Mother Teresa's Rules of Humilty
Posted on January 29, 2007
Mother Teresa gave these rules to her Sisters to help them develop the virtue of humility:
1. Speak as little as possible about yourself.
2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.
3. Avoid curiosity.
4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others.
5. Accept small irritations with good humor.
6. Do not dwell on the faults of others.
7. Accept censures even if unmerited.
8. Give in to the will of others.
9. Accept insults and injuries.
10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded.
11. Accept injuries and insults.
12. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.
13. Do not seek to be admired and loved.
14. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity.
15. Give in, in discussions, even when you are right.
16. Always choose the more difficult task.
I copied this from: Jalapenos are a Lifestyle but remember seeing it at Kid Sister of Blessed Imelda too -- two of my favorite friends to visit. :)
2 comments | permalink
If your right hand offends you.....
Posted on March 24, 2006
Since my pastor's last sermon, I have felt that a self-imposed period of mourning, a fast*, is in order. (Skip to the footnote if you're concerned about my public profession of a time of fasting.)
On Monday I felt I must have that self-imposed period of mourning. Daily. Since Tuesday, I have stopped eating after 2 P.M. every day. I use the hunger pangs to focus my mind on my Lord, to spend time in prayer and worship and devoting myself to the Word. I have sinned against Him time and time again by indulging my lust for food. I just like how it tastes and consistently focus on it. What restaurant will my next vacation be near? ::shudder::
The truly amazing thing to me is that I have not found myself overeating in the A.M. to compensate. No. If anything, I am sensing a release from the magnetic pull of food. That can only be from the Lord. Today, everyone was having lunch from the Food Court. I recently forbid myself to order the 12-inch Subway Spicy Italian. So today I had the 6-inch and half my daughter's regular fries. I ate one half of my share of fries and just half of that six inch. Granted, I told myself "It's a long way to bed. You're going to be hungry..." but I didn't want to overeat. I would rather be obedient to Christ. Lord, please grant me repentance and freedom in You.
Everyone won't be called to this measure of mourning. But if, like me, you've found yourself in bondage to your yo-yo-ing weight for half your marriage (at present count: 16 years) because you routinely overeat beyond what the body requires "because it tastes good and I enjoy it," then maybe ask yourself "How sorry am I to be sinning against the Lord via gluttony and idolizing of great tasting food?" and determine what level of mourning is appropriate.
I just know that God is touching me and bringing some quiet changes into my life. And I am grateful.
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." Matthew 5:30
Quote:
*Many people are reluctant to tell others that they are fasting so they will avoid the sin of the Pharisees: fasting just to gain recognition for themselves. I strongly believe that attitude is a result of a wrong interpretation of our Lord's teaching and that it is a trick of the enemy who does not want us to fast, nor to share with your loved ones, neighbors and friends the benefits of fasting. Bill Bright: How to Fast
Fasting: Self-Imposed Mourning
Posted on March 21, 2006
It makes sense when I think about it, but just hearing the pastor say it on Sunday was just what I needed to hear.
When, in the OT, the children heard they had sinned against almighty God, they tore their clothes, put sackcloth and ashes on and fasted. They were in mourning.
They realized they had sinned against God.
Our sin does not often grip us this way, does it? Have you ever been so hurt by someone you could barely function? It hurt like a knife and the response was a glib "Sorry." As if you should get over it -- it wasn't that bad.
Does our repentence reflect our sorrow at grieving God? He was beat, mocked, spit upon, and crucified for those very sins we utter a weak "Sorry," for with a shrug of the shoulders.
If I am struggling with a besetting sin, I should be in a self-imposed mourning. Pray that God would grant me repentence and allow me to hate my sin as He does.
Well, I am struggling with gaining freedom from a besetting sin. I struggle with indulging my flesh. My flesh thinks it needs fast food. Quick, easy, greasy. Pretty much how I like it. My flesh wants to indulge because it tastes good (and it does, thank the Lord), but I'm called to crucify my flesh and enjoy food without making my appetite my god.
Our pastor also said that often, we're only doing one part of the equation to rid ourselves of sin. The promise is "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
Some of us are submitting to God but not resisting (I have to offer an embarrassing head-nod to this one); some of us are resisting, but not submitting (leading us to ultimate failure). We have to do both to get the devil to flee.
I'm using the workbook from "Setting Captives Free: The Lord's Table," and I do recommend it. The free study can be found at their site: Setting Captives Free.
I thank the Lord for His great mercy to me.
When, in the OT, the children heard they had sinned against almighty God, they tore their clothes, put sackcloth and ashes on and fasted. They were in mourning.
They realized they had sinned against God.
Our sin does not often grip us this way, does it? Have you ever been so hurt by someone you could barely function? It hurt like a knife and the response was a glib "Sorry." As if you should get over it -- it wasn't that bad.
Does our repentence reflect our sorrow at grieving God? He was beat, mocked, spit upon, and crucified for those very sins we utter a weak "Sorry," for with a shrug of the shoulders.
If I am struggling with a besetting sin, I should be in a self-imposed mourning. Pray that God would grant me repentence and allow me to hate my sin as He does.
Well, I am struggling with gaining freedom from a besetting sin. I struggle with indulging my flesh. My flesh thinks it needs fast food. Quick, easy, greasy. Pretty much how I like it. My flesh wants to indulge because it tastes good (and it does, thank the Lord), but I'm called to crucify my flesh and enjoy food without making my appetite my god.
Our pastor also said that often, we're only doing one part of the equation to rid ourselves of sin. The promise is "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
Some of us are submitting to God but not resisting (I have to offer an embarrassing head-nod to this one); some of us are resisting, but not submitting (leading us to ultimate failure). We have to do both to get the devil to flee.
I'm using the workbook from "Setting Captives Free: The Lord's Table," and I do recommend it. The free study can be found at their site: Setting Captives Free.
I thank the Lord for His great mercy to me.