Powerful truth that changes lives!

Focus on the good

and the beautiful

and what is going well

and we will see more.

The other side is also true.

Focus on the negative

the disappointing

the ugly and tragic

and we will see more.

A friend of mine recently posted this stunning photo

of our Virginia countryside on Facebook.

It touched me

and reminded my again of why I love this area so much.

Beauty all over

Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

But

although surrounded by beauty on every side

It is all too easy to not see it

to become blinded

as it were

in the routine of life

and the overwhelming challenges we all face.

Wherever you live

there is beauty to be found.

Just look

it’s there.

Those powerful words come to mind.

“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.”
 Have you tried it?

When I discipline my thoughts to focus on the true,

the lovely, the pure, etc.

it changes my perspective.

I see even more that is true, lovely, pure, etc.

It is sad but true that we can be surrounded by thousands of gifts

of beauty and goodness

but fail to see them.

So let’s open our eyes

let’s look all around us

and intentionally see what we can see.

All the while praising the One

Who has gifted us in so many ways.

Beauty all around us.

In the smile of a  child,

the song of a bird,

the rolling hillside

the kind action of a friend.

Beauty that shines brightly

reminding us that we are never alone.

There is One Who walks with us.