choose not to be offended

went for pastor's retreat from Mon - Wed...
it's a kind of retreat where there's little agenda...
mostly eat and have fun...
we met 2 mornings for a short sermon time...
1st day was by Pastor Tay, 2nd day was Pastor George...

Ps Tay shared something which i have heard before...
but it's refreshing because it's not from someone of our church...
he shared about how we can choose not to be offended...
similar to sin, offenses comes in 2 ways - omission and commission...
omission - we expect people to treat us in certain way but they fail to do
commission - we din expect them to do it (bad sense) but they did

When we hope that we receive encouragement, a pat on the back, appreciation, etc...
but we receive none..
it seemed that what we had done were all wasted...
it appeared that we are just a fool...
then it translated as a message that we are useless, good for nothing, we can't do it...
of course if we take all that in, then we are offended...
we are then hurt.. deep inside...

worse than this is - when we receive criticism, unkind words..
we felt that we became a laughing stock, we are idiots...
the list can go on...
and if we continue to dwell in all these, then we will go depress...

so he shared with us an important lesson - choice...
immediately i link it to a program i watched the night before...
how a soldier is trained to perform in all circumstances...
they will response correctly and swiftly when they have to...
they choose... more than just physical battle...
a mental battle.. they can choose to response...
and it all boils down to, daily training...
it was all the training that helped them to
"mind over matter"

so, how not to be offended?
choose what to think...
and the good source of thought comes from God's word...
Thank God, He kept me on track..
i'm still on my way to finish my bible within this year...

God is helping me.. :)
choose...