10 valid needs of people: appreciation

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10)

This verse speaks of community. As a Christian, I am created and wired for community: to laugh, cry, rejoice, with others. Without community, I am missing something critical to growth. An aspect of living in community is appreciating everyone for their diversity: what they offer and what I can learn from them. I learned to treasure differences not cast them off as if their opinions/views/attitudes don't matter: I'm right and they're wrong.

I believe self centeredness and pride destroy community faster than anything else.  In contrast, humility builds up community.

I want to appreciate others and what they contribute to the body of believers. I also want to honor their efforts.

Appreciation for others is needed in the church today.

10 valid needs of people

There are 10 valid needs of people such as:

1) acceptance: dignify others by accepting them (romans 15:7)

2) Affection: expressing care and closeness saying "I love you" (Luke 5:13)

3) Appreciation: expressing thanks for the efforts of others (Romans 12:10)

4) Approval: affirming the importance of a relationship (Mark 1:11)

5) Attention: showing genuine interest in another's interests (1 Corinthians 12:25)

6) Comfort: ease the hurting with words, feelings and touch (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

7) Encouragement: stimulating others to love and goodness (Hebrews 10:24)

8) Respect: treating another as having importance and dignity (1 Peter 2:17)

9) Security: harmony in relationships (Romans 12:16, 18)

10) Support: helping to carry another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)

 

 

 

 

judgment has no place

I've experienced judgment among Christians more than I have among non Christians. That hurts me more than anything.

Until I'm perfect- like God- then I can start judging others. I'm not there- so judgment has no place in my life. I need to worry about my own life first- before I go around condemning people for what they do.

My opinion is that judgment has no place among the church- the community of believers.

Matthew 7:1 says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." This verse is saying if I judge others, I will also be judged. Why do I judge others? To make me feel superior? Whatever the reason, I am called to love others with the love of God in me. Judgment divides what is meant to be unified. I experienced judgment from those who were close to me and I felt demeaned. Then I thought about how non Christians must feel when they're judged by "Christians".

I can't judge others because I'm flawed just like the rest of the world. Judgment has no place in my life because I'm created to love others with the love of God in me.

Summer is Here

I've made it through another semester...and my hardest one :-(

Every day I felt I was fighting through. This past semester some people at my school kept telling me, "you made a bad decision" repeatedly.

I know. Thank you, Please tell me something I don't know. :-/

IWU is a community and that is how they treated me and the decision I made. This part makes me sad: although I felt I was a member of community, I didn't feel that I was a member of the church.

Community and church cannot be used interchangeably.

But now summer is here! Yay! And my life is changing. After graduation (in December of this year) I feel called to do missions work. That is kind of random, I know. I might be going to Thailand for a internship through Youth for Christ.

I had the perfect plan and now I said "yes" to God. My life is His.

Always <3

All for HIS glory

One Heart, One Voice, and One Passion

I am back at IWU.

Yay!

I am excited for what God has for me and the students on this campus this year.

I just got back from Summit and I want to share a passage with you:

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ." ~Romans 15:5-6

Everyone is different but those who are Christians share this in common: we are all one. When we come together as a community, it encourages us and makes us whole. I believe we were (and are) created to do life with others. I pray that the way I carry myself will invite others in, that I won't be so focused on myself that I fail to see the needs around me.

Summit concludes tomorrow and I am expectant as to how God will show up in the lives of my sisters + brothers in Christ.

Always <3 + All for His glory

Community

One.

One People.

One Passion.

One call.

One love.

That's what we are called to as members of the Christian faith.

I want to be less "religious" and more "spiritual."

What is with the word religion that leads to conservative and closed minds versus spirituality that leads to liberality and open minds?

I wish there was an easy answer to that question but there's not :-(

All I can do is love others in a way that changes their world. Isn't that what God does with us every day we screw up?

I go to Indiana Wesleyan University where I notice the majority of students are very conservative.

Not that being conservative bothers me.

There is a time and a place to be conservative and also a time and a place to be liberal.

Back to the love of God and spirituality.

God changes our world beyond everything we know.

Love leads to liberty.

Passion for community.

My prayer is when I return to IWU in a week, I would seek to love others beyond what they know so that it changes their world.

peace-