Sunday, September 29, 2013

10 Myths About Introverts


 Carl King shares his findings about introverts:

"Introverts are people whose energy tends to expand through reflection and dwindle during interaction. 

They often take pleasure in solitary activities such as reading, writing, music, drawing, tinkering, playing video games, watching movies and plays, and using computers. 

The archetypal artist, writer, sculptor, engineer, composer, and inventor are all highly introverted. An introvert is likely to enjoy time spent alone and find less reward in time spent with large groups of people.

They prefer to concentrate on a single activity at a time and like to observe situations before they participate. 

Introverts are easily overwhelmed by too much stimulation from social gatherings and engagement. They are more analytical before speaking.

Introversion is not the same as being shy or being a social outcast. Introverts prefer solitary activities over social ones, whereas shy people (who may be extraverts at heart) avoid social encounters out of fear, and the social outcast has little choice in the matter of his or her solitude.
(via Wikipedia)

Myth #1Introverts don’t like to talk.

This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.
Myth #2Introverts are shy.

Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. 
They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.
Myth #3Introverts are rude.

Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. 
They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.
Myth #4 Introverts don’t like people.

On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. 
If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.
Myth #5Introverts don’t like to go out in public.

Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. 
They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to 'get it.' They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.
Myth #6 Introverts always want to be alone.

Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve.
But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.
Myth #7 Introverts are weird.

Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. 
They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.
Myth #8 Introverts are aloof nerds.

Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. 

It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.


Myth #9Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.

Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. 
If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.
Myth #10Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.

A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. 
That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) 
Introverts cannot 'fix themselves' and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ."
"I, Carl Kingwrote this list in late-2000. Around that time, I was lucky enough to discover a book called, The introvert Advantage (How to Thrive in an Extrovert World), by Marti Laney, Psy.D. 

It felt like someone had written an encyclopedia entry on a rare race of people to which I belong. Not only had it explained many of my eccentricities, it helped me to redefine my entire life in a new and productive context."

10 Myths about Introverts via Carl King Creative

Pray with me: Father, we appreciate this information that Carl King has shared. It can help us understand our own mates better, (if they're introverts), as well as some others we know. There are those folks reading this post who are introverts, and may be glad for the truths given here, to dispel the myths about introverts that are being believed by many. 

May we understand others in a clearer light now, and be at peace, as to who they are, and how they're made by God. May we all learn to appreciate introverts, seeing them in God's light of how they're created. We pray this in the precious Name of Jesus, amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Ps. 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Today’s quote: Cindy Sproles – “For every palm you grace with friendship and love, a palm is turned toward you. The repayment is not always in wealth. It’s in the amazement of being used by the Father to complete His plan. It’s helping others. Serving with a heart of willingness. It’s being there even if it’s inconvenient.”

Some thoughts  today: I'm a sinner saved by grace, and a saint sinning less and less.

Our children need to see our “humanness”. When we make a mistake in judging them, lashing out with unkind words, more will be accomplished in our humbling ourselves after learning the truth, and then giving an apology to them. It may be you’ll need to weep with them, at times. Please remember that your words will either build up, (give life), or tear down, (kill).

Tuesday's post: #23  Ministries of Intercession  C. Peter Wagner

Thursday's post:  #24  Crisis Intercession  C. Peter Wagner

A popular post:  PRESENT BUT NOT FULLY CHECKED IN  One of the greatest problems with our society today is the lack of involvement by godly men. 



Samples of Jean's crafts & craft blanks

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1938499999/  Link to Granny’s Guide to Marriage in Verse  my book for women contemplating marriage.


#1  So You Plan to Marry {from pg 18}

"So you plan to marry
A noble thing to do.
Be sure that you learn all you can
Of help there is for you.

The Bible has a lot to say
About this life you'll choose.
Be sure you're ready for that day
As single life you'll lose."

Saturday, September 28, 2013

A Mother's Plea




Linda Hill

"I'm surprised to hear the birds song
All seems right with the world
I gaze out my window watching
My little boy and girl

Tears fill my eyes as I bow my head
Lost in silent prayer
How can I tell them that Mommy
Won't always be there

How can I explain to them the cancer
That's invading my body
It will be so hard to tell them..
How do I make them see

They are too young to understand
Josh is five..Laura  seven
They won't be able to comprehend
That Mommy's going to Heaven.

Who will read Laura a story at nite
And gently tuck her in
Who will bake chocolate chip cookies
For Josh and his imaginary friend

Why do I have to leave them
Oh , Why do I have to go
Their little hearts will be broken
You know they need me so

My tears are falling , my heart breaks
I am not concerned for me.
My thoughts are what will happen
To my precious family

Give me the courage and wisdom
Lord, to place them in Your hands
To know that Thy will be done
Please help them understand

Give me the right words to tell them
That I am coming Home
That I will always love them
Though I will be gone.

Help them through the painful months
Lord, Please hold their hand
When they start to stumble Lord
Rise them up again

I'm surprised to hear the birds song
All seems right with the world
I gaze out my window watching
My little boy and girl."

(C) Linda Hill
7/24/13

(Used with permission)

Photo: "What Cancer Cannot Do"

Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit. 

cancer cannot cripple LOVE,
it actually makes it overflow.
cancer cannot shatter HOPE,
it actually clarifies what Hope is for.
cancer cannot corrode FAITH,
it actually strengthens Faith's convictions,
cancer cannot conquer the SPIRIT,
because courage faces cancer's affliction.

AMEN! <3<3<3


Pray with me: Father, as we think of our friends and loved ones with this dreaded desiese, we can't help but ask that You be their comfort and provision. They are in need of guidance and peace, Father. We ask that Your Love fill and surround them today. May their path not be as rough as anticipated, but covered with lots of love from everyone. We ask for Your grace to be amply supplied for all those who are walking through this ordeal. In the mighty Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

I'm glad to be back on my blog. I trust the up-coming Faith Messages will be a blessing to my readers. My hip replacement went well, and I'm walking with a cane and am heading to rehab next week...thanks for all prayers for my healing!

Today’s Bible verse: Ps. 46:5 "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved. God shall help her, and that right early."

Today’s quote:  Joshua McGrath - "What does fellowship provide? Accountability, encouragement, friendship in Christ, love, strength to continue pursuing Christ."

Some thoughts today: God is not intimidated by our needs. The local church is given to the local body of believers for their support.

- The Cross separates from other religions. It's what saves us from our sins! None other religion can do that!

-All through the Bible, when people turned to God, He delivered them. It still holds true today!

Sunday's post:  10 Myths About Introverts  Carl King

Tuesday's post:  #23 Ministries of Intercession  C. Peter Wagner

Thursday's post:  #24  Crisis Intercession  C. Peter Wagner

A popular post: Letter from Mother to Daughter  Sometimes it's hard to relate to older folks


A fine mother!


Samples of Jean's crafts & craft order blanks

                                         
Preface {pg.13}

"Any and all parts of this book
Were written down for you.
It is my prayer that as you look
You'll find things you can do.

My various poems surely tell
Of how it went with me.
As you will read I know quite well
Your own life you may see.

What I have found I want to share
To now enrich your life.
Maybe you'll find some answers there
That'll help you as a wife.

Our God will guide us so we can
To His great love relate.
I'm hopeful you will understand
 He'll help you love your mate."



http://www.amazon.com/dp/1938499999/  Link to Granny’s Guide to Marriage in Verse  my book for women contemplating marriage, as well as some good advice for wives who want some encouragements to improve their marriage.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP77URG/  Kindle addition $.99



Thursday, September 26, 2013

#22 The Office of Intercessor



C. Peter Wagner tells us in his book, PRAYER SHIELD, "An office in a church goes beyond simply a gift.

My understanding of 'office' is a public recognition by the Body of Christ that a certain member has a particular spiritual gift and is released to use that gift in regular ministry.

This is the foundationial principle of what we know as ordination to the ministry.

Conferring an office takes several different forms, anywhere from the public ordination service of a person who will subsequently use the title 'Reverend' and receive certain privileges from the denomination and the Internal Revenue Service, to the naming of a person to be a fifth grade Sunday School teacher.

Sometimes the person in the office is reimbursed, sometimes the service is voluntary. Either way it has an official recognition.

My suggestion is that churches do something that not many are now doing; Establish an explicit office of intercessor, and give public recognition to those who have the gift of intercession.

We do it for those with gift of pastor, evangelist, and teacher. We do it with the gift of mercy (such as minister of visitation), the gift of service (such as deacon or deaconess), the gift of exhortation (such as minister of counseling) and many more.

I think we should add intercessor to the list.

I am observing that as a part of the great prayer movement now sweeping our nation we are seeing more and more congregations taking intercessors and the office of intercession more seriously than in the past.

Some have added a full-time staff member with the title of pastor of prayer or minister of intercession or some other designation.

We need to be sensitive to the fact that not every individual with the gift of intercession will accept the office.

That is because with the public recognition comes a higher level of responsibility, accountability and therefore commitment. Some do not desire this. 

Also, intercessors will be the first to know that in the office they will be subject to a higher intensity of spiritual attack.

It is risky to say, 'Yes, I have the spiritual gift of intercession and I am prepared to hold myself accountable to the Body of Christ for its use in ministry.'

But some are willing to take the risk, and as a result awesome new spiritual
power is being released in churches and communities across the country."

Today’s post - #22 The Office of Intercessor, in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. (pgs. 51-53) By Regal Books

The next post- 10/1 from Wagner’s book, is #23 Ministries of Intercession


Pray with me: 

     Father, may our hearts be touched by this message and challenge. Open our eyes to the need to be intercessors, whether in an official office, or as a helper in interceding for our churches. In Jesus' holy Name we pray, amen.

Today’s Bible verse: 

Titus:3:5 KJV "Not of works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

Today’s quote:
 

- Lynn Karlsen – “When I discover my thoughts are not in line with Scripture, I have to wonder who’s wrong. God doesn’t change. Anything He is, He always has been and will continue to be. He remains true to His character. It is God who restores me to who and what I should be. The good news is He is a loving shepherd who pursues us when we veer off course. The LORD is our gentle, guiding shepherd.”

Some thoughts today: 

- You have everything to do with your future. You'll have opportunities to become bitter or to become better.

- God has to change us inside before we can do something for the kingdom. 

- If you're a born-again Christian, you are anointed to forgive, as Christ lives in you.


Saturday's post: A Mother's Plea  Linda Hill

Sunday's post:  10 Myths About Introverts  Carl King


A popular post: 

#9 Prayer and Revival (Dr. R. A. Torrey) "Humanly speaking the Church of Jesus Christ owes its very existence today to revivals."



Jesus has removed the barriers!




Granny’s Guide to Marriage in Verse, for women contemplating marriage, as well as good advice for married women.  


From My Personal Testimony in my book:

#13 I'm Thankful God
Plans to Use Me

"I'm thankful God plans to use me
Although the way's been rough..
With stubborn will I couldn't see
I'd made the way so tough."

  
 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

#21 Women as Intercessors


C. Peter Wagner shares with us from his book, PRAYER SHIELD, "It was interesting to discover that all of those with the gift of intercession in my class were women.

This is not unusual. 

I have not as yet done enough research to come up with a firm figure, but my observations over the years lead me to guess that 80 percent of those with the gift of intercession are women, across theological and cultural spectrums.

I have found that certain spiritual gifts seem to be biased by gender.

Women tend to show a higher occurrence of the gift of pastor (this does not necessarily relate to ordained ministry, but to pastoral caregiving) and gift of evangelist.

Men tend to show a higher occurrence of the gift of leadership (as in serving as senior pastor of a congregation) and the gift of teacher.


The two genders might be more similar in the occurrence of other gifts such as the gift of exhortation or the gift of service, just to offer some concrete examples.

But why would more women be intercessors?

Psychological profiles in general have shown women to be more intuitional and men to be more rational.

Some intercessors themselves have suggested that a woman's biological function of conception, gestation and the travail of giving birth might have something to do with it.

A major ministry of intercessors is to bring into being the purposes of God, and many describe some of their more intense periods of intercession as travail.


Mothers know even better than could the apostle Paul the full meaning of his statement, "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you" Gal. 4:19.


Later on I will sketch a profile of personal intercessors, but meanwhile I think the lyrics of a song entitled "Prayer Warrior" by the outstanding Gospel group, Heirloom, describe them as well as any:

                'You may
see her in the grocery with her children
Or in the city nine to five each working day
She's a mother or a teacher or a woman all alone
But she's something else entirely when she prays.

We don't see her lonely nights of intercession
Or the tears she sheds with every whispered prayer
We may not see the secret things hidden in her heart
But the eyes of God are watching her with care.

She's a prayer warrior down on her knees
Wrestling with powers and principalities
Standing in the gap for others
For her sisters and her brothers
Reaching heaven with her heart.' "

Today’s post -#21  Women as Intercessors, in the series taken from C. Peter Wagner’s book, PRAYER SHIELD, How to intercede for pastors, Christian leaders and others on the spiritual frontlines. (pgs. 50,51) By Regal Books

The next post on 9/26 from Wagner’s book, is #22  The Office of Intercessor

I'm grateful to be back, preparing Faith Messages for my readers. May they bless all who read them. My hip replacement went well, and I'm walking with a cane more and more now. God is good!

Let’s pray: Father, it may be true that women are more open and sensitive to spiritual matters, but we know that men are involved, too. We all need Your Holy Spirit to guide us as we pray, as You know what is Your will to be accomplished among us. Help us all become more sensitive to pray more effectively and fervently. In the Precious Name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Today’s Bible verse: Jer. 7:23 (KJV) "Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you."

Today’s quote: Our Daily Bread 3/23/13

                               “My hope is built on nothing less 
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; 
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. –Mote 

Hope that has its foundation in God 
will not crumble under the pressures of life.”

Some thoughts today: We have the tendency to provide for ourselves, but we need to learn to depend on God.

- Are we going to trust that Jesus is enough? He is our Sabbath rest! God will supply all our needs. Eph. 4:19 God has the answer for you!

- As memorials are important, keep in mind what God HAS done. See His goodness!

Thursday's post:  #21  The Office of Intercessor  C. Peter Wagner

A popular post:    God's Plan for Our Sin  "The Cross did not happen to Jesus: He came on purpose for it." 


God's eye is on you, too!

Samples of Jean's crafts & craft blanks

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1938499999/  Link to Granny’s Guide to Marriage in Verse  my book with new title and cover for women contemplating marriage, and women looking for advice on making their marriage a better one.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DP77URG/  Kindle addition  $.99