Refreshing

Daily
in Gods Word
Emphasis on

Character

In all things shewing thyself a pattern

of good works: in doctrine shewing
uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, vs8
Sound speech, that cannot be
condemned; that he that is of the
contrary part may be ashamed, having no
evil thing to say of you. ~ Titus 2:7-8
vs7

Reputation is the shadow.

Character is the tree.
~ Abraham Lincoln

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who

loved you and were helped by you will remember
you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your
name on hearts, not on marble.
~ Charles Spurgeon

Men and women of character will set a good

example for others to follow, and their Godly
reputation will be evident to all.

The Importance of Character

April 1
Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:14-27
Key Verse: Verse 23 - Keep thy heart with all
diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Key Words: Keep thy heart
This is no April Fool joke: either you have character or
you are one.
Think about those who have been our leaders such as
President Nixon and President Clinton who have lacked in
character and ended up in scandals. What about those who
were supposed to be religious leaders such as Jim Bakker and
Jimmy Swaggart who were involved in sexual scandals?
People end up in scandals because they lack in character.
Now character is a matter of the heart. Keep thy
heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. So
if one is involved in a scandal, its because he has a scandalous
heart. That is their character.
A number of years ago the Douglas Aircraft company
was competing with Boeing to sell Eastern Airlines its first big
jets. War hero Eddie Rickenbacker, the head of Eastern
Airlines, reportedly told Donald Douglas that the
specifications and claims made by Douglas's company for the
DC-8 were close to Boeing's on everything except noise
suppression. Rickenbacker then gave Douglas one last chance
to out-promise Boeing on this feature.
After consulting with his engineers, Douglas reported
that he didn't feel he could make that promise. Rickenbacker
replied, "I know you can't, I just wanted to see if you were still
honest."

What to do:
Remember, character isnt made in a crisis. It is
only exhibited.

What Is Character?
April 2
Bible Reading: Joshua 24:14-28
Key Verse: Verse 23 Now therefore put away, said
he, the strange gods which are among you, and
incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
Key Words: incline your heart unto the LORD God

of Israel

Character can be both positive and negative. We have

all known of someone who can be described as quite a
character; but usually character is used to describe a persons
positive traits.
What exactly is character? Well, Biblical character is
best defined by our relationship with God. Its our moral
compass in us that guides us. There are those who would
never run around on their spouse, but they dont mind going
to the bar for a drink. Others would never drink, but they
cuss like a lost sailor. Character is when we have Godly
traits in every aspect of life. Character is when we do sin, we
admit and confess it and ask for forgiveness. I am convinced
that is the reason David was the apple of Gods eye. He wasnt
perfect but when confronted, he admitted his sin and
confessed it and asked for forgiveness.
One ship sails east,
One ship sails west,
Regardless of how the wind blows.
It is the set of the sail
And not the gale
That determines the way we go.
~ Ellen Wheeler Wilcox
John Bartlett wrote: All children must look after their
own upbringing. Parents can only give good advice or put
them on the right path, but the forming of a persons

character lies in their own hands.

What to do:
Remember, a mans best collateral is his
characterand either you have character or you are
one.
********************

Character ~ Meekness
April 3

Bible Reading: Numbers 12

Key Verse: Verse 3 Now the man Moses was very

meek, above all the men which were upon the face of
the earth.
Key Words: Moses was very meek

Meekness means a tamed spirit, a spirit under control.

It is the exact opposite of meanness. Jesus had a meek spirit.
In Matthew 11:29 we are told by Jesus, Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart. In
Matthew 5:5a, Jesus said, Blessed are the meek.
So what exactly is the character trait of meekness? A.
W. Tozer answers that when he says: The meek man is not a
human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority.
Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as
strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about
himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He
knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be,
but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the
sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself,
nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.
What to do:
Remember, either you have character or you are one.

Character ~ Gentleness
April 4
Bible Reading: II Timothy 2:15-26
Key Verse: Verse 24 And the servant of the Lord
must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to
teach, patient,
Key Words: but be gentle
Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The
word gentle means sweet reasonableness. So often in our
efforts to have concern for others, we let our emotions destroy
our character of sweet reasonableness. Let me explain.
At their school carnival, our kids won four free
goldfish (lucky us!), so out I went Saturday morning to find an
aquarium.
The first few I priced ranged from $40 to $70. Then I
spotted itright in the aisle: a discarded 10-gallon display
tank, complete with gravel and filterfor a mere five bucks.
Sold! Of course, it was nasty dirty, but the savings made the
two hours of clean-up a breeze.
Those four new fish looked great in their new home, at
least for the first day. But by Sunday one had died. Too bad,
but three remained. Monday morning revealed a second
casualty, and by Monday night a third goldfish had gone belly
up.
We called in an expert, a member of our church who
has a 30-gallon tank. It didnt take him long to discover the
problem: I had washed the tank with soap, an absolute no-no.
My uninformed efforts had destroyed the very lives I was
trying to protect.
Sometimes in our zeal to clean up our own lives or the
lives of others, we unfortunately use killer soaps
condemnation, criticism, nagging, fits of temper. We think
were doing right, but our harsh, self-righteous treatment is
more than they can bear.

What to do:
Remember, either you have character or you are
one.
********************

Character ~ Integrity
April 5
Bible Reading: Joshua 9:1-21
Key Verse: Verse 19 But all the princes said unto all
the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the
LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch
them.
Key Words: We have sworn unto them
The Gibeonites had deceived the leaders of Israel, and
as a result, Israel had made a league agreement with them
(verse 15) only to find out later that they were deceitful in
their actions. The problem is that Joshua had made a
commitment, a league, a promise, and it is here that we see
Joshuas character.
In verses 18-21 Joshua carries out his commitment to
the Gibeonites. He did what he promised he would do. Thats
character! Thats integrity!
A preacher got on a bus one day, and he gave the bus
driver the fare. The bus driver gave him too much change.
The preacher went and sat down, counted the money, and
noted that the bus driver gave him too much change, and so
he went back to the bus driver and said, You gave me too
much change. You gave me fifty cents too much.
He said, Pastor, I really appreciate this, because I was
in your church service yesterday, and I heard your sermon on
honesty. So I intentionally gave you too much change to see
whether you abide by what you preach.

What to do:

Do what you said you would do. Remember, either

you have character or you are one.
********************

Character ~ Progressing in
Character

April 6

Bible Reading: John 19:28-42

Key Verse: Verse 39 And there came also
Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night,
and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an
hundred pound weight.
Key Words: And there came also Nicodemus
We find Nicodemus mentioned three times in the
Scriptures, all of which are in the book of John. On each
occasion we find Nicodemus progressing in his character.
In John 3 we find him coming to Jesus.
In John 7:50-51, we find him defending Jesus.
In John 19:39 we find him worshipping Jesus, giving
to him, and mourning His death.
So it is with our character. If we are maturing as we
should be, our character will be improving as well. May this
be so with each one of us.
Under the house where I grew up, on the farm, we had
a celler (not a basement) with a dirt floor where my mother
stored all the fruits and vegetables we had raised for the
winter. On the cellar side of the door, my mother would
periodically have me stand with my back to the door so she
could put a mark for my height and list my age. I would often
go to the door just to take a look and see how much I was
growing, always excited to see the progress. Wouldnt it be
great (or would it) if we had such a chart at the back of the
church? We could all stand against the door frame and see
how much we have all grown spiritually in the last six months

or year. But then again, we probably dont need to because

our character will tell us that!!

What to do:
Remember, either you have character or you are
one.
********************

Character ~ Or Lack Of It
April 7

Bible Reading: Jonah 1

Key Verse: Verse 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto

Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went
down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to
Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went
down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the
presence of the LORD.
Key Words: But Jonah rose up to flee

Remember that character is a matter of the heart.

Your character reveals your heart.
The first indication that Jonah did not share the heart
of the One Who called him is the fact that he ran from Gods
command rather than obeying it. Jonah clearly knew the call
of God and ran in the opposite direction. That is a lack of
character.
Believers who intentionally go against the Word of
God do so because they lack in character.
Henry Wingblade used to say that Christian
personality is hidden deep inside us. It is unseen, like the
soup carried in a tureen high over the waiters head. No one
knows whats inside unless the waiter is bumped and he
trips! Just so, people dont know whats inside us until weve
been bumped. But if Christ is living inside, what spills out is
the fruit of the Spirit, and I might add, character as well.

What to do:
Remember, either you have character or you are
one.
********************

Character ~ Step by Step

April 8

Bible Reading: I Kings 17:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee

eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that
is before Jordan.
Key Words: hide thyself by the brook Cherith

Have you ever noticed that the building of ones

character doesnt come in one big event but its a process of
time and events?
Elijah was first told to hide by the brook Cherith, then
he was told to go to Zaraphath. Then he was told to confront
Ahab. Then he went and conquered the prophets of Baal.
So he first hid
Then he went
Then he confronted
Then he conquered.
Each of these steps helped to grow and define Elijahs
character.
Amy Carmichael once penned these thoughts:
Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been
more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that
I shall never be like that. But they won through step by step
by little bits of wills, little denials of self, little inward victories
by faithfulness in very little things. They became what they
are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the
accomplishment, but even so, those small steps were taken.

There is no sudden triumph, no spiritual maturity. That is the

work of the moment.
Character comes slowly but surely as we continue to
press forward for Gods glory.
What to do:
Press on!!! Remember, either you have character or
you are one.
********************

Character ~ Your Vows

April 9

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Key Verse: Verse 4 When thou vowest a vow unto

God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in
fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Key Words: When thou vowest a vow unto God,

defer not to pay it

Keeping ones vows, whether it be in marriage, your

job, or to your neighbor, is a matter of character. The reason
it is a matter of character is because character matters.
Winston Churchill kept England stable during the
World War II bombing raids by emphasizing that Wars are
not won by evacuations. Likewise, marriages are not kept
together by bailing out. Your wedding vows are not multiplechoice questions!
Unfortunately, some are like the wealthy oil tycoon.
As he lay on his deathbed, his pastor talked to him of God's
healing power. "Pastor," he gasped, "if God heals me, I'll give
the church a million dollars." Miraculously, the man revived
and within a few short weeks was out of the hospital. One
day, several months later, he and the pastor chatted on the
sidewalk in front of a hardware store. "You know," the pastor
said, "when you were in the hospital dying, you promised to
give the church a million dollars if you got well. We haven't

got it yet." "Did I say that?" the tycoon asked. "I guess that
goes to show how sick I really was!"
What to do:
Remember, the reason we focus so much on the
matter of character is because character matters.
Either you have character or you are one.
********************

Character ~ Overcoming Failure

April 10

Bible Reading: II Kings 5:20-27 and II Kings 8:1-6

Key Verse: II Kings 8:4 - And the king talked with
Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me,
I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath
done.
Key Words: And the king talked with Gehazi
A person of character understands that failure doesnt
have to be final. Character understands when you fall, you get
back up.
Gehazi had failed.
He had failed in his faith,
obedience, and attitude (II Kings 5). But Gehazi, being a man
of character, got up after he failed, and we find him in II Kings
8 standing before the king.

Some onlookers thought it was unusual, but few

noticed when the pastor wheeled into the church parking
lot in a borrowed pickup truck. But everyones eyes were
upon him when he backed the truck across the lawn to
his study door. Refusing comment or assistance, he
began to empty his office onto the truck bed. He was
impassive and systematic: first the desk drawers, then
the files, and last his library of books, which he tossed
carelessly into a heap, many of them flopping askew like
slain birds. His task done, the pastor left the church and,

as was later learned, drove some miles to the city dump

where he committed everything to the waiting garbage.
It was his way of putting behind him the overwhelming
sense of failure and loss that he had experienced in the
ministry. This young, gifted pastor was determined
never to return to the ministry. Indeed, he never did.
What to do:
It helps to remember that failure is an event, not a
person. Remember, either you have character or you
are one.
********************

Character ~ Class
April 11

Bible Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Key Verse: Verse 19 Then Joseph her husband,

being a just man, and not willing to make her a
publick example, was minded to put her away
privily.
Key Words: to make her a publick example

We all know this portion of Scripture as the

Christmas Story; but it is much more than that. It is a
story of character about a man who showed his class by
his desire not to put Mary out for a public display. Even
though he, in all likelihood, thought Mary had been
unfaithful. He still loved her and refused to let her be
the cover girl for immorality. Joseph was a class act;
he was a person of character.
A pastor I know was recently flying into
Washington, DC, on a business trip. The man sitting
next to him offered him a drink of vodka. In a friendly,
simple way he politely said, No, thank you. A few

minutes later, he noticed the pastors Bible and said,

You seem to be a religious person. The pastor
responded, Well, Im a pastor. The businessman
looked a little embarrassed and said, I guess you think
Im low down. My friend said, No, I actually think you
are a pretty generous person. That pastor could have
said any number of things, but in being polite and kind,
he showed a touch of class and character.

What to do:
Remember, either you have character or you are
one.
*******************

Character ~ Responsibility
April 12

Bible Reading: Nehemiah 6:1-15

Key Verse: Verse 15 So the wall was finished in the
twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and
two days.
Key Words: So the wall was finished

Its always good to remember that character is a

heart issue sinful heart: sinful character righteous
heart: righteous character.
One of those areas of righteousness is us fulfilling
our responsibilities. You could say its simply doing your
job.
Leave the driving to us, or so the saying goes. On
May 28, 1993, Greyhound bus driver J. Massenberg
balked on his companys slogan and asked for a relief
driver from the passengers on his bus. Thirty miles shy
of his destination in Tallahassee, Massenberg said, I

quit. I cant handle this anymore. Does anyone have a

Class B license to drive a bus? Nobody was qualified,
but an off-duty police officer got behind the wheel and
drove about thirty minutes while Massenberg slept. He
reclaimed the wheel just before arriving at the bus
station and drove in for the last time. Needless to say,
the rookie bus driver is no longer working for
Greyhound. Responsibility involves completing a task.
Every day, at the end of the day, we should ask
ourselves at least these two questions: 1) Have I done
my best today so God can receive the blessing? 2) Did I
finish my task for the day?
Character carries out all of its responsibilities!!

What to do:
Ask yourself: would I want a whole staff of people
just like me? (Either you have character or you are
one.)
*******************

Character ~ Conduct

April 13

Bible Reading: II Thessalonians 3:11-18

Key Verse: Verse 11 For we hear that there are

some which walk among you disorderly, working not
at all, but are busybodies.
Key Words: but are busybodies

Our conduct is tied to our character. You cant

have one without the other.
If we have loose lips.if we are not organized.
if we have a quick temper.if we are unteachable.all of
this involves our conduct.

When Queen Victoria was a child she didnt know

she was in line for the throne. Her instructors, trying to
prepare her for the future, were frustrated because they
couldnt motivate her. She just didnt take her studies
seriously. Finally her teachers decided to tell her that
one day she would become the queen of England. Upon
hearing this Victoria quietly said, Then I will be good.
The realization that she had inherited this high calling
gave her a sense of responsibility that profoundly
affected her conduct from then on.
A man in the Army of Alexander the Great who
was also named Alexander, was accused of cowardly
actions. He was brought before Alexander, who asked
what his name was. He replied softly, "Alexander." "I
can't hear you," the ruler stated. The man again said, a
little louder, "Alexander." The process was repeated one
more time, after which Alexander the Great commented,
"Either change your name or change your conduct."
Your conduct is your character and your character
is your testimony.

What to do:
Either you have character or you are one. Watch
your conduct: it does matter.

Character ~ Wisdom
Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:1-12

April 14

Key Verse: Verse 7 - Be not wise in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Key Words: fear the LORD
We are told in Proverbs 1:7, The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge. One cannot have Godly wisdom
without having Godly knowledge, because wisdom is the
application of knowledge. Wisdom is putting knowledge into
action. For example, Adam and Eve had knowledge in regard
to not eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and
evil. But they were not wise in that they did not put that
knowledge into practice, and, as a result, they lacked
character. The same can be said for Achan, Jonah, David and
Bathsheba, and the list goes on and on.
Remember that wisdom is putting knowledge (what
we know) into practice, but we can never have Scriptural
knowledge without being in the Book.
I want to share with you something really encouraging.
Most of us dont aspire very high in our reading because we
dont feel like there is any hope. But listen to this. Suppose
you read about 250 words a minute and that you resolve to
devote just 15 minutes a day to serious reading to deepen your
grasp of Biblical truth. In one year (356 days) you would read
for 5,475 minutes. Multiply that times 250 words per minute
and you get 1,368,750 words per year. Now most books have
between 300 and 400 words per page. So if we take 350
words per page and divide that into 1,368,750 words per year
we get 3,910 pages per year. This means that at 250 words a
minute, fifteen minutes a day you could read about 20 average
sized books a year! I believe you will be absolutely elated:
reading more than you ever thought you could in a 15 minute
slot that would have been wasted anyway. So get inside the
Word of God and get your knowledge. Apply it and act in
wisdom because thats where real character begins.
What to do:
You guessed it!! Either you
have character or you are one.

*******************

Character ~ Discretion

April 15

Bible Reading: Proverbs 3:13-26

Key Verse: Verse 21 - My son, let not them depart
from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
Key Words: keep sound wisdom and discretion

Wisdom is what we do. Discretion is how we do

it. Character comes from having sound discretion.
There are four ways to do what we do:
1)
2)
3)
4)

We can do a wrong thing in a wrong way.

We can do a wrong thing in a right way.
We can do a right thing in a wrong way.
But discretion is doing the right thing in the right way.

Daniel certainly had discretion in regard to the

kings meat and the kings wine (Daniel 1).
Dr. Ian Paisley, the fiery Irish cleric and politician
was reported to have been preaching one Sunday on the
End Times - and in particular on the Day of Judgement.
As he reached the climax of his address he said that on
the Day of Judgement "there would be wailing and
gnashing of teeth. At which point an old woman put up
her hand and said Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth. Dr.
Paisley could have handled the situation in any number
of way, but he showed great discretion by replying
Madam, teeth will be provided. Now, thats an act of
character!!
What to do:
Character is revealed by how we
handle ourselves.
Remember, either
you have character or you are one.

********************

Character ~ Proper Authority

April 16

Bible Reading: Judges 4:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 8 - And Barak said unto her, If thou

wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go
with me, then I will not go.
Key Words: If thou wilt go with me, then will I go

For those who have no character, absolute power

corrupts absolutely. They become the greatest of burdens; but
on the other hand, for those who understand authority, their
character will shine brightly.
Many people can simply force people to do what they
want because they have the power to make them do it.
However, few people like to be forced to do anything.
Eventually such power driven leadership destroys
relationships. On the other hand, some have the ability to
lead through authority. Authority is different than power.
Power is something you have and force on people.
Authority is something you gain. It is given to you by the
people you lead. How does one gain authority from those they
lead? Only through service and sacrifice. When people see
that you have their best interests at heart, when they see you
are willing to sacrifice and serve them, they will be willing to
follow. Thats servant leadership, thats authority.

What to do:
Remember, nothing reveals your true character like
having a little authority. Either you have character or
you are one.

Character ~ Improper Authority

April 17

 Bible Reading: I Kings 12:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 11 - And now whereas my father
did
lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your
yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I
will
chastise you with scorpions.
Key Words: I will add to your yolk
There is nothing much worse than a person who is
power happy, having power.
Authority makes one humble or domineering,
depending upon their character. In Rehoboams case, it
revealed a real lack of character.
Authority without character is like a heavy axe without
a sharp edge, more likely to bruise than to polish.
There is a story I love to tell in regard to this from the
Prime Minister of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev.
During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita
Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of
his predecessor, Joseph Stalin. Once, as he reproached Stalin
in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout
from a heckler in the audience. You were one of Stalins
colleagues. Why didnt you stop him? Who said that?
roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody
in the room dared move a muscle. Khrushchev replied, Now
you know why.
There are those who do not use authority to help and
better others, but they abuse authority and misuse others.
They do so because of a lack of Godly character!!

What to do:
Use authority to better others, not abuse them.
Either you have character or you are one.

Character ~ Aspiration
April 18

Bible Reading: Philippians 4:8-13

Key Verse: Verse 13 - I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me.
Key Words: I can do all things through Christ

You can easily tell the character of a person by

what they aspire to.

A carnal character aspires to worldliness.

A lazy character aspires to nothing.
A Godly character aspires to be like Christ.

William Carey said, Expect great things from God.

Attempt great things for God.
Today, because of a lack of Godly character, we have
few expectations of God and attempt few things for Him as
well.
A Sports Illustrated journalist was interviewing Ken
Stabler, the former quarterback for the Oakland Raiders. The
writer recited a quote from renowned author, Jack London,
that went something like this: Id rather be ashes than dust.
Id rather my spark go out in a burning flame than it be stifled
with dry rot. Id rather be a splendid meteor blazing across
the sky, every atom in me in magnificent glow, than to be a
sleepy and permanent planet. Life is to be lived, not just to
exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them; I will
use my time!
The interviewer asked Stabler what that quote meant
to him personally. The crusty, maverick veteran of the
gridiron, standing with his hands in his pockets and his usual
slouched posture blinked and then responded with a shrug,
Throw deep?
Today, we need some Christians who aspire to be great
for God and are willing to go deeply for Him.
What to do:
Remember, either you have character or you are
one.

********************

Character ~ The Whiner

April 19

Bible Reading: Numbers 11:1-9

Key Verse: Verses 1 - And when the people

complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD
heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of
the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them
that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
Key Words: the people complained

How quickly we forget the blessings of God! Israel had

been led out of Egypt by God. They had crossed the Red Sea
safely on dry ground, I might add. They had watched as the
army of the enemy had been consumed by that same sea. God
had provided food and water; their clothing and shoes were
seemingly everlasting. God had provided for them a land
flowing with milk and honey, but yet they whined. They
whined for the same reasons we whine. We focus on what we
dont have rather than on what we do have.
I read the following and found it to be a blessing. I
trust you will as well. The author is unknown.
Forgive Me When I Whine
Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair;
I envied her she seemed so gay, and how I wished I
were so fair;
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down
the aisle;
She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed,
she smiled.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine; I have two feet the
world is mine.
And when I stopped to buy some sweets, the lad who
served me had such charm;

He seemed to radiate good cheer; his manner was so kind

and warm;
I said, Its nice to deal with you; such courtesy I seldom
find;
He turned and said, Oh, thank you sir. And then I saw
that he was blind.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine; I have two eyes the
world is mine.
Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with
eyes of blue;
He stood and watched the others play; it seemed he knew
not what to do;
I stopped a moment, then I said, Why dont you join the
others, dear?
He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he
could not hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine; I have two ears the
world is mine.
With feet to take me where Id go, with eyes to see the
sunsets glow,
With ears to hear what I would know, I am blessed
indeed.
The world is mine oh, God forgive me when I whine.
Oh Lord, forgive us when we whine!!!

What to do:
Thou shalt not whine. Remember, either you have
character or you are one.

Character ~ Entitlement
April 20

Bible Reading: II Thessalonians 3:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 10 For even when we were with

you, this we commanded you, that if any would not
work, neither should he eat.
Key Words: if any would not work, neither should

he eat
We live in a day of entitlement where some feel as
though the government and others should supply all their
wants.
But a person of character understands that others owe
us nothing, that through work and toil, our needs are to be
met.
Reminds me of the story when Benjamin Franklin was
asked by a not-so-well-to-do individual, Where is all this
happiness the Constitution promises us? Franklins reply
was, The Constitution promises you the pursuit of happiness.
You have to catch it for yourself.
Ive read the following on a couple of occasions. It has
been attributed to State Rep Mitchell Aye from Georgia, but
for this hour and this day, I think it bears repeating.
We the sensible people of the United States, in an
attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of
justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote
positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt free liberty
to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby
try one more time to ordain and establish some common
sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden,
delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters.
We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole
lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim
they require a Bill of NON-Rights.
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car,
big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to
you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing
anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be
offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means
freedom for everyonenot just you! You may leave the room,
turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the
world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free

from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be
more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make
you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food
and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be
found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly
growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of
professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than
the creation of another generation of professional couch
potatoes.
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health
care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public
housing, were just not interested in public health care.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically
harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim,
or kill someone, dont be surprised if the rest of us want to see
you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the
possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the
goods or services of other citizens, dont be surprised if the
rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you
still wont have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of
leisure.
ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job.
All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you
along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of
the opportunities of education and vocational training laid
before you to make yourself useful.
ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness.
Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE
happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are
unencumbered by an over-abundance of idiotic laws created
by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country.
We dont care where you are from, English is our language.
Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!
ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change
our countrys history or heritage. This country was founded
on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the

freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all,

with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST
is part of our heritage and history, and if you are
uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!!!!

What to do:
People who carry a spirit of entitlement surely do
not carry a spirit of Godly character. Remember,
either you have character or you are one.
********************

Character ~ Appreciation
April 21

Bible Reading: II Corinthians 7

Key Verse: Verse 3 - I speak not this to condemn you:

for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die
and live with you.
Key Words: ye are in our hearts

In this day of jealousy and envy, its hard for people to

honestly
have
the
character
to
appreciate
the
accomplishments of others.
There are three primary things brought to our
attention in regard to appreciation found in II Corinthians 7.
In verses 2 4, Paul is encouraging the church, while
in verses 5 10, Titus is encouraging Paul, and in verses 11
16, the church at Corinth encourages Titus.
Those people who appreciate your work, not only can
be, they are a great encouragement to us. Amen!
Dr. Ernest Mellor, in an article for Homemade
magazine, said, Recently my wife and I sat charmed at an
outdoor performance by young Suzuki violin students. After
the concert, an instructor spoke briefly on how children as
young as two, three and four years old are taught to play
violin. The first thing the children learn, he said, is a proper

stance. And the second thing the children learn even before
they pick up the violin is how to take a bow. If the children
just play the violin and stop, people may forget to show their
appreciation, the instructor said. But when the children bow,
the audience invariably applauds. And applause is the best
motivator weve found to make children feel good about
performing and want to do it well.
The truth is that we all, yes even you and I, need a pat
on the back occasionally. We all need to know that we are
appreciated. It motivates us to go on. So today, I encourage
you to let someone else know that you appreciate them.

What to do:
Let others know how much you appreciate their
work and for using their talents for God. Remember,
either you have character or you are one.
********************

Character ~ To Disagree
April 22

Bible Reading: Nehemiah 4:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 2 - And he spake before his

brethren
and the army of Samaria, and said,
What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify
themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an
end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the
heaps of the rubbish which
are burned?
Key Words: What do these feeble Jews

People with character know how to disagree without

becoming obnoxious and demeaning. As you read about
Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the walls, you can see from
verse 2 that those who disagreed with Nehemiah became very
sarcastic and ridiculed the people. Thats what people with no

character do. But Nehemiah doesnt respond in kind; he

simply turns and gives his petition to God.
Although George Whitefield disagreed with John
Wesley on some theological matters, he was careful not to
create problems in public that could be used to hinder the
preaching of the Gospel. When someone asked Whitefield if
he thought he would see Wesley in heaven, Whitefield replied,
I fear not, for he will be so near the eternal throne and we at
such a distance, we shall hardly get sight of him.
H. L. Mencken was a newspaperman and magazine
editor in the first half of this century. His critiques of
American life often drew letters expressing outrage and
indignation. He answered every critical letter and handled
each one the same way. Mencken simply wrote back, You
may be right.
Peace settlements start with the
acknowledgement that the other party may be right.
People of character know how to disagree without
being disagreeable.
What to do:
Its alright to disagree but dont do it with a
disagreeable spirit. Remember, either you have
character or you are one.

Character ~ Cockiness
April 23

Bible Reading: Joshua 8:10-29

Key Verse: Verse 14 - And it came to pass, when the

king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early,
and the men of the city went out against Israel to
battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed,

before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers
in ambush against him behind the city.
Key Words: the king of Ai
The word cockiness, according to the dictionary, can
mean arrogant, full of self, someone who is always right in
their own eyes. Ever know anyone like that?
It was pride and over-cockiness of Israel that led to
their defeat against Ai. Now the pride and arrogance of Ai will
lead to their demise. Remember, Pride goeth before the fall.
Past victories are no guarantee of future victories.
An overconfident girl may think she can handle the
petting only to find out later the power of worldly lust. An
overconfident pastor may feel as though he can handle his
desires and passions as well, only to find himself a shame to
the cause of Christ, his family and himself.
The overconfidence of many teens and adults has
destroyed them when they thought they could handle the
drugs, sex, or liquor. Watch out for cockiness and pride.
A man who had a high opinion of himself, stepped on a
coin-operated scale that dispensed a card giving his weight
and comments about his personality. After reading the card,
he handed it to his wife and said, Here, look at this! She
took it and read aloud, You are dynamic, a born leader,
handsome, and much admired by women for your
personality. Giving a second look, she added, Hmmm...I see
it got your weight wrong, too.
Beware of cockiness!
What to do:
You know by now: Remember, either you have
character or you are one.

Character ~ Loyalty
April 24

Bible Reading: Ruth 1:1-18

Key Verse: Verse 18 - When she saw that she was

stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left
speaking unto her.

Key Words: stedfastly minded to go with her

There is something to be said for people that are
loyalnot a loyalty that stems from emotion and feeling, such
as Peter had when he said I will never deny you, but a
loyalty that comes from a heart of character.
Most of us have been hurt by someone who forsook us
over some trivial disagreement, even though we had
invested our lives in them. Loyalty is a matter of the heart; its
a matter of character.
One of the all-time greats in baseball was Babe
Ruth. His bat had the power of a cannon, and his record of
714 home runs remained unbroken until Hank Aaron came
along. The Babe was the idol of sports fans, but in time age
took its toll, and his popularity began to wane. Finally, the
Yankees traded him to the Braves. In one of his last games in
Cincinnati, Babe Ruth began to falter. He struck out and
made several misplays that allowed the Reds to score five runs
in one inning. As the Babe walked toward the dugout, chin
down and dejected, there rose from the stand an enormous
storm of boos and catcalls. Some fans actually shook their
fists. Then a wonderful thing happened. A little boy jumped
over the railing, and with tears streaming down his cheeks he
ran out to the great athlete. Unashamedly, he flung his arms
around the Babes legs and held on tightly. Babe Ruth
scooped him up, hugged him, and set him down
again. Patting him gently on the head, he took his hand and
the two of them walked off the field together.
There is something to be said for loyalty.

What to do:
Remember, loyalty is a matter of the heart. Either
you have character or you are one.
********************

Character ~ Being A Friend

April 25

Bible Reading: Proverbs 17

Key Verse: 17 - A friend loveth at all times, and a

brother is born for adversity.
Key Words: a friend loveth at all times

I went out looking for a friend and found one nowhere.

I went out to be a friend and found them everywhere.
Proverbs chapter seventeen deals with the subject of
contentment. We see in verses one through five that Solomon
deals with contentment from possessions. In verses six
through ten, he deals with contentment from having right
priorities. In verses eleven through twenty-one, he talks about
being content with people, and sometimes being content in
spite of people. Then in verses twenty-two through twentyeight, he talks about contentment that comes from being
prudent.
But in verse seventeen, Solomon touches on being
content in our friendships when he says a friend loveth at all
times. A real key to loving someone is in reality being their
friend. Let me explain.
On July 29, 1981, Britains Prince Charles married
Lady Di in a grand royal wedding. The glamorous wedding
was a fairy tale come true for both Prince Charles and Lady
Di, or at least thats what we were led to believe. For their
wedding London was a city dressed like a large stage. City
busses were painted the color of the wedding. There were
4,500 pots of flowers that lined the wedding route of Lady Di.
All the flowers were, there again, the color of her wedding.
That day it is said that three million people lined the
streets of London to get a glimpse of Lady Di. The wedding
was carried live on television in seventy-five countries.
Approximately one billion people watched the wedding.
It was indeed a glamorous wedding; but unfortunately,
it wasnt a glamorous marriage.
Fifteen years and one month after Prince Charles and
Lady Di said I do, they were divorced. Someone asked

Prince Charles why the marriage failed. His answer was, to

say the least, shocking. He said, Lady Di and I were lovers
and admired each other, but we were never friends. Oh!! The
Word of God is so true. A friend loveth at all times.

What to do:
Being a friend is a matter of having a friendly
character. Either you have character or you are one.
********************

Character ~ Excuses
April 26

Bible Reading: Proverbs 22:13-29

Key Verse: Verse 13 - The slothful man saith, There is

a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Key Words: there is a lion

Character doesnt make excuses. It does what it

should do and accepts responsibility without excuses.
Benjamin Franklin once said, He that is good at
making excuses is seldom good at anything else.
Nothing is quite as fascinating as the person who
always renders an excuse for not doing what they should have
done.
I read the following top ten excuses as to why people
dont bathe. You can take these excuses and apply them to
any area of life where excuses are made.
10.
9.
8.
7.

I was forced to take a bath as a child.

People who bathe are hypocrites. They think
they are cleaner than anyone else.
There are so many kinds of soap; I cant make
up my mind which one to use.
I used to bathe, but I stopped because it was
really boring.

6.
5.
4.
3
2.
1.

I only bathe on special occasions: Christmas

and Easter.
None of my friends bathe.
Ill start bathing when I get older and have
more time.
I really dont think Im that dirty.
The bathroom is always too hot or too cold.
The people who make bath soap are only after
your money.

See how ridiculous excuses can be? And yes, we do

sound that silly when we make them. So stop using great
excuses not to do what you should, and start accomplishing
great things by doing what you should.thats character.

What to do:
Stop making excuses. Remember, either you
have character or you are one.

Character ~ Peer Pressure

April 27

Bible Reading: Genesis 3:1-19

Key Verse: Verse 6 - And when the woman saw that
the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant
to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise,
she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave
also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Key Words: and he did eat

If you live your life with Godly character, then you will
never fall into the trap of peer pressure.
I once read about a spider that built a beautiful web in
an old house. He kept it clean and shiny so that flies would
patronize it. The minute he got a customer, he would make a
quick meal of it and was very careful to clean up afterward so
that other flies would not get suspicious.
One day this fairly intelligent fly came buzzing by the
clean spider web. Old man spider called out, "Come in and
sit." But the fairly intelligent fly replied. "No, sir. I don't see
other flies in your house, and I'm not going in alone!"
Right about then the fairly intelligent fly saw a large
crowd of flies dancing around on a piece of brown paper
below. He was delighted and prepared to join the crowd. Just
before he landed, a bee zoomed by calling out, "Don't land
there, stupid! That's flypaper!"
But the fairly intelligent fly shouted back, "Don't be
silly. Those flies are dancing down there! Everybody's doing it.
That many flies can't be wrong!" Well, you know what
happenedhe died on the spot!
Some of us want to be with the crowd so badly that we
won't listen to God's Word or good advice. What does it profit
a fly (or a person) if he escapes the web only to end up in the
glue? As a Christian, we should not long for things simply
because others do, but rather we should long for the things of
God. Thats character!

What to do:
Dont be ordinary but be extraordinary for being an
example of Godliness to your family.
********************

Character ~ Criticism
April 28

Bible Reading: John 11:1-21

Key Verse: Verse 21 - Then said Martha unto Jesus,
Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not
died.

Key Words: if thou hadst been here, my brother

had not died
Nothing reveals our true character like how we handle
criticism! Ive always told our staff who are criticized, If the
criticism is correct, change; if its not correct, dont worry
about it.
Remember, if you do anything, say anything, make any
decision, you open yourself up for criticism. But a person of
true character handles themselves with Godly dignity.
English evangelist George Whitefield (1714-1770)
learned that it was more important to please God than to
please men. Knowing that he was doing what was honoring to
the Lord kept him from discouragement when he was falsely
accused by his enemies. At one point in his ministry,
Whitefield received a vicious letter accusing him of
wrongdoing.
His reply was brief and courteous: I thank you
heartily for your letter. As for what you and my other enemies
are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than
you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, George
Whitefield.
He didnt try to defend himself. He was much more
concerned about pleasing the Lord.
What to do:
Please God! Either you have
character or you are one.
********************

Character ~ Christianity
April 29

Bible Reading: Acts 11:1-26

he

Key Verse: Verse 26 - And when he had found him,

brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a
whole year they assembled themselves with the
church, and taught much people. And the disciples
were called Christians first in Antioch.
Key Words: And the disciples were called

Christians first in Antioch

There is a difference between being born again and
being a Christian. Being born again is when we accept what
Jesus did for us in dying, being buried, and raising from the
dead. Salvation is what Jesus did for us; being a Christian is
what we do for Him not because we have to but because we
want to.
The very word Christian means to resemble, to
identify with. So a Christian is one who can be identified
because they resemble Christ in word and actions.
The young son of a humble, consecrated pastor
became very ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive
series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his
son had a terminal illness. The youngster had accepted Christ
as his Savior, so the minister knew that death would usher
him into Glory; but he wondered how to inform him that he
would soon die. After earnestly seeking the direction of the
Holy Spirit, he went with a heavy heart through the hospital
ward to the boys bedside. First he read a passage of Scripture
and had a time of prayer with his dear child. Then he gently
told him that the doctors could promise him only a few more
days to live. Are you afraid to meet Jesus, my boy? asked
his devout father. Blinking away a few tears, the little fellow
said bravely, No, not if Hes like you, Dad.
In our daily walk we should strive to reflect Christ in
our lives. Thats character!

What to do:
Live your life desiring for others to see Jesus
through you. Either you have character or you are
one.

********************

Character ~ The Standard

April 30

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:20-30

Key Verse: Verse 29- Take my yoke upon you, and
learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls.
Key Words: I am meek and lowly
Jesus is the Standard for Character. He never exalts
Himself. He always put the will of the Father first. He
thought of others more than Himself. Jesus is the Standard
for Character.
Christ was a missionary in the house of Lazarus.
Christ was a foreign missionarywhen the Greeks
came to Him.
Christ was a city missionary when he taught in
Samaria.
Christ was a Sunday School missionarywhen He
opened up the Scriptures and set men to studying the
Word of God.
Christ was a missionary to the childrenwhen He took
them in His arms and blessed them.
Christ was a missionary to the poorwhen He opened
the eyes of the blind beggar.
Christ was a missionary to the richwhen He opened
the spiritual eyes of Zacchaeus.
Even on the cross, Christ was a missionary to the
thieves; and His last command on this earth was a
missionary commission (Acts 1:8).
Christ was the greatest of all the missionaries, because
He was the greatest of all the servants. Maybe we should
follow both His lead and command, and go into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature.

What to do:
Let Jesus be the Standard for your character. Either
you have character or you are one.

I deeply appreciate the

help of
Mary Parsons

Glenda Myrick
And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these

people to help, this
devotional would not
have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain Road

Birmingham, AL. 35235
(205) 854-2741
www.mountainviewbaptist.org