Holly sent me this email this week:
I can't keep my promise to be a perfect mother - I don't even come close...
I do keep my promise to raise my children in the Word of God.
I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to "wash up" Jesus, too.
Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my son thought it was generous of God to give us his "last wife."
My proudest moment came during the children's Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine.
My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, "We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes." But he was nervous and said, "The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes."
My four-year-old "mary" said, "that's no 'wrinkled clothes,' silly. That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing.
I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, "mama - mamma."
Mary grabbed the doll wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, "we are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur."
The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation...
Continuing sermon series on PROVERBS: Searching for Wisdom
Review -
Life for Dummies, Prov 1:7
Living the Lazy Life, Prov 10:4
Marriage is a good thing, Prov 18:22
Spiritual value of friendship, Prov 13:20
Words at their best, Prov 12:18
George Burns once said, "Too bad that all the people capable of running our country are driving taxis and cutting hair...!"
Indicators of destructive criticism:
1. Personally Focused (attack, pointing finger)
2. Overly General / vague
3. Focuses blame without solution
4. Without best interest of recipient
5. Little or no credibility in dealing with
Action Area: Have I allowed people to criticize without being DEFENSIVE?
(Let God be your defense)
Bill Cosby: "Don't knowkey to success, but I know how to fail...try to please everyone..."
Five questions to ask before giving criticism:
1. Are my hands clean? (Matthew 7:1-5)
2. Is the Lord calling me to give criticism?
(some things are better left unsaid...)
3. Will I confine my comments to the issue and not about the person?
(God never asks us to demean another person...)
4. Will I express criticism in the right spirit?
5. Is this the right time and place? Am I the right person? (Acts 18)
Scripture says: He inhabits the PRAISES of his people (Praising the Lord, Praising one another)... I believe God disappears when things turn critical...
Boyd Powers: The real lesson in receiving criticism is the Appraisal Process. It's not so much the words others say to us, but the significance we give to these comments.
Three questions to ask when faced with criticism:
1. Is it true? (If one person call you a donkey, ignore it but if 5 people tell you, buy a saddle)
2. Am I going to change if it is true? (humble, teachable)
3. Can I maintian a bond with the person bringing the criticism?
(relationships can grow stronger as a result...depends on how constructive)
Dealing with criticism is never easy, but it doesn't have to be a five hundred pound gorilla that eats your lunch!
John Maxwell: two kinds of people...whiners or winners!
We learned in Homebuilders this week...Focus on your own weaknesses and focus on others strengths...life will be much easier...We can never change anyone else (leave that in the Holy Spirit's hands)
PROVERBS 12:1...Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid...
Warning about rejecting God's wisdom
Proverbs 1:20-33
How do I build discipline into my life?
1. DREAM! Don't settle for less than God's best for your life!
2. WAIT! Learn to delay gratification...
(The problems of our economy are linked to a lack of practicing Biblical Stewardship)
3. BEND! Learn to handle correction...
Proverbs 13:18 & 5:11-14
Michael Jordan...If I ever had a problem, my parents never had a problem telling me I had a problem...
4. PLAN! Make important choices AHEAD of time...
Decide now: sexual purity (dont wait until the heat of the moment)
Decide now: Bible reading, diet, exercise, prayer, committment to the local church, gambling, drinking, financial priorities (tithe, offering, savings)
5. CELEBRATE! Notice big AND SMALL victories...
Proverbs 15:15 & 17:22
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