1 Kings 17:2-5 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
God's plan is always full of surprise and mystery. Here is the beginning of Elijah's boot camp experience.
Here are some lessons I've learned over the last year from my personal Cherith. Some of these life lessons I've known for a long time and have been able to use in this time, others have been things I've known but only now truly value.
Accountability is King
Accountability is like a two-sided coin. Many of us only "cash in" on the one side of it. It's the "when you ask me, I'll tell" side. This is helpful and useful, but the other side of the "coin" is the "I'll tell you before you even ask." Offering necessary information before it's required is the side of accountability that brings healing and protection.
It's Hard to Finish Strong
We have so few examples of this in the Bible and it seems even fewer in today's culture. It's hard to finish strong, period. Surrounding yourself with people who will speak the truth in love is key to helping. Beware of keeping nothing but "yes men" around you. Oscar Wilde said it best, "true friends stab you in the chest."
There are Friends and then there are Real Friends
I didn't ever really get this. To me a friend was someone who met the biblical definition found in Proverbs 18:24. Some translations say "real" friend and others just say "a friend that sticks closer than a brother." Regardless, it's important to know who in your life can be that. I've learned that to expect real friendships from people who are incapable of delivering that type of relationship only leads to heartache. But understanding that some people simply can only live at a lower level of friendship allows there to be less offense. Knowing this helps keep proper perspective. It's not that people who can't deliver "real" friendship are bad or evil, they are just living at the level they understand friendship to be.
Extreme Situations Bring Out What Has Always Been in the Heart
The Bible tells us to "guard our heart" but we have been taught since we were young about behavior modification. There's a huge difference. I counseled a young lady that was upset and confessing how she couldn't understand why she "flipped off" a driver for cutting her off. She loves Jesus. She's a worshipper. She tithes. She prays regularly. So why the sudden outbreak of the one finger wave?
When I was young, my mom heard me say some things I shouldn't have said. Her response, "Vincent! I'm gonna wash your mouth out with soap!" I learned that day--some words can only be said in the locker room and not around mom--Behavior Modification.
People can say they love, offer forgiveness, believe in restoration, serve others. But you truly don't know until things don't go the way they should. When a crisis happens, that's the time to see what's truly in people's hearts. Pay attention! Because this shows what's truly in your heart.
God Provides
No, really. He does. The ravens have brought us bread everyday. Jesus said, "when you pray--pray, give us this day our daily bread." I was always so proud of my management abilities. No credit card debt, two paid-off vehicles, no debt whatsoever except for a house payment. Yet in the eight months of being without a job I have been so disgusted with knowing what my former salary was and realizing how much I was truly wasting.
I've always known that people who complain about not making enough and are always behind was never an issue of "not making enough". It's about "not managing properly." When your output is more than your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall.
As we all forge through this recession, know this: you can live on a lot less and God always provides.
The High and Mighty Assassin is Very Sneaky
Pride. I didn't even know I was full of the stuff. It's amazing how fine the line is between being confident in what God has gifted you in and being confident in your gifts. Having a real friend who will stab you in the chest is very helpful against this "assassin of character."
Everybody Hurts
Hurt people, hurt people. It's easy to focus on the hurt that people inflict without seeing what caused the person to hurt. This is best illustrated in "The Tale of Despereaux" ---Then something strange happens: The sun disappears from Dor. Clouds cover the land, but the rain refuses to fall. Gloom descends. By way of explanation, the narrator states that the rats' presence was a very natural thing, and that when something as unnatural as their banishment occurs, everyone hurts. The king hurts Roscuro. The rat hurts the princess after she hurts him. The princess hurts Mig by inadvertently belittling her. And Mig hurts the princess in retaliation.
When dealing with those who are hurting others or even yourself the realization of needing to extend grace in the face of misunderstanding will help the healing process.
Fear is a very strong emotion, but forgiveness is stronger.
Showing posts with label Forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forgiveness. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
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
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
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Life, The Root and Total Forgiveness
I've recently found a new TV favorite.
When I say favorite I mean, just knocked out the first season and got caught up on season two in three days. This show has quickly found a little home in my...well, in my life.
Life.
The show is about a detective named, Charlie Crews, who served twelve years of a life sentence for a triple homicide he did not commit. During that time, Charlie lost everything he had - his wife, his friends, and his fellow cops. Detective Crews, returns to the force, he brings his prison knowledge with him. He now knows the law from both sides, as cop and con. He also understands that his version of Zen applies to being a cop. Charlie believes everything is connected - victims, bystanders, witnesses, even his new partner, Dani Reese, who has a wall at which Charlie insists on picking away, not only out of curiosity, but also because it's fun. Regardless, she is his partner, and Charlie will back her up one hundred percent. But the badge and the new found wealth (somewhere around fifty million dollars) can't change what Charlie has been through. His world is a different one than the rest of us see, because his world lacks social pretense. And although there is darkness in Charlie's story, darkness in Charlie's job, Charlie will never stop trying to find the light.
Finding the light.
I've been slowly digesting a book, Total Forgiveness by R.T.Kendall. I say slowly because when you've been wronged and hurt, reading a book like this is much like picking at a scab that is trying to heal. But as I was reading the other day, I came across something that wants to take root in my life, in all of our lives, when we've been wronged.
Bitterness.
In the show Life there are plenty of people who still don't trust Charlie Crews and think he's out for revenge. The fact that he has somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty million dollars makes it all that much more suspicious.
In one of the shows he's asked by the chief, "why are you here? Why don't you just take your settlement money and go somewhere away from all of this?"
Crews responds, "Because I'm a good cop. Don't you need good cops?"
It's been quite amazing to see this detective have all the opportunities to take vengeance, but time and time again he does what's right. He really is a good cop.
Bitterness seems to have no root in his life.
Bitterness will manifest itself in many ways----losing your temper, high blood pressure, irritability, sleeplessness, obsession with getting even, depression, isolation, a constant negative perspective and generally feeling unwell.
The absence of bitterness allows the Holy Spirit to be Himself in us. This means that I will become like Jesus when I allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in me instead of acting like I want to when I've been hurt.
I can honestly say after months of working through the issue, I've been able to let go of the situation and forgive. The root of bitterness has shriveled up.
Bitterness is gone when there is no desire to get even or punish the ones who did us wrong.
Life in prison is what bitterness sentences us to when we don't forgive.
Life is what we get back when we don't allow bitterness to take root in us.
When I say favorite I mean, just knocked out the first season and got caught up on season two in three days. This show has quickly found a little home in my...well, in my life.
Life.
The show is about a detective named, Charlie Crews, who served twelve years of a life sentence for a triple homicide he did not commit. During that time, Charlie lost everything he had - his wife, his friends, and his fellow cops. Detective Crews, returns to the force, he brings his prison knowledge with him. He now knows the law from both sides, as cop and con. He also understands that his version of Zen applies to being a cop. Charlie believes everything is connected - victims, bystanders, witnesses, even his new partner, Dani Reese, who has a wall at which Charlie insists on picking away, not only out of curiosity, but also because it's fun. Regardless, she is his partner, and Charlie will back her up one hundred percent. But the badge and the new found wealth (somewhere around fifty million dollars) can't change what Charlie has been through. His world is a different one than the rest of us see, because his world lacks social pretense. And although there is darkness in Charlie's story, darkness in Charlie's job, Charlie will never stop trying to find the light.
Finding the light.
I've been slowly digesting a book, Total Forgiveness by R.T.Kendall. I say slowly because when you've been wronged and hurt, reading a book like this is much like picking at a scab that is trying to heal. But as I was reading the other day, I came across something that wants to take root in my life, in all of our lives, when we've been wronged.
Bitterness.
In the show Life there are plenty of people who still don't trust Charlie Crews and think he's out for revenge. The fact that he has somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty million dollars makes it all that much more suspicious.
In one of the shows he's asked by the chief, "why are you here? Why don't you just take your settlement money and go somewhere away from all of this?"
Crews responds, "Because I'm a good cop. Don't you need good cops?"
It's been quite amazing to see this detective have all the opportunities to take vengeance, but time and time again he does what's right. He really is a good cop.
Bitterness seems to have no root in his life.
Bitterness will manifest itself in many ways----losing your temper, high blood pressure, irritability, sleeplessness, obsession with getting even, depression, isolation, a constant negative perspective and generally feeling unwell.
The absence of bitterness allows the Holy Spirit to be Himself in us. This means that I will become like Jesus when I allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in me instead of acting like I want to when I've been hurt.
I can honestly say after months of working through the issue, I've been able to let go of the situation and forgive. The root of bitterness has shriveled up.
Bitterness is gone when there is no desire to get even or punish the ones who did us wrong.
Life in prison is what bitterness sentences us to when we don't forgive.
Life is what we get back when we don't allow bitterness to take root in us.
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