The Craftsman.

ISTP. The Craftsman.

That’s what I am now.  According to Carl Jung this is my personality type.  I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing.  Research shows me that this personality type in women is 2% of the population.  And I quote, “ISTP personalities are notoriously difficult to get to know. They are true introverts, keeping their personal matters to themselves, and often just prefer silence to small talk.”  I want to yell from the rooftops about how correct this is but then I realize that those of you who really know me, already are aware of this.  Oh and then there is this, “ISTPs are often reserved communicators, preferring action to conversation. They like to do what needs to be done and may grow impatient with discussion that does not turn quickly to action. They are often observant, picking up on details of the current situation, and evaluate information in a detached and logical way. Typically flexible and tolerant, the ISTP is ready to adapt to the situation at hand, but can be bluntly critical if they see inefficiency or incompetence.”  Yes, I know this is so me.

I do believe there is a great bit of truth to the Meyers-Briggs or the Jung Typology test.  I think it gives a basis to what makes us tick and how we think and maybe for some, it explains them better than they can.  It does give reason on how to deal with others that are opposite you and for people who are still trying to figure out life it gives a direction for a career.  When I use to teach college skills, I would have all my students take this personality test and then arrange them so that they were sitting across from their exact opposite personality type.  It led to great discussion and learning.

It doesn’t, however, take into consideration Jesus.  These personality tests are based on science, someone’s formula, and years of observation.  Jesus does with us whatever he sees fit, when He sees fit; if we allow Him.

He made us who we are.  I speak about this alot I feel, but it’s so imprtant to know that there was no mistake when you were born.  God made you the way you are.  Knowing who you are in Christ also gives you an ease and confidence to walk comfortably in the skin your in.  Romans 8 says that God foreknew us.  I don’t think this has anything do to with pre-destination.  It just simply means He knows us.  He knew when we would come to Him and if we never do.  He just knows.  Or you can think of it like this: The foreknowledge that Christ has of us is an intimate awareness of you.  An intimate awareness of me.  Since He knows me and my worth is found in Him, my identity lies in Him as well.

Ephesian’s says that we are His workmanship.  If you are an artist of any type – from finger painting to sculpting something like the David statue – you know that there’s a little piece of you that goes into your work.  If you have children, they came from you.  Those children are a little piece of you and your spouse running around on this Earth.  As some one I know says, “They are little humans, it’s incredible!”  Some of your identity is wrapped up in what you made.  Christ made no mistake when He said that man was made in His image.  We identity with Him and in Him.  He gives the identity – we must take the step of faith and walk in what He has made us.

Confidence comes knowing that you are your Heavenly Father’s image.  He sees us with no flaws, and with no baggae, that alone should give you confidence to wake up every morning and face whatever the day may hold.  Even more encouraging is that He gave His only son in our place.  He gave His most precious gift, so what makes you and me think that God withholds stuff from us?  He’s our good father.  Maybe some of you have a great dad, I do, He gives my brother and I gifts.  They are gifts that we don’t deserve but he doesn’t withhold them becuase we have to earn them. My dad gives the gifts when he sees fit and because he loves us.  In the same way, God’s not withholding whatever it is your asking for.  Here’s a little tid bit that will blow your mind:  it’s just simply not time for you to have it.  Trust me that one hits more close to home than you know.

Even though science tells me things that are pretty right on about my personality.  Jesus tells me more.  He says:

• I am His Beloved – Romans 9:25
• I am His treasured possession – Deuteronomy 7:6
• I am His Child – John 1:12
• I am redeemed – Ephesians 1:7
• I am restored – Colossians 1:13-14
• I am forgiven – Hebrews 10:17

Those things that Jesus tells me I am are more concrete than whatever a personality test will tell me.  It’s more concrete than what society tells me that I am.  I am the I AM’s most treasured creation.  And so are you.  Walk in the confidence knowing that your identity lies in the Heaveny Father who created the stars yet takes the time to know the number of hairs on your head.

Young at Heart.

So..I wrote a blog for the school’s website that was posted yesterday.  I wrote it about a month ago and every once in awhile I still think about the words because it’s encouraging.  It’s about being old in bible college and the revelation that I am not in the least bit old.

I do encourage you to check out the bible college blog, which you can find here: http://biblecollege.me/

Here ya go:  I hope you and enjoy and if you don’t want to come to bible college maybe this will help you realize that you are never to old to follow your dreams that the Lord gives.

If your over the age of 25 more than likely you have a steady job. You might even have bills…a car payment, a cell phone bill, car insurance, regular insurance, student loans, who knows. The real world is not cheap. You probably have a mortgage or a rent payment. You have become seasoned and comfortable in your everyday surroundings. Some of you might be married, some of you might have children but I think it’s safe to say that you are an actual adult. This goes for you in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and older too. Let’s face it, growing older is inevitable. So, I am pretty sure if I say ‘college student’ in your head you might think a couple of these things:

‘Young and carefree.’

‘They don’t pay for their bills on their own.’

‘I’ve already been to college.’

‘I don’t want anymore student loans.’

‘Oh, those were the days.’

‘That was a long time ago.’

‘I’m too old.’

I’m going to stop you at the ‘I’m too old’ thought. Here’s why: I’m 30 and I’m a full time bible college student. It’s true, never in a million years did I think that I would be right back in the thick of things studying, writing papers, living with roommates, and eating cafeteria food, but here I am. And thank you Jesus for this opportunity. I’ve actually already been to college. I have a Master’s degree in Higher Education….I had a job where I was the person that told people whether they got accepted into college or not. But this time around someone told me I was accepted, I had to go through the application process. It’s humbling and oh so worth it.

In the last month and a half I have uttered the phrase ‘I’m old.’ more than a dozen times. Sometimes my jokes fall flat because the people I am speaking with don’t have an appreciation for the things I grew up with. I’ve probably rolled my eyes more than I am willing to admit. I sleep on a top bunk.

Here’s what I’ve learned about being old in bible college. First, I’m not old. My age bothers me more than it does any one else. In a conversation with my brother today it dawned on me why; being 30 and a full time student in bible college is not society’s definition of what I should be doing at this age. Society says I should be working my full time job, married, taking care of my 1.2 kids and having people over for dinner. I don’t follow society, I follow Jesus. And there my friends lies the difference. I follow Jesus like you do.

Yes you, reading this blog right now, at your job, because you are trolling the website, facebook, instagram and whatever else the Bible College has because the Lord has been stirring your heart for this place and you don’t know why. I did it. I would watch videos and scan the crowd. Thinking how in the world would I fit in.

Second, the students that are here that are younger than 25. Yes, the very ones I was worried about are the ones who make my heart the happiest. These students are the ones that know they have been set apart from the world and want to have their foundation built on God and his Word. I’m not saying they are all going into full time ministry but they are starting here. Nor am I saying that they don’t mess up, but I know where I was at 19 and 20 and it wasn’t following the Lord.

And finally, Jesus. It took me years to come to a place where I was comfortable with the thought of leaving home. Last year it happened, I came to a place in my heart where I knew the Lord wanted more for me. It was the scariest step of faith that I’ve made to date. You ask if I would do it again? Yes my friend, I totally would. I don’t know what’s going to happen after this semester. I don’t know if I’ll come back another semester. I still worry about paying bills and I wonder where my desire for a family comes into this picture. But I know that this place is giving me a solid foundation in Christ that I’ve never had before. And this solid foundation will make me grounded in God’s future plans for me.

I maybe going against what society says I should be doing but that’s totally fine. Because I know that I am right where God wants me for this season in my life. He will guide my steps because he has a plan. If you think you are too old, think again, Sarah was 90 years old when she had Isaac. She laughed at God when he told her she was going to have a baby because she knew she was past the age. For goodness sake Isaac means laughter!

My friends, if God wants you here take the tiny scary step of faith. He will catch you that I know to be 100% truth. You are never too old to do what God wants you to do. Nor are you too old for God to give you the desires of your heart. Oh and if you do come…we will be here to welcome you with open arms and copious amounts of coffee. See you soon.

“Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed, and in your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me when as yet there were none” -Psalm 139:16

Mama’s Always Right

People always comment on the differences in people and things across the United States.  I’ve always known that the south is different, but like they say you don’t appreciate the differences until your across the country and people look at you strange when you say yes mam and no mam.  One lady asked if I was insinuating she was old…not at all…I’m just being polite.

I also say that dreaded term ‘Bless your heart.’  I can’t decide if this is a good thing or bad thing.  Apparently I have an accent, which I was never aware of before.  I have to spell my last name in the mail room and every time I do the person behind the counter wants to know where I am from.  I appreciate it.  A lot of times I get ‘oh yeah, you are that girl from North Carolina.’  That statement leads to the thought, how did you know I was from North Carolina and who is talking about me?  It might be flattering I’m not sure, I just hope the conversation as good.

This brings me to next thought…my mom use to tell me in college (when I went the first time) that you are the company that you keep.  I hated when she told me that because I knew I wasn’t doing and saying the things that my friends were.  Needless to say I quickly learned the term ‘guilty by association’ and those same ‘friends’ and I got kicked out of college.  So there’s that.  She was right, she was exactly right, you are the people you surround yourself with.  You pick up the habits of your friends.  Certain words, mannerisms, even their not so great traits of eye rolling and resting you know what face.  It rubs off and eventually your reputation proceeds you.

Reputation…that dreaded R word.  It usually never fails that the one day you have a bad day is the day people remember you.  That one day you say something stupid.  Or the day you stub your toe and say a ridiculous word.  The great thing is that we can recover from these little things.  We can’t recover from the big ones without a whole lot of forgiveness and Jesus’s grace and mercy.  I’m in no way saying that I have this mastered, I know I have done things that change people’s whole prospective of me whether I was speaking from a place of love or I was speaking from my mouth without thinking.  Oh the number of times I have put my foot in my mouth and opened a can or worms.  Sometimes the look on my face can give people the wrong impression.  I can be stand-offish and people think that means I don’t like them.  That’s not true, it’s just something I need to work on.  If I want people to know me by my reputation I want them to know that I love Jesus and I am real person.

Bible College is a small world.  You find that out very quickly.  There are dynamics I don’t understand and unsaid ‘rules’ that make me want to pull my hair out.  There are people that are as sweet as pie and others I want to hit in the face.  We are people first and foremost.  In the past, churches (you know the body of Christ) have turned me off from the idea of church.  I’ve seen ugliness in a place that is suppose to be a place of beauty.  Bible college is a sort of church with an element of realness thrown in  (because we all live here too.)  I’ve learned a lot in the short time I have been here.  More than I think I expected, but for today and this post, I’ve learned that Jesus is still working on us and that our reputation should reflect His characteristics.  I don’t know if I will ever master this before I get to heaven, but I want to be known as that girl who loves Jesus.

Once I leave here, going to church will be my ‘bible college’ though it may not be perfect and I might not care for some of the people…I know that the Lord is working in them too.  I can’t see the condition of their hearts but I do now the condition of my own.  I hope that whatever church I end up in the community will know us by our reputation and that we are a community of believers who love Jesus and others whole heartedly.  This compels me to work on me now and make sure that my reputation that proceeds me is one that is glorifying to the Lord.

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.” ~Proverbs 31:26

I’m not really sure if this flowed the way I was thinking but hey, it’s a blog not a spiritual theory paper.  If you take anything from this post,  just know that your mama is always right.

Speaking of California…there is a hairstyle that is not really a man bun not really a short kept cut.  I can’t wait to discuss this with you.  It’s a new level of no.

It’s not hard to be nice.

I work in a grocery store.  I have stated this in previous posts so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise.  To break this down even further, I work at a place that sells food to the general public.  When you walk into our store there is a huge pile of bananas for $0.19 each.  When bananas split and start to rot it’s not a pretty smell or sight.  Same goes for other produce, it’s not a fun time to stick your finger into a old smelly soft zucchini and smell like zucchini juice the rest of the day.  But myself and my crew members do it with a smile!

The worst thing in the world are rude people.  When we were growing up my uncle, who passed away when I was in college, instilled in my brother and I that it is just not acceptable to not say yes ma’am and no ma’am.  We only visited my uncle a couple times of year.  My parents were the ones who started teaching us at a young age that manners were important and did exceptional job of teaching us our please and thank yous.  We still use them now.  I’m not sure what people teach people now-a-days but somewhere along the way the general public has forgotten the use of their manners.

It’s not hard to be nice.  In fact, it doesn’t even cost you anything.  When I am putting fresh produce out for your eating enjoyment there is no need to park your full grocery cart behind me to block me in.  Then proceed to reach around me to get one of the produce pieces I am putting out.  I will gladly step away and let you look if you say excuse me.  I will even let you take one of the new ones out of my box.  Furthermore, when I am bagging your groceries and your doggy bag from lunch is in your cart don’t ask me to bag your leftovers with the rest of your cold items.  You have two hands.  While we are at it, when you come to the check out with a full cart of groceries and proceed to stay on the phone and chat with your friend about the clothes you just bought and then watch me bag your groceries, I don’t appreciate that either.  Oh and don’t even get me started on people not being nice on Sundays!

Just because I work at a grocery store doesn’t make me less of a person.  My work uniform my not be a three piece suit but a t-shirt, and I hate to break it to you, but that doesn’t make you better.  So, just be nice.

When you really break this down, I don’t think it has anything to do with whether or not your parents taught you how to use your manners.  I think it’s a heart issue.  (Well, that’s a little convicting.)  I imagine that when Jesus was on Earth he was a nice person.  He was teaching the love of his Father to the world.  Yes, he got mad at people for choosing to use the temple as a marketplace, but he wasn’t rude.  He treated all people the same, from little children to the leper who was forced to live outside the city walls.  Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God and love people.  Are we really loving people when we aren’t nice?

This is no doubt an area that I could be better in. I am seriously far from perfection at it.  But I think those of us who are believers it should be a little easier because we have God’s love in us and his helper, the Holy Spirit, to guide us.  And when we profess to be believer’s and non-believers see us being nice…it’s a testament to who we serve.

The challenge then for me and you, let’s be nice.  Let’s show the love of Jesus.

Matthew 34-40: ‘Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.  One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ‘