My Character Determines My Destiny 7/15/11

I'm mindful that our thoughts affect the words we use, our words influence
our actions, our actions shape our character and our character determines
our destiny.   (See below)

    Good early morning everyone,

Welcome to our new visitor from Ireland! It also nice to see our new visitors from Guernsey and Jersey Islands. Thanks for dropping by. 

My gratitudes for Thursday: 

1. This evening, I rested. Taking care of ourselves, is a good thing. If we're not careful, we can easily push our lives harder than what is best for our sanity or serenity.  It's difficult being in touch with our feelings if we are caught up with busyness----there are too many distractions competing for our attention and our feelings lose out.

2.  I'm thankful for consistent time for self-reflection.  Regularly taking inventory of our lives helps us notice areas needing attention.  Doing so, graciously---not in a critical manner----helps develop our awareness of unwanted behavior. There are thoughts renting territory in the property of our mind that have no productive value: anxiety, bitterness, depression, fear, resentment and self-loathing, for example.  This is where having mentors and Balcony People play an important role.

     These individuals have the emotional and psychological distance that help us see healthy alternatives to thinking or behavior that can weigh us down. Balcony People also have our back. They are not critics, holding us accountable. Instead, they are the cheerleaders who root for us, providing support when we are most vulnerable. They come alongside and assist us when we falter. It's good when we remember we weren't meant to live in isolation nor will we get our healing in the desert of self-pity and despair.

Caution: God at Work!

   The title just above this sentence is the story of my life. I'm mindful that our thoughts affect the words we use, our words influence our actions, our actions shape our character and our character determines our destiny.

   It's for this reason I've learned it's best to have our mind filled with whatever is good, lovely or compassionate:

 ⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.             Philippians 4:8

        Having our heart conform to God's character, is a terrific desire.  I don't know an austere, judgmental, unloving God. The God I know is gentle, gracious, patient, kind, empathic and loves me unconditionally, who respects who I am.  I also know that conforming to God's character is impossible to achieve by our efforts, alone. Positive thinking won't cut it. Our growth and healing is only possible when  we rely upon His strength and experience His forgiveness.  It's best when we submit the areas where we need to grow, characterologically, to Him.  That's our part, leaving the results in His hands.  Thank God for that!  No one would never make it if he relied upon his efforts.

      A  key point is remembering that God chooses which areas He want to work on in our lives. He's not our spiritual bell boy, where we tell Him what to do on our behalf.  The following quote, which I've posted before in this inn, is worth reading again:

Remind me each day that the race does not always go to the swift. There's more to life than increasing its speed. Let me  look upward into the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.       Orin Crane

3. I'm grateful that I'm learning the value of  yielding my life to God, being patient while He's working on me, knowing that He's making me into a beautiful oak tree.

     Here's to a fantastic Friday, I look forward to hearing your gratitudes,