The purpose of life is the building of character through truth.”
–Phillips Brooks

“A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.”
–Mark Twain

What is that thought in your mind? Imagine if it could be seen–oh my. Some thoughts just float on through while others linger for a few moments. Then there are those that sit themselves down and stay awhile.  There are some that want to make your mind their home, but have no business being there at all. I came across the following written by Clarence W. Cranford:

“If your mind was an art gallery in which your thoughts could become visible like pictures hanging on a wall would you be willing for your mother to see the exhibit?
This question was asked in a college chapel service. Some of the students treated it lightly. They joked about it afterward. But some of the students knew it was no laughing matter. The pictures we carry in the mind color the rest of our lives and affect our relationships to God, the greatest art critic of all.
During the exile, some of the Jewish people fell into bad habits. They adorned the walls of a room in their houses with ugly idols. This they did in the dark, not permitting their friends to enter and see what they had in that room. That room became a wall between themselves and God.
The mind is our art gallery. We adorn it with many pictures, some good and some bad. Let us pray for God’s help in the selection of the pictures we imagine.
Prayer: O God, help us in the selection of the pictures we create in the art gallery of the mind. Grant that they may be beautiful to see. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Thoughts, dreams, imaginations, ideas are all part of the things that the mind process. It is extremely hard to stop thoughts from entering, but we certainly do not have to hang them up. Sure, others may not be able to see that they are there, but you bring them to your mind’s eye and the Lord certainly sees them.
Perhaps you and I need to invite the Holy Spirit to the gallery of the mind. Let Him wander around and allow Him to begin to take down the images, thoughts, and dreams that are hanging there. There may be some not pleasing to Him, such as lustful thoughts or the thoughts of self. In other words, don’t keep them hanging around. Instead let the Holy Spirit hang His pictures; let Him give you His thoughts.

“Have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, every man in his room of pictures?”
–Ezekiel 8:12

God! God! God! Best defined when undefined; a Fire that may not be touched; a Life too great for shape of image; a Love for which there is no equal name. Who is He? God. What is He? God. Of whom begotten? God. He is at once the question and the answer, the self-balance, the All.”
–Joseph Parker

“God is not to be described in parts; He is to be comprehended in the unity of His character.”
–Joseph Parker

God’s name is so flippant today. It is no longer sacred causing us to be filled with reverential awe. No, I’m not talking about the world out there. They are already ignorant of God, but I’m speaking about those who say they are His children. Supposedly the blood-bought, the redeemed–those who think they are on their way to heaven to spend eternity with the One whom they mock and take His name in vain.
God is not an exclamation! His is not three letters!! He is the Creator; the Almighty; the holy I AM! He is a consuming fire and He is love. He is jealous and will have no other gods before Him. Everything about Him is holy, and yet man, those in the church will lower His name. There is one thing that He esteems higher than His name–the Word. I’m not talking about a book, or some verses, but the Theos. “In the beginning was the Word…”!
I mentioned in the Paine on Monday that I was concerned that the Spirit is not welcome in many churches today. He is not talked about because He is not known personally. The same is true of God. Those in the church do not want to hear a sermon dealing with theology (the study of God); they instead like to be tickled or at least come out of church feeling goooood. To speak or preach on God’s holiness who make those in the congregation cower, and their self-esteem might be damaged. As Parker said, we do not dissect God, we must take Him in His entirety.
Why do people in the church have the same issues that those in the world have? Don’t give me the excuse, “I’m only human,” or “We’re not exempt from the world.” Those are true statements, but do you not have God living inside you? Doesn’t He offer you power–the power to overcome? But, no wonder, He is simply “OMG” to most in the church. He is not God. We fear Muslims and terrorists, we fear politicians, we fear economic collapse, we fear old-age, we fear working for a living, we fear famine, we fear global warming, we fear–fear. Lord, help us through the jungles! Listen to Parker again, “Fear God, and no other fear will ever trouble you.”

“And God said to Moses, I Am Who I Am and What I Am, and I Will Be What I Will Be; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I Am has sent me to you!”
–Exodus 3:14 (AMPC)