Attitude is everything.

Psalm 34:1 (ESV)

I will bless the Lord at all times;

    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and saw that she had only three hairs on her head. "Great," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today."

So she did, and had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmm," she said, "I guess I'll part my hair down the middle."

So she did, and had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only one hair left on her head.

"Wow," she said, "today I get to wear my hair in a ponytail." So she did, and had a wonderful, wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"Thank God!" she exclaimed. "I was running out of things to do with my hair!"

ATTITUDE is everything! Let's be grateful for the things God has given us and have a wonderful day!

Dear Lord, help us have a good attitude for the things that come our way. Help us be positive and always look for the good. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Jim, Joe or John?

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (ESV)

11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

The car sped down Hwy 407, Jane at the wheel. Jim, Joe and John, her passengers, were quietly gazing out their windows when Jane suddenly slowed down and began guiding the car to the shoulder of the road.

"Jane, why are we pulling over?" Jim asked.

"I think we have a flat," was the response. And sure enough, by the time the car stopped, the right front tire looked like a pancake.

"We must have picked up a nail in that last patch of road construction. I'll need to go and get some help." With this, Jane matter-of-factly stuck out her thumb, and seconds later, a passing car stopped to pick her up. "I'll go and buy a new tire," she called to her traveling companions. "I'll be back as soon as I can!"

As the car sped away with their driver, the three guys were left standing along the side of the road. Now what?

"Why didn't Jane just called roadside assistance and we would have been out of here in one, two, three. Now who knows how long we will be here."

"Awww, Com'on!" Coaxed John. "Let's just enjoy God's sunshine. It isn't all that bad to be stuck here!"

"I think I'll get back in the car," Jim decided. "I brought my portable DVD player, just in case something like this happened!"

"There he goes again!" Complained Jim. "I hate that guy! He's such a lazy bum."

"Oh, he has his positive traits," responded John.

"Oh yeah? Which ones?"

"Like..."

"Just look at this heavy traffic!" Jim interrupted. "We'll be stuck here all day!"

"Traffic?" John shifted his gaze to the road. "Wow! It IS busy out there! I hadn't even noticed. I was too busy admiring the beautiful trees. You know, maybe it's best to be stuck here on the side of the road until some of this passes!"

"Oh, go on!" Jim complained. "You're no better than my work place. My boss never thinks about us, his employees. He only thinks about filling his own pockets. He's selfish and-and our unions aren't any better! Real jerks, all of them!"

"Life isn't that bad Jim. No matter what bad stuff happens, God has given us good things as well!"

"Oh yeah? Wait until you hear about what my landlord did to me. You won't believe it..."

The next three hours passed very slowly as Jim continued to complain and Joe watched his DVDs. It didn't matter to John, however. He always enjoyed himself, no matter who he was with or what circumstances he found himself in.

When Jane finally appeared with a brand-new tire, John and Jim immediately set to work replacing it. Despite the fact that Joe was too busy watching his DVDs to help, it didn't take long to remove the old "pancake" tire and replace it with the new one; and by the time they were ready to roll again, the traffic had thinned down. They would reach their final destination after all!

Our journey on this planet is quite similar to Jim, Joe, John and Jane's car trip. Unforeseen events continually hamper our daily progress, and it will be our attitude that determines if our ride will be enjoyable or not. Complainers, like Jim, will always be bitter. They may help out, but their negativity alienates them from others, which in turn makes them even more bitter. Life is a bore to them, and their attitude sours the experience for all of the others around them.

Those like Joe may seem to be enjoying life, but because it has no purpose beyond having fun and thinking about themselves, they are not fruitful in their endeavors and people tend to not rely on them.

John's attitude is relatively rare. He enjoys life, no matter what circumstances he finds himself in. Why? Because he knows that God is with him. Why complain when you have a friend like Jesus living inside of you? John is a blessing to all those who meet him. He is reliable, enjoyable and fun to be with. He knows his purpose in life and looks forward in anticipation of what might be around the next bend.

Which one of these guys are you? Are you living like Jim, bitter about everything? Or are you like Joe, with your only purpose being self-gratification and fulfillment? If you are like John, it means that Jesus reigns in your heart! When you let Him be in control of your life, you will be able to find your true purpose. Any events, good or bad, are welcome, because you can rely on Jesus to deal with them.

Dear Lord, as we go through life we pray our attitudes and actions would bring honor to You. Help our lives show that You reign in us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Finding a Better Situation.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 (NIV)

11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

The story goes like this:

A long time ago, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish.

All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing the poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it. Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.

Li-Li said, “Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do.”

Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, “You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body.”

“Every other day prepare some pork or chicken and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.”

Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument in six months with her mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said, “Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.”

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. “Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. All of the herbs I gave you were simply to improve her health.”

“The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.”

It is easy for us to pray and ask God to change someone who is not acting the way we wish, but if we take a moment and look at ourselves, I am sure we will find a way to better the situation by our acts that will make a positive impact towards that person who was not treating us the way we wished.

Dear Lord, we pray that today we would be the one to make a bad situation better. Help us treat others the way we ourselves want to be treated. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Transformation in an Elevator

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (New International Version)

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.



In the days before self-operating elevators, there was a lady who was an elevator operator in a large university in Japan. She could think of no more monotonous work than operating an elevator all day long. She was miserable and grumbled every time someone spoke to her.


One day it occurred to her that she could influence young students to a brighter way of seeing life. But to do that she will have to change her own attitude towards life!


The next day she started with a smile on her face. It was extremely difficult for her, but by sheer will power she was determined to cheer up whoever rode in her elevator.


As the years went by, people sought her advice more and more. Many were helped by her bright attitude and her optimistic view of life. She became a "Solver of Problems!".


When she finally died, a few thousand people attended her funeral. She gained her fame because she changed her attitude about life and desired the bright side to life for her and for those with whom she came in contact.


The Bible encourages us to change our mental and spiritual attitude because it dictates our lifestyle.


My attitude determines my actions for good or for bad.






Dear Lord we pray that we would work on having our attitudes to be in line with what you would have for each of us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

All in Attitude.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (New International Version)


11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.







The car sped down Hwy 407, Jane at the wheel. Jim, Joe and John, her passengers, were quietly gazing out their windows when Jane suddenly slowed down and began guiding the car to the shoulder of the road.


"Jane, why are we pulling over?" Jim asked.


"I think we have a flat," was the response. And sure enough, by the time the car stopped, the right front tire looked like a pancake.


"We must have picked up a nail in that last patch of road construction. I'll need to go and get some help." With this, Jane matter-of-factly stuck out her thumb, and seconds later, a passing car stopped to pick her up. "I'll go and buy a new tire," she called to her traveling companions. "I'll be back as soon as I can!"


As the car sped away with their driver, the three guys were left standing along the side of the road. Now what?


"Why didn't Jane just use her cell phone?" Jim grumbled. "She could have called CAA and we would have been out of here in one, two, three. Now who knows how long we will be here."


"Awww, Com'on!" coaxed John. "Let's just enjoy God's sunshine. It isn't all that bad to be stuck here!"


"I think I'll get back in the car," Jim decided. "I brought my portable DVD player, just in case something like this happened!"


"There he goes again!" complained Jim. "I hate that guy! He's such a lazy bum."


"Oh, he has his positive traits," responded John.


"Oh yeah? Which ones?"


"Like..."


"Just look at this heavy traffic!" Jim interrupted. "We'll be stuck here all day!"


"Traffic?" John shifted his gaze to the road. "Wow! It IS busy out there! I hadn't even noticed. I was too busy admiring the beautiful trees. You know, maybe it's best to be stuck here on the side of the road until some of this passes!"


"Oh, go on!" Jim complained. "You're no better than my work place. My boss never thinks about us, his employees. He only thinks about filling his own pockets. He's selfish and-and our unions aren't any better! Real jerks, all of them!"


"Life isn't that bad Jim. No matter what bad stuff happens, God has given us good things as well!"


"Oh yeah? Wait until you hear about what my landlord did to me. You won't believe it..."


The next three hours passed very slowly as Jim continued to complain and Joe watched his DVDs. It didn't matter to John, however. He always enjoyed himself, no matter who he was with or what circumstances he found himself in.


When Jane finally appeared with a brand-new tire, John and Jim immediately set to work replacing it. Despite the fact that Joe was too busy watching his DVDs to help, it didn't take long to remove the old "pancake" tire and replace it with the new one; and by the time they were ready to roll again, the traffic had thinned down. They would reach their final destination after all!


Our journey on this planet is quite similar to Jim, Joe, John and Jane's car trip. Unforeseen events continually hamper our daily progress, and it will be our attitude that determines if our ride will be enjoyable or not. Complainers, like Jim, will always be bitter. They may help out, but their negativity alienates them from others, which in turn makes them even more bitter. Life is a bore to them, and their attitude sours the experience for all of the others around them.


Those like Joe may seem to be enjoying life, but because it has no purpose beyond having fun and thinking about themselves, they are not fruitful in their endeavors and people tend to not rely on them.


John's attitude is relatively rare. He enjoys life, no matter what circumstances he finds himself in. Why? Because he knows that God is with him. Why complain when you have a friend like Jesus living inside of you? John is a blessing to all those who meet him. He is reliable, enjoyable and fun to be with. He knows his purpose in life and looks forward in anticipation of what might be around the next bend.


Which one of these guys are you? Are you living like Jim, bitter about everything? Or are you like Joe, with your only purpose being self-gratification and fulfillment? If you are like John, it means that Jesus reigns in your heart! When you let Him be in control of your life, you will be able to find your true purpose. Any events, good or bad, are welcome, because you can rely on Jesus to deal with them.




Dear Lord we pray that we would have a Godly attitude. We pray that we would have a positive attitude in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

How is Your Attitude?

There is a story of a mother who is critically ill. She begged the doctors to help her survive long enough to attend her son's wedding. If she could just get to the wedding, she said, she could die in peace.

So they did everything possible to have her at an optimum level of well-being. The day of the wedding all her intravenous lines and tubes were removed. She was dressed up and she looked beautiful, and off she went to the wedding.

When she returned to the hospital, everyone was expecting her to stagger in, lie down, and peacefully go on to heaven. Instead, she came back and said, "Don't forget, I have another son."

I am striving hard to have the attitude she has. How is yours?

Lord, try me and test me; look closely into my heart and mind.

- Psalm 26:2 (New Century Version)

Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, help us to have a good attitude, as we share your light during whatever we are going through. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Is your attitude that of Christ?

Jesus did not hang on to his heavenly glory, but surrendered it to save us. Now he asks us to follow his example and share his heart. He wants us to treat each other as he has treated us, thinking of others' needs and God's will before our own.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped…

— Philippians 2:5-6

Dear Lord, please transform our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit. We want our thoughts to be your thoughts. We want our heart's desire to reflect the passions of your Son. We want our will to be guided by your Spirit. Please forgive our tendencess to ruthlessly hang on to our own importance, our own will, and our own self-justification, even when we know it is not right or best. Make our mind more like the mind of your Son. In Jesus' name. Amen.