Outward Image

I attended at Business Showcase last night, so I had the opportunity to see some people that I haven't seen in a few months. One such person was passing by our booth, actually her booth was right across from our companies booth. Anyway, she enthusiastically said to me, "Wow Mary! You look great!" Being that her voice carried above the noise level of the crowd, I was sort of embarrassed at first. She continued, "I have to ask, what have you been doing?" Everything suddenly registered that she was talking about my weight. (My first thought was that she liked the way I was dressed, in my up-to-date poncho.) So, I told her that I have just been focusing on eating only when I am truly hungry, and I totally cut out pop...of course I had to retract that because I have not TOTALLY cut out pop, but I have greatly reduced my intake of the nasty, bad-for-you chemical! (That of course is my opinion of the crap that so many people consume so much of. No wonder we have so many health problems in our society these days...another topic for a post I do believe!) Anyway, I try to stick to water or tea, and of course my 3 or 4 cups of coffee every morning at work! But, my whole point of this post is the outward image...which I am getting back to...I promise.

The outward image...I just think it's amazing how many people are judgmental of how people appear on the outside. And how accepted you are if you look a certain way, or even dress a certain way (i.e. the up-to-date poncho!) I too have been guilty of judging one by their looks or how they dress. But! As my relationship with Jesus grows, I have learned that he looks at the heart. There is a scripture in 1 Samuel, and I cannot remember the chapter and verse right now...I want to say 6:18, but I am not sure...anyway, it says that man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. I am so glad that God looks at our hearts. I just hope when he looks at mine that he sees how much I love him and how much I want to grow to be like him and not judge others by how they look, or even how they act. God loves all people, ALL people, no matter how unlovely they may be, or what religion they are, nor what they've done in their past. He created everyone for a purpose, his purpose for his kingdom. I just hope that I have overcome the above-mentioned judgmentalism to allow God to use me to speak into others lives!

Well, my lunch break is almost over. It's amazing what comes out of ones head and through the fingers once one starts typing!

Personality

I have been thinking a lot about personalities lately, so that is why I chose this topic to write about. I have learned through classes our Pastor has given and through seminars for work, that people have 4 main personalities. They have one dominate personality and a strong secondary personality, followed by 2 not-so-strong. Now, I don't want to get all technical about the different personality types, that's not the purpose of this post. But, because of my personality type, I tend to get side tracked. I will try not to!

The purpose of this post is just to talk about some things I've learned through the years, about people, and what makes them tick, or why they behave the way they do. I think if one understands where a person is coming from, one might be able to cope better in any certain situation with that person. My first personality type is to be fun-loving, compassionate, life of the party, center of attention. But, I think that of the other 3, they are all pretty equal. I analyze people. I like to read between the lines, so to speak. I think all the details are what bonds everything together. What would life be like without all the details? When I tell a story, I tend to give too many details, but don't feel the story, the whole picture, is complete without them. Just like people, when I am trying to get to know someone, I ask questions! I get the details. But, here in lies the problem, where do you draw the line? Oh, my personality may be to ask questions, but what if I am talking to someone whose personality is not detail oriented? And they don't want to give nor get a lot of details? That's when knowing the different personality types is helpful. And if you know yours, and know your strengths and weaknesses in your personality, you can determine when you've asked for too many details and when you need to give more.

So, I wish I had a book to recommend right now, but I don't. I know one of the classes I took at church was by John Maxwell. It was a leadership class, and he taught all about the personality types. We took a test to find out our own. And I think Personality Plus is the name of another book on this subject, but I am not sure! I will ask around at church, and I am sure I will come up with it. OR! If someone happens to read this post, and knows, they could comment!

More about me I guess

I have so many thoughts, I don't know which one to write about. My friend, Angel, said to capture one and go from there....that's the hard part...picking one.

I was going to talk about the message at church this morning. But, it was on marriage. It's the 4th in a series, on how to obtain a happy life. And studies show that those people who have a happy marriage, say they have a happy life. Well, since I have been married, and since I am not now married, I decided I didn't want to comment on this subject right now. I must say it was a good message though, and many of the things he spoke about, will be useful down the road (as I hope to be married again someday, when God brings the man he created me to be with).

I also, want to talk about music, because I love music. Music is a huge part of my life! I listen to music all the time; in the car, when I'm sleeping, at work, when I read, whenever I can. Now that I am a christian, I listen to Christian radio. We are fortunate to have a decent radio station that plays christian contemporary music. Some of the artists they often play, and who are some of my favorites, are Third Day, Audio Adrenaline, DC Talk, Newsboys, Delirious, Jeremy Camp, Jennifer Knapp, Rebecca St. James, Jaci Velasquez, etc, etc. I also love praise and worship music, such as Vineyard, Hillsong, Lakewood church. I listen to country now and then, rock, hip-hop, and rap as well.

Well, that's enough for my random thoughts on this blog. I want to talk about the youth, God, friends, family and everything else.....they will be seperate blogs I do believe.

TTFN

Well, its one am-ish, and I am on msn typing to my sister, and my niece in New Mexico. I miss them so much. I am greatful to have things like the internet and instant messaging though. It sure makes it easier and less expensive to keep in touch.

I am up late tonight. We had a youth staff meeting (I help out with youth group at church). Then we had some fellowship time afterward, I came home to check my email...no new ones :( and so I decided to post another blog...don't know what is going to come out on here though....just gonna ramble!

There are so many thoughts that run through my head sometimes I don't know which one to start with....

I guess I could talk a little more about me :) That's always a fun topic...for me anyway! LOL!

I grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, although I moved around quite a bit in my grade school years, due to the instability of my step-father. We lived in El Paso Texas, Waco Texas (twice), Spokane Washington, Virginia City Nevada. But Las Cruces is where I was born and raised and finally stayed there after 7th grade and graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1982.

So, thats the beginning. The middle is really sad and depressing so I don't think I will go there right now.

I have been a Christian for 7 1/2 years! God is so awesome and wonderful! He loves us all so very much! I am divorced, after 17 years of marriage; have 4 kids, ages 12-21. I have one sister and one brother. My dad passed away when I was 13, but I didn't know him, as my parents were divorced when I was one. I was just recently reunited with my dad's side of the family, in Texas, Sept. 2003. That was very cool, as I always wanted a big family, and never knew I had one! My dad has 9 brothers and sisters who are all still alive and well, so I have tons of cousins.

I got married at 19, when our first daughter was 1 month old. We lived in Hobbs New Mexico at the time. We had another child, not too long after, mind you, and then in 1985 we moved to the great state of Michigan! We had 2 more kids, tried to make it work, but couldnt. So in December of 2000 we got divorced. So, now I live in Gaylord. I moved to Gaylord because I have worked here for 6 years now, and go to church here. Which my church family is awesome because God is awesome!

Anyway, I guess thats enough about me for now.

Just trying this Blog thing out

I was introduced to Blog from a friend; thought it looked interesting, so I thought I'd start one of my own, just to have a place to post some of the thoughts I have, to see if there are other people out there who think like I do. Doesn't matter if there are or not, just curious. I am interested in people, and like to get to know people, how they think and what makes them tick; their past, present and how they see their future; and if what they envisioned their future to be, if it is panning out accordingly. So, if anyone out there in this big place we call cyber-space reads this, and feels so compelled, please comment.