Stoic Message For Today

            Stoic Message For Today

Stoic Book ...My Birthdate.

Hearing vs Listening

Hearing vs. Listening

Throughout the pages of Scripture, there’s a word that gets repeated: 

"hear," or a related word, "listen." In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "Shema" translates into English as "hear" or "listen" and is often used to emphasize the act of listening, understanding, and obeying.

Today’s culture places value on doing many things at once; we often try to listen while focusing on other tasks, which divides our focus. The sound of someone’s voice might come into our ears, but if we’re also scrolling social media, doing schoolwork, or making a meal, we might not fully understand their words.

But in the biblical context, "hearing" does not simply include sound reception; it also involves active obedience and an effort to understand.

In Mark 4:9, Jesus invites us to listen—to hear and obey, encouraging us to pay careful attention to His words: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Jesus isn't just asking us to audibly hear His words and carry on with our personal agenda; He's urging us to actively listen and obey, to live by His truth. Listening and obeying are what build our faith in Jesus Christ. Hearing the Word of God should lead to a transformed life marked by fruitfulness.

As you reflect on the idea of listening in Scripture, consider your heart and spiritual receptivity. Are you attentive to God's Word, allowing it to transform your life, or is your hearing divided, causing you to resist His call?

Making Mountains out of Molehills ...

 https://www.learning-mind.com/making-a-mountain-out-of-a-molehill-toxic-habit/

i found this after reading todays reading in One Day At A Time In Al-Anon

"Some folks worry and putter, pushing and shove, hunting little molehills to make big mountains off"

My molehills become mountains because I cant say NO!. This page says it all 

      

Abide Meditation Jesus is the standard

Welcome to this Abide Meditation.

 Do you ever find yourself judging others out loud or internally criticising their choices and deciding that they don't measure up.

 It can be really tempting to just dismiss those we disagree with. Pastor Rick Warren reminds us that God alone is a truly just and wise judge. You should never use your own choices as the standard by which to judge someone else. When the apostle Paul heard that some in Corinth were judging him and suggesting that he wasn't as good as they were he refused to play their comparison game here's how he responded.

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another they are without understanding.

 It’s so easy to fall into self-righteous judgmentalism. It feels so good to feel superior. But God invites us to remember that we’ve all been saved by grace. We don’t know anyone’s whole story or motivations and we don't even know what our own blind spots might be. Ask God to help you have grace for others just as God has given grace to you.

Pride can make you quick to judge others. Ask God to give you a spirit of humility grace and wisdom. Pray with me gracious God I confess it feels so good to look at other people and judge that I’m better than they are. I need your help to change I want to offer others the same grace you’ve given me. So change my  keep me from playing the comparison game, keep me from prime in the name of your son Jesus I pray.

 Take a deep cleansing breath feel it filling up your chest and your belly it's slowly exhale pushing it out as you breathe Let go pride, let go of insecurity breathe in God’s grace breathe out is sufficient, God’s grace is sufficient.

 If you’ve been relying on your own goodness instead of Christ goodness that's sin. If you’ve been cultivating a judgement or spirit that's sin. If pride has kept you from listening to others really hearing them that’s sin confess your sins to the Lord.

 God says my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness embrace your weakness and find that Christ’s righteousness is all you need God’s grace is never ending. Listen to second Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12 in the English standard version “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves but when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another they are without understanding.” As I read that again listen for a word or phrase that stands out to you “Not that we dare to classified or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves,  but when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another. They are without understanding what did you notice reflect on prayerfully.

Comparison is the thief of joy. Even if in the comparison you find yourself coming out on top. When have you experienced that.

 Listen to second Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12 in the amplified Bible. We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who supplied testimonials to commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves they lack wisdom and behave like fools. Wisdom means not acting as if you yourself are the standard of righteousness. What are some specific ways you can cultivate this kind of wisdom?

 God doesn’t ask you to refrain from making judgement calls. It's possible to know right from wrong, and part of growing in grace is growing in your ability to discern good from evil. But that wisdom ought to lead to humility pride how can you practise discernment without judgmentalism.

Ask God to give you discernment and love.

Listen to 2 Corinthians 10:12 again in the English standard version “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another they are without understanding. What would Jesus the only perfect standard the only truly good human do if someone asked him to compare himself to another person and condemn them. John’s gospel shows us put yourself in the scene at dawn Jesus appeared again in the temple courts or all the people gathered around him he sat down to teach them.

 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery they made her stand before the group and said to Jesus “Teacher this woman was caught in the act of adultery in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women now what do you say?”

 They were using this question as a trap in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him he straightened up and said to them let anyone of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

 At this those who heard began to go away one at a time the older ones first until only Jesus was left but the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her woman “where are they as no one condemned you” “no one Sir” she said. Neither do I condemn you Jesus declared go now and leave your life of sin.

 Pray with me heavenly father You alone are righteous judge. I confess my own tendency to criticise and dismiss others instead of extending grace to them instead of taking the time to truly listen to them help me to remember that I’m not the standard Jesus is the standard and it’s only through his death and resurrection that I have been made righteous help me to give grace to others judgement in Jesus name I pray Amen

Isn’t it freeing to know that you aren’t the final arbiter of what is right and wrong today practise listening with grace rather than jumping to judgement until next time may you meditate and abide in Christ. 

Take Captive every thought.The Carrot the egg and the coffee bean.

To Become A New Me I Had To Take Captive Every Thought And Change.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

WHAT HELP ME CHANGE MY PERSPECTIVE WAS THE STORY OF THE CARROT, THE EGG, AND THE COFFEE BEAN

A young woman went home to visit her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She was tired, upset, and annoyed at all these difficulties. Often times, she wanted to run away or give up.

Her mother listened empathetically, then took the daughter to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and boiled the water.

She then put a carrot in the first pot, an egg in the second pot, and coffee beans in the third pot. After twenty minutes or so, she turned off the fire and put all three items in separate bowls.

She put these three bowls on the dining table and asked her daughter, "What do you see?"

Intrigued, the daughter replied, "A carrot, an egg, and coffee."

The mother told her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that the carrots were soft and mushy. The mother then asked her to crack and peel the egg. She did and noticed the egg's inside had become hard. Finally, the mother asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter did and smiled at the rich taste of the coffee.

The daughter asked, "What's the point of all of this mom?"

The mother explained, "Each of these three objects faced the same adversity: boiling water. But each reacted differently. The carrot started out hard and strong but came out weak and mushy. The egg started with a soft inside and a tough shell, but it came out hard on the inside. The coffee beans were special: They changed the water. It used the hardship to elevate itself and accomplish greatness.

Think of this:  Which am I?

Am I the CARROT that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the EGG....that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?  Did I have a fluid spirit, but after death, a break up, a financial hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?  Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

OR AM I THE COFFE BEAN ?  The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain.  When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.  If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

I WAS THE EGG I BECAME BITTER AND MY HEART HARDENED. BUT GOD USED THESES CIRCUMSTANCES TO CHANGE ME. THE NEXT SCRIPTURES HELPED ME TO BECOME LIKE THE COFFEE BEAN...

EPHESIANS 4:31(NIV)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

And by doing this i became better instead of bitter.

Thorn In My Side...Polymyalgia!!!

The Opium Addicted Saint (St. Mark Ji) w/ Jason Evert @jasonevert" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/KrnBwUgUZvg

I liked what he said at the end ...The no 1 thing the devil wants after you sin is to lose your peace...DON'T LOSE YOUR PEACE its a sign of pride. Keep your peace after a fall.

I just looked up at my door and saw The 7 Deadly Sins.

PRIDE : Inflated sense of one accomplishments
Be Humble : You need God and others. Pray and serve.

I was just thinking about the deciple named Paul who said he had a thorn in his side. Im sure he had it to keep him from getting prideful just like myself.

This all started this morning because of my Polymyalgia flaring up. I thought it was being cured and I was getting upset and was asking God why????Well got my answer 🫣😇🤣


2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7)To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.8)Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.9)But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.