so many kinds of beautiful

"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

It has been a growing summer for me.

along with the grass and the flowers,

I have grown.

As a Christian,

one of our responsibilities is to think well....

to have the mind of Christ.

I have not always done that.

I have allowed wrong, selfish, and sometimes evil thoughts and desires,

at times,

to rule my head and seep into my heart.

Thinking God's way is not easy.

It does not come naturally.

Thinking God's thoughts must be cultivated,

practiced,

much time must be spent in His word,

learning how He thinks 

and what He desires for us.

It takes time of being with Him in prayer,

confessing our sins,

and basking in His grace and mercy.

Most importantly,

we must have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit

to give us the power to think

God's way.

There are, my friends,

"so many kinds of beautiful."

There are so many reasons to be thankful.

There are countless reasons to be joyful.

Our minds can be filled with the pleasures of God,

the beauty of His creation,

the knowledge of what He has done for us,

the expectation of where we will spend eternity

or steeped with the things of this world.

We get to choose,

Choose wisely ~ grow in grace

*We don't have anything except what God has given us.

Our next breath comes from Him.

Think always on His beautiful truth.