Self-Doubt

The result is reckless abandonment to myself  from self-obsession rather than recklessly abandoned from myself unto the Lord. Self-doubt can disable me from treading the enabled path.  Self-doubt leaves me in repeated attempts to be noble or hypersensitive to myself  instead of being ennobled with the wisdom that trumps the deceit from self-reliance.

As self-doubt loses its power over me, I find that I have been given a life of faith to live out rather than just a faith to nobly defend through my own personal ideology often birthed through self-doubt .

Easy Listening

Making time to listen is most often forgotten because of defensiveness. When we tell another to talk to us, we are rarely present with the other in the conversation because we simply issued a command and took a position. When telling another to speak, our goal is to know the one speaking better as well as discern the subject at hand to bring understanding that leads to action or stability. Most of our intellectual time is spent postioning and defending an understanding that we already have which we call self defense . I call it logic trumping the heart encounter. That just hardens the understanding we brought to the conversation rather than a deeper knowledge of truth or what is true about us or another.

So much initial conflict arises from this defensiveness that the energy drained away is the very energy that is required to talk and listen compassionately.

In one of my favorite books, Myth of Certainty, author Daniel Taylor wrote "We can preserve energy by avoiding unwinnable and unproductive struggles or conflicts because most arguments are not actually over announced issues, but underlying ones which are unstated, usually unrecognized, and probably more emotional or instinctive than rational."

Listening, you see, brings enlightening light we call insight that heals us from being heels.

Voice Recognition

I want to know you so that I know whom I am dealing with. In knowing you I can show you whom it is that I am dealing with.

Born Identity Birthed Today

Celebrate by not taking your presence for granted. Present yourself as a gift identifying with others that they may celebrate today as if it was their birthday.

The Right Word

Magic in simple circumstances that appear complicated. The right word first changes one's attitude so the view is more of reality that what it feels to be.  It's the attitude that simplifies. It's the right word that sanctifies and purifies the attitude.

Discipline

Gem workout.

Hesitation before Speaking

Most people can't wait for the end of a question before answering it. Not seeing where one is led by the question causes us to fall into conversational traps-public or private. Hesitation allows for a bit of ambiguity to control the communication by bringing clarity. By doing this simple yet uncomfortable step, our next sentence doesn't miss what was said nor is it controlled by their last or a former remark.

A 10 second hesitation before speaking and then waiting an additional 10 seconds has not only resolved much conflict by bringing a calm to the moment, but has often allowed lagging insight to be discovered in real time that logic could not reach by continual talk.

Try it. You may learn to like it.

Like a Listener

I don't like you because you don't listen to me, but I don't like me because I don't listen to you. Can you listen to me while thinking about me not listening to you?

Waiting

Receptive and responsive.

Wrestling with the Struggle

                   The Mat is where it's at!                            

Unfolding of the mat gives light to purpose and prize                  

as unfolding of God's Word gives light, making the simple wise.                                  

The mat is protection to the athlete from the fall.                                       

It softens the blow when you give it your all.                                    

It's boundaries are there to guide and to direct                                          

as well as determine the fullness of effect                                             

which is the grace of God for the elect.                                              

On it flow tears of joy and celebration                                             

as well as suffering and false accusation.                                    

Limiting experience to it's presence by rules of law                                           

it's the Spirit of such that removes the flaw.                                                   

To win and not lose seems the task,                                                     

The crown of victory is the mask.                                              

Guidance by the eye of the Father                                                       

through which to trust and obey.                                                               

It's not to win or lose                                                           

but Grace to be able to play.                                                                

To be "Pro Wrestling",                                                             

you're "For the Struggle"                                        

now limiting other choices

that were hard to juggle.                                                        

Whether and how you endure                                                 

with a spiritual and/or physical limp               

It's God's strength that makes the weaknesses and temptations exempt.                                                                       11/27/2003

Dare to be true, not just smart.

  A knowledge of the truth depends not so much upon strength of  intellect as upon pureness of purpose and the simplicity of a sincere dependent faith. Humility of heart seeks for divine guidance as angels of God draw near. The Holy Spirit is given to open the rich treasures of the truth.

Truth and daring is endearing as I champion my faith by getting back to the basics more basic than physics which is expressed as "I am what I am by the grace of God".

Since I know who I am, I will know what I'm doing.

Breakthrough

When our breaking point becomes a turning point. This happens to the least of these in the smallest of things.  An incremental step of hope through faith rather than a leap of faith. Leaps often just land us in a heap rather than hope.

Less Verbiage

Short prayers are long enough. They are a strength that multiplies even when things don't add up.

Discipline

The gentle(compassionate) violence against your feelings as it leads to the action of movement or stillness where the miralculous moments are born.