Good afternoon,

Titus 1:15-To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

I’m sure you have as I have been "contaminated" by an event or person in your past, and for a time have it effect how you saw particular things in your life. It can help us when we see others perspectives on things, and how they can be so irrational or bias in their thoughts.

Yet the most difficult thing is trying to find a common ground with such a person or group who maybe "defiled" in their mind. Because you cannot convince someone who determines to be irrational. But our determination to change their minds stems from thinking it is merely an intellectual issue. But it is much deeper than that if you notice yourself always arguing in circles.

Biblically the heart is known to be the "seat" of the mind, will, and emotions. So if we have unchecked sin in our life, our conscience is defiled. As long as we are determined not to repent, we then see everything defensively, but usually it’s because we’ve done something wrong. Are you measuring everything said or done as impure, even from people who love you, especially Jesus?

In His Love, Ld

On Dec 25, 2012 9:43 AM, "eldoret gentry" <eldorets> wrote:

Good morning everyone,

Psalm 27:13-I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

What we think about and what tries to dominate our hearts many of times is negativity. Maybe from what we said, did, or didn’t do. But how much does it leave us to really focus on the goodness of the Lord?

I think trying to focus on "sections" of goodness in our life quickly fades because we don’t root it in Someone unchanging like God. So we’re always up and down depending on what part our life we feel is improving. But when we do that, we miss God and other parts of our life that He is blessing, growing or sustaining.

Recognizing the goodness of the Lord and His coming was for us to have an "anchor for our soul" never to lose sight of the possibility of having joy, though nothing maybe ideal or perfectly right circumstantially. But recognizing who He is as the ultimate joy, is the root of focusing on His goodness over negativity and past failures in this life.

Merry Christmas! Ld

On Dec 20, 2012 10:44 AM, "eldoret gentry" <eldorets> wrote: