This week in our MASTER-FULL MOMS class we're looking at our weaknesses. We want to be women who are so led by the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD that HE takes our weaknesses and makes them our strengths. These verses also say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that CHRIST'S POWER may rest on me."
I hear that in AA each person must say, "Hello, my name is _________ and I am an alcoholic." I have a feeling that should work with all my weaknesses. Since today in class we were challenged to look at 4 of our individual weaknesses that have a negative effect on our husbands and/or children....I think I'll try the AA approach:
"Hello, my name is Patti and I am greatly opinionated."
"Hello, my name is Patti and I am bossy."
"Hello, my name is Patti and I am stubborn."
"Hello, my name is Patti and I am a joy stealer."
Whoa! This is me? Surely not! These are hard sentences to read and re-read. Yet, I believe that scripture is telling me that IF I keep this understanding of me, Patti, in the forefront and allow Christ to lead me, then He will get the glory when I listen and respect others opinions, when I follow instead of lead, when I "don't wanna" but decide that "I'm a gonna'", or when I joyfully put Jesus and others before myself.
I am a very strong Choleric personality. In fact, I score 42 out of 42 every time I take the assessment. Today, in out Master-Full moms class we looked at descriptors of each of the 4 personalities. I could paint a Choleric word picture by using these words: the apostle PAUL, the color RED, the animals LION and ELEPHANT, the DIRECTOR of a play, a DRIVING social style, ACHIEVER, in war a SHERMAN TANK, RABBIT in Winnie the Pooh, LUCY in Charlie Brown, LEADER, and a very DIRECT style. Ask my siblings! Ask my children! Ask my husband! YES! YES! YES!
Does God use Cholerics? Absolutely! Do we have as many strengths as weaknesses? Certainly! Going back to those 2 verses: "... for CHRIST'S sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
GOD, YOU tell me that YOUR grace is sufficient for me and that YOUR POWER is made perfect in my weaknesses. Please teach me to walk daily in the attitudes that CHRIST displayed as HE walked on this earth:
- Respect for others thoughts and opinions
- The willingness to follow
- "I don't wanna' but I'm a gonna!"
- Joy from a grateful heart
2 Corinthian 12:9-10 “But HE said to me, ‘MY grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that CHRIST'S POWER may rest on me. That is why, for CHRIST'S sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
6 comments:
Patti,
Thank you so much for sharing your personal examples of God working in your life. Your willingness to "put it out there" is really a blessing to me. I also wish I hadn't missed class this week! thank you, thank you! Janet Betts
Thank you for these insights. It's so hard to do this but saying my weaknesses is like I'm just pouring it out at the feet of Jesus. "My name is Annie and I am headstrong!"
My name is Katherine, and I am arrogant--but I am sure you don't mind! (My girlfriends are supposed to laugh here...)
My name is Katherine, and I am narcissistic--but I have the right to be! (More laughter...)
My name is Katherine, and I like to be the center of attention---Could you move over, please?...
My name is Katherine, and--here is the bottom line--I like to be right ALL THE TIME.
Whew, I feel better....Jump in; the water's fine!
Hi Patti,
Thanks for being a role model and helping me face my weaknesses.
My name is Karelle and I am very sarcastic.
My name is Karelle and I have a sharp tongue.
May name is Karelle and I am always right
Thank You, Thank You, Patti for your love and commitment to helping me grow in my spiritual walk. What a blessing you have been.
Here we go...
My name is Stephanie and I tend to put my children and others before my husband, ouch! (I wrote a whole page on that one.)
My name is Stephanie and I like to say YES to everyone, I really enjoy serving others.
My name is Stephanie and I do not do well with handeling our finances.(I have to say I have improved as I have been asking God over and over and over again to please help me do better with this weakness.)
My name is Stephanie and I am weak in my memory and decision making.
Thank you!!!
God bless
Stephanie McGuckin
My name is Casey and I can be over sensitive. Other people's pain sometimes upsets me so much that I put up a wall, which is in turn selfish.
My name is Casey and I'm not a risk-taker or bold.
My name is Casey and I cling to my comfort zone (I didn't have any comfort zone period until like 4 years ago, is that a good excuse?)
My name is Casey and I sometimes worry about cherishing my earthly treasures too much (Mike & Beau) and being corrected in that area via tragedy.
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