SUMMER AT THE MOVIES Part 3: Amazing Gracie

We don’t understand why people act the way they do.

You would never act the way they do!

Do people see me the same way?

Everything we do make sense to us at the time.

Usually, we expect other people to act the way we would in that situation.
YOU are always right when it comes to how others should behave.

Basic Communication Issues
Parent-child conflicts
Sibling rivalry
Financial Conflicts
Role Conflicts
Substance abuse or Addictions
Trust Issues
Cultural or Religious Differences
Emotional or Mental Health Issues

“They also felt like they were becoming increasingly negative, and lost a sense of peace and happiness when they reacted in an impulsive way.”
Caroline Leaf, PhD

“The subjects in our study felt like they were making poor judgments when they just reacted rather than responded to what was happening in their lives,”
Caroline Leaf, PhD

REACTIONS vs RESPONSES
Reactions are problem-oriented and seek to correct the situation.
Responses are solution-oriented and seek to improve the situation.

The flesh reacts, but the Spirit leads us to respond.

Proverbs 25:15 AMP
15 By patience and a calm spirit a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft and gentle tongue breaks the bone [of resistance].

“In the larger culture, there’s such a moment away from objectivity and civil dialogue, and a move toward emotional reasoning, where people feel something, and because they feel it, they think it must be true…
Dr. Linda Mintle

Then, when you lead with your emotions, if you feel something differently, you can become offended very easily.”
Dr. Linda Mintle

Matthew 12:36 NIV
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

How do we move toward responding and away from reacting?

James 1:19-20 NIV
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

REACTIONS vs RESPONSES
Reactions are problem-oriented and seek to correct the situation.
Responses are solution-oriented and seek to improve the situation.

Ephesians 4:29 NIV
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Be quiet!

Proverbs 14:17 NIV
17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.

Empty it all out

Dr. Linda Mintle
Dr. Linda Mintle

Be quiet
Empty it out?