Josh Schlotterbeck

A fool expresses all his emotions, but a wise person controls them. – Proverbs 29:11 (GW)

Once I identified the sources of my pain, I put together a Pain Management System.

It is easier said than done. It’s takes hard work self control and possibly with a side dish of some tears . There was a time when I would be hurt deeply by some things my wife would say to me. They felt harsh, rude and disrespectfull. Even unloving sometimes. And when she said those things, my feelings of rejection would make me bitter towards her and towards God.

Enter my Pain Management System

So here’s what I did:

1. Got a journal
2. Wrote down everything she said that hurt me
3. Wrote down all my emotions following her words
4. Wrote the context of the conversation

Before long I began to see a pattern emerge in our conversations. I began to understand something about my self. The result of my pain wasn’t her words, but an unhealthy approval addiction. I needed to know that Sara approved of me, and when she said things that didn’t agree with me; it translated into rejection.

By filtering my conversations now, I am able to undersand and control my emotions by recognizing their intent for my life. This helps me to maintain composure and respond to pain in a God honoring way.

A good resource to understanding what drives your emotions : The Search For Significance by Robert McGee

For months now I have been proactively seeking ways to honor the people in my life who have been sacrificing time and their talents to build a new ministry at our church. I have been talking about the value speaking to someone’s potential and being encouraged with those who are closest to me in the ministry.

But outside of my team, I was failing at honoring the most imporant person in my life. MY WIFE.

Honor isn’t an attitude or actions.
It’s a lifestyle.

What I learned:

Dishonor produces insecurity.
Dishonor corrupts intimacy.
Dishonor depreciates trust.

So before you speak out of turn, or say something out of spite; check the price tag.

So I am determined to HONOR my wife and remember that ultimately she magnifies the best in me.

This note is about waiting on God.  And to me sometimes waiting, when God says wait; is like sitting at a red light.  I know, you’re thinking, DUH.  You stop and wait at a red light.  But there’s more to it than that.

Keeping you car stopped at a red like requires a tremendous amount of effort and intention from you as the driver.  Let’s think of the  stop light as God’s direction in your life,  the Road = His plan for your life, and your Car represents your faith.  So many times, we feel life waiting for God means that we don’t have to do anything or serve anywhere.  But as the driver in the seat of your own faith you bear the resposibility of controlling your vehicle.

It takes effort to hold the break pedal to the floor.
It takes you being fully engaged in your faith journey to see the light change.
It takes awearness to see what God is doing in people around you.

Waiting doesn’t mean disengage, it mean’s be patience.  Remain focused, and contiune to obey the laws of the land.  It also means California stopping not allowed.  If you don’t know what I am talking about here it is.  It’s those people creep their vehicle forward when the light is red, trying to get ahead of the system.