5th Check Up - Am I a (+) or a (-)?

We're either adding or subtracting in the lives of others, there's nothing in between. Because of this, it is essential to see which of the two we are doing, adding or taking away... It's easy to say that in order to add, you need to do something, you can't just "be" an addition. To be of God, to be a good girl doesn't doesn't signify you're adding! It's necessary to "be" and "to do" (all in the same package).

There are many people with a godly character but they don't make any difference. What's the point to be of God, have the Holy Spirit, a position and do only what we're told to do? All this won't make a difference... What makes the difference is to do not only what you were told but, also what you weren't told.

When you're a plus sign, there is no time to tell others, hey, why aren't you doing this? or that? You can become so consumed into those thoughts thinking... Man, I could be doing that, I could be working on an idea I had recently, I could be learning something else... Whoever adds, doesn't waste time looking at what others do or don't do.

If we haven't been taking initiative, we have not been adding, on the contrary, we've been wasting time of those who have to keep reminding us at every moment what to do. We subtract when we could do something else but don't because of fear, embarrassment or because we know that others can do it, keep thinking about what others will say... we subtract when we keep nagging our husbands minds, when we don't try to learn something, when we depend on others (we subtract their time)

What symbol have you been? A "+" or a "-"?

If I'm a blessing, I have to add not subtract.

1st Check Up - Have you been persuaded?

When I started out in church, I dressed like a guy, spoke rudely and improper, I was rude and bitter, I was very displeasing. Did I know this? Yes, but I didn't think it was something to worry about. During this time, I don't remember anyone coming up to me and saying, "Graciele, you dress bad, you're not pleasant, you're this or that, you need to change, to dress up more." Instead they would come up to me and say, "Graciele, you are special and beautiful, God chose you, you are important for Him." And that's how I started changing and the reason I'm here today.

What am I trying to say with this? Nobody tried to convince me, that I was in the wrong, that I needed to change, but instead, people gave me what I needed, they reminded me that I was important for God, the One who convinced me that I needed to convert, stop speaking rudely and dress better was the Holy Spirit.

I was observing today that many of us have annoyed people of God, trying to persuade them, insisting for them to change, to give their lives to God, specially the youth. It's an out of the ordinary pressure that influences many to take decisions based on this insistence and later on the regret it and go back into the world because it wasn't God the one who convinced them but, the servant of God.

And this also happens with us, people in general who do the Work of God. They try to convince that you have to be a certain way and every time your colleague sees you they keep reminding you, insisting until you do as they say.

I want you to understand that it's not wrong to give advice, teach, help, but the one who convinces is the Holy Spirit, and the one who decides to do this is each one of us, don't confuse these things.

We have lost many people because of these attitudes, they have left God because they can't handle the pressure of those servants of God (they feel suffocated). Be very careful with the way you've treated people and even your friends. Your behavior can damage your image, and make people stay away from you and God. Don't try to do God's job, work with Him. 

Note: People come from the world into the church burdened and the ones who are in church have gone through several trials... so why try to impose more burdens on them with this attitude?

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment..." John 16:7-8

To be continued...

Check-up

God is always showing us patience through situations that we go through day by day and if we notice, things are repeated and perhaps you may ask yourself why God is trying to teach you the same thing again.

It's because He loves us that He takes care of us. Since December I've gone through different situations that have made me meditate, for me this isn't something new, but that still existed and with all of our strength we need to be vigilant, they're small things, but they can keep you away from people and God.

I want to review 5 attitudes with you that need to be very far away from us that make many people unpleasant and doesn't reflect well to those around you. Can you think of what they are?

If you want to check this out with me, know that together we will change this picture, even if we are few, but there will be a big difference, we will be reflecting God's image in our life.

To be continued...