Can't Be a Queen Bee Without a Bee Throne

I can honestly say I hardly ever crack open my actual computer anymore; more often than not I just do all of my internet stuffs via my beloved iPhone (which excludes blogging, since Blogger doesn't have an app!).  But tonight I get a night off(?) from most busyness and I thought I'd write a little....

It's been exactly one month since I moved into my new apartment and my fondness of it has only grown.  Sure, it's a long drive to work, but aside from that it is wonnnderful.  I just got a fridge yesterday, so 4 hours and 8 magic erasers later my new-to-me fridge is looking brand new, and I am finally able to buy real food again!  Don't get me wrong, I love pasta, but pasta every other night (along with pop-tarts, bread, and top ramen) is getting old.  Yesterday was an unbearably hot day to be moving a fridge from Long Beach to Anaheim, so we most definitely got to try out our pool for the first time.  Tonight while I was vacuuming James stopped me to say, "Amanda, I love our little place."  And we surveyed it together, from our fridge and new tea station, to the living room that's still coming along and constantly changing arrangements, to our little Ikea table and chairs... It's really an awesome little first home and we can't wait to finally live in it together.

Last weekend was my bridal shower and it was perfect.  I felt like time flew by, but I suppose that's good compared to other showers I've been to that drag on.  My maids of honor, Deb and Kayla, did an amazing job with not only the decorations but also with the events and the whole atmosphere of the afternoon.  I was impressed with how many people were actually able to come, and with how many wonderful gifts we got!  I finally have silverware! And cups! Ahhh!! I wish I had some more pictures for you from the shower, but unfortunately I didn't get to snag any as I was pretty busy.

On a side note, can I just add that I have the best moms?  Both my own mom and my future mother-in-law have been such a huge help to us this past month I don't know what I would do without them.  I guess our wedding countdown is truly winding down (40 days!), but with all of the last minute surprises and stress that's cropped up this month, they've been there for me and helped me through.  I got my wedding dress fitted and sent it in for alterations and seeing the dress on me got me very excited for our day.... that, and all these people getting married and engaged! August just needs to be here already!

[our new coffee/station... PTL for Starbucks benefits]

I've got two big interviews this week but before I jinx it and talk all about them, I'll just say God is good and more than surpasses what I ever feel I "need."

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

-Matthew 6:31-33

Spiritual Gifts: the gift of administration and how to administer it.

I just took my Spiritual Gifts Assessment and as usual I got the gift of Administration.  Just what I needed; another person to tell me that I am an OCD, perfectionist, control freak who likes telling other people what to do, or better yet, just getting it done myself so that it gets done "the right way."

Well, as you may discern from my tone, I wasn't too excited about my results.  I have probably taken a handful of SG tests within the last few years, for one reason or another, but this time was different because I anticipated and prayed about it in advance and really thought through my responses.  So when I received this result I was somewhat unsatisfied to have seemingly wasted my time...

Then this thought crossed my mind; it is a great thing that I have this consistency in my results, and it is a wakeup call to me since I have obviously not been using it!  So now I am pondering where I can use my gift of administration within (or outside of) the Body so that I can give back what has been given to me.

The results had this to say about those with the facilitating gift of Administration:

"You have the special ability to strategize a plan of action from goals to completion. You like tasks that can be measured and derive satisfaction in seeing your work done well. You are able to identify and communicate key components of a project, breaking out and prioritizing tasks for optimum efficiency. You are not easily distracted and can focus attention on objectives as you patiently facilitate the daily work and details. Others may have the idea, but you are the one who can make it happen."

My first reaction is to think office work.  Can I help in the offices or with any kind of paper-pushing/organizing if it will help others who are not equipped to do that?  I cannot lie...that idea does not sound thrilling.  My second thought is that I should be organizing events, and that would be exciting except that my abhorrence for people who commit to things, and consequently flake out, drives me to madness and has deterred me from heading up event committees.  What then shall I do?  I am leading a small group, I am working in a job where my ideas and suggestions are [or hopefully soon will become] valued and recognized, and I feel like I conduct my life like a business in the sense that I am extremely organized and methodical almost to the point of insanity when it comes to maintaining certain routines and rituals.  I don't know where to jump in and begin to use this better.

Do I continue being people's mom and telling them what to do?  Shall I nag and direct them to what I think might be best, even if the recipient does not agree?  Maybe the reason why I am perceiving this so negatively is because for most of my life I have been told that this "gift" is not a gift but rather something that annoys people.  My eye for detail and my steadfastness when it comes to upholding commitments and practices has often made people see me as unapproachable, critical or judgmental.  But something that is a God-given gift is never a bad thing, and therein lies my struggle; to see it as such and to exploit it for Kingdom work.

Anyone have any suggestions?

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration..." (1 Corinthians 12:27-28 NIV)