Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out

I've adopted a WORK related New Years resolution that is completely different for me.   It doesn't involve saving money for the company, launching a new program or even increasing implementing new policies and procedures. 

It is an Attitude Goal. 

1)  I will only speak those works to others that I would be willing to speak directly to the CEO and President of my company. 

That rules our swearing, whining, complaining without offering solutions or gossip.  Now, I am not in the habit of doing any of these frequently but...even a little bit goes a long way to poison the pool.  A colleague of mine says, in jest, that her swearing is better than Xanax in reducing her work related anxieties. 

 It means modulating my tone of voice and taking the time to make the right choice with regard to words chosen.  It may mean taking a walk around the block or a deep breath.

It means selecting the best time and place to have a discussion or making the choice to not start the discussion at all.  IT will require me to be more empathetic and be mindful of whether the other person is able to hear my message at that time.  

It may mean not offering a solution to a problem, my expertise, a comment or advice unless expressly asked to do so. It means I will listen twice as much as I speak and it may mean I keep silent (Those of you that know me realize just how hard this will be!). 

I will offer words of encouragement and praise.  I will give compliments, I will look for the good in others and make sure to speak it out loud. 

As you can see, this may be a difficult commitment to keep.  But like my mother said..."If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.   

1 Peter 4:11New International Version (NIV)

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Ash Wednesday 2014

It's 2014 and are you really any different than you were this time last year?  If not, why not?

Change  is hard work and you have to be very intentional about it.  The changes that I would most like to see in my life are NOT ones that I can create on my own.  They require the intervention of the Holy Spirit in my life.

This Lenten season I am going to practice change but not in chunks of 40 days , a week or even 24 hours...no I am going to practice change in increments of 10 minutes.  Keeping a commitment for only 10 minutes at a time seems manageable.  It's something that is occasionally, humanly possible.  It will drive me to prayer regularly throughout the day and keep me focused on the meaning of this season!

I am no so much giving something up but taking on a characteristic of Christ (giving up negative talk, whining and complaining-I may not talk for the next 40 days!)  For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks! Luke 6:45

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart  is full of.

I will focus on Philippians 4:8 so my heart will be filled with right things

     Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever      is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if          anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

So this Lent...

Spend time in Prayerful meditation about what God wants from you this season

Ask the Holy Spirit to be more active in your life

Admit you can't do it on your own

Spend time in the Word

Confess to other believers and ask them to hold you accountable

Leave a comment so I can pray for you!

<><

Come Lord Jesus!

Change your people

Ignite your spirit in our lives so the World may see it's fruits in us

Amen!