THINK

Submitted December 9, 2004

WHAT YOU THINK IS WHAT YOU WILL BECOME IN 2005

If you are not meaningfully happy with yourself, remove those ugly, despondent and pessimistic thoughts which control your mind and activities with vibrant and fully energetic ones. We can agree that what you think is what you become. Jesus instructed a father whose son was disturbed, If you have faith, anything is possible (Mark 9:23). That meant that the more you are able to see Jesus within yourself and the closer you are with Jesus the more wonders Jesus can work through you.

Get down right mad at your worrying habit and command worry to find residence elsewhere. Lee Iacocca, the former chairman of Chrysler some years ago told the graduating class of the University of Michigan, Getting mad in a constructive way is good for the soul. Compel worry to abandon your thoughts by filling your mind continuously with thoughts more powerful than worry, thoughts of God, of His love for us, of our love for ourselves and our love for our Heavenly Father. We can say with certainty that unless we can love God and others, the love of God and of others will find the doors of our minds shut. In Isaiah 41:10, God speaks, Do not be afraid, for I am with you, neither lose your courage nor confidence, for I am your God. I will give you strength, yes, I will be your help, yes, I will keep you from failing and from attack by others with my fair and just right hand. In essence, God who is love is ever present in our lives, and He actively loves and cares for us.

Dr. Pierre Oustinoff, the chairman of the Department of Modern Languages at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia was on his death bed at the Medical College of Virginia. Following a conversation through which I learned he was aware of the severity of his illness, we prayed. Lord, I prayed, Pierre, knows about You, he has heard about You all his life, he respects You, he knows You can and will forgive him of all his sins. He believes in You deep down and loves You. Opening my eyes, Dr. Oustinoff was forming the sign of the cross; his face no longer appeared to be fighting, but as peaceful as an Easter sunrise. One hour later, Pierre was encompassed by God's eternal Love. The assurance of God's presence relieved Pierre of anxiety and worry over his knowing in a few moments he would leave this earth.

Aware of God's love for you, you can become victorious. I remember as a boy, unable to see through the stationary steel blades of the fan on the table. But when it was plugged in to a high electrical frequency, I could see thru the rotating blades and see what=s beyond. Christ Jesus in our thought is as a higher frequency and we see with perceptive thoughts how to overcome with great possibilities what lies ahead. God is our partner and in whatever we undertake. Remember He is everywhere we go with us every day of our lives.



Volume 6 Number 50 - Tuesday, December 14th, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY