You Must Guard Your Thoughts.

 In his literary work “As a Man Thinketh”, James Allen wrote:

“Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes,
And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes
The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,
Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills:—
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking-glass.”

Your thoughts reflect what is in your heart. That is why it is so important to heal the pain that is in your heart. The thoughts that flow from your heart are very powerful and create your reality. Pain begets pain; joy begets joy; and fear begets fear. Changing your heart will change your reality. Think of it as a mathematical formula:

   thought + belief + expectation of its manifestation = your reality

For example, when you think and act prosperously you will attract the riches of life which are not exclusively mercenary gain. On the other hand, when you think lack, you create a reality of unfulfilled dreams. Your thoughts dictate the quality of life you experience on a daily basis and create your present and your future. As you increase in spiritual power, you can manifest what you think into your reality. That is why you must purify your heart before God bestows you with such power. Otherwise, it would be like putting a child behind the wheel of a car and letting them drive to your destination. How much damage would be done to anything or anyone in the car’s path and would anyone in the car survive the ride?

Think on these questions. What do you focus on in your daily life? What are you manifesting in your life? Do you focus on thoughts that expand your spiritual consciousness or do you dwell on life’s trials and tribulations. Do you focus on thoughts that will promote your being or hinder your being.

Plato said “a grateful mind is a great mind which eventually attracts to itself great things. On the other hand, an ungrateful mind is a weak mind which eventually attracts to itself negative things.”

Should Christians Judge Their Parents, the Elderly, the Sick & the Shut In?

The Bible contains many principles that answer this question. Many times, we justify our negative behavior towards our parents and the elders of our family by judging them for who they are. However, the Bible says "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:18.

Further, the Bible says "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you." Deuteronomy 5:16. However, to take vengeance or bear any grudge against your parents, the elders of your family, as well as the sick and the shut in, does not show love and honor. Love is acceptance. No one wants to be judged for who they are. Love is the agent for change. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

Most often, the unfulfilled child, who is living inside of the adult, is screaming for your parents and your elders to give care and gifts to you to make you feel loved and whole. However, the Bible says "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11. Once you reach adulthood, your parents are not obligated to give what they have worked for to members of their family. It is unrealistic to expect your parents, the elderly, the sick and the shut in, who are usually on a fixed income, to give the little that they have to you--just because you want it. At this point in their lives, their family should be honoring them by giving to them--not taking from them. When your parents and your grandparents have been good to you all your life, you can not give them enough. Sometimes, we give to receive. That is not giving--that is manipulation. There is no heavenly reward for such giving. True giving is giving without expecting anything in return. The Bible says "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them." Luke 6:32. Whoever says, "I love God," but hates another believer is a liar. People who don't love other believers, whom they have seen, can't love God, whom they have not seen." 1 John 4:20. "But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes." 1 John 2:11.

When you "honor" your parents, the elderly , the sick and shut in, you show great respect and admiration for them. You give to them and you care for them. You give them your support in any way that you can. You don't disappear out of their lives and not lend a helping hand. Remember, their days on earth are numbered, but most of all, your days could be also. Do you want to miss your Blessing that God has for you by violating his laws? So tell me, should Christians judge their parents, the elderly, the sick and shut in? Do you? I invite your comments on this subject. Visit http://pjoutlaw.blogspot.com/ and select comment.