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Thought For an abundant day

Pain Or Praise?

We have a choice with every decision we make, and there are thousands every day. To simplify this choice, consider whether to focus on the pain or on the praise.

Focusing on the pain means directing your energy to negatives, such as pain, loss, fear, or anger. This doesn’t mean that they don’t exist-of course they do. But it means not allowing the pain to control your thoughts, emotions, actions, or feelings.

Focusing on the praise means directing your energy to what is positive; again, this doesn’t mean that there is no pain, but that an alternative is chosen.  What are the alternatives? Hope, possibilities, growth, and newness of life are several to consider.

St. Paul offers these alternatives to focusing on pain. First, focus on love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Next, clothe yourself with “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…” (Colossians 3:12) 

Considered as a whole, they offer praise to God. Therefore, in this sense, we may choose between the pain of living in this world and offering our lives through praiseful actions and thoughts to the God that created us.

Consider this real life scenario. While in a cancer center for her twice yearly medication, my wife walked past the infusion room where chemo and other treatments are given. One would except this to be a room filled with angry, bitter, fearful people complaining about the unfairness of life and the pain they are experiencing. But quite the contrary. There was not a single fearful face, the mood was positive, and the chatter lively. I don’t know what was in their hearts or minds, but it clearly was not pain. 

As we go through life, this serves as an everyday lesson for finding the abundant life, a life that intentionally chooses praise over pain, joy or dread, wholeness over emptiness.  And if we keep God centered in our lives we will always walk the path of praise.

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the Abundant Life

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A very good question, a soul-searching question.

I am in search of The Abundant Life.
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I begin each day with short reflections based on Study, Prayer, and a commitment to Action (my Bible SPA).

What amazes me is the ease, breadth and depth of these thoughts that can only come from the Holy Spirit. I conclude each reflection with a mention of God’s altar because it is at God’s altar where blessings are bestowed, gratitude is offered, and wholeness is made. And God’s altar may be found anywhere and everywhere, and especially in my heart.

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