My word for May 15th is ACCEPT

My word for May 15^th is ACCEPT

I have a problem and I know it.  I get very frustrated when people don’t see things the way I see them.   I try to change people to think the same way I do.  When I taught school I wanted everyone to feel about students the same way I did, caring sometimes over caring for each of them.  I would become irritated and frustrated when a teacher would say something derogatory about a student.  I sometimes would get upset with my friends when they didn’t agree with how I felt.  This is where Jay and I have always butted heads.  I will be so upset about something and he either won’t agree or he will just say it will be ok.  I want to scream and shake him to death and say, “It isn’t going to be ok”!  Martha always tells me, “You have to accept people warts and all”.  So true we all have our warts.

Joel Osteen’s sermon yesterday was exactly what I needed, as usual.  He discussed, accepting people for who they are.  We all want to put people on our potters wheel and mold them into what we want them to be, however this isn’t our job.  That is God’s job to mold and form everyone.  Everyone has strengths and everyone has weaknesses.  What is our strength may be another person’s weakness.  None of us are clones of the other.  Joel looked at God’s creations like this, God made the poodle and he also made the bulldog, god made the locust and he also made the butterfly.  Each animal or insect has some of the same characteristics, but they are different.  God wants our job to be accepting people for who they are.  When we are always trying to change someone we become frustrated and there is tension between us.  We have to quit feeling that we need to fix people.  We shouldn’t waste our time trying to make people feel and be just like us.  We need to encourage the talents in those around us.  Just as a cork sinks as the water is let out of the bottle so do people.  But when the water is placed in the bottle the cork will rise to the top.  Pour yourself into people loving those around you and accepting them for who they are.  Understanding that no two people are exactly alike.  Overlook weaknesses and find strengths.  Focus on peoples good qualities.  You will see your relationships grow and become better than you ever thought they could be if you pour blessings on others even those different from you. 

The next time you get frustrated with someone around you agree to disagree.  Don’t try to mold them that’s God’s job.  We must accept each other, warts and all.

Dear Lord help us to realize that we are all different.  Keep us from getting frustrated with others when they don’t agree with what we think.  We know that it is your job to mold everyone into the person you want them to be.  Help us to find our strengths during this journey of 2012 walking with you in peace with each other. 

Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)

8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; 
we are all the work of your hand.

http://www.joelosteen.com, Joel Osteen Ministries, #538, Accept People For How They Are