The bumper sticker read, "I'm

a lover, I'm a fighter, I'm a wild bull rider." I laughed as I noticed

it wasn't placed on the bumper of some jacked up pickup truck with a Confederate

flag draped across the gun rack. Instead, it was displayed on a Nissan

driven by some petite brunette driving along I-285 on her lunch break.

The preacher in me got to thinking

that there has to be a good sermon illustration in that bumper sticker

statement somewhere, or at least a column idea. It hit me as I began to

think about what a rough day this particular Monday had been: that's how

some people approach every day.

They view life as a wild bucking

bull with which to fight and wrestle. They see each day as time to dread

instead of an opportunity to embrace. They see life as a bucking bull

from which to be thrown. Instead of getting up right away, dusting themselves

off and moving forward, they land hard and stay down.

These people make themselves

and those around them miserable as they go through each day griping, complaining,

grumbling and sour. They are people who feel that if you come to the end

of a perfect day, it probably isn't over yet.

Then I recalled what Paul told

us in the letter to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord always,

again I say rejoice." Rejoice is a command, not a suggestion. And

it is to be not an occasional rejoicing, but a continuous practice that

is a part of our life. Our resource for rejoicing, according to Paul's

writing in Philippians 4:4, is "in the Lord." God gives us sunshine

in our lives even if circumstances seem cloudy. The circumstances can

never be the source of joy because circumstances are always changing and

they are sometimes not too happy. Then to emphasize the necessity of rejoicing,

Paul repeats the command.

Whether or not your day is

good or bad depends on your perspective. How can you approach each day

to make it a good one?

Start each day with the realization

that this day is a gift from God. Psalm 118:24 reads, "this is the

day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." Determine

from the beginning to make this a good day.

Then before your feet hit the

floor, thank God for this gift, and ask Him to guide you through it, making

the most of your time. Ask Him to help you exercise the choice to rejoice

whatever the day brings.

Master your mindset. Have a

"this-is-it-let's-make-it-a-good-one" approach. Realize that

even if you cannot control outside circumstances, you can control your

response. Deciding not to gripe and grumble is a conscious choice.

Then determine to live for

today. Do not worry about yesterday's mistakes or tomorrow's possible

calamities. See today as a diamond in the rough ready to be polished and

lived with gusto. We each have 24 hours. What will we do with this gift

of today?

(Dr. Chancey is pastor of McDonough

Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville. The congregation meets at 352 McDonough

Road. Join them for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m.).

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