Is there a creator?

                                         What is Your Thinking?

Do you feel that you are in control of your thoughts? Well this article may help you to see that no one is fully in control of what they think and do? In fact we often make decisions about the people we meet based on first impressions, or gossip, or what we want to believe, and we are often motivated to pursue anything that we feel will benefit us, and we don't take into account that what we practise may hurt other people. For example we may feel that someone has disrespected or upset us without cause, and we make the decision never to speak to them again, and never to forgive them, even though the actual hurt was very small and was really a thoughtless use of words, and not really a direct attack on you personally!

                                                        Forgiveness:- I've got to / I want to.

So the first lesson we have to learn is to try and understand that a Christian has an obligation to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who even when he was about to die on a torture stake, implored his father to forgive the very people who were responsible for his suffering and eventual death, saying at Luke chapter 23 verse 34:- “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” These words were spoken from his heart, they were not empty of meaning, they were sincere, and he meant every single syllable! We also need to practise forgiving, not because we have to, but because we want to!

Matthew chapter 6 verses 14 and 15:-  14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

                                                     Judging:- Only Jehovah can Judge.

We are all guilty of judging a person or persons, by our own standard which is often one we cannot even live up to ourselves. Ask yourself, when were you pronounced sinless by God? You need to look at yourself carefully and honestly, can you ever stand in judgement of another human being? remember, any sin we commit is worthy of death, and yet out heavenly Father forgives us if we are truly repentant. And God does this over and over and over again! We do not have the moral right to condemn anyone, no matter what they have done! Only Jehovah can judge!

Luke chapter 6 verse 37:-   37 “Moreover, stop judging, and you will by no means be judged; and stop condemning, and you will by no means be condemned. Keep on forgiving, and you will be forgiven.

                                                              Love:- Love never fails.

"Love"   is one of the most misused words in any language: It is often used as a sex reference as in   "Lets make love",   yet the word has nothing to do with carnal sexual thinking!   "Love"   in it's true sense refers to genuine affection, kindness, helpfulness, self sacrifice, goodness, compassion, and many other selfless acts.  Love! is Giving of yourself with no thought of what it may cost you! Sadly the world in general has a selfish me first attitude to almost everything.

Matthew chapter19 verse 19:-   19 honour your father and your mother, and you must love your neighbour as yourself.”

                                                         Anger:- Must be controlled.

How many times in your life have you lost your temper? How many times have you regressed it later? How many times have you tried to justify an angry outburst? I think most of us have lost control over something trivial but have never regretted that we were wrong to react in that way? - There can never be any real justification for uncontrolled anger, and it can be damaging to others and how they view us in the future, uncontrolled anger can be a dangerous thing!

Genesis chapter 4 verse 4:-   4 But Abel brought some firstlings of his flock, including their fat. While Jehovah looked with favour on Abel and on his offering, 5?he did not look with any favour on Cain and on his offering. So Cain grew hot with anger and was dejected.

                                                     Pride:- Humility needed always.

Are you a proud person who thinks that they are better than anyone else? For example, do you hold prejudicial views of people of another race or colour? Do you think that your football team is the best in the world? Do you know more than anyone else on a certain subject? Are you to proud to admit when you are wrong? Do you despise anyone who is less educated than you are? Do you always feel that you should be first in the cue and never second? All of these thoughts and feelings show a strong tendency to think you are the most important, but in God's eyes you are expected to show humility in all things! If you think you are the centre of attention, then from God's point of view you are the least important person, and need to understand what true humility is? 

Proverbs chapter 16 verses 18 and 19:=  18 Pride is before a crash, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. 19 Better to be humble among the meek Than to share the spoil of the haughty.

                                             Faithfulness:- No room for the faithless.

Most people who consider themselves to be Christian will insist that they have faith! But going regularly to a church or chapel, and singing songs, and listening to a minister or priest giving a meaningless sermon and ending in prayer, is not showing faith! You have to ask yourselves " What am I doing for God?" The sad fact is that most people who attend church or chapel regularly are doing nothing for God, they are not obeying the commandment of Jesus Christ who is God's Son, to preach the word and make disciples! And this is also true of their priests and ministers, having Faith is only true for a Christian if he also has works! We do not get a free ride through life, all of us have a responsibility to carry out God's will, and live by his standards, there are no exceptions!

James chapter 2 verse 26:-   26 Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

                               Self Righteous:- Attributing Faultlessness to oneself.

Do you consider yourself to be a righteous person? Are you convinced that God views you as righteous? Do you say things like " I don't do anything wrong." Or do you humbly admit to being full of sin, and in need of God's forgiveness? Because whoever you are, you cannot avoid being a sinner, for example: Do you drive a Car? If you do then you are adding to this Worlds pollution, and that is just one of many things we take for granted that are slowly destroying this wonderful planet that we are all responsible for!

Revelation chapter 11 verse 18:-  18 But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time came for the dead to be judged and to reward your slaves the prophets and the holy ones and those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.

In Conclusion:   Not controlling what we think about can lead us into sin, and ultimately cause harm to ourselves and to others. We need to pray regularly with heartfelt sincerity asking God to help us avoid the temptation of sinning and to stay on the narrow path leading to life. While it is impossible for us imperfect humans to remain sinless, we can limit our tendency to sin with regular prayer to Jehovah, and reliance on the Ransom sacrifice provided by Jesus Christ, it is a fight, but it is one we can win with God's help!

                     Don't Give Up in Doing What is Fine!