“God, if I hurt others, give me the strength to apologize. If people hurt me, give me the strength to forgive.” Unknown

We would be wise to learn how to apologize and how to forgive. Both require humility. Don’t just say, “I am sorry.”  Name your offense and say, “I was wrong, will you forgive me.” Be just as quick to forgive when others ask the same of you. And seeing how so few of us have taken the time to learn how to apologize properly, forgive others before they ask. It never hurts to be a step ahead in loving people well.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” “Conversations Within” ts 6/23/2019

“Inner peace is not the absence of conflict but our response to it.” Unknown

I have asked God to help me with my responses to the negative words and actions of people. His answer hasn’t been to remove me from all the negativity as it has been to give me more opportunities to learn a peaceful and positive response to them. Choose to always be a pleasant person, a positive person, and a peaceful warrior of kindness.

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1Pet.3.9 “Conversations Within” ts 6/22/2019

"Do everything with gentleness, with kindness, with reverence. That is how grace moves; that is how love dances." —Heather K. O'Hara

I decided to follow Christ many years ago, sadly I do not always follow Him throughout the day. We follow Him when we walk in love, and fail to follow Him when we do not. Early followers of the Way (as it was called) understood that the actions, often the sacrificial actions of love was the mark of a true disciple.  Walk the walk. Walk in the Way, the Way of love, the Way of Christ.

"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Eph.5.2 “Conversations Within” ts 6/21/2019

“Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will.” Zig Ziglar

Christ is a liberator. He comes to set our hearts free from the bondage of our own divided self, and give it back to us as its master. This freedom is found on the path of humility. We must first and humbly admit our bondage before He can give us this freedom. Someone has said that “God cannot pour his riches into hands already full.” The proud are so full of themselves they can never receive liberating grace.

“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4.6 “Conversations Within” ts 6/20/2019

What happens when the immovable object meets the irresistible force?

It may seem difficult to imagine an answer to this popular paradoxical question. But the immovable object and the irresistible force can live together as one when they both agree on the same goal. Disharmony becomes harmony when we use our energy to find agreement instead of disagreement. Two people can complement one another when they choose to focus on a common goal. This is first an attitude that chooses cooperation as the governing dynamic instead of holding on to a certain point of view.

“How can two walk together unless they agree?” Amos 3.3  “Conversations Within” ts 6/18/2019

The submission of love is always voluntary.

The meek horse willfully accepts the guidance of the rider. Meekness is first an attitude and the very first attitude we must have toward God if we are to love Him and discover His will for our lives. Our Father will not force us to follow, because love can never be forced, and must be freely given. God is looking for a family not a bunch of slaves.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.” James 4.7 “Conversations Within” ts 6/18/2019

“Humility is not cowardness. Meekness is not weakness. Humility and meekness are indeed spiritual powers.” Sivananda

There is healing power in the gentle rain but destruction in the harsh downpour. Both are effective and powerful, but only gentleness is powerfully good. Use a tender touch, speak soft words, and let gentleness guide all the influences of your love. Be a healer, not a heel.

“Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 6/17/2019

“Built up expectations are premeditated resentments.” Unknown

It is not wise to build up in our mind how we want our partner or friend to act. Our unmet expectations can stir a judgmental spirit in us. Jesus made it pretty clear that we are not to judge others. In any case, it is better to spend our energy giving to, rather than expecting from.

“Make sure that no root of bitterness grows up that might cause trouble…” Heb.12 “Conversations Within” ts 6/15/2019

Represent your faith, but don’t live to please people.

I care what others think of me, because I care what others think of Christ and I often speak on His behalf. I also care what others think of me because of my foolish pride. The first is commendable, the second is shameful. If I say anything let it be because God has commanded it, not because of what others think or say, and certainly not because I measure up. God knows I don’t. Whatever we do or say, do for His pleasure, not the approval of people.

“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 1Thess.2.4 “Conversations Within” ts 6/14 /2019

“God is both our director and our audience.” Jean Fleming

I should think it better to be a person who acts and "is" noticed than one who acts to "be" noticed.  Our principal concern should be how God views our work at the end of each day, not how others do. I am not suggesting that we are on some performance based relationship with Him. If there is any message from Christ it is that we are always on a grace based relationship with Him. This does not mean that how we act each day in unimportant. Life’s primary purpose is to live for God’s pleasure because we love Him, not to earn His favor, but because we have it.

“But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” 2Co10.17 NKJV “Conversations Within” ts 6/13/2019

Do not judge others, nor give a reason for others to judge you.

It is foolish to pass judgment on others and just as foolish to do something that might tempt others to judge you. Do not give anyone a reason to question your faithfulness. “Abstain from even the appearance of evil.” If our behavior causes others to call into question our Christian faith, then we may be guilty of leading them to pass judgement on us and stumble in their own faith.

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” Rom.14.13 “Conversations Within” ts 6/12/2019

"When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.” Wayne Dyer

I do not think that we necessarily need to give up what we think is right in order to be kind. It is always right to be kind. It is also sometimes necessary to simply agree to disagree where opposite, even contrary points of view meet. We can still choose to show kindness to someone with whom we strongly disagree. And, it should occur to us that we can simply keep our opinions to ourselves.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph.4.32 “Conversations Within” ts 6/11/2019

“We may not always see eye to eye, but we can try to see heart to heart.” Sam Levenson

If two people share the same house, you can be sure they will not always share the same opinion. And that is OK. God often puts us together with someone who has a different point of view, not so that we compete with one another, but so we can complement each other’s understanding of life. It may just be that God’s wisdom can only be discovered when two people learn to put two separate points of view together into one.

“And the two shall be one....” Jesus  “Conversations Within” ts 6/10/2019

"Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence." Jessica Guidobono

Many of us look at a sunrise or sunset and immediately recognize God's hand in it. God’s great worth is autographed in the beauty of creation. There is value when someone comes across a task skillfully done and exclaims this must be the work of "so-in-so." We should all strive to leave a mark of excellence on our work. We are after all, children born in the image of the greatest Artist the world has ever seen.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Ps.19.1 “Conversations Within” ts 6/7/2019

”Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” Pat Riley

Do your best whenever you do anything, and the aroma of excellence will flower in your life’s garden. I think it is impossible to do our best unless we do it intentionally. This means that we put our whole heart into it as an important measure of whether it is our best or not. Ask if your heart is in what you are doing, and if not, do not ask why, but how it can be. Be the kind of person that not only knows what is worth doing, but adds worth while doing it.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as an approved worker who has nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of truth with precision.” 2Tim.2:15 “Conversations Within” ts 6/6/2019

”If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” Napoleon Hill

There are many ways to express greatness. One is put greatness in whatever we do. Generally the easiest way to do this is to be useful to those around us. Small things done for others are usually considered great. Christ is patiently reshaping our understanding of greatness or of what it means to lead others. True leaders are servant leaders. Great leaders understand that they hold the position of leadership in order to serve, not to be served. A leader lives for the success of others. Anyone can be a leader in service.

"But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 6/5/2019

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” Colin Powell

Give yourself completely to the matter at hand, if the matter at hand matters at all. This often means doing one thing at a time, and doing it well. Excellence is first an attitude before it is an action. It is an approach to living, one that gives attention to detail. The eye can focus on one thing at a time. Make beautiful every part and the whole will follow.

“Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the others...because an excellent spirit was in him.” Dan.6 ESV “Conversations Within” ts 6/5/2019

“Excellence is never an accident....” Aristotle

Put yourself completely in whatever you do. Caress everything you touch with wholehearted devotion. Be deliberate with purpose, and affect everything with excellence. Approach every task with the attitude of an artist. Transform the mundane into something sacred, and into a satisfying offering to God, and a testimony of your faith.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all of your might.” The Preacher of Ecclesiastes “Conversations Within” ts 6/4/2019

“What day is it?” asked Pooh. “It’s today,” squeaked Piglet. “My favourite day,” said Pooh.

It is easy to go through the motions of daily life and miss out on life itself. Resist the temptation to always be going somewhere but never fully be where you are. Fire your enthusiasm for life, and embrace what is in front of you. “Smell the roses” as they say, unless there are lilies where you happen to be. They will do just fine. There are always flowers to smell and beauty to be enjoyed.

“Consider the lilies of the field...:” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 6/2/2019

"At the deepest level of Being, you are one with all that is." Eckhart Tolle

Compassion is the mark of those who understand that God made every living thing from the dust of the ground. We are all connected. I am one with all creation and as such should treat everything with respect and kindness. “Do unto others” has a greater application than just human to human but also humans to every other living thing. Of course if I were a blood sucking mosquito, I would want someone to swat me.

“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Gen.2.7 “Conversations Within” ts 6/1/2019

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller

Life is a team sport. The moment we are born we are dependent on the other members of the team. Somewhere along the line we tend to forget this. It probably has something to do with finding our own place and our own importance. We should not forget that the game of life can only be played as a team and our position only has meaning when combined with the energy of the other team members. Knowing and doing your part is important, but only when it serves the whole. 

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor…” Ecc.4.9 “Conversations Within” ts 5/30/2019

Do not let busyness rob you of the joy to be found in relationships.

I was once told that some of us are “people” oriented and some of us are “task” oriented. I have know the joy of working with my hands and the pleasure found when one enjoys being alone as much as with people. I think it is important to enjoy being with one’s self. This is not to diminish the importance that God has placed on community in any way. It is not just a personal preference, it is a God sanctioned responsibility to be involved in others, and to contribute to the welfare of a community.

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Co.3.14 “Conversations Within” ts 5/29/2019

I depend on others. I want them to know that they in turn can depend on me.

It is wise to see our connectedness to others. We were not created in isolation but to live together and serve one another. Purposely choose the connected life. Give your time and energy to humans, not just hobbies, to family and friends. Even go out of your way to show kindness to strangers.

“Always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” 1Thess.5.15 “Conversations Within” ts 5/28/2019

So many have helped each of us achieve even the smallest accomplishments that no one can claim sole credit of what is clearly a community effort.

Lord I am grateful for all the people in my life who have helped me along the way. So many, who were so willing to come alongside and encourage, or shoulder a burden, or teach, or serve, or do whatever was needed at the time. I am your painting, and these wonderful servants your brush. I am grateful.

“Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.” Philemon 7 “Conversations Within” ts 5/27/2019

“My life belongs to the community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.” George Bernard Shaw

How do I see myself in relation to others? I have a family circle, a circle of friends, but I also belong to the greater circle of humanity. I belong to contribute to the whole and do so, by simple service to the person in front of me. Nurture a heart of service and an eye that seeks the opportunity to be useful to others. There is no better life than to rise each day loving and being loved. 

“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Rom.12.5 “Conversations Within” ts 5/26/2019