Throughout my journey I have been focusing on the pain and hurt that I have been experiencing. I have decided that in order to start the healing process I need to find out who I am, why and I this way and what can I do with the cards I have been dealt and how to use my personality traits to my advantage instead of my disadvantage. Before you can make an old run down house livable for anyone else you have to fix it and make it livable again. That is what I am doing I am remodeling myself.

After attending a workshop through Lakewood church I have learned who I used to be, before my negativity set in, what my personality says about me, my weaknesses and how my weaknesses got me where I am today. I am learning how to use my weaknesses through God’s guidance to help myself to become a new man and help others through FAITH, HOPE & PATIENCE.

PERSONALITY – Sanguine

Inspirational…Influential…Impressionable…Interactive…Impressive…Interested in people

EMOTIONS – Strengths

• Warm & lively, lives in the now
• Talkative, never at a loss for words
• Carefree-never worries about the future
• Great storyteller
• Conversation has an infectious quality
• Unusual capacity for enjoyment

EMOTIONS – Weakness

• Cries easily, spontaneous anger
• Emotionally unpredictable
• Restless, lacks self-control
• Exaggerates the truth
• Appears phony, naïve & childlike
• Comes on too strong
• Emotional decision maker
• Impulsive buyer

ACTIVITIES – Strengths

• Makes a good first impression
• Not bored because I live in the present
• Gifted in caring for the sick
• Easily engages in new plans
• Breeds enthusiasm
• Great exhorter

ACTIVITIES – Weaknesses

• Completely disorganized
• Undependable, late
• Undisciplined
• Wastes time talking when I should be working or doing something productive
• MANY unfinished projects
• Easily distracted, unfinished goals
• ALWAYS wanting approval

BIBLE CHARACTER – Peter

Talkative – Never at a loss for words

Peter is the prototypical example of a Sanguine, both in weakness and in strength. No one in the Bible is a better example of how the power of GOD can work to grown someone from self ruled to Spirit ruled. Peter loved to talk, he was always talking, especially when he should have been listening.

Matthew 17:4-5

Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord it is good for us to be here; if You wish let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking , behold a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!

God didn’t want to hear what Peter had to say, He wanted Peter to listen what Jesus had to say.

Emotionally unpredictable

Sanguine people are emotional. They speak without thinking, they leap before looking.

John 18:10

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servants name was Malchus.

Peter, before he was controlled by the Holy Spirit rarely exhibited any discipline. Not only did he react emotionally by cutting off Malchus ear, he also invited a whole group of people over to his home while his mother-in-law was sick in bed. While intentions are usually good, rarely were his plans well thought out.

Great Exhorter

Further in the Bible, we see Peter, now under the control by the Holy Spirit. God is using him for great purposes. He is finally using his verbal affinity the right way, winning souls to Christ.

Acts 3:4-6

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk”.

Before Peter’s baptism in the Holy Spirit, Peter is a noisy, out of control sanguine, time after time putting his foot in his mouth, saying the wrong thing and failing to live up to his words.

THE OUT OF CONTROL SANGUINE

Unrealistic – a dreamer who has no connection to practical reality

THE SPIRIT CONTROLLED SANGUINE

Optimistic – Visioned and ready to go, expecting success

THE OUT OF CONTROL SANGUINE

Manipulative – uses friendships and an affable manner to control people of situations for their personal benefit.

THE SPIRIT CONTROLLED SANGUINE

Persuasive – if their gift for speech is turned outward, they can easily win others

THE OUT OF CONTROL SANGUINE

Impulsive – has little or no self control

THE SPIRIT CONTROLLED SANGUINE

Spontaneous – No special Spirit prompting needed. These people are sitting and ready

THE OUT OF CONTROL SANGUINE

Unfocused – this personality NEEDS the power of the Holy Spirit to create direction for their life. This person needs well defined goals and well though out plans for achieving those goals.

THE SPIRIT CONTROLLED SANGUINE

Outgoing – Sanguine’s are people people. They are not intimidated by the prospect of meeting new people or getting out and circulating.

My first lesson learned today is that I do have weaknesses but by letting God into my heart he can turn them into advantages.

Throughout my day I now LISTEN and hear things, things that make sense to me now that I never HEARD before. Here are a few of them from today that I read or heard.

Ready or not another day is upon us

You can’t hit the ball unless you step up to the plate and take a swing

Your actions will always follow your beliefs

If you accept defeat that is what you will get

Narrow your focus

Until the Lord moves you, you’re to Him right where you are planted

God will send you rain after you have prepared you field

Today was a great exercise in self-awareness and a HUGE step on my journey. I hope something here inspires you to ACT and not REACT.

Thank you with all of my heart for being here with me on my journey and walking next to me, encouraging me with prayer and comforting words. I am thankful for each of you.

Please keep Gail in your prayers that God reaches into her heart, shows her the path to HER journey, that the Holy Spirit turns her weaknesses into advantages and that her heart forgives me.

Love,

Jim