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

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.