I Say What I Mean & Mean What I Say!!!
I always loved that expression, but I would like to modify it a little ... "I do as I say and mean what I do!".
We are very good at telling others what they need to be doing or what they are not doing. Quick to point out their faults but slow to encourage their gives and good qualities. If you are a parent you will truly understand what I am saying. The next time you find yourself giving your opinion to someone, stop and ask yourself ... "Does my character and my actions reflect what I am saying? Do I have these faults? Can this person look at my life and see that I am not just saying this with words but with my day to day actions?" ... because if you can't answer yes to all of these questions perhaps it's best to keep your opinion between you and God until you have corrected these faults in your own life.
I found myself doing this yesterday. I have a child who is lazy. He'll admit it. But he is getting better. I find myself getting upset because I know he sees areas where he can help out but chooses not to because he knows either myself or Meredith will end up doing it. ... Well I finally admitted to myself that at times I do the same ... You see, Friday is garbage day and I hate hauling the big bins to the road. I procrastinate until I can't wait any longer and by then my Dad (who lives next door) has already done it for me while hauling his own up to the road. I lie to myself and say "Well I was going to do it" while knowing deep down inside that if I waited long enough ... Dad would take care of it. Well it's hard to try and teach your kid to do something the right way if you are not doing it yourself. The right thing ... I knew I needed to be the one hauling my own bin to the road while at the same time hauling Dad's up with it. I have been hauling both up for some time now but with yesterday's snow I really wasn't looking forward to it, but I got it done. My father would never have let my grandfather do it for him and I thank him for showing and teaching it to me ... thanks Dad ... I love You!
(Romans, Chapter 6:Verses 11-16)
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
We are very good at telling others what they need to be doing or what they are not doing. Quick to point out their faults but slow to encourage their gives and good qualities. If you are a parent you will truly understand what I am saying. The next time you find yourself giving your opinion to someone, stop and ask yourself ... "Does my character and my actions reflect what I am saying? Do I have these faults? Can this person look at my life and see that I am not just saying this with words but with my day to day actions?" ... because if you can't answer yes to all of these questions perhaps it's best to keep your opinion between you and God until you have corrected these faults in your own life.
I found myself doing this yesterday. I have a child who is lazy. He'll admit it. But he is getting better. I find myself getting upset because I know he sees areas where he can help out but chooses not to because he knows either myself or Meredith will end up doing it. ... Well I finally admitted to myself that at times I do the same ... You see, Friday is garbage day and I hate hauling the big bins to the road. I procrastinate until I can't wait any longer and by then my Dad (who lives next door) has already done it for me while hauling his own up to the road. I lie to myself and say "Well I was going to do it" while knowing deep down inside that if I waited long enough ... Dad would take care of it. Well it's hard to try and teach your kid to do something the right way if you are not doing it yourself. The right thing ... I knew I needed to be the one hauling my own bin to the road while at the same time hauling Dad's up with it. I have been hauling both up for some time now but with yesterday's snow I really wasn't looking forward to it, but I got it done. My father would never have let my grandfather do it for him and I thank him for showing and teaching it to me ... thanks Dad ... I love You!
(Romans, Chapter 6:Verses 11-16)
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
posted by Harley McCarville at 12:26 pm
