Category Archives: Personal Updates

Say “Hello” To Everyone…

Personal Updates, Social, , , , , , , ,
Be Friendly… Be Confident… Say Hello

“When you say hi 👋 to everyone on the street, all the doors open.”

Having sold cable services door to door several years back, I began to realize anybody who I saw outside walking around, eventually, I’d be knocking on their door too.

Initially, I thought, “I don’t want to bother anyone or say hi. I’ll just mind my own business. People don’t want to talk to me because I’m in their neighborhood and knocking on their doors trying to “sell them something.”

It’s true, I was trying to sell them something, but it was something that if I was knocking on your door, you wanted what I was offering. In some cases, it was free TV cable services and in other cases, it was to lower your monthly bill by $20-40/month.

In time I realized that when I said “hello” and initiated a conversation with people, they responded in kind. Then when I knocked on their door they would see me, answer and be friendly. Saying hello to people first, puts in their mind that you’re friendly, kind and an okay person.

Before I started saying hi intentionally I was just trying to mind my own business and not bother people, they would be leery of me once inside their home, not consciously per say, but an opportunity was missed. An opportunity to make a friend, an opportunity to acknowledge another individual – to make them seen in a world distracted and focused on so many other things than real-life – living people.

It’s amazing how people LOVE to be acknowledged, for someone else to take the first step of initiation towards relationship. If you think about it, EVERY relationship starts with a “hello and introduction.”

Have you heard of the Meyer’s Briggs Test? I tested about as hardcore of an “introvert” as one can be on the test. They test for psychological tendencies and then categorize people into different groups based on the results. Apparently my personality type is something like 1.6% of the population or something ridiculous. Who knows how they come up with these stats anyway? For the record, I’m not a big fan of this test because people tend to make this an excuse for “who they are” or an “identity to get stuck in” and don’t make an effort to change and grow. I’ve heard people say stuff like, “I’m introverted, I don’t like to chit chat or have superficial conversation.” Sorry, that might be true but that perspective and attitude serves nobody and is quite frankly leaning towards selfishness.

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Side note: Jesus was perfectly introverted and extroverted. He’s the model for our lives. Being “introverted isn’t an excuse to not talk with and engage with people because the idea is to “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Making an effort to communicate with others in social situations isn’t always about our personal feelings, it’s about reaching out and being interested in the person in front of us. That simple act of being interested in someone else is so loving, we have no idea.

So, as I began to say hello to the random stranger on the sidewalk it equated directly to making a friend, which translated into them opening their door to me when I knocked on it and then closing more sales because if people don’t even open their door there’s 0 opportunity to help someone … who will inturn help you.

Seriously, if I didn’t say “hello” to people on the street they basically never opened their door to me. I knew they were home. They knew I knew they were home because I would watch them go into the house. People unconsciously take it personally if you don’t say hello and they take it personally if you do say hello.

What kind of outcome would you like in your life? More friends or less? More people to help and who will help you or less?

We really do need each other much more than we even realize.

Hi friend, I hope you’re well today! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

Ohh yeah, and don’t forget to smile. Sometimes I do. I’m reminding myself. A smile is your best feature when meeting someone for the first time… 😉

“When you say hi 👋 to everyone on the street, all the doors open.”

Zephaniah

Personal Updates, Spiritual, , , , ,

Interesting week.  I listened to and read Zephaniah over the last 5-7 days.  Then began exploring other scripture with a similar theme, message, perspective.  It was fascinating what the Lord was saying to the people of the day.  What really made me take note was how the person sitting next to me in the prayer room, was ALSO reading Zephaniah.  This obscure tiny 3 chapter book.  I was nothing short of flabbergasted.  What are the crazy odds of anybody in the room reading Zephaniah, much less sitting next to me?  I mean even though it’s a room filled with Bible readers, the odds of being in these 3 chapters, to me is outrageous!  I had to ask the gentleman what the Lord was speaking to him about, so I did my best to patiently wait until he was finished, but I had to interrupt him as he was getting towards the end – just in case he had to hurry off somewhere.  Fortunately, he was agreeable and we talked about this obscure tiny book.  I shared my experience in going through it myself recently.  He too kind of stumbled upon it as his story goes.  I greatly appreciated hearing his perspective on it as there were some definite similarities as to what he was getting and what I was getting.

I thought I would paste the entire book in my blog since it’s so tiny and highlight the things that stood out.  It’ll be interesting to see what transpires in the coming days… or doesn’t.  It seems there’s no lack for things to pray about these days.  Reading this book and making comparisons to the current world reality, provokes one to PRAY more than ever.

ZEPHANIAH

1 The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah. 2 “I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land,” Says the LORD; 3 “I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, The fish of the sea, And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face of the land,” Says the LORD. 4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the [pagan] priests— 5 Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops; Those who worship and swear [oaths] by the LORD, But who [also] swear by Milcom; 6 Those who have turned back from [following] the LORD, And have not sought the LORD, nor inquired of Him.” 7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD [is] at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests. 8 “And it shall be, In the day of the LORD’s sacrifice, That I will punish the princes and the king’s children, And all such as are clothed with foreign apparel. 9 In the same day I will punish All those who leap over the threshold, Who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit. 10 “And there shall be on that day,” says the LORD, “The sound of a mournful cry from the Fish Gate, A wailing from the Second Quarter, And a loud crashing from the hills. 11 Wail, you inhabitants of Maktesh! For all the merchant people (businessmen: also in Revelation – comment added) are cut down; All those who handle money (bankers: money changers in Jesus’ day – comment added) are cut off. 12 “And it shall come to pass at that time [That] I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, ‘The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.’ 13 Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit [them]; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.” 14 The great day of the LORD [is] near; [It is] near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. 15 That day [is] a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and alarm Against the fortified cities And against the high towers. 17 “I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse.” 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD’s wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land. – Zephaniah 1:1-18 NKJV

1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the decree is issued, [Or] the day passes like chaff, Before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you! 3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’s anger. 4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, And Ashkelon desolate; They shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, And Ekron shall be uprooted. 5 Woe to the inhabitants of the seacoast, The nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD [is] against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you; So there shall be no inhabitant.” 6 The seacoast shall be pastures, With shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks. 7 The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; They shall feed [their] flocks there; In the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will intervene for them, And return their captives. 8 “I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the insults of the people of Ammon, With which they have reproached My people, And made arrogant threats against their borders. 9 Therefore, as I live,” Says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Surely Moab shall be like Sodom, And the people of Ammon like Gomorrah–Overrun with weeds and saltpits, And a perpetual desolation. The residue of My people shall plunder them, And the remnant of My people shall possess them.” 10 This they shall have for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against the people of the LORD of hosts. 11 The LORD [will be] awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; [People] shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations. 12 “You Ethiopians also, You shall be slain by My sword.” 13 And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness. 14 The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals [of] her [pillars]; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation [shall be] at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work. 15 This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, “I [am it], and [there is] none besides me.” How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist. – Zephaniah 2:1-15 NKJV

1 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, To the oppressing city! 2 She has not obeyed [His] voice, She has not received correction; She has not trusted in the LORD, She has not drawn near to her God. 3 Her princes in her midst [are] roaring lions; Her judges [are] evening wolves That leave not a bone till morning. 4 Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; Her priests have polluted the sanctuary, They have done violence to the law. 5 The LORD [is] righteous in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, But the unjust knows no shame. 6 “I have cut off nations, Their fortresses are devastated; I have made their streets desolate, With none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; [There is] no one, no inhabitant. 7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, You will receive instruction’–So that her dwelling would not be cut off, [Despite] everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds. 8 “Therefore wait for Me,” says the LORD, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination [is] to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy. 9 “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering. 11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain. 12 I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed [their] flocks and lie down, And no one shall make [them] afraid.” 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all [your] heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, [is] in your midst; You shall see disaster no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet [you] with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.“ 18 “I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, Who are among you, [To whom] its reproach [is] a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame. 20 At that time I will bring you back, Even at the time I gather you; For I will give you fame and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I return your captives before your eyes,” Says the LORD. – Zephaniah 3:1-20 NKJV

Your First Love – David Wilkerson
https://youtu.be/lHChcGHz1K0