Stinkin Thinking

             I had the awesome opportunity last night to perform in a series of skits at a Gems sleep over. Gems is the name of our girls club at church. The purpose of the skits was to encourage the girls to think, test, and trade in their thoughts....let me explain, it seems so simple, but boy did I get a lot of it. First the girls are encouraged to think about the words that come out of their mouths and the thoughts that pass through their minds. Second they are to test those words and thoughts against Phillipians 4:8

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.

If their words and thoughts pass the test then they are finished, but if they don't they need to trade in those words or thoughts for some that will pass the test. They are encouraged to pray continually for God to give them pleasing thoughts about themselves and others.

During one of the breakout sessions the girls were asked to think of someone who really bugged them, someone whose faults were very easy for them to identify. Then they were told to name a good quality that they saw in that person, write a simple prayer that they could say when that person was around, and to think of something nice that they could do for the person who really bugged them.

This is part that really got to me. I am blessed that I am surrounded mostly by people that are easy to love, but there is one person who really, really bugs me. I don't see this person very often, but when I do I find myself running the other way so that the nasty things that pop into my head don't have a chance to pop out of my mouth. I was really convicted as I listened to these young girls come up with some really nice things to say about some people who have been really nasty to them. So today, I have assigned myself the same task that the girls had to complete. Think of this nasty person, think of something that I like about this person, think of the prayer I can pray when I have to deal with this person, and (this is the hard part for me) think of something nice I can do for them.

Remember the three Ts today as you think about and speak to the people around you. Think, Test, and Trade In. Let’s make sure that our thoughts and words pass the P.4.8. test J