Weekly Thought - Week 1

Bridge over Forth, Scotland 2008                                

During my drive to work in the mornings, I listen to American Family Radio.  I usually catch the tale end of Focus on the Family and then the beginning of the Matt Friedeman Show.  The beginning of Mr. Friedeman's show each day is usually a devotional or thought.  He has used the following quote a couple of times since I have been listening to him and he used it again this morning:

     "Whatever you are filled to the brim with will eventually spill out.

What will spill out of you today if you are bumped?"

Then during lunch today I was reading a blog and the author wanted the reader to comment on what makes a person have a positive attitude.  Is it exercise, a book, a person?  This was my response after spending the morning dwelling on the above thought:

I believe my positive attitudes come from my faith in God, studying the Bible,

and surrounding myself with positive people.

I heard a quote this morning which said

“Whatever you are filled to the brim with will eventually spill out.

What will spill out if you are bumped?”

If you fill yourself with negative influences, whether it is people, television, books, thoughts or whatever

 and dwell on these things, negative attitudes will “spill” out.

Dwell on the positive and positive results will follow.

My husband often calls me "Miss Positive".  I tend to find everything in life is more bearable if you can look to the ultimate outcome in the future.  I am a kidney transplant recipient.  During the years of being sick, my ultimate outcome was having the transplant and living a normal life again.  The transplant did happen for me and my life is wonderful and normal thanks to my donor and friend.  Yes, ask my husband, parents, and family...I did have some pretty tough times, but I was able each time to bring my thoughts around to the ultimate outcome and goal.  The positive thoughts kept me going and obviously my husband continues to see that trait in me.

So the above question is one we should all answer.  What will spill out of you if you are bumped?  Will you be positive or negative?  Will you be kind or angry?  Will you be encouraging or discouraging?  Will you help or hurt?  The outcome will be so much more positive if your input into your mind is positive material.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:8-9, ESV