we'll make it through

As I half-hang my head in shame, half-smile in bemused delight, I will admit that I am a fan of the show Glee. Not everything about it, mind you. I definitely think they could have picked a few better singers, a few better actors, and stuck to some more appropriate story lines. Don't get me wrong--Lea Michele, Chris Culfer and a few others have more than proven their vocal talent on the show, there is a decent number of good actors, and the scripts, while many times offensive, are socially relevant. What I like about Glee is that reaches out to most every high school stereotype and breaks it. Everyone on the show is given a clean slate and a chance to sing their precious hearts out. The kids in the show make real mistakes and deal with real problems. But at the end of the day, they don't judge each other; they reach out to, love and accept one another. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

And of course, the songs they sing are closely tied to the problems they deal with, which is something I always appreciate...especially lately. My Most Played Songs on iTunes currently consists of: Details in the Fabric (Jason Mraz), A Beautiful Mess (Jason Mraz), Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (John Mayer), Smile (Uncle Kracker), The World Spins Madly On (The Weepies), etc. You can tell a lot about a person by the songs they listen to at any given time. This fabulous arrangement of an Avril Lavigne song done by the cast of Glee is a wonderful example of the way they sing their frustrations away.

Keep Holding On - Glee Cast

everything will be fine

Another long week comes to a close. Another long week is about to start.

This week will see me working a lot. I'm not complaining. I like working. Friday will be interesting...I'll be working 9-5:30 (with a break from 1-1:30, thank goodness). We'll see how well I can manage my ADHD.

Sometimes I wish my life was simple. Normal. But then I remember that it wouldn't be exciting and neurotic. You can't have it all. At least not all at once.

The nice thing about insomnia is that it leaves ample time to think. I've been getting lots of quality thinking time in lately.

I usually blog with a purpose or theme. Not tonight. I'm too tired, my thoughts are too scattered, my emotions are too exhausted.

Good night. Love,

Shelley

more on comparisons

I've never been very into formulas. I see big pictures, not details. I prefer to do things "off the cuff" and just see what happens. However, I work very well with guidelines and strategies. So I've drawn some more comparisons between working for Ann Taylor and witnessing.

In a recent store meeting, we were given some guidelines on how to work with clients:

-Get to know the client. Be familiar with her lifestyle, know where she's coming from, her background, etc. Befriend her, let her get to know you. Create an emotional connection with her. In doing this, you'll know what to offer her, what will appeal to her, what will work for her, and most of all, make you care about what you bring her. If you don't know or like your client, you won't be motivated to help them.

-Be knowledgeable about the product. Know what you're talking about. Be excited about it. A mirror can convince a client to buy a product, but a stylist can convince her to try it on with how good she makes it sound. Make the client trust you--f she doesn't think you know about the product, she won't. Also, care about the product. If the client doesn't think you love it, she'll second guess it.

-Have style credibility. Wear your words. Follow your own advice. A client will be much more inclined to buy something if a stylist is wearing it, and wearing it well. This is another huge factor in establishing trust with your client. Look stylish, and [at least act like you] know it. She's the client, you're the stylist. If you look sloppy, and you're trying to sell her a chic dress, she won't do it.

Any of this sound familiar? Of course, talking about clothes is a huge leap away from talking about Christ, but apply these same principles in a different context, and what do we get?

-Get to know the unbeliever. Learn their story, their background, their lifestyle. Care about them. We are called to love the lost. So love them. Let them know you love them and want to help them. The unbeliever will be much more inclined to listen to you if they feel like you care about them.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3: "If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy going or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."

-Be equipped with the Sword of the Spirit. Know what you're saying, and know why you believe it. It's not enough to say, "Christ died for your sins. Believe in Him, repent of your sins and you can be with Him." Why? How? Where is that found? If the unbeliever doesn't feel like you know what you're talking about, they won't take you seriously. Give examples, give reasoning, always take it back to Scripture. The unbeliever will see evidence that not only do you know what you're saying, but that you truly care about it. Evangelism is about showing God's love to the people you love.

2 Timothy 4:2: "Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."

-Be credible. Be in the world, not of the world. The unbeliever won't listen to you if you act like "everyone else" while preaching something different. I'm not talking about modesty (although standards of modesty are, of course, important). I'm talking about your attitude. How you live your life. Do you demonstrate God's love and grace in everything you do, or only when you're trying to win people to Christ? The unbeliever will observe you in everything, and if you talk about love, mercy, graciousness, repentance, freedom in Christ, etc. but don't carry it out, what kind of credibility have you established? Live out your faith.

Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

If you read my blog, I pray that you find this helpful. Like I said--I don't like formulas, but I like strategies. I'll end today with another verse from Paul's second letter to Timothy:

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:4

Love,

Shelley

on everything

>>>My room is a mess. Mainly because I'm never home for a long enough period of time to clean it. Also because the speakers on my computer are not great, and I refuse to do anything time consuming without a lot of music to help me.

>>>My hair is straight. Feeling adventurous, with hair still wet yesterday morning, I ran a brush through it for the first time in I don't know how long (curly hair is not meant to be brushed). After which I blow-dried it and straightened it. And guess what? My hair is getting LONG. So I repeated this process today, liking the way my hair feels as it brushes across my shoulders. It won't last long though, it will most likely be back to its curly, barely manageable self tomorrow.

>>>My journal is filling up. So many things to write in it. I like my journal more than I like my blog. Most of my thoughts either aren't worth blogging, or are not purposed to be blogged.

>>>My piano is suffering through my mood swings. Days of neglect followed by days of much love and attention. The latter has been the past few days, although at the moment, most of my preferred music is lacking a little something [read: someone] special.

>>>My anticipation is mounting. In less than 50 days, I get to meet my beautiful niece Savannah, see my wonderful sister and co., and stand by my "twin" sister as she gets married. October 9th is going to be an amazing day.

>>>My God is continually preserving and strengthening me. He loves me forever.

leaning on Him

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:3-4

Love,

Shelley

waiting on the world to change

I've recently been feeling very convicted by my lack of evangelism. I can very easily say I have a "heart for evangelism," and a "love for the lost," but at the moment, since I'm not in school anymore, I haven't been living that out. My wandering mind has led me to draw comparisons.

I work at Ann Taylor. Every time I go in and start my shift, my manager updates me on how we are doing in terms of sales, Style Rewards, etc. I am good at both of those things. I can add 3 pieces to an outfit in a dressing room and I can convince women to open credit cards. I'm trustworthy and persuasive. I make people like me. So it hit me earlier,

Why am I not capitalizing on this outside of a clothing store??

When I am so good at helping women find clothes that will work for them, why am I not helping people in their walk with the Lord, or helping them to find their walk?

When I am so good at saying, "Have you heard about our Style Rewards program? Here are all the benefits...," why am I not saying, "Have you heard about Jesus? Here's how he died so you could live...?"

Ann Taylor sets a sales goal for every hour, day, week, month. I'm going to set myself a witnessing goal. I'm excited!

Love, Shelley