30 Day Challenge: Day 1 (Five Ways to Win Your Heart)

This sounds like it should be easy to write on but I've had to wrack my brain a bit. Here goes...

Number 1: Be in Relationship with God
It'd be easy, cliche and a tad bit dishonest if I just said "be a Christian". Forgive my frankness but I don't care for everyone who calls themselves a Christian. To let you get the fullness of what I mean, let's journey to Matthew 7. In verse 20 Jesus states "...just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Individuals who are in true, full relationship with God are beautiful, fruitful servants of the people around them. I'm blessed to have a number of people like this in my life and I love them dearly. You see the work of the Holy Spirit in and about them and this is honestly one of the characteristics in folks that touches me.


Number 2: Be Honest
You may not always like what an honest person has to say but you will respect it. I'm pretty big on respect (if I can't respect you, I won't deal with you) and this as well as the implied notion of integrity are foundations to that. This is not to be mistaken with cruelly throwing around what you deem factual. I think honesty laced with discernment goes a long way...

Number 3: Be Creative
I LOVE people who are creatively inclined, regardless of their medium. My closest friends are musicians, painters, actors, thinkers, poets, etc. I'm so drawn to people who desire to use their giftings to make something beautiful whether it be a poem or an etching or some musing on (insert whatever here). 

Number 4: Be Genuine 
I suppose this goes with numero dos but for the love of cheerios please 'keep it real'. Life is far too short to work to keep up appearances so you might as well drop the mask and be who you are. Its easier and people will appreciate you for it.

Number 5: Be Fun
If you know me, you know I'm random, silly with a touch of the crazy (the fun, lovable kind). That said, I love people who can make me laugh, smile and appreciate life. I don't like stodgy, uptight folk because they're boring to me. Fun varies so this could take on the form of anything from hanging in a bookstore to randomly bursting into song or talking about dinosaur gang affiliations. As long as it isn't reckless, chances are I'm in : )...