News Can Change Your Perspective

 

This last Friday I learned that a friend of mine is awaiting a heart transplant here in San Diego.  Brandi Taylor(early 30’s)  is the vice- chairwoman of the Ysabel tribe here in California.  I met Brandi years ago at a car dealership where we were working.  8 years ago her heart began to fail, even through childbirth two years ago her heart gave out. But she has trekked on and now the doctor’s are just waiting for a heart for Brandi. 

Something she so desperately needs now.

As I thought and mulled and prayed over that email that evening my perspective on my life changed.

The experience helped me learn how to make the most of the time that I do have here on Earth.  

 

                                                                                                                    

  Take pleasure in the Effortless Things                

                    

I no longer wildly move about my day ignoring everything in my path. I became aware of how God’s creation filled my senses: the fragrance of fresh air, the briskness of a breeze, the warmth of the sun, and the glow of the moon.

 This must be how David felt when he wrote, 

 ”When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?”  

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                     

Catch glimpses of the Good in People

 We too often engage ourselves in unfair appreciation of others. Have you noticed that people who continuously criticize others seem miserable? Perhaps that’s because their disparaging heart has created a different perspective in their world.

 Seek out the Good in a Bad Situation

  2 Corinthians 4:8-18: “We are hard-pressed [. . .] yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”  

In his darkest days, Paul recognized that all was not lost.Paul prayed three times for God to remove the thorn from his flesh, but God chose not to do so. Instead of blaming God, Paul chose to see how he rewarded from God’s lesson. The thorn in Paul’s flesh helped him remain humble.

Sometimes our requests are denied or our plans thwarted. Instead of losing hope in our disappointment, we need to look for the openings and blessings our disappointments may bring.

Be Thankful

    When we cultivate a heart of gratitude, we are less likely to think about what we don’t have.  

 Give thanks always for all things to God the Father” (Ephesians 5:20).  

Meditate on These Things

 We often feel miserable because we have allowed ourselves to focus on everything that we believe is negative in our lives. Paul offers the best solution: 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,

 whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

 When we meditate on the good  of  the journey with Him it then becomes effortless.