Tag character

Oyster and Pearl

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

The most extraordinary thing about the oyster is this. Irritations get into his shell. He does not like them. But when he cannot get rid of them, he uses the irritation to do the loveliest thing an oyster ever has a chance to do. If there are irritations in our lives today, there is only one prescription: Make a pearl. It may have to be a pearl of patience, but, anyhow, make a pearl. Harry Emerson Fosdick

But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. Romans 5:3-4 (GW)

Growing Character by Weeding the Mind

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest. If you plant in {the soil of} your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in {the soil of} your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8

Many times others say things far better than I can and this is one of those times. Sometimes it is far better to quote someone else than to try to say the same thing poorly. I hope this message blesses you as much as it blessed me.

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen is arguably the best non-inspired book ever written on the power of thought…

Allen compared the mind to a garden and its owner to a master gardener. A good character is not the product of chance any more than a beautiful garden could happen by accident. Integrity is a natural result of continued effort in right thinking.

The overarching theme of As a Man Thinketh is that individuals control the development of their character through controlling their thoughts. At the very moment one chooses his thoughts, he also chooses his destiny. Allen’s garden analogy well-illustrates this cause and effect relationship. Just as plants come from seeds, actions grow from thoughts. The challenging part is getting the right seeds into the garden of the mind. Useless seeds find their way there all by themselves, but useful ones must be purposely planted. Good thoughts must be deliberately sown and carefully nurtured to produce the fruit of righteousness. Bad thoughts must be eradicated in the same way one removes weeds to preserve a well-kept garden. Good thoughts cannot produce bad acts and bad thoughts cannot produce good acts. The law of sowing and reaping is as true in the mental and moral realm as it is in the plant world. Holiness, like husbandry, requires planning, effort and diligence. (Aubry Johnson)

KneEmail: “Keep your heart will all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23; cf. Romans 12:2

You can receive a daily KneEmail by subscribing here

Powered by ScribeFire.

Tuesday Tailfeather: Watch Words

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

418273862_01b16bd479Watch your thoughts; they lead to attitudes.

Watch your attitudes; they lead to words.

Watch your words; they lead to actions.

Watch your actions; they lead to habits.

Watch your habits; they form your character.

Watch your character; it determines your destiny.

Wisdom Wednesday: Men of Integrity

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Fotolia_287654_S“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.” — Mark Twain

“But choose capable men from all the people, men who fear God, men you can trust, men who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people. Exodus 18:21 (GW)

I for one would feel far better if we were able to choose men of honor and integrity this election year. With Father’s day fast approaching I thought I would take a minute and reflect on the difference integrity makes in a society. How refreshing it would be to find men who actually stood for something good and pure and noble. To be regarded as a man of integrity, truth and honesty. To not be caught in duplicity and hypocrisy. Being found faultless and upright in the community.

I fear we as a nation have thrown the babe out with the bath water. I find it very disheartening to see a total lack of concern for the character of our elected officials. Truly if this were still a nation who feared God and honored his word then we would not find such a scarcity of righteous people in elected office. God told Moses in Exodus to appoint men who feared God, and where trustworthy and hated corruption to be in elected office.

How well we would do to follow that sound wisdom today.

Integrity guides decent people, but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin. Proverbs 11:3 (GW)

Lips that lie are disgusting to the Lord, but honest people are his delight. Proverbs 12:22 (GW)

Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to the Lord than offering a sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 (GW)

Better to be a poor person who has integrity than to be rich and double-dealing. Proverbs 28:6 (GW)