Is that true?

I just finished reading, I need your love - is that true? by Byron Katie.

Really got me thinking, which is just what this book is all about: Questioning the thoughts that cause you pain so they can lose their grip on you.

The basic system is 4 questions and a turnaround.

1. Is it true?

2. Can you absolutely know that it's true?

3. How do you react when you think that thought?

4. Who would you be without the thought?

Then turn it around,
and don't forget to find three genuine examples of each turnaround.

If you're interested, go take a peek at http://www.thework.com

You keep on loving me

Anyone of us in any kind of relationship experience so called "little" things that hurt us, irritate us, anger us or offend us in the other person. Sometimes those little things snowball into "big" things if we never learn to let the little things slide. In other words, we must learn to forgive and let go.

If you're going to focus on the negative qualities in the other person, that is what you are going to notice more and more, I guarantee it. And soon you've made a mountain out of a molehill.

So how do we keep a loving perspective when those little annoying character traits are all too real? When Sally always bites your head off when she's having a stressful day. When Billy always makes you do the chores while he lazes in front of the tv?

An obscure little text in Philippians gave me a clue.

The trick is to focus on the good qualities, the excellent things in the other person.

Granted, it's not easy, but the promise in the bible is that if we do that, our love for the other person will increase and we will be pleasing to God.

I've given three different bible translations below of Philippians 1:9-10 because each says it a little differently, but drives home the same point:

Focus on the good stuff, the excellent qualities, of the person that you love, so that your love for that person can increase!

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
New Living Translation (NLT)
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.
New International Version (NIV)
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

Finally I'd like to end with Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation:

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

All the colours of the rainbow

The pages in my latest bible are starting to look like a neon rainbow again as I read through the new testament with highligthers in hand! It's great for finding that important or interesting verse!

Some people would say that the Bible is a sacred book and they would never dream of using highlighters or pens in their Bible. While I agree that the Bible is a sacred book, I believe the content is more important than the paper it's written on!

The She Loves God Conference this year had Joshua 1:8 as its theme:

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Highlighters are my helpers with studying and meditating on God's Word. What's yours?