What?s Cooking: Guide thoughts in positive manner

Lt. Greg Sibbett

Lt. Greg Sibbett

Have you ever had thoughts that you wish you hadn?t? Have you ever said things that you wish you hadn?t? Or have you ever done things that you wish you hadn?t? Here are three questions that I am sure many of us should answer in the affirmative. And if we are truly honest with ourselves, all of us would have to answer these questions affirmatively.

All too often we see or hear news that fills our hearts with grief and we wonder what caused the thing to happen. Any number of things we could mention that seemingly occurs almost daily, and we wonder why. Tragedies often crowd out the many wonderful things people do for others. And most of the time the good things that a person does for others aren?t as newsworthy as those news reports of those who would infect harm on those they may not even know.

Let?s face it, our thoughts pattern our actions. Perhaps there have been times when people have done things without carefully considering the consequences. If it turns out really well, they will consider themselves really smart. But if it turns out really bad, they may try the, ?I didn?t think? thing.

When we are looking for an excuse for a mistake we make, ?I didn?t think? may be one we rely on. How strange it is that some of us will go through life trying to prove to the world how intelligent we are. But when we slip and make a mistake, the excuse, ?I didn?t think,? is made handy.

Possibly the best way to keep from saying or doing the things we wished we hadn?t, is to keep our thoughts pure. The apostle Paul said in Phil. 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

If we would guide our thoughts just like we guide everything else that we consider valuable, we might be a much happier people. We value happiness in goods and services. But I wonder to what extent it would take for goods and services to make a person completely happy.

Someone in Nebraska won 365 million dollars in the lottery recently. I wonder if that brought true happiness to that person. I wouldn?t know what to do with that kind of money if I had it. I do not think you can buy true peace. I do not think you can buy true happiness. If you could, what would you be willing to pay for them. Hear the words of Jesus as he says: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew, 16:26