First, A Person

Introduction: You are a person, before you are a person “called to serve God via a vocation”! For the sake of your health and well-being, it is important that you understand that you are a human being first—along with that comes having limitations. Think: What is a typical pitfall for your profession? For example, pastors are often expected to “have all the answers!” So they often act as though they do! Professors can act smarter than their students, politicians can manipulate their constituencies, and attorneys can act superior to their clients. Professors, politicians, and attorneys with those ailments can rectify their pride by becoming authentic, honest, and humble while leading with proper authority. Tasks: Post your response in 275 words to the following: •View the first two sections of the Interviews and Discussion video called “Limits” by Amy Simpson, on seeing yourself as a person first, and knowing our limits. •Write about your acceptance of being human, before being “one called.” What is the value of understanding and embracing such a concept? How could the realization of being human before being a leader in your role, contribute to your health, and the health of your family and ministry? •Address the value of knowing your limits. Are there personal limitations that have come to mind as you viewed the video? If so, with whom would you share them, for the sake of accountability? How does knowing your limits create well-being for you, your family and ministry? I am going to give you a copy of someone else’s assignment of what they did, only for you to go by, but not copy what they did. Just I think that Ms. Simpson’s comments about being human before being called are helpful in helping us remain grounded. When God uses us for His glory to minister to the lives of people we can tend to think too highly of ourselves. The discussion on limits encouraged me to remember that I can’t do it all! I have limitations, and can only do so much. While I do have desire to do more for people, I must remember not to go to my limit, because as she said it is “hard work to rebuild ourselves”, causing us to have to stop serving.[1] I know that for me, I need to have alone time to process what I have been doing, or the people I have been talking to in order to refresh. When I don’t get enough alone time, I become mentally drained, and ineffective. I was impressed with the opening statements about “knowing thyself”. This has been a phrase that I have lived by and encouraged others to do the same. I believe that we need to understand who we are, and how God wants to use us. We need to know what motivates us to do what we do, and what inspires us as well. We need to understand how things affect us; what are our likes, and dislikes. When we analyze this it will help us better control, and guide our decisions and actions, and not live a life of reacting to everything. In the lecture, Ms. Simpson mentioned the use of personality tests which have served me greatly in understanding who I am. I am an analyzer. I analyze everything! This trait used to irritate me about myself. I hated that I was constantly considering what people were doing, and what was their motivation. Mostly it bothered me because I found that most people were motivated to act in ways that was hurtful or harmful to others. After taking a particular personality test, and learning that I was an analyzer, it changed my thinking. I understood that God had designed me this way for His purpose! I have learned to embrace this about myself, and submit it to the Holy Spirit. He knows best how to use this ability. I think that Ms. Simpson’s comments about being human before being called are helpful in helping us remain grounded. When God uses us for His glory to minister to the lives of people we can tend to think too highly of ourselves. The discussion on limits encouraged me to remember that I can’t do it all! I have limitations, and can only do so much. While I do have desire to do more for people, I must remember not to go to my limit, because as she said it is “hard work to rebuild ourselves”, causing us to have to stop serving.[1] I know that for me, I need to have alone time to process what I have been doing, or the people I have been talking to in order to refresh. When I don’t get enough alone time, I become mentally drained, and ineffective. I was impressed with the opening statements about “knowing thyself”. This has been a phrase that I have lived by and encouraged others to do the same. I believe that we need to understand who we are, and how God wants to use us. We need to know what motivates us to do what we do, and what inspires us as well. We need to understand how things affect us; what are our likes, and dislikes. When we analyze this it will help us better control, and guide our decisions and actions, and not live a life of reacting to everything. In the lecture, Ms. Simpson mentioned the use of personality tests which have served me greatly in understanding who I am. I am an analyzer. I analyze everything! This trait used to irritate me about myself. I hated that I was constantly considering what people were doing, and what was their motivation. Mostly it bothered me because I found that most people were motivated to act in ways that was hurtful or harmful to others. After taking a particular personality test, and learning that I was an analyzer, it changed my thinking. I understood that God had designed me this way for His purpose! I have learned to embrace this about myself, and submit it to the Holy Spirit. He knows best how to use this ability. My acceptance of being human, before being called is predicated on the fact that I am a carbon unit and will one day decompose. I witness this reality on countless occasions when I see death, sickness, and failure which disrobes any thought of immortality that could seek to perpetuate my existence. The value of understanding and embracing this reality is realizing the importance of knowing one’s self. As Amy Simpson clearly articulates knowing one’s self is critical in our efforts to serve our families. our ministry and the community in which we serve. To know ourselves is to come face to face with our weaknesses, our desires and that which tempt us. How do we get to know ourselves on a more intimate basis? According to Amy Simpson we come to gripts with knowing ourselves by asking others how we impact their lives and the community in which they live in, rolling the clock backwards and look for patterns in our lives, seek counseling to better understand who we are, and by taking personality test which gives us some insight of our character. Accordingly, the value of knowing who you are prior ro becoming a leader is substantial. Realizing who you are from a health perspective brings to the forefront that certain worldly endeavers that one might participate in could have profound affects on the health of one’s well being, and should be avoided if it is contrary to the principles of God. Moreover, acknowledging that one is human from a family and ministry perspective removes the cloak that one can be everything in both venues. The role that one plays in the family cannot be replaced on any basis. However, the role that one plays out in the ministry can be replaced and carried forward by another. with minimal loss of activity. The value of knowing one’s limitations is also equally crucial in one’s personal, family and ministerial life. We are often tempted to overlook our God imposed limitations. We are limited in terms of capability, energy, and forsight. God has, in His wisdom, graced each and every one of us with certain attributes. We were not made to perform each and every task that comes before us. We were made to acknowledge the talents and attributes of others. Do otherwise is not honoring the recipient of the attribute or is it honoring God for betowing the attribute. Personal limitations that have come to mind as I witness the video is my lack of desire to witness God in song, my weak attention span when listening to some minsters delivering the word of God. Another limitation that comes to mind, is having patience when needed, and not volunteering as often as I could.What is the most significant weakness is not allowing all the gifts of the Holy Spirit to manifest itself in my life. Acknowledging and embracing my limits offers me room for growth in my relationship with my family, my community and my ministry of teaching. Now please don’t copy what they put down word for word please. I could not send the vedio to you because they are on web. But put in your word,