by | Life Application
Facebook is consistently providing new developments to its website. You can check in to locations and tag friends. Creating private groups has gotten easier. Tag friends in your posts by simply typing in their name.
Then… there is the LIKE button.
I personally love it. I use it often as a matter of fact. Whether liking a Bible verse that someone has posted or an adorable picture of their baby. Since the button came out I tend to like a lot of things.
But here’s what I’ve been thinking…. Does the Facebook like button keep us from really communicating with each other?
I have noticed lately that a lot less conversation takes place between my peeps and me. Recently someone wrote an encouraging statement on my wall. I read it, smiled and immediately clicked the like button. Then it was over. But it didn’t sit well with my heart. They had taken the time out of their day to encourage me and I didn’t even give them a thank you. I went back later and thanked them for their kind words.
Has the Facebook like button given us one more reason not to communicate? In a world with tweets, text messaging, writing on someone’s wall and email, good ole’ fashioned face-to-face communication or phone conversations seem to be something of the past. I personally admit that talking on the phone isn’t my favorite thing to do. Silence on the other end gives me anxiety. (Yes, I have issues). I actually talk to people much more through the above mentioned forms of communication.
I sometimes wonder if I have given myself one more reason to shorten communication so I can continue on in a world of never-ending busyness.
What are your thoughts?
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by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
So, you’re a new Christian. Perhaps you’ve been a believer for 5, 10, 15 years. You love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You know without a doubt that God has changed you and you’re a completely different person than you used to be. Over the course of your life you have developed many bad habits. How do you get rid of them now?
By Developing New Ones
Here are four key steps to developing new habits and getting rid of old ones, inspired by Max Lucado.
- Prayer – When trials come endure them. Maintain a habit of prayer (See Romans 12:12). This doesn’t mean you have to close your eyes, bow your head, fold your hands and include “thous” and “thees” in your prayers. Simply talk to God. Tell him what’s on your heart. Talk to him about the habits. He knows about them already.
- Study – Get into God’s Word. Look up key words for the habit your trying to break. Read Scripture that speaks clearly to you. Find different translations. Write verses on note cards and carry them with you. Keep God’s Word close (See Jams 1:25).
- Giving – Lucado says, “You don’t give for God’s sake. You give for your sake.” Setting aside your tithe and putting into the offering every Sunday should become a habit engrained in your heart. Giving should bring a smile to your face. It brings a smile to God’s. He doesn’t need the money. He needs your heart and your habit (See Deut. 14:23).
- Fellowship – Support is important. Some are fine with weekly support. I prefer daily support, even if it’s through an email, as I am able to be encouraged, to encourage others, stay accountable, and surround myself with others who are Jesus with skin on to me. Fellowship is a need (See Heb. 10:25).
What new habits are you incorporating to break the old ones?
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I live in the Bible Belt – Branson, Missouri. Every show you attend has a tribute to the veterans and sings at least one gospel song. That’s great! There’s a church on every corner, and the majority of them have been voted “Number One Show On The Strip.” You can pretty much find any kind of food you are looking for, whether it’s fried chicken or sushi.
On Sundays, when the services get out and the “church folks” show up for lunch, the servers at those restaurants cringe. Why? “It’s those Christians again!” The ones who snap at the waitress because their steak was overcooked. The ones who hold hands and pray before the meal, moan when their water glass gets half empty, then walk out the door without leaving a tip.
I have seen it first hand and as a Christian, honestly, it ticks me off. We are to be Jesus with skin on to those around us, but instead we walk into a restaurant feeling entitled to the waitress’ services. They may be there to serve us, but may I remind you that we are there to serve them as well? Are you doing your part?
Jesus dined out at the feeding of the five thousand. He was the chef (Matthew 15:29-38; 14:13-21).
During Passover he washed the feet of the disciples. He became the servant (John 13:1-17).
During his meal with the Pharisees, a woman with a dark past anointed him with expensive perfume. He didn’t complain when she interrupted his meal (Luke 7:36-38).
The only time Jesus got rude during a meal was when the Pharisees showed their horrible treatment of others (Luke 7:39-50).
When was the last time you asked your servers name? When was the last time you asked how their day was going? When was the last time you asked how you could pray for them? Give it a shot. I can almost guarantee you they will walk around the rest of the day smiling because someone served them.
What would Jesus leave a waiter?
These are the words of Max Lucado:
Encouragement to help him endure the struggles of his job.
Forgiveness despite the mismatched orders and dirty spoon.
Eternity with a spoken word or an invitation to hear more.
Thanks communicated clearly through a satisfactory gratuity of 15 to 20 percent.
by | Life Application
Feeling stressed out? Before you run to the cupboard to lay into the Twinkies, stop, take a breath and read this post. Here are seven foods to improve your bad mood.
Chocolate
Not only is it delicious, but it is known to reduce the stress hormones in your body. Go for the dark chocolate.
Spinach
Increase your energy and get rid of that sluggish feeling.
Apples & Peanut Butter
Get rid of that crankiness with a carbohydrate and some protein. This slows the digestion process and keeps your energy levels stable.
Salmon Burger
Toss out the anxiety with some omega-3 fatty acids. You’ll quickly boost your mood.
Green Tea
Sipping on this tea will calm your angry mood and provide clear concentration and focus.
Whole-Grain Cereal
Add some low-fat milk to this great snack and increase the serotonin in your body. It’s sure to lift you out of that sad state.
Egg-Salad Sandwich
Have the PMS blues? Adding the protein instead of running to the other carbohydrates we women crave before our monthly visitor will boost your serotonin levels.
For more detailed information on these seven mood-enhancing foods click here to view the complete article from Woman’s Day.
What foods help you increase your mood?
by | Life Application
I recently read an article in Outreach magazine from Charles Lee, CEO of Ideation, titled “After The Dream.”
He asked the question, “What does it take to shape a great idea into reality?”
Passion is important, of course. If you don’t have passion for what you are pursuing, then why bother. What happens after you realize the passion though? Do you have a plan to put into action?
Here are some principles Lee points out:
Principle No. 1
Implementing an idea is hard work.
Organization is hard work, but required when making an active plan. “There are not magical shortcuts from idea to implentation.”
Principle No. 2
The most potent obstacles to idea making lie within us.
Don’t give up on ideas too early. Concepts take time to develop. “Don’t let your lack of resources become an excuse not implement.”
Principle No. 3
Spatial ideation must be considered in the process.
What does the environment around you look like? “The environment that surrounds us fuels our creativity and ability to see and feel what we’re trying to form.” Keep yourself in a place that makes ideas happen.
Principle No. 4
Writing it down gives perspective.
Before sharing your ideas with others, write it down. Then brainstorm. Organize your thoughts. “Writing down my thoughts helped me to not only refine the idea, but also anticipate questions people might have.”
Principle No. 5
A creative process is essential to executing ideas.
Ask yourself specific questions to help guide the creative process development. When do you best create? What distractions do you commonly face? How will you break through these distractions?
Principle No. 6
Questions and improved strategy come up throughout the process.
Be prepared for more questions to arise in the working process. “Don’t expect to have all the necessary questions or answers prior to working on an idea.”
Principle No. 7
Your ideas can become reality.
Make a decision today to do something to move your ideas forward. “The same God who designed us with unique dreams and passion is more than able and willing to help us develop a working process for creative implementation.
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
Rejection hurts, especially when it comes from those you are close to. I am learning as a leader that rejection is unavoidable. You can’t make everyone happy.
When I signed up to follow Jesus I hadn’t a clue what was in store for me. But the straighter my walk with God became, the more I got a glimpse into His plans for me. Leadership is part of that plan, among other things.
At the beginning of 2011 God put one word on my heart – truth. I told God I would speak the truth about His Word. I would lead in truth. I would speak truth to the broken. It’s May and so far I have kept good on my word. But I haven’t done so without hitting walls.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, speaking God’s Word isn’t exactly popular amongst everyone. With truth comes rejection. With rejection comes pain. With pain comes dependence on God. With depending on God comes truth in His Word.
All rejection leads back to Him and the promise that if “God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.
Remember, when you sign up to follow God, you’re signing up for some rough roads. Guess what? It’s all worth it!
How do you handle rejection?
