Day 2: Defeat Gossip Challenge

Day 2 Challenge: "Agree with friends and family not to gossip"

Question: What do YOU consider to be gossip among others? Can you talk about the truth with others about someone without it being considered gossip? Where is the line drawn?
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UPDATE: Making an announcement, "Hear Ye, Hear Ye! I will know longer be gossiping, so please make note!" is really not easy, or the best way to handle alerting others of my challenge. It really is best talking to people one-on-one about it. For instance: A friend of mine and I were discussing a situation concerning a particular person I am close to. After telling the situation, which was needful to be told, I committed to my friend that I was not going to say anything negative about this person....period! Emphasizing this to my friend encourages me to be an example to her, and her accountability helps keep my attitude in check.

Defeat Gossip Challenge

It has been a huge burden on my heart for a long time now, and has recently been brought to my attention by others.....I have a bad, bad attitude. I do not know when it started, but I have been on this mean streak that MUST come to an end. Bad thoughts and attitudes towards others has brought gossip out of my mouth and unkindness out of my heart.

To help me with this HUGE problem, which has progressed over time, I'm going to take one day at a time to banish my bad attitude (which brings forth gossip).

Everyday I will carry an index card with a new "step" to defeat gossip. Here is where I found my so-called "steps."

Tomorrow: "Think godly thoughts of others" Will you join me in this fight (flesh and spirit)?


UPDATE: Today I tried to turn thoughts of others to good thoughts about them. I was confused at what it meant to "think godly thoughts of others". What does that mean to you? To be "godly" and think well of others? Or to think of ways people are godly?

New To-Do List!

If you notice, at the top right of my blog there is a list of things I need to get done around the house. I am such a procrastinator and will put off things for so long. With my work schedule keeping me busy I need to be held accountable to come home and get to work until the work is complete. I know that my house keeping has not been honoring God, thus cluttering my mind while I'm here. Please check up on me every once and a while. I really need some support with this. THANKS!

Did I Miss Something?

When did the pulpit become a political arena? Do they not have better things to talk about....like the Lord? Something is very wrong here.

This* is what I'm talking about. Take note at what the young guy says at the end.

Warning: This is a foul language pastor. Be warned!

Femininity

Tonight I watched "Sense and Sensibility" on PBS. I love movies based in the 1800's, particularly based on Jane Austen novels. What I love about these movies are the way the ladies are, gentle and feminine, yet strong. There's always something so beautiful about the characters even though they do not "fit" what modern day society says is beautiful.

I find myself wishing things were as they were back in those days. I wish it were not uncommon to dress in a long flowing dress and that sort. I wish that affections were kind and considerate. I wish that manners were top notch and thoughtful.

Can one ever return to those days? Even growing up in the South, where saying "yes, Ma'am" is still valuable (although I am terrible at it), standing when guests enter a room, or curtsying to show reverence to another is almost unheard of. What would happen if you and I suddenly began doing those things again. I'm sure it would seem funny and unusual.

To think.......

Wet Sidewalk Alert!

The Lord has really blessed my area of the South this week with rain. Many lakes and rivers in this area were reduced last year greatly due to the drought. When I was a child I remember passing over a small body of water leading to the lake. My grandfather would tell us every time we passed over about how the water use to be higher and he would fish down there. Now when I pass over, I still think of those stories he told as I gaze upon the tiny stream that now leads to the lake. This spot is what really makes the drought we are in real to me.

Praise the Lord for the rain! "Bring on the Rain!"

Silda Wall Spitzer

This lady really needs your prayers right now! As you all know, her husband, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer did a terrible thing. Everyone is telling her to leave her "cheating husband", who I'm sure she loves. She needs your encouragement during this time. E-mail her and give her your support and encouragement to keep her commitment to her husband.