If The Moon Listened To Every Howling Dog?

IF THE MOON LISTENED TO EVERY HOWLING DOG?

HOW WILL I HANDLE CRITICAL SPIRITS AND WORDS OF NEGATIVE CRITICISM?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

THIS IS A TWO PART LESSON.

Illustration:

I have this little thermometer, it is cheap, it is clamped to the measuring chart behind it. I loosened the little fasteners so I can slide the tube with the red fluid up and down. Thus you can look at it being slid down and it reads 90*, you can slide the tube up and it is 60*?

I call two people up to read the temperature, I slide the tube up or down --- when they trade places and they both read the temperature the way they see it ---

their reading is 30* different from the same thermometer?

I. MANY WILL SEE THE PROBLEM AND THE PAST PERFORMANCE

--- JESUS COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL AND THE CHANGE.

A. I was standing between two artist in eastern Kentucky as they were talking.

Both men’s artistic work was known in their state.

The one artist was talking about when he started painting --- he made all trees and grass green. He painted the trees near in the picture green, and the trees in a distance green.

B. Then came a TEACHER that explained to him ---TREES IN THE DISTANCE ARE NEVER GREEN, THEY ARE BLUE.

The other artist said, I had to learn the same lesson, I too painted everything green until I was corrected by a master.

C. I just listened to the two artist and I could not wait to get outside and see a lesson I had never learned, and sure enough --- the trees and grass are green up close --- but in a distance they are blue.

I was amazed at the correction to my perspective of color being wrong all my life.

D. So the teacher that looks at an all green picture and tells the student you need to make an adjustment will make the artist a better craftsman, IF RECEIVED.

II. IF THE MOON LISTENED TO EVERY HOWLING DOG ---

IT WOULD QUIT BARKING!

A. Some people will have an unhealthy view of another’s different view.

We need to listen and then evaluate WHAT WAS SAID? and HOW IT WAS SAID?

B. THERE IS A LESSON IN DATING AND MARRIAGE!

AT FIRST OPPOSITES ATTACH, BUT AFTER TIME TOGETHER OPPOSITES WILL ALWAYS ATTACK!

C. WHAT HAPPENED?

Years ago I traveled picking southern Gospel Music. (not singing) We played on Saturday night in a Methodist Church, they had some congregational

singing before we went up. I sang, and during the handshaking time, a lady in front of me turned and said --- I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE PRETTIEST VOICE I HAVE EVER HEARD!

The very next morning we were playing in a church near Knoxville. I was remembering what the lady said the night before, so as everyone sang, I really sang. Later a woman turned to me and said: Your singing is terrible. My heart was broken?

D. WHAT HAPPENED?

I would like to think the first lady was right?

Probably neither lady was right.

I do not have the prettiest voice in the world, I probably don’t have the worse voice in the world either.

E. ACCEPT A GOOD BALANCE TO BE HEALTHY?

Don’t always believe everything you hear!

Thank God for fans that think you can walk on walk on water.

Thank God for critics that find fault with everything you do?

F. DON’T GET ALL TORE UP AND FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE CROWD’S DOOM AND GLOOM! GOD USED A DONKEY --- HE CAN USE ME!

G. There is a terrible battle --- WHAT WILL I DO WITH THIS CRITICISM?

How do I hand criticism short term?

How do I handle criticism long term?

F. Do I hear criticism and get defensive and pull in a shell of self protection and refuse to listen and evaluate myself?

III. JESUS CAME TO DO MORE THAN FIND FAULTS AND MISTAKES! THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPERATIVE COMMANDS SPOKEN BY JESUS THAT WE NEED TO GIVE HEED TO:

A. JESUS LOVES YOU, HE WILL NOT BREAK YOUR BACK WITH NEGATIVE PUT DOWNS!

John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the

world through him might be saved.

B. If you have a red letter edition, note that these imperative commands were spoken

from the lips of the Son of God, Jesus!

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.