Attitude and Words

Attitude and Words

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)

          “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross. 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 ever tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 

Recently (not so recently as this was just found unposted, oops) I have noticed issues with attitudes and how people are being treated.  A lot of this is in my own attitude towards others, work, ect.  But I have also seen it in those around me and the way that others are treated and the way they react in situations.  It is so hard to sit by and watch as someone you care about it belittled or hurt by another persons words. It’s not just the words that hurt but it is the attitude behind those words that make such an impact.  I have had to withdraw myself from people and situations when I knew that my attitude was not right and that I could not stand to be near the attitudes of others.  I know that this may not be the most appropriate thing in some peoples eyes, but I know that in these situations if I do not withdraw that I will lash out and in turn my attitude will not be one that is pleasing to God. 

Tied into this is the issue of the tongue obviously.  James 1:26 (NIV) states, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”    I think that so often people do not realize how much the words they say hurt.  They may not think that they are hurtful and instead think that they are helping the person with the project or task they are working on, but instead the way that words are said stab the person deeply. 

 

I think that we all need to review our attitude and the way that we use our words.  I think that we often say way more than is necessary and in turn deeply wound and injure those around us.  As Christian’s we are meant to be God’s agents of healing, speaking the truth in love, and building the community.  By using words that injure we are not healing nor building the community.  Truth in love is not something that happens everyday but when we are dealing with a fellow believer who is struggling with sin or areas in their life which need to be corrected or dealt with as they are not pleasing to God.

 

So final thought:  When dealing with anyone, check the attitude you have and are using in your conversation, and also check, your words.  The psychological injury from words is a painful one, one that takes along time to heal from.  Be Christ with flesh on.

 

~tfkr

Self Esteem/Identity

Its been one of those weeks where this topic has been hitting me in many ways.  It started off in a small group conversation that boiled down to the fact that one of the area’s I have struggles with in allowing God full control is that of my self esteem and natural responses to the situations I’m in. Then it went from this conversation to a discussion with a mentor about it, to a sermon, and then talking with a good buddy.

Self esteem and my Identity were things that I was really conscious of during High School, but it is something that I have thought of less and less as an adult.  We all know that during High School years the battle is to fit in, to be accepted, to be “Cool”.  I know that I struggled greatly with this during my High School years and the years to follow.  Its something that for the most part I don’t think of day to day anymore.  However I have been reminded that this battle of my self esteem/identity makes up a large part of who I am.  It affects greatly how I relate to others, handle situations, and various other areas of life that I struggle with.  I know that it affects everyone differently, but we must remember that no matter how put together we appear, everyone has an issue of their self esteem and identity.

I was surprised when one person in the group discussion said they were surprised that I struggled with this.  They thought that I was more of the type that would say “If you don’t like me thats your problem, get lost”.  It just reminded me that we come off to others differently than we do to ourselves.  It was a good reminder as it also prompted me to remind myself and others that we all have hurts and need to be accepted.

God hit me on the head with this issue and what I need to do to continue to work on it this Sunday.  Jeff our Senior pastor preached from Ephesians 1:3-14.  Jeff preaches alot of great sermons, but this one in particular hit me on the head.  He spoke directly to the fact that we need to connect our Identity to our relationship with God and nothing else.  He used three images found in this passage.  They are that of being Adopted by God (vs. 5), Redemption (vs. 7), and Sealing (vs. 13). It was powerful to be reminded that I am adopted by God, that it is His pleasure to have me as His son.  Also that God was willing to buy me at a price, the price of his Son’s blood.  Just a great reminder that we are valuable.  And that we are sealed, like in the early days and times of Ephesus were things were sealed with a crest or emblem marking the ownership of the item.  We are marked as Children of God, and we are HIS>

Jeff finished the sermon with a great phrase:

“He adopted me, He bought me, I’m His!”

Remember that today and everyday.  Write it on your arm, your heart, your mind, your desk, your dashboard.  Remeber that you are a Child of God, you matter to Him.

Seek Him in every situation and know when the Devil hits you over the head that you can fight back and know that you are a child of God and are deeply loved.  Don’t fall for his lies!

Acceptance?? Patience Please…. Contentment??

So, I’ve been struggling with issues of acceptance again. Guess one never really truly gets over it. I know back in high school I always wanted to fit in and just for some reason never really did, at least thats my perception. I have tons of friends or for the most part: Acquitances. If you were to look at my Facebook you’d see a large list of people that I “know”. There are few that really “know” me. I have people that I work closely with at my job and church, but yet in many ways I feel light years apart. I’m around people almost constantly. I’m a people person. I know it drives my wife nuts becuase there are times when we need to just be home and be family, but there is a stir in me to be active and out and about around other people.

So whats my problem? Do I not feel accepted? Am I just not content? Its honestly a deep deep question. I can only hit some of it on the head.

I think that first and foremost I have always felt that I did not quite fit into any particular group of people. There were always people who let me be around, tag along, or in my head “put up with me”. And I think I still feel this way. I know that some of it has to do with my personality, my way of getting work done, and my desire to do things to my best and learn from my experiences. I crave feedback to know that what I’m doing is right, that others notice me, and that well….. I’m liked. I know that we all need to feel loved, accepted, liked…….. What I’m about to say is stinking hard to heard, to accept and to live by, but know what………. IT ONLY MATTERS WHAT GOD THINKS!…. and He gave His only son for me, so I better accept it, God Loves me, Likes me, Accepts me…..

So I think it comes down to contentment. I have to learn to accept where I’m at, my situation, my life. God will bring the people into my life that I need… I know He already has with certain people that are special to me for different reasons (ie. my wife, my daughter, Remy, Joe, Andy, Dave, Chad a vendor I deal with…..) So i know that people do like me and accept me as me. So whats my problem? I guess being content with those people God has put in my life and not feeling that people I work with have to be “good friends” or beyond the acquintance level. I have to accept that I can only truly handle so many close friends. If you ask my wife, our schedules are busy crazy…. and becuase of it I haven’t been able to nurture the deep friendships I have, the ones that I really need to, the ones that help energize me and give me life to live each and every day.

So What do “I” need to do?
1. Learn to take joy in other peoples opportunities to venture out, network and have a good time…. my turn will come in due time….
2. See the networking tools I use as a blessing to see what God is doing around the world, and not a place for jealousy.
3. Learn to be content with where God has put me!
4. Pour into the relationships that matter, the one’s God is truly calling me to care about!

So what have you learned?
Are you content?
Are you building those up around you? Even those acquitance/peer/associate relationships around you?
Are you seeking approval form man or from GOD?

Take some time to sit back and thank God for what He has given you, to give you contentment and find joy in that which He has provided. Its not about US all the time. Its all about Him.

To those around me….. Thanks for your patience…. Being human in this broken world is messy….

~tfkr

Behind the doors the same as in front……

Well, Yes the title is confusing or perplexing but well I think it should be. I have had thoughts for a while based on my struggles that well have been enlightened in someways by my Introduction to the New Testament course I’m in.

Christian have always battled with being in the world but not of it. God gave the Israelites the law as a direction and guidance for them on how to live so that they would be set apart for Him and not be part of the world. However the Israelites continually failed in following the laws and commands that God had set forth.

The church today I believe is in the same boat. Some people are living the lives that God has called them to, and there are others who aren’t. There also are those in between that aren’t living the way God wants us to but is living behind a mask. Having lived this way myself I wonder how we can address the sins in the church and help people to change, to grow, to be made new in Christ? How do we help the church realize that the same sins that are out in the “world” are in the pews next to them? How do we help the church to be more compasionate in their handlings of people who are battling sin? What do we do? How does God want us to do this?

Its a hard topic to address, and a hard one to live out.

The church is the same behind its closed doors as those who live outside of the church doors. there is sin and filth all the same. We need to make a difference. Where do we start? How do we start?

-Lord make me an instrument of your peace……..

~tfkr

Attitude and Words

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross. 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 ever tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Recently I have noticed issues with attitudes and how people are being treated. A lot of this is in my own attitude towards others, work, ect. But I have also seen it in those around me and the way that others are treated and the way they react in situations. It is so hard to sit by and watch as someone you care about it belittled or hurt by another persons words. It’s not just the words that hurt but it is the attitude behind those words that make such an impact. I have had to withdraw myself from people and situations when I knew that my attitude was not right and that I could not stand to be near the attitudes of others. I know that this may not be the most appropriate thing in some peoples eyes, but I know that in these situations if I do not withdraw that I will lash out and in turn my attitude will not be one that is pleasing to God.
Tied into this is the issue of the tongue obviously. James 1:26 (NIV) states, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” I think that so often people do not realize how much the words they say hurt. They may not think that they are hurtful and instead think that they are helping the person with the project or task they are working on, but instead the way that words are said stab the person deeply.

I think that we all need to review our attitude and the way that we use our words. I think that we often say way more than is necessary and in turn deeply wound and injure those around us. As Christian’s we are meant to be God’s agents of healing, speaking the truth in love, and building the community. By using words that injure we are not healing nor building the community. Truth in love is not something that happens everyday but when we are dealing with a fellow believer who is struggling with sin or areas in their life which need to be corrected or dealt with as they are not pleasing to God.

So final thought: When dealing with anyone, check the attitude you have and are using in your conversation, and also check, your words. The psychological injury from words is a painful one, one that takes along time to heal from. Be Christ with flesh on.

~tfkr