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Guard Your Heart and Mind

4/3/2025

 
"Cynicism begins in your feelings and thoughts. If you constantly focus on the negative, it will shape the way you see the world. Proverbs 4:23 reminds you: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

What you allow into your heart – through the news you watch, the conversations you entertain, and the thoughts you focus on – will influence your attitude. To fight cynicism, be intentional about what you focus on. Philippians 4:8 encourages you: “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”

Instead of fixating on everything wrong with the world, look for things that are good, noble, and worth celebrating. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you guard your heart and renew your mind. Limit exposure to negative messages when you can, read and think about God’s Word often, and practice gratitude. Writing a simple list of blessings you’re thankful for daily can help change your focus from cynicism to appreciation. The more you become aware of what God is doing in your life, the less room there is for negativity.

You can also speak words of life over yourself and others. Instead of worrying about harsh criticisms or negative assumptions, declare God’s promises over your life and those of the people you love. That will line up your thoughts with God’s Word, which will help you fight cynicism and welcome hope. Devote plenty of time to your daily schedule to prayer. The more you communicate with God by praying (talking to God) and meditating (listening to God), the more your perspective will change. You’ll focus less on this broken world’s problems and more on God’s power to bring positive change to the world." -Unknown

So True

4/2/2025

 
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Nola Ochs

4/2/2025

 
Nola Ochs was born on November 22, 1911, and was a college graduate. Nothing seems amazing about this—until you learn that she graduated from Fort Hays State University in Kansas on May 14, 2007. When you put the math together, you will discover that she received her degree at the age of 95, making her a Guinness World Record holder as the world’s oldest college graduate! She graduated alongside her great granddaughter, Alexandra Ochs, who was 21 years old at the time. But wait! She couldn't stop learning new things and received her master’s on May 15, 2010, making her the oldest recipient of a master’s degree.

Nola once told a news reporter, while she was in college, that when she graduated, she wanted to be a storyteller on a cruise ship. After graduation, Princess Cruises hired her to be a guest lecturer on a nine-day Caribbean cruise. Oh, the stories she could tell.

I don't know about you, but it seems as if I lose some mental acuity each year. I'm just not as quick of a thinker as I used to be. Why Nola such a phenom, I don't know. The information she had to learn for both her degrees (she loved history), wasn't easy to remember, but she kept plugging away.

Why? Well, several reasons. She was from the greatest generation and when they said they were going to do something, they usually did it, it was a matter of integrity. She was planning on getting her degree in the early 30's but things happened, like The Great Depression. But her motivation was also to be a role model for her family and the many grandchildren and great grandchildren, she had.

By the way, Nola was pursuing another degree at a university in Japan in 2016, when she passed away at the age of 98. Her last address was in Dodge City, Kansas. They say the length of one's life is less important than its depth. Nola left a crater.
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    Author: John Mann

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