MONDAY MUSINGS!

CULTIVATE CONTENTMENT TODAY to ENDURE CRISIS TOMORROW!

Avinash ABC (Philippians 4:13) 

VALUE!

Others value true listening---not just waiting so they can jump in with their opinion or story.

Put on your listening ears, as your kindergarten teacher probably taught you. 

Pay Attention! 

Listen with grace-laced ears and heart. Value others more than self!

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (emphasis mine) 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

True VALUE---put others first. 

How do I know? "The Bible told me so."

Papal Wisdom

7/25/13  In Rio de Janeiro today, the Pope (Francis) said, "....we must do more to end the culture of selfishness." That's the only part I heard and I don't want to take it out of context. However, that reference to selfishness resonated in my own conscience. Working with high schoolers for several years opened my eyes to their expectation of instant gratification and their perceived unfairness if they were ever on the short end of any "they have, I want" stick. I blamed it on their self-centered age.

Not today. Today I saw myself afresh.  SELFISH (in all caps) brought me up short.

Philippians 2:3-4 is my defense. My weapon. I will use God's word to fill my mind. Hopefully, that will cast out all those ungrateful, selfish thoughts and allow me to see the Lord's truths in a fresh way.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

I'm not Roman Catholic, but I thank the Pope for his wise words. Words that took me to the Word. God's words that I need to keep at the forefront of my mind.

EPITAPH of EXCELLENCE

5/17/11

Eulogies are best delivered by those who can draw from memories. That was very much reflected in yesterday’s funeral for Mommar when our son Buddy, her oldest grandson, was the funeral officiant. Though he had his own memories of her, he tapped into the memories of her 4 adult children. He asked each of them for words or word pictures that best described his/her mama. Though he talked to each separately there was a thread of praiseworthy words that each gave: loving, kind, gentle, quiet, & patient. Words worthy of an epitaph. As they gave funny examples of memories, each came back to descriptors of love and acceptance---even if she was having them go get break a “switch” from the hedge for her to use on their little behinds.

CONVICTION settled in my head and then moved to my heart. How grievous it is to think of one’s own eulogy in which words like harried, befuddled, busy but accomplishing little, or makes a list then loses a list could more easily be listed than patien†, gentle or kind.

Using words from Proverbs 31, Buddy showed how her lifestyle embodied many of the traits of the virtuous woman from scripture---not one who sought the limelight but one who worked more often behind the scenes as “she looked out for her household.”

How about your eulogy? What words would your children or other family members use to describe you?

The funeral was wrapped up as he gave us a vision of our Savior through the life of his grandmother. His Mommar. Pointing out her similar servant spirit to that written of Christ in Philippians 2:3-4. She showed an “attitude of humility valuing others above self, not looking to her own interests but to the interests of the others.”

Therefore her children (and grandchildren) rose & blessed her. (Proverbs 31:28) An Epitaph of Excellence---blessed by her children.

Meditative Meanderings

2/1/10 Last Wednesday I came home from work at 3:30 pm, with my usual mid-week “sinking spell, ” and sat down. Sitting is a costly mistake when one is tired, especially if Bible Study starts at 5:50. The lure of the couch and “This is……Jeopardy” continued to hold me. Rationalization: grant #2 was turned in; I deserved a break. Missing the “final jeopardy” question, I let my head fall back and was just about to kick my shoes off when I prayed for strength just to get up. I found my iPod and tried (unsuccessfully) to figure out how to get the ear bud to stay in my somewhat newly configured right ear. I put my coat on with the iPod in my pocket and started walking---just to the end of the street, I thought. When I got there, I chose my favorite praise music playlist and cranked up the volume. Before I knew it, I was walking down the sidewalk of busy, busy Kirby Parkway, without really even noticing the traffic. I had found Sanctuary “in the midst.” The sidewalk became a path of praise. Scripture from both the music and memory began to flood my mind and meditation followed. The walk only lasted 30 minutes but the musings stayed with me----that’s what meditation does---it stays with you and helps you figure things out. Bundle up and meander through your neighborhood today with meditation on your mind.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)