Having a Positive Outlook
Inventor Thomas Edison refused to be bitter, even when fire destroyed his life’s work. His response to disaster boils down to one word— attitude. Having the right attitude makes all the difference in the world.
Inventor Thomas Edison refused to be bitter, even when fire destroyed his life’s work. His response to disaster boils down to one word— attitude. Having the right attitude makes all the difference in the world.
From Philippians 2:5–8, Pastor Chuck Swindoll unpacks one of the most majestic passages in Scripture: how Jesus, though existing in the very form of God, emptied Himself, took the form of a bond-servant, and humbled Himself to death on a cross.
Just “act medium.” Believable. Honest, human, thoughtful, and down to earth. Regardless of your elevated position or high pile of honours or row of degrees or endless list of achievements, just stay real. Who did you do it for anyway?
It’s a waste of energy to fight the inevitables of life. The attitudes you fill your mind with will shape how you respond to life, so choose godly attitudes like joy, humility, encouragement, forgiveness, and love.
When a baby comes into our lives as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, or sisters, we rejoice in the magnificence of God’s gift of life. But how much more did the family rejoice in wonderment when the child was Emmanuel, God with us? When God took on human flesh at the birth of Jesus, He brought a wonder to the world that had yet to be seen.
Far from being harmless, grumbling poisons not only our minds but influences those around us. And being a joy-stealer is something that none of us have a right to be.
Do you have an unpleasant outlook on life? If so, are you aware it’s defiling the air around you? If you’re living like this, you’re hard to live with. It’s never too late to change your ways—to be sweet instead of sour.
Probing Deeper into the Incarnation will remind you that before Mary placed baby Jesus in the manger, He existed in heaven with God the Father and God the Spirit. The Son of God became a man and gave up His own life out of His love for you—and to make it possible for you to love Him in return.
The Son proceeds from the Father like radiance from glory. Although one is distinct from the other, it is impossible for the one to exist without the other. There never was a time when glory existed without its radiance.
Somehow the joy of the season remains that one gift we don’t open. Why? We usually blame our condition on the commercialism or on those overcrowded shopping malls. But the real reason our joy stays wrapped up? Our selfishness.