What is your Gift?
I believe we are all born with many different gifts, but I believe we all have one gift that is the same and that is the gift to love who we are. Sometimes we hold ourselves back from sharing our gift and we do this for several different reasons. I want to write about what I believe the biggest hold is. I believe it is the fear of criticism or rejection and I think it is time the rest of the world knows what your gift is.
My Father had the incredible talent of awakening beautiful emotions in others. The talent he had was knowing who he was and having the confidence to share that with others. Naturally this awakened the slumbering christ within or whatever you want to call it. I call it the soul. When his soul was awakened his talent became even more incredible and his words were amazing poetry to most who read them.
Our insecurities take over so easily. How can we become confident enough to share our talent? We have to recognize the control that others have over us and determine whether or not the level of control is worth fighting for. For example, Monday through Friday I go to work where I have allowed a certain level of control because I need a paycheck in order to pay my bills. I may simply choose not to get involved in certain conversations because my opinion or the showing of my trueself could be judged enough or criticized enough to effect my job. This is sad, but we all know it is true. We may not wear what we really want to wear to work because we have a dress code. Same goes for our children in school. Another example is the Church. The Church teaches us that we are going to be rejected by God if we don’t do this or we don’t do that. Repent, confess, get saved, get baptized, blah, blah, blah. So we may hold back at church for fear of what someone may think of us or how we may be judged. We may be too afraid to really show others who we really are for fear of rejection.
I say Love yourself. Teach your children to love themselves and allow yourself, your children and those around you to express themselves, but do this with an open heart and an open mind. Show others your love and respect and stop rejecting them or dismissing them so easily just because they may not seem perfect in your eyes.
We need to be patient and listen to our own feelings NOT what someone else is trying to teach us. Your feelings make up who you are and they are a beautiful mixed up mess of wonderment. Take your time to listen to them. They are your feelings and they will help guide you and so will your moral compass. Do you have a moral compass or is your moral compass what the rest of the world has designed for you or is it that voice within telling you what it really wants and feels?
I believe we all have this talent to love and I believe we are suppose to share it with the rest of the world. If the world wants nothing to do with your talent…so what? You gave it your best and your best is always good enough. Don’t hold back. GIVE US WHAT YOU GOT. You might be surprised what poetry may come out of your mouth.
Despite the negative feelings associated with critisicm and rejection we can learn and gain a lot by experiencing them.
Aside from our spirit, none of us are perfect and critism is usefull in helping us see ourselves the way that others see us.
Regection can be good in the sense that there are many people who don’t need to be in our lives and instead of rejecting them we can just be ourselves and let them reject us.
Mindy your post was beautiful, because your words were spoken from your heart.They were inspirational, not because they offered knowledge, but because they offered opportunity. There are many that can share knowledge. A gobbledigook of of unclear expectations with words and phrases that leave you unclear and confused, but you offered an opportunity for all to share the simple wisdom of there heart.
These words were offered to me today on this sight, they were filled with the gobbledigook of unclear expectation in the absents of wisdom. I will embrace them as an opportunity to share the wisdom of my heart.
He said
‘What are you talking about Doug.I know I am one of them.What about you?Are you one?Cause for real I don’t think that you are. if you have not let Jesus into your life and follow the ten commandments.If you are a sinner you are not going to heaven you are going to hell.”
As i read his words to me a question resonated from my heart. “Where is the kingdom of god?” This is a question that seems to be ask over and over in the bible by many many people. The answer seems to always come back the same way, to “remove your sandals because the kingdom of God is where you stand”. It is between the souls of your feet and the top of your head. THAT TELLS ME THAT EACH OF US HAS THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHIN US, so feel free to share Gods wisdom in your heart as you feel it.
You are amazing Mindy
Love always
You are so right Matt.
Thanks so much all for sharing! You all lifted my spirits and give me encouragement to be true to myself and share the love inside of me no matter how dorky others may think I am.
Lisa, the sweetness of your heart is always felt with your words, you are so perfect.
Love always
I agree as well Matt. Thank you.
I have read and re-read this again this morning and also what Matt said. That really is so true and what is so great about really being okay with oneself. When I’m true to me, I can really be at peace as to whether or not someone accepts me as I am or not. Its when I’m not so sure if I’m “good” or “right” that I’ll struggle about my own behaviour. Being here at Bold Grace has been so very helpfulto me in seeing my own perfection. At first, I very much struggled with this idea but I think I’m beginning to see that this doesn’t mean their aren’t behaviours or attitudes I have that can use some adjusting but its just about really being true to me, the Christ that is inside me if you will or use your own word but anyway I recall my dad use to say be you Lisa, just be the best you and I think maybe thats what he was saying.
And Mindy, again, I really, really appreciate your op. I sometimes think I don’t really have any “gifts” but I know without a shadow of a doubt that I can love and love abunduntly.
And Doug, I just love you so. You are such an encouragement to me and as your brother Cliff had a way of doing, can ALWAYS make me feel special!
Lisa,
I did the same thing with what Matt said. I read over and over again the part where he wrote: “Aside from our spirit, none of us are perfect and critism is usefull in helping us see ourselves the way that others see us.” At first I strongly disagreed with this, but now I am not sure if I agree or not. You see I believe I am perfect and I know that sounds a bit self absorbed, but I believe that God made me exactly the way I am suppose to be. Now, the world, society, Church, work, the media, etc… can have a way of polluting our true identity, but those who love you and know you well are the ones that can help you filter out the crap that has caused you to cover up who you really are. The world does not see us as perfect, but God does and we should see ourselves the same way God sees us.
^ Thats more like it.
So when we are completley honest with ourselves and true to our own hearts, the manner is which we live and exist is perfection. Each one us us expressing our perfection in a unique way as part of the beautiful organism of humanity.
True dat Matt!!
NO DOUBT MATT
When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty.”
Love always
My thoughts tonight inspire me to write a new bible. I’m not going to change all of it, but i am going to alter some of it, modify some of it and add a little to it.
There seems to be so much we dont really need, like john 3.16. I mean come on, we all would do that, wouldn’t we? Then there’s that poem, yah thou i walk throw the valley of death, now that’s gotta go, it kinda starts off scary. I’m gonna change that one to something like , yo as i walk throw the mountains of love i will feel peace, better huh?
I will add a few new commandments that just make since, such as.
THOU SHALL NOT PARTAKE OF SUPPER THAT DOSE NOT END WITH ICE CREAM.
WOMEN WILL BE THE CARETAKERs OF ALL LAWN AND GARDEN CARE
MEN WILL BE BLESSED WITH WARM BATHS AND HOT COFFEE AS SURLY AS THE SUN WILL RISE.
Now i know a few of you are saying, no way hosay, but most of you are thinking “oh what the hell ill try it”. I mean isn’t my bible as good as anyone else’s?
As i try to understand the bible, it is clear to me that there are misunderstandings , misinterpretations, additions , and omissions, but my belief is that heart of the bible is filled with a clear message. That God loves us unconditionally, that we are saved, and the wisdom of his words are within us.
Tomorrow i will instruct my wife, with a stern voice, of the new commandment, and i will trust in God to guide her, to do what she knows is right within her heart.
Love always
LOL, I can hear Cindy now…”I’ll get right on that Doug.”
Very funny doug and point well taken. Pretty much any of us can twist the Bible to mean what we want it to mean and lots of folks, imo, have done just that in the name of religion so whats a body to do? For me it is where honesty, open-mindedness and willingness comes to play. I must get really honest about who I am and what my agenda happens to be at the time, I must be open to the idea that I just might be misunderstanding or misinterpreting at times and I must be willing to listen, learn, trust and grow.
Where I am on my journey is Love is the major theme throughout and the greatest commandments and what will never fail. God is love. It is why we are here and why Jesus came here to save us. Above all else, I am to love and as I get to know my true self and get in touch with who I really am (a child of the King) I really can do nothing but Love.
But, I will add to the commandments, Thou shalt not work a 5 day work week! Thou shalt be able to eat anything you want and not gain weight and do so without exercise! Thou children shall only call you when they want to help you or give you something not because they need money! The husband shall always praise the wife for all she does even when the house is dirty and she looks a mess. Hey, this could be fun! Do you think I could get any followers?
I will totally follow those Lisa!! Love em
LOL, Lisa! I’m right there with ya girl!
love always
The problem of not being able to see clearly that we were created in Christ and therefore are perfect, is because there is a 3-way conflict going on caused by the enemy in our heads. This conflict is on two different tiers, one higher and one lower. The lower level comes about through thinking from our heads and is a constant battle between good and evil depending on how we view the situation. At this level there are laws and principles, we do things in our own power, and when doing ‘good’ it is in our own righteousness, and we judge (act as gods) laying down principles for ourselves and others to live by.
.
The upper tier is entered through a narrow door, metanoio, it is a turning away from thinking from our heads and instead listening to those deep feelings within our hearts, allowing the wisdom from here to take the first place in our lives. In this realm is truth and righteousness and love and we see ourselves as perfect, even as we were created.
.
Once we have stepped inside the upper realm, there is a period of time where we go in and out completely without blame. Having chosen to live from our hearts, the battle is then between our heart and our head. This is because the enemy in our head is so subtle we do not immediately recognize when we have stepped out of true righteousness back under the old master reigning in our heads. We are told we cannot serve 2 masters, and indeed when being hounded by ourselves on the lower tier, it is impossible to see how we can extricate ourselves from the mess we find ourselves in, and worse still we cannot seem to see the higher tier. There is only one way back, yes, that narrow door of metanoio. That brings me to the point I wish to make because we need each other to help us remain plugged into that higher realm = two are better than one because when one is down the other can lift him up.
I can almost feel your comments Audrey, they make more and more sense to me.
“When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom].”
There is still two of me, but I’m looking…
Love always
Yesterday i was offered an opportunity to learn the wisdom of innocents. My wife and i went to the nursing home to visit her mother, as we do often. Normally the facility is a sad place to me. A place i saw lonely people, desperate to die. People without hope. People so appreciative of the simplest kindness. People living within there own minds never to feel others again.
Yesterday was different. My sweet daughter Sarah was there with my little Rootbeer ANDY, and it was time for Rootbeer to teach papa to look for the beauty of life wherever you are.
After visiting with great grama for a short period of time, Andy became bored and wanted to explore. I could tell by the look in his eye, as he grabbed my finger and said “walk papa”, that he new this multimillion dollar facility was built for him to find beauty.
As we began our adventure we pasted the therapy room, and in it was many people doing the things to give them the strength they need to return to normality, but as Andy watched the old women batting balloons back and forth between them and the therapist he said “party papa”.
We continued our adventure down the corridors, and i saw the light shine in the eyes of old women as they recalled the babies they held in there arms years ago, and the pride in men’s eyes as they winked the knowing wink of the beauty of the life in front of them.
Our journey ended in what must be the saddest part of life, an area were those with alzheimer’s or mental disorders that leave them to live the remainder of there life within there own mind rarely if ever able to share there feelings with others.
As Andy and I approached an old woman sitting in the hallway, eyes glazed and focused on things only she could see, she began to make a loud noises over and over. The noise sounded very much like a cow mooing. I past her as i normally would with a sense of sadness, but Andy said “moo papa”, i didn’t respond to his request so he squeezed my finger and let out his own “moooo’ and repeated “mooooo papa” so we mooed as we returned to his great grammas room.
Andy taught me there is beauty to be found everywhere you walk and breath, you just have to see it.
Moooo my friends till the cows come home!
Love always
I can picture you and little Andy. You just lifted my spirits Doug like you would not even believe.
Thank you
Rootbeer is my perfect star, there is no sun that can shine brighter on my world then him.
Audrey NZ was so awesome, she needs to be poting on the main page.
Thanks, so much Audrey that is an amazing concept!
Matt, I too was moved by your earlier contribution to this thread, especially the third statement when you said “Rejection can be good in the sense that there are many people who don’t need to be in our lives and instead of rejecting them we can just be ourselves and let them reject us.”
That is wisdom from the spirit. Here follows JC’s reaction to rejection.
When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;
and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.
But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.
When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;
for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And they went on to another village.
Can you recognize the spirit? It’s the one and same that gave you the words to write what you did! As we speak out what the spirit says through us, it amazes us who will accept us and who will reject us, and in fact who will hate us and verbally abuse us (wish to kill us). Didn’t this happen to JC? It was not the REAL people who hated him, and it’s not those who are in touch with those deep feelings in their hearts who wish to destroy us and what we say either. It’s that old GOD up in the sky! He’s the one driving them – he’s the one resident in their heads causing them to snarl and want to tear us to pieces! He cannot bear to lose his position of authority – the god of this world – our old carnal nature. He’s the one hounding us. He hates the truth and especially hates the word ‘metanoio’, that narrow door that leads to our hearts, the throne of the King as Lisa said in her post –
“Above all else, I am to love and as I get to know my true self and get in touch with who I really am (a child of the King) I really can do nothing but Love. (Lisa Perry)
Audrey you said: “It’s that old GOD up in the sky! He’s the one driving them – he’s the one resident in their heads causing them to snarl and want to tear us to pieces! He cannot bear to lose his position of authority – the god of this world – our old carnal nature. He’s the one hounding us. He hates the truth and especially hates the word ‘metanoio’, ”
It seems that for all those that will see the positive meaning of the word metanoia, there are just as many that will use it in a negative way that will fill you with fear.
Depending on where your heart is you either belive “God is coming!”, or that “God is already here”, and he lives within you. If you are a believer from the first camp that “God is coming” then you will hear the word metanoioa as REPENT, If your a believer that God sent his only son to die on a cross so that we are all saved and therefore God is already within us then you will read the word metanoioa as a change of heart.
Audrey, i believe Ive had a change of heart.
Love always
Thanks Audrey, thats some smart thinking and great stuff to ponder.
Doug, your desire for wisdom rather than knowledge has been met. Keep swimming in that deep river welling up within you – you make me cry!
And here’s to M@ (glass of wine in hand) ‘Keep pondering mate, from your inner man and all will be revealed’
love you guys