Thursday, July 22, 2010

Quote of the Day: Maya Angelou


“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.”

Maya Angelou

1 comments:

jfcamacho said...

We as a human being we are very selfish, self centered, and we would like that the whole world, other people schedules, preferences, personalities and priorities will submit or adjust to ours.But our Lord Jesus said, " Choose to serve others. (Philippians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Matthew 23:11) When we serve others, we are serving God’s purposes in their lives. Doing so reduces our focus on ourselves and builds the Kingdom of God instead of the Kingdom of self. When serving another costs us nothing, we should question whether or not it is really servanthood. Be quick to forgive. (Matthew 18: 21-35). Forgiveness is possibly one of the greatest acts of humility we can do. To forgive is to acknowledge a wrong that has been done us and also to further release our right of repayment for the wrong. Forgiveness is denial of self. Forgiveness is not insisting on our way and our justice. Treat pride as a condition that always necessitates embracing the cross. (Luke 9:23) It is our nature to be proud and it is God’s nature in us that brings humility, and sometimes he will use others or other situations. Committing to a lifestyle of daily dying to self and living through Him is the foundation for true humility. Take wrong patiently. (1 Peter 3:8-17) This has been a difficult one for me. When something is unjust I want to react and rectify it. However, patiently responding to the unjust accusations and actions of others demonstrates our strength of godly character and provides an opportunity to put on humility. Purposely associate with people of lower state than you. (Luke 7:36-39). Accept a lowly place. (Proverbs 25:6,7) If you find yourself wanting to sit at the head table, wanting others to recognize your contribution or become offended when others are honored or chosen, then pride is present. Purpose to support others being recognized, rather than you. Accept and look for the lowly place; it is the place of humility. Purposely associate with people of lower state than you. (Luke 7:36-39) Jesus was derided by the Pharisees for socializing with the poor and those of lowly state, as a illustration he choose not as disciples the higher scholars of the synagogues, but all the rejected, uneducated drop outs . Our culture is very status conscious and people naturally want to socialize upward. Resist the temptation of being partial to those with status or wealth. I remember a particular situation that happen to me while I was working at the College record's office; was about a girl that is a student and also worked there. She talks all the time and loudly, like she wants to be heard for the whole department, she always in her conversations express her opinions, exalt and defend everything that is wrong and without morals and standards, and speak against rules, morals, authority, her parents, principles, God , the bible, as so forth. I was praying that she will be able find another work position at other department at college, change college, or change her work schedule. However, I get rebuke by the Holy Spirit, because my selfishness, I was praying and looking for my comfort, happiness and relief, rather than the need of others. Then, I decide to pray for her, her problems, her needs, especially her salvation. From this day on my attitude to her and her problems had change, as well as to other people that probably I dislike. I was able to have compassion for them, and see them with God's eyes, especially when the Holy Spirit remind me a specific passage of the Bible, Matthew 9:36. "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." As a life application of this subject and quote of the day I'll recommend a powerful movie"The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry".