We just came from celebrating Thanksgiving where our hearts were filled with joy from visiting with family and friends. Let’s make an effort to continue with that attitude and not allow the busyness of the coming holiday of Christmas make us irritable to the point of blaming others for not getting things done. Let’s make a commitment to bring joy into every situation every day and be a blessing to others. In order to do that we need to be aware of the negatives and the positives in our lives.

From the start let’s be sure we understand that both attitudes are choices we make and that they absolutely affect those around us. Though I believe that a Christian should be more positive than negative, I also know that because this is a choice, there are many Christians walking around with negative attitudes.  We all deal with those temptations to be negative; but remember, it’s all about our choices.

We must understand that when we are being negative, we are basically in what I call a “blaming-others-attitude”, or “I want my own way attitude”.  When we get irritated over or in a situation and let our emotions rule our attitude, and sometimes our words too, we have a tendency to blame others for our irritability; when the truth is – it’s our responsibility to respond correctly.

Let’s take a short comparison in this blame or bless game to better understand how to take our rightful authority in life.  A person who blames others; may also believe the grass is always greener –elsewhere; looks at the negative in everything; murmurs about everything, and makes excuses their behavior.

A person who blesses others; looks for the green grass (blessings) in their own lives; looks for the positive in everything; speaks positively rather than murmuring; and takes responsibility for their own behavior.

Things I want to encourage you to do:

Believe for God’s best in everything even against odds

Look for the good in everyone and every circumstance

Exams yourself against the Word and be quick to repent when necessary

Study the Word of God to know how to please God

Search for ways to serve God and others

As this Christmas shopping continues for the next few weeks, I encourage you to stop, think, and thank God for the real “reason for the season” – His son Jesus.