One day last week, I was giving someone a compliment and it was very awkward because they had no idea how to receive it!  As I was thinking back about the situation a little later, I realized that I am often guilty of making the moment awkward when others start to give me a compliment.

When I started thinking about why I make it so awkward, I think it’s because a lot of times people have provided their compliment with the disclaimer:  “Now don’t let this go to your head!”  To which I think:  “If you really think it’s going to go to my head, then just don’t give it!”  If you think about it – that’s like giving an insult before your provide the compliment!

Why do we do this?  I think, it’s because most of us are uncomfortable with compliments.  And when we give a compliment, we would do well to consider where it is coming from.  Is the compliment we are about to give coming from our head or heart?  Compliments should come from our heart and if they come from our heart, then most likely they will flow to the heart of the person that we are complimenting!

When I get a compliment, it does not go to my head, it just helps me to be even more thankful to God that He would be willing to use someone as messed up as me to do something worth complimenting!

Let’s start finding, giving and receiving compliments from our hearts and then everyone (the giver and the receiver) will be encouraged!

Today was another great Sunday at Northwood! The message was simple: We can choose to bend a knee today or be forced to bend a knee tomorrow!   We have a choice to make and making the right choice changes everything!

May our Creator help us all to make the wise choice and live the better life!

Just because I don’t flaunt my spirituality, please don’t let that make you think that I am not spiritual! I am a very spiritual person.  I believe that God created us as spiritual beings and that we can have a real, vital and growing spiritual relationship with our Creator.

I do not go around wearing my spirituality as a religious costume.  I am not bound by rules and regulations.  I am for the most part just like everyone else around me.  Happy to be alive, scared of the uncertainty of life and almost always looking to enjoy the day that I have been given.

I don’t typically dress up in suits, but when I do – look out!  I like blue jeans, t-shirts and a good pair of boots.  I am bored very easily and because of this, tend to be continually changing my style.  I live life and do my best to enjoy almost every moment of it!

I want others to know about my spirituality, but not because “I am all of that and a bag of chips”.  I want others to know, because the relationship has changed my life and made it better.  Because the relationship gives me a future worth believing in!  I am spiritual because that is who God made me to be.  I grow in my spirituality because this is what I choose to do with my life.  I don’t flaunt it, because it’s not me, but God’s gift and blessing!

Not sure why I felt the need to share all of that, but the Spirit stirred it up and pushed it out, so there ya go!