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When it comes to serving our fellow man, most of us tend to live with a mindset that posts a "Do Not Disturb" sign over our heart. We often say something like, "I'm too busy," "Leave me alone," "I don't want to get involved," or "I've got my own agenda."

Our culture is overrun with the attitude "It's all about me!"

A meaningful life begins when we realize it's not all about us. It's all about God!

When we get to know our Creator through Jesus Christ, and begin to worship God and serve Him we realize the way we serve God is to serve our fellow man, especially those in need.

"It's all about me" is incredibly selfish, and it leads to emptiness and spiritual death. Real living begins when we start to know God, and serve Him. Philippians 2:4 tells us "...do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

Serving God means serving others. It's one of the keys to discovering your life purpose.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 10.34. Live for God, on purpose, by reaching out and serving those around you.

Attitude is Everything

Anyone ever accuse you of "having an attitude?" Actually, it's impossible to not have an attitude! Every one of us has some kind of an attitude, every single day. Our attitude may change from day to day – one day it may be good, one day it may be bad. If you are told you "have an attitude," it most likely means that you are being seen as stand-offish, or unapproachable. But, rest assured – you are always presenting some sort of an attitude to those around you.

So, just what is "attitude?" An attitude can be a position of the body or manner of carrying oneself. It can also mean a state of mind or a feeling, or your disposition. People can have a positive attitude about things, or a negative or arrogant attitude.

Chuck Swindoll says, "Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home." Further, he says, "The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it."

One thing is certain – every one of us has a choice as to what our attitude will be. We can become annoyed and bothered by things around us, and develop a bad attitude. Or, we can choose to think positively, and affect things around us in a positive way, having a good attitude.

What kind of attitude should you have? Quite simply, the Bible tells us in Philippians 2:5 that our "attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." That's easy to say – but perhaps not so easy to do!

This Sunday here at WFA we will be examining Christ's attitude, and discovering just how we indeed can have the same attitude as He had! As we go through this life, we need to remember – "Attitude is Everything!" Don't miss this life-changing message!

Choose the Attitude You Live By

The following story was sent to me from a friend. I can't take credit for its authorship, but it contains a great lesson we can all learn from.

As you read it, remember the words of Paul in Philippians 4:11b, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances..."

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"Hmmm," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

The road you are traveling may be difficult and even heartbreaking. These seasons of life are inevitable. Yet, how we respond makes a tremendous difference. We can ask for God's strength to help us. We can choose the attitudes we live by, even on our darkest day.

Right Attitudes Change Everything

Nick Herman started his first career in the army and later got a position as a dishwasher. It turned out to be the only job he would keep for many years of his life. Washing dishes for 14 hours a day, the ho-hum of pots and pans, he endured the noise of shouting cooks and being the least important of all the workers.

Then Nick made a decision, an attitude change. He chose to bring God into the kitchen! He began to wash dishes as a way to show love for the Lord. Everything changed. Nick said, "We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed... All things are possible to him that believes."

Nick worked 62 years serving others as a lay Carmelite monk in France, and died quietly at age 80. Millions know his spiritual name as Brother Lawrence. His book "The Practice of the Presence of God" is still in bookstores 400 years after his death! Brother Lawrence's remarkable faith replaced drudgery with delight in the presence of a loving Lord.

So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Knowing What the Saddle is For

We're told that it is a very frightening experience for a wild horse to feel a saddle on his back for the first time. Some horses react with anger. They rear back and kick and struggle to get away. Their nostrils flare, their eyeballs roll back, and panic takes over. But other horses are so afraid that they can't move. They just stand in one spot as though frozen, shaking and trembling like a leaf on a tree.

Many Christians are just like that. Take a good look at yourself. When something unpleasant or threatening happens, do you react with anger, lashing out at other people, even at God? Perhaps something has occurred which you cannot control or change, and you're so angry about it that you are determined someone is going to pay for your discomfort. You say, "God, You did this to me!" or you ask, "God, why did You let this happen?" Or do you react with such fear that you are essentially immobilized? You're afraid to step one way or the other, thinking that if you do anything you'll make a fatal mistake.

The mature Christian, the one who is constantly growing in Christ, can be compared to a horse which has learned to trust his trainer, and knows what the saddle is for. He knows that when the saddle of trouble and difficulty is suddenly thrust upon him, it is there for a purpose. That purpose may be known only to our Heavenly Father, but as long as He knows it, the mature Christian doesn't kick and rebel.

as seen in Rocky Henriques‘ "The Timothy Report," www.timothyreport.com

Million Dollar Offer

If I offered you a method for making a million dollars, and it was a certain process, would you listen...?

What if I offered you the ability to live your life in a wise, godly manner? Would you listen? Sorry, but I do not have the million dollar deal figured out, but I do know where to find the process for living.

That process is found in Psalm 1. It contrasts the difference between the man who wants to live in a godly manner and the one who does not. The contrast is between day and night. One man follows the way of God and is blessed. What is his process? First, he makes his own decisions about what he is going to do. He avoids evil company and refuses to associate with people who are cynical about everything. We often have to work with such people, of course, but we do not need to spend our "off" time with them.

The godly man looks to the true source of wisdom and strength – God Himself. He drinks in godliness as a tree drinks in the water running along its roots. Because of that action and attitude, the man yields fruit. He prospers.

On the other hand, the man who lives as if God were irrelevant is like chaff. He is blown away and has no lasting impact on life. Evil is its own worst enemy and is self-destructive. As the psalmist puts it, "The way of the wicked will perish" (Psalm 1:6). Oh, that might not happen right away. In fact, some of the world's biggest scoundrels seem to have it all. But appearances are deceptive. What they build will not last.

God keeps the way of His people – "For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous" (:6). These two ways of living could not be more diverse. One way is day; the other way is night.

Where do you live?

Coming Out of the Stronghold

David and his fighting men had been hiding in the cave of Adullam. He was fleeing Saul. Many of life's down-and-out had come and joined David's army. David was content to stay in the stronghold of safety. Then, God's prophet came to David and told him that he must leave the stronghold and go into the land of Judah. "...Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah..." (1 Samuel 22:5)

When life beats down on us and we get to the place where we want to hide in a cave, God often places people around us who prod us into moving in the right direction. He does not want us to remain in the place of discouragement. He wants us to move into the land of "praise." Judah means "praise."

I recall when I went through a very difficult time. It seemed to drag on and on with no change until finally I wanted to retreat to a cave and forget pressing on. It was a great time of discouragement. A Godly man came to me and said, "You must keep moving! There are too many who are depending on you in the Kingdom." I didn't totally understand what he meant at the time. Now I know he was saying that God is preparing each of us to be the vessel He wants to use in the life of another person, but we will never be that vessel if we give up and hide in our cave of discouragement.

Not only must we keep moving, we must move into a new realm. Our attitude must move from discouragement to praise. It is when we move past discouragement to praise that we begin living above our problems. Make a decision today to go into the land of Judah.

The Last Impression

A little boy came home eating a big candy bar. Seeing the candy bar, his mother remembered he had already spent all his allowance money. Surprised, she asked him where he got it.

"I bought it at the store with the d ollar you gave me."

"But that dollar was for Sunday School."

"I know, Mom, but the Pastor met me at the door and got me in for free!"

I will be glad to hold the door open for you this Sunday at WFA! God has been doing a very special work in our midst here throughout the summer, and I expect and anticipate a wonderful time in His presence again as we gather together to worship and praise Him this week! Looking forward to worshiping together with you here at WFA on Sunday!