PURE THOUGHTS!

 

Friday, May 15, 2026

 

PURE THOUGHTS!

 

Phil 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

          Warren Wiersbe quotes Dr. Walter Cavert who reported the results of a survey on worry indicating that only 8 percent of the things people worried about were legitimate matters of concern! The other 92 percent were either imaginary, never happened, or involved matters over which the people had no control anyway.

 

          The word “pure” is the Greek word hagnos and means “innocent, modest, perfect, chaste, and clean.” So much of that which bombards our ears, eyes, and minds today are anything but pure. Thinking pure thoughts is not easy therefore it must be intentional.

 

          The word “think” is the Greek logizomai and literally means “to take inventory.” Such thinking is done intentionally – even with much labor.

 

          Pure thinking results in pure actions as we see from the very next verse.

 

Phil 4:9

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

Dear Lord, help me to intentionally think pure thoughts and perform pure actions. AMEN

 

OLD FRIENDS!

 

Thursday, May 14, 2026

 

OLD FRIENDS!

 

James 2:23

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

 

John 15:14-17

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

 

          Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “friend” as: one who is not hostile; an acquaintance; one attached to another by respect or affection. This morning I realize that I have friends scattered all over the world. Some are old friends, and some are older. I think there are few things more valuable than old friends.

 

          Modern technology makes it possible to shorten the miles that separate me from my old friends. Instead of a paper and ink letter that may take days to deliver, I can send and receive an electronic message instantly. If I want to see their face tiny cameras make that possible in real time. It is a marvelous age in which we live and yet I marvel at how quickly my friends and especially their children grow older without my observance.

 

          God is my friend. Let that truth sink down into your soul and apply Webster’s definition. God is an acquaintance with whom I share respect and affection. We share secrets and fond memories of bits of life shared together. Because He loves me, He will never lead me astray. Because He respects me, His plans for me are always good plans and His gifts to me are always the best. He is a good friend. He will never side with my enemy against me. Even when we disagree, He remains a true friend. 

 

          As God’s friend I sometimes struggle to fulfill the proper definition of friendship. Though God has always proven himself to be trustworthy I often do not trust him. Sometimes I even side with his enemy against him. I wander away from his companionship. I am not a very good friend, but I love my Friend and He loves me.

 

Dear Lord, thank you that I have many old friends and that you are one of them. AMEN

 

IF I COULD JUST TOUCH HIM!

 

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

 

IF I COULD JUST TOUCH HIM!

 

Luke 8:46-47

46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately.

 

          There was a sick woman who had tried everything to gain healing to no avail. She thought “If I could only touch the hem of His garment, I would be made whole.” So, she did! She sneaked up on him and put out a finger and touched His clothes. Her condition was healed immediately!

 

          The disciples marveled because a huge crowd was “touching” Jesus. None of those were changed! The difference for the sick woman was that Jesus felt a loss of power.

 

          The word “virtue” is the Greek dunamis which is the same word used in God’s promise of power in Acts 1:8. Dunamis is the basis for our word dynamite. Jesus felt the loss of strength. Every act of ministry causes a loss to the one ministering. Jesus had unlimited resources, but we do not. We need to be occasionally recharged.

 

Dear Lord, let me never hesitate to come to you with my needs. Thank you for your limitless resource of virtue and power. AMEN