Got Enemies?

Do you have enemies?

Do you grow weary with the drama, the ridicule, the manipulations, the plots and slander that plague your life?   Do you have people that come against your marriage, your family, your goals and ambitions with the intent of harm and not good?

David had enemies too.  In fact, David had to spend a lot of time on the run and hiding because he was pursued with the intent of being killed.  Reflect on David’s attitude toward being hounded by the enemy in Psalm 27.

The Right Choice

Wisdom is Making The Right Choice!

Why Do The Right Thing?
*For Recognition?
*To Ease Your Conscience?
*To Look Good?
*To Gain Favor?
*To Look Superior?
*To Earn Brownie Points?
*To Get Into Heaven?
How Do You Think God Would View These Reasons? 

Let’s Admit:  It’s easy to do the right thing when it’s easy to do the right thing…..Right?
And it’s easy to do the right thing when we gain something from it.

But what about when it isn’t easy or isn’t going to help us out?  What about if it might even cost us or be hard on us to do?  Then what?
Why Do The Right Thing Then?

Under The Dogwood Tree

When I was a little girl, I remember playing under the dogwood trees in my grandmother’s yard.  

Every spring, they would bloom so beautifully.  My grandmother was a kindergarten teacher and so she would always find teachable moments.  The dogwood blossom was the opportunity to remind us of the true meaning of Easter….Christ’s death and resurrection.

The white blossom has 4 petals in the shape of a cross.
The petals have blood colored stains at each tip and a marking like the nail prints in the hands and feet of Jesus.
The crown of green buds in the center of the blossom represents the crown of thorns placed upon Jesus head.

Grandmother Says…

Wisdom Is….Seeking the Right Perspective For Challenging Circumstances.

Grandmother Says…
Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee; “Which are you?”  

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

To See The Roses

Wisdom is: Seeking to surround yourself with what promotes a positive outlook and provides inspiration to go forward.

“The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose.” (Kahill Giban)

How often do you have a looming task or project that is difficult to face because it has prickly, unpleasant aspects?  It may be a self-improvement goal, a work related or home related project.  Your heart is in the right place because you want to put your best effort into the project, but it’s hard to feel good about it or motivated.  Let’s face it…..sometimes it’s hard to enjoy the roses because of the thorns.

Every Thought

WISDOM IS: TAKING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
2 Corinthians 10:5   Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

There was a time in my life that I let bitterness, hurt, and anger so poison my thinking that I could no longer see God at work in my life or trust Him in my circumstances.  A dear Christian counselor challenged me to take 30 days and get all secular influence possible out of my thinking and focus on positive thinking…focus on God.  I took that challenge and turned off my TV, my secular music and my negative thinking.  As a replacement, I listened to Christian music, read Christian books, studied my Bible and prayed.  My great challenge:  to make a decision about what my faith was really anchored to.  Did I really trust that God could work in ALL circumstances.  Did I really believe that God was sovereign and at work in my life? 

Thriftiness vs Extravagance

This is WEEK 45 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by!  

“Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship”–Benjamin Franklin

“Being frugal does not mean being cheap! It means being economical and avoiding waste.” –Catherine Pulsifer

“Thrift…is more than the mere practice of saving money: it implies rather a denunciation of every form of waste, not only of money, but of time, energy, talents, and other assets of mankind.” ~ ‘World Thrift Day,’ The Times, October 26, 1938.

Forgiveness vs Rejection

This is WEEK 20 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by!

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. - Mark Twain

He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven. – Thomas Fuller

Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. – Corrie Ten Boom

Forgiveness is the well from which we draw the water to wash others’ feet. –   D. Siler

There are definitions for Forgiveness in the dictionary but when developing Godly character, we are not concerned with dictionary definitions.  We want to cling to the definition of Biblical Forgiveness because it is key to the Christian walk.  Biblical forgiveness involves our correct responses to God when people offend us.

Decisiveness versus Double Minded

This is WEEK 9 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by.
What would you think if you met a man who: 
Talked professionally while on the job, but cussed like a sailor outside of work.
 Went to church every Sunday, but frequented the bars on work nights. 
 Said he loved his wife , but then flirted with and had affairs with other women. 

DECISIVE means:  
1. having the power or quality of deciding, putting an end to controversy
2. with little or no hesitation; determined
3. commanding

Synonyms for decisive:  conclusive, pivotal, key, critical, significant, strong-minded, resolute, determined, clear-sighted, focused
Antonyms for decisive: insignificant, uncertain, unfocused, wavering
 

Boldness vs Fearfulness

This is WEEK 4 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by.  

It is not the easy or convenient life
for which I search,
but life lived to the edge
of all that I may be.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

Protect your vision.
Prevail over adversity.
Persevere in the midst of turmoil.
Passionately act upon your convictions.
Purposely walk into the day.
- Mary Anne Radmacher

Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers
but to be fearless when facing them.- Rabindranath Tagore