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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Full Speed Ahead


December is a time when my schedule is jammed packed. The list of things to do often seems endless. Planning meetings, Christmas preparation, kids’ concerts, kids’ recitals, and family gatherings are just a few of the things that are typically added to an already crunched schedule.  When that happens, I tend to start operating in task mode.  Let’s get these things done. I put my head down and get to work. The sooner I can get them done, the quicker I can release the stress that has accompanied the tasks.  It’s full speed ahead.  Full speed ahead is a great notion if you’re commanding a boat. It’s probably not such a wise mode of operation for any other endeavor.  And in reality, it didn’t do the Titanic much good either.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Submission and Control Top Pantyhose



There is no doubt that as adults we do not like to be held accountable or submit to authority. I think there is something that is ingrained in us to fight against it.  Even as a young child, I tended to push the boundaries of authority. My only saving grace was that I wanted my teachers and bosses to like me.  I knew that in order for them to like me, I should do what they asked me to.  However, I often submitted with the wrong attitude. 

As I have ‘matured’ or gotten older (gasp), I have recognized that there is a deeper, underlying core belief that I must grab ahold of in order to have access to God’s rich blessing in my life.  That’s submission.  Just the mere mention of that word makes me cringe.  Right?  I am a fully competent woman who knows how to do stuff.  I am surely capable of making things happen on my own. Why do I need to listen to someone else tell me how something should be done? 

I once heard a radio commercial for the air force that has stuck with me:  “Every choice I make has a benefit or a consequence.”  Every choice.  Every single choice. If you were to ask me for one lesson that has framed my life the last 2 years, it would have to be learning the true value of my choices particularly in relation to submission.  The blessings that flow out of a submitted heart are so powerful.  And I’m not talking about the kind of submission that says, “Sure, I’ll do it,” but then grumbles behind the boss’s back.  I’m talking about owning your boss’s idea like it was your own.  I’m talking about realizing that by embracing submission, you bring the favor of the Lord to your life and your work.  FAVOR.  How can we strive for less?   
Submission is a conduit for unity.
The easiest and most common thing for us to do when we get a ‘suggestion’ from our boss is to say ‘yes’, but then grumble and/or not do it once the meeting is over.  I am going to be very bold and say that if you’re doing that then you are wasting your time there.  Don’t fool yourself into believing that God will bless your work.  You are marking time until your replacement gets ready.  I have seen evidence of this in my own life.  I don’t know how many times I have met with my boss, and he has asked me to do something I disagree with.  After I have argued my point and lost :-), I have a choice to make.  What am I going to do? What will my choice be? I have chosen to be submitted. Most times, others don’t even know it’s his idea. I own it like I birthed that baby myself.  And one other thing, on my task list, it’s at the top. I don’t doddle. I am effective and efficient. Then, I call him to let him know it’s done and how I did it. I have made myself irreplaceable and valued.  And in that area of submission, God has blessed my efforts. I have seen because of how I have chosen to act and behave that I have been a conduit for unity in my work environment. To me, that‘s much more valuable than having my own way.

Submission channels humility
Proverbs 18:12
Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. 
God has used this verse in my life more than any other. Oftentimes, we want to go to others when we feel like we’ve been wronged or misunderstood by our bosses. We need affirmation that they are crazy and we are right.  I believe that when we submit our concerns to God and truly act with humility by keeping our grievances to ourselves, it opens a door of favor (honor) in our lives that is unparalleled.  When we actively engage humility, its trusting God to handle the big stuff. It’s giving Him ultimate control over our lives. And let’s face it, that’s where He wants us to be.  Then, when we ultimately trust Him with that kind of humility and submission, He will bless our socks off.

Submission opens the door for blessings
Most fundamentally, God is not a demander; God is a giver.
When we work with God, God works through us.  You bet I want to work with God.  I have learned that most of the time that means I have to embrace submission.  Really embrace it, and trust that He will work things out through me and in me for His divine glory. 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I'm Not Stubborn. My Way is Just Better.


Change is inevitable.  It happens. We are different today than we were a few years ago. I can easily pinpoint several areas in my life that have evolved in recent years. I've switched from PC to Mac. I read most of my books on an electronic device. I have seen the light and joined facebook and twitter. My hair has even lost that 80's look...although it’s still quite fluffy.

However, if you were to ask me what one of the biggest things that has changed about me over the last few years, I have to say it’s my attitude of being teachable.  If you were to characterize my personality, most everyone I know would say that I am determined and opinionated. I personally believe that won’t ever change. It's who God has made me.  However, I have found that if left unchecked and unconnected with the Holy Spirit, those qualities can very easily move into being inflexible, stubborn, and obstinate…not such great qualities if I am around or leading others.  It's certainly a detriment to my own personal growth. 

My approach to life will always frame the outcome.  Do I want my way or do I want the best way? Am I secure enough to take the advice of others? Do I have a hunger to discover more and grow?  Is there a desire to learn, unlearn, and relearn?  Those are the questions that I constantly have to ask myself. God has placed me in community with others, and not by accident.  If I approach life with the attitude that it’s a journey that is ever changing and ever evolving, and there are others that see things differently than me, then I am set up for success. Being teachable enables God to grow me.  The extra blessing is that He also increases my influence and my effectiveness as I seek the input of others. 

In the end, life is not all about me anyway. It's all about Him and His people.


Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned.  Let those who understand what is right get guidance.                  Proverbs 1: 5

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

A Control Freak


I like control. If you know me, then that statement is not a surprise. Control brings order. I like to know what’s going to happen, and I like to plan what’s going to happen. Even better than that, I like to plan what’s NOT going to happen! I think people who like to have control have been given a bad rap in society. I recently read that taking control can improve comfort and the ability to get work done and reduce stress. That, in turn, can lead to greater productivity and better health. Imagine, taking control means a less stressful life…at least for the one who likes to control things. That notion has really set me free—free to live in my own little controlled stress-free world.

However, there is a downside when it comes to being a control freak.  When faced with problems that need to be solved or a plan that needs attention, I could very easily make a decision too quickly.  I don’t think there is anything wrong with making snappy decisions. However, it becomes a problem when I don’t take the time to try and find out how God wants me to handle it. 

For as long as I can remember, my goal has been to consistently set aside time in the morning to read the Bible and pray. I have always thought that the early morning time with God would help me climb the mountains that I needed to traverse and to slay the dragons that I needed to conquer.  It's a worthy goal, to be sure. Now, I realize how little that helps me throughout the day.  It’s not the one time event that makes me a successful employee, wife, mother, friend, and control fanatic (just thought I would use a word other than freak for giggles) It’s the continuous attention to remain connected with my Lord throughout the day that will give this control freak a stress-free life.


I know it sounds simple, but I'm learning that I have to constantly be connected with the Holy Spirit for me to be a successful control freak. If not, then, I’m just a freak. 


  
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Winning!

I am super competitive. Sometimes I can hold it in check, but other times, I just run with it. I once lost a game of Monopoly with my husband.  I hated losing so much that we have never played that game again. Extreme, I know.  That competitive streak extends to other facets of my life as well. I like to win AND I like to be right. Although I like to always be right, I have to admit that there are times when I'm not.  I know. I know. It's shocking. I would also like to tell you that it's not that often, but that would be lying too. So there in lies the rub. No matter where I am in life, what I do, or what title I carry, there are times when I'm wrong. It's just a fact. It's really a non-negotiable. It's going to happen to all of us.  The question that I have to answer is what I'm going to do when I'm wrong?  Greg DePriest, my pastor, came up with this equation:  E + R = O  [Event + Response = Outcome]  Just for the sake of it, we will call it an EVENT when I'm wrong. :-)  It's my RESPONSE to that event that will determine the OUTCOME.  

Too many times, I have seen people who would never admit that they're wrong. I have been that person so many times. You know the problem with that?  It means that the outcome will never change.  I have found that admitting I'm wrong is actually very freeing.  It defuses the situation, and creates a margin for change.  People naturally respond positively to that because there is hope that I won't make the same mistake again. Seth Godin says it this way:  Two elements of successful leadership are a willingness to be wrong and an eagerness to admit it. I pray I can be the kind of person who always sees my own failings because I know everyone else does.  

Humility and fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.   Proverbs 22:4