My One (HA!) Major Flaw

We now present some breaking news from me, because I am the only one that can report it: I am not perfect. This will come to a shock to any of you that know me, I know. I must report to any and all that read this that have once again reacted to a situation before I thought or prayed about my reaction.
The situation is this: I have a family member that is, in many ways, quite like me. This is the primary reason we have rarely ever gotten along. Part if this similarity is our passive-aggressive nature. I can and will hold things in and make flippant remarks after the fact that will cut like a knife. God has been dealing with me in this area of my like, and I like to think I have been better. Yet after this family member posted a Facebook status, I was furious. I was not directly mentioned, but I know it was all about me and my family.
So that you will not totally judge me, I did not comment to the post or post on this person's wall. I sent a private message instead. I did it impulsively, without hesitation. I reacted before I thought.
I guess I could feel good about this character flaw: it makes me more like the apostle Peter. Peter had to be rebuked by Jesus once, admonished another time, and rebutted by God the father on the mount of Transfiguration. Hey, look! I'm like Peter! That must make me a better person!
No, it just makes me flawed, imperfect, and a work in progress. Look at Peter after the denial of Christ. He became a bold preacher, the leader of the early church, the one that took the Gospel to the gentiles, and the subject of many jokes about Heaven.
This is because God worked on him throughout his life. He did not give up on Peter, has not given up on me, and the same is true for you. Likewise, we should not give up on each other. James 1:19 tells us to be a fast listener, slow to speak and to get angry. Even the deepest hurt gives us the chance to show grace to even the least deserving.
So hold on. Give it a moment before you react. When you (I) do, the grace of God shines through our life. When that happens, everyone benefits, and He gets glory.

I need to get past this point

On Wednesday of this week I experienced the most depressing time of my life. With my health insurance on the verge of expiration, I went to the county department of Social Services. I do this with a heavy heart and conscience, because I do not believe in any of this stuff. I do not believe that it is the government's place to take care of the people, it is the place of the community and the church. Yet there I sat, humbled. I do not want to come for the help. However, I do this for my children. I want them to be taken care of.
Whar was so humbling about it? Why was it so depressing? Well, we never look at ourselves as one of those people. Come on. You know what I'm talking about. You look down on them because of their clothes, their appearance, mannerisms, the way they speak, etc. Here I was in waiting rooms and in lines with them. I became one of them, and I was humbled. It did not help that the only magazines in the waiting room were travel and financial magazines- the least of anyone's concerns sitting in that office.
I have been told not to feel bad about asking for the help. I have paid taxes into that system for it to be there for me in a time of need. Perhaps I never thought I would have the need. Perhaps I am too proud to beg. Perhaps I have this deep down feeling that I do not want to be a bother to anyone. Whatever the case, there I was. I feel like I am at a new low in life.
I was actually looking for another verse, but I found Philippians 2:3 in the NLT: "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." It says many times that the humble shall be exalted, and the proud shall be humbled. Guess where I am right now?

How Not to Motivate the People

It has become increasingly clear to me that I am not the man I used to be. I can tell that by reviewing my blogs from the past year. I am a traditionalist that likes hymns, a person that is quiet in church, and one that is quite comfortable in my ways. Yet I am in a position of unemployment, not sure where I will work next, when I will work next, and now attending one of the fastest growing churches in America with some pretty loud music. I don't mind- the preaching is quite biblically sound.
So, with me out of my comfort zone, and without a job, what should I do? Should I worry or live my life in fear? Nope. It would be completely unproductive, and would not provide a paycheck for my family. I have thought about it. The idea has entered my head for some of the worst self-help books ever written. One would be "How to Grow Taller by Worrying," and the other would be "Living Your Life Based on What Everyone Thinks About you." Granted, these books may sell more copies than Nancy Pelosi's book did, but they would be equally worthless.
Jesus tackled worry more than once. He asked us how worrying could make us grow any taller, and reminded us how ravens eat, even though they don't do any work, and that the lilies of the field are more finely dressed than Solomon in his day.
The important thing is this: don't worry about your life. It won't help it get any better. Also, don't put any stock into what anyone thinks about you except God. Other people's opinions will only upset you. It will not affect how your family thinks of you, and will not affect who you are in Christ. So let them call you garbage, unhealthy, or whatever they want. You live your life. Trust God. Plug into His word. Then watch as your life flourishes. I'm not saying you'll get rich- I'm saying you'll be more content and enjoy what you have a little bit more.