Myers-Briggs: ENFJ
Extrovert: I am energized by my time with others. "being with people is better than being alone" or "my mouth must move for my brain to think!"
Intuitive: I know what you mean without you explaining it. "you know - that gut level feeling you get that guides you" or "the sixth sense"
Feeler: I am aware of my feelings and the feelings of others. "how i feel matters more to me than what i think" or "i'm sensitive"
Judger: I want to understand and have a plan. "let's have a plan. if we don't have a plan it won't happen." or "spontaneity is over-rated"
StrengthFinder:
Communication: "i love sharing thoughts, feelings ideas, opinions with others through WORDS!"
Strategic: "let's look at the big picture - i think i see a better way to get there from here"
Activator: "let's do it - what are we waiting for?"
Relator: "i love, need, enjoy, appreciate, desire RELATIONSHIP with other humans"
Achiever: "how many things can i accomplish in one day? let's see..."
DiSC: Di
Dominance: HIGH To the point, decisive and bottom line oriented. These people tend to be independent and results driven. They are strong-willed people who enjoy challenges, taking action, and immediate results.
Influence: HIGH Optimistic and outgoing. They tend to be highly social and out going. They prefer participating on teams, sharing thoughts, and entertaining and energizing others.
Steadiness: LOW Empathetic & Cooperative. These people tend to be team players and are supportive and helpful to others. They prefer being behind the scene, working in consistent and predictable ways. They are often good listeners and avoid change and conflict
Conscientiousness: LOW Concerned, Cautious & Correct. These people are often focused on details and quality. They plan ahead, constantly check for accuracy, and what to know "how" and "why".
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
blessed are the poor in spirit
Our trip to the garbage dumps of Mexico City was awesome. It was incredible to see such a beautiful people living in and on the garbage for survival. It's a sight that is hard to describe in words - and even pictures don't do it justice. It's really something that needs to be experienced in person to fully understand.
Each person I ministered to was loving, kind, receptive and full of appreciation. Not qualities you always see when you serve the poor here in the United States. There was no entitlement mentality, no pride, no anger - only gratitude.
So, what's the difference? How can these people, who are living as the poorest of the poor be so grateful and responsive to strangers coming to help them.
I'm sure there is more to it - but one word that keeps coming to me over and over is HUMILITY. In these Mexicans, I saw a real gentleness. They were open and willing to receive what we had for them. They appreciated everything - immensely and they did not ask for more.
They were not angry or ashamed or embarrassed. They were not full of self-pity either. They held their heads up, looked you right in eyes and smiled at you with the most genuine smile. They were filled with joy - and they gave it away so freely.
It was a beautiful week. We served those who were poor in the physical realm and without them even knowing it, they served us - who are still so poor in the spiritual realm.
God - help me see what it truly means to be poor in spirit, meek and merciful. I want the kind of humility I saw in these people - not self-pity, self-hatred or depression. Not looking down on oneself - but knowing where I stand in relationship to YOU. True humility that says - YOU are God and I am NOT.
I am so blessed to have had this opportunity to serve the "least of these" for I think some of them might be the greatest in the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 25: 34-40 Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' "Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'
Each person I ministered to was loving, kind, receptive and full of appreciation. Not qualities you always see when you serve the poor here in the United States. There was no entitlement mentality, no pride, no anger - only gratitude.
So, what's the difference? How can these people, who are living as the poorest of the poor be so grateful and responsive to strangers coming to help them.
I'm sure there is more to it - but one word that keeps coming to me over and over is HUMILITY. In these Mexicans, I saw a real gentleness. They were open and willing to receive what we had for them. They appreciated everything - immensely and they did not ask for more.
They were not angry or ashamed or embarrassed. They were not full of self-pity either. They held their heads up, looked you right in eyes and smiled at you with the most genuine smile. They were filled with joy - and they gave it away so freely.
It was a beautiful week. We served those who were poor in the physical realm and without them even knowing it, they served us - who are still so poor in the spiritual realm.
God - help me see what it truly means to be poor in spirit, meek and merciful. I want the kind of humility I saw in these people - not self-pity, self-hatred or depression. Not looking down on oneself - but knowing where I stand in relationship to YOU. True humility that says - YOU are God and I am NOT.
I am so blessed to have had this opportunity to serve the "least of these" for I think some of them might be the greatest in the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 25: 34-40 Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' "Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'
Saturday, August 2, 2008
and away we go...
I can't sleep. It's 4:10am. I need to be up soon to catch our flight out of Cincinnati at 7:20am, but I've been laying awake for over an hour - so I thought I might as well get up and write!
Today we leave for Mexico City. We are going to minister to the homeless who live off the garbage in the dumps there. This is my second mission trip - but quite different from my first, in that last time we worked in orphanages and did lots of physical labor. This time is going to be more "relational" - from what I can tell - and we are going to be with the people, praying for them and helping them physically.
I am excited yet a bit apprehensive too. I have lots of friends who've been on this trip who are saying "don't drink the water" and giving all kinds of advice for staying healthy. I think I'm bringing every single anti-bacterial product ever manufactured to date. So I'm believing we're covered - as far as that goes.
But, even more than the physical preparations, I want to be sure we've made the necessary spiritual preparations. Are our hearts ready to love with Jesus' love? the hurting, the unlovable, the dirty, the ugly, the poor?
I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that was really amusing to me. "Jesus loves you - and I'm trying." Really sums it up, don't you think? In our our humanness that's all we can do - try.
Ha - but then I'm reminded of the Good News - we don't have to stay in our own human condition. When we accept Jesus, His HOLY SPIRIT comes and lives in us to TRANSFORM US into HIS OWN IMAGE. We have the same power IN US that raised Jesus from the dead - alive and well and living in us. AND, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we don't have to try. We can actually experience the divine, transcendent love of Christ flowing through us to others.
All we need to do is literally... get out of the way. Very cool.
And what's even better is that I LOVE how it feels when the Holy Spirit takes over like this. I am completely filled with the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), I feel electrified - like an awesome tingling, surreal feeling, and it's no longer about me and what I am doing (making myself feel more worthy, more sacrificial, more spiritual, more important - or just plain better than the guy who's not out feeding the poor).
No, it truly becomes all about HIM. What He wants to do. How He feels. How He wants to love His people through me.
And, I never know what's going to happen next. The Spirit could tell me to spit in a blind eye for all I know. Very weird stuff. When I've been filled up with God like this and listening to His voice - He's asked me to do some strange things. Like once I had to blow on a woman I was praying for - and then she was healed. Very cool result - weird experience.
That's what I want for this trip. To be so filled up with the Spirit of God that He takes over and has His way. I want to hear His voice so loudly that I can walk in His ways. I want to see signs and wonders. I want to see people healed, delivered and set free. More than mercy, I want MIRACLES!
Acts of mercy are wonderful - but the POWER of One True Living God is BEYOND BELIEF!
Today we leave for Mexico City. We are going to minister to the homeless who live off the garbage in the dumps there. This is my second mission trip - but quite different from my first, in that last time we worked in orphanages and did lots of physical labor. This time is going to be more "relational" - from what I can tell - and we are going to be with the people, praying for them and helping them physically.
I am excited yet a bit apprehensive too. I have lots of friends who've been on this trip who are saying "don't drink the water" and giving all kinds of advice for staying healthy. I think I'm bringing every single anti-bacterial product ever manufactured to date. So I'm believing we're covered - as far as that goes.
But, even more than the physical preparations, I want to be sure we've made the necessary spiritual preparations. Are our hearts ready to love with Jesus' love? the hurting, the unlovable, the dirty, the ugly, the poor?
I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that was really amusing to me. "Jesus loves you - and I'm trying." Really sums it up, don't you think? In our our humanness that's all we can do - try.
Ha - but then I'm reminded of the Good News - we don't have to stay in our own human condition. When we accept Jesus, His HOLY SPIRIT comes and lives in us to TRANSFORM US into HIS OWN IMAGE. We have the same power IN US that raised Jesus from the dead - alive and well and living in us. AND, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we don't have to try. We can actually experience the divine, transcendent love of Christ flowing through us to others.
All we need to do is literally... get out of the way. Very cool.
And what's even better is that I LOVE how it feels when the Holy Spirit takes over like this. I am completely filled with the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), I feel electrified - like an awesome tingling, surreal feeling, and it's no longer about me and what I am doing (making myself feel more worthy, more sacrificial, more spiritual, more important - or just plain better than the guy who's not out feeding the poor).
No, it truly becomes all about HIM. What He wants to do. How He feels. How He wants to love His people through me.
And, I never know what's going to happen next. The Spirit could tell me to spit in a blind eye for all I know. Very weird stuff. When I've been filled up with God like this and listening to His voice - He's asked me to do some strange things. Like once I had to blow on a woman I was praying for - and then she was healed. Very cool result - weird experience.
That's what I want for this trip. To be so filled up with the Spirit of God that He takes over and has His way. I want to hear His voice so loudly that I can walk in His ways. I want to see signs and wonders. I want to see people healed, delivered and set free. More than mercy, I want MIRACLES!
Acts of mercy are wonderful - but the POWER of One True Living God is BEYOND BELIEF!
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