Don’t you hate when you will speak to someone and then after a few minutes they say, “Were you talking to me?” I know my wife hates when I do that! And it is funny how multiple eye witnesses can come up with the totally different reports on hair color, or make of car or clothing. Often times I may be introduced to someone and 5 seconds later I have forgotten their name!
At the Y, we have worked on a program called “Listen First” and that has helped me immensely. Not planning what I am going to say as response, but genuinely listening through the entire conversation. Often times when I am at my best I can pick up on a little thing that makes a huge impact. I learn about birthdays, anniversaries, who is sick, who they know, who they are related too and or who is …….just fill in the blank.
The other important aspect of paying better attention is that we learn when we listen. If we remain attentive, not only can we improve ourselves, but we can also avoid making the same mistakes as others.
I find that when I ask questions it keeps me focused on who I am with and paying better attention. My daughter was very inquisitive as a child and seemed to always be trying to figure something out. She is so smart today and I think her ability to pay attention is the reason that her school work comes so easy.
So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. 1 Thessalonians 5:6
I wonder how many times I have forgotten my listen first skills when interacting with God. I often ask for burning bushes or grandiose signs from God, but am I really paying attention to God’s voice?
God wants us paying attention so we can not only hear him but recognize the devil! I always understand when the devil speaks to me…..but it is usually after the fact. I am not paying attention. God’s call is all around us and often it is in the small and obvious things around me. When I am at my best is when I am in an operating mode that allows me to listen. Listen to God in what I see, who I speak with, what I read and what is on my heart. These are the times when I realize that God is leading me.
Take time in your prayer life to ask God to forgive the cycles of A.D.D. in your faith life. Ask for your attention to his promptings. Make sure you are on guard for the voices that pull you away from God.
“I am but a small pencil in the hand of God writing a love letter to the world.” Mother Teresa
June 29, 2009
June 17, 2009
SELF – CONTROL
One of my friends was describing driving by an intersection and watching two people standing beside their cars just pummeling each other. What would have to happen for you to get that angry? When our emotions take over, the execution of our actions is at peril. When emotions dominate our actions, we make mistakes.
I have done this experiment many times. When I have a smooth and steady golf swing I tend to hit the ball straighter and almost as far as when I swing hard. When I swing hard there is a higher chance that the ball is going to go further left or right and not straight. One of the greatest lessons that golf teaches us is that when we make a mistake, we can’t double up our efforts and hit it twice as hard and make up for the error. The best course of action is to just step back and make the best of your situation, minimize the damage. Try reminding me of this the next time I am 200 yards away from the green and have to carry the water.
Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness. (2 Peter 5:6)
In the bible, Joseph exhibits tremendous self control. He didn’t let sexual inducement from the Potifar’s wife over come him and he didn’t throw a fit at God when he lost everything and landed in jail.
Our job is to be like Joseph and be a mirror that reflects God’s glory. The problem is that often our pride, our temper, the quick fuse, our emotions, our biting sarcasm (just keep the list going) clouds our mirror.
We have to ask ourselves, “what areas of our lives present the greatest difficulty in gaining and maintaining self-control?” We must commit ourselves to a closer relationship with God so that we can live a more balance life with greater self control and sound judgment.
Be a reflection that glorifies God. Ask for God to help you overcome the temptations that restrict your ability to be in control. Tee it up, take a deep breath and slow and steady!
I have done this experiment many times. When I have a smooth and steady golf swing I tend to hit the ball straighter and almost as far as when I swing hard. When I swing hard there is a higher chance that the ball is going to go further left or right and not straight. One of the greatest lessons that golf teaches us is that when we make a mistake, we can’t double up our efforts and hit it twice as hard and make up for the error. The best course of action is to just step back and make the best of your situation, minimize the damage. Try reminding me of this the next time I am 200 yards away from the green and have to carry the water.
Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance and patient endurance leads to godliness. (2 Peter 5:6)
In the bible, Joseph exhibits tremendous self control. He didn’t let sexual inducement from the Potifar’s wife over come him and he didn’t throw a fit at God when he lost everything and landed in jail.
Our job is to be like Joseph and be a mirror that reflects God’s glory. The problem is that often our pride, our temper, the quick fuse, our emotions, our biting sarcasm (just keep the list going) clouds our mirror.
We have to ask ourselves, “what areas of our lives present the greatest difficulty in gaining and maintaining self-control?” We must commit ourselves to a closer relationship with God so that we can live a more balance life with greater self control and sound judgment.
Be a reflection that glorifies God. Ask for God to help you overcome the temptations that restrict your ability to be in control. Tee it up, take a deep breath and slow and steady!
June 10, 2009
Quick Observations
While working out tonight, I was listening to my ipod and watching TV. Mulit-tasking and multi-inspired I had two thoughts that I want to share.
First - The scene where Jamie Lee Curtis dances for "Ahnold" in the movie True Lies is one of the great scenes in movie history.
* How does she do Activa commercials today?
Second - The songwriter for Taylor Swift is pretty good. I have been trying for weeks to change the lyrics on the Tim McGraw song to "When you hear the Commodores" but I am having a hard time making it fit!
First - The scene where Jamie Lee Curtis dances for "Ahnold" in the movie True Lies is one of the great scenes in movie history.
* How does she do Activa commercials today?
Second - The songwriter for Taylor Swift is pretty good. I have been trying for weeks to change the lyrics on the Tim McGraw song to "When you hear the Commodores" but I am having a hard time making it fit!
June 2, 2009
LOYALTY
I love some pretty crazy sports teams. I am embarrassed to say that I love the Detroit Lions, maybe the worst team in the NFL the last 20 years. I also love the Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, the Utah Jazz, all things Notre Dame and UNC Tar Heels. If it weren’t for my beloved Tar Heels my sports life would be close to miserable.
The fact that I love the Washington Nationals is funny to me. A few years back they were the Montreal Expos and that was the team I really loved. When Montreal lost its franchise I was heartbroken and I pledged to hate the Washington Nationals. But guess what happened the next spring training? Those players from the year before were still my favorite and I found myself watching box scores and pulling for them even though that was an exercise in futility.
I was still loyal to those players. However loyalty is more than just identification to those players, but the depth of the word comes into play when we add concepts such as devotion, duty, faithfulness, and commitment. It’s interesting that these virtues can be given to teams, people, organizations, governments, countries religions and God.
Loyalty is one of those foundational virtues that gets us through hard times. We can become great in the eyes of others, but we struggle finding success when we compromise our character and show disloyalty toward our peers and friends. At work, people have to know that they can count on you. When we know that there will be support in tight spots, we are more likely to go the extra mile. That combination makes for a cohesive unit or team.
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us – 2 Thessalonians 2:15
I struggle with a younger generation that changes jobs frequently. I guess I am old school in that I believe in this reciprocal loyalty between employee and employer. It is too easy to leave a job, too easy to get divorced, too easy to ignore our kids attitudes, too easy to ignore our faith. God definitely wants old school loyalty of us. He thinks it’s cool to be old school.
Loyalty can be risky and hurt if it’s not reciprocated, but I would rather be on that side of the bruised ego or heart. Commit yourself through prayer and actions to be loyal to your family, to your peers, to your friends, your spouse and to those you have given your word. Offer God your devotion and loyalty. Carry out the responsibilities that he lays on your heart. Take strength in foundational loyalty and stand firm!
The fact that I love the Washington Nationals is funny to me. A few years back they were the Montreal Expos and that was the team I really loved. When Montreal lost its franchise I was heartbroken and I pledged to hate the Washington Nationals. But guess what happened the next spring training? Those players from the year before were still my favorite and I found myself watching box scores and pulling for them even though that was an exercise in futility.
I was still loyal to those players. However loyalty is more than just identification to those players, but the depth of the word comes into play when we add concepts such as devotion, duty, faithfulness, and commitment. It’s interesting that these virtues can be given to teams, people, organizations, governments, countries religions and God.
Loyalty is one of those foundational virtues that gets us through hard times. We can become great in the eyes of others, but we struggle finding success when we compromise our character and show disloyalty toward our peers and friends. At work, people have to know that they can count on you. When we know that there will be support in tight spots, we are more likely to go the extra mile. That combination makes for a cohesive unit or team.
So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us – 2 Thessalonians 2:15
I struggle with a younger generation that changes jobs frequently. I guess I am old school in that I believe in this reciprocal loyalty between employee and employer. It is too easy to leave a job, too easy to get divorced, too easy to ignore our kids attitudes, too easy to ignore our faith. God definitely wants old school loyalty of us. He thinks it’s cool to be old school.
Loyalty can be risky and hurt if it’s not reciprocated, but I would rather be on that side of the bruised ego or heart. Commit yourself through prayer and actions to be loyal to your family, to your peers, to your friends, your spouse and to those you have given your word. Offer God your devotion and loyalty. Carry out the responsibilities that he lays on your heart. Take strength in foundational loyalty and stand firm!
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