I apologize in advance if this post is not politically correct or if it offends anyone, that is not my intention, this is just what the Lord has been dealing with me on.....
We, as Christians (the body of Christ), need to earn the right to inquire about a persons’ actions and most definitely earn the right to speak into their life. Allow me to unpack this….
I am so tired of us showing “concern” for a persons’ choices we do not have a relationship with; honestly it is nothing more than glorified gossip. How dare we show concern for a persons’ bad fruit and lifestyle choices when first we have not shown compassion. But isn’t it so much easier to gossip than to get our hands dirty? We have no right judging or confronting if we have not earned the right by building a relationship that can be honoring and trustworthy. But instead of investing in people, we sit on our thrones dictating what sin we will and won’t touch. Honestly, I am talking about “rights” but actually we have no rights, because didn’t Jesus come so that we ALL may be cleansed (which implies we all need it)? But instead, when a brother falls short of our standards, we brush them to the curb until they clean up their act; rather than picking them up, washing them through the spirit of Jesus Christ and walking along side them.
Heaven help us, the body of Christ, the place for broken and dirty people, not people who are already fixed and clean. Are we so far removed from our own filth and brokenness that we forget who and what the cross was for?
Do we confront sin? Absolutely, but if we want that confrontation to be received in love; we have to first be love, be compassion, be Jesus with skin on. Therefore, earn the right to do so.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Prodigy In Me
We are doing a series at church called “The Prodigy In Me”. As God always does, He brings things to light so that it can be used for His glory. It was through Pastor Furtick’s message last week (www.elevationexperience.com) that I realized how my low view of myself was really a reversed form of pride. Allow me to explain.
Pastor did a terrific job at helping us realize that we all have a prodigy inside of us. Prodigy meaning: someone having extraordinary talent; a marvelous example of; something wonderful, you get the picture. Anyway, through that message I realized this to be true about myself as well. However, another truth was exposed through the message that day and every day since then. My caution of being seen as prideful, arrogant and overly confident caused me to press down the prodigy in me; which are the gifts God has given for His glory, and that is really a reverse form of pride.
See, this form of humility causes me to think less of myself than I should and the pride I wanted to avoid was thinking more of myself than I should. Both are PRIDE, and both hinder the gifts GOD placed in me and YOU. God gives us gifts and talents to exalt Him and be used for Him. So who am I not to use them because of thinking too much of myself in either way. I should have God confidence in what I have been gifted to do and do it with complete abandon. I love this poem and I think it speaks to what I am trying to convey here.
Our Deepest Fear
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
Pastor did a terrific job at helping us realize that we all have a prodigy inside of us. Prodigy meaning: someone having extraordinary talent; a marvelous example of; something wonderful, you get the picture. Anyway, through that message I realized this to be true about myself as well. However, another truth was exposed through the message that day and every day since then. My caution of being seen as prideful, arrogant and overly confident caused me to press down the prodigy in me; which are the gifts God has given for His glory, and that is really a reverse form of pride.
See, this form of humility causes me to think less of myself than I should and the pride I wanted to avoid was thinking more of myself than I should. Both are PRIDE, and both hinder the gifts GOD placed in me and YOU. God gives us gifts and talents to exalt Him and be used for Him. So who am I not to use them because of thinking too much of myself in either way. I should have God confidence in what I have been gifted to do and do it with complete abandon. I love this poem and I think it speaks to what I am trying to convey here.
Our Deepest Fear
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
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