Roller Coaster of Love

This has been somewhat a roller coaster week.

Here in a few days I fly out to Peru. I have the awesome opportunity to speak in a church of 6000 this upcoming Sunday morning, then the following three days speak to over 300 Pastors on the subject leadership.

While the excitement has been so joyful, I've also heard news that has made my spirit sad.

A few days ago, I sent a letter to a person to try to ease any ill feelings they might have towards me because of a misunderstanding; only to be mocked and to be made out as the "enemy."

I say sad, not because of this persons attitude directed towards me, but because of the "law of spiritual math." See, when anyone is given only partial information or half-truths or even incorrect information altogether, it causes them not to be able to accurately reach desired goals. I say this from personal experience. For example, I came into a situation where I was told "A" --so my plan was to do "B"-- and when I didn't get "C" --it caused great confusion. Unless, this person gets a real understanding of the history where their at, for at least the last 5-10 years, then.....well, like I said, it's sad.
History plays a huge part in ministry, not that it has to ultimately decide your destiny, but it definitely helps you know the future and understand future issues that you may face. I hope this person(s) don't find themselves down the same path in a few years because of bad spiritual math. If so, I pray they will be shown more grace and love than what they are giving.

Here are things that I have learned from God's Word that I want to encourage you with if you are in a situation like this or one day find yourself in a similar predicament.

1. You never have to defend the truth. It may take a while for it to come out. (it took Joseph 21 years before his situation was rectified) This is hard, especially when ever fiber of your being wants to set the record straight, but don't.
2. The moment you try explaining yourself to your accusers, you've made them your judge. When someone starts saying things about you (which they believe are true) and you try to correct them, what you've done is submitted yourself for their approval. God's the judge, not them.
3. Submission to authority is about position not person. This has been the hardest thing to do in my life. Submitting to leadership that you don't agree with is hard; but you can't honestly say you're a person who submits to authority until there is disagreement.
"It is far better to submit to leadership that is corrupt or bad and suffer lies about you and mistreatment, than to rebel against that leadership and suffer judgement from God."--Vince Farrell
4. Wounds bleed blood, scars bleed wisdom. Throughout this recent situation an accountability partner of mine commented on how well I was taking it and was surprised at the amount of love and compassion I showed towards this other person as I relayed the events to them. I explained to them that my wounds are starting to heal up. It's true. The bleeding has stopped, I've moved on and even though I have some scars from it, the scars are a symbol of wisdom learned in this season.

Lessons learned open up new doors.
A door that I'm so excited and humbled to walk through this week in Peru.

Do not owe people anything, except always owe love to each other, because the person who loves others has obeyed all the law.
Romans 13:8