8.26.12 I am having a FABULOUS day

Bountiful Blessings

 

August 26, 2012

 

Fabulous. A friend at work says that all the time. How are you? “fabulous”. We all have our standard answers. “tired”. “just peachy”. “fabulous”. Well, most of us do. Me? I do not have a word. I have a glare. A scary,  mean eyed, stay away from me glare. Haha. Yea, right. That’s Jim. J In all seriousness though, this first word, this first impression, well, it makes a difference in how people respond. Think about it… If you ask someone, how are you and they respond with “fabulous”, you smile and make conversation. If they answer with, “great, just great” with the heavy undertones of sarcasm, well, you say that you are sorry and beat a path out of there, right? Your attitude influences others around you. And first impressions DO make a difference.

 

Ok, lets say, you are in a great mood going into work and the first person you meet just keeps on and on complaining about this and that. After a few minutes, has your balloon been popped? Suddenly the day doesn’t seem so bright anymore. Usually works that way for me. Or quite the opposite, you have been a little down or depressed and your friend (lets use Christina) is beaming with excitement over seeing the 3D picture of Zahara. How can you stay down? You cant. Her enthusiasm rubs off on you.

 

(Disclaimer: Yes, we should not allow people to dictate our attitudes or behaviors. We should be strong enough to stay positive all the time regardless of what others around us are doing or saying. We should. Sometimes that is extremely hard though. Kind of like, God telling us that we shouldn’t be unequally yoked. And God is never wrong.) 

 

Ok, so now we have established that your attitude blends over on other people. As usual, it has taken me quite a way around to get to my point. Sometimes I am in a foul mood. I simply want to be left alone to wallow in my bad humor and self-pity. I am not hurting anyone, right? Wrong. We have already talked about how others see me and the influences that I may possibly make on them. Then lets take it one step further… that young man or young lady is on the fence. Who is learning about Christ. Who has more questions than answers. What does he or she see? Not the example of God’s love. Not the example of God’s peace. Oh, my attitude may or may not make that much of a difference in their lives. Its pretty  presumptuous to think that I am that important. ; ) Problem is…. What if it does???

 

You are a representative of God. A child of God. A walking, talking symbol of his love. Really doesn’t matter if you have had the “calling” to the ministry. Your life is still a ministry. So you may not have the eloquent and scholarly words of a pastor or priest. But you shine with the light of God. Others want what you have. There is a light in your eyes. A special knowledge. A special peace. There is a place within you that only God can fill. Others may be missing that. They may have an empty place that they try to fill with other things to only come up short. You, simple you, could bring them to the next step. But ya gotta be careful about that nasty attitude. Eclipses the light.

As you head out today, take a look in the mirror. What do you see? Yep, I know. Im sorry. Same old face. Sigh. What? Did you think an attitude adjustment was going to make you better looking? Oh, you know that I am kidding. You are beautiful. God has made everyone beautiful in his image. But lets look at how we are going to present ourselves to the world today. Take a deep breath. Is today going to be a extraordinary, fabulous, just peachy, fantastic, spectacular day? Why, yes, Watson, I believe it is.

Prayer for the week:

Dear Lord, thank you for each day that I am given. Each day a gift, a blessing, an opportunity. As I step out of my home today, Lord, fill my mouth with the right words so that I may plant seeds in the garden in Heaven. Your humble servant. Amen.

Bible verse for the week:

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace …”       Galatians 5:22-23

 

Bible fun for the week:

Unscramble the names of biblical people

 

1.      AIVDD

2.      LUPA

3.      HARBEDO

4.      SHAIAI

5.      SHEILA

6.      HARBA

7.      ESSOM

8.      MYTHOIT

9.      ARASH

10.  TWEMTHA

11.  ABCOJ

12.  BURNEE

13.  HARBEEK

14.  TRAMAH

15.  THERES

16.  MONOLOS

17.  SMOANS

18.  ANABBARS

 

 

Please pray for those in the path of Isaac.

  

www.birminghambountifulblessings.blogspot.com

 

Ttrobine@samford.edu

 

Have a blessed week!