All of these phrases point to the same thing: Negativity. Negative thinking and pessimistic thinking equal zero results, would you agree?
I'm sure we all have "negative" moments, but hopefully, for the most part, we are positive people. If we are a Christian, it is IMPERATIVE that we are positive people! Who wants to be around a pessimistic follower of Christ? Actually, how is that even possible....given that He is our example and our model for living? Was Christ ever negative? Apparently not!
Recently our school baseball teams had a fundraiser on a Sunday after worship. Beans and cornbread were on the menu. Typical Sunday fare? Maybe not, but why not? Plans were made then the negative comment came out: "It will never work. Beans and cornbread won't go over well for Sunday." Oh, really? Almost $2,000 was made that day for a small ball club! I think it worked out pretty well, don't you?
A few years ago, my husband and I organized a door knocking campaign for our up-coming VBS. We were told, "We tried that once. It didn't work. It won't work." Oh, really? Would you believe that the VBS that year was the largest there has been in many years? Oh, it worked! It worked just fine. The problem with events such as that, is that it takes "workers" to pull it off.
Today, a challenge for you is to be a positive person. Maybe you tend to be a little more negative throughout your day - or as my husband refers to it..."realistic" (that's when my dreams seem unreal, so it's a joke between us!). Well, just for today, dream a little, believe a little. Just see what kind of day you will have. I honestly believe that God will bless you in your optimistic thoughts! And, don't we all want God's blessings?
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness or compassion, then make my joy complete. Be of the same mind, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but instead in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be exploited, but made himself nothing, emptied himself taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2:1-11
It's amazing how one thing that didn't work years ago can stick in people's minds. Things are changing all the time and some old tactics can be brought back and tried, if we'll give it a shot sometimes! Good for you guys!
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