Thoughts for Life: How Do Others Experience Me?

Then he (Joseph) dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, "Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me." But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?" Genesis 37:9-10

Joseph shared his first dream with his brothers and it didn't go well. They despised him for it. Didn't he notice their reaction? Didn't their rejection of him make an impact on his heart?

Why in the world would he tell the second dream to this same unreceptive audience? Perhaps in his enthusiasm, he just couldn't help himself.

When I'm excited about something, the need to tell someone is strong. I want those I love to share the joy with me. But I can share my jewels indiscriminately and experience the same kind of reaction Joseph got from his family. I repeatedly put myself in a setting where rejection is going to be the outcome.

I do this for a couple of reasons. 1.) My need for approval is so strong that discretion goes out the door. And, 2.) I suffer from magical thinking. "This time they'll listen!"

Becoming a person of self-awareness is critical if I'm going to be successful in relationships. Do others receive my words and stories eagerly? Is my point of view welcomed? What is the track record with these people?

If Joseph had considered what happened when he related his first dream, perhaps he would have stopped himself before sharing the second. Timing was everything but maybe the power of rejection urged him to speak prematurely.

He needed them to value him as much as God did. I can be so much like Joseph. If I know something, I just have to say it.

There are some things I believe passionately and I'm tempted to keep speaking them to the same group of people. So far, they haven't listened. Truth be told, they may be rolling their eyes when I start my speech for the umpteenth time. They are closed to me and it would be wise for me to acknowledge that.

A season of quietness and prayerfulness is needed. God needs to heal the rejection my soul suffers. He also needs to show me if my words are framed by a need to be right. That repels people. What I speak may be true but no one will hear it if it comes with 'attitude'.

No mission is more important than being God's spokesman. Getting the message right is only half the challenge though. Getting the timing and attitude right will cause the words to roll off my tongue the way Jesus would speak them.

There may still be rejection but at least I'll know it's the message they're rejecting and not me.

So, what do I do with my need to be liked, respected, validated and accepted? Prior to any speeches, I take my needs to the One who makes me whole in His presence.

Put a watch on my tongue until it's time for me to speak. Amen

Shared 9/4/14 by

Wyrtzen

Let’s pray:

Father, I'm sure there are times
that I should not have spoken.

Please make me more aware
of what is Your pleasure for me
to share with others.

May my words be seasoned with grace and Your wisdom.

Remind me to pray first, so that what I say or write will have
a favorable impact.

I ask for this in Jesus' name. Amen.

What does the Bible say?: Is. 60:2b "But the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee."

Today’s quote: Randy Kilgore “God offers His presence to us in life’s darkest moments, which enables us, in turn, to be His presence to the hurting. Crying out for help — from others and from God — may be the strongest moment of our lives.”

Some thoughts today: Natural wisdom connects the dots, so we draw natural conclusions. With God on the scene, things can change!

- We need to know God's on the scene. He works through time-released seeds in hearts. Trust His wisdom, timing, and plan.

- Our challenge is: The tongue can change the atmosphere and can affect the impart of one's self image and direction.

Master Painter

Each Fall God takes His paintbrush

And paints an Autumn scene.

A dab of red, a touch of gold

And luscious shades of green.

Each day He adds another hue

For all the world to see.

Behold His awesome canvas!

Observe His majesty!

©Frances Gregory Pasch

26th- Sunday evening’s post: He Touched Me (Behind the Song)

Diana Leagh Matthews

28th- Tuesday's post: #11 Evangelist Carlos Annacondia

C. Peter Wagner

30th- Thursday's post: #12 WARFARE PRAYER

C. Peter Wagner

11/1st- Saturday's post: How To Have the Best Date of Your Life

Tony Campbell

An interesting post: Five Steps To Hear The Heart of Your Spouse

By JillSavage on Oct 06, 2014 05:35 am

"In August, I (Jill Savage) attended the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit and heard an excellent session by Joseph Grenny, one of the authors of Crucial Conversations.

While the session had wonderful takeaways for leadership conversations, I couldn’t help thinking that it had incredible implications for marriage conversations. Because of that, Mark and I are getting ready to go through the book together with a marriage lens."

(Jill has some very helpful observations for us to consider, and to implement. I do hope you'll click her title link to the full blog posting.)