Transform Old Grumpy
Transform Old Grumpy
This is a true story. A woman had Snow White and the Seven dwarfs in her yard as lawn ornaments. One morning she found that Grumpy was missing. The thorough search of the neighborhood and many inquiries were fruitless. Grumpy had vanished.Weeks later he suddenly appeared again in his usual spot, the same grump's expression on his painted-plaster face. But attached to him with duct tape was a photo album. One picture showed Grumpy in front of London's Big Ben. Another showed him grumping in front of the Eiffel Tower. Picture after picture documented his trek around the world. Perhaps the pranksters hoped a free world tour would cheer up the little fellow. But it
did no good whatsoever. He returned as sour as when he left.Isn't it amazing that God is so patient with us? He invests a great deal in us, shows us His wonders, educates us in His ways. Through all of this do we remain unchanged, unaffected, untouched?What does it mean to walk by the Spirit and to be led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16,18)? Doesn't it mean a submission to what God wants to do with us and in us? Doesn't it involve at least a willingness on our part to do what we can to cooperate?I'm not talking about subjective "leading" which is hardly more than blindly stumbling after impulses and impressions. I mean the BIG stuff: developing spiritual discernment between right and wrong and spiritual muscle to be like Jesus even in a hostile environment. The Spirit's purpose is to conform us to the character and the life-style of Jesus Christ.As we continue on God's world-tour of life, let's soften up and de-grumpify. God wants us to make it to the end, not just unbroken, but transformed by the journey.
Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.
Go to his DeeperStudy.com for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."
Embracing Your Wildness
Embracing Your Wildness
As small children, we were all wild. Not unlike the wolf pup in the den, we ran when we felt like it, sniffed or tasted things to see what they were, yelled when the mood struck us and danced at the drop of a hat. We loved to dig in the earth, heave a rock into a pool, roll and tumble on the ground and run naked whenever we could. We loved ourselves and we loved our bodies. We knew no fear.Of course, we were also taught to give that all up. "Act your age!" "Don't be such a wild thing!" our parents told us. Grow UP. The list of unacceptable behaviors got longer and longer, until the wild part of us just went to sleep.But the wildness is still inside of us, and we all need to make the connection to it to be a whole, happy person. It is there for a reason, and when we can find it, wake it up and make it a working part of our psyche, we are all the better for it.The wildness holds our deeper intuition. That sniffing and tasting to discover what a thing was? it kept us out of a lot of harmful situations! We knew instinctively when something or someone should be avoided. As small children, that instinct was not fully developed, of course, but as adults we can use that wildness to guide us in ways that we need. When we allow our wild side to remain buried and asleep we are a lot more likely to blunder into situations and relationships that are not good for us!The wildness allowed us to have fun and to connect to the rhythms of the universe at lot more easily. We can all use a good roll on the ground from time to time. A good long howl at the moon when we are sad can really go a long way to making us feel better. Heaving a rock into a pool is very therapeutic when angry.Women especially have lost that wild nature. They complain long and hard about men being so free with their bodily functions, and the fact that they are acting like "little boys" all the time. Well, ladies, I strongly suggest that you give it a try! Women need to let go of all the civilization once in awhile. We have had all the wildness bred out of us, and it is unhealthy! Many women feel a yearning as they grow older to dig in the earth (gardening), act a little silly or wild from time to time, and yet they are so frightened? what will the neighbors (mates, parents, friends, strangers) think?Ha! Who cares? I would rather be known as that sort of strange lady who lives down the block than I would be frustrated and pent-up. No chemical hair dye and plastic surgery for me.An excellent book about this is "Women Who Run With The Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I have a sort of goal to get every woman on earth to read this book! Cast off your pantyhose and dance? let loose the wildness and howl at the moon! You have nothing to lose but your ulcers, your unhappiness, your fear and your yearning.You will gain your personal power, your joy, your connection and your intuitive self.I hope to bump into you some night, running under the full moon? in the wild.About The AuthorSibyl McLendon is 1/2 Navajo, and is a personal spiritual coach for Circle Of Grace http://www.circle-of-grace.com.Circle Of Grace is a unique blending of Native American spirituality and holistic wellness coaching. Sign up for a free coaching session!Sibyl can be contacted at sibyl@www.circle-of-grace.com
Lessons Learned Hard
Lessons Learned Hard
Many of us seek consolation in the words of Frank Sinatra, "I did it my way." I say many of us because I feel this trap has snared more than just me. Oh, it is a trap, alright, a way to defend our defiance, combat accountability, and excuse our own stupidity.Maybe, we don't even say it aloud if our inflated egos and economic attainments have enabled us to dupe ourselves and fool a few others? Well, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could learn from the mistakes of others rather than only our own?Scripture says, "There is a way that seems right to a man but the path thereof leads to death and destruction." The Bible is chucked full of examples of foolish men who learned that their ways didn't work, while God's way invariably did, at least, for those who were still alive and willing to make life-course corrections.The good news is that this readily available wisdom applies to me. I am still alive. Multiple Sclerosis has forced me to make some life-course corrections too. Best of all, I have been given a chance to pause, reflect on my previous mistakes, and admit my fallibility both in sound judgment and in my treatment of others.So, now I write some of the understandings that I have been led to in Free Reprint articles and have published a mystery novel, For Sale By Owners:FSBO, which discloses other mistakes too many unthinking and "did it my way" people make. I selected the novel format because it allows me the freedom to create hypothetical scenarios and fictional characters to expose real dangers.Here is an unsolicited e-mail I received from one reader:-----Original Message-----
From: f.bush
To: RUSS MILES
Sent: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 13:05:45 -0500
Subject: Your NovelHi Russ,I've just finished, in your words, "a very good read".The name of the book is "FSBO" which I enjoyed thoroughly.You covered it all, bureaucracy, politics, sex, drugs, crime and day-to-day Real
Estate activity.You have a talent that MS can't touch.Even though I have Master's in journalism and communications, and have read a lot, I think you could teach many published writers a thing or two about story telling.I hope to hear more from you. Keep up the good work.Very Best Regards!Frank BushComing from a person that I have never met, I felt my work was appreciated. At least, the reader did not find the novel boring. If you too read FSBO, I hope you will also send me your comments.As one who has had to revise my own thinking about many things, I can say I am truly thankful that I have time to reflect, implement more life-course corrections, make some amends, and draw refreshment from the wells of others who have taken their time to write and publish understandings gleaned from life-lessons. By so doing, less of life's lessons need be "Lessons Learned Hard."Russ Miles is author of the novel, For Sale By Owners:FSBO. A "Seasoned Real Estate NAR