Joanne Sher: Editor/Proofreader : Not Just Optimism

Welcome to Monday Manna. The purpose of this meme is to get together and get to know Christ more through His Word. On the first and third Monday of each month, anyone who wishes can post their thoughts on a verse I introduced at my blog the Thursday before. It doesn't have to be a long post -- just a few thoughts, a picture you feel helps express it, a poem, a short story, a devotional.

Anyone is welcome to participate. Just put a link to your Monday Manna blog entry in the MckLinky gadget below, and check out others' thoughts.

This Monday's verse is a favorite of mine - and one I REALLY needed this weekend.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts--link up below, and read others' ponderings. Mine are below.

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Pollyanna isn't enough.

Looking at this verse from Paul's letter to the Philippians, one might think, at first glance, that this apostle to the gentiles is simply asking us to be optimistic - to find the "sunny side" of our situations. If we only think about what is lovely, excellent, admirable, and praiseworthy, everything will seem hearts and flowers. Right?

Wrong.

There is a lot more to this than optimism. We are being being told not to be naive and "happy," but to be God-centered and God-focused. For as I look at this list for things to think on, I see God, and His work.

His Word is truth. (John 17:17)
His Name is noble. (James 2:7)
Everything He does is right (Psalm 65:5)
His eyes are too pure to look upon evil (Habakkuk 1:12-13)
His dwelling place is lovely (Psalm 84:1)

I think you're getting the point. It is only by keeping our eyes and minds focused on these things of God, and off our circumstances, that they will make the kind of difference in our lives that they did for Paul, and many who have come after him.

So don't just keep your chin up. Keep your eyes on the Lord, and your thoughts on His works.

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Thanks for reading! Be sure to link up below, and check out other folks' thoughts on this verse.

7 comments:

MariNovember 02, 2009
PollyAnna Monday Manna...haha, sorry I couldn't resist saying that all together. :P

Thank you for doing Manna, Jo...why did it take me so long to participate? It has been good for me and I enjoy seeing what everyone else writes about the same verse.

Be Blessed, dear friend!
Mari
SarahNovember 02, 2009
Oh I LOVE Pollyanna! I loved your thoughts on this verse. And you're right, it's not just enough to be optimistic or positive-you have to dig deeper in the word and LIVE it everyday! :)

I've linked up :)
((hugs & blessings))
Yvonne BlakeNovember 02, 2009
Great verse, great post!

(although Pollyanna happens to be one of my favorite books..smile)

Thanks for reminding us to focus on the Lord.

vonnie
Teresa Lee Rainey . . .November 02, 2009
Thank you so much, Jo, for Monday Manna. You have a way of chosing verses that get me thinking! (And I love you all the more for it, Sister.)

As always, I loved reading your thoughts. For some reason, I want to holler "Focus, people!" :*)

Love,
Teresa
elaine @ peace for the journeyNovember 02, 2009
About a year ago, I wrote on this very verse and have linked that post up here... hope you don't mind. I can never get past the first mandate...

"whatever is true"--if it "ain't" God truth, then I try and throw it to the curb! So many of my mind's wanderings are based on fiction rather than truth.

Hope you are well. Love hearing from you.

peace~elaine
Billy CoffeyNovember 02, 2009
My daughter LOVES Pollyanna. And I LOVE this post!
JaneNovember 02, 2009
This is my favorite since I started reading Monday Manna. I love the book of Philippians and this passage is the most meaningful to me. Every act begins with a thought. If every thought was of the nature expressed here, we would never live with sadness, fear or reluctance. Whatever is pure . . . good . . . lovely let your first thought be of these things.