WHERE IS THAT SILVER LINNING?

I sometimes struggle with negative thinking in the morning when I wake up. It is a task to stop such thoughts and to think better things. The other morning as this happened I repeated Psalm 23 over to myself. “beside still waters”, “will not fear even in the valley of death”, “my cup runs over”, “ your rod and staff comforts me”, “Goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life”.

Maybe God lets us have these negative times so we can fight against them and build up our resolve and character. The Holy Sprit might be warning, “These are bad thoughts.” We should respond, “These ARE bad, and I will push them out. I will think this other, more positive and constructive thought.” We should think of what is a different, constructive side of this thought. We need to analyze what is wrong about it, but also need to reach for what other thought is contrasting and right. There is always a "silver lining", there is always the "sunny side of the street". There is always something positive.

“Yes, though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil.” “Why are you cast down, oh my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, he is your hope.

SOME THINGS THAT RESTART

Everything begins in Genesis when God created the universe as we know it. But many things began again, and some things changed after the flood in Genesis chapter nine. Here are a few of the things:

V1: Every beast of earth had to replenish the earth from those that came from the ark.
V2: The control of man was established (or reinstated?) over the animals, birds, fish and insects.
V3: Every animal and plant given to man for food (as modified by clean/unclean dietary laws).
V4: Men are not to eat blood or bloody meat.
V5,6: Capital punishment is instituted.
V7: Man is to multiply and populate the earth.
Vs 8-17: God established the covenant of the rainbow: There will never again be a catastrophic, world-wide flood.