“Keep your eye on the ball.”

It is wise to keep a healthy focus anytime we speak with others. Our every interaction can promote grace and goodness. The “way” of Christ always has the positive focus of love. Will what I say benefit, encourage, and add lasting value to the person in front of me? Do not let anything rob you of the joy found in bringing goodness to others.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col.4.6 Conversations Within” ts 7/24/2019

“Ships don’t sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them.” Unknown

Do not let the provocations of others get to you. Create the life you want to live from what is going on in you, not around you. Calmness flows from the peaceful heart; the heart that is channeled by God’s wisdom and the directives of His love.

“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.” 1Peter 3.9  Conversations Within” ts 7/23/2019

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” George Bernard Shaw

When communicating stay with it until what you are trying to communicate is communicated. For example, sending a text message to someone does not mean they got it, or understand it. You can even say something to a person’s face, but this does not mean they heard it. Don’t assume they heard your apology, look for evidence that they actually did and pray they forgive you.
“...that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.” Col.4.4 Conversations Within” ts 7/22/2019

“There's a world of difference between insisting on someone's doing something and establishing an atmosphere in which that person can grow into wanting to do it.” Fred Rogers

 Make room for others to think, act and feel differently than you do. When we expect people to process life the same way or at the same time that we do we can stir strife into the mix. Just because I am ready to make up after an argument does not mean that my partner is. Deal with it by dealing with your own attitudes and actions, and leaving others to deal with their's. The actions of love should be directed toward ourselves before we can express them toward others. Patience tops the list. 

“Love is patient, love is kind…”1Cor.13 Conversations Within” ts 7/20/2019

Why do bad things happen to good people? 

There are some genuinely good people, but no one is morally blameless. We have all done things we know we should not have done. There are consequences for doing so. A hostile Universe is one of them. Man’s rebellion against the Creator and His designs has introduced sickness, death and danger into the world. God allows this, but it does not mean that He is punishing someone who dies from cancer or who lies under the rubble of an earthquake. Not everything in our fallen world is good. We all have contributed to this mess. Still, God is able to work good out of every bad when we love Him. 

All things work together for good for those who love God… Rom.8.28 Conversations Within” ts 7/26/2019

“Keep going!”

There are times when I just stare at my cursor trying to find a way to express developing thoughts.  When this happens, I usually just start typing anything that comes to mind. After 30 years of writing, I have learned that there is always a first draft. Of course this is the case not just in writing, but also in learning and living. Don’t be afraid to start, and start over, do overs are allowed. We can always do another draft as long as we are breathing. 

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up.”—Gal. 6:9 Conversations Within” ts 7/19/2019

Moral excellence is not cooked in our lives instantly like some microwave dinner. We do not ask God to give us self-control and wake up the next day a disciplined person. Self-control is learned one decision at a time.

Be patient with your own personal growth. Be patient, but also be persistent. It usually takes six months to acquire a new habit, and even longer before habit becomes character. Stay with it every day and over time positive changes will stay with you. Work out what God is working in you.

“Keep in step with the Spirit.” Gal.5. Conversations Within” ts 7/18/2019

“Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win.” Max McKeown

It is one thing to accept that “it is as what it is,” and shrug your shoulders, and another to accept the same with a happy and humble heart. The second attitude trusts in God’s goodness to render everything beautiful in its time. One may grudgingly accept their circumstances, another accepts the circumstances from God’s hand. One lays down and says “oh well, the other keeps running knowing that the finish line is as sure as the progress made in the next stride. 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1Cor.9.24 Conversations Within” ts 7/17/2019

“Life is the sum of all your choices.” Albert Camus

A good day repeated can add up to a good year and so on to a good life. Good choices repeated can add up to a good day. It is rather simple, make sure your next choice is a good one. One way to do this is to make a core choice that sets you going in the right direction.

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Josh. 24.15 “Conversations Within” ts 7/16/2019

“When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot….Become like water my friend.” Bruce Lee

Being adaptable can be a wise approach to living when it is joined to a firm persuasion of purpose. Adapt to people and circumstances without compromising your character or the commitments of love. Don’t insist on one way when there are many ways to achieve what is best. For instance, learning when to be quiet may be the best sermon you ever preach. Get creative!

“I become all things to all men that I might win some.” The Apostle Paul “Conversations Within” ts 7/15/2019

“Wiping out is an underappreciated skill.” Laird Hamilton

If you surf, you expect to wipe out.  If you play golf, you better know how to hit a recovery shot. Live life one wave, one shot, one step at a time. There is nothing so important in life as a good recovery shot, except perhaps an attitude to always attempt one. Get back on the board. Hit the ball back in the fairway. Ask forgiveness and get back in step.

“For the righteous falls seven times and rises again.” Proverbs 24:16 Conversations Within” ts 7/14/2019

“Do not be afraid of growing slowly. Be only afraid of standing still.” Chinese Proverb

Nature often moves with a slow and steady rhythm. Spiritual maturity moves the same way. Be patient with the process, but have an eye on the progress. Living things grow, dead things do not. Do not be bothered by slow growth, just no growth. God patiently works in us to will and do His good pleasure. Cooperate with the life He has placed in you. 

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you.” 2Pet.3.9 “Conversations Within” ts 7/13/2019

“The trouble is, you think you have time.” Jack Kornfield

It is wise to give thought to our actions. It is also wise to spring into action when we have determined it to be good. Don’t put off good decisions. Don’t start next week. Start now; start where you are, and stay with it. Do not waste time thinking you have more time.

“Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.” Prov.6.4  NLT “Conversations Within” ts 7/12/2019

“Doubt is the origin of wisdom.” Rene Descartes

“When in doubt, don’t.” I think, on the whole, this is a wise principle. When we do something, it should be done with confidence, not fear or the apprehension associated with doubt. If we question doing it, we probably shouldn’t, or at least wait till the clouds of uncertainty pass before acting. This bit of wisdom has saved many people from the injury of acting in ignorance.

“Whatever is not of faith is sin.” Rom.14.23 “Conversations Within” ts 7/11/2019

“What you tell yourself everyday will either lift you up, or tear you down.” Unknown

Wisdom is the skill of managing yourself, and one way to do this is learning how to talk to yourself. Do not listen to lies, even the ones you tell yourself. Talk to yourself and speak truth to your heart. Take God as your coach then be His assistant coach. Give yourself a personal pep talk when you need it. Look yourself squarely in the eye and remind yourself of everything you hope for in God.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Ps.42.5 “Conversations Within” ts 7/10/2019

“There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.” Wendell Berry

The Japanese arch or gate is referred to as a Torii. It is a reminder for those who travel through it, usually toward a shrine, that they were in transition from the  mundane to the sacred. We all could view the door post and lintel out of our house into the world with the same regard. All life is sacred. When we have a proper reverence for God, we nurture reverence for all He has made. This reverence is what the Bible calls the fear of the Lord.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Prov.9.10 “Conversations Within” ts 7/9/2019

Wisdom is more than understanding, it is understanding in action. .

The teaching of the wise with words is not so nearly impressive as is teaching by example. Knowledge means little or nothing without action. What good is knowing the benefits of exercise but never exercising? The final measure isn’t what we know, it is what we do. Christians do well to remember this when we seek to disciple the nations for Christ.

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 7/8/2019

“There is no path to Happiness. Happiness is the path. There is no path to Love. Love is the path. There is no path to Peace. Peace is the path.” Dan Millman

Much of life is the manner in which it is lived. The movement of our thoughts, words and actions can flow like a peaceful stream, or rage like a flooding river. Happiness, love, and peace are as much the way we live as they are the result of living that way. Live wisely. True wisdom joins knowledge to action. Peace brings together what we know, what we think, and what we do into perfect unity.

“The ways of wisdom are pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”Prov.3.7 “Conversations Within” ts 7/6/2019

Peace is the blessing of God on those who cherish and keep His word.

We are told to pursue peace; to make peace; to let the peace of Christ dwell in us richly. We may be in a world of trouble, but peace is our promised inheritance. It comes to us, even now. It’s arrival is announced first in our hearts, but as sure as the sun rises in the east, so the light of complete and total peace will surround our whole existence. Wait for it.

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Is.55.12 “Conversations Within” ts 7/5/2019

“When we put our problems in God’s hands, He puts His peace in our hearts.” Unknown

How do we know that we have truly put our problems in God’s hands? I think one way is that we stop thinking about them. We move on to other matters confident that God has got this, and content with His timetable for fixing it. The ability to move on is one of the reasons that God’s peace come to us because the power to stop worry lies in our power to change what we are thinking about.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil.4.6  “Conversations Within” ts 7/4/2019

“May the peace of God disturb you always.” Anthony de Mello

The peace of Christ is always encouraging us to come over to his way of living life. This pretty much means that He will often lead us to denounce our own selfish way of doing things. We can regard Christ's words as an intrusion or an invitation to a better way of living. Lord, feel free to disturb me Lord anytime I need disturbing.

“Let the peace of Christ dwell in you richly.” Col.3.15  “Conversations Within” ts 7/3/2019

“Peace is retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” Wayne Dyer

Peace does not ignore things that need positive change, it works to change them with a clear head. Sober thinking is one governing dynamic of a peaceful mind. Process problems without adding emotional drama to them. The waters around you may not be calm but calmly sail through them with a steady hand. Peace is a manner of living as much as it is a state of the soul. Gentleness guides its way, love its purpose and faith is its strength.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful.” 1Pet.5.8 “Conversations Within” ts 7/2/2019

“Love is the purest form of a soul at peace.” Mathew Donnelly

The actions of love flow from hearts being healed of selfishness. The peace of Christ is that healing. Peace, like love, isn’t principally an emotion, it is a reconciliation of our thoughts and actions to the will of God. His word directs our choices away from a life of taking and into a life of giving. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” Jesus  “Conversations Within” ts 7/1/2019

'If you propose to speak always ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.” Buddha

Give yourself enough pause to think it through. This is wise not only with making important decisions but also when we are just making conversation. Be deliberate in speech, deliberately truthful, deliberately kind. I sometimes wonder if I need to put duct tape on my mouth so I have to pause and remove it before I speak.

“Speak the truth in love.” Eph.4  “Conversations Within” ts 6/27/2019

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor E. Frankl

A quick response is preferred when it is a good response, like being quick to listen. But a knee jerk reaction is undesired when it is bad, like uncontrolled anger. Interesting that we call this “getting mad.” Anger is often a kind of madness or insanity.  Choose the sober response, one that thinks clearly, purposefully and wisely. Give yourself a greater pause if necessary. 

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires.” James 1:19–20 “Conversations Within” ts 6/27/2019

“Who looks on the outside dreams. Who looks on the inside awakes.” Carl Jung

It is not the changes we make on the outside but the inside that truly matter. But sometimes the changes we make on the outside, slowly find their way into the soul. Peaceful surroundings can promote a peaceful heart. A pantry stocked with healthy food can encourage the practice of a healthy diet. Keeping our hand over our mouth may help us watch not only our words, but our thoughts. Use every advantage to promote positive change. 

“Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is mature, able to keep their whole body in check.” James 3.2 “Conversations Within” ts 6/26/2019

“Acting "as if.”

One popular notion floating around is, “Fake it till you make it.” The emphasis is not on being a fake, but behaving like the person you want to become, until you actually become such a person. Don’t all children play make believe, and wear the play clothes of the person they want to grow up to be. It wouldn’t hurt to for us to play and pretend to be Jesus until we actually grow up to be just like Him.

“And over all these virtues put on love…” Col.3.14 “Conversations Within” ts 6/25/2019

“True love isn't found, its built with lots of forgiveness.” Dr. Shawn

One practical sign of spiritual maturity is when you learn to ignore your own hurt feelings and are quick to forgive. The energy of Christ is always flowing out like a healing spring, always placing value on the well-being of others, even over oneself. The energy of Christ is forgiving love.

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Phil.2.3 “Conversations Within” ts 6/24/2019