28 April 2024
Viewing Forgiveness as a Gift, Part 2 (TMF:2345)
Friday, May 03, 2024
Peace to Live By: Viewing Forgiveness as a Gift, Part 2 (TMF:2345) - Daniel Litton
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(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)
Nonetheless, all this being said, we can note that unforgiveness really is hurting us more than it is hurting the person or group of people we are being unforgiving toward.
I have no doubt that unforgiveness does hurt the person we are mad at. Our minds are powerful, and all of those unforgiving thoughts float around from us in the spiritual realm. That’s one reason God really can’t fellowship with us when we are unforgiving. That negative energy emitted by us blocks the presence of God in our lives, or in our prayer time. It’s like when Peter talked about the husband’s prayers being blocked when he is mad at his wife. Well, it’s no different in our fellowship with God and unforgivness. The truth is that no one on the face of the earth deserves our forgiveness. Did you ever think about that? Likewise, no one on the face of the earth should, in reality, have to forgive us. That being said, we know that because of the world we currently live in, offense is going to occur. We know that we each have accumulated a huge deficit in front of God. We have offended God greatly, in many ways.
I have no doubt that unforgiveness does hurt the person we are mad at. Our minds are powerful, and all of those unforgiving thoughts float around from us in the spiritual realm. That’s one reason God really can’t fellowship with us when we are unforgiving. That negative energy emitted by us blocks the presence of God in our lives, or in our prayer time. It’s like when Peter talked about the husband’s prayers being blocked when he is mad at his wife. Well, it’s no different in our fellowship with God and unforgivness. The truth is that no one on the face of the earth deserves our forgiveness. Did you ever think about that? Likewise, no one on the face of the earth should, in reality, have to forgive us. That being said, we know that because of the world we currently live in, offense is going to occur. We know that we each have accumulated a huge deficit in front of God. We have offended God greatly, in many ways.
Viewing Forgiveness as a Gift, Part 1 (TMF:2344)
Thursday, May 02, 2024
Peace to Live By: Viewing Forgiveness as a Gift, Part 1 (TMF:2344) - Daniel Litton
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(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)
Being unforgiving toward others simply isn’t worth it. Really, two reasons we can cite right off the bat have to do with our minds. People who are unforgiving are certainly tormented in their minds. They have thoughts labeled under the cloak of ‘righteous indignation,’ where they feel justified in holding anger or resentment toward others because the other person acted so badly. This is a real trap, and I think it is one that is hard to get away from because in some Christian circles righteousness is highly emphasized, in the belief that others should act ‘righteously.’ So, as an event replays over and over in one’s mind, and is never let go, this causes the person to relive the offense over and over again. This causes mental turmoil. And it may even be a whole series of events that are lived over. Nonetheless, all this being said, we can note that unforgiveness really is hurting us more than it is hurting the person or group of people we are being unforgiving toward.
Not Allowing Interruptions, Part 3 (TMF:2343)
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
Peace to Live By: Not Allowing Interruptions, Part 3 (TMF:2343) - Daniel Litton
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(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)
I think the less steps the better. The point in not looking at notifications as the come to our phones is to optimize our focus. If we read the message, our attention will be split from what we are working on to whatever the person who has texted us is saying. And, we could start up a new conversation that will hurt our current work. But it’s not just our smartphones that can get us. Working at home also can be an issue for some people. If your family or roommates are around, they can distract you from doing what you need to do. So, perhaps it is best to have a room or an area where one focuses on getting things done. And one could say to themselves, “I will not leave this room until I get done what I need to get done.” It’s all about self-discipline. The Scriptures repeatedly tell us to be self-controlled. All of this is part of having good self-control, of being good stewards with whatever work God has given us to do. We can’t be talking with people and working at the same time. We can’t be tending to family needs and trying to work. There needs to be fine lines in these matters, and only you can establish them.
Not Allowing Interruptions, Part 2 (TMF:2342)
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Peace to Live By: Not Allowing Interruptions, Part 2 (TMF:2342) - Daniel Litton
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(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)
One thing I do is that when I am working on writing, for instance, I will not look at or read any text messages that come my way until my writing session is over. “How can you do that?” someone might ask. “I could never do that.” Well, it’s a matter of training your brain so that you are not lured in by the temptation to check. The thing is, our brains tell us that we need to check the message. There is a ‘high’ from checking that message. But we need to learn not to check it. The brain will lie to us and tell us we better check it because someone could need our help. There could be an emergency. But, experientially, I find that that is hardly ever the case. The brain just wants us to worry that might be the case so that we’ll check and get that checking high. I suppose someone could eliminate the temptation altogether. Perhaps a person would put their phone in airplane mode, or put it in a desk door until the working time is passed. Really, though, I think it is better for one to train oneself to just not give into the temptation if possible. By changing your setting on your phone, or moving it out of sight, one could forget to change it back or forget it altogether. It involves doing more which is probably going to become a burden in and of itself. I think the less steps the better. The point in not looking at notifications as the come to our phones is to optimize our focus. If we read the message, our attention will be split from what we are working on to whatever the person who has texted us is saying.
Not Allowing Interruptions, Part 1 (TMF:2341)
Monday, April 29, 2024
Peace to Live By: Not Allowing Interruptions, Part 1 (TMF:2341) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)
It’s a rather simple truth that our progress slows down and our attention is split when we allow things to interrupt us. This is why when you go to church, or go to the movie theater, or a play, that you silence your smartphone before it starts. This is why you’re doing that. You don’t want to be interrupted in whatever it is your participating in, and you don’t want to be a distraction to those around you who are trying to have a peaceful time. Our smartphones are great. I love smartphones. However, they also put us in an easy to reach place, a place where anyone can try to get our attention at no moments notice. And not just that, but we can be tempted to check our email, social media, or our favorite shopping app for the latest things on sale. It isn’t just others, it’s ourselves also. One thing I do is that when I am working on writing, for instance, I will not look at or read any text messages that come my way until my writing session is over. “How can you do that?” someone might ask. “I could never do that.” Well, it’s a matter of training your brain so that you are not lured in by the temptation to check.