It may be helpful to imagine our thoughts to be like clouds the drift through the sky above our heads day and night. We can’t stop them and we have no control over their shape or size. However, we can choose which clouds we give attention to. 

Just like passing clouds, we can remain unattached to our thoughts and just let them drift through our minds without giving them a lot of attention. Thoughts dealt with in this way are powerless to have any effect on us Yes they are there but they do not define who we are unless we convert them into our belief…

The Bible speaks confidently about our ability to be directive about the type of thoughts our mind holds onto. We need to develop the spiritual practice of ‘observing’ our thoughts and retaining the right to choose whether we will ‘become’ those thoughts.

Philippians 4:8-9 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.


- David Storer (excerpt taken from "Meditation on Mysteries Vol1") -

In sports, we often see score boards. Score boards are good reminders for us to keep scores between two teams but to my realization, we human tend to keep scores with friends and families subconsciously or consciously. We each have a score board in our own mind and a memory card that records all the scores.

We remember the number of times we treat someone well or maybe do them a favor. This is why when they treat us opposite to what we expect, the score-making mentality comes back knocking and whispers - “didn’t they remember that I helped them that time? Or maybe the favorite line – “After all that I have done for them!”

Jesus, to my relief does not keep scores. I would be on the losing team when it comes to keeping scores of kindness and grace that I ought to show to others who is ‘indebted’ to me. My God is a God who does great marvelous things without numbering all of His great deeds for us. He has bestowed us undeserving grace and when we reacted opposite to what we should, guess what? God still forgives us. So try away the score-making mentality and  forgive but remember, when you are tempted to count on how many times you have forgiven someone, try to count on how many times God has forgiven you and you will be humbled and grateful for all the undeserving chances.

Job 5:8-9 NKJV
But as for me, I would seek God and to God I would commit my cause. Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.

- John W.

Sarah bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him – Genesis 21:2

The counsel of the Lord stand forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations – (Ps 33:11). But we must be prepared to wait God’s time. God has His set times. 

It is not for us to know them; indeed, we cannot know them; we must wait for them.If God had told Abraham in Haran that he must wait for thirty years until he pressed the promised child to his bosom, his heart would have failed him. 

So, in gracious love, the length of the weary years was hidden, and only as they were nearly spent, and there were only a few more months to wait, God told him that “according to the time of life, Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:14.)The set time came at last; and then the laughter that filled the aged pair, made them forget the long and weary vigil.

Take heart, waiting one for you are waiting on the One who won't disappoint you and He will not be five minutes behind the appointed moment.  Ah, happy soul, when God makes you laugh, the sorrow and crying shall flee away forever; just like darkness before the dawn.

- Anonymous

"My dreams have been broken, I'm no longer young, and I just do not know what to do...", I tearfully said to a friend.

Have you ever cried over a broken dream? I have. By the time we reach a certain age or a stage in life, most of us have a broken dream, held bitterness or disappointments.

When we were much younger, we thought the world is our oyster; we dreamt of achieving success in our career, finding true love and being happy around our friends but as years go by, some of us may have to face the reality that sometimes our careers might fail, relationships broken be it with friends or that special someone, sickness or even the death of loved ones that may turn your world into different directions.

"If all your dreams have been broken, set a new one" my friend said, "if you feel you cannot accomplish all of your dreams, start with one, focus and work your way towards that one dream".

We often choose to loose hope and listen to the negative thoughts in our minds "it will not happen for you" or "things will not get any better than this". Let's not forget Satan's many names in the Bible, which include: "Father of Lies", "Enemy", "Deceiver", "Accuser", "Evil One." Let's not listen to his lies. Please don’t forget to goodness of our God, He is the God of new beginnings and new mercies. He has a good plan for us, believe it.

Let’s fight the good fight of the faith, continue to hope in God day by day, and see God's goodness in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Isaiah 43:18-19 
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

- Diven

Our memory can be a tricky thing. If you're like me, it's often stuffed with work or study, and then the needed everyday list of chores, bills to pay, birthdays, anniversaries, appointments and so on.

 
I recently read an article on remembering a person's name. It suggested that we tend not to remember a name is not because we have a bad memory, but because we haven't really listened! It prescribed that a 'no-fail' method to remember a name was to actively listen and associate the name with a trait, activity, surroundings, and so on. It then becomes engrained in our minds.


If it's so easy to forget everyday ordinary things, how easy it is to also forget what God has done and take for granted what He is doing in our lives! Like remembering a name, it takes active listening! 


God is not just found in the great and special things. He is found in the simplest everyday sunset, or a delicious meal, or the people around us... Our challenge is to let Him be revealed in our everyday lives!


Psalm 103:2-4 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion...

-Jo Voon-

Psalm 94: 18 – 19 (ESV) 
When I thought “My Foot slips,” Your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

The psalmist knows of human err; we strive much with our own strength and allow the cares of the world to take up the places in our heart. Before the day begins, we wake with all cares but God and when the day ends, we go to bed thinking of tomorrow and the plan goes on.

Where is God in the midst of our days? Though He does not need us to pray hours of eloquent prayers to Him every day, it is a known fact that we need His strength more than our own. It is also comforting to know that when the cares of our hearts are many and we can’t seem to set our eyes away from the cares, God’s comfort are able to cheer our soul and that is enough to strengthen us and free us from worries.

Let’s humble ourselves and acknowledge that we need God’s strength in everything that we do. Don’t invite frustration but invite God into your cares and days. Let’s take the time to cast all cares through prayer, lest our feet slip from cares and pressures we are not meant to carry. Let God’s consolation cheer our soul and steady our feet.

- Irene Soon

Before you quit and give up in discouragement, consider the long and difficult process by which a butterfly emerges from its cocoon. If you try to rush God’s purpose and process in your life, you’ll produce something deformed, something that can’t get off the ground and fly. 

Perhaps you’re thinking, ‘I can’t wait for this to be over.’ That’s understandable. Job couldn't either. He said, ‘All the days of my hard service I will wait, ’til my change comes.’ But by God’s grace he survived, and ended up with twice as much as he lost.

So hold on, your change is coming! God won’t give up on you, so don’t give up on Him! Don’give in to the spirit of anxiousness and impatience. There’s a work going on in you right now.  Continue to wait on the Lord knowing that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we are able to ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

- Bob Gass (Word for Today)

For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. This is Sir Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion and a basic principle of physics. Does it apply in the spiritual realm? 

God freely gives us His mercy: an action. And what is our reaction to His action? Praise - and may it be equal to the weight of His mercy in our lives! It is God’s very nature to give his children mercy and grace - but not because we deserve it. “His mercy endures forever”- and forever is a long time. There is no expiration date. 

Why does God do this for us? Simply because He loves us. God sends a sunrise every morning, He listens when we talk, and He gave us his only Son at Christmas. how can we react to God’s infinitely gracious actions? With our praises. By worshiping Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. No, that reaction can never equal God’s generosity; thankfully, He is more concerned about our hearts than about the laws of physics.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy. From the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 

Psalm 107:1–3 
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those He redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south

- Anonymous

The Bible tells the story of a woman who had 10 coins and lost one. She searched high and low until she found it. God has lost something too. And he's searched high and low until he found it. Finally when he found it, he gave everything he had to be united with it again.

The 'it' is you. In the midst of a busy work day, or a catch up with friends, or doing household chores, or grocery shopping, or a drive in the car... God is looking for you. 

He longs to be one with you. As we live daily and open up to His love, His love has the power to transform our lives, even the most challenging people can be a joy and difficult situations can become easy. Let's make every day a new day of resting in His love.
 
John 15:9 NIV
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 

- Jo Voon -

Stop being mad at yourself because you're still struggling in certain areas. When it comes to an area of your life that needs improvement, be concerned about it, but not consumed with it. 

You are always going to be working on something, so learn to separate your 'who' from your 'do'. Who you are in Christ is a settled issue. 'There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus...' (Romans 8:1 NKJV) Because God has chosen to see you 'in Christ', you are always acceptable to Him and you always have access to Him.

Your 'who' is not based on your 'do'. Your 'who' determines your salvation, your 'do' determines your future rewards in Heaven. God is not condemning you, you are condemning yourself! God will convict you, and when you repent of sin He will cleanse you, but He will never condemn you. Satan does that. You do that to yourself. But God never will. 'Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.' (Romans 8:34 NKJV) Every time you fail, Christ your advocate offers His atoning blood to cover your sin. As a result, God sees you as 'accepted'.

Stop comparing yourself with somebody else. You are you, and you will never be them. We are all equal in Christ! So when somebody condemns you, stand on this Scripture: 'Surely the Lord God will help me; who is he who will condemn me?

Isaiah 50:9 NKJV
Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.

- Bob Gass (Word for Today)