TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla -- Here is this week’s Fun Friday Thought. Adapted from How Great is Our God devotional series.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
The proverbial saying “You are what you eat” didn’t manifest itself into our English language until around the 1930s. A variant of this phrase was first mentioned in 1826 by Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, a French lawyer who stated: "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” Later in 1863, a German writer stated: “Man is what he eats.” The message rings true in any language and it is especially true when we review the animal kingdom. For example, the beautiful brightly pink flamingos. Did you know that flamingos are not naturally born pink? In fact they are born with a light gray color. They become pink because their diet mainly consist of shrimp and certain kinds of algae that have lots of beta carotene (BAY-tuh KAR-uh-teen) in them. What is beta carotene you ask? Simply it is a reddish-orange pigment. If they were to stop eating the algae, then their feathers would likely revert back to being gray.
This same principle can apply to us as well. While we won’t be turning pink any time soon, we can change who we are by the things we see, hear, and think about it. So consider this, is the music you are listening to beneficial? The podcast you subscribe to, does it reflect your values. What about the TV shows you watch, internet videos, the movies you spend your monies on, or the books you read? Everything that we see, hear, and think about affects how our character is shaped and molded. You reflect those things that you invest your time, energy, and resources into. So be careful with what you consume on a daily basis. Remember that you can’t unsee or unhear something. Those things stick with you and will forever be etched into your memory.
I am reminded of the song “Think About His Love” by Walt Harrah & Don Moen. It encourages the listener to think about the goodness, grace, and love of God. Read the words here and may you be encouraged to do the same:
Verse
Think about His love
Think about His goodness
Think about His grace
That brought us through
Prechorus
For as high as the heavens above
So great is the measure of our father’s love
Great is the measure of our Father’s love
Chorus
How could I forget His love
And how could I forget His mercies
He satisfies, He satisfies
He satisfies my desires
Fun Fact: Beta carotene is also found in the food we eat. Carrots, sweet potatoes, and apricots all have beta carotene. If a baby eats too much of these food types it could temporarily cause the baby’s nose to turn orange.
Have a great weekend!
*NOTE: The schedule for the chaplain office in building 3001 is as follows,
- Mondays: Alternating between EAP and SAPR
- Tues – Thurs: Active Duty Chaplain
- Fridays: Reserve Chaplains
To schedule an appointment for pastoral counseling call the Tinker AFB Chapel at 405-734-2111.