Marketing and Connections

Why do people connect with you?

I learned a very basic concept from playing the computer game SIMS several years ago.  It was a concept that I had somehow missed.  You make friends by spending time with people.  If you don’t spend time with people, you don’t make friends.

The book I read awhile back, “Divine Commodity” had challenged me to stop ‘marketing’, and instead to help people learn how to connect with others better.

In our fast-paced society, we have boiled some things down to their least common denominator, and sometimes, that comes out as marketing.  God tells us that we are to love one another.   When we are in relationship with Him, and when we are being the people He created us to be, we will be irresistible – (not the individual, tall, flowing blonde kind of irresistible), but because we will be presenting Christ.

So.  Why do people connect with you?

In short, people connect with you because you care about them.  Here are some ways that people connect with you:

1.  According to Chapman, there are five love languages:  Gifts, Time, Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation and Touch.  In some way, you are helping them feel loved.

2.  They will identify with you: either your personality, your story, or your vision.  Something about you gives them hope and helps them see Jesus – in some way, you are a mirror for them that helps them see themselves the way that Jesus sees them.

3.  People see God through you.  If you are honest, we are all just worms.  We growl when we get up in the morning, or when we get to tired at night, or when we are hungry, or… – but for some reason, God uses relationships – trust, compassion, love, care, healing touch, prayer, often words of knowledge and wisdom – He uses people to touch people and share His love.  We get the ability to love others from Him.  We love because He first loved us.

I think God’s marketing plan is irresistable grace.  Our job in His kingdom is to care for people regardless of their standing with Him, and let Him do the marketing.

What I Learned From 2 Year Olds

I spent time with two-year-olds yesterday – about 10 of them.  Here are some things I learned:

• Cute babies get attention easy
• So do older kids who are helpers
• When you scream, you get attention, but nobody likes you.
• Throwing toys doesn’t work either.
• When people try to take your toy, it doesn’t work to hit them.
• Kids who have more words get more attention.
• Making a stinky will get you attention, but only your bottom gets the attention – so that doesn’t work well either.
• Making a mess at snack time will get you put in the high chair, or get your snack stolen by someone who is quick.
• “More” is a good word to learn.
• Making eye contact is a good way to get attention, especially if you hold a toy or book towards the person you are looking at.

From the day we start to interact with others, we begin to learn how important it is to control ourselves in order to get what we need.  We also learn how to contol other’s action through use of our own actions.  If we came out with all our capacities, we would miss some of those lessons.

What lessons are you learning today?

Opportunities

I was reading today in Jeremiah. Did you know that when Babylon took over Jerusalem, the paupers that were left in the land were given vineyards?

Bad financial times for a country don’t mean bad financial times for everyone. In this case, it meant better times for some. Upheaval is often no fun, but it is just upheaval. God is still on the throne.

Jeremiah 29 tells us God’s instructions to those in captivity – to enjoy life anyway. The story of Daniel shows us that some really thrived under the circumstances. The key isn’t having everything as we want it – the key is having God on the throne of our heart and letting Him be in charge of today.

I pray that you find God’s joy in today and His peace is constantly in your heart – no matter your circumstances.

Parenting

This morning I was caught between two children.  Someone baked (and of course everyone ate) the cookies I was going to use for lunches tomorrow. I thought it was one child (17 yo) and started to correct that child, turns out it was my 8 year old. 

The way you approach a 17yo and an 8yo on something like this is completely different, but due to the proximity of the people involved, the 8yo accidentally got 17yo parenting for a few moments.  Totally ended up in tears.  I didn’t hit the mark.  I was so far off.  My message was right, but my communication style did not match my audience.

Proverbs even says a loud greeting early in the morning will be considered a curse.  How we communicate isn’t just dependent on what we are trying to say, it is also dependent on our audience.

I had myself a little worship session a bit later.  I was so grateful that God has given me a challenge that I never seem to outgrow.  I am always messing up this parenting thing one way or another.  My 17yo informed me that some moms hit the mark.  Hmmm.  Not in this house.  I think most of us are just growing with the kids God gave us, doing our best with the skill set we have.  I am grateful that He is giving me the grace to keep working with mine.