Category Archives: Personal Growth

Personal Growth, Truth

Guard Your Ears!

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So apparently I have been living under a rock. Due to a small accident over the weekend, we had to take our car in for repairs. I was provided with a rental, so I got in and to my surprise it has satellite radio. I was very excited that for the next few days I would get to listen to my favorite station, “The Message.” As I was browsing through in search of this channel, I came to one titled “Radio Sex.” Call me naive, but I thought it would be an informative station where they discuss things like how having a healthy sex life can improve your overall health and such. What I heard next nearly caused me to run off the road. It was a pornographic radio station. What? Is this seriously something people listen to on their commute to and from work? I couldn’t believe it. Never in a million years would I have thought that this world would get so perverted that we would resort to having porno radio. Isn’t it bad enough that anyone can access it on the internet from their own mobile device?

This just brought to my attention how important it is it guard our hearts and that includes not only what we see but what we hear as well. We live in a day and age of media overload and just because it is on doesn’t mean we should listen to it or watch it. We have to teach ourselves and our children to turn it off and never look back because Satan is out to destroy us little by little. What use to make us cringe has become acceptable and over time we have become desensitized to hearing and seeing things that we should never be subjecting our minds to.

So next time you turn on the radio, television, or use any media device, remember that what we put in our minds today will affect who we become tomorrow. Casting Crowns says it best in their song, “Slow Fade.”

Be careful little eyes what you see
It’s the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it’s the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, it’s a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you’re thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

I pray that God will give us the wisdom to see through His lenses and the courage to stand up for what is right when those around us have become desensitized to the things of this world that go against everything pure and noble and right.

Personal Growth

Anger Do’s & Don’ts

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Anger Do’s:

Be Honest: “I am very angry with you right now.”

Be Kind: No name calling, belittling, devaluing allowed.

Be Direct: Useful anger is face to face, not a cowardly blow from behind.

Be Responsible: We own our anger. No one can “make” us angry.

Be Fair: Cruel jokes (in public and private) are off limits.

Be Contained: We don’t get back at others.

Be Controlled: We invite the Holy Spirit to take control of our anger

Be Interactive: Anger is expressed in relationship where it can be talked through.

Be Outward: No under-cover anger is healthy. Anger turned inward hurts us and others.

Be Real: It is dishonest to use our anger to manipulate others.

Anger Don’ts:

Passive Aggressive: Under-cover anger. Anger is presented in subtle ways—forgetfulness, chronic lateness, “accidents.” On the outside you seem pleasant and compliant. On the inside you are resentful. Those who express their anger in this way don’t feel safe or permitted to have anger or express it openly.

Sarcasm: Speech designed to cut and wound. The word “sarcasm” is derived from a Greek word that means “to tear the flesh.” It is another way to express anger indirectly.

Verbal Abuse: Intentionally wounding another with our words. Name calling, belittling, devaluing, and humiliating are examples of verbal abuse.

Blaming: Blaming anger makes other people the problem and deflects personal responsibility. Blaming anger says, “You make me so angry!”

Guerilla Humor: Attacking someone verbally then smiling and saying something like, “Can’t you take a joke?” or “I’m just kidding.” Another indirect way of expressing anger.

Retaliatory Anger: Expressing your anger by getting even with someone who has wounded you–i.e. having an affair to show your spouse what it feels like or spending loads of money shopping because your spouse “owes” you.

Blind Rage: Intense anger usually acted out physically—hitting, smashing, destroying, etc.

Isolation: Withdrawing from relationship with the one who hurt you and/or from others altogether.

Anger as an Excuse: Secretly you want to leave or behave in a particular way, so you find a way to provoke a fight in other to justify your choice.