Who we are in Christ

I was reading the intro in my NEW FAVORITE HOMESCHOOLING TOOL, The Checklist, lol and she was talking about how we should be doing what we are gifted at 80% of the time and 20% at the rest...I have always been big on that. Before I even knew it as a homeschooling "truth". I thought that since we are all gifted by God in some area, why don't we teach to that since that is the gift that God intends us to use? Perhaps we don't because it is hard to trust in such intangible absolutes. But if we know God gives gifts then we DO know it is an absolute, so then it is just a matter of living it out by FAITH.

When we see other's strengths, sometimes it is hard to not compare it to our own weaknesses in that area. How the enemy loves this. Get us women comparing. Ugh. You know the really predictable thing about the enemy? It's that his tricks are never new.
He LOVES us to think about how this one is better at this, how that one is better at that and how we fail miserable short. But for those of us who are Christian, we KNOW that God has gifted us in whatever area He wants us to use...we cannot let other's accomplishments and successes make us feel less than. A-because it is not true, B-because it gives the enemy temporary victory and C-it is SUCH a bad witness.

We should be REJOICING in the successes of others! Lifting them up! Fearless said it beautifully in a blog once..we should not boast in ourselves but let others toot our horn! We should RING THOSE CHIMES when others succeed. This is how I will make my true confessions...

When I read of dear M's delicious butternut squash soup...I endeavor to make it!
When I see Fearless yet again coming to the cross on some issue or another, I marvel at her leadership qualities and get myself back to the cross where I belong!
When I see Leisa's humor and vibrance, I remember to LAUGH and to love!
When I see New Z's even keel, I think "meek and quiet spirit" work on that!
When I see HSC honesty and genuine living w/o legalism, I think RELAX, you're o-k-a-y.

I think of you all as great friends but also as tools that hone my walk.
I also know that not all of you may feel worthy as we all don't at some time or another. You may not even SEE the way you are being used to sharpen others. You may not even feel like that is an area you are gifted in and yet you obviously are being used that way... I often have said I have no at home skills but sometime or another when someone encourages me or tells me I have blessed them in some way I remember, right-God has blessed me with gifts too...I just don't always SEE them as gifts! I think weakness: I am inconsistent (but fun!) I lack discipline (but am passionate!) I tend to rule absolutely (but can ask for forgiveness!) I am highly, highly, highly (did I mention highly?) impatient but am also highly capable. My strengths can become my weaknesses and my weaknesses my very strengths!

We spend 80% of the time focusing on what we perceive as a weakness never realizing they are our undeveloped or our out of control gifts!
I know that those who are exceedingly skilled in some areas of homemaking can be lacking in others! That some may have self esteem issues, that humor may mask sadness or pain,
that quietness may mean fear is present in some form and that with too much freedom may come trouble...

The point is that we all have strengths and we all have weaknesses...it's just a careful balance. From now on I choose to focus on my strengths AND yours, and let God lovingly work the rest out of me, one day at a time.