Love That Never Runs Out!

For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:5 

We all know that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for our sin.  That is love!  BUT God didn't stop there, did He?  God has given us His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love!  He fills our hearts so full that we cannot help but share God's love with others.

Does this mean we will be perfect in sharing God's love?  Nope!  We will make mistakes and missteps, but God has already provided His forgiveness for us.  You see, one of the benefits of love is hope!  When we share God's love with others, we give them hope!  With hope comes a boost to their morale and when their morale is boosted, they will share that with others.  

And the good thing, love is free!  And when we love God with all of our being, His love in us never runs dry!

Boosting Morale Does Not Require Beatings

If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
1 Corinthians 12:15-20 

Morale.....some days we feel it and some days it feels like it's just gone.  Morale is surprising.  Money can only rent morale for a bit.  Time off can give a break to restore a bit of morale.  And, believe it or not, a new job is only a band-aid for morale.

There are lots of temporary fixes that, if graphed, will show waves of morale boosts.  But there is a little secret that we seem to have forgotten.....the responsibility of our level of morale is NOT anyone else but you.  Morale is our decision!  

Yes, you will have days when your nerves are frayed and everyone seems to be stomping all over the frayed ends.  Yes, you will have days when you don't feel like smiling because you are so tired you can barely remember if you put pants on this morning (stop laughing).  Yes, you will have days when you just can't seem to get caught up.  And NO, I am not suggesting that you walk around with a fake smile as if a rainbow unicorn just flew you to work.

Morale is a decision.  I have spent YEARS believing that my morale was based on what someone else should be doing for ME.  I mean, if I am truly a valued employee, should that be made clear to me?  But the truth I have discovered is this, even on the worst day at work, my morale is my decision.  I get to choose!   

Kick In The WHAT?

And whatever you do or say, 

do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,

 giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17

 

 I like Benny Hill and used to watch the Benny Hill Show on Saturday Nights after my folks went to bed.  The thing that attracted me to the Show, aside from the Vaudeville Skits, were the song lyrics.  The lyrics below are from a song called "Down On The Farm."

"Now when I drive the plough horse I put his blinkers on,
And I say, "Come on there, Joey boy, come on there Big John.
Come on Dick, come on Harry, come on Jake and Carter."
It makes him think he's got some help and he pulls a little harder."

 

So what does this have to do with doing everything as a representative of Christ?  Well, it has to do with morale!  Let's face it, if morale is not where it needs to be, then what kind of representative are we?

 

We all enjoy the pat on the back, the awards, the recognitions, the promotions, because they show someone notices that we are doing something good and we are rewarded, thus raising morale.  

 

However, the truly important aspect of morale is not so fun....because it relies on each of us.      

 

 *  You see, there are some things we can change (and probably should).  

 *  There are some things we cannot change no matter how much noise we make about them or how many times we pound our heads on the wall.  So we must accept these. 

 *  WE are the ones who have to choose our REACTION to the things we can change and the things we can't...THAT is where morale comes in and THAT is how we represent Christ.

I'm not asking you to paint on a smile and pretend all is well.  Be honest!  

I'm not saying to just suck it up and drive on either.  Talk with someone!

I'm not saying everything will come up roses (because roses have thorns), but the thing we can change every time is our perspective of the situation.  

Change what you can;

Accept there are things you can't change;

But the thing you CAN change is your perspective!

Morale Is A Problem!!!

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

Colossians 3:23-25 

 

You're probably not going to like what I'm about to say, but I dare you to read it anyway.  People tell me how their morale is low because of  (insert your favorite reason here: not enough money, hours too long, boss is too demanding, coworkers are suck-ups, etc.)

 

Well....let me tell you the REAL reason your morale is low...look in the mirror!  Here's what I mean: 

     *     your boss could promote you and give you a raise, but that would only raise your morale for a while, then the downward spiral would begin again. 

     *      Your job may require long hours.  But you were the one that accepted the position knowing the hours would be long.

 

The point I'm trying to make is simple:  The only person who can boost your morale is YOU!   YOU are the one who decides if you are going to do your best or not.  If your supervisor tells you to do something (provided it's not illegal) then it's your responsibility to do it.  If you choose not to do it, then be prepared to accept the consequences.  

 

A good supervisor or boss knows that if they make their people look good, then that boss or supervisor looks good.  And the opposite is also true.

 

I don't like doing everything that is expected of me, but I do it because I want to do a good job.  Now, I may rant and cuss in the car to and from, but when I am on scene I do my best.

 

My boss does have high expectations.  And I knew that when I began working here.  I don't expect an "Atta Boy" every time I do my job well, because eventually the "Atta Boys" will become meaningless.  I do, as most of us, thrive on positive reinforcement, but my morale is MY responsibility!

 

Do your best in EVERYTHING you do, because God is the one you are really working for and His rewards program far exceeds any plaque, certificate, trophy or raise!

  

 

It Starts With You!

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

 

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

~Ephesians 4:2-6 

As you know, I like to think.  Not just think, but contemplate.  Contemplation is exploratory thinking.  You take a thought and you explore it; you look at it from as many possible perspectives as possible; you turn it over and over in your mind; you touch every crevice and edge; you delve into the every corner.  

Well....I started contemplating Morale. And guess what I discovered?  Morale starts with me!  Good morale is MY decision!  Bad morale is MY decision!  I cannot always control my circumstances, but I can control my responses to my circumstances.  

Look at the words Paul writes to us...."Always be HUMBLE and GENTLE."  Does it say always be ticked off and aggravated because I don't think things are being done the way I want?  Absolutely not!  

"Be PATIENT with each other..."  REALLY?  Do we do that? I'm not always so good at doing that, but I am learning and trying.  Be patient..."making allowances for each other's faults."  Will this one punched me in the forehead!  I am not only am supposed to be patient with others, I am supposed to make allowances for them too!  WOW!  

And just when I am ready to punch the Venerable Apostle in the face, "making every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit."  Well now....if we are to be united in the Spirit [of God] then we are to be completely honest with each other.  If you ask my opinion, I should respect you enough to tell you the truth, even if it's not what you want to hear.  If I tell you only what you want to hear then THAT is proof that I have NO respect for you.  We lie to those we have no respect for.

Paul is reminding us that WE are either uniting or dividing.  We are either part of the same body or we are the cancer within the body.  WE must choose which we will be; honest and truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient or dishonest because it will get us what we think we want.

Bottom line: We CHOOSE to our morale!