When God "Checks Your Attitude"

This morning, a co-worker came into our office, asking me to print his pay stub. This tends to irritate me because 1) they never go to HR for this and 2) they never go to their boss and 3) Its NOT my job to do! Well, I was…less than friendly and finally agreed to it. After a long pause and sigh, I start typing away. While pulling up his pay stub, he told me that I remind him of a lady. I didn’t think anything of this because I hear this all the time. Who doesn’t? lol

He said this lady went to Grace Apostolic. Shoot. I say, “Grace and Truth Apostolic?” He says, Yes!

Still thinking it could be Mom or Nancy, I say, "Why, yes, I go to that church." He says, "Menzies?" Shoot Shoot Shoot. "Yep, that’s me." And it’s not Mom, because he asks me “How is Dad?” He tells me to tell Pastor hello and asks for a church card so he can visit again when he has a Sunday off.

Jesus was telling me that I need an attitude adjustment. Doesn’t matter if it’s not my job to print out his stub, its’ still myjob to be nice and helpful. Not only that but we (GTACers) are praying for church growth and working on being witness and here I am, letting my Monday Morning Funk get in the way of reaching a soul.

Apparently, God wasn't though with me.

Each morning at work, each department is supposed to have a morning meeting. We call them Moments That Matter. We have a company directed topic for each week and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and such.

Today's Moments talked about first impressions saying how this can impact our company as a whole. After each "devotion" or coaching, we are asked to select a Focus of the Day from our Teammate Card.

My manager chose this:

Be honest and show kindness through ALL our actions.

And this was her prayer for today - lol.

It is overwhelming to us, Oh God, to think we live our days on this earth reflecting Your likeness into the world around us. Forgive us, that the reflection is so often blurred and the likeness so often distorted. Keep us close in our companionship with You, where the reflection of Your love is to be found in all its fullness. In Your name we pray, Amen.

I get it, God.

Ladies In Waiting

noun

plural noun: ladies-in-waiting

a woman who attends a queen or princess

My definition? A girl or young lady, waiting for God to unfold His will in her life, waiting to be the lady He has chosen her to be. (a young woman who attends her pastor's wife, parents and or anyone else in authority in her life)

I've given the old blog a face lift in preparation for my new journey. After a year (almost to the day!) of tug of war with God, I've embraced what I believe to be my new phase in life.

I am happy to be starting a new Sunday School class this winter, my pupils being girls and young ladies, aging from 13-21. Making a LONG story short, I believe God is calling me to be more involved in helping these girls find beauty within themselves. I was so blessed in my teenage years to have two parents who loved me and were always there for me and an amazing lady who helped "make" me who I am today. I can only hope to be a portion of what they were to me to these girls.

In a world filled with vanity and perversions, I believe we need voices raised in opposition to Hollywood and the social circles teaching young girls thier version of beauty. Beauty is not found  in sensuality, sexual appeal, Hollywood NYC fashion, ect. True beauty is found in ourselves, when we first find ourselves in Christ.

It took me years to discover this. I hope to be a part of the "Unfolding of the Rose" in someone else's life. I don't kid myself in thinking this will make a tremendous difference in all 8-9 girls but if I can plant a seed, or water the seed already blossoming in one's heart, then I've made a difference for the better.

God has truly blessed me in my 30 years. I want to use my testimony to bless someone else.

My Ladies In Waiting class will begin on the first Sunday in December and I am praying God does wonderful things for us as we learn together!



Dear God, Grant Me Grace

My Pastor is somewhat known, I believe, as a "grace preacher". I'm not a beginner when it comes to hearing what grace truly means and how much we truly need it in our lives.

But when my cousin preached it a couple weekends ago, something stuck with me this time. Maybe because God knew that it was what I needed to hear at that moment.

It's not easy to have give into something that goes against what you feel is      
       right. 
It's not easy to be constantly taken the wrong way.
It's not easy to swallow one's pride, lower one's head and take criticism for 
       something you believe in.
It's not easy missing someone so much it feels as if you start crying/screaming,
       that you will never stop. Ever.
It's not east to believe you had yourself somewhat figured out, and somewhat
       proud of who you have become, only to realize that, with a few careless 
       words, you're no longer that person. Maybe you never really were.
It's not easy knowing where you'd like to be is far from where you are.

We always hear it said, "No one promised that this would be an easy life." This is true beyond belief. But it is also true that where there is a soul in need, there is grace to see one through. Grace just isn't something one sings about on Sunday. It isn't a pretty word just to lift one's spirits. Its a necessity. Without God's grace, I am no one. I can do nothing. If I didn't have God's grace, I'd literally be curled into a ball, screaming silently. No, probably not silently. I've done that. No, it wouldn't be a pretty scene. If I didn't know how to "access His grace" as my pastor says, I'd have done something quite insane by now.

Grace is God's divine influence and it's reflection in my life. Grace is God living through me. Grace is what enables me to wake each day and keep going. 

One of my favorite scriptures has always been Hebrews 4.16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.

 

As I've said before, there are times when I don't even have the strength to be any kind of bold. :) I can only crawl into the arms of God and whisper for Him to hold me and let grace cover me. 

The amazing thing is...He never turns me away. No many how many times I've done this, He accepts me every time. Never a stern, "Be a Big Girl and handle this one yourself." Nope. 

This is one reason I could never think to turn away from Him. Why would I? HOW could I? How in the world would one survive without the Grace of God?