Consistency…

If you were to go around and asked maybe 5 people at random at different settings in your life if your behavior, demeanor and attitude are consistent - what response do you think you’d receive?  Not sure – then why don’t you go around and ask.  Ask people on your job; people at school; people at your church; people in your social settings. 

I know that I haven’t shown consistency over the past 2 months and that saddens me as I’ve allowed the stresses and strains to impact me and others have noticed that.   

James 1: 2 -4 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Practice what I preach is what I’ve been saying to myself constantly.  I HAVE A CHOICE IN HOW I RESPOND and this is a conversation that I have with myself daily.  I think we owe it to those around us to display consistent behavior and characteristics of that taught to us in the Bible, especially those of us who proclaim to be Christians. 

 “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.”

-Maya Angelou

Fighting Change...

God speaks, so just listen.

Resisting inevitable change will make you unhappy.  This truth in my life became very clear as God placed that message on my heart.  There is a LOT of change taking place on my job and because I’ve been so set in my ways of doing it my way (the same way); I’ve been walking around a bit sullen.  This became evident when a staff member told me, “just pray about it.”  Ha!  The message that I preach so much to them – allowed them to be a mirror to me – and I had to heed to my own message.  While I’ve been feeling that my leadership hasn’t been playing fair, what I failed to realize was that I was resisting inevitable change.  Everything doesn’t have to be a fight.

God speaks, so just listen.

It’s like in our own spiritual walks with God.  When He is ready to change a season in our lives and we want so desperately to hold on to the familiar, that we fight the change and call it the devil.  LOL!  Ever done that?  God is definitely pushing me to a place of trusting Him more and relying on Him daily for direction.

I have a choice in how I respond to change and today I choose to have a positive attitude.  I choose to be happy.  I choose to trust God that He will take care of me through it all.  I choose to speak life to myself and those that surround me. 

Thoughts...

Inspired by a message I heard from Joyce Meyer...

"Love is commitment.  Ladies - make people respect you!  Set the standard..."

A Cry for Bondage...

As I read Numbers 11 this morning, I couldn't help but to think of this subject
matter. 

In this passage of text, the Israelites were complaining to Moses about what
they had to eat.  God had delivered them from bondage and provided manna from
heaven, but that wasn't satisfying enough to them.  No - they craved the foods
they ate while they were held captive in Egypt.  Hence I say, A Cry for Bondage.  

God brings us out and delivers us, but He doesn't always do it according to
"our" standards and before long we find ourselves complaining and comparing the
now to the then.  As a result of their complaining and comparing, God said okay
- I will satisfy your cravings.  And He did just that. 

When he provided them with meat, the flesh that they whined for, they began to
gorge themselves on it.  They overindulged disgustingly.   While they were yet
in the act, God's anger grew exceedingly and He struck them with a plague. 

Our craving may not be for foods, but it may be a past relationship, friendship, job or some materialistic possession.  Be careful what you ask for, complain about and compare to - you may get exactly what you "think" you want!!! 

It's a new season and a new year - go into it with an open mind and willing spirit and allow God to do something fresh and new in your life.

Philippians 3:13...Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Proverbs 3:5-6... Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Self Actualization

During a conversation with a friend the other day, the term self actualization came to mind, when I attempted to describe what I thought I had personally accomplished in 2012.  What I was referring to was how I felt that my perceptions with regards to myself in relation to others had matured.  How I had learned to be intentionally cognizant of my interactions with others.  To understand why I responded or reacted to certain situations the way that I did.  How I tried to remain conscientious of the words that I spoke, in making sure that I was again intentional with their uses.

If you've ever read anything about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, you may have heard this term before.  In an article by Kendra Cherry, she summed up some of the characteristics of Self Actualized people that I'd like to share with you.
(http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_2.htm)

• Acceptance and Realism: Self-actualized people have realistic perceptions of themselves, others and the world around them.
• Problem-centering: Self-actualized individuals are concerned with solving problems outside of themselves, including helping others and finding solutions to problems in the external world.
• Spontaneity: Self-actualized people are spontaneous in their internal thoughts and outward behavior. While they can conform to rules and social expectations, they also tend to be open and unconventional.
• Autonomy and Solitude: Another characteristic of self-actualized people is the need for independence and privacy. While they enjoy the company of others, these individuals need time to focus on developing their own individual potential.
• Continued Freshness of Appreciation: Self-actualized people tend to view the world with a continual sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple experiences continue to be a source of inspiration and pleasure.

Learn yourself; understand yourself; realize your full potential because in doing so you'll be better able to help someone else reach their potential in life. 

Focus Shift...

Happy New Year to All!

As we all sit down to write out our goals and pursuits for the new year, I'd like to suggest an initiative for you to place near the top of your list.  That initiative is shifting your focus from being all about you and making a concerted effort to help someone else.  I don't mean taking someone on as a project, but genuinely taking an interest in the affairs of another and being that encouragement, that voice of reason, that shoulder to lean on or that listening ear when they need someone the most. 

Take some time to help someone else reach a goal in their life.

I was listening to an interview with Rick Warren the other night and he was saying how he and his wife tithe 90% and live off of 10%.  He said they would challenge themselves each year to tithe more.  I was like - WOW!  Please note that not all tithing has to be about money.  It can be your time - your talents.  So give more this year, but not just to yourself.

“I don't want to live in the kind of world where we don't look out for each other. Not just the people that are close to us, but anybody who needs a helping hand. I can't change the way anybody else thinks, or what they choose to do, but I can do my bit.” - Charles de Lint

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”- John Bunyan

Luke 6:38 (NIV) - Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

If you take some time to help another, you'll have less time to worry, cry and complain about the shortcomings that may be present in your own life. 

2 Corinthians 9:7...Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.