What if…

Have you ever given consideration to the things you do and why you do them?   

What if we changed our thought patterns and started doing things differently?  

Maybe you can relate to one or two or four of the things on this list.  

I know that I could certainly do better in a few of these areas!  If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll probably agree that there are a few things you could improve on as well!  

1. What if…we considered other people’s feelings before our own?  

For real!  I mean, what if we actually thought about other people MORE than we think about ourselves?!  Would it change the way we look at things?  Would it change the things we do each day?   Would we consider someone else’s feelings before we talked about them behind their back?  Before we blabbed about something we shared with them in confidence?  

How would we feel if that happened to us? 

We should probably try to put ourselves into the other person’s shoes BEFORE we do something that could potentially hurt or destroy someone.  

Phillipians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”

2. What if…we opened our hearts to give to others in need - EVEN when it hurt? 

Have you ever seen a need and KNOWN you could fulfill that need?   Maybe you knew someone was low on cash or just lost their job.  Could we possibly give them a grocery gift card?  You might be thinking that "said" person might feel like a charity case.  Well, while some people do have a hard time receiving gifts like this, not all do.   If you feel like that might be an issue, then find a way around it!  Send it to them in an anonymous card!  Where there’s a will there’s a way!

Have you seen someone that seems to be struggling in their spirit and is down.  You can just tell that today is NOT their day.  

What did you do to encourage and uplift them?  

You’d be surprised what a hug or a smile can do for someone!  Maybe just sending them a text to tell them you’re thinking about them or to ask how they’re doing.   An anonymous encouragement card is always fun too!    

Have you ever known of a need and wanted to provide that specific thing for someone, but just couldn’t see how because of the cost?   Maybe it’s WITHIN your ability to do it, but it’s a stretch?? 

Let me tell you that God not only sees when we give in these situations, but he BLESSES as well!   Give even when it hurts!

Galatians 6:10 “ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Acts 20:35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Hebrews 13:16 “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well please.”

II Corinthians9:6-8 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

Proverbs 11:24 “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.”

Prov. 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

Matthew 6:1-4 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.  Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

3. What if…we REALLY listened when people talked to us? 

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and you could just tell that they weren’t REALLY listening?  

Have you ever done something like this to someone yourself?  

Again, if we’re honest, we could all say yes.   

It’s easy to get preoccupied with other things even when we’re in a conversation with someone.  

In this day and age, we’re so busy that it can be SUPER hard to focus on one thing at a time.  We have to really work at concentrating on JUST ONE THING!   

Next time you’re talking to someone, try to keep eye contact and really focus on what they’re saying. 

Don’t listen to speak - listen to UNDERSTAND. 

James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

Proverbs 18:13 “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” 

Proverbs 18:2 “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”

Proverbs. 17:28 “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."

4.  What if…we put away technology and put our family first? 

Society as a whole has been replacing family with technology. 

We’ve spent more time communicating with people via social media and cell phones than we have with the people right in front of our very faces!  

Next time you’re at a restaurant, take a few minutes to look around.  90% of the people have their phones out and are not even communicating with the people they're dining with.  Children are watching shows on the iPad to keep them occupied.  I remember when crayons and a coloring page were entertaining enough! 

We’ve replaced quality time with time wasters!

Take a break from technology.   Set some boundaries around technology. Start putting your family first and spending time with the people you love.  

Don’t let technology rule your life. 

I Corin 6:12 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”

I Corin 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

5.  What if…we taught our children how to treat others? 

I’m not sure where this statement came from, but it’s great! “Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.”   

Our children are watching every move we make.   They’ll learn MOST things from us, so we had better give them something GOOD to learn.   

How do you treat other people?  How do you handle disagreements?  How do you handle setbacks?  When you’re treated wrong, how do you treat the other person or talk about them?   

Do you teach your children to look for ways to help other people?   What about including them in your little anonymous acts of kindness you do for others?  

Teach them well!

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

6.  What if…we expressed appreciation for the people in our lives?  

How many times have we missed the opportunity to thank someone for something they’ve done.  Maybe they’ve been an example in life or a true friend.   Don’t let that go unspoken!   

Phil 4:8 “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.” 

Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”

7.  What if…we learned to be content and not continually strive for things that we REALLY don’t need?  

It’s easy to get so caught up in the NEWEST thing that comes out - the newest iPad or iPhone, the newest television, the newest interior designs, the newest things at HOBBY LOBBY (wink wink - you know who you are).  

I’m preaching to the choir here I know.  I struggle with these things too. 

But what if we were just content with what we had and didn’t need the NEWEST thing every time we turned around?

Phill. 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

I Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

Ps 34:10 “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”

Prov 14:30 “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.”

Just a few things to think on.  What if...?