Day 4 - of 30 Days of Character Development - Humility

I took and Pride Test and as promised here is my result:
47 - You are learning to be more and more humble. Way to go! I felt good with that score. I knew I was not going to get the first one (genuine humility) and I was hoping I wouldn't get the next one. I really do think this is accurate because as I was looking at the different statements I could see how much I have changed in many areas. Five years ago my score would have been much higher. I'm not happy about that but I am happy that I am seeing change.

So as we continue our week of looking at Humility, how do we get there? If we are struggling with Pride of any kind how do we change that around. Here are some suggestions but really as with any change we bring into our life.......We have to first recognize it as a problem

• We then have to be willing to do the "hard work" of change
• We then have to go to God for strength and a humble heart, asking for His help
• We then have to be very aware of our behavior - asking an accountability person to help us, we all have blind spots we can not see. We have to ask ourselves hard questions everyday as we encounter different situations.
  
• We then can start the process of change, and it is a process!

The most important aspect of working on humility is to grow closer to God, spend more time concentrating on Him, set your sights on Him, invest your time in His Word and what it says about how we are to view ourselves and others. The Bible is full of examples and lessons on humility.

Is it "All about you"? Decide on a daily basic to make it about God and others

Is it " Poor me?" Learn who you are in Christ and stop the lies about your lack of value

Is it "Judgmental, critical" you?" Stop trying to change everyone else and work on yourself. Believe me we have more than enough to do changing ourselves without worrying about everyone else. We are not God!

Is it "Don't tell me what to do!"you. - See people as God's instrument and stop resisting their input into your life. Some of what they say may be right.

Philippians 2:3 "When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves"

Question for the Day: In what ways can you give more honor to others on a daily basis?

Tomorrow we will talk about the eight core values of humility.

Day 3 - of 30 Days of Character Deveopment - Humility

We have looked at what Humility is and isn't, we have looked at pride and how destructive it is but now it is time to get real and honest with ourselves. Today's blog will present to you a "Pride Test" If you really want to see how your doing in the area this is a great tool. I have taken this test from "Character Makeover" by Katie Brazelton, a great book to read if you are really serious about working on your character.

I am going to disclose my results tomorrow, and I promise to be honest. :)

Pride Test — But Only for the Strong of Heart! This test is a rigorous self-examination to detect pride in your life. Circle the number corresponding to how frequently you think you have exhibited each type of prideful attitude within the last several weeks. 1 is never, 2 is rarely, 3 is sometimes and 4 is frequently

Warning: Take only if you are having a good day!

1 2 3 4 Asserting my rights: I am concerned about getting what I deserve.

1 2 3 4 Bragging: I boast about successes (mine or my kids’) without crediting God.

1 2 3 4 Entitlement: I deserve special treatment because of my condition or position.

1 2 3 4 Exaggerating: I embellish the truth to get attention.

1 2 3 4 Name dropping: Knowing important people makes me feel important.

1 2 3 4 Self-centeredness: I am blind to the needs of others. “It’s all about me.

1 2 3 4 ”Showing off: I call attention to my possessions, abilities, or sacrifices.

1 2 3 4 Vain: I am obsessed with the areas where I am better than others.

1 2 3 4 False humility: I point out my shortcomings, looking for reassurance.

1 2 3 4 Overly independent: I can’t receive help or gifts. That would be awkward or shameful!

1 2 3 4 Overworking: I work to exhaustion; it makes me feel worthy.

1 2 3 4 Overserving: I serve beyond the call of duty, looking for affirmation.

1 2 3 4 Perfectionism: I try to be perfect; it makes me feel acceptable.

1 2 3 4 Woe is me: I often have a catastrophe to lament, looking for pity.

1 2 3 4 Works: I have to do more to deserve God’s approval.

1 2 3 4 Worthlessness: I rely on the reassurance of others to bolster myself-esteem.

1 2 3 4 Argumentative: I choose to find what I disagree with and engage in a quarrel.

1 2 3 4 Controlling: I manage the actions of others to make sure they do things my way.

1 2 3 4 Critical spirit: I look for ways others don’t meet my standards and point them out.

1 2 3 4 Intolerance: I won’t accommodate opinions different than my own.

1 2 3 4 Irritability: I get annoyed easily and lash out at those who bother me.

1 2 3 4 Judgmentalism: I assume the worst or exhibit a condemnatory attitude.

1 2 3 4 Put-downs: I intentionally belittle others with cutting or snubbing remarks.

1 2 3 4 Self-righteousness: I justify poor treatment of others by my holiness.

1 2 3 4 Pouting: If I don’t get my way, I clam up.

1 2 3 4 Ignoring correction: I’m never wrong (plus I’m hard of hearing!).

1 2 3 4 Isolated: I reject help from others, preferring to go it alone.

1 2 3 4 Refusal to change: This is just who I am, so accept me.

1 2 3 4 Rigidity: I can’t be flexible or adjust my plans.

1 2 3 4 Stubborn: I am obstinate.Unsubmissive: I won’t receive leadership. “You’re not the boss
of me.

1 2 3 4 ”Unteachability: I am closed to input or guidance. I have my act together.

TOTAL SCORE:______________

Scoring: 1–33 You are a model of genuine humility.
34– 64 You are learning to be more and more humble. Way to go!
65– 96 Thank you for your honesty. That’s the first step to humility!
97 –128 Hmm! You have some work to do. Keep reading!
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Day 2- of 30 Days of Character Development - humility

I will warn you right now that this will not be a pleasant blog, but it necessary if we are to truly understand and walk with humility. Today we will look at PRIDE and how destructive it can be. We will do some self-examination to see if this is an area that needs work.

Many of us have seen and possibly even experienced the affects of Pride. It has destroyed ministries, marriages, friendships and on and on. In fact, I think I would be correct in saying that just about anything that comes to ruin and destruction in our life will find it's root in pride at some level.

Pride takes on many different faces:
1. "It's all about me" face - When we exalt ourselves we aren't exalting God. Luke 11:43
2. The "Poor me" face - worthlessness is a deceptive form of Pride. Matt. 6:16
3. The "Judgmental Spirit" face - being a critical, irritable, self-righteous person. Matt 7: 1-5
4. The "I'm my own boss" face - Not being teachable, Never admitting your wrong, not being willing to change. Hosea 7:10

Beth Moore is her Breaking Free bible study says it best:

• Pride covers our hearts - God wants our hearts
• Pride refuses to look back - God want to free us from our past
• Pride doesn't like to be told what to do - God wants us to obey His Word
• Pride thinks he is free enough - God wants to free us completely
• Pride says secrets are nobodies business - God want to bring us out of the dark
• Pride denies there is a problem - God wants to help us with our problems
• Pride won't admit to weakness - We are made strong in Him.

We have to view Pride as an enemy and Humility as our friend.

Why?
Proverbs 8:13 " To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 16:5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
James 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Isaiah 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

Day 1 - of 30 Days of Character Development -Humility

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humbly value others above yourselves."
Philippians 2:3

Character Development is our theme for the next 30 days. We are going to work on the four most difficult areas of character, one week at a time. I figured if we are doing this we may as well start with the hard ones first. So here we go......

Humility:
First lets look at some well know humble people. One that comes to mind is Cinderella, a sweet young servant girl that in the end won the prince. Then there is George Bailey from, "It's a Wonderful Life" Everyone loves him. In "Chariots of Fire" there was Eric Linddell, a missionary turned Olympian who earns respected by honoring God above his medals. It is the humble, unselfish people, who endear themselves to us both in fiction and real life.

The bible speaks over and over about humility, being a humble person and how God honors that.

So how do we find the path to true humility? Humility is found by gaining a right perspective. Humility is a natural result of having an accurate view of who God is and who we are in relation to Him. You can and should still have good self-worth, esteem and personal value with humility. Right thinking about yourself is realistic thinking - a big picture of your strengths, weaknesses, talents, negative habits, and real worth.

Thinking your more wonderful that you are is pride, and thinking you are worse than you are is false humility. It's all self - focused. Humility is balanced in the middle with a right view of who you are and who you are not and who God is. When your eyes are on God you can't help but be humble.

Of all the character traits we will work on, humility is the foundational character to all the others. You can't build or develop the others without this one. Humility is the starting place for deeper character development. It takes a strong self image to perform truly humble acts of service.

Here's something I will leave you to ponder on today:

"It is always the secure who are humble"
G.K Chesterton

Tomorrow we will look at "Pride" as that has to be dealt with to develop true humility.

Matthew 23:12 - For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Ten Best Decisions We Can Make

As I am getting closer to starting the next 30 day blog, I came across a talk I did a few years ago and I believe it applies really well to were we will be going in the next 30 days of developing better Character in our lives. So here we go.....

1. Decide to Decide:

• Decide that today will be different
• Remember that it is never too late to change

2. Decide to be Authentic:
Basically this mean "be yourself" true to one's own personality, spirit, or character

3. Decide to "Get over it" (choose to forgive)

4. Decide to get Rid of the Negatives in your life and embrace the Positives.

5. Decide to Make the Most of Your Uniqueness

• What are you good at?
• What are you not good at?
• What are your successes
• What legacy do you want to leave
• What is your mission?

6. Decide to be Successful in each Season of Life.

• Ask yourself what you need to do to slide through safely
• Be prepared for the coming stage

7. Decide to Live by Love (prioritize people and the way you relate to them.

8. Decide to take Care of YOU!

• Spiritually - rest, quiet time, prayer, the Word
• Physically - exercise, sleep, nutrition
• Mentally - hope, faith, positive attitude
• Emotionally - social connections and support

9. Decide to Trust God:

• Read and study the Bible
• Have a quiet time every day
• Get to know the character of God and the Names of God
• Be a person of prayer

10. Decide to Leave a Legacy

• Using all of the above - live life in a way you want to be remembered
• Find an area you have a passion for and help others in it.
• Ask God to show you ways to reach out to others
• Remember it isn't always and most of the time is not the big things that make a difference.

"Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing" Philippians 2:4

Where Dreams Come True....

That's the motto at Disney World. And if your a 6 year old little girl it is probably true. If you are the Nana and Papa of that little girl it is true when you see the excitement and wonder in her face and eyes......but as your fighting the Disney crowds you begin to doubt it. :)

We took our 6 year old granddaughter Kaitlyn to Disney this weekend for her birthday and I just thought I would share some pictures of our wonderful time together. Of course, as she is a girl and is 6 - the main focus of the day was finding the princesses. They have a little autograph book that you take around and the princess signs it and beside the signature you put the picture of you and the princess.

I wanted to share this last "personal" blog but will be getting back to my Life Coaching blogs after this. I will be starting a new 30 day blog on developing Character in our lives. It will be called "30 Day's of Character Development. Sounds like fun right?? :) Maybe not fun but very necessary!

Kaitlyn and Ariel

Kaitlyn and Papa waiting for the Parade to start

Kaitlyn and Nana

Kaitlyn and Sleeping Beauty (do you remember her name?)

Kaitlyn and Belle

Kaitlyn and Cinderella

It was a wonderful day with all the princesses but mostly with our little princess!

Get ready for "Character Development!" Starting March 1 - We will be starting with "Humility" and will take a week for each character trait. We can learn humility in a week right??

Weekend in St. Louis

I have had the great pleasure of enjoying a little getaway weekend with some of my family. We took a trip up to St. Louis to visit my hubby's sister, Gail. I have not been up to visit her for more than 10 years so when I heard her sister and mom were going up for a few days, I pretty much invited myself to go. :) Anyone who knows me well probably won't be too surprised at that one! :) Unfortunately I forgot my camera, although I took some pictures with my phone but I can't download them until I get home. So we are heading home tomorrow but my neice Meghan made a little video of our time with them and she did such a great job I just wanted to share it on my blog. As you can see it has been snowing and that has been such a highlight for me.

I know if you are reading this and you live up north you are probably wondering why I would be so happy about snow but you must understand that I am a Pennsylvania girl who somehow ended up in Florida and I have always missed the seasons that I loved so much in Pa. This is the firs time I have been in a real snow storm since my Pa days. I had forgotten how beautiful it is on the trees and as it is falling. I made a little snowman my first day here. It is snowing more tonight and I am in awe at the beauty - I will post some of my pictures tomorrow or Wed. I have been flooded with memories of my childhood in the winter -watching the snow fall so softly from the sky, the tree covered with fresh snow and the winter wonderland that the snow creates.

So here is the little video Meghan made: