SCRIPTURE:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8, NIV)

Observations:
 I asked myself what words or phrases or repeated?
‘Whatever is’ is repeated 6 times:

1.   1. Whatever is true 2. Whatever is noble 3. Whatever is right  4.    Whatever is pure 5. Whatever is lovely  6.  Whatever is admirable

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself why and the significance of it?
 Paul used these phrases to let the Philippians know ‘if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.’ How amazing it is for me that Paul writes these words of God even though he is shackled in chains in prison. His thinking is based on those virtues and he wants to help the Philippians have that attitude because of Jesus Christ in his life.

Implications:
 I saw important implications for my own life from this command because this showed my thinking should be based on truth, nobility, righteousness, purity, love, and what is admirable.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G:
I learned how our thinking can affect everything else in our lives. A thought comes, we think about it, then an emotion occurs, and soon it leads to action. The action itself can be good or bad depending on our thinking. It is so awesome to know that I can have direction what I should base my thinking on. It can be based on whatever is TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, and ADMIRABLE when I focus on Jesus Christ who loves me so much revealed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As my thinking reflects on those values and characteristics, I won't be depressed but my eyes can be fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith so that I can also 'rejoice in the Lord, letting my gentleness be evident to all without being anxious about anything but with prayer  and petition let my requests be known to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus'

In my own life, I have seen when I focused on these virtues as I depended on the Lord, meditating on the Word of God revealed in the Bible, a lot of things have changed for me. It is God's Word that leads me to right actions but sadly when I let my thinking deviate from the Word of God, a lot of my thinking has led to sin because when I think negatively, I usually act negatively. The Lord wants to help me here. He has helped me so much with my thinking as I focus on the Lord reminding me of Philippians 4:8. He can help you too!

I ask you now dear friends, what is your T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G based on?
Dear friend, I don’t know what you are going through right now and maybe you are tempted to think negatively about yourself, your surroundings, and your future. Don’t let the enemy get to you on that. One of the classic cases of thinking leading to action is depression.

Beck’s Cognitive Triad of Depression is based on thinking. It is a negative view of self, world, and your future. As you act on that it usually leads to depression and other symptoms. I am not saying depression does not exist if we do not think negatively for many cases of depression have to do with malfunction of neurotransmitters for which medication is needed. When thinking leads to depression that is something that can be avoided friend depending on how we approach thinking!

The Word of God gives us wonderful ammunition from Philippians 4:4-4:8 for our benefit so our thinking can lead to joy instead of sorrow.

Whatever you think, that you will usually be so be careful what you base your thinking on. Jesus loves you so much that He went to the cross to die for your sin and come back to life to save you so that you can be with Him in eternity. Jesus paid the ransom for you from slavery by His blood so you do not have to live a life of sinful thinking but be delivered from the Lord and experience eternal thinking by His grace. Thank you so much Jesus.

Whatever we think about that happened to us or we did to others, if we cannot change it, we should not keep thinking the 'what if's'. Even if we can change it, there is no point thinking about the 'what if's' but on how Jesus and the Gospel can change our thinking to reflect His purpose, pardon, peace, power, and promises in our lives! Praise the Lord for that.

No matter what you have done or where you have been, you are never out of His love and never out of His reach. Think the promises of the Lord and claim them for yourself. Let them be your ammunition against the enemy. Claim God's promises to live your life and you will find joy, peace, and love. Yes, you will.

Friend, you can do that and you will be guided and led by the Lord whether it comes to listening to music, watching videos, watching movies, etc. His thinking will become your thinking as you yield to His Word and His ways.

Jesus wants you to be full of joy and rest in Him. He will take care of you whatever you are faced with. Remember He does not want us to be anxious about anything because He is there for us. I have found His ways are the best ways for us.

Ask yourself if your thinking were to be played out like a movie, what would others see?

Would you want them to see it?

Would you want the Lord to see it?

Yet, it is so important to remember that we need the Lord's help to govern our thinking because all the self-help books and self-motivation to have right thinking will not do, without the grace of the Lord Jesus impacting our lives. He does want to impact us. Thank you so much Jesus! I rest in you Lord!

May you allow the Lord to guide your thinking for He loves you so much! May you see the positive impact in your life as you follow the Word of God! May you know that when you have bad thoughts you can take them to the Lord and He will help you! Yes, He will friend!

May you today have Immanuel’s nurturing kindness impact new guidance Amen!

"Today Have Immanuel’s Nurturing Kindness Impact New Guidance!" (T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G)/"What is your thinking based on?"

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I learned today about what I should think about. Lord, this is a messed up world we live in because of sin. I am messed up because of sin and would remain messed up if it were not for your love and mercy to shower your grace upon me. Thank you so much Jesus for shedding your precious blood and coming back to life to save me. It is not easy for me to always think about positive things but that’s what you want me to do. I know our thinking can lead to action many times including depression, low self-esteem, deception, impurity, hate, and so on. Please help us to overcome negative thinking Lord for the glory and honor of your Name.  Deliver us please Jesus and help us to be focused so much on you. Thank you so much Jesus. We yield our lives to thee and ask thee that you would take care of our thinking and you will help us to be focused on you. Your thoughts and your Words are what I want my thinking to be permeated by. Help me Jesus. Everything you tell us is for our good including what you give us even when we cannot understand, so I thank you and turn to you. Thank you for hearing my voice when I cry out to you. Thank you for wonderfully making me and knitting me together in my mother’s womb. You have me in your care and are my Holy Father guiding me through. I want to live for you and serve you. Thank you for your help. Thank you for hearing my prayers and answering me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!