THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GREATNESS
It has been weeks, and weeks since my last entry here. I have been enjoying an almost snowless Winter thus far in Central Alberta. I think I have only shoveled twice...and the lack of snow has made it great for the peafowl, chickens, and pot bellied pigs, for they have been able to enjoy being outside except on those high windy days.
I have been enjoying riding Treasure my QH mare and using her to pony the others... I have even riden Herc my oldest QH Stallion 5 times; the longest being a 3 hour ride... Amanda you will be proud of your mother's efforts to get some training accomplished on him, for I've owned him now for 6 years, and he had never been riden outside of a round corral when I purchased him at 4 years of age.
I read this gem out of Miller's book Life of Character about six weeks ago now, and I want to share it with you readers.
taken from page 60 part way through Miller's thoughts on the topic of THE RESPONSIBLILITY OF GREATNESS.
" GOD'S WAY WITH US
That is God's way with us. He does not make life easy for us. He does not promise to lift the burden off our shoulders even when we cast it upon Him. It is God's gift to us, this burden of ours, and lay it down would be to lay down a blessing. It is something our lives need, and it would not be right to take it away. Surely it is a wiser love that puts new strength into your heart and arm, so that you can go on with your hard duty---your heavy responsibility, your weight of care--- without fainting, than would be the love which would take all the load away and leave you free from any burden.
EXERCISE MAKES US STRONGER
You may think you would prefer the latter way, which would be easier, but you would miss the blessing, and your life would be weaker and poorer in the eand. God's purpose always is to make something out of us, to bring the out the best that is in us. Therefore He does not clear the forest for us, but puts the ax into our hands and urges us to cut it down for ourselves. And while we prepare the ground for cultivation we grow healthy and strong ourselves through the exercise. He does not drive out the enemies for us; He puts the sword into our own hands and sends us to drive them out. The battle does us good. The wrestling makes us strong.
THE PLACE OF HONOR IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST
Still another lesson from this incident is that real greatness should show itself, not in demanding favors or privileges, but in achieving great things. The people of Joseph thought that their prominence entitled them to a portion larger than others. *NO* said Joshua, *your prominece entitles you only to the privilege of the finest heroism and the hardest labor.* So he gave them the hardest task. The way a commander honors the best regiment on the field of battle is not by assigning it to some easy post, to some duty away from danger. He honors it by giving them the most perilous post, the duty requiring the most outstanding courage. So it is in all of life---the place of honor is always the hardest place, where the most strenuous and difficult duty must be done, where the heaviest burden of responsibilty must be carried. It is never a real honor to be given an easy place. Instead of demandng a place of honor as a favor of friendship, which sets no crown of real greatness upon our head, we should win our place of honor by worthy deeds and services.
THE LORD'S PLACE OF HONOR NOT GIVEN, BUT WON
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RANK IN CHRIST'S KINGDOM ACCORDING TO SERVICE
Then our Lord went further and explained the principle on which places are assigned to His disciples. * Whoever would become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant* Matt. 20:26. 27. That is, rank in Christ's kingdom is in proportion to servic. He who serves his fellow men the most sacrificially, in Christ's name, is the highest among men. Or, to put it in another form, instead of claiming rank by appointment or favor, you must win it by serving your fellow men, by using your strength, your abilities, your greatness, in doing good to others. The only privilege your superiority over others gives you is the privilege of doing good to others in superior ways.
AGGRANDIZEMENT IS NOT THE LAW OF LOVE
This truth is far-reaching in its applications. It should sweep out of our thought forever all feeling that others owe us favors, all that superiority complex which shows itself in self-seeking, in claims for place or precedence over others. It should make us despise all the miserable attitudes of self-importance and aggrandizement in which so many people play such farces. What are you doing with your life? Is the only question that is asked, when rank is to be measured. The law of love is that with whatsoever we have we must serve our fellow men. Selfishness debases a life. The least talented man in the world, who use his little powers to serve and help others, is higher in rank in God's sight than the most highly gifted man who uses his great power only to advance his own interests.
The most highly endowed life that this world ever saw was that of Jesus Christ. Yet He demanded no recognition of men. He claimed no rank. He never said His lowly place was too small, too narrow, for the exercise of His great ablilities. He used His greatness in doing good, in blessing the world. He washed man's feet with those hands which angels would have kissed. He took the place of a servant. He gave His very life itself to save the lost. He was the greatest among men, and He was the servant of all. That is the true mission of greatness. There is no better or more worthy way of using whatever gifts God has bestowed upon us. Instead of claiming place, distinction, rank, position, and attention, because of our gifts, abilities, widom, or name, we must use all we have to bless the world and to honor God.
RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY
My girls know that I have always been into self-help books and articles. I found this today, and the principles put forth seem to work. WHY??? My guess why is from some biblical principles stated. Reader what do you think?
http://www.depression-guide.com/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy.htm
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is a cognitive-behavioral approach for treatment of stress, depression, hostility, anxiety etc. developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in 1955.
According to this therapy, emotional and behavioral ailments are the result of irrational thoughts, assumptions and beliefs. This therapy identifies those problematic and erroneous ideas and replace them with more rational, reality-based thoughts and perspectives.
REBT- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy since its inception, has flourished and spawned a variety of other cognitive-behavior therapies. Its effectiveness, short-term nature, and low cost are major reasons for its wide acceptance and popularity.
Information on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). REBT's (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) overall approach works for individuals who desire a scientific, present-focused and effective treatment for coping with life's problems, rather than one which is mystical and largely passive.
People who take REBT are taught and encouraged to accept personal responsibility for their own thoughts, feelings and behavior. They are empowered to change reactions and beliefs that are mal-adaptive, distorted, interfere with their goals and effect their enjoyment of life. Gradually with practice, the new ideas become part of the person and it integrates into their way of living.
Simple Principles of Rational Emotive Behavior (REBT) Therapy. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is based on the following simple principles having profound implications:
You yourself are responsible for your emotions and actions.
These harmful emotions and dysfunctional behaviors are the after effects of your irrational thinking.
You can imbibe the realistic view in yourself and then practice them to make it your life's part.
You can experience more satisfactions in life by developing and following a reality-based perspective. By this you will tend to accept yourself more
How Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Works? Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) distinguishes between practical problems and emotional problems. Practical problems are actual events and situations that are problematic, whereas emotional problems are reactions to such events and situations that are inappropriate, inaccurate (over-reactions or under-reactions), and actually or potentially harmful. While one cannot always control things that happen in life, one is responsible for what one makes of it and how one handles it. REBT addresses the emotional suffering by helping you in the ways as mentioned in the simple principles above.
A number of techniques are used in this active approach, such as rational-emotive imagery (in which people imagine themselves thinking, feeling and behaving in ways they would like to think, feel and behave in real life), role-playing, homework assignments, desensitization, and assertiveness exercises. The goal is freedom from emotional upheaval and a more authentic and joyful engagement in life.
Does Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) devoid you of Feelings?
Lets assume that you take the above suggestions to heart and you greatly reduce your anxiety, hostility, depression, and addictions, what is left now?
Will you exist robot-like, devoid of human feeling and motivation?
No! Without your turmoil, you'll more easily experience love, involvement, and joy. Without your addictions, you'll be more free to engage in gratifying experiences of spontaneity, commitment, and self-actualization.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Bottomline Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) technique will help you if you relish quickly taking control of your own life, rather than depending upon a therapist for years. By giving you tools for identifying and overcoming the real cause of your difficulties, it will enable you to act in many ways as your own therapist. And by helping you to enhance realistic, self-benefiting beliefs, it will help you to eliminate present emotional and behavioral problems, and to avoid future ones.
Behavior therapy Behavior therapy techniques include assertiveness training, systematic desensitization, exposure and response prevention, and modifying the environment and activity schedules to improve mood and functioning.
Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) - Rational-Emotional therapy is built on the belief that how we emotionally respond at any moment depends on our interpretations--our views, our beliefs, our thoughts--of the situation.
Depression Tip
Some medications must be stopped gradually to give the body time to adjust. Never stop taking an antidepressant without consulting the doctor for instructions on how to safely discontinue the medication.
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J.R. Miller D.D
I've been posting some of the writings of JR Miller here... and last week I found a wonderful archive of his writings at this link. http://www.jr-miller.com/
J.R. Miller D.D.
The crucible of J.R. Miller's education was his service with the United States Christian Commission, an agency set up to minister to the troops, during the civil war. When the war ended Miller completed his theological studies and was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867. On June 22, 1870, when he was thirty, he married Miss Louise E. King.
The end of life on earth came without warning on the afternoon of July 2, 1912. JR’s wife, Louise Miller, and their only daughter, Mary Wanamaker Miller (Mrs. W.B. Mount), were present, but it was impossible to summon the sons — William King Miller and Russell King Miller. One moment Dr. Miller seemed to be resting quietly; the next he was at rest.
JR Miller DD was one of the best selling Christian authors of his era. Rev. Miller’s books had a total circulation of over two million copies during his lifetime and in 1911 the Presbyterian Board of Publication, under his direction, published over 66 million copies of its periodicals.
This site is dedicated to publishing JR Miller’s works and providing some snippets about his life and times. This is not a short term project as it might take several years to gather all of James Miller’s works and publish them on the Web. Hence, all offers of help will gladly be accepted. If you have typed up some of the Rev. Miller’s texts, which you would like to share, please e-mail them to me and I will put them on-line, giving you the appropriate credit.
Dr. J.R. Miller’s Works Online The Archive Miller site first became active on October 27 2004. Since then we have published thirty-five books and fifteen pamphlets which Dr. Miller authored, one periodical distributed under his editorship, Dr. Miller’s biography written by John T. Faris, and five other books by other authors in some way related to J.R. Miller. You will find the list here as it is now too long to include on this page. Paula Kuczynski merits the supreme accolade as she has transcribed most of these works.
