How To Care For Introverts

I saw this on Facebook today. . . made me laugh at first, and then as I was reading through them, I knew how true it was. I am pretty introverted, and some of these points really really stuck out. I do consider being introverted a disability of mine.


How to Care for Introverts


1. Respect their need for privacy.
2.NEVER embarrass them in public, and if you HAVE to tease them, do it with care. . .
3. Let them observe first in a new situation.
4.Give them time to think, don't demand an instant answer (This is a big one for me, I have to preplan everything I say!)
5. Don't interrupt them
6. Give them advance notice of expected changes in their life 
7. Give them a 15 minute warning to let them finish whatever they are doing. 
8. Reprimand them privately.
9. Teach them new skills privately.
10. Enable to let them find one friend in which they have similar interests. 
11. Don't push them to find lots of friends. Sometimes I come off as being stuck up, but believe me, I am just shy, especially at first. . .just give me time.
12. RESPECT THEIR INTROVERSION

Matthew 10:28

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Understanding The Bible

Understanding the Bible

by: Karen (mother-in-law)

I would like to relate the true story of a man in the Lord's church many of you know. He grew up in a non-Christian home - unchurched and "heathen". About the age of 18, his mother gave him a Bible. He began reading it - sometimes 6 or more hours a day. Without being taught by anyone, and contrary to popular religious thought, this young man determined just from reading the Bible that he needed to be baptized to have his sins forgiven. So he began looking at names of churches around town, trying to find one that sounded like the church he had read about in the Bible. He walked into a Church of Christ, found the minister in his study, and said, "I believe from reading the Bible that I need to be baptized to have my sins forgiven." The minister replied that it was exactly what he taught and what the church practiced and proceeded to baptize this young man. 

This ability to read God's word and understand it and obey it has made it possible for individuals throughout the centuries of time to come to the same conclusions - independent of each other. I have always found it amazing that people separated by time, distance, and theoligical beliefs can arrive at the same conclusions spiritually simply by reading and understanding the same book! 

This is possible for any topic in the Bible - not just the plan of salvation (as in the story of the young man above). How many people do you know who may be part of a denomination, never immersed to have their sins forgiven; and yet they live exemplary clean, godly lives - often putting baptized believers to shame. They, without submitting to God's plan for salvation, (and w/o the subsequent help of the Holy Spirit some of you claim) are able to read the Bible and allow it to effect change in their lives. 

So can we read the Bible and understand it and obey it without an internal aid of the Holy Spirit? Absolutely! Any chapter, any verse, any topic in the Bible? Undeniably, YES!

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Romans 12:2

Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

New Years Resolution Part 2

Get right with God, before you try to fix your problem

I can't expect to stay true to my New Years resolutions unless I get right with God, dive deep into His Word, and continuously pray for help.  I am sure I am not the only person that has noticed that attitude and character changes for the best when Christ is put on. I have noticed in myself that when I am spiritually fit, I am a better person all around: Christ shows through me. 

I  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 1 Peter 4:8

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Let others see Christ in Us

 I have a really good story called "One Ugly Hillbilly" in a previous post called "A Merry Heart". It is really worth reading. How much more attractive are people who have their minds set on things from above: who are not living for the world, those who display Christ daily in their lives? I want to put away my bad qualities and focus on what is worthy. I would rather be attractive on the inside then have a morsel of beauty on the outside. I want wholeheartedly to please my Lord.  

 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;  and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:32-29

Let our conduct be worthy of Christ

This is a very serious matter. This kinda reminds me of another previous post called "True Worship".  I need to put on Christ daily, and worship His holy name in the ways He finds pleasing according to His Word.

I need to always have a Christ like attitude. You never know who is watching, and taking note of your actions. I don't know how many times I have heard this story: "You say you are a Christian, but you act like that?!" In putting on Christ; that new nature which is being renewed after the image of God, we become clothed with the character which shines in God Himself.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.  Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,  and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 

Colossians 3: 1-17

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mindstriving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.  

Philippians 1:27-28

 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. 

Philippians 2:12-18

Taking off sin, and putting on what is good is easier when you hold on to God's unchanging hand.

New Years Resolutions

Matthew 7:3-5“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."

These verses have really been  speaking to me lately. I realize I have blind spots that obviously I don't notice, and I also notice "not so blind spots" that I know I need to work on, as it is not a good quality to hold. I have been thinking very hard lately about my follies and working on improving them. So here is a list of what I will work on changing in my life for the upcoming year of 2012:

I Am Blunt

• I say things often when it is not my place to say them. I am surprised I don't get myself in trouble often. 
• If I have a problem, whether it is with a person, or an issue, I speak my mind without sensitivity. Though, I know some people appreciate my truthfulness, but still. . .I need to watch my mouth even if I do find it worth saying.

 I Am A Little Stuck Up

• This one was hard. I had someone tell me in high school that they always though I was stuck up because I wasn't a friend to hardly anyone. It soon became clear to her that I wasn't really stuck up, but shy. 
• This made me think that maybe I am stuck up. . .maybe not in ways you may think is more common with being stuck up, but in the way that I don't warm up to people easily, and I am sure I come off as being stuck up. I need to be sure I make people comfortable around me.

I Find Myself Envious

• I think this is one of humans greatest downfalls. 
• I don't think I will go into detail with this, but I can tell you that it is not another persons success, possessions, etc that I am envious about. I can tell you that it has to do with those close to me. I feel that I will someday be looked over as time goes by. This will make more sense in the next segment:

I Am Critical Of Myself

• I will not go into detail with this, but just know I have reason as to why I am so critical of myself, I have reasons as to why my personal standards are to high. I know this is unhealthy for me, though I do think I have grown out of it in many ways, but have to keep working on it. I do need to add though: If I wasn't treated the way I was when I was younger, I think I would be fully stuck up, not just come off that way. I am in fact thankful that I was treated the way that I was, as it made me the person I am today.
• When someone comes into my life that reminds me of the past, I get very critical as I begin to be quite harsh with myself as to why I am not more mature, or better at more things, and most of all, why I have such a hard time being a social, fun person with a catchy personality. 
• I know that God loves me, Michael loves me, and my family loves me, and even with them, I am constantly trying to improve the way they see me. I want to make a name for myself so I constantly am criticizing my ways. I just need to thank God for who He made me, though I still need to try to improve myself, but not to where it hurts my self-respect. 

I am sure there is a lot more I can say about things I can personally improve on. I plan to ask for advice, and ask those close to me be honest with me when it comes to something they find I can change.  I would like to know my blind spots, and work them out.
This was the hardest post to write. I do not like to think of my bad qualities, but I do find it important to admit that I do have qualities that need changed. 

A Merry Heart

Created To Be His Help Meet

By Debi Pearl

Thoughts on Chapter Two: A Merry Heart

The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Making the journey through marriage, you will need all the strength afforded by the joy of the Lord.

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

"Love is like a flower: you can't expect it to grow without sunshine." 

A joyful heart is very important to building your marriage into the heavenly gift it was meant to be.

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken."

Proverbs 15:13

People are drawn to a smiling face. This counts your husband*

One Ugly Hillbilly!

“A few years back, there was an overweight hillbilly woman who worked in the local store in our hometown.  Every time we went into the hardware store, several men would be standing around the counter talking to her, and they were always luaghing.  We usually had to wade throught the cheerful crowd and interrupt the gaiety to get served.  Her swarm of admireres reminded me of bees around the honey, buzzing with high iterest.  The strange thing was that this woman was ugly, I mean, hillbilly ugly, which worse than regular ugly.  One day as we were leaving the store, I laughingly brought to my husband’s attention all those men standing around talking to the salses cleark.  His reply really surprised me, “Oh, you mean that cute little lady?”  Live and learn!  And apparently I really had something important to learn.  In his mind that lady was cute!  The truth is, she was not little, she was not cute, and she was not young.  But she did smile, laugh, and giggle, and she was always ready for a good clean joke.  I loved being in the sotre talking to her as much as the men did.  She was delightful.  A few weeks later, we saw her in the grocery store.  She was mad at her very obese daughter for grabbing a handful of candy.  Gone were the smiles, giggles, and radiance that had so captivated everyone at the hardware store.  In their place was a bitter, ugly, snarl.  My hsuband remarked when we left the grocery store, “Haven’t we seen that woman somewhere before?  She looks familiar, but I just can’t place her.”  When I told him who she was, he was stunned.  “No, it’s not possible; it just can’t be her.  The woman in the hardware store does not look like that.”  I could see the truth dawn on him, and he was so disappointed.  The funny thing was that the woman looked just like she always did.  She was the same size, sam scraggly hairstyle, the same clothes style, the same everything she was when we saw her in the hardware store.  All she lacked was her glorious smile.  It was her most valuable asset.  Her face was always so radiant, her smile so infectious, her laughter so sweet, and her eyes so earnest that people simply saw her as cute.  I don’t know if she had a husband, but I am sure she could have had a dozen different men in that small town- as long as they never saw her in the grocery store, mad at her daughter.

Everyone is drawn to a smile and wants to be a friend to someone overflowing with good will.  Men are highly attracted to smiles.  That includes your husband.  Do you want your husband to stay home more?  A merry heart and a mischievious giggle are good drawing cards.”

"Never demand that a man love you and cherish you because he ought to. Earn every smile and shared moment."

Make a New Habit:

What can you do today to make your husband smile?

Get Serious With God:

Do a study on the word "joy". You will find it is found 167 times in the Bible. Try to memorize verses about joy that really speak to you.

Think of other ways and time during the day that you can establish a habit of praise and thanksgiving by showing joy. Write them down, and think of yourself doing them and putting them into practice.

Palms 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Christmas Fun

time to eat a feastly dinner!

Playing with the special ornaments

Putting the tree up

decorating the Christmas tree!

A present to go under the tree!!!! 

Photo bomb!

Somebody is looking fabulous!

There was not a drop of alcohol included in the fun day. Seriously.

My husband and I

Husband and Nathan watching Blues Clues. 

Beauty

     Beauty is the absence of any flaw, to the point where nothing needs added and nothing needs to be taken away. Beauty can be described in infinite ways, each conveying a unique passion. That which grabs the passion of a human is different among which passion it unravels within the soul of another. Such beauty can be seen in every form existing.
     Beauty can be described in infinite ways as to what is pleasing and impressive for each individual. Beauty is found in some form of every touch, smell, taste and aspect. Beauty to one person may be defined as a rare uniqueness, yet to another beauty may be defined as anything that is contrary to ugly. Beauty is unique and pleasurable in which to one person or another; no matter what form or value it is enjoyed. Beauty is found in every aspect, and each and every aspect details its own uniqueness and pleasure.
     Every snowflake is different from every other snowflake formed. Each snowflake is found to be beautiful yet unique in it’s own way. This also applies to every human; each human has beauty, but his or her beauty is different in definition to every other human. Uniqueness may not be particularly beautiful but even something hideous can hold a form; even a fraction of beauty. Everything concrete, whether tasted, felt, smelt, or touched is admired in someway. Beauty does not have to be what’s quota to daily influence. Human naturally follows the crowd and this applies for how beauty is defined.
     Solely because of following what is naturally “pleasing” to the eye, beauty is seen in few aspects. A dark musty cave: barren and spacious may hold no form of beauty to most because it is not an everyday thing the eye beholds. So what about a large, bountiful garden? Bright in color and light, perfumed flowers roaming through the paths of grass and streams: almost everyone would find a magnificent form of beauty in it. Does this mean a cave; dark and barren has no beauty? No, it’s not that the cave has no beauty; it’s the human that defines beauty to what is naturally pleasing to them. Knowledge of true beauty opens up a whole new world to what holds beauty. The cave, after knowing beauty is now appreciated rather than naturally pleasing because it’s what’s common to daily influence.
      Beauty grabs different passions in different people and the mind discerns the beauty seen. A lampshade covered in small crystals can hold beauty to one person, as to another; they may be disgusted by it because to them it looks like a lampshade dipped in cat litter. The mind is the key to defining beauty. It conveys the uniqueness and puts value on the beauty seen. Does beauty have to be concrete? A feeling is beauty, an idea is beauty, emotion is beauty, and even a situation is beauty. Imagine you are walking on the beach on a warm morning. Breeze is caressing your face, and joy is filling your spirit. Down along the shore is then a huge, washed up whale. The first thing you would think would be: wow, that’s a beauty. I am not saying that something dead is beautiful, but the whale is so huge, and almost scary at first glance that it overwhelms every sense you hold within. Beauty is deep, complex, and is to often mistaken.
      Beauty can be described in infinite ways, each conveying a unique passion. Beauty is found in every aspect, and each and every aspect details its own uniqueness and pleasure. It grabs different passions in different people, and the mind discerns the beauty seen. Beauty does not have to be something pretty, or even pleasing. Beauty is merely seen in every form, whether or not it is noticed. Beauty is all around us, and its uniqueness is over glanced everyday.

God's Gift

Created To Be His Help Meet

By Debi Pearl

Thoughts on Chapter One: God's Gift

A wise woman doesn't take anything for granted. She is thankful to be loved and seeks 

to make herself more lovely.

"And the Lord God Said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an hep meet for him" Genesis 2:18

"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord"

Proverbs 18:22

"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for 

the woman; the the woman for the man"

1 Corinthians 11:8-9

"But she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband"

1 Corinthian 7:34

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband"

Proverbs 12:4

God's perfect will for my life is that I can be a help meet to my husband. 

A wise woman doesn't take anything for granted. She is thankful to be loved and seeks to make herself more lovely.

Make a new habit:  

Think of ways you can be a helper to you husband.

Get Serious with God: 

Locate Scripture on the following words, and work each one of these attributes into      

 your character. 

Virtue

Graciousness

Wisdom

Prudence

Goodness

A Good help meet has a Passion to be of Service

The words help meet brings up images in my mind of a woman who serves others. A good help meet will have a passion to be of service. Her first calling is to be of service to her husband, then her children, and when time affords, her passion service will spill over to serving others.

If God created a special woman, perfectly suited to be your husband's helper, would you be that woman?