There are three areas in which many are influenced by outward appearances: race or ethnicity, economic situation, and age. It is important for us to try to see others through God’s impartial eyes! (Acts 10:34, 35)[excerpted w 18.08, pp.8-12]
Jesus’ teachings help overcome prejudices…
How did Jesus’ teachings help people conquer prejudice?
Many Jews in Jesus’ time had prejudices. Christ stressed the need for humility and condemned racial pride. He urged his followers to view one another as brothers.—[excerpted w 18.06, pp.9-10]
Personally, being taught since infancy of a brotherhood/sisterhood of global humankind through Bible education… my parents’ close family friends came from all races/cultures/various languages…as well as actively cultivating “humility” or attempting to since youth onward…helps me appreciate/respect/agape-love my fellow-humans. 🙂 Viewing Others as SUPERIOR to me while realistically aware of my own limitations/weaknesses…keeps the peace.
Also, the attitude of : Everyone has a skill/gift from which to learn…i just chose the more spiritual skills/life lessons which interest me the most. Yeah, i may want to build a cell phone, however, to me…what good is a communication device/tool IF You have no one/(have not built a relationship) with which to lovingly/peacefully communicate…or IF there is no one with which to talk kindly…
then
You just talk to yourself!:)…but do you get a “truthful” answer??;)
My goofy “dumb and dumber” lol 🙂 b.angs..c.hopped
by me in a hurry;) last night.
Cannot take myself too seriously, eh? (i hide behind my hair anyway. My oldest daughter has an adorably-chic pixie-ish cut accentuating her high chipmunk cheeks. My middle girl has very long hair; dark with hazel eyes on the greener side. My youngest daughter hair grooming is in-between both lengths, but shorter than mine and long enough for braiding. Every time i get close to changing a decade…30, 40..now 50 envision bravely changing/cutting my crutch to a stylish chin-length bob/lob. Then, worry i’ll look like a boy! My cousin who wanted to “trim” my hair for me…gave me a really bad boy’s punk haircut, by mistake once.;) Awful way to start junior high school: UGH! the birth of hair fear and self-consciousness…was already too tall, too skinny, and too freckly…and too different thinking/living because of my spirituality. Survived and hair grew; not fast enough for me, though.:)
(Only the exceptionally cute can/do pull off attractive shorter cuts in my POV.)
Though, i got a great cut in France back in the day. The salon/experience was like an art studio. They skillfully worked on my hair for seemingly hours. (Hubby Chato liked it more than me.) All my French female friends had fashionable hair with stylish neck scarves. So, i chopped my plain hair.
Chasing after 4 kids…easier keeping it no-fuss, one-long-length to pull back or up.
Do somethings need trimming/chopping IF impairing our vision??
(yep, small talk is over:)
bangs brings mind to…
“fringes” there are examples in the Gospels of people being miraculously healed by touching the “fringes” of Jesus’ garments.
(BTW: i don’t believe in modern-day faith healing, um, cough, cough: scams/schemes for money; just like i don’t believe in spiritualism: fortune tellers and spirit mediums communicating with dead. Topic fodder for another time, perhaps.)
Last night @ the mind gym was meditating on this thought of how minor changes can heal/help us. “Fringes”…small bites of healthy spiritual food, a comforting/positive scripture…time outside in nature focusing on the beauty of life and not its tragedy so much…quells anxieties. The scriptures say we only know the “fringes” about God.
excerpted: “LIVING AS CHRISTIANS” Do You Perceive God’s Invisible Qualities?
When you look at a colorful flower, a starry sky, or a thundering waterfall, do you see the handiwork of the Creator? The creation around us clearly reveals Jehovah’s invisible qualities. (Ro 1:20) By pausing to reflect on what we see with our eyes, we are able to perceive God’s power, love, wisdom, and justice, as well as his generosity.—Ps 104:24.
What are some of Jehovah’s creative works that you notice each day? Even if you live in a city, you may see birds or trees. Observing intently Jehovah’s creation can help us to reduce anxiety, put our problems in proper perspective, and increase our faith in Jehovah’s ability to care for us throughout eternity. (Mt 6:25-32) If you have children, help them to perceive Jehovah’s matchless qualities. As we grow in appreciation for the creation around us, we will draw closer to the Creator.—Ps 8:3, 4.
It’s logical to me to acknowledge work of an artist, an author etc.
Seriously, would any of us pick up a book or purchase a work of art and not readily accept…somebody/some person/personality…accomplished this?! The book didn’t write itself…nor did the painting paint itself: DUH!!
This brought me to tears (the other day) and helped me cope with my limitations and inadequacies..weaknesses; (obvious). Hopefully this will be encouraging to You Reader…
Maintain a Realistic View
To find contentment, we must maintain a realistic view of our own limitations and those of others. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul points out: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Many facets of Jehovah’s glory lie far beyond our comprehension. One example is the simple fact stated at Genesis 1:31: “God saw everything he had made and, look! it was very good.” Whenever Jehovah chooses to look back on what he has done, he can always say that “it was very good.” No human can always claim that. Acknowledging our limitations is the first step toward gaining contentment. However, there is more to it. We need to understand and accept Jehovah’s view of the matter.
The Greek word translated “sin” comes from a root that means “to miss the mark.” (Romans 3:9, footnote) To illustrate: Envision someone who is hoping to win a prize by hitting a target with an arrow. He has three arrows at his disposal. He shoots the first one and misses by a yard. He aims better with the second arrow but still misses by a foot [30 cm]. With full concentration he lets the last arrow go and misses by only an inch [2 cm]. It was so close, but a miss is a miss.
We are all like that disappointed archer. Sometimes we seem to “miss the mark” by much. Other times we come close but still miss the mark. We are frustrated because we tried so hard, but it was still not good enough. Now, let us go back to the archer.
He is slowly turning away, dejected because he really wanted that prize. Suddenly, the man in charge calls him back and hands him a prize, saying: “I want to give you this because I like you, and I saw how hard you tried.” The archer is elated!
Elated! Everyone who receives from God “the gift” of everlasting life in perfection will feel this way. (Romans 6:23) Thereafter, everything they do will be good—they will never miss the mark again. They will be perfectly content. In the meantime, if we keep this view in mind, we will feel better about ourselves and those around us.
[excerpted: Find Contentment by Applying Bible Principles w 06]
Take Care Reader🙂 pursuing integrity & cultivating contentment is worth the effort.
Greeting(s) Earthling(s) 🙂
Since life is a series of unexpected pop quizzes challenging our personal consciences and capacities of compassion…the genuine kind:)…oh, and our integrity too;)…
what helps me most is positive reading/feeding/fueling my mind and heart toward the ultimately good-for-me: health-wise, wise-wise, mental-wise, emotional-wise, and spiritual-wise:) lol…
READING THE BIBLE DAILY!:)
like any good aka useful/helpful/healthful/nourishing/not a waste of my life/time type of book…to get the most out of it:
read, meditate, apply!…put into practice without hesitation while You still have time to act. Aka “make” the best use of Your limited time for the best/long-term positive results.
i’m encouraging You Reader:) KEEP YOUR INTEGRITY! STAY COURAGEOUS & SPIRITUALLY STRONG!:)
NEVER GIVE UP!
Bible offers very-practical, wise-counsel, highly-relevant for our tumultuous-times.
And “real” help to stay focused on Respecting/Loving Life and Fellow-Humans 🙂…and while coping with difficult trials and pains.
It’s a classic, never going out of style, a beautiful song…a-melody-harmonizing-accurate-knowledge-to-a-singular-united-heart/mind/body-beat-to-livable-lovable-lovely-lyrics…you wanna replay:) today and every day.
i love music…and poetry, TRUTH and specifically “Bible” reading/study of the deeper-dive—takes me to a mind-blowing, peaceful-place…of refuge. (It’s more like a scuba v. snorkel experience for me. Bottomless Ocean teeming with life.)
Have you ever thought about reading the Bible but held off […] For many, reading the Bible seems daunting. But what if you learned that the Bible can help you to have a happier and more satisfying life? And what if you found out that there are some approaches to reading it that can make it more interesting? Would you be willing to take a look at what the Bible can offer you?
reading the Bible can help you to live a more enjoyable life. (Isaiah 48:17, 18) Among other things, it can help you (1) make good decisions, (2) make real friends, (3) cope with stress, and (4) best of all, learn the truth about God. The Bible’s advice comes from God, so you can never go wrong following it. God never gives bad advice.
Mind-set Tips for Bible Learning:
Have the right frame of mind. Since the Bible is from our heavenly Father, you will benefit the most if you have the attitude of a child who is ready to learn from a loving parent. If you have any negative, preconceived ideas about the Bible, try to set them aside so that God can teach you.—Psalm 25:4.
Pray before you read. The Bible contains God’s thoughts, so it is not surprising that we need his help to understand it. God promises to give “holy spirit to those asking him.” (Luke 11:13) The holy spirit can help you to understand God’s thinking. In time, it will open your mind to grasp “even the deep things of God.”—1 Corinthians 2:10.
Read to understand. Do not read just to cover material. Actively think about what you are reading. Ask yourself such questions as these: ‘What qualities do I see in the person I am reading about? How can I apply this in my life?’
[excerpted: How to Get More From Reading the Bible w: No. 1 2017]
to me, it makes logical sense to study successful people…IF You want to succeed in some aspect of life–you learn the formula. You want to be a leader, read/study leaders, eh?
You want to be compassionate, study who(m)?!…killers?
You want to act wisely, study the stupid?;)
What about the Divine Mind?? God’s Mind?? Who designed this beautiful planet and orderly universe? (Awe-Inspiring ambitions, joanie?!) Well, Bible reading takes me to HIGH altitudes humans (myself very much included) cannot reach all on our own. Don’t get me wrong, i learn/can learn a lot from fellow-Humans.:) Most know more about ‘certain’ topics i need to learn for which i am grateful; truly.
Operating under the influence of: not much sleep, a 5 a.m. alarm clock, pain, aging, a female biology, a feminine physique…Wind, weather (literal and emotional), cooler FL temps, kids, tea, hubby, love…etc., etc., etc! (this morning)…and the inevitable(?) unspecified etc…of the near unforeseeable.
None of us are e-n-t-i-r-e-l-y influence-free or totally free thinkers/doers! (For the accurate record, this blog/(my writings) is not under the influence of money, and never has been).
Still standing!
YAY!:)…for now.;)
My daughter ‘snapped’ goofy pics of “Mother” (as she calls me) in wind-poofy poncho, comfy-practical, old-lady, slipper-sneakers this morning.;)…to be 13 again or going on 50?! I’ll take 50; thanks.
{IDK, what does it say about me/her that she is choosing to refer to me as “Mother” and not mom, mommy nor mama and definitely not MA?! She’s growing up fast.}
Don’t wanna do over of middle school. Though, parenting children through all the ever-changing phases and fleeting stages feels like reliving my earlier life; yet with greater insight and not as blindly.
O.perating U.nder I.nfluence
Aka “OUI”, Yes! “We” are all operating under influence of one “KIND”(?) or another.
The real questions to deeply consider/contemplate/ruminate regarding influence:
who or what is influencing me?? (and why? why not?)
am i ‘s.e.l.e.c.t.i.v.e.’ about my influence(s)??
ultimately ‘any’ influences boil down to: positive/negative/unhealthy/healthy:
is this influence having positive or negative results in my life??
am i having a “positive” or “negative” influence on the lives of Others : off & on-line??
how do i reduce and eliminate the negative/unhealthy influence for better results in my life??…physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually?
Like wind—the mind/body is f~l~e~x~i~b~l~e. Changing. I may not be able to avoid wind altogether, but i don’t have to chase a tornado around or hunt a hurricane (and on purpose).
When/IF crossing street, i can get out of the way…of a big truck.
Nor must i subject/submit my mind to hate and poison under the guise of remaining open-minded and/or tolerant…(as a learner or person who loves learning).
I can choose to let certain information into my mind and I can choose not to dwell on certain information.
“Stop being molded by this system of things.”—ROMANS 12:2.
Who am i allowing to mold my mind?? Why should they/You have such power of influence over me?? What “positive” example is this influence/person setting??
Oh yeah, sounds good?? open-minded?!
may be?! on the surface…is being well-accurately educated/informed seemingly mean…just let me read/listen to everything/all the media/so-called “news” “translated” to English (my native tongue/heart language) from around the world…this will supposedly broaden my “knowledge” understanding of real reality?…of what…exactly? an additional/supplemental diet of poisonous propaganda?! Is a diet consisting of eating twice or thrice as much or more actually “better” for me?!
Lies, hurtful & murderous ideologies circulate (and through the centuries of humans’ bloody history)…many recycled and repackaged (and implemented) at fast speed via various platforms…yet when practiced/digested ending with evidence—-similar “sick” patterns of unhealthy/hurtful manifestations…i.e., disease and DEATH.
Yep, am gonna be careful and cautious as to what i eat by mouth and by mind!
My food energizes/enables me…and for what lifestyle?? (Love & Peace?!)
I AM KEEPING MY INTEGRITY (and what fuels it)!:)
Yep, there are those who hate integrity-keepers!
(Too bad. They’re NOT getting/taking/chaining my mind!…away from me.)
I AM NOT A ROBOT!! I AM NOT THEIR SLAVE!!..I AM NOT GOING TO BE MISLED INTO MIND-BODY CONFORMING TO POPULAR-STUPID-FALSE-HURTFUL-HATEFUL-DAMAGING-IDEAS PROPAGATED BY THE ILL-INFORMED AND ILL-INDOCTRINATED/ILL-EDUCATED!!
For example, i know/believe beyond doubt: male and female biologically live/inhabit Earth. End of story: sperm & egg equally needed/important for reproduction of human life.
In reality, even the most independent of thinkers cannot avoid being influenced. Whether contemplating something so profound as the origin of life or simply deciding what to wear, people are to some degree affected by others. We can, however, choose whom we will allow to influence us.
Some people resist the idea of having anyone mold or influence their thoughts. “I think for myself,” they say. They probably mean that they make their own decisions and that it is proper to do so. They do not wish to be controlled, nor do they want to surrender their individuality.
We can be assured, however, that bringing our thinking into harmony with Yahweh’s/Jehovah’s does not mean giving up all individual thought or expression. As stated at 2 Corinthians 3:17, “where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom.” We are free to develop our own distinct personalities. We can have our personal preferences and choose our fields of interest. Indeed, Jehovah designed us to do so. However, we cannot use our freedom without restraint.(Read 1 Peter 2:16.) When it comes to issues of right and wrong, Jehovah wants us to be guided by his thinking as revealed in his Word. Is this overly restrictive, or is it beneficial?
Parents endeavor to instill in their children good values. They may teach them to be honest, industrious, and considerate of others. This is not overly restrictive. Rather, the parents are preparing them for a successful life as independent adults. When the children grow up and leave home, they will be free to make their own choices. If they choose to live within the values that they learned from their parents, they will be more likely to make decisions that they will not later regret. As a result, they will be free from many self-induced troubles and anxieties.
Like a good parent, Yahweh/Jehovah wants his children to have the most fulfilling life possible. (Isa. 48:17, 18) He therefore provides basic principles for moral conduct and for behavior toward others. In such matters he invites us to cultivate his very way of thinking and to share his values. Far from constraining us, this enhances, elevates, and expands our thinking ability. (Ps. 92:5; Prov. 2:1-5; Isa. 55:9) It helps us make choices that lead to happiness while still allowing us to blossom as individuals. (Ps. 1:2, 3) Yes, thinking like Jehovah is beneficial and desirable!
A person might seek to improve his health by eating food that is nutritious. But of what value would that be if he is also ingesting regular doses of contaminated food?
[excerpted reading: “Who Molds Your Thinking?” w November 2018]
Yes, i want “my” ‘thinking ability to be enhanced, ELEVATED, and
