Are you a half-full or half-empty?

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."- Martha Washington

How true is that quote from Martha Washington! If someone were to describe you today, would they say you were positive or negative? Hmmm....I hope that made you think. What about your friends...would you say some of them are positive people--finding good or opportunity in things we may consider "bad" or are they negative---putting people down or even themselves! Now don't get me wrong, there are some things we should have a negative attitude against (sin), but what I mean here is that you are always the Debbie Downer---grumpy!

My grandmother used to always say to me that a bad apple always spoils the bunch. That applies here too! When you surround yourself with those who possess negative attitudes, what do you think is going to happen to you? What if you are the problem? Do you think people want to be around that? SAY NO TO DRAMA!!

Sunday night Wilson pierced my heart with the words he spoke to us. I can't even begin to tell you how much I needed to hear that. He brought us back to Numbers 13 and 14 with two very positive men: Joshua and Caleb. Moses and Aaron had brought the children of Israel to a great land--one that flows with milk and honey (13:27). But there was a problem--the people whom dwelled the land were STRONG and LARGE! The men that had spied out the land complained to Moses and Aaron because they didn't think they could overtake the giants! They even stated: "Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt (14:3)?"

YES, YOU DID READ THIS RIGHT! THEY WANTED TO GO BACK TO EGYPT! They weren't seeing the opportunity that God laid in front of them. They weren't relying on God to get them through this...except for Joshua and Caleb.

But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of their land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them." (14:6-9)
The Lord is with us....how true is that! Did the children of Israel think that? No! So, they ended up being attacked by the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in the mountains pushing them back as far as Horman (14:45) all because of their negative attitudes!

Is that true for us today? You bet! What about when your parents ask you to do your chores? Or what about doing something for the older generation? Or what about even going to church? What is your attitude like? Do you see everything as half-full or half-empty?

As I close these thoughts, I have a passage I would love for you to read each day this week. What better thoughts than to know who is for us and who will never leave us!

Romans 8:31-29
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 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 also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us form the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? As it is written: For Your sake we are killed all day long: We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To think, Paul...a man who was put in prison, beaten, persecuted....wrote those inspired words. As much as he struggled with and he still looked at the positive side!