it. :) Thanks so much for your sweet compliments! I appreciate them. Blessings, Debra
ReplyDeleteDebra, that old saying that the kitchen is the heart of the home is doubly true for your kitchen...so warm and inviting. As for adopting the "right" mindset for life, our family has been challenged along those lines, lately, and tho we haven't been perfect,we've learned that choosing to take the high road, looking for what is lovely, and holding onto hope has carried us over some bumpy roads. It works.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet of you to rescue those photos of the sisters, Debra, and to give them a place in your home so they are not forgotten. I am always drawn to old photographs I see in antique stores and wonder about the stories behind the faces. By the way, I will miss Longmire also. It was a post of yours several years back that got me watching the series.
ReplyDeletePam--what a sweet compliment! I appreciate it much--thank-you! And yes, isn't it amazing how our thinking makes such a huge difference in the way we feel about things and see them?
ReplyDeleteRosemary-- Yes, old photographs are so intriguing, aren't they? And thanks so much for telling me you'd watched Longmire after I recommended it. I love it when people let me know they enjoyed the same things I did!
Thanks, Ladies! ... Debra