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

Availability vs Being Selfcentered

This is WEEK 3 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by.

“To the world you may just be someone, but to someone you may be the whole world.”

In this busy, busy world it is hard to be a steward of your 24 hours without crumbling into a broken, burned out heap at the end of the day.  But God asks you to be available, and needs you  to be available…because He may have a purpose that He needs fulfilled….a purpose just for you.  We should strive to be AVAILABLE vs Self-centered. 

Attentiveness vs Unconcern

THIS is WEEK 2 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by.

THE LITTLE BOY AND THE OLD MAN
Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.”
Said the little old man, ” I do that too.”
The little boy whispered, ” I wet my pants.”
“I do that too,” laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, “I often cry.”
The little old man nodded, “So do I.”
“But worst of all,” said the boy, “it seems
Grown-ups don’t pay attention to me,”
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand.
“I know what you mean,” said the little old man.
-Author Unknown.

We should strive to be ATTENTIVE vs Unconcerned!

ATTENTIVENESS  means:
1.characterized by or giving attention;  observant.
2.thoughtful of others; considerate; polite; courteous.

Synonyms for Attentiveness:    heedful, mindful, aware, alert, awake, watchful.
Antonyms for Attentiveness:    indifferent, apathetic, unconcerned.

Alertness vs Being Unaware

THIS is WEEK 1 of the Character Development Series I am doing for 2012.  So glad you stopped by.

Whenever we go into a public restaurant, my husband is going to sit down in a position where he can see what is going on in the restaurant, and he is going to be paying close attention to the people and the events happening the whole time we are there.  I, on the other hand tend to have tunnel vision and to be oblivious to most of what is going on in my surroundings.  This is not safe, as my husband is quick to remind me on an almost daily basis.  “You need to pay attention”, he says……”always”.  This is good advice in terms of our physical safety, but it is also good advice in terms of our spiritual well being too.  We should strive to be ALERT vs Unaware.

ALERTNESS means:
1. Vigilantly attentive; watchful: alert to danger.
2. Mentally responsive and perceptive; quick.
3. Brisk or lively in action

Synonyms for Alertness:  aware, cognizant, conscious, sensible, awake, alert, watchful, vigilant
Antonyms for Alertness: unwatchful, unvigilant, unalert, sleepy, sluggish, somnolent, dull, inactive