Just thinking today...it's that kinda day! As I was listening to someone going on and one, this is what came to mind (just thought I'd share):
"How can you blame God for the bad stuff, when you never stop to thank him for the good stuff. If you're going to blame him for the bad stuff then you should blame him for the good stuff as well. Have ya ever thanked him for the good stuff?" hum.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Absent When Present.
This is how I look at relationships and how some people unrelate IN them: It’s one thing (a cruddy thing) to be absent when you’re absent, but it's still extremely hurtful and disrespectful to be absent when you’re present. This just spilled out of my mouth one day when Jim and I were talking about people in our lives and how they make us "feel". Because really, what impacts us so much in our relationships is how people make us feel.
If you're being honest....you've felt this, I'm sure! Maybe you’re talking with someone and they’re looking at you, but you can clearly tell that they are planning their next move or how to get to the person they really what to talk to. Shoot, maybe I’m boring, but then don’t waste my time with nonsense. With this being said, we should use these moments to learn what not to do in our conversations with others. When we communicate, conversations need to go back and fourth; we should never find ourselves bombarding the other person with every detail of our life or our troubles and not reciprocate and show interest or concern for what is going on in their life.
We have several people in our life that do this. They approach us or call us when they need something, to borrow something, to get something for free or just to hear themselves talk and vent I suppose. I love that people find me comforting or easy to talk AT or find some sort of something in what I say. But sometimes, I would like to be comforted. Sometimes I need to be comforted. I don't want any THING from anyone, but sometimes I'd like to know that I count, I'm loved, and someone has some kind of concern for me. When my emotional boat sinks, I'd like to know that someone other than my husband and parents are there to pull me ashore.
One time I had a friend tell me that they are sorry we haven't gotten together lately, but hey had been focusing on the people in their life that are basically misled. They were spending time just getting together on a small scale trying just to be an influence in their life to make a change in them. They feel comfortable drinking and bar hoping with them and just want to spend time in the trenches, hopefully making an impression. I say that's terrific that you're being a positive influence. But what about feeding your spirit with like minded people, as well. Feeding yourself with positive people so you can continue to work in the trenches. How about not making excuses of why you bar hop...if you want to bar hop than do it...I don't care...I won't judge you for it...but the logic is not logical. And what about the other people in your life, the other ones that maybe are doing well, but could use a positive word or conversation to keep them lifted, keep them feeling cherished, or just to have good clean fun with.
I sometimes feel like a dumping ground and when they're done dumping, they are done...PERIOD! I have had people stop me as my family and I are walking on to our next destination and eat up a 1/2 hour (or an hour) of my time with a conversation that has nothing to do with them, myself or anyone I know. Meanwhile my children and husband are in the car waiting to leave for lunch. When someone says they need to go now...let them - usually it's true! I can understand wanting to chit chat, but usually that means back and forth conversation - sometimes I feel like some people just want to hear THEMSELVES talk and if I happen to be the person in front of them, they don't mind unloading no matter what the circumstances are.
I think the worst is when they don't even pretend to make small talk before they ASK you for whatever they want. They don't even pretend that they have been dying to talk to you, but just have been busy with life. They just come up, straight forward, out of the blue and ask you (or call you to ask you) for SOMETHING; it may be a thing, information or for you to take on a ministry or to make a donation. At least pretend, while you're requesting of me, that I'm human and I'm here! Otherwise, text me...and I can just ignore you...because that's how you make me feel.
You know, if you're truly interested in friending someone and building a trusting relationship where you can have great, fun, meaningful moments, you should always be listening and learning more about that person and then be able to share openly about yourself. But when a conversation is one sided, the communication is cut off and you will only ever make it 1/2 way down one way of a two way street.
Take the cotton balls OUT of your ears and place them into your mouth once in awhile. (Get it, shut up once in awhile and try listening for a change). I'm sure I have been guilty of this many times - just know I strive NOT to be like this...and I'm a jabber jaw, so it's hard. Communication is a learned skill, and we all can improve our skills no matter what our age, profession, strengths or weaknesses.
If you're being honest....you've felt this, I'm sure! Maybe you’re talking with someone and they’re looking at you, but you can clearly tell that they are planning their next move or how to get to the person they really what to talk to. Shoot, maybe I’m boring, but then don’t waste my time with nonsense. With this being said, we should use these moments to learn what not to do in our conversations with others. When we communicate, conversations need to go back and fourth; we should never find ourselves bombarding the other person with every detail of our life or our troubles and not reciprocate and show interest or concern for what is going on in their life.
We have several people in our life that do this. They approach us or call us when they need something, to borrow something, to get something for free or just to hear themselves talk and vent I suppose. I love that people find me comforting or easy to talk AT or find some sort of something in what I say. But sometimes, I would like to be comforted. Sometimes I need to be comforted. I don't want any THING from anyone, but sometimes I'd like to know that I count, I'm loved, and someone has some kind of concern for me. When my emotional boat sinks, I'd like to know that someone other than my husband and parents are there to pull me ashore.
One time I had a friend tell me that they are sorry we haven't gotten together lately, but hey had been focusing on the people in their life that are basically misled. They were spending time just getting together on a small scale trying just to be an influence in their life to make a change in them. They feel comfortable drinking and bar hoping with them and just want to spend time in the trenches, hopefully making an impression. I say that's terrific that you're being a positive influence. But what about feeding your spirit with like minded people, as well. Feeding yourself with positive people so you can continue to work in the trenches. How about not making excuses of why you bar hop...if you want to bar hop than do it...I don't care...I won't judge you for it...but the logic is not logical. And what about the other people in your life, the other ones that maybe are doing well, but could use a positive word or conversation to keep them lifted, keep them feeling cherished, or just to have good clean fun with.
I sometimes feel like a dumping ground and when they're done dumping, they are done...PERIOD! I have had people stop me as my family and I are walking on to our next destination and eat up a 1/2 hour (or an hour) of my time with a conversation that has nothing to do with them, myself or anyone I know. Meanwhile my children and husband are in the car waiting to leave for lunch. When someone says they need to go now...let them - usually it's true! I can understand wanting to chit chat, but usually that means back and forth conversation - sometimes I feel like some people just want to hear THEMSELVES talk and if I happen to be the person in front of them, they don't mind unloading no matter what the circumstances are.
I think the worst is when they don't even pretend to make small talk before they ASK you for whatever they want. They don't even pretend that they have been dying to talk to you, but just have been busy with life. They just come up, straight forward, out of the blue and ask you (or call you to ask you) for SOMETHING; it may be a thing, information or for you to take on a ministry or to make a donation. At least pretend, while you're requesting of me, that I'm human and I'm here! Otherwise, text me...and I can just ignore you...because that's how you make me feel.
You know, if you're truly interested in friending someone and building a trusting relationship where you can have great, fun, meaningful moments, you should always be listening and learning more about that person and then be able to share openly about yourself. But when a conversation is one sided, the communication is cut off and you will only ever make it 1/2 way down one way of a two way street.
Take the cotton balls OUT of your ears and place them into your mouth once in awhile. (Get it, shut up once in awhile and try listening for a change). I'm sure I have been guilty of this many times - just know I strive NOT to be like this...and I'm a jabber jaw, so it's hard. Communication is a learned skill, and we all can improve our skills no matter what our age, profession, strengths or weaknesses.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Divided Attention
Nothing is more disheartening than when you're in a conversation with someone and that person is only giving us part of their attention. We can clearly see the person looking over our shoulders, looking around us and thru us, and not making any type of clear eye contact. This reveals the lack of interest the person has in either the topic we’re discussing or us as a person.
Maybe the person is looking at you, but you can clearly tell that they are planning their next move or how to get to the person they really what to talk to. With this being said, we should use these moments to learn what not to do in our conversations with others. Most importantly, we need to avoid doing this in our relationship with God. We must strive to give him all our attention, to show him how much he really means to us. May we never take our eyes off of him, may we not be distracted by the thing around us, and may we always give him our undivided attention.
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Proverbs 2:2-5
Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Maybe the person is looking at you, but you can clearly tell that they are planning their next move or how to get to the person they really what to talk to. With this being said, we should use these moments to learn what not to do in our conversations with others. Most importantly, we need to avoid doing this in our relationship with God. We must strive to give him all our attention, to show him how much he really means to us. May we never take our eyes off of him, may we not be distracted by the thing around us, and may we always give him our undivided attention.
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Proverbs 2:2-5
Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Friday, March 9, 2012
The Struggle!
Where there is Christ...there too will be mockers, doubters and sinners. Where there is Christ and those who love him, evil shall be there too...for it hates the truth, truth seekers and truth tellers. It watches and waits, it slinks in when no one is looking and dares you to come closer. It fights to close the eyes, shut the ears, bind the hands and seal the mouth...for it knows that the heart knows the truth even when the flesh fights against it - the heart strives to get and give the truth.
Evil fights with everything in its power to deny it, to banish it, to unravel it, to disprove it, to punish it...to mock it. Why does it try so hard? Because it too knows the truth but has been exiled due to its own choices and wishes the same for you. But the end of the story is, was and will be forever the same...Christ. Love. Truth. Unboastful, unwavering, unscathed, unshaken. He is humbly strong, constant and steadfast - faithful. Beginning and the end!
Evil fights with everything in its power to deny it, to banish it, to unravel it, to disprove it, to punish it...to mock it. Why does it try so hard? Because it too knows the truth but has been exiled due to its own choices and wishes the same for you. But the end of the story is, was and will be forever the same...Christ. Love. Truth. Unboastful, unwavering, unscathed, unshaken. He is humbly strong, constant and steadfast - faithful. Beginning and the end!
Monday, March 5, 2012
What are you?
In these times, many will say that we are just a product of time plus luck. They’d argue that the body is all there is and that we are no different than animals. In some eyes, this physical matter is all there is and in the end, there is nothing. God tells us differently. He declares that we are set apart as people and we are created to live forever.
What makes us unique is that God created us with a soul that moves on to its next destination. As believers in Christ, we also have one more defining trait in our make up that completes us: the Holy Spirit. God himself dwells inside all of us; he helps us as we live out our lives here in this world. You are body, soul and spirit; a triune person made in the image of a triune God. You are more than lucky, you are blessed!
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
What makes us unique is that God created us with a soul that moves on to its next destination. As believers in Christ, we also have one more defining trait in our make up that completes us: the Holy Spirit. God himself dwells inside all of us; he helps us as we live out our lives here in this world. You are body, soul and spirit; a triune person made in the image of a triune God. You are more than lucky, you are blessed!
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
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