Today is President's Day but I still have to work. Timecard Monday too - but it isn't near as crazy as it used to be. All I have now to approve are salaried so just need to make sure they put in for their time off. Most will go ahead and approve their timecard first; but there are still a few who don't so I have to check and then approve.
Yesterday was a lazy day after church. I took a bit over 2 hour 'nap' - (was I really that tired?) and then we had leftovers for dinner; watched a movie and then read some. So now I beat myself up because I was lazy... didn't think I'd sleep much last night because of my long deep nap, but I did. Was startled when my watch started the alarm at 4AM. Turned it off and wanted to go back to sleep... but made myself get up before I did. And although I did consider going back to sleep in here, I did not. I must quit being so lazy. My mind tells me of things I need to do... but the body just doesn't follow.
I got a new book this weekend and it is very thought-provoking. I may share some things from time to time in here. It's called The Power to Change. Mastering the Habits that Matter Most by Craig Groeschel. In this book he talks about why we do what we do. And it is interesting to note that What we do is what we think of ourselves.
Yeah, some of the things I've already read have hit home. I was told I was stupid growing up. I was told I wasn't smart enough to go to college. It was always implied I was only good for getting married and having babies. I wasn't good enough or smart enough for anything else.
And that is why we need desperately to tell our children that they have value. That they are smart. That they can achieve whatever they want.
Because the words we hear, define who we say we are. Tell a person they are stupid often enough and they will believe you. It will affect them at school. It will affect their habits. It will affect how they relate to other people. It will affect them all their life.
But we if build them up, telling them they have great value. Telling them they are smart. Telling them they can achieve great things - it also will affect them all their lives.
They believe what they hear from those who are in authority. As their parent or teacher or leader, they believe you. So the question is... what are we feeding those we love?
As mentioned above, I was never encouraged to excel. I was told I was stupid. Now I know I'm not stupid (although I have done a lot of stupid things), but I have struggled with learning new things all my life. That is probably one reason I struggle so greatly with learning new computer programs... and this year I have to 'attack' Visio and become an expert of sorts. I.Don't.Wanna. For one, I'll never use it again when I'm not working (so I tell myself). I don't want to learn it. But I have to use it in my job and right now I'm only getting by with it. I rarely use it. So I struggle with the ability to learn something new, instead of looking forward to it with excitement. I buy the 'for dummies' books with hopes of learning these computer programs, only to throw them away after a few years. They may or may not have even been opened.
I haven't gotten very far in this book, but it is very interesting and I see myself (and others) in some of the chapters. I remember a school that made a difference in my daughter's life was in the 5th grade, I think it was... for a short while she attended this one school and the schools slogan was "I can". You were not 'allowed' to use 'I can't' in a sentence. They encouraged everyone to believe that they could do anything they want3ed to do. The reason I even know about it is that my daughter had shared that one thing with me. I really believe it made a big difference in her life.
If more of us were taught 'I can' versus 'whatever' or 'I can't', we all would have more productive and positive lives. Reading this books really brings that to life. Some principles it touches on....
To experience change that lasts, focus on the who, not the do. (Isaiah 43:19 NLT) "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness, I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."
Who we are - our character - shapes our thoughts about ourselves and others. What we think is a reflection of who we are.
You do what you do because of what you think of you. (Mark 10:27 NLT) "Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God."
To change what you do, you need to first change what you think of you. (Romans 12:2 NLT) "Let God transform you into a new person by change the way you think.
These are but a few things identified in the first chapter. What I think about myself is how I behave, what my characteristics are, what I do.
We.Can.Change. But we have to want that change. You can go to numerous 'intakes' for things, but unless you really want to change..... they will not do a thing for you. True, it may be difficult in some cases, but God gives us the strength to get through the hard parts.
How bad do we want to change? God can make us new when we ask Him to. He can bring the rivers of life to our dry wasteland. But we have to ask Him; He will not force us to do anything we do not want to do.
I know what I was, and what I was becoming. It took my wanting to change, and accepting Jesus as Lord of my life, before those changes would stick. I continuously asked for His help. And I still do. I'm not perfect by any means. I still fail. I will never be perfect.
But because of Jesus, when I confess to Him, He gives me exactly what I need, and even more than that, He gives me grace. Grace that I don't deserve. And you don't either. It isn't something we can earn, it is something He gives freely when we turn to Him. Such beautiful grace.
What do you think of yourself? Why not make the decision to become the best version of who God created you to be? Don't settle for what you think you have become because of your choices.
You were made for something greater. Choose to believe in yourself today. You are worth it.
Blessings!
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