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Listen while you read: "God Of Grace And God Of Glory"1 (Lyrics) |
I recently received a reply regarding a devotional from a fellow writer. In her e-mail, she said that she loved my "out-of-the-box attitude". The response made me contemplate what she said.
I wondered what an "out-of-the-box attitude" was, so I typed the phrase into one of the search engines on the Internet.
There were thousands of answers, and most of them had to do with being grateful and then sharing our gratefulness with others. When we see a good reason to give someone a compliment, let us go ahead and do it; we may just may make that person's day so much better. When we're content or enjoying ourselves, let's not hide it; let's show and tell people. Moods are contagious — we might just pass our happy attitude on to someone! Open a door for another person. Help someone cross the street. Stop in and chat with our neighbour. As we drive along the road and see a stop light up ahead and know that there is a long line of cars behind us, let another driver merge in ahead of us. There are so many little kind deeds that we could do in order to make this world a better place to live in.
Colossians 3:12 – Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (NIV)
If we are feeling down, let's find ways to switch our perspective. When we wake up in the morning, let's be thankful for the gift of another day.
Hebrews 12:28 – Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe. (NASB)
As we begin our journey today, let us climb out of our self-interested boxes and be kind to each other.
Prayer: Lord, help us get out of our own little self-centred boxes and change our attitude towards each other. Create in us new hearts that bear the fruit of patience, forgiveness, tenderness, empathy, acceptance, and love. Amen.
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Another good one Rosemary.
Amen Rosy, amen. Blessings.
Now you know I love this one — especially the ‘self-interest-boxes!!’ You call us into a new place and I love it!! Keep prodding us into holiness!
Dear Rosy,
Thank you for this meaningful devotional. In our busy lives let us remember to give others a word of encouragement. God bless you.
Rosemary, it is great to have you share withus today as always. This was a wonderful story you shared and I enjoyed it very much. May God continue to bless you and I wat to also take this time to wish you a wonderful and blessed Happy Easter.
Thank you Rosemary for this positive and uplifting message. You are so right on. I was at a lunch and time of reflection yesterday and the pastor said we are living in a selfish world. I challenged him afterwards because I don’t see it that way at all. God’s grace and God’s love helps to make it otherwise. I love your reminder of His goodness to us. Thanks and keep writing!
Thank you for today’s devotional Rosemary.
Don’t you love it how a word, a sentence, or sometimes something in someone else’s devotional can inspire you and lead you to write a devotional!
Keep up your good work … as “out of the box” as you can get!
Easter Blessings to you and your loved ones.
Out of the box means that you grow more out of the box.
Maybe you did not know that if you have a gold fish in a small bowl it stays small but if you make a fish pond in your yard and put that same gold fish there it grows quie large.
Likewise an alligator if kept in say a shoebox will stay that size and if let out of the box you know how large they get.
So that is likely what that person meant that your devotional was out of the box and made them grow and maybe you as well.
(Ontario)
Dear Rosemary.
The expression out-of-the-box can mean brand new in English parlance. Motor dealers like to use the word to indicate the value of a car. “Practically our of the box” is a common description for a car. It spread later to appliances and other “brand new” goods. It is different from “Thinking outside the box”. However I am happy to know all the other possible interpretations. All Christians should be out-of-the-box by faith which is every day renewed to out-of-the-box condition and by, as you say, demonstrating every sort of kindness to everyone throughout the day.
Very nice devotional.
Blessings.
Good Afternoon Rosemary:
A fine devotional and a challenge to all who call Christ their Lord.
Very often the manner in which we treat others does not say to them, I am a Christian who walks with Christ daily and takes Him with me everywhere I go. Often we leave Christ in the front hall closet when we are dealing with folks daily.
Upon waking in the morning we should not only be thankful for blessing of enjoying the light of another day, but we should also be thankful for the very next breath we take, because it too is precious and a wonderful gift from God.
This was a great little message teaching us to Turn Our Frown Upside down and make this a more pleasant journey for those we come in contact with today. My mother taught me “we get more flies with honey than we do with vinegar” and smiles are contagious. So true. So true.
Thank you.
Thanks for your devotionals. I could not agree more with all you are saying.
Dear Rosemary,
Out-of-the-box attitude! That’s new wording for me. But great. God’s Word brings each of us out-of-the-box liberty and freedom to be His own person.
There are so many little kind deeds that we could do in order to make this world a better place to live in.
Colossians 3:12 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (NIV)
Your Guidelines are from His Word. Perfect.
Thank you.
Keep writing.