THINGS THAT BUG US [DEVOTION] - 7 November 2008

#1 · November 12, 2008, 6:03 am

Quote from Forum Archives on November 12, 2008, 6:03 am
Posted by: feedtheflock_dev <feedtheflock_dev@...>
THINGS THAT BUG US

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV).

As the ditty goes, "It's the little things that bother us and put us on the rack, you can sit upon a mountain but you can't sit on a tack."

And isn't that the truth? It's the little annoyances in life that get us tied in a knot. A slight criticism, a driver who cuts us off on the freeway, a green light that turns red before we get to it, a friend running late, and so on.
Let us realize however, that somebody's frown may have more to do with them than us. A criticism may be somebody projecting their unresolved issues onto us.
Somebody failing to thank us may indicate that they are having a "bad hair" day, and somebody cutting us off on the freeway may be an indication of their impatience--as well as a reflection of ours!

What somebody else does to me may or may not be a problem. How I react though is always my issue, and when I overreact, that is always my problem. What the other person does is their issue. How I act, react, or overreact is always my issue and my responsibility.

If we'd remember that "whatever others think of me is none of my business," I would at least learn to cope much better with many of life's little annoyances. I know it's easier said than done, but it is a goal to work towards. Furthermore, the more mature and whole I become, the less life's little annoyances will bother me. I'm still working on this issue.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, as it is your purpose for me, please help me to grow through the circumstances of life that 'push my hot buttons' and so become more and more like Jesus in every way. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

From Daily Encounter by Dick Innes

SHOPPING CARTS AND RATIONALIZATIONS

By Michael Josephson of Character Counts

When we think about character we tend to think about really big things, like taking heavy risks or performing bold acts of integrity or grand acts of generosity or self-sacrifice. These sorts of noble choices do indicate character, but for the most part our character is revealed in much smaller events, like apologizing when we're wrong, giving to causes we believe in, being honest when it's simply embarrassing--and returning our shopping carts.

One of my favourite stories is about a father who asked his son to return a cart they had just used. The son protested, "C'mon, Dad! There are carts all over. No one returns them. That's why they hire people to collect them."

After a short argument, Mom chimed in, "For heaven's sake, it's no big deal. Let's go."

Dad was about to surrender when he saw an elderly couple walking together to return their cart. After a moment he said, "Son, there are two kinds of people in this world: those who put their carts away and those who don't. We are the kind that returns their shopping cart. Now go return the cart."

Obviously, this story is about more than grocery carts. It's about doing the right thing in a world that promotes rationalizations and excuses, and demeans or trivializes simple acts of virtue. I suppose another way of putting it is: There are two kinds of people: Those who have the character to do what they ought to do and those who find reasons not to.

People of character do the right thing even if no one else does, not because they think it will change the world, but because they refuse to be changed by the world.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

For more visit http://www.surrender.nl/scom and www.freewebs.com/scoministry

For comments or issues concerning your Christian Life. Email to: [email protected]

Help spread God’s word, please forward the devotion to as many friends and relatives as possible and encourage them to subscribe free of charge. If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe by sending a blank email to the following address:

[email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]

Posted by: feedtheflock_dev <feedtheflock_dev@...>

THINGS THAT BUG US

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV).

As the ditty goes, "It's the little things that bother us and put us on the rack, you can sit upon a mountain but you can't sit on a tack."

And isn't that the truth? It's the little annoyances in life that get us tied in a knot. A slight criticism, a driver who cuts us off on the freeway, a green light that turns red before we get to it, a friend running late, and so on.
Let us realize however, that somebody's frown may have more to do with them than us. A criticism may be somebody projecting their unresolved issues onto us.
Somebody failing to thank us may indicate that they are having a "bad hair" day, and somebody cutting us off on the freeway may be an indication of their impatience--as well as a reflection of ours!

What somebody else does to me may or may not be a problem. How I react though is always my issue, and when I overreact, that is always my problem. What the other person does is their issue. How I act, react, or overreact is always my issue and my responsibility.

If we'd remember that "whatever others think of me is none of my business," I would at least learn to cope much better with many of life's little annoyances. I know it's easier said than done, but it is a goal to work towards. Furthermore, the more mature and whole I become, the less life's little annoyances will bother me. I'm still working on this issue.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, as it is your purpose for me, please help me to grow through the circumstances of life that 'push my hot buttons' and so become more and more like Jesus in every way. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

From Daily Encounter by Dick Innes

SHOPPING CARTS AND RATIONALIZATIONS

By Michael Josephson of Character Counts

When we think about character we tend to think about really big things, like taking heavy risks or performing bold acts of integrity or grand acts of generosity or self-sacrifice. These sorts of noble choices do indicate character, but for the most part our character is revealed in much smaller events, like apologizing when we're wrong, giving to causes we believe in, being honest when it's simply embarrassing--and returning our shopping carts.

One of my favourite stories is about a father who asked his son to return a cart they had just used. The son protested, "C'mon, Dad! There are carts all over. No one returns them. That's why they hire people to collect them."

After a short argument, Mom chimed in, "For heaven's sake, it's no big deal. Let's go."

Dad was about to surrender when he saw an elderly couple walking together to return their cart. After a moment he said, "Son, there are two kinds of people in this world: those who put their carts away and those who don't. We are the kind that returns their shopping cart. Now go return the cart."

Obviously, this story is about more than grocery carts. It's about doing the right thing in a world that promotes rationalizations and excuses, and demeans or trivializes simple acts of virtue. I suppose another way of putting it is: There are two kinds of people: Those who have the character to do what they ought to do and those who find reasons not to.

People of character do the right thing even if no one else does, not because they think it will change the world, but because they refuse to be changed by the world.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

For more visit http://www.surrender.nl/scom and http://www.freewebs.com/scoministry

For comments or issues concerning your Christian Life. Email to: [email protected]

Help spread God’s word, please forward the devotion to as many friends and relatives as possible and encourage them to subscribe free of charge. If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe by sending a blank email to the following address:

[email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]