Today's Challenge:Consciously Choosing to Love

Regardless of inclinations and emotions!

If we keep uppermost in our minds the unkind and unjust acts of others, we shall find it impossible to love them as Christ has loved us; for there are few persons who do not on close acquaintance reveal unamiable traits of character. Even the best of us have these unlovely traits; and in selecting friends we should choose those who will not be driven away from us when they learn that we are not perfect. Mutual forbearance is called for. We should love and respect one another notwithstanding the faults and imperfections that we cannot help seeing; for this is the Spirit of Christ. Humility and self-distrust should be cultivated, and a patient tenderness with the faults of others. This will kill out all narrowing selfishness and make us large-hearted and generous.—The Signs of the Times, March 5, 1885.

IN DIRE NEED:The mind of Christ

Christ is one person who does not cease to amaze me.I'm amazed at how he's able to forget Himself and focus on other people's needs;while he is need the most.I think of Him in Gethsemane,sorrowful,yet even there He was able to forget Himself -to care for His disciples' well being and yield to His mission.I think of how in the cross He was able to pray for others,those reviling Him.

I'd love to be like Him.For some reason,when I'm going through something,my  mind tends to be centered on the issue,until it is resolved.Somehow,along the way,I get weary and I get absorbed in other things,and by the time I look,all has changed.And I can only ask,where was I all this time?

I need the mind of Christ.That's the only solution.

^"5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."-Philippians 2:5


"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."-Philippians 2:3-4



"Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth."-1 Corinthians 10:24

In need of a renewed mind.

HUMILITY

That has been on my mind for some time.I've been pondering on Christ's life and he possessed such humility that I know I cannot possess such without His help.For some time,rather,for a long time I never really understood what humility was.I thought being quiet meant I was humble or saying things like "I'm humbled" makes you meek.But even in my quietness I possessed pride.There'd be occassions when I'd look down on others.But as I dwelt more on Christ's life,I saw my evilness and He is still helping me and he's teaching what it really means to be humble.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”~C.S.Lewis

"The humble man feels no jealousy or envy. He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before him. He can bear to hear others praised and himself forgotten, because in God's presence he has learnt to say with Paul, "I am nothing." He has received the spirit of Jesus, who pleased not himself, and sought not his own honor, as the spirit of his life." (Humility and Absolute Surrender, pg. 25, 27)

Humility is NOT being quiet.You can be quiet but the most proud and undermine others.Humility is self-forgetfulness.Doing nothing for praise or recognition.Humility rejoices when others are elevated while no  mention is made of you.Humility doesn't seek first place.Humility is willing to give up the most precious for the sake of others.Humility is not driven by recognition and makes no mention of its achievements.Humility doesn't strive for first place!

Humility is about others and only Christ can teach us to possess this virtue.Christ,the Creator,humbled Himself though equal with God.Who are we ,that we should think highly of ourselves?

Do we truly possess Christ's humility?Do we find joy when we are praised and when we receive more likes?Do we live our lives on the basis of receiving recognition?Do our conversations dwell upon ourselves?Do we make more mention of ourselves?Do we seek to be associated with those in high places??Is there anything praiseworthy about us?

 Philippians 2:3-8King James Version (KJV)

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross

#More_about_Jesus
#Nothing praiseworthy in me
#Not I but Christ

#Meekness....Heart's desire

Little acts of kindness

Most of us have the idea that one needs money to express kindness,but this isn't true.You need nothing.I am learning that there are many ways to express kindness.For example:
If you are computer literate,you can offer to help those who are familiar with a computer.
-You can also teach young kids how to read,write,and calculate
-If you're a university student,you can print for someone who cannot afford prinitng credits
-You can visit the eldery people from your church or around where you stay,just to check on them
-You can help babysit/go clean for an old lady
-You can relieve a mother from church by looking after her children
-You can give away clothes you rarely wear
-You can explain a particular concept that your fellow student finds hard to understand
-Or just offer an ear to listen;and I could go on and on

So,not having money is NOT an excuse for not expressing kindness and doing good to others.

*As I learn