Lessons Learned

These last few months at work have been very trying - hence the lack of postings.  However, through all of the frustrating days and sleepless night, I've learned many lessons about myself.  I've learned that I didn't have the tolerance that I once thought I had (so I need to pray more); I learned that when pushed to the limits - my ability to perform went to a better level; most importantly I learned that when people discount you - God will raise you up.

The lessons I've learned over the past 4 months are ones that I try to remind myself of daily.  If I keep myself reminded of them, then I must hold myself accountable for maintaining a positive attitude.  I've learned that God did not set me up to fail.

"When your problems are bigger than you, Remember that God is bigger than them."

- Author: Elizabeth Manis

Luke 1:37…For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Thought For The Day....

"Your worst day with God is better than your best day without Him."
- Joyce Meyer

Do Unto Others...

Luke 6:31 (NIV)... "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Just think of how much more pleasant our world would be to live in if we obeyed this scripture on a daily basis.  Why is this so hard for us to abide by?  Why is making a sacrifice and forsaking the desire to be selfish so difficult?

While this is something that we can carry out in small ways on a daily basis, I have the pleasure of knowing someone who took this verse to another level and how I know she'll be blessed for her obedience.  I'll change names as I give a brief synopsis of the situation.

Sally's mom was very ill and took a turn for the worse.  She had been admitted into the hospital on numerous occasions, but this one was different.  Sally's mom was rapidly deteriorating and it was time to call the family in.  Vicky is Sally's co-worker and associate and since Sally has no sisters, Vicky says "I'll be the sister you've never had to be with you through this difficult time."  As a result, Vicky sacrificed her time and stayed overnight in the hospital with Sally as a source of strength and to be there as needed.  In the wee hours of the morning, Vicky felt an unction to pray and they held hands around the hospital bed and began to pray and sing songs of worship.  After that, Sally's mom's fragile life slipped away.

Think about it....  What if Vicky had decided that she didn't have time for Sally or if she said, 'I'll pray for you and call me if you need anything.'  No, she took it further - she was there.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

Make God Smile…

Here’s my worship, take joy in it.  Make it your dwelling place, I wanna put a smile on your face.  I present my heart to you. I present my life to you.

As we sang this song during Sunday service, my eyes welled up with tears and I began to think that my desire is to do God’s will and that makes Him smile.  I began to think on all the little things that I had allowed to annoy me and what my demeanor was as I went through those things.  As we continued to sing over and over, “Smile, I wanna make you smile,” I begin to think of how proud I wanted to make God in how I handled life’s situations.  I truly want to make God smile.

Today’s thoughts are short and simple.  Make God smile today in how you live your life.  Make God smile today in how you handle the tasks that have been assigned to your hands.  Make God smile in the way that you respond to others.  Make God smile in the way that you love Him!  When you’re uncertain, just think – will what I’m doing or how I’m responding make God smile?

Psalms 118:24…This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

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..."