Encouragement

---

Think About What is Pure, Lovely, & of Good Report.
Many times I am tempted to think about the other things: ugly, vile, and backstabbing gossip. I wanted to lump these three together because, face it, this one element per day is really dragging on. Also because I think that these go together like triplets.

Have you ever had an impure thought pop into your mind? We all have. Even the most innocent of people have. I used to think I was a great failure as a Christian because sometimes inapproiate thoughts came into my thinking. I was perplexed and didn't know what to do. One of my friends suggested that the best way to chase these thoughts away was to sing a praise song. IT WORKS!

Whenever I am talking with friends or family, a snide remark about someone is on the tip of my tongue and I have a choice to make. Do I go ahead and say it or do I stop myself. I hate to admit it, but a lot of times, I say it. "Lovely" thoughts are thoughts full of love, affection, & kindness. My first mentor was someone who always lifted people up. She and her husband were an inspiration to the whole community. Funny, whenever I was in conversation with her I never wanted to say anything unkind about anyone. I wanted to be like her because she is so much like Jesus.

"Good Report" thoughts have to do with reporting back something good. I can choose the kind of reporter I am going to be. There are people who seem to enjoy telling bad news. When I was in Jr, High a sweet girl I had just met was killed in a terrible wreck and the same people who were first to tell any snippet of bad news were there to report the information to everyone as they came through the door. Although sometimes it is our responsibility to pass on unpleasant news, we need to balance our communication with good things too.

Depression can rear its ugly head easier when we are thinking on the negative things around us. While it is not good to wear "rose colored glasses", we need to know that realism is not always negative. We live in a real world with some really wonderful people and beautiful sights to see. We all know the negative things. They speak loudly and make themselves well-known. Let us turn up the volume on those things that are pure, lovely, and of good report and think on these things.

Websters definition of :
Pure- Free from impurities or contamination, clean, containing nothing in appropriate.
Lovely- Full of love:loving, inspiring love or affection, attractive, enjoyable, delightful.
Good Report- good reputation, relate a good message, retell, carry back and repeat to another.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE