365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 77

Our work environment is a festering pot of frustration and yesterday the pot let out a little steam but not in an honorable way. A co-worker of mine, in her frustration, said loudly “Jesus F@*$#ing Christ”. I was taken aback by it and paused in my own work in the shock of it but also felt like I should something but was at a loss for words. I went on about my work but this incident stayed with me all day long. So, before bed I asked my husband if he had experienced anything like this at his work. He hadn’t but kindly suggested I speak my feelings to the person about it when it happens. So, I went on thinking about what I might have said and what I could say when this kind of situation may rise again and than I stopped myself and prayed to God and asked him to give me the words, to guide me in finding the truth in his holy word. So, I gave it to God and went to sleep. This morning I have been looking at commentaries about taking the Lord’s name in vain and have learned it really is meant to be more than just like the incident I experienced yesterday but also living in reverence to our Lord. In any case, I looked at the scriptures that were given in these commentaries and found this one in Phillipians to be the one that I will memorize and will say if and when the name of my Lord is said in such a way.

Phillipians 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 62

A co-worker and I connected yesterday when I said I like to have my work look stellar. We were talking about the increased mistakes of all of us because we are so overloaded and we looked at each other with that “aha” we are the same expression. I told her it is in my nature to want to have my work look awesome and when it is not I am frustrated and angry at what I consider the cause, our boss. But it is time to let it go and know that God is in control, not my boss. I do the best I can do with what is given me and that is all anyone can ask. So, the peace of knowing that God is in control will pull me through. Thank God for helping me to see my weakness and give it to him.

James 1:19-21 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 23

I spoke a bit with a co-worker who called me yesterday to ask about how to do something for which she has been given the task to do at work. She, like I think most of us at work, is struggling with the negativity she feels towards our boss and the culture from which he is from which is so different from ours. I told her that I struggled with it too and looked to God’s word and was reminded that God loves all of us and Jesus calls us to love not just the easy to love but the hard to love. I have found that by simply praying for my boss that the negativity has diminished and I am remembering him more as a human being that God created. With my first day back to work today since being off for my shoulder surgery, I am going to start a daily prayer for my boss and other people I work for that trigger negative emotions and keep my focus on what Jesus calls us to do in loving all our neighbors. We don’t have to like what they do and say but we have to love them as God loves them and all of us.

Job 34:19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 8

Demonstrating love comes in many forms; surprising a friend with an unexpected gift, a hug for a co-worker, doing a chore for a family member so they don’t have to, spending quality time with anyone. How do we demonstrate our love for God? It is definitely by loving others like in the examples above but also by obeying God. To obey means complying with the command, direction and request of an authority. We must submit to the authority of God. If he tells us to love others as we love ourselves, than we should comply with His directive. But we all know from trying to obey authorities here in our world like the government, police or our boss; that sometimes the compliance doesn’t happen, it is challenging or comes but with a price. Obedience to God has its own challenges, especially if you are not in the Word of God regularly, worshiping with other believers and generally open to hearing God’s voice in everything. We do have to discern what is it that God wants versus what this world wants or what we want. Thankfully, we have Jesus who has overcome. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can have that discernment to know the voice of God and be able to comply with His requests but it is something we need to pray for everyday.

Father God, you are the ultimate authority figure for us. Forgive me for not listening to your command, for not discerning what you want for me to do, for not loving you and others as I should. I do not have it within me to do it so I ask the Holy Spirit to open my heart today to see you and hear you, to know what your will for me is and to love you and others like there’s no tomorrow. With you all things are possible. Amen.  

1 John 3-5 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 319

My church has over the last couple of years had on display artwork from artists in the church. They create pieces that have to do with an upcoming sermon series and often are shown on the big screen during the sermon as a visual. After seeing a piece of jewelry that someone had made on display this last go around, I realized that I should look into this so I can submit a faithbook page. So, I went to the recent meeting for all artists with our new pastor to go over his thoughts and expectations and we went over a little bit about the upcoming series which will be called Faces on the scripture Isaiah 9:6. The sermons will specifically be about the names in the scripture: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.  These are the faces of God but because we are made in God’s image and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within, we can be a humble glimpse of these faces of God, we reflect in little ways these faces of God in our own faces. A counselor is someone who listens and shares truth and wisdom. We get this all the time from our spouses, parents, friends and co-workers. The friend who listens patiently to you all the time when you need to express the challenge you are facing or the co-worker who empathizes with you as you vent your frustrations or your spouse who will hold you as you cry out your hurts. We see our Mighty God in the faces of people standing up for their faith, in people loving in big ways and in the creative people in the world who can express how great is our God. We can see a glimpse of our Everlasting Father in the dad that has sacrificed his career to take care of his daughter, the mother who in her exhaustion still shows her love to her children, the friend who is always there when you need them. And finally our Prince of Peace can be seen in the face of a family member suffering from cancer with a smile on their face, the friend who lives cheerfully with chronic pain and the neighbor who brings you fresh baked cookies just because. These faces of God are all around us but do we see them in our daily busy lives as the faces of God? Start living each day looking into these faces and recognize that God is with us and working through us all each day. Thanks be to God for showing us who He is, in and through those that are all around us.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 266

Yesterday I spoke with a co-worker who seemed to be in a bad mood. I got her to open up to me and share how she was not happy with another co-worker and how condescending she was to her. She tries to let it go, she's spoken to our office manager and my team lead about it with no results and seemed to be on the boiling point with the feelings she was having about it all. In the end of our conversation, she seemed to be in a better mood, smiling and ready to move on. I walked away and said I was glad our talking together helped get some of it off her chest. God wants us to be peacemakers and here I found myself with an opportunity to help bring some peace. In helping my friend with her feelings, I made myself feel good too. How do you love someone that you don't like or that creates stress in your life or that talks down to you? Forgiveness is the key. You have to be able to forgive what that person is or is doing or saying that creates those negative feelings in you. I have been working on that when it comes to the owner of the company I work for. And have even gone as far as praying for him. I have come some ways in overcoming my negative feelings towards him.  Would I be able to wrap my arms around him in love? No, not yet but like most things you must keep attempting to grow and progress. Do you have someone in your life that you can't find an ounce of love in you for? Take a look at forgiveness and start there.

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 190

People at my work having been talking about the negative path the new owners have taken us on. One co-worker was complaing this week how she was ready to walk out. Others have been searching for new jobs, polishing their resume's and just coping the best they can with the workload that has been put on us all without further compensation. I spoke with a co-worker at the end of the day as we were leaving and she needed to vent so I let her. She made the mistake of not taking a job she was offered because they wouldn't give her two weeks so she could quit without leaving her fellow co-workers with more crud piled on us. She won't make that mistake again. I told her I would have no hard feelings and would be glad she found something else that will hopefully end up being better than our current situation. I am learning slowly but surely that I just need to keep my mouth shut and my ears open. No need to give them a reason to let me go before I am ready to be let go. My wise husband says it's better to get a job while you still have a job. He is right, of course. So, I am thankful to him for being my listening board and giving me some good wise advise. Have you been in a situation that made you want to vent? Vent to God and a trusted spouse about what's going on.
Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.