Whatever is Admirable

Confession: I am a snob.

Ugh. I am pondering this thought of thinking on things that are admirable and I realize that there are not many things that I can say I admire on this Earth. 

 

When I looked up the definition of admiration I found it means to respect, have warm approval, and to regard with wonder and surprise. 

This one train of thought really reveals my sinful nature... This one confession feels a bit too vulnerable, yet I am going to be honest and truthful anyway. If I need to have my thoughts focus on "whatever is admirable" I need to be careful not to come to the conclusion that nothing is admirable.

I think the really issue is that I see the wonder and miraculous creations in nature to be due admiration. The things that take my breath away do not stir the faintest of emotion in most people around me. As a Christina woman, striving to be a godly woman, I definitely do not admire those who do not have a heart for the Lord. Like them yes. Pray for them, absolutely. Admire them? In a word, no.

This is one of those thought filters that I need to be careful with personally. My strongest short-coming is that I am arrogant.Thank goodness the Lord has vision that sees right through me and can nail this heart issue of mine.

For now, I have to purpose to find things to admire. I have to confess, this is one of the hardest areas of my thought process to crack. 

Things that I regard with wonder and surprise: 

That Jesus found me and still chose to save me...

birds, flowers, and trees...

early morning mist rising off a body of water...

The melodious call of a bird to its mate...

 laughter...

the smell of a cozy hug from a small child...

the love, compassion, and acceptance of my husband...

a child's first year of life...

poganip...

 

 

How about you? 

I bet there you find this one easier than I. 

What do you admire?

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Choices

I am having one of "those" days where every thought in my head is heavy and sad.
I am wrestling with the truth that my thoughts can be held captive. Today, the negative thoughts are stronger than I am, but I refuse to let them win.
You may choose to skip this post, I am writing it to myself in hopes that I can snap out of the funk I find myself swimming in at the moment...

Peace, oh God, will be with me when I put into practice the truths You have recorded for me to remember. I need to take my eyes off my self and my troubled thoughts and place them on the things that I have seen, heard, and received from you, my Lord. I always have the choice to control my thoughts. I can choose today to believe Your truth or the enemies lies. Lord, give my heart the ability to discern between the two.

It is funny, in a not so funny way, how powerfully gifted the "Liar" can be in my life. When I am not marinated in the Love, Grace, Mercy, and Truths of God, I can become easily ensnared by his foulness. I can begin to believe that I am a terrible person and that I can do nothing good in this life...

The amazing thing is that when I look to the Son, truth warms me like the sun peeking out from behind a dark cloud. Truth is, I am a wretch and I have it within my spirit to be a terrible worthless person. The truth is that I cannot do anything good in this life...   ...without His grace and Mercy.

Yes, I may feel defeated, but He is not defeated!

I may feel worthless, but He is never worthless. He who is in me is able to do more than anything I could ever hope or imagine.

As I fix my eyes on Him and filter my thoughts through His I feel my lungs take in more air. I am able to breathe. The weight on my face melts away and I am able to move again, even smile.

Thoughts are powerful. I am thankful that He is able to rule in my life and even reach into the pit of my mind. I am thankful that His words, "Peace, Be still" still resonate today...

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."