Serving Strong

The Power Of "JUST"

"It's just an ant."

"I'm just tired."

"The whole thing was just a joke."

The word just means a lot, depending on your intended use.  Dictionary.com lists 13 definitions from "done according to principle" to "by a narrow margin".  In addition to that, we understand from reading scriptures that God is a just God.  But we limit our potential depending on how we use it personally.

"Just Me"

How about another use of the word just?  What if we use the word when we are referring to ourselves?  We may not even know we're doing it.  For example, you email someone and begin your message with, "It's just me..."  Do you realize what you're saying when you put yourself in the same sentence with the word just?  You diminish your worth.  You refer to yourself as just a mere human being not worthy of much.

Now, scriptures tell us we ARE simply jars of clay.  But God has chosen to bring about social justice, caregiving, and kingdom building THROUGH these jars of clay.  That, in itself, is powerful!  It's not that we have anything to offer.  Without Him we ARE just jars of clay (apart from Him we ar nothing).  But look beyond yourself to Whose you are.  As you follow Him, you are much more than just a jar of clay.

So, how are you limiting yourself through an inaccurate view of yourself?  Dig into scripture and you'll see how treasured you are by the Father -- beyond your wildest dreams.  Operate from the understanding of Whose you are and you'll be Serving Strong!

The Condition Of Your Desktop

  The debate continues throughout the ages.  Are we more productive with a clean desk?  Or can we find things quicker when there are stacks of papers all over the desktop?  We all desire to be as effective as possible when we help people.  So it's worth looking at the topic, if for no other reason than that.

I know what the Introvert/Task Oriented person will say... GET ORGANIZED!  But I also know many people who are Extrovert/People Oriented.  They would say organization will actually make them less productive.  So what is the answer?  Should we be organized?  Or should we be "creative"?

The answer lies in asking the RIGHT questions.  It has less to do with being organized or messy.  It has more to do with your main objective(s).  Here are the right questions to be asking in this debate:

What am I trying to accomplish?

For what am I called?

What are the results toward which I am working?

Answer these questions FIRST.  Then take a look at your desktop.  Is the condition of your files & papers helping you or hindering you from accomplishing your main objective(s)?  If messy works, be messy.  If organizing will work, organize.  When it comes down to the end of your day, no one will care what your desk was like.  What will matter is whether you were successful at reaching your objectives.

Know your objectives and you'll be Serving Strong!

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Prayer Anytime Anywhere

While watching the news this morning, I saw a story about prayer booths being placed around New York City.  You don't have to go very far online to see the blogs talking about it.  Most likely an art exhibit of some sort.

But it can be a great way to remind ourselves of the accessibility of God.  Wherever we are, whenever, whoever we are... we can communicate with God.  He has made himself available to everyone, anytime.

We don't need a prayer booth.  We can approach the throne and talk with God about anything.  So take this cute little piece of American news and make it a confirmation that God is always accessible anywhere, anytime.

Keep your walk with God up to date and you'll be Serving Strong!

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Are We ALL Meant For Community, REALLY?

I read a post on one of the blogs I follow.  It had to do with community.  Here's the sentence that caught my attention:

"Humans are social beings, and we are happier, and better, when  connected to others."

That may be true for the extrovert, oriented toward people rather than tasks.

But what about the person who is introverted?  What if a person gains their energy from being alone?  Are they NOT a social being?  Can they serve without community?

I'd really love your input...

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Words That Describe You

I follow a great blogger, Roger Carr and his blog Everyday Giving.  Roger has been an inspiration to me over these several months that I've gotten to know him.  He recently posted a note about a program called Wordle.  You can put in a lot of words and have the program represent those words in a collage.  You can give it your URL and it will take the words contained on the site and arrange the words it finds.  The words with the most prominence are larger.  Above is a picture of the words from the Serving Strong blog.

Roger's thought brings things to a personal level.  If a Wordle was conducted on your life, what words would be most prominent?  Think about it.  What words would people see when they looked at your life?

Read Roger's entire post.

This speaks of integrity to me.  My father in law, before his brain tumor got the best of him, was famous for saying, "Your walk talks and your talk talks.  But your walk talks louder than your talk talks."  What are your attitudes and actions like when no one is looking?  What if people around you could do a Wordle on you without your consent?

Live your message and you'll be Serving Strong!

We Will Never Have Today Again

Notre Dame's pray.nd.edu site has a great description of what life balance is and means.  Here's an excerpt:

"No balance with yourself – you forget who you are. When you retire you have nothing! Or worse than that, if you lose your job through a company sale or downsizing you lose your identity. Ultimately we are NOT what we do to make a living. We are the balance of our family, our work, ourselves”

If you are wondering how important balance is, think of it this way,  “What I do today is important, because I will never have today again.”

Balance helps keep the important from crashing to the ground.

Read the entire post on pray.nd.edu.

Balance is one of the key components in the life of a people helper who is Serving Strong!