Woah, what's with the critiscm?

HELLO!!! CF had its Christmas party on Friday. =D And it was legen...wait for it, DARY! Yup, I said it. It was legendary. Of course, it was expected *hehehehe* I shall be posting about the party soon enough! Anyway, here is a devo. that I would like to share with you guys and why a devo again? Because it's awesome and I find it very practical and applicable. So go on, go on. Don't be shy. =D Start reading! ^___^ And this is from the Our Daily Journey's website written by Mike Wittmer.

Read > Proverbs 27:1-17
An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy (Proverbs 27:5-6).

More > Hebrews 12:1-12 to learn why confrontation is a sign of God’s love. (NLT)
God’s Discipline Proves His Love
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.

What criticism do you need to reconsider? How can you determine which aspects are true? What is good criticism and what is bad criticism?
In The Last Lecture, Professor Randy Pausch described a particularly bad day when his hardnosed football coach yelled at him and made him do push-ups for messing up some moves. Afterward, an assistant coach helped Randy put his bad practice in perspective. “Coach Graham worked you pretty hard, didn’t he?” the coach asked. Then he continued, “That’s a good thing. When you’re messing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they’ve given up on you.”

Being berated by a boss is one of life’s most painful experiences, which is why Randy remembered it when he wrote his memoir. We instinctively duck and deflect, focusing on their anger issues rather than whether there is any truth in what they’re saying. How dare they treat me like that! we fume. Yet we miss an opportunity to consider their criticism and grow as a person.

Nobody likes to be told they’re doing something wrong, but it’s the only way we ever improve. Regardless of motives or manners, our critics can be our friends. So rather than defend ourselves by pointing out a critic’s flaws, we must consider the possibility that elements of the criticism we received could be true. If we determine that we have been lazy, careless, or unkind, we must repent. We can pray, “Lord, I’m sorry for my sin. I was wrong and out of line. Yet today, with Your help, I choose to be diligent, disciplined, and to value the feelings of others more than myself.”

God accepts us just as we are, but He loves us too much to allow us to stay that way. He challenges us in areas that need improvement, and sometimes He uses our critics to get His point across. Take heart when you receive valuable criticism, for though it means you messed up, it also means God still believes in you.

Next > What critiscm do you need to reconsider? How can you determine which aspects are true? What is good critiscm and what is bad cristiscm?

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Hebrews 12:1-13