Day 10: Drawing Closer to God (Communicating Challenges Faced)

This evening, 19 years ago I married my husband in a magical Renaissance themed wedding. As I sat across the table from him at dinner, I was struck with how far we have come and overcome. It is easy to see God's hand in things after the fact but I can honestly say that I was seeing God's hand in our conversation tonight as it was happening. Learning to communicate is by far the most difficult thing for a  majority of people. It certainly has been challenging for me because I have a natural tendency within my temperament to not express my needs. Not being able to express yourself comes back to bite you in the butt with anger, resentment, bitterness and the love fading from your relationship. Thanks to knowing about how God created me, needs, weakness, strengths and all has been the catalyst to the most growth I have ever had including those super growing physically years when you are a baby. My weaknesses are being overcome with my understanding of God and his word, with relying on Him more and more. My needs are being met because I no longer have the fear of rejection and can assert what it is I am needing. My limitations are fully recognized and accepted for what they are and how they are the very reason I need God. I love my husband no matter his imperfections and he loves me no matter mine and God is working on each of us to grow towards the perfection that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 297

Needs. There are many. And needs are unique to each of us. Some need lots of people and social relationships, some need to have other control them and vice versa, some need love and affection in heaping amounts. Still others, will be able to communicate their needs and others not so much. I watched a show in which a beloved character was hurt very badly and was fast approaching the end of life but one of the doctors was able to perform a life-saving technique that was beyond risky. She did it and the other doctor started thanking Jesus and was overjoyed by the fact that she did it. She went over to her and said “I know you’re not a hugger, but I need you to hug me back right now.” This other doctor is not an outwardly loving person but in that beautiful moment she went out of her comfort-zone and responded to someone else’s need for demonstrated love.

How can we meet the needs of others?

Romans 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 121

My heart was angry yesterday at the words of my co-workers who told me of what happened on Monday when I was out. Micro-managed doesn’t even fully describe it. Being managed in such a way, with only negative comments is very degrading to a person. They have no trust in us and our work. All of us are busting our butts doing the best we can with what we are given. They made it even worse by condemning our team lead saying she doesn’t even know what her team is doing. No, she trusts that we know our job and can see that we are working away all day long. I had to call on the Holy Spirit to hold my tongue and just respond with gentleness and kindness with what happened to my co-worker and team lead. Something went down last week with the same co-worker and team lead through an email. They responded saying they wished to discuss the issue. Our office manager didn’t respond so they are really upset about the so-called open door policy that is not showing. All I can do is encourage them to communicate with her without anger whether it is in an email or catching her in the hallway. You can’t put someone down and not let them defend themselves. I find this all very disconcerting because of the injustice of it. It is only with the Holy Spirit’s guidance I can navigate this in a way that will bring glory to God.

1Corinthians 2:14-16 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 276

I really liked what our pastor said in his sermon yesterday. He said Jesus had a mission statement: Seek and save what is lost. As followers of Christ, we have this as our mission statement as well. Our pastor is leading our church to really take the gospel out of the church and to where the people are. A church can't wait around for people to come to it. You have to go out and be where the people are and communicate in a way that they will be responsive to. It's exciting to see our church breaking free from the church of our past that hasn't been working and really work at doing what Christ wants us to do. Jesus didn't wait for people to come to him. He traveled all over going to the people. I am thankful to our pastor who will help lead this church to take the gospel to the people.

Ezekiel 24:12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.