Simply Dondrae: Are You Really A Teamplayer???

Simply Dondrae: Are You Really A Teamplayer???: From 8am-4: 30pm, I work with people who are trying to get back into the workplace. One of the interview questions I constantly prepare ...

Simply Dondrae: If Today Was The Last Day Of Your Life...

Simply Dondrae: If Today Was The Last Day Of Your Life...:      What's good everyone?! We're back with another guest post by another gifted thinker who just so happened to put his thoughts down ...

That’s how God made me

“That’s how God made me” is a statement that can be very freeing – or completely enslaving. Like it’s reverse, “That’s not how God made me” it can make your life, and the lives of those around you, far better or much worse.

There are things about us that are innate, they are who we are, they are how we are made, and we either can’t do anything about those things, or can’t do anything about them without deeply harming who we are. Things like being an introvert, or being optimistic – these are personality traits that we can not turn around 180° just by force of will. When we accept those things that are who we are as who we are, we can stop worrying about them, or beating ourselves over them, or wasting time trying to change them, or being harmed by those who want us to be different.

On the other hand, some folks use this idea to try and excuse themselves from being decent people. They want to believe that being rude, or always grumpy, or pushy, or always exaggerating, are something God made them – and thus something they can’t change. Folks who do this can be difficult to be around, as their unloving or bad behaviour will continue unchecked, and without remorse.

It can be tough to decide what is “how God made me” and what is not, but the Bible gives us some very good help on this:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.     [Gal 5:22-26 NKJV]

Getting to the Root of the Matter

I did not come to bring peace but a sword —Matthew 10:34

Never be sympathetic with a person whose situation causes you to conclude that God is dealing harshly with him. God can be more tender than we can conceive, and every once in a while He gives us the opportunity to deal firmly with someone so that He may be viewed as the tender One. If a person cannot go to God, it is because he has something secret which he does not intend to give up— he may admit his sin, but would no more give up that thing than he could fly under his own power. It is impossible to deal sympathetically with people like that. We must reach down deep in their lives to the root of the problem, which will cause hostility and resentment toward the messager. People want the blessing of God, but they can’t stand something that pierces right through to the heart of the matter.

If you are sensitive to God’s way, your message as His servant will be merciless and insistent, cutting to the very root. Otherwise, there will be no healing. We must drive the message home so forcefully that a person cannot possibly hide, but must apply its truth. Deal with people where they are, until they begin to realize their true need. Then hold high the standard of Jesus for their lives. Their response may be, "We can never be that." Then drive it home with, "Jesus Christ says you must." "But how can we be?" "You can’t, unless you have a new Spirit".

FIND HAPPINESS IN THE SMALLEST THINGS

Sometimes it's just the smallest things that make me happy.

I was taking out the recycling this morning in my jammies (well, the sweatpants and T-shirt I slept in, which were OK for public, at least in my neighborhood early in the morning, or so I say!) and it occurred to me how happy I was in that moment.

As I loaded up the glass, newspaper and plastic bottles (I know, I'm working on eliminating those bottles, too!), I looked at the eastern sky with the sun coming up and the dew on the grass and the birds chirping away and in that moment, it just didn't seem like life could get much better.

And I noticed that feeling.

That's the key.

Are you aware in any given moment exactly how you are feeling? Do you ever just check in at random times to see?

I wonder what we would notice if we did that more often. What do you think you'd find? More moments of happiness or more moments of frustration, anger, upset, stress?

I found this on a blog this morning (the same place I found the photo above). Makes you think. When I was 5 years old, my mom always told me that happiness was the key to life.

When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when i grew up.
I wrote down "happy."
They told me I didn't understand the assignment
and I told them they didn't understand life.

What are "they" telling you that just doesn't matter anymore? Who are "THEY" anyway?

Feel happy today. Remember what that feels like and recreate it. Anytime. Anyplace.

I know you can do it!