Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Refinement

The act of purifying by separating from a substance all non essential or unimportant matter; a clearing from scum, dregs; as the refinement of metals. Improving something by making it more sophisticated or effective.

Am I Different? Am I Changing? Am I Growing? Am I Becoming?

Am I Willing to be “Refined?”

Abraham Lincoln said, “I don’t think much of a man who is not wiser than he was yesterday.

Am I willing to put myself through anything? Temporary pain or discomfort must mean nothing to me as long as I can see that the experience will take my life, and those lives around me that I influence to a new level of living.

I am interested in the unknown (as yet) plans and purpose that God has for me.

I am also aware that the only path to the unknown is through breaking the present barriers of my life, and that this is often a painful process.

There is an old Irish proverb I can relate, all too well to….

“You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather is.”

We will continue to plateau or worse fall backwards if we continue to believe, and attempt today’s assignments with yesterday’s tools.

We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. ~Ben Franklin

Elmer Towns teaching about personal growth said, “If you want to heat up a fireplace poker, you don’t put it across the room from the fire. No, you put it right IN the fire, right next to the hot coals. And the heat transfers. The key to growth is the same for people. To gain “Heat” for growth, (for Refinement) we need to get close to those who are already hot.” Here are a few simple steps to make that happen:

1. Spend time with Great people.

2. Learn their Great Ideas through CDs, DVDs, Blogs, Tweets, Sermons,

3. Visit Great Places that will Inspire you.

4. Attend Great Events that will prompt you to pursue change.

5. Read Great Books.


Remember: Whatever You Do Today, Do It Better Tomorrow!

If you can Handle the Heat Check out the attached Study Tool….

“The Process Of Refinement….”

See You In Church

Mark & Deb

Your Comments are our reward….Thanks.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Reaction

Character is the sum total of all our everyday choices; our “Reaction” to events to external stimulus.

Some people succeed by What they Know; some by What they Do; and a few by What they ARE!

C.S. Lewis observed, “Every time you make a Choice you are turning the central part of you, the part that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into hellish creature.”

Nobody desires to take the path that leads downward. Each of us aspires to be something more, something bigger, something better. The secret to the uphill path comes in the individual Reaction; in the responses we make.

Listen, the hard cold truth is Tribulations, trials, troubles, tears they come to everyone, but they make some people Bitter and some Better. You either become a Burden or a Blessing to those around you based on your Reaction to these things.

There is a tremendous difference between people who have big problems and the people who make a problem big…… Reaction!

“Love is the Christlike reaction to people’s malice.

Joy is the Christlike reaction to depressing circumstances.

Peace is the Christlike reaction to troubles, threats and invitations to anxiety.

Patience is the Christlike reaction to all that is maddening.

Kindness is the Christlike reaction to all that are unkind.

Goodness is the Christlike reaction to bad people and bad behavior.

Faithfulness and gentleness are the Christlike reactions to lies and fury.

Self-control is the Christlike reaction to every situation that goads you to lose your cool and hit ….” J.I. Packer in Knowing and Doing the Will of God

Let’s Strive to cultivate the Reactions necessary to be who God wants and Needs us to be. To be that successful, passionate, giving leader.

And let’s Remember someone is watching us that needs to see Jesus in us.

Deb & I want to be Better at Reacting!

We hope you React well to this Blog?

We hope you React by using the attached study tool

The People You Meet “in” a Problem.

What’s Your Reaction? Respond with a Comment Below!!!!