No Victory in Mud Slinging

Complaints are a dime-a-dozen. It doesn't matter if it is a child complaining about what's for dinner, a fan/player complaining about an official's call or lack there of, a customer's dissatisfaction with their food, an actors work in a play/film, the weather, the government, or how a church operates. We find it easy to complain. We want to be satisfied, so when we're not, we don't give second chances, we expect to be pleased, so we let people know about it.

Have you been receiving complaints? I've had my fair share. I once thought I wanted to be a "famous" preacher. However, after knowing all that they go through from skeptics, I thought about it again and do not think I need to be "well-known".

If you have been experiencing some complaints lately, this week's quote is for you. I hope you gain encouragement from it...

If criticism is mistaken or mean-spirited, rise above it.
Maintain the high ground when you're under fire.
No victory is worth winning at the expense of picking up the mud that has been slung at you and throwing it back. ~ Rubel Shelly

It is easy to throw mud back. There are people out there that will always complain about something I have done. They have slung mud as they were upset. It took a lot to imitate Christ and not sling it back. Though it may make me feel good to throw the mud back, there is no victory found in mud slinging.

If you are thinking about slinging some mud...don't. If you've been slung at...don't sling back. There is no victory in that. Rise above being under fire! You can gain victory in rising above rather than lowering yourself to their level.

Ever trying to maintain the higher ground...with His help...

E-mail Encouragement: Living Out Your Philosophy

What do you get up and strive for each day? Is it just to “get to the end of the day”? Or is it something more specific and, hopefully, more positive? When you apply for some professional jobs, your future employer may ask about your “philosophy”. This “philosophy” usually reflects the job that you are applying for in one way or another. How would you define your “philosophy” for each day – from wake up to bed time? Maybe you’ve never thought about it…well, now’s your time to think about it a second…then read today’s quote…

The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy won't work – if you won't. ~ Zig Ziglar

You could come up with a great philosophy on how you will live your life for ______? Naturally, my first word to put in the blank is “Christ” – how will you live for Him? Another one word would be yourself – this could include your character, integrity, reputation, etc. – how will you live to improve these areas? A third word would be family – what will you do to better your biological family or spiritual family? You might be able to think about some other words/phrases to put in the blank.

The main point is that no matter which word you choose, one provided or one you came up with, if you don’t put in the work your “philosophy” doesn’t accomplish its intention. Are you willing to put your “philosophy” to work by putting in the effort?

I hope your day reflects your “philosophy”!

Have a great rest of the week!

Defining, then living it out ~

E-mail Encouragment: Forging Character

When I was a child, I looked at the people I was around the most, in their teens and above, and would form some sort of a thought about whether I would like to be like them some day. I remember people who I thought were "cool" and fun to be around, which could have been for different reasons, depending on their age. Sometimes, I would think to myself that I wanted to be like them when I was older because they exhibited something that was good. However, there were definitely those who were not someone to imitate and those who I thought were "cool" but ended up not being someone to look up to after all. Outside appearance and actions do not always define a person's character. This brings us to this week's quote...

You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one. ~ James A. Froude

Having a father as a principal for four small schools meant that I was around a lot of people throughout my life. This gave me the opportunity to be influenced by a lot, too. However, many of those people did not turn out to be anything like they appeared to be, once they became adults. Even some of the adults weren't as good as they appeared once I became an adult.

No amount of "dreaming" will magically create us to be what we become or want to become. The valley and mountain peak experiences and journeys have helped "hammer and forge" me into what I am today. As life continues, then the valleys and peaks that are in my future will continue to affect what I will become. To become a person of great character, we must be "hammered" to become that person because simply dreaming about it does not make it happen.

As you end your week, may you use the circumstances/situations that come your way or have come your way, to "forge" you into a finely crafted person of great character.

Blessings ~
Jarrod