The Credit

I’m a weirdo.
If you’ve read any of my posts on here you’ve probably already determined that, and if it helps you see things in a different light that’s A-OK with me. You see, God created me this way.

On the other hand, maybe you’ve read some of what I’m writing and think, “Wow, I can really connect with what this guy is writing”, that’s okay too. It just means we’re in like company and you’re probably a weirdo too. [Just kidding. I mean, I think being weird is pretty cool myself.]

Either way, my prayer is that God is reaching you through what you find here, and God deserves the credit.

I am the type of person that is fueled by statements – both positive and negative. Before my wife and I were married we took the “Five Love Languages” course by Gary Chapman. If you’ve never taken this course or read the book, let me recommend it. It helps you understand how you hear “I love you” and how your spouse hears “I love you”. Sometimes just saying the words isn’t enough, you have to speak in their love language. My wife’s language is “action”. I show her I love her when I help put up clothes, help with the dishes, etc. [sorry baby, it’s not that I don’t love you, I do – I promise I do… it’s that you have a lazy husband]. Coincidentally, my love language is “praise”. When you tell me that I’ve done a good job you’re in effect saying [to me anyway] “I love you”. [So, to anyone who has thought and said that my hair looked nice or that I’ve lost weight, thank you… I love you too – but in a Biblical way. I’m taken and my wife and I are happily married.]

But for real, when I hear a statement about myself it’s like my drug. I strive to do better the next time, always trying for more of that drug. I know what you may be thinking, “Everyone wants to hear good things about themselves”. True. But some people hear it and let it go while I dwell on it. Positive statements fuel me, negative statements drain me, but either way statements affect me.

Since I’ve been writing this blog I’ve received some really great statements, and I really appreciate them all. It’s those statements that fuel my desire to continue. It’s those statements that let me know that you’re reading and that the blog is reaching. Your statements are important because they help me gauge what is written. But the recognition for this stuff has to go to God. He’s the one that designed me this way, and He deserves all the credit for that. You can continue to give me feedback if you like and I’ll be careful to pass that along to the One that deserves it. You can pass it along too if you’d like. I would appreciate that.

You see, I’m writing this because it is affecting me right now. I would love to post something new every night. However, if you’ve noticed, in the past few weeks I’ve slowed down considerably. I think it is because I was taking some of the credit for the things I’m writing. It’s not that I just haven’t posted anything – everything about this experience has slowed down… ideas, concepts, perceptions, everything – except desire. The desire to write is a pressing but the ability has diminished, and I think it is because I started taking some of the positive statements from the readers and made them my own. But they’re not mine, they’re Gods. It’s as if I heard God say, “Un uh Scoot [God calls me Scoot], I designed you with this talent so I could receive the glory. You can go on getting the praise if you like, but it’s gonna be harder to do when you do it on your own”. I don’t want to take God’s praise. I want to give Him the credit!

God created all of us with gifts and talents designed to praise Him. My question to you is, “are you using your talent?” If you are, great! Are you giving God the glory for what it produces? I hope so. While God designs us with the abilities (talents, gifts) to make things happen, it isn’t complete without Him. God is the missing ingredient that brings it all together. The Apostle Paul reminded his friends in Ephesus of this,

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-20 NIV)

So, I’m a weirdo for God. God has blessed me with a unique ability to see things from another angle [take for instance “Throwing up on God” or “Jon Bon Jovi Rocks or my Synopsis of the Life of the Apostle Paul in the Book of Acts”], and I’m okay with that. I’m excited if you like what you’re reading. It helps me know that God is using me to reach others. To God be the glory!

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