Over the years, I have had many pastors, mentors, spiritual leaders come into and go out of my life.
Recently, a dear friend of mine pointed out that there is a difference between a shepherd set over you in authority by God Himself, vs a self-promoting hireling facsimile of a shepherd or leader.
One really good way to make sure you are not with a hireling, is to observe how he or she treat other people. I had someone say to me at one time, "I care mostly for my inner group of people and I will not take the time to hear the cry of those "outside." As I heard that, I thought about the Shepherd, Jesus, who taught about how a true shepherd would leave his main flock of sheep just to seek out the one that was lost. I'd say anything other than this attitude, would denote a hireling view on things.
Thankfully, I'm under a true shepherd placed over me by God Himself. Sometimes, this shepherd doesn't understand me or agree with me, but I know that when I wander astray, he will seek me out to restore me to the fold. Even when I had strayed for a while, this person continued to remind me that he was there and loved me and was ready for me to return home whenever I was led to. He never forced me to come back to the family. He just informed me about what was going on while I was away. One day, when I'd exhausted all resources, I once again read about the happenings in the family, and I decided to run home to papa. Just like with God, papa wasn't angry with me and he welcomed me home as the prodigal child that I was.
I'm very grateful that some shepherds understand the heart of Father and do their best to live according to that, treating others with the same love that God Himself does.
Blessings,
~a very grateful daughter,
~Laura
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
how can you know...
As I'm experiencing and allowing myself to just embrace life today, I'm going to admit to you all that I am hurting...really hurting in my heart, emotions, feelings...whatever you want to call it. I am feeling deep sorrow, pain, aching, and that feeling of "will this end?" Right now, in the midst of it all, it feels like I'm one of the biggest disappointments to pretty much everyone I know.
Maybe you are feeling like this too. Sometimes, very well-meaning people will say things to you like "get over it" "get over yourself" and "what's wrong with you...it's not the end of the world." How about this one: "chin UP. You look like you lost your best friend!" Ugh, I hate that one! Does it ever occur to these well-meaning humans that maybe you DID lose your best friend? Maybe you are hurting for a very legitimate reason after all.
So, the question is...how can I know...how can YOU know...a God who is totally the opposite of everything you are feeling right now? How can you know God is not angry with you, when you are feeling that everyone under the sun hates your guts? How can you know a God who is in a good mood, when it seems nobody else is? How can you know this "God of reconciliation" when the person you most want that relationship, is not willing to even speak with you, let alone "make up?" How can you know the God of HOPE for the hopeless, when it looks like you really have hit a roadblock that is totally insurmountable in your life?" How can you know the One who really sticks closer than a brother, when your own family is lying to and turning against you and maybe even turning others against you too? How can you know the God who "will never leave you nor forsake you," who "will take you up even when your own mother forsakes you" who "is with you even to the ends of the earth."
Tell me, how CAN you know?
I'll tell you how...I'll show you what will work for you because it has worked for me and after a recent few hurtful events, I am counting on it to pull me through yet again.
Close your eyes right where you are. What do you see? Yes, the inside of your eyelids, of course...but, you can also see into another realm that is very different from this earth; peaceful, tranquil, serene. You get there by asking Jesus to take you. Just say, "Jesus, right now, nothing makes sense to me. Nobody seems to understand me. All feels very much lost to me. I need YOU to show me whatever I need to see, in order to live the very next second without pain and hopelessness. I need YOU to cause all other people, places and things to become totally obscure and dim to me. I need YOU to show me how to commune and cooperate with Your Spirit, so I can escape the uncertaintly in my life long enough to hear what the next step is that I should be taking."
After this, say "Jesus, if YOU don't take me here, to this place where Your Spirit is more real to me than this earthly existence, then I'm not going anywhere. Like Moses said to You, Lord...unless YOU go, I will not. So Jesus, by Your Holy Spirit, take me there, please. Take me now and show me what to do from that place."
To help with all this, put on some really mellow, sweet, soaking-type music. Some good songs can be found at www.soakingwithapurpose.com, or from my dear brother's site at www.dunamisarts.com. Focus on just tuning into God and where He is telling you to go, what He is telling you to do, what His good plan is.
I have learned that when I come to the end of my rope and usually myself, it's because people and myself became way too big in my life. It's time to come away and re-learn what He thinks of me, who He says I am, what He says I'm capable of and what I excel at. You will not find this 24/7 in any human relationship, I guarantee you.
Human beings only carry a portion of who God is. They are like little jagged chips of a mirror...each one reflecting just a part of God, but not able to totally join together to form the full picture. You need Him as He is...as clearly as you can see, feel, hear, smell, breathe Him...man cannot come close to displaying Him in His glory and splendor. Even time with Him cannot fully show you who He is. It will be enough, though. The foggy glimpse of Him that you are able to see, will be enough...to move you forward a little bit more each moment...till you one day see Him face to face.
Physical human beings cannot be all places at all times. We use telephones to communicate; we don't generally speak to each other spirit to spirit, although we can to an extent. God does that all the time and the best! We use computers that shut down in the middle of conversations. We talk in chat rooms in which we don't realize that we hit the "x" too soon and the other person feels slighted by us. God doesn't ever leave in the middle of a conversation, either accidentally or on purpose. We give up on people, on situations. God knows the end from the beginning; He doesn't quit, doesn't falter, doesn't lack answers that you need. People are finite creatures regarding this earth. We die. Lives end. We live again in eternity, but who we are here is nothing remotely close to who we will be when our characters have no flaws and are 100% plus, refined because of being captivated by the power and glory of the Perfect One.
When things happen that feel beyond remedy, Come Away with Him like I just showed you, and know that there is another finite human being, maybe on the other side of the world, doing the exact same thing...and finding myself in HIM.
I welcome any and all comments, suggestions, etc
Bless you all!
Maybe you are feeling like this too. Sometimes, very well-meaning people will say things to you like "get over it" "get over yourself" and "what's wrong with you...it's not the end of the world." How about this one: "chin UP. You look like you lost your best friend!" Ugh, I hate that one! Does it ever occur to these well-meaning humans that maybe you DID lose your best friend? Maybe you are hurting for a very legitimate reason after all.
So, the question is...how can I know...how can YOU know...a God who is totally the opposite of everything you are feeling right now? How can you know God is not angry with you, when you are feeling that everyone under the sun hates your guts? How can you know a God who is in a good mood, when it seems nobody else is? How can you know this "God of reconciliation" when the person you most want that relationship, is not willing to even speak with you, let alone "make up?" How can you know the God of HOPE for the hopeless, when it looks like you really have hit a roadblock that is totally insurmountable in your life?" How can you know the One who really sticks closer than a brother, when your own family is lying to and turning against you and maybe even turning others against you too? How can you know the God who "will never leave you nor forsake you," who "will take you up even when your own mother forsakes you" who "is with you even to the ends of the earth."
Tell me, how CAN you know?
I'll tell you how...I'll show you what will work for you because it has worked for me and after a recent few hurtful events, I am counting on it to pull me through yet again.
Close your eyes right where you are. What do you see? Yes, the inside of your eyelids, of course...but, you can also see into another realm that is very different from this earth; peaceful, tranquil, serene. You get there by asking Jesus to take you. Just say, "Jesus, right now, nothing makes sense to me. Nobody seems to understand me. All feels very much lost to me. I need YOU to show me whatever I need to see, in order to live the very next second without pain and hopelessness. I need YOU to cause all other people, places and things to become totally obscure and dim to me. I need YOU to show me how to commune and cooperate with Your Spirit, so I can escape the uncertaintly in my life long enough to hear what the next step is that I should be taking."
After this, say "Jesus, if YOU don't take me here, to this place where Your Spirit is more real to me than this earthly existence, then I'm not going anywhere. Like Moses said to You, Lord...unless YOU go, I will not. So Jesus, by Your Holy Spirit, take me there, please. Take me now and show me what to do from that place."
To help with all this, put on some really mellow, sweet, soaking-type music. Some good songs can be found at www.soakingwithapurpose.com, or from my dear brother's site at www.dunamisarts.com. Focus on just tuning into God and where He is telling you to go, what He is telling you to do, what His good plan is.
I have learned that when I come to the end of my rope and usually myself, it's because people and myself became way too big in my life. It's time to come away and re-learn what He thinks of me, who He says I am, what He says I'm capable of and what I excel at. You will not find this 24/7 in any human relationship, I guarantee you.
Human beings only carry a portion of who God is. They are like little jagged chips of a mirror...each one reflecting just a part of God, but not able to totally join together to form the full picture. You need Him as He is...as clearly as you can see, feel, hear, smell, breathe Him...man cannot come close to displaying Him in His glory and splendor. Even time with Him cannot fully show you who He is. It will be enough, though. The foggy glimpse of Him that you are able to see, will be enough...to move you forward a little bit more each moment...till you one day see Him face to face.
Physical human beings cannot be all places at all times. We use telephones to communicate; we don't generally speak to each other spirit to spirit, although we can to an extent. God does that all the time and the best! We use computers that shut down in the middle of conversations. We talk in chat rooms in which we don't realize that we hit the "x" too soon and the other person feels slighted by us. God doesn't ever leave in the middle of a conversation, either accidentally or on purpose. We give up on people, on situations. God knows the end from the beginning; He doesn't quit, doesn't falter, doesn't lack answers that you need. People are finite creatures regarding this earth. We die. Lives end. We live again in eternity, but who we are here is nothing remotely close to who we will be when our characters have no flaws and are 100% plus, refined because of being captivated by the power and glory of the Perfect One.
When things happen that feel beyond remedy, Come Away with Him like I just showed you, and know that there is another finite human being, maybe on the other side of the world, doing the exact same thing...and finding myself in HIM.
I welcome any and all comments, suggestions, etc
Bless you all!
What does the Bible say about Character?
I am writing this today because someone very dear to me believes in the writing ability God has blessed me with. What I'm going to share; by no means exhaustive in supply, definitely needs to be said, pondered upon, meditated on, and practiced, by myself and others who want to have all that God intended. Thank you for reading this, applying what Jesus says and thus, seeing your lives change. I'll be right there with you, doing the same in my own life. I will share these things a little bit at a time, so stay with me :) Thank you.
One of the best books I know of that talks about what true Godly character looks like, is the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Now, whether you regularly peruse the holy scriptures or not, I believe you will find value in what the Lord has me share here today. So, please, read on...
Proverbs 3 v 31, 32
"Do not envy the oppressor and choose none of his ways. For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright."
Think about that a moment. Someone who envies a person who is oppressive towards others! That means, to me, that, we'll call her "Mary"...Mary wants so badly to be like this lady "Sue" who is just plain MEAN to people! Now, Sue could be Mary's friend or teacher or parent or someone on television for all we know. The point is, the Bible is clear that if Mary wants to be like someone who is a "punishing" "bullying" type of person, she is actually wanting to be like a perverse person whose behavior is literally disgusting to God. God tells His secret plans and directions to people who are on the "up n up" though. Which way would you choose to be? Perverse or one of God's true confidantes? Who would you like for a companion, Mary or Sue?
Next, for all of you who believe you can "fix" someone or help counsel them into being a "good" person, when the core of that person needs and will only yield to the mighty hand of God...
Proverbs 9 v 7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
If you try to approach someone who has such a personal character, that he laughs in your face when you try to point out some things that he needs to let God help him work on, you have met what the Bible calls a "scoffer." These are the people who often utter "yeah right" with a snide smile on their face, while they continue doing the wrong things in their lives.
Proverbs is so clear that when you attempt to correct this person, you get shame for yourself. I think maybe the word "regret" could also fit here. I know that when I have tried to correct these types of people, I walk away feeling like "why'd I even bother?" That person, unwilling to change, simply turned everything back on me and resented me for trying to give him a "wake-up" call.
On the other hand, I have approached some people who were of a personal nature that welcomed correction from God and from His delegated ambassadors (if you will). In these cases, those types of people thanked me for pointing out things they could seek God about helping them work on. I watched those people come back to me, time and time again, to pray with them, to help them get clearer understanding on things that were holding them back from moving in the more mature plans of God for their lives...and those people, I can tell you, I left those conversations with, the feeling that God through me, made a positive difference and planted yet another good seed into good soil in their lives.
Proverbs 11 v 5, 6 "The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust."
The good behavior and character of people who are doing their best to stay out of trouble (be blameless), will cause those people to be living rightly. However, someone who is doing things that God calls sin, is going to eventually fall because of his own actions.
I found this verse interesting, in that it shows that it's the person's actions that produce the results. Yes, God is Sovereign and in control, but He makes it clear that the choices a person makes, are going to either "make him or break him." The person who chooses to act cruel and evil and oppressive toward others, is eventually going to pay a penalty through consequences that come from that behavior. A person who does right, is going to stay on the path that the Lord wants him to be on.
People who do their best to live in a way that God desires, will find deliverance and freedom through Him, but people who stray away after things other than what God wants for them, will eventually replace Him with those things...be they other people, material possessions, vocations in life, their own children or spouses.
God is gracious in allowing us to have "the fullness thereof" as joint-heirs with our brother, Jesus, while here on the earth, but when those blessings become more important than what God wants from relationship with us, then those things become what the Word of God calls "lusts." Lust does not bring blessing. Its sole job is to mislead, entice, and ultimately bring us down to death of spirit and sometimes even complete destruction physically or otherwise.
God's description of the type of character He wants us to have or not have is spelled out in plain words if we'll look at His Word. The results of both types of character are also clear. He says "Choose you this day whom you will serve" Another way to say that is, "choose today who or what will be your God, hold your focus, lead, guide and direct you. Which path will you walk on? Will you bully people and be cruel and unempathetic or will you guard your heart, speak the truth in love, and walk in the example that Jesus showed in His own fine character? Will you live a happy life, full of all God's goodness and blessing...or will you die miserable, alone, with (as another verse in Proverbs 10 v 7 says) your very name rotting!"
These are only a few things I believe the Lord wants me to share right now. I'll be back again soon to continue as He impresses on me. I can't really make it any clearer than this, that people who are worthy of your close friendship and close ties, will be walking in the "light" of righteous behaviors and good choices. The others, let God deal with, because He is the one who best knows how to reach the heart and spirit of another. You also need to be one who walks in the truth and light of Jesus. Pray for unrigteous people, but focus your attention and energies on those people who are like-minded with the Word (the book, the Bible) and the WORD, Jesus Himself.
Talk to more soon on this topic. Thank you.
~Laura (aka: DelusionDispeller)
One of the best books I know of that talks about what true Godly character looks like, is the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Now, whether you regularly peruse the holy scriptures or not, I believe you will find value in what the Lord has me share here today. So, please, read on...
Proverbs 3 v 31, 32
"Do not envy the oppressor and choose none of his ways. For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright."
Think about that a moment. Someone who envies a person who is oppressive towards others! That means, to me, that, we'll call her "Mary"...Mary wants so badly to be like this lady "Sue" who is just plain MEAN to people! Now, Sue could be Mary's friend or teacher or parent or someone on television for all we know. The point is, the Bible is clear that if Mary wants to be like someone who is a "punishing" "bullying" type of person, she is actually wanting to be like a perverse person whose behavior is literally disgusting to God. God tells His secret plans and directions to people who are on the "up n up" though. Which way would you choose to be? Perverse or one of God's true confidantes? Who would you like for a companion, Mary or Sue?
Next, for all of you who believe you can "fix" someone or help counsel them into being a "good" person, when the core of that person needs and will only yield to the mighty hand of God...
Proverbs 9 v 7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
If you try to approach someone who has such a personal character, that he laughs in your face when you try to point out some things that he needs to let God help him work on, you have met what the Bible calls a "scoffer." These are the people who often utter "yeah right" with a snide smile on their face, while they continue doing the wrong things in their lives.
Proverbs is so clear that when you attempt to correct this person, you get shame for yourself. I think maybe the word "regret" could also fit here. I know that when I have tried to correct these types of people, I walk away feeling like "why'd I even bother?" That person, unwilling to change, simply turned everything back on me and resented me for trying to give him a "wake-up" call.
On the other hand, I have approached some people who were of a personal nature that welcomed correction from God and from His delegated ambassadors (if you will). In these cases, those types of people thanked me for pointing out things they could seek God about helping them work on. I watched those people come back to me, time and time again, to pray with them, to help them get clearer understanding on things that were holding them back from moving in the more mature plans of God for their lives...and those people, I can tell you, I left those conversations with, the feeling that God through me, made a positive difference and planted yet another good seed into good soil in their lives.
Proverbs 11 v 5, 6 "The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust."
The good behavior and character of people who are doing their best to stay out of trouble (be blameless), will cause those people to be living rightly. However, someone who is doing things that God calls sin, is going to eventually fall because of his own actions.
I found this verse interesting, in that it shows that it's the person's actions that produce the results. Yes, God is Sovereign and in control, but He makes it clear that the choices a person makes, are going to either "make him or break him." The person who chooses to act cruel and evil and oppressive toward others, is eventually going to pay a penalty through consequences that come from that behavior. A person who does right, is going to stay on the path that the Lord wants him to be on.
People who do their best to live in a way that God desires, will find deliverance and freedom through Him, but people who stray away after things other than what God wants for them, will eventually replace Him with those things...be they other people, material possessions, vocations in life, their own children or spouses.
God is gracious in allowing us to have "the fullness thereof" as joint-heirs with our brother, Jesus, while here on the earth, but when those blessings become more important than what God wants from relationship with us, then those things become what the Word of God calls "lusts." Lust does not bring blessing. Its sole job is to mislead, entice, and ultimately bring us down to death of spirit and sometimes even complete destruction physically or otherwise.
God's description of the type of character He wants us to have or not have is spelled out in plain words if we'll look at His Word. The results of both types of character are also clear. He says "Choose you this day whom you will serve" Another way to say that is, "choose today who or what will be your God, hold your focus, lead, guide and direct you. Which path will you walk on? Will you bully people and be cruel and unempathetic or will you guard your heart, speak the truth in love, and walk in the example that Jesus showed in His own fine character? Will you live a happy life, full of all God's goodness and blessing...or will you die miserable, alone, with (as another verse in Proverbs 10 v 7 says) your very name rotting!"
These are only a few things I believe the Lord wants me to share right now. I'll be back again soon to continue as He impresses on me. I can't really make it any clearer than this, that people who are worthy of your close friendship and close ties, will be walking in the "light" of righteous behaviors and good choices. The others, let God deal with, because He is the one who best knows how to reach the heart and spirit of another. You also need to be one who walks in the truth and light of Jesus. Pray for unrigteous people, but focus your attention and energies on those people who are like-minded with the Word (the book, the Bible) and the WORD, Jesus Himself.
Talk to more soon on this topic. Thank you.
~Laura (aka: DelusionDispeller)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Good...yawwwwn...morning!
Well everyone, it's that favorite time in the day...6 AM (now 6:41 AM)...and God has told me again, that this is His designated time for me to hear from Him the most clearly. My flesh is saying "ugh...just a few more hours of sleep Lord, please?" My spirit is saying "hey, He's been trying to woo you to Him for a while now. You got tons of confirmation that He was waking you up on purpose, and yet still you fight this? Get up, girl. Run to your Father and get wisdom for your day!"
So, here I sat, at 6 AM, after feeding the cats, letting the dog out and in, and taking my daily pill for my sluggish thyroid. I sat, I prayed a brief "good morning, Lord...I'm all yours," type of prayer, and then I wrote my opening question to the Lord. "what would you like to say to me today?" He began reassuring me about an important situation going on in life right now. He told me to rest, trust, and believe that He has it in His hands and knows what to do with it. It was another time of Him letting me know that, though I feel personally out of control, He has it covered!
In 30 minutes I am waking my daughter up for school and will have to be alert to do that. As I continue to think about what just went on between Father and me, however, I ask why He didn't give me wisdom about helping a friend of mine. Could it be that He knows she and I won't be meeting today so that info isn't pertinent in my life? Now THIS is going to be interesting to watch unfold!
Stay tuned till next time.
~Laura
Thursday, February 5, 2009
You say you're "sorry" but...
Have you ever encountered a situation where someone apologizes to you, but their flawed behavior remains the same? I've not only met people like that; I have to really guard that in myself. I believe it stems from an attitude of rebellion and pride. A person seems to feel bad about hurting someone, but at the same time, they may be thinking "he had it comin" or "but what about THEM? They did such and such to ME!" The truth is, no matter what THEY did, YOU are the one whose behavior YOU can change with the help of God. The Lord promises to deal with the other person in His way and time. You and I have to just let HIM have the final say about what the other person did. If you've been confronted, said you were sorry, then you have some work to do on yourself. Yeah, I know...OUCH!
4.) Did you just say "I'm sorry" because you got caught or wanted to relieve a guilty conscience...or do you feel BAD about your part in things?
Again, if you are a person who is truly penitent and wants your life to reflect Christ, you are going to FEEL something when you have hurt someone or done something wrong. If not, you might want to go back to the altar and rededicate your life to Jesus. Be prepared though...once you've broken trust with someone, it can take a very long time to earn it back...sometimes, that person decides to never trust you again. In this case, you have to rely on the truth that God loves you, forgives you and will never leave nor forsake His own who are "the called according to His purposes." Yes, easier said than done sometimes when everything in you just longs for things to be "the way they used to be with her/him and me." Being "heartfelt" repentant toward people you hurt, makes you SAFE to be around.
The Bible Way:
Proverbs 18 v 19
An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
5.) Is your word your honor?
Lying is way too easy to do. Sometimes, we learn as children, to lie our way out of things, rather than suffer the consequences. In relationships, honesty needs to be the foundation, the solid, steady thing that people can count on with you. If someone knows you will tell the truth no matter what the outcome, this builds trust and proves you to be SAFE to be around. Don't live your life trying to "get away with" things. If someone shares that they are concerned about a fault in you, be sure to speak the truth, admit your wrongdoing, make things right through asking forgiveness, repenting, and changing your behavior with God's help. Repentance means a "resolute turning." If you are truly sorry, you don't lie about what you did. Confront it in yourself, Admit it to the person, and set out to have God show you how to do the very opposite.
The Bible way:
Psalm 52 v 3
You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah
Ephesians 4 v 15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
5.) Are you spinning your wheels or moving forward in life?
The whole point of following Jesus, is that we need to be moving forward in life. If we're doing nothing or looking back too much, we are going nowhere, accomplishing little, and actually shrivelling up, rather than growing.
I'm considering a plant. After it roots in the ground, it begins to grow up from the dirt! It becomes something awesome to behold! If you are still stuck "in the dirt" of your life, there is a problem!
People who continually talk about the "dirt"...miseries, sorrows, lack of accomplishments, things that didn't work out" are miserable creatures to be around, and when you consider that you become like who you are with...these are UNSAFE people.
If you could be described in the above way, you also are an UNSAFE person to be around. There is nothing wrong with asking for prayer, "confessing your sins one to another" but if the majority of your conversation is seasoned with "bitter root" rather than "salt" you will be pulling the listener right down into the "pit" you're in and vice versa. Want to be SAFE? Hang closely with SAFE people.
The Bible Way:
Proverbs 29:11: A fool vents all his feelings But a wise man holds them back.
It is interesting to note that the Greek translation of the word BITTER is PIKROS, meaning sharp and pointed. When we hang around or when we ARE bitter, we are getting jabbed or jabbing others. It is clear that we cannot hang closely with people who are spewing out negativity, or it will get onto us.
This brings me back to what I said in my very first blog, about gossip. As I said, I had to look at myself regarding this topic. If I'm talking to someone about something they have no ability to change, I'm not only gossiping, I'm also being BITTER and bringing the listener into my hole of bitterness. Yipes! Not good! and most importantly UNSAFE!
Now there is HOPE if you have been an UNSAFE person.
1 John 1 v 9 says that if you go to God, tell Him that you know what you did was wrong and are truly sorry for it, not only will He forgive you, but there will be NO STAIN on you from what you did. (my loose translation) A stain is a lasting reminder of something "dirty" that we got on us. All unrighteousness and ugliness and filth is cleaned off you when you go to God with a heart that is truly penitent, sorry, and ready and willing to make a change.
Here is a really great resource to learn more about heart-motivation, bitterness, and other topics that we need to focus on in order to be SAFE people.
The Company You Keep...are you SAFE to be around?
Here are some things to examine to find out if you are a SAFE person to be around:
1.) When someone points out a flaw in you, do you argue, fight, defend yourself right off the bat? Do you insist that you are "just fine" and could NOT have done or said what they claim? Are you able to admit that you were weak in something and might have hurt someone by it?
How will you be restored, unless you are willing to admit that you messed up? Arguing that you are right, the other person or people is all wrong, is not behaving with LOVE.
The Bible's way:
1 Cor 13:5 it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful
If you are the one confronting the behavior, you also need to check that you are behaving with LOVE.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted.
When correcting and receiving correction is done in the right way, both people are in good company and SAFE to be around.
2.) Are you religious or are you Holy Spirit-led?
It's a wonderful thing to "go to church" and do "spiritual things" but what about your home, your friendships, your job? Do you serve God on Sundays, only when you walk through the church doors and are around all the "right" people?
Make sure your family and friends and job do not fall by the wayside while you are busy "serving God in the church." Have those other things that are priorities, become less cared for, nurtured, and paid attention to, than what you are doing at church? Don't become an UNSAFE person to those nearest and dearest to you. Make sure your "lost sheep" (family, friends, etc) get sought after and taken care of, even at the seeming expense of the other 99. (church, spiritual things)
The Bible's way:
Matthew 18 v 12-20
12 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13 “And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 “Thus it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
3.) When confronted, do you listen and consider what is being said or are you ready to FIGHT?
I am so guilty of this, it's not funny. When it comes to "fight or flight" reactions, my first one is to lash back at the "confronter" rather than listen calmly to what they are addressing with me. How about you? When someone says they need to point out something in your life, do you want to run or spout off at them? Either of these reactions make you UNSAFE to be around. If your leaders and others cannot speak to you about what they're concerned about, you will be left in a truly desolate place in your life. Ask God to help you become open to correction. I am doing the same.
Before you even try to worship the Lord through your gifts, you need to be sure and make things right with whatever person or situation needs to be dealt with.
When your brother confronts you, be willing to consider what he's saying. ( "Quick to listen, slow to speak") Then, do what you need to, to make it right between you if possible.
The Bible's way:
Matthew 5 v 24
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Next post: you say you're "sorry" but ...
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