How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Person?—Bright Ideas for Delightful Transformation by Rhonda Rhea gets you powered up and ready for change. Author and speaker, Patsy Clairmont, calls the book “high voltage humor along with a biblical charge.”
In Ephesians 1:18, Paul prays, “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” One version calls it “light” that will “flood your hearts.” God shines so much of His light through Scripture so that we can see—we can have understanding.
For every person longing for a change, for everyone who is getting weary in a grisly struggle to make a particular change, God-given enlightenment makes possible real change in every way. Lasting change.
The God who is powerful enough to create light, then create the sun—the God who keeps the sun blazing and the stars and moon reflecting—that same God is powerful enough, caring enough, and detail-minded enough to light our way. He wants to show us the path of change, and He longs to light the way for us in His magnificent plan for our lives.
How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Person? is a laugh-along-the-way journey into that light through God’s Word. His Word? Now there’s some enlightening! And I hear enlightening has even been known to strike twice in the same place.
Rhonda Rhea is a radio personality, humor columnist, conference/event speaker and author of eight books. She is a pastor’s wife and mother of five mostly grown children. She chuckles through the hubbub with pastor/hubby, Richie Rhea, near St. Louis in Troy, Missouri.
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A Driving Force
Can I hear an “amen” chorus of conviction?
I’ve been feeling a bit smug yesterday and today because driving is not an area of struggle for me. In fact, my issue is driving with people who have issues with other drivers!
I’ll be talking away, when suddenly, they cut me off mid-sentence (with no blinkers!) to say, “Did you see that? Did you see that?”
And I feel like saying, “Do you hear yourself? Do you hear yourself?”
I’ve been feeling a bit smug yesterday and today because driving is not an area of struggle for me. In fact, my issue is driving with people who have issues with other drivers!
I’ll be talking away, when suddenly, they cut me off mid-sentence (with no blinkers!) to say, “Did you see that? Did you see that?”
And I feel like saying, “Do you hear yourself? Do you hear yourself?”
Since I think interrupting someone you do know is far worse than having someone you don’t know cut in front of you, I can zoom from accusation to contempt–at least I’m not the kind of person who rudely interrupts for no reason–in a heartbeat.
Because after all, when I’m in the driver’s seat, I think I can do better.
Because after all, when I’m in the driver’s seat, I think I can do better.
What Drives Us?
For the next five days, we’re going to examine 5 goals of complaining+, using the acronym G.R.I.P.E.
G = Get Attention
How many of our conversations start with a complaint?
- “Sorry I’m late; my kids just would not cooperate!”
- “How are you handling this heat?”
- “This line goes on forever!”
- “Wanna bet this meeting runs late...again?”
Complaining is a natural language for “connecting” with other people.
A friend asks, “How was your day?” and what naturally comes to mind? Those sensational frustrations!
As women, we often reinforce each other. A friend says, “My boss is such a…” and we reply, “Oh, that must be so hard for you!”
Instant empathy, instant connection.
My two “pet phrases” that I’m still working to eliminate are “Would you be-LIEVE?!? and “You would NOT be-LIEVE…”
Both are classic Sanguine phrases to Get Attention and gain sympathy for my disappointment.
A friend asks, “How was your day?” and what naturally comes to mind? Those sensational frustrations!
As women, we often reinforce each other. A friend says, “My boss is such a…” and we reply, “Oh, that must be so hard for you!”
Instant empathy, instant connection.
My two “pet phrases” that I’m still working to eliminate are “Would you be-LIEVE?!? and “You would NOT be-LIEVE…”
Both are classic Sanguine phrases to Get Attention and gain sympathy for my disappointment.
Who’s Doing the Driving?
Can't view image? Click here to download 1 Corinthians 1:30)
Let’s check the purity of our motives.
When I’m in a hurry and accidentally cut you off in traffic, what do I want from you?
Oh, I expect you to assume the best of me. Such a little mistake, so easy to overlook, so insignificant.
But when you’re in a hurry and accidentally cut me off in traffic, what do I do to you?
I assume the worst possible motives, which I amplify, and then blow completely out of proportion.
When I’m doing the driving, I expect to receive compassion while handing out contempt. (A story about a speck and a plank comes to mind right about now!)
Jesus is ready and waiting.
But he will not use force.
Offer up the driver’s seat.
Hand over the keys to your heart.
And invite Him to do the driving.
Try this today: When you feel the urge to complain+, ask yourself, What's driving me? As you choose your response, ask yourself, Who's doing the driving?
(complaining+ = complaining, criticism, gossip, and sarcasm)
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Please leave a comment
- responding to today’s blog, and/or
- sharing your Day #1-4 experience of replacing “baditude” with God’s word and gratitude, and/or
- about anything else on your heart!
All drawings will be done this weekend once I'm back home!
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(Catch up on any "Warm-Up Week" Blog Posts!)
