Shirley's Corner - Whatever!

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Whatever

 

I hear this word a lot lately...most of the time in the context of an "I give up" attitude...As if there are no choices left to make and I am a victim of the circumstances surrounding me..."Whatever" can be a very negative word and a very negative way of looking at life.

However, Paul took the word "whatever" and made one of the most positive statements in scripture....

"...WHATEVER is true, WHATEVER is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, WHATEVER is just, WHATEVER is pure, WHATEVER is lovely and lovable, WHATEVER is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things ( fix your minds on them)." Phil. 4:8 Amplified Bible

In this day and age, we are surrounded by both bad and sad news.

All of media makes sure we know how awful life really is. I sometimes feel as if Satan uses newspapers, radio, television, Facebook and magazines as his own private venues to boast of his accomplishments here on planet earth. In John 10:10, in His statement describing Himself as the Good Shepherd, Jesus unmasked Satan's agenda when He made this comment.."The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy." Satan is indeed a thief and he works 24/7 to destroy everything in his path. He makes his boast in all the earth to instill fear, suspicion, and hatred into the hearts of mankind. He raises up nation against nation, parents against children, children against parents, husbands against wives and wives against husbands, and on and on and on...and unconsciously we spread his agenda by making known his deeds far and wide...Personally, I am ready to change my perspective on "current events"..

I realize I will be confronted with these reports the rest of my life or until Jesus comes again to regain His rightful place, BUT...(I love the word BUT...) I have decided to fight back in this war of propaganda and counter every bad report with the Truth that our King is alive and well and working mightily on behalf of His sheep. I plan to spread the good news that Satan's time is limited and during my watch I will boast of every good thing, every miracle, every healing, every answer to prayer as long as I have breath to proclaim it...I have also decided I will not be used of Satan to speak of every wicked, cruel, hateful occurrence he brings about...I am determined to live in the truth of 2 Cor.4:7-10:

"We possess this precious treasure (the divine Light of the Gospel) in (frail, human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. We are hedged in (pressed) on every side (troubled and oppressed in every way), BUT not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, BUT not driven to despair. We are pursued ( persecuted and hard driven), BUT not deserted (to stand alone): we are struck down to the ground, BUT never struck out and destroyed; Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the (resurrected) life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies."

For me, this means no more complaining, BUT filling my mouth with praise; no more passing on the bad reports, BUT proclaiming the wonders my God is accomplishing every day in my life and in those around me. I will be looking and listening for those WHATEVERS that are true, worthy of reverence, honorable and seemly, just, pure, lovely and lovable, kind and winsome and gracious, virtuous, excellent, worthy of praise. And when I discover them I will focus on them.

I have options, and I am determined not to look at what I see, but to look to the One Who sees me!

Recommended Reading
Experience the Impossible
Bill Johnson

(Graphic Credit: researchmaniacs.com)

With love from my chair at the Harvest Table,

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1 Comment

great word for today and all days. Whatever to you Satan, I'm a winner in this life so whatever comes my way I'm an OVERCOMER .

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