13 Virtues

From Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography…

My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judged it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone through the thirteen; and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arranged them with that view, as they stand [below].

1. TEMPERANCE
   Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE
   Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid
   trifling conversation.
3. ORDER
   Let all your things have their places; let each part of
   your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION
   Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without
   fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY
   Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself;
   i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY
   Lose no time; be always employed in something
   useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY
   Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and,
   if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE
   Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits
   that are your duty.
9. MODERATION
   Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much
   as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS
    Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILITY
    Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common
    or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY
    Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to
    dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s
    peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY
    Imitate Jesus and Socrates

Have a Great Labor Day Weekend & God Bless! = )

Starla & TiNa

Quote

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
Winston Churchill

oblivious

OB(LIE)VIOUS

 

Oblivious ( root word meaning)

late 14c., "state or fact of forgetting," from L. oblivionem (nom. oblivio) "forgetfulness," from oblivisci (pp. oblitus) "forget," originally "even out, smooth over," from ob "over" + root of levis "smooth."

OBLIVIOUS

OBLIV --to forget

OUS -- Full of

To be full of FORGETTING.....not staying aware or awake to the current issue or moment.

If we are oblivious it is because we are buying into the LIE that we don't know what is happening or going on....WE DO if we pay attention!!

Oblivious means UNMINDFUL, UNCONSCIOUS, UNAWARE

Blind Bartimeus called to Jesus..Son of David have mercy on me!! Jesus said "What would you have me to do for you?" He was obviously blind, why do you think Jesus asked that question??

I wonder if Jesus just wanted to hear Bartimeus say what his obvious issue was...if he KNEW he couldn't see. Or if he would say IT'S ALL GOOD...BLESS ME!!..without having to deal with the issue at hand.

I found it interesing that OB - LI - VIOUS is only two letters off from OB-VIOUS.
If its not OBVIOUS maybe your have a LIE in the middle of what your dealing with....that is blinding you.

Just thinking :0)

 F and L'er
Starla

Monday Motto: Detaching with Love

Detaching with Love
Sometimes people we love do things we don't like or approve of. We react. They react. Before long, we're all reacting to each other, and the problem escalates.
When do we detach? When we're hooked into a reaction of anger, fear guilt, or shame. When we get hooked into a power play--an attempt to control or force others to do something they don't want to do. When the way we're reacting isn't helping the other person or solving the problem. When the way were reacting is hurting us.
Often, it's time to detach when detachment appears to be the least likely, or possible, thing to do.
The first step toward detachment is understanding that reacting and controlling don't help. The next step is getting peaceful --getting centered and restoring our balance.
Take a walk. Leave the room. Go to a meeting. Take a long, hot bath. Call a friend. Call on God. Breathe deeply. Find peace. From that place of peace and centering yourself there will emerge an answer, a solution.
Today, I will surrender and trust that the answer is near.
I have been struggling here lately. Watching other people hurt others and not taking responsibility for that pain they inflict on others really bothers me, deeply... 
Life happens and relationships can be very challenging at times.  I hope this helps somebody today.
God Bless Your Monday Abundantly!
TiNa = )

MONDAY MOTTO : BE SURRENDERED

MONDAY MOTTO : BE SURRENDERED

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

My mom came to visit me over this past week. I really enjoyed my time with her. She kept making comments to me about my complaining while driving. Honestly I didn’t think that I had an issue until she pointed out ever HUFFY PUFFY, GRRRRRRRRR!!, What the? , DID you SEE that? and OH COME ON!!!!!!!!!! that I made while driving. I began to take a look at myself more closely. I had a complaint OFTEN on my lips. I immediately went to work of CONTROLLING MYSELF. Yeah..........:0/ that didn’t work so well. What I got was a deep brooding anger growing because now I was suppressing my anger.

I figured out what was needed.....SURRENDER!!!

When I gave up trying to do it in my own strength and said "LORD, I cant do this myself. You are my Life and I want to give you the reigns to my mouth. I need you Lord to do the work for me within" An amazing thing began to happen. I praised and thanked the drivers around me who were driving by the rules. MY FOCUS changed!!!

Yesterday my Pastor said sometimes we FOCUS on the wrong stuff. By being so UPSET over every driver out there that didn’t do right by MY RULES...I only fertilized that critical monster in me. My natural self wants to point fingers and blame the people on the road for not letting me on the highway, for not giving me enough room to get by or for going to slow. Well what I found out after my FOCUS adjustment was I was too slow, I was not patient, I was going to fast.

The way we handle things changes when we stop acting entitled because we are CHRISTIANS and actually BE CHRISTIAN!!

Surrender ...God knows how to fix it!!

F and L'er
Starla