Watch Out for that Ferret!
In Devotionals - Posted on Thu 27th August 2009 by Pastor Lorenz
My son Mark owns a ferret. Ferrets are very inquisitive creatures. They are always looking for something to play with or trying to find new places to explore. Now I could have said, "They are always looking for something to shred or trying to find a new place to trash," but that would have been negative. Both statements are accurate, but the first has a more positive spin.
When we describe people do we tend to focus on the negative aspects of that person or their positive qualities? I have never found it productive or helpful to focus on a person's bad habits, idiosyncrasies, or personal defects. I know that I don't like it when I learn that someone has said something negative about me behind my back. Yet we all do it. It seems as if we find it necessary to tear someone else down to lift up our own egos. I let my tongue slip at least once this week, and I regret that I characterized someone in less than a flattering way.
As God's children let us think the best about others. We should assume the best as far as their motives and intentions. We should speak of others as we would want them to speak about us. Let us build up one another and not tear down each other. Yes it's true, the ferret is stinky, smelly, and likes to chew and tear up things; but I didn't need to say that. I could instead focus on the positive and say that the ferret is fun to play with and very inquisitive.
May God help us eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive.
Pastor Steve
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Comment by Pastor Lorenz on Tue 3rd November 2009 10.35AM
Ptr., please excuse my grammar and sorry I did not read it well or edit before I send it. God bless you all. I had read 1 of your sermon about kings, God's covenant and I still want to open some.I thank you for having a website ,it is a big help since I am teaching a Values Education (3rd year high school}and we are in our 2nd yr in teaching and Piloting a new curriculum. After 1 week seminar in Cebu I went home (that was May,2008) with no complete materials so I include our Holy Bible as our Textbook although there are some. I always want God to be the center. It's good because it happened that in every topic they provided,there's always a way to inject the gospel. Please I want more prayer partner in this mission . Salamat Po!Comment by Pastor Lorenz on Tue 3rd November 2009 10.09AM
Yes its true Ptr Steve!I remembered when I tried to tell you the negative character of someone in the church or I made (sumbong)to you, you quickly told me,"Why Are telling me all of these?".So,with that words from you, I suddenly stop and think to myself,oh is it beacause ptr is American and its not their culture to make "tsismis"?Although,we Filipino are not confrontational that's why,we (maybe not all)keep telling people's negative behind their back,well its allright everybody does it!But what kind life would that be?I was once a victim or I had also a victim of this a character assassination?or a "tsismis" The moment you told me that kind of rebuke,I told to myself I hope i will do the same as you did anytime,everytime.Fifteen years after,I am now a teaching in a biggest school in intire region with almost 7,000 students and 300 plus teachers and employers.Well, is it not a good example that I'm going to follow and as I continue (if not yet started due to some struggle in life but)there are next generation to pass it on.Hope that time we Filipino,will be a good fellow in Jesus name I really prayed.Ptr., what you and family had planted here in our hearts it remains. All things work together for good for those who love God Romas 8:28.