Keep your Church Hat On At All Times

XLVP 4 posts Jun 07, 2009 9:17 AM	Amen to that! We need more people like LaTaya to step up and challenge us Church Folk, 'takin' off the church hat on Sunday and putting on the work hat on Monday', to keep our church hats on at all times. We often forsake God's business and go about our business. By Monday, few things are done decently and in order. And, there is little love for our neighbors or anyone else as business rivals, manager, and subordinates sabotage one another by undermining efforts or attacking character. Let's not discuss unethical behavior. I try to start everyday by reading my bible (which I keep open and on my desk) and asking the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts, my words, and my actions. In other words, like LaTaya said, do what "thus says the Lord". Dealing with all the different personalities of customers, direct reports, managers, and peers, the work-day can test the anyone's strength. I maintain balance by first realizing that I'm far from perfect and can't expect perfection from anyone else. And second, and maybe more important than the first, by understanding that the people I find to be most challenging are also God's children. And, they are God's children before they are coworkers, employees, managers, customers, etc., and that He loves them just as much as he loves me. I strive to be patient, understanding, forgiving, and respectful. I try to treat others the way God wants me to treat them. With all that said, as I grow into the woman God is calling me to be, I try to avoid judging others and challenge myself to make a difference everywhere I go. An excerpt from my Jan 6 personal blog entry: "...while Grow'n As Woman I have come to realize that maybe I should have a different perspective. Rather than question the person that she is, I should be thankful for the person she is not; and pray for her spiritual growth...when you decide to leave Christianity at home, or in the parking lot, the principles that govern your decisions, and the strength that helps you cope with the every day pressures and surprises of life are absent. The workplace can be stressful and overwhelming as you attempt to juggle competing demands and be productive in an environment where some managers, peers, clients, and subordinates seem to be hostile forces. Constant communion with God, and invocation of the Holy Spirit is necessary to sustain peace in your professional life. Pray for, and about, those who seem to have lost their Christian way - on their way to work. " Learn from me, teach me, or pray for me. Don't judge me. 7MO and CNG, thanks for the encouragement, and for "bridging the gap". And, as for the multi-tasking....I'm working on it. Oh, oh, take the Lord with youuuu. Evvvvvv-ree where you go. Oh, oh, oh! Take the Lord with you Evree where you go. You oughta take the lord with you..
STB7M 4 posts Jun 08, 2009 5:16 PM	"They have a lifestyle on Sunday where they wear the church mask, say "Hallelujah", know all the right times to say "amen," lay hands on the sick, speak in tongues, and use all the spiritual gifts found in 1-Corinthians chapter 12." As I re-read the above from the "Briding the Gap" article, I thought about the fact that the church isn't even the place we need to be "wearing the hat." Not to say that we shouldn't do any of those things in church...that's all fine and good. However, it's somewhat like preaching to the choir. Most of the people in church don't need reassurance, or aren't searching for God so to speak (and those who do are atleast in the right place...in church). Okay, so you have on a church hat IN church....so does almost everyone else in attendance. However, you encounter tens of other people outside of the church during the week who don't see you with your "church hat." These are likely the people who need to see it. As Lamar said in his interview, we minister through lifestyle. But if the only time we live that lifestyle is on Sunday, how effective is our "minstry?"
XLVP 5 posts Jun 09, 2009 7:23 PM	First, LOL @ "so you have on a church hat IN church". You're certainly right...our lifestyle speaks volumes. It's something to think about.

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