Connecting with People

When I was in kindergarten, I had friend named Joe. We were best buds because we connected. We had several things in common, we both lived on a farm, we were 5 years old, we went to the same school and we both liked riding horses. We even rode in the town parade together one summer and won a prize for best pair of cowboys for our age. Because we were best buds, we liked to talk a lot. Other than recess at school, we didn't have a whole lot of time to talk. When Joe and I wanted to talk to each other outside of school we would call each other up with the telephone. We often had slumber parties when I was a kid and Joe and I would find ourselves talking our moms into hauling us to each others' houses to stay the night on several occasions throughout the school year. We connected because we found things that we shared in common and we had founds ways to talk and spend time with each other. We actively pursued spending time with each other.

Why should we connect with others

• Learn from one another.
  I found myself at the swimming pool with my family a couple of Saturdays ago. I struck up a conversation with someone who's son played 1 age level higher than my son Henry this past summer. I'm the youngest child of 3 and I typically ask a ton of questions . I began t ask about their experience and I was trying to gather information to determine if Henry was ready for that next level. We also talked about coaching and the dynamics of handling parents on the sidelines during the games and practices. I was in learning mode and I was sharing my experiences that I had gone through as a coach as well.


• To get things done, at work and at home
  We are most productive when we connect with others to let each other know our needs. If we share that we need help with something, others can pitch in and offer their skills to help you. If we don't reach out, our problems may seem overwhelming or it will take a long time. By reaching out and connecting with people, we are able to share and solve problems together and more quickly.


• To be able to encourage and be encouraged.
  When we are transparent with those around us, we can be encouraged and we can be encouraging. I have a neighbor that I love listening too. He talks about struggles in life that he's been through and about the process of learning about why he went through that struggle. He believes that everything happens for a reason and that you might not learn from things right away but if you reflect on things enough, you can learn from thing. He has truly encouraged me. If I hadn't told him about a story in my life, he would have never shared a story about his life.

How should we connect with othersThe telephone was a great tool to connect with people. When I used to call Joe in elementary school, we had one of those fancy wall hanging phones that you had to push a button to hear the dial tone before dialing the number. Also, when I dialed the number, it was with a rotary phone. That was over 33 years ago. Technology has come a long way.

• face to face - this may be the best way to connect as you are able to see facial expressions and listen to voice tones. This helps being on the same page.
  
  
• Mail - this is one of the oldest forms of communicating


• Email - you can connect to more people as you don't have to send your not just to one person, but you can send it to others.


• Cell Phone - with this technology, you can take your phone anywhere, it even says connected on the LED when you talking


• Texting - when you're not able to talk on the cell phone, you are able to send a 166 character text note via your cell phone.


• Instant Messaging - At work, we have a program called Microsoft Communicator, it allows us to instant message (or chat) with other co-workers in the company. You can get answers to your questions fairly quickly if you know who to ask and if they are available.
• Web Conference or Skype - I haven't done much of this.


• Twitter - you can send out a quick message to all your friends that are following you on Twitter.


• Facebook - Social networking tool that allows you to share messages, photos, stories with your friends and acquaintances.


• The Google+ social network has arrived and Microsoft is even coming out with their own Social Networking application.

When should we connect with others
When we need something, right? Not exactly. I believe we should reach out to others to share. Whether it is ideas, thoughts, or gifts. It is better to give than receive. As we connect with people, we can be beneficiaries of giving and receiving.
We should be respectable and reach out to those around us without being intrusive. In other words, keep your nose out of others people's business unless they ask you to jump in. There are times when people need space and boundaries are healthy to have. Communicating those boundaries effectively will help maintain a relationship and keep you connected.

As I've shared about connecting with people, let me leave you with this, think about all of the people that you have connected with (past and present), the people that you would like to connect with, and even the people that you should connect with that you have avoided or not bothered to take the time to. Start by saying hello. Share your life. Find common things to talk about. Learn from each other. Get things done. Encourage and be encouraged. It takes a little work but there is great value in connecting with people!

A prayer for today

Dear Heavenly Father:

Today I pray for my boss. I pray that he will make wise decisions, treat people fairly, try harder to remember things, take interest in his employees and is honest with everyone he interacts with.

Lord, I pray for my attitude. I pray that I accept people for who that are and do not place myself above them. I pray that you would give me humility, wisdom, and discernment when dealing with problems at work and at home.

Lord, I pray for Amy. I pray that she becomes the woman of God that you want her to be. I pray that I am a supportive husband who finds the time to relate to Amy in her language of love. I pray that you would give her the strength each day to love on our kids and instruct them as you wish, Lord.

Lord, I pray for Grace. I pray that she becomes the girl that you intended for her to be. I pray that Amy and I can provide the environment to grow her strengths and skills that you have given her. I pray that she continues to have a teachable heart and yearns to know you more.

Lord, I pray for Naomi. I too pray that she becomes the girl that you intended for her to be. I pray that our family can be an environment that nurtures and supports Naomi's desires. I pray that Naomi would also have a heart for you and those around her.

Lord, I pray for Henry. I pray that he becomes the boy that you want him to be. I pray that Henry grows up to be a strong leader and is wise about your truths and is in tune with what you would want him to do with his life. I pray that Henry is teachable and has a heart for those around him as well.

Lord, I pray for Eva. I pray that she becomes the girl that you want her to be. I pray that she would love you and those around her. I pray that she continues to grow and stays healthy.

I pray for our entire family. Please keep us safe from evil. Please help us endure the trials that will happen in our future. Help us to lean on you for strength. Help us understand each other as a family and learn from each others' mistakes. Please help us make an eternal difference and find purpose here on earth.

Thank for this day and I pray Lord that I make this day count in your eyes.

Amen

Prayer for fear

Lord, I pray the you would help Amy to "be anxious for nothing" (Phillippians 4:6). Remind her to bring all her concerns to You in prayer so that your peace that passes all understanding will permanently reside in her heart. Specifically I pray about the worry of being too busy to spend time with our kids and investing in their lives. I pray that we can help plan our day of events and projects in a way so that we are not exhausted when interacting with our children. I pray for contentment that we chase after our little ones (while they are little) and not of things in this world.

Teach me to recognize the ploy of the enemy every time he tries to steal life from my wife by bringing fear to torment her. I stand against any enemy attacks targeted at my wife, and I say that a spirit of fear will have no place in her life. Strengthen her faith in You, Lord, to be her Defender.

I pray that Amy will not be tormented by the fear of man. Enable her to rise above the criticism of others and be delivered from fear of their opinions. May her only concern be with pleasing You. I say to my wife, "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). "In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you" (Isaiah 54:14). Enable my wife to rise up and say, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

Lord, give Amy strength to stand strong in the midst of the tough times of her life. Sustain her with Your presence so that nothing will shake her. Enable her to rise above the things that challenge her. Specifically I lift up to You Amy's fear of not having time to invest in our children because of other burdens. Help her separate herself from that which tempts her. I say to Amy that "no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). "Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart" (Psalm 27:14). Lord, enable my wife to endure temptation and receive the crown of life which You have promised to those who love You (James 1:12).

Give my wife patience while she is waiting for her prayers to be answered and for all things to be accomplished. Help her to wait upon You instead of waiting for things to change. Cause her to fear only You and to be content where she is this moment, knowing that You will not leave her there forever. Perfect her in Your "perfect love" that "casts out fear," so that fear has no room in her soul (1 John 4:18).

Family Night

Typically on Sunday nights our family sits down and has a fun activity after the evening meal before the kids go down for bed. We sometimes play a couple of games of UNO with usually the second game having a some meltdowns. We've sat down and watched an old episode of Little House on the Prairie or even the Waltons.

This past Sunday we played Biblical charades. Amy and Naomi were on a team, Henry and I formed another team, and Grace went solo. I kept thinking to myself, how am I going to act out some stories. First I am going to have to think of a story and second, I'm going to have to coordinate the choreography with our 2 and a half year old. It turned out to be a great time. There was some great acting performed all around. Henry played David a couple of times, once with David and Goliath (I played the big part well) and another time with David and King Saul. Henry also played Jesus in our final performance. One of the guesses on our final performance (as Henry kept running towards me and giving me hugs) was the prodigal son. Other performances included Daniel (played by Grace) in the lion's den, Ruth and Naomi, Baby Moses and his mother at the Nile river, and Mary crying at the cross.

We had a couple of children's bibles nearby to help spur our thoughts and I was very impressed by Grace. She really acted out her parts well. Naomi was fighting a cold and did very well and Henry was in great spirits. I truly valued and enjoyed the time we spent together as a family that night even if it was for approximately 20 minutes. It was time well spent.