Growing Character by Weeding the Mind


Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest. If you plant in {the soil of} your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in {the soil of} your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8

Many times others say things far better than I can and this is one of those times. Sometimes it is far better to quote someone else than to try to say the same thing poorly. I hope this message blesses you as much as it blessed me.

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen is arguably the best non-inspired book ever written on the power of thought…

Allen compared the mind to a garden and its owner to a master gardener. A good character is not the product of chance any more than a beautiful garden could happen by accident. Integrity is a natural result of continued effort in right thinking.

The overarching theme of As a Man Thinketh is that individuals control the development of their character through controlling their thoughts. At the very moment one chooses his thoughts, he also chooses his destiny. Allen’s garden analogy well-illustrates this cause and effect relationship. Just as plants come from seeds, actions grow from thoughts. The challenging part is getting the right seeds into the garden of the mind. Useless seeds find their way there all by themselves, but useful ones must be purposely planted. Good thoughts must be deliberately sown and carefully nurtured to produce the fruit of righteousness. Bad thoughts must be eradicated in the same way one removes weeds to preserve a well-kept garden. Good thoughts cannot produce bad acts and bad thoughts cannot produce good acts. The law of sowing and reaping is as true in the mental and moral realm as it is in the plant world. Holiness, like husbandry, requires planning, effort and diligence. (Aubry Johnson)

KneEmail: “Keep your heart will all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23; cf. Romans 12:2

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Poison Ivy


Poison ivy produces urushiol to protect the plant from herbivores. In humans this chemical produces an allergic skin rash, known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis.

Image via Wikipedia

By Patty Wysong

I have a couple of kids that catch poison ivy very easily and one of them is my teen daughter. Living in the country like we do, there’s an abundance of it but they know where most of it is and stay away from it, so I was surprised when she came to me and showed me her blisters.

“Mom, why do I get it and you don’t?”

I had to laugh at her question. “Because I don’t go where the poison ivy is and you do.”

It was no sooner out my mouth then God flashed the neon ‘Duh!’ sign He has just for me.

Why do some things affect me that don’t bother or affect my Christian sisters? Because I go where poison ivy is and they don’t.

It’s made me, once again, consider where I walk. Am I tip toeing through poison ivy hoping and praying I don’t get it? It would be so much better if I just stayed away from areas where I know the poison ivy grows!

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NAS)

Patty Wysong is a wife and homeschool mom of 5 who is passionate about wrapping lessons in pretty packages that will point others to God.

Blog: http://pattywysong.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.comCHRISTIAN WRITERSMAKE A WEBSITE