The Consequences of a Wrong Decision by Charles Stanley
Your character is weakened.
Your personal testimony is diluted and suffers. Often nonbelievers are the first to notice a shift in someone's faith. They notice the compromise and make it clear that they are happy you have broken ranks and betrayed the convictions of your faith.
God's truth becomes irrelevant. Compromise changes the way we view issues such as abortion, homosexuality, adultery, and more. The person who is steeped in sin rarely raises an issue over what is right and what is wrong. Instead, she begins to view sins such as these as social issues that need to be defined by someone other than the church.
People abandon God's Word. We no longer consider God and what He says about our lives, circumstances, and relationships. This is the most sorrowful position for believers-on our own, away from God, and searching for true meaning.
A Costly Decision
Many times when we feel guilty, we are hearing the voice of God.
You won't lose your salvation when you compromise and do the opposite of what you know is right. Yet you risk losing the very thing that has the ability to keep you steady in times of trouble, and that is your intimate fellowship with the Savior. God will not compete with sin. When compromise and sin are present, He can choose to withhold His guidance and friendship until you confess your wrongdoing.
Friday we'll look at the areas in which we compromise. I'll be unable to blog until then. We had a wonderful sermon yesterday on compromise, looking at the character of Daniel. You can hear it here in a few hours once I upload it. It was spot on!
Have a great week.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #24
Continuing on with Compromise and why we compromise by Charles Stanley
We fail to give God what He requires. Many people leave God out of their finances completely. In their minds they draw a line between God and their bank accounts. They go to church and worship God, but never transfer what they have learned through the teaching of His Word to the area of their finances. Whether we admit it or not, God owns everything. He is the One who gives us the "power to make wealth" (Deut. 8:18). When we fail to tithe and to give to His work, we miss a tremendous blessing. We also face the consequences that come from disobeying God. He is specific about giving - it is something we do not want to compromise, especially if we want to obey him.
We become spiritually weak and discouraged. When we compromise our basic convictions, our very thought patterns become corrupted. After a while, something inside us changes. Even other believers may end up being used by the enemy to create an atmosphere of discouragement and fear around our lives. You may feel weak in your devotion to the Lord, but He is your fortress-your deliverer, your shield, and the horn of your salvation-not just in times of trouble but through every season of life (Ps. 18).
We are blinded by pride. Pride isolates us from God and prevents us from experiencing the depth of His love and goodness. Many times, prideful people fail to realize the extent of their condition until it is too late or until God does something major to gain their attention.
Tomorrow we'll look at the consequences of a wrong decision. Good stuff? Have a great Sunday.
We fail to give God what He requires. Many people leave God out of their finances completely. In their minds they draw a line between God and their bank accounts. They go to church and worship God, but never transfer what they have learned through the teaching of His Word to the area of their finances. Whether we admit it or not, God owns everything. He is the One who gives us the "power to make wealth" (Deut. 8:18). When we fail to tithe and to give to His work, we miss a tremendous blessing. We also face the consequences that come from disobeying God. He is specific about giving - it is something we do not want to compromise, especially if we want to obey him.
We become spiritually weak and discouraged. When we compromise our basic convictions, our very thought patterns become corrupted. After a while, something inside us changes. Even other believers may end up being used by the enemy to create an atmosphere of discouragement and fear around our lives. You may feel weak in your devotion to the Lord, but He is your fortress-your deliverer, your shield, and the horn of your salvation-not just in times of trouble but through every season of life (Ps. 18).
We are blinded by pride. Pride isolates us from God and prevents us from experiencing the depth of His love and goodness. Many times, prideful people fail to realize the extent of their condition until it is too late or until God does something major to gain their attention.
Tomorrow we'll look at the consequences of a wrong decision. Good stuff? Have a great Sunday.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Spritual Warfare #23
There were quite a few new visitors to the site yesterday, so I just wanted to say, "Welcome." We're going through a book called Landmines In The Path Of The Believer, Avoiding The Hidden Dangers. I blog on the parts of the book that particularly struck me so it is not complete, but I try to give enough complete thoughts to make it logical for you to follow and get the best nuggets of wisdom.
Starting Chapter 6 today with The Landmine of Compromise by Charles Stanley
Compromise - An attitude that develops and grows stronger with neglect and time. First, he [Satan] gains a foothold in a person's life by tempting him or her to yield to his relentless suggestions: "Just once won't hurt. Don't you get tired of being lonely? Don't you want to be part of the group? This is the way to do it. Just relax, take it easy, and let your heart go free." Satan always has a goal to reach, and it is to draw you away from the Father's love.
Anything that tempts you to abandon what you know is right should be viewed as deadly and dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Many people fail to do this and become hooked by the subtle and evil lure of compromise, which leads to sin.
It leads to compromise and weakens our commitment to the Lord. One step taken in a wrong direction can do more damage than you will ever know.
The Truth About Compromise
If God has called you to a certain place, you need to stay put until He either moves you or makes it clear that He wants you to leave.
Never forget that there is always a small degree of truth tucked away in every one of Satan's lies. This is how he gets us to compromise our convictions and to do the very things God has told us not to do.
It is true: you can serve the Lord almost anywhere and at any time. Yet this does not necessarily mean you are fulfilling His will and purpose. He has a plan for you. You step on a powerful landmine when you decide that you will follow your own plans and not His.
If He has called you to do a certain job, stay at your post until He directs you differently. Even though the situation may be very trying, you will receive a wonderful reward for remaining obedient and not abandoning the work He has given you to do.
If you do leave, ... the sense of fulfillment will be gone because there is a distinct difference between being in the center of God's will and standing along the sidelines.
Why Do We Compromise?
We experience doubt and fear.
We want to avoid conflict. "If I say something, I'll lose my job." Instead of addressing the shift from truth to compromise, they will cower and allow things to roll along. There are times when we need to speak up, just as there are times when we need to be quiet. If you will seek God's counsel, He will show you what is correct concerning your circumstances.
We have a desire for unity. There are people who do not want to cause "waves." Instead of standing up for what they believe, they hold back and, in doing so, may compromise what God has given them to do. It always is a good thing to seek unity, especially among believers, but it is never good to do this when you end up jeopardizing what you know is right.
We have a deep need for acceptance. "Do I want to be accepted by a group of people who could love me today and not tomorrow, or by an eternal, loving, heavenly Father, Who loves me with an everlasting love?" When you make a commitment to be the person He has designed you to be, you will face some challenges. Rest assured, you won't face a single one alone.
We are overwhelmed by peer pressure. Many times, in order to be a part of a group, people will compromise their moral convictions, and the results are devastating. You never have to compromise what you know is true and right in order to be part of a group. The enemy will try and tempt you into making a quick, thoughtless decision, but God never will.
We'll stop there for today. There are several more points to make as to why we compromise, which we'll cover tomorrow. Which one(s) do you struggle with? For me, it is probably the avoidance of conflict and the unity one, which seem to overlap. At home, I can be the person God created me to be, freely giving my opinion, making people laugh, or being sarcastic or dry in my humor. I don't have to worry about offending anyone. I'm accepted because they know my heart. Grace is freely given here as is the charitable assumption, and there is peace and harmony in our home. I don't compromise who I am here and there is much freedom in that.
Starting Chapter 6 today with The Landmine of Compromise by Charles Stanley
Compromise - An attitude that develops and grows stronger with neglect and time. First, he [Satan] gains a foothold in a person's life by tempting him or her to yield to his relentless suggestions: "Just once won't hurt. Don't you get tired of being lonely? Don't you want to be part of the group? This is the way to do it. Just relax, take it easy, and let your heart go free." Satan always has a goal to reach, and it is to draw you away from the Father's love.
Anything that tempts you to abandon what you know is right should be viewed as deadly and dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Many people fail to do this and become hooked by the subtle and evil lure of compromise, which leads to sin.
It leads to compromise and weakens our commitment to the Lord. One step taken in a wrong direction can do more damage than you will ever know.
The Truth About Compromise
If God has called you to a certain place, you need to stay put until He either moves you or makes it clear that He wants you to leave.
Never forget that there is always a small degree of truth tucked away in every one of Satan's lies. This is how he gets us to compromise our convictions and to do the very things God has told us not to do.
It is true: you can serve the Lord almost anywhere and at any time. Yet this does not necessarily mean you are fulfilling His will and purpose. He has a plan for you. You step on a powerful landmine when you decide that you will follow your own plans and not His.
If He has called you to do a certain job, stay at your post until He directs you differently. Even though the situation may be very trying, you will receive a wonderful reward for remaining obedient and not abandoning the work He has given you to do.
If you do leave, ... the sense of fulfillment will be gone because there is a distinct difference between being in the center of God's will and standing along the sidelines.
Why Do We Compromise?
We experience doubt and fear.
We want to avoid conflict. "If I say something, I'll lose my job." Instead of addressing the shift from truth to compromise, they will cower and allow things to roll along. There are times when we need to speak up, just as there are times when we need to be quiet. If you will seek God's counsel, He will show you what is correct concerning your circumstances.
We have a desire for unity. There are people who do not want to cause "waves." Instead of standing up for what they believe, they hold back and, in doing so, may compromise what God has given them to do. It always is a good thing to seek unity, especially among believers, but it is never good to do this when you end up jeopardizing what you know is right.
We have a deep need for acceptance. "Do I want to be accepted by a group of people who could love me today and not tomorrow, or by an eternal, loving, heavenly Father, Who loves me with an everlasting love?" When you make a commitment to be the person He has designed you to be, you will face some challenges. Rest assured, you won't face a single one alone.
We are overwhelmed by peer pressure. Many times, in order to be a part of a group, people will compromise their moral convictions, and the results are devastating. You never have to compromise what you know is true and right in order to be part of a group. The enemy will try and tempt you into making a quick, thoughtless decision, but God never will.
We'll stop there for today. There are several more points to make as to why we compromise, which we'll cover tomorrow. Which one(s) do you struggle with? For me, it is probably the avoidance of conflict and the unity one, which seem to overlap. At home, I can be the person God created me to be, freely giving my opinion, making people laugh, or being sarcastic or dry in my humor. I don't have to worry about offending anyone. I'm accepted because they know my heart. Grace is freely given here as is the charitable assumption, and there is peace and harmony in our home. I don't compromise who I am here and there is much freedom in that.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #22
Continuing on with Taking the Right Steps to Overcome Insecurity by Charles Stanley
Acknowledge your feelings of insecurity.
Make the decision to overcome insecurity. Recognizing there is a problem may come quickly, but dealing with the root can take time. Remember, if you don't set a goal to deal with this, then you will never be free from its entrapment.
Realize that dealing with insecurity involves self-esteem. Ask God to show you how He sees your life. Refuse to focus on the negative.
Instead, focus on the Holy Spirit, who lives inside you. The best way to do this is to immerse yourself in the Word of God. His Word is powerful - "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). When you read what God has to say about you, you gain an entirely different viewpoint.
Focus on positive qualities. Joseph did not lie around in prison complaining that he had been wrongly treated.
Ask God to help you visualize His work in your life. God has a victory waiting for you, but it cannot be won with insecurity.
Stop comparing yourself to others. Ask God to show you what He has planned for your life. There are people who waste a great deal of time chasing dreams that are not the ones God has designed for them. The result is frustration and disappointment. We will never go wrong keeping our eyes set on Jesus and doing whatever He leads us to do.
Avoid the trap of blaming someone else.
Reward yourself when you do the right thing. The major hurdle to overcoming insecurity is overcoming your doubt of God's Word. Set your mind on being the person God wants you to be, and see what happens.
We're done with Chapter 5. The next chapter is something I think is in our life more than we even suspect. It is the Landmine of Compromise. Sometimes these opportunities to compromise come from family, friends, or acquaintances. Sometimes employees or employers. As Christians we need to be vigilant in our discernment of these situations and bold in our refusal to give in to them. A person can't participate in compromising situations and have integrity at the same time. Between the guilt and the consequences of compromise, it is never the better choice. This is a cleverly hidden landmine. But, that's tomorrow. Enjoy your day!
Acknowledge your feelings of insecurity.
Make the decision to overcome insecurity. Recognizing there is a problem may come quickly, but dealing with the root can take time. Remember, if you don't set a goal to deal with this, then you will never be free from its entrapment.
Realize that dealing with insecurity involves self-esteem. Ask God to show you how He sees your life. Refuse to focus on the negative.
Instead, focus on the Holy Spirit, who lives inside you. The best way to do this is to immerse yourself in the Word of God. His Word is powerful - "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). When you read what God has to say about you, you gain an entirely different viewpoint.
Focus on positive qualities. Joseph did not lie around in prison complaining that he had been wrongly treated.
Ask God to help you visualize His work in your life. God has a victory waiting for you, but it cannot be won with insecurity.
Stop comparing yourself to others. Ask God to show you what He has planned for your life. There are people who waste a great deal of time chasing dreams that are not the ones God has designed for them. The result is frustration and disappointment. We will never go wrong keeping our eyes set on Jesus and doing whatever He leads us to do.
Avoid the trap of blaming someone else.
Reward yourself when you do the right thing. The major hurdle to overcoming insecurity is overcoming your doubt of God's Word. Set your mind on being the person God wants you to be, and see what happens.
We're done with Chapter 5. The next chapter is something I think is in our life more than we even suspect. It is the Landmine of Compromise. Sometimes these opportunities to compromise come from family, friends, or acquaintances. Sometimes employees or employers. As Christians we need to be vigilant in our discernment of these situations and bold in our refusal to give in to them. A person can't participate in compromising situations and have integrity at the same time. Between the guilt and the consequences of compromise, it is never the better choice. This is a cleverly hidden landmine. But, that's tomorrow. Enjoy your day!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #21
Discovering God's Goodness and Overcoming Insecurity by Charles Stanley
He [God] wants to set you free from the bondage of insecurity and help you to be the person He has created you to be.
What are the effects of insecurity?
1. A lack of lasting relationships
2. A perception of being prideful or snobbish
3. Indecisiveness
4. A fearful attitude
5. A brooding sense of anger
6. A record of being passed over for promotions and honors
7. The inability to meet others and establish friendships
8. The belief that success is based on the praise, approval, and acceptance of others
9. The desire to be in charge of every conversation
Take the Right Steps to Overcome Insecurity
If you are battling insecurity, how do you overcome it? One of the most important steps is to ask God to expose the problem of insecurity. A courageous spirit is not something that we receive at birth. We gain courage through faith in God.
If he [the enemy] notices you turning a fearful or insecure ear to listen to his accusations, he will open up a full assault on your emotions until you have collapsed in the dust of disappointment.
The way to overcome insecurity is to anchor your heart, soul, and mind to the unshakable love and power of the living God through faith in Jesus Christ.
You can't enjoy life if you feel insecure. You can't accomplish the goals God has given you if you feel overwhelmed and fearful. At some point, each one of us will battle insecurity.
The next area lists the ways to overcome insecurity. It's long so we'll stop here today.
I had a taste of my own medicine yesterday. I blogged about looking at situations from 20,000 feet up not from the muck of the current circumstances. I was hit with a big circumstance yesterday and felt pretty disappointed. As Greg and I went on our walk, God reminded me of my blog. "Listen to your own advice." Okay, yes, I was believing the worse before knowing how it would turn out, plus I was only looking at the situation, not the bigger picture of why this was happening. Was it another test of my faith? Another learning experience? I can see how God will use this in the future, so maybe it is good for me to go through. I'm not going to worry about it, we'll just go with the flow and see what happens. (For those of you who worry, no one is sick.) Have a blessed day.
He [God] wants to set you free from the bondage of insecurity and help you to be the person He has created you to be.
What are the effects of insecurity?
1. A lack of lasting relationships
2. A perception of being prideful or snobbish
3. Indecisiveness
4. A fearful attitude
5. A brooding sense of anger
6. A record of being passed over for promotions and honors
7. The inability to meet others and establish friendships
8. The belief that success is based on the praise, approval, and acceptance of others
9. The desire to be in charge of every conversation
Take the Right Steps to Overcome Insecurity
If you are battling insecurity, how do you overcome it? One of the most important steps is to ask God to expose the problem of insecurity. A courageous spirit is not something that we receive at birth. We gain courage through faith in God.
If he [the enemy] notices you turning a fearful or insecure ear to listen to his accusations, he will open up a full assault on your emotions until you have collapsed in the dust of disappointment.
The way to overcome insecurity is to anchor your heart, soul, and mind to the unshakable love and power of the living God through faith in Jesus Christ.
You can't enjoy life if you feel insecure. You can't accomplish the goals God has given you if you feel overwhelmed and fearful. At some point, each one of us will battle insecurity.
The next area lists the ways to overcome insecurity. It's long so we'll stop here today.
I had a taste of my own medicine yesterday. I blogged about looking at situations from 20,000 feet up not from the muck of the current circumstances. I was hit with a big circumstance yesterday and felt pretty disappointed. As Greg and I went on our walk, God reminded me of my blog. "Listen to your own advice." Okay, yes, I was believing the worse before knowing how it would turn out, plus I was only looking at the situation, not the bigger picture of why this was happening. Was it another test of my faith? Another learning experience? I can see how God will use this in the future, so maybe it is good for me to go through. I'm not going to worry about it, we'll just go with the flow and see what happens. (For those of you who worry, no one is sick.) Have a blessed day.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #20
Set Your Focus on Christ and Receive the Victory by Charles Stanley
I remember a time when a group at church opposed me and did not want me to continue as pastor. The temptation that came to me was one of worry, fear, and insecurity. I instantly knew that if I listened to these voices, I would not be able to hear God's voice. Therefore, instead of giving in to thoughts of fear, I sought God in prayer, asking for His wisdom and encouragement.
He reminded me of the words in Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; / And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn."
The enemy has one goal for the child of God, and that is destruction through any means he can use. He will tempt us to feel insecure, hopeless, abandoned, forgotten, and misused. His words are always laced with discouragement and accusations. Don't fall for his schemes. If others speak badly about you, keep your heart set on Christ. Do your best and trust Him to be your rear guard (Isa. 52:12; 58:8).
There's a great lesson in today's information. I've lived through a similar situation. At first, it was laughable, then the enemy worked hard to create division, anger, pity, and a host of other negative emotions in my heart toward my accusers. Through a few careful words from a friend and a few other sources, I began to see the situation for what it was, and why it was happening. God spoke to my heart, revealing his purpose for my life, and it put everything into perspective. It wasn't just one thing that turned me around, it was several, and it took a few months to work out.
While in the corporate world we used a term 'looking at it from 20,000 feet up'. It is so helpful to try and remove yourself from the muck and mire of the current situation and try to look at it from God's perspective. A perspective of wholeness, not just your little piece that's affecting you. When you see God's plan in deliverance, you have freedom and peace, and the tools to handle similar situations when they come up.
I remember a time when a group at church opposed me and did not want me to continue as pastor. The temptation that came to me was one of worry, fear, and insecurity. I instantly knew that if I listened to these voices, I would not be able to hear God's voice. Therefore, instead of giving in to thoughts of fear, I sought God in prayer, asking for His wisdom and encouragement.
He reminded me of the words in Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; / And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn."
The enemy has one goal for the child of God, and that is destruction through any means he can use. He will tempt us to feel insecure, hopeless, abandoned, forgotten, and misused. His words are always laced with discouragement and accusations. Don't fall for his schemes. If others speak badly about you, keep your heart set on Christ. Do your best and trust Him to be your rear guard (Isa. 52:12; 58:8).
There's a great lesson in today's information. I've lived through a similar situation. At first, it was laughable, then the enemy worked hard to create division, anger, pity, and a host of other negative emotions in my heart toward my accusers. Through a few careful words from a friend and a few other sources, I began to see the situation for what it was, and why it was happening. God spoke to my heart, revealing his purpose for my life, and it put everything into perspective. It wasn't just one thing that turned me around, it was several, and it took a few months to work out.
While in the corporate world we used a term 'looking at it from 20,000 feet up'. It is so helpful to try and remove yourself from the muck and mire of the current situation and try to look at it from God's perspective. A perspective of wholeness, not just your little piece that's affecting you. When you see God's plan in deliverance, you have freedom and peace, and the tools to handle similar situations when they come up.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #19
Continuing on the The Landmine of Insecurity by Charles Stanley
God uses our circumstances to shape us. If He allows difficulties, then you know He is going to do something wonderful in your life. If you grew up hearing how much smarter your brother or sister was, then you probably felt insecure and frustrated. God will never compare you to another person. You are His, and He loves you just the way you are. If you trust Him, He will teach you all you need to know, and in His book, you will never see a failing grade.
First, you must believe in His ability and faithfulness. Second, you must trust Him even when the odds seem stacked against you. And third, you must be willing to wait for His timing. When you do, you will receive a great blessing.
Never let anyone tell you that you cannot reach the goals God helps you set. More important, do not allow negative thoughts or words to define who you are as a child of God. You have everything you need to become what God has created you to be.
If you have godly dreams hidden within your heart, then ask Him to bring them to the forefront and help you reach each one.
He will never give you more than you can handle, and if He gives you an opportunity, He also will empower you to do the work. Believe because "all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23).
There are some things we will not be able to do because God has not called us to do them. However, there are other things that He wants us to do. We will face feelings of insecurity and even feel as though we cannot do the task, but we can through Him. Too many people see a challenge and immediately think, I know I can't do it, so I won't even try.
But often, it is in the times of failure that God does His greatest work. He uses each one of our failures to mold our lives so we will become the people He has planned for us to be.
Tomorrow we'll look at Set Your Focus on Christ and Receive the Victory. As I write these wise words, I think of those of you who I know read my blog. Some of you I know deal with insecurity and fear on a daily basis, and some I have no clue. If this topic is one in which you've conquered, please stop and pray for those who are struggling with these landmines. Feel free to comment on how you've overcome these lies of the enemy, it would benefit many. Have a beautiful day.
God uses our circumstances to shape us. If He allows difficulties, then you know He is going to do something wonderful in your life. If you grew up hearing how much smarter your brother or sister was, then you probably felt insecure and frustrated. God will never compare you to another person. You are His, and He loves you just the way you are. If you trust Him, He will teach you all you need to know, and in His book, you will never see a failing grade.
First, you must believe in His ability and faithfulness. Second, you must trust Him even when the odds seem stacked against you. And third, you must be willing to wait for His timing. When you do, you will receive a great blessing.
Never let anyone tell you that you cannot reach the goals God helps you set. More important, do not allow negative thoughts or words to define who you are as a child of God. You have everything you need to become what God has created you to be.
If you have godly dreams hidden within your heart, then ask Him to bring them to the forefront and help you reach each one.
He will never give you more than you can handle, and if He gives you an opportunity, He also will empower you to do the work. Believe because "all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23).
There are some things we will not be able to do because God has not called us to do them. However, there are other things that He wants us to do. We will face feelings of insecurity and even feel as though we cannot do the task, but we can through Him. Too many people see a challenge and immediately think, I know I can't do it, so I won't even try.
But often, it is in the times of failure that God does His greatest work. He uses each one of our failures to mold our lives so we will become the people He has planned for us to be.
Tomorrow we'll look at Set Your Focus on Christ and Receive the Victory. As I write these wise words, I think of those of you who I know read my blog. Some of you I know deal with insecurity and fear on a daily basis, and some I have no clue. If this topic is one in which you've conquered, please stop and pray for those who are struggling with these landmines. Feel free to comment on how you've overcome these lies of the enemy, it would benefit many. Have a beautiful day.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #18
Continuing on with the Root Causes of Insecurity by Charles Stanley
Having unrealistic rules and regulations can stifle the natural creativity that God has placed within us. Sometimes parents set rules that they could not keep. though children cannot know the breadth of the consequences, they must know deep inside that the regulation is too great or difficult for them to handle. The frustration created by this inner conflict can lead to deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. Rules are meant to help us live according to God's will and plan. However, far too often, they are misused in an effort to confine and thus prevent a child or young adult from trusting and believing in God's sovereign ability.
You always need to do you best, look your best, and be your best. However, if your best is set at t certain level, you need to ask God to help you accept this.
Many people live below their potential because they have settled for less. They feel insecure and stop. The way to overcome this is to:
1. Ask God to help you see your life from His perspective
2. Be willing to obey Him and grow in your knowledge about Him and His way
3. Seek to be a success from God's viewpoint and not from the world's standard
Also, setting unrealistic goals that God does not want you to establish can lead to insecure feelings, especially for young children.
What does He3 have to say about insecurity? That it is deadly, and if Satan has his way, he will use it to prevent us from accomplishing the goals God wants us to reach in our lifetimes.
Having a poor body image.
Not receiving positive feedback.
Let's stop there for now. The next section on being overshadowed by siblings is a little long. I hope these words about insecurity are helpful. Even if you normally don't fall into this landmine very often, it's good to hear about all the potential destruction it can cause. Have a blessed day.
Having unrealistic rules and regulations can stifle the natural creativity that God has placed within us. Sometimes parents set rules that they could not keep. though children cannot know the breadth of the consequences, they must know deep inside that the regulation is too great or difficult for them to handle. The frustration created by this inner conflict can lead to deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. Rules are meant to help us live according to God's will and plan. However, far too often, they are misused in an effort to confine and thus prevent a child or young adult from trusting and believing in God's sovereign ability.
You always need to do you best, look your best, and be your best. However, if your best is set at t certain level, you need to ask God to help you accept this.
Many people live below their potential because they have settled for less. They feel insecure and stop. The way to overcome this is to:
1. Ask God to help you see your life from His perspective
2. Be willing to obey Him and grow in your knowledge about Him and His way
3. Seek to be a success from God's viewpoint and not from the world's standard
Also, setting unrealistic goals that God does not want you to establish can lead to insecure feelings, especially for young children.
What does He3 have to say about insecurity? That it is deadly, and if Satan has his way, he will use it to prevent us from accomplishing the goals God wants us to reach in our lifetimes.
Having a poor body image.
Not receiving positive feedback.
Let's stop there for now. The next section on being overshadowed by siblings is a little long. I hope these words about insecurity are helpful. Even if you normally don't fall into this landmine very often, it's good to hear about all the potential destruction it can cause. Have a blessed day.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #17 & Prayer Walk #3
Yesterday's prayer walk was great. We got a lot of good stuff from God about the people there and things to come.
The Root Causes of Insecurity by Charles Stanley
What causes someone to feel insecure? At some point, she may have faced rejection or a lack of acceptance. If you have a sense of security in God, then you will discover the peace and joy that He has to offer no matter what your situation may be.
Broken relationships can leave us wondering if we have a character flaw. Or facing a layoff at work can leave a person feeling insecure about the future as well as his personal ability. Growing older and realizing you may not reach the goals you wanted to reach can have a disastrous effect. Losing a loved one can revive or create feelings of insecurity, fear, and depression. We do not have to fear the future or be concerned about what another person may think of us (Rom. 8:38-39)
Feeling threatened, off balance, or on the edge. One of the primary reasons some people feel insecure is because they grew up in an insecure environment. Their world seemed very unpredictable, and there was an uncertainty to life that prevented them from feeling safe.
They may feel off balance because their father was an alcoholic or their mother or father left home or died when they were young. Just when a child needs to know that he or she is safe, loved, and cared for, the bottom to life seems to drop out. Often the child grows up to be an adult with deep seated insecurities.
There are other circumstances that create instability in our lives - failure, a financial loss, or divorce. When we feel insecure about ourselves, we will not be able to accomplish the goals that God has set for us to reach. The reasons this happens is that we feel inadequate, inferior, and insecure. We'll try to hid in the back of the crowd, hoping that no one will notice us. But God always does. He knows our potential - the same way He knew the potential of Moses. He does not want us to feel insecure; He wants us to trust Him. When we do, we will gain a sense of security because God supports us with an unshakable sense of power.
Well stop there for today. The next root cause is Having Unrealistic Rules and Regulations. I hope you have a wonderful Easter. We're off to services.
The Root Causes of Insecurity by Charles Stanley
What causes someone to feel insecure? At some point, she may have faced rejection or a lack of acceptance. If you have a sense of security in God, then you will discover the peace and joy that He has to offer no matter what your situation may be.
Broken relationships can leave us wondering if we have a character flaw. Or facing a layoff at work can leave a person feeling insecure about the future as well as his personal ability. Growing older and realizing you may not reach the goals you wanted to reach can have a disastrous effect. Losing a loved one can revive or create feelings of insecurity, fear, and depression. We do not have to fear the future or be concerned about what another person may think of us (Rom. 8:38-39)
Feeling threatened, off balance, or on the edge. One of the primary reasons some people feel insecure is because they grew up in an insecure environment. Their world seemed very unpredictable, and there was an uncertainty to life that prevented them from feeling safe.
They may feel off balance because their father was an alcoholic or their mother or father left home or died when they were young. Just when a child needs to know that he or she is safe, loved, and cared for, the bottom to life seems to drop out. Often the child grows up to be an adult with deep seated insecurities.
There are other circumstances that create instability in our lives - failure, a financial loss, or divorce. When we feel insecure about ourselves, we will not be able to accomplish the goals that God has set for us to reach. The reasons this happens is that we feel inadequate, inferior, and insecure. We'll try to hid in the back of the crowd, hoping that no one will notice us. But God always does. He knows our potential - the same way He knew the potential of Moses. He does not want us to feel insecure; He wants us to trust Him. When we do, we will gain a sense of security because God supports us with an unshakable sense of power.
Well stop there for today. The next root cause is Having Unrealistic Rules and Regulations. I hope you have a wonderful Easter. We're off to services.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #16 & Prayer Walk #3
Chapter Five, The Landmine of Insecurity by Charles Stanley
[Talking about Moses call to lead the people out of Egypt, the burning bush]
God's command to Moses required both courage and devotion. He was facing a lifestyle change that also would alter the way he felt about himself and especially the way he viewed God. It was a defining moment of extreme proportions, and like many of us, Moses immediately felt unequal to the task. He wavered in doubt and looked for a way to sidestep the call.
Moses was right: he was not equal to the task! This fact did not change God's plan for his life, however. Most of the challenges we face require faith in an infinite, all-powerful God. Regardless of the task, if we are convinced that we cannot succeed, we won't. On the other hand, if we trust the sovereignty and strength of God at work in our lives, we will succeed.
Exposing the Truth About Insecurity
[Talking about Moses discovering he was a Hebrew and couldn't go back to where he was brought up, but also feeling he wasn't equipped for the task God was asking him to do.]
Have you ever felt this way? You know the Lord has led you to a certain point. He has placed you in a position that requires more of you than you believe you can do. Insecurity is not a struggle like jealousy, envy, or pride. It may not sound explosive, but it is. The landmine of insecurity is both dangerous and destructive. To a person with a sense of insecurity, everything within her life seems unstable and unreliable.
God knows our limitations and usually will place us in situations that stretch our faith beyond what we think we can bear. He wants to develop our faith. In order to do this, faith must be tested. This means placing us in situations where we must come face-to-face with our insecurities and where we choose to trust God with the situation.
You may think, I can't do anything well, but from God's perspective, you are a person of notable excellence. You can do all things through Christ (Phil. 4:13). Moses went from being a shepherd to the leader of the Exodus. That was quite a shift in roles, and God just may do a similar work in your life, but first you must be willing to trust and obey Him.
Take the Right Steps to Avoid Insecurity
First, you need to remember that Satan will stop at nothing to lay landmines of insecurity within your life. He knows God has a plan for you. Satan also is aware of your potential because of the presence of God's Spirit. Therefore, he enjoys setting little explosions of insecurity throughout your life with the hope of them turning into a blaze of discouragement and hopelessness. You can detect and defuse his enticements.
However, it is one thing to feel insecure about a particular situation and another thing to grow up with insecurity and have it programmed into your thinking every day. Satan's intent with insecurity is to leave us feeling disappointed and more like failures than conquerors, but we must remember that we are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 8:37).
Isn't that great stuff? I love it! Tomorrow we'll look at the root causes of insecurity. I think this chapter goes along with what we've been learning this last year about God calling us to do something great and we don't even know if we can. BUT WE CAN! Stay tuned, more to come!
On a more personal note, Greg and I are going on a prayer walk this afternoon on the west side again. We'll pray for the neighborhood and the school, and then we're stopping by some old friends of Greg's for me to meet.
Have a blessed Easter. As the Christians of long ago would say to greet others and see if they were also Christians, "He is risen" and "He is risen indeed!"
[Talking about Moses call to lead the people out of Egypt, the burning bush]
God's command to Moses required both courage and devotion. He was facing a lifestyle change that also would alter the way he felt about himself and especially the way he viewed God. It was a defining moment of extreme proportions, and like many of us, Moses immediately felt unequal to the task. He wavered in doubt and looked for a way to sidestep the call.
Moses was right: he was not equal to the task! This fact did not change God's plan for his life, however. Most of the challenges we face require faith in an infinite, all-powerful God. Regardless of the task, if we are convinced that we cannot succeed, we won't. On the other hand, if we trust the sovereignty and strength of God at work in our lives, we will succeed.
Exposing the Truth About Insecurity
[Talking about Moses discovering he was a Hebrew and couldn't go back to where he was brought up, but also feeling he wasn't equipped for the task God was asking him to do.]
Have you ever felt this way? You know the Lord has led you to a certain point. He has placed you in a position that requires more of you than you believe you can do. Insecurity is not a struggle like jealousy, envy, or pride. It may not sound explosive, but it is. The landmine of insecurity is both dangerous and destructive. To a person with a sense of insecurity, everything within her life seems unstable and unreliable.
God knows our limitations and usually will place us in situations that stretch our faith beyond what we think we can bear. He wants to develop our faith. In order to do this, faith must be tested. This means placing us in situations where we must come face-to-face with our insecurities and where we choose to trust God with the situation.
You may think, I can't do anything well, but from God's perspective, you are a person of notable excellence. You can do all things through Christ (Phil. 4:13). Moses went from being a shepherd to the leader of the Exodus. That was quite a shift in roles, and God just may do a similar work in your life, but first you must be willing to trust and obey Him.
Take the Right Steps to Avoid Insecurity
First, you need to remember that Satan will stop at nothing to lay landmines of insecurity within your life. He knows God has a plan for you. Satan also is aware of your potential because of the presence of God's Spirit. Therefore, he enjoys setting little explosions of insecurity throughout your life with the hope of them turning into a blaze of discouragement and hopelessness. You can detect and defuse his enticements.
However, it is one thing to feel insecure about a particular situation and another thing to grow up with insecurity and have it programmed into your thinking every day. Satan's intent with insecurity is to leave us feeling disappointed and more like failures than conquerors, but we must remember that we are more than conquerors through Christ (Rom. 8:37).
Isn't that great stuff? I love it! Tomorrow we'll look at the root causes of insecurity. I think this chapter goes along with what we've been learning this last year about God calling us to do something great and we don't even know if we can. BUT WE CAN! Stay tuned, more to come!
On a more personal note, Greg and I are going on a prayer walk this afternoon on the west side again. We'll pray for the neighborhood and the school, and then we're stopping by some old friends of Greg's for me to meet.
Have a blessed Easter. As the Christians of long ago would say to greet others and see if they were also Christians, "He is risen" and "He is risen indeed!"
Friday, March 21, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #15
Surrender Leads to Victory by Charles Stanley
How do you handle the jealousy of another person toward you?
First, you need to ask God to show you what you need to learn through this situation.
Before a jealous person irritates you, be willing to pray for him, and ask God to help you understand how you can serve that individual rather than shun him.
Second, you need to make a conscious decision to ignore any harsh words that have been spoken as a result of jealous feelings. Allow Him to defend you and also to take care of your reputation. People also become jealous as a result of feelings of worthlessness. You may not be able to speak truth to a person who is struggling with this landmine, but you certainly can refuse to take a wrong turn - a turn that could lead to destruction.
Third, ask God to show you if there is something that you have done to create an atmosphere of jealousy.
Fourth, show the person who is struggling with jealousy some form of kindness. Kindness is a powerful tool. Compliment her. Or make a point to help her in some way. The other person may never know what you have done or may never care. However, God sees your good intentions, and He will bless you, not just for your act of kindness, but for the change in the attitude of your heart.
Fifth, pray for your attitude to be changed and also for the person involved to focus on the Lord and His purposes instead of seeking to bring disunity to the lives of others. Sometimes, if another person is jealous of you, then the moment you begin to talk with him, you can feel the walls go up. No one needs to become a doormat for others, but we certainly need to allow God to use us and teach us how to have humble, pliable hearts for Him.
That finishes chapter four. Tomrrow we start the Landmine of Insecurity, chapter 5. It's faboulous. I have so much highlighted it will take a while to go through this chapter. I absolutely devoured it. I hope you do too!
How do you handle the jealousy of another person toward you?
First, you need to ask God to show you what you need to learn through this situation.
Before a jealous person irritates you, be willing to pray for him, and ask God to help you understand how you can serve that individual rather than shun him.
Second, you need to make a conscious decision to ignore any harsh words that have been spoken as a result of jealous feelings. Allow Him to defend you and also to take care of your reputation. People also become jealous as a result of feelings of worthlessness. You may not be able to speak truth to a person who is struggling with this landmine, but you certainly can refuse to take a wrong turn - a turn that could lead to destruction.
Third, ask God to show you if there is something that you have done to create an atmosphere of jealousy.
Fourth, show the person who is struggling with jealousy some form of kindness. Kindness is a powerful tool. Compliment her. Or make a point to help her in some way. The other person may never know what you have done or may never care. However, God sees your good intentions, and He will bless you, not just for your act of kindness, but for the change in the attitude of your heart.
Fifth, pray for your attitude to be changed and also for the person involved to focus on the Lord and His purposes instead of seeking to bring disunity to the lives of others. Sometimes, if another person is jealous of you, then the moment you begin to talk with him, you can feel the walls go up. No one needs to become a doormat for others, but we certainly need to allow God to use us and teach us how to have humble, pliable hearts for Him.
That finishes chapter four. Tomrrow we start the Landmine of Insecurity, chapter 5. It's faboulous. I have so much highlighted it will take a while to go through this chapter. I absolutely devoured it. I hope you do too!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #14
Disarming Jealousy by Charles Stanley
How do we effectively deal with the jealousy in our own lives?
First, we need to admit that we are envious.
Second, we need to acknowledge that we are in conflict with God. It is Satan with his cruel desire to entrap you in sin and blow up your life with feelings of envy. But Godly repentance and submission to God defuse his traps.
Third, we need to thank God for what He has done in our lives and even for the people who are the source of our conflict. Resist the temptation to compare yourself to anyone else. Also, eliminate ungodly negative feelings, because they often do not reflect the truth. You may feel someone has hurt you, but God wants you not to hold a grudge or seek revenge. Once you grasp the good plans He has for you, jealousy will no longer be a landmine in your life.
Fourth, we need to pray and ask God to help us see the heart of the other person at the center of the conflict. You may be jealous of someone who is just being the person God has created her to be. When another person is living God's plan, we never have an excuse to be envious of her.
There is no way for you to know all that another person is facing. He could be dealing with some hurtful situation that is causing him to act a certain way. Instead of joining in on the push to get ahead, ask God to help you rest in His presence. When you learn to sit before Him, waiting for His timing and His direction, you will receive a blessing.
Fifth, we need to be willing to wait for God to work. Along with waiting comes the need to be open to God's guidance and ready to obey Him at all times in every situation.
Sixth, we need to ask God to help us hear His voice over the clamor of the world.
Seventh, we need to delight ourselves in God (Ps. 37:4). When we do, we will find that He will give us the desires of our hearts.
The next section is called Surrender Leads to Victory. On Saturday we'll start on Insecurity. This is a long, but fantastic chapter. There's a lot to share here and I can't wait.
On a personal note, our house was appraised for less than we hoped for, but we can still do the remodel and a few other things. We got the plans back from the designer yesterday and will be taking them to the City today. Very exciting, starting to feel a little overwhelmed as we have a few other big things coming up shortly. Aaaahhhhhh!!!!!!
How do we effectively deal with the jealousy in our own lives?
First, we need to admit that we are envious.
Second, we need to acknowledge that we are in conflict with God. It is Satan with his cruel desire to entrap you in sin and blow up your life with feelings of envy. But Godly repentance and submission to God defuse his traps.
Third, we need to thank God for what He has done in our lives and even for the people who are the source of our conflict. Resist the temptation to compare yourself to anyone else. Also, eliminate ungodly negative feelings, because they often do not reflect the truth. You may feel someone has hurt you, but God wants you not to hold a grudge or seek revenge. Once you grasp the good plans He has for you, jealousy will no longer be a landmine in your life.
Fourth, we need to pray and ask God to help us see the heart of the other person at the center of the conflict. You may be jealous of someone who is just being the person God has created her to be. When another person is living God's plan, we never have an excuse to be envious of her.
There is no way for you to know all that another person is facing. He could be dealing with some hurtful situation that is causing him to act a certain way. Instead of joining in on the push to get ahead, ask God to help you rest in His presence. When you learn to sit before Him, waiting for His timing and His direction, you will receive a blessing.
Fifth, we need to be willing to wait for God to work. Along with waiting comes the need to be open to God's guidance and ready to obey Him at all times in every situation.
Sixth, we need to ask God to help us hear His voice over the clamor of the world.
Seventh, we need to delight ourselves in God (Ps. 37:4). When we do, we will find that He will give us the desires of our hearts.
The next section is called Surrender Leads to Victory. On Saturday we'll start on Insecurity. This is a long, but fantastic chapter. There's a lot to share here and I can't wait.
On a personal note, our house was appraised for less than we hoped for, but we can still do the remodel and a few other things. We got the plans back from the designer yesterday and will be taking them to the City today. Very exciting, starting to feel a little overwhelmed as we have a few other big things coming up shortly. Aaaahhhhhh!!!!!!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #13
Continuing on with pride and envy by Charles Stanley
A loss of privileges and opportunities When there is no peace, contentment, or happiness within our hearts, others will have a hard time working alongside us. When others sense that we are jealous or envious, they will make note of this and steer clear.
Broken fellowship with God You can read your Bible and pray, but something will be missing because there will be a wall between you and the Lord. This is because jealousy is a self-centered emotion. In some cases, a jealous person cannot pray with true devotion because she only wants to ask God to deal with "the other person." And the other person may be someone He has chosen to bless.
Physical sickness Bitterness, resentment, hostility, anger, jealousy, and envy can be stepping-stones to phyiscal disease. When your heart is right with God, you will be healthier. The writer of Provers noted, "A joyful heart is good medicine, / But a broken spirit dries up the bones" (17:22).
We'll stop there today. Tomorrow we'll look at seven ways to disarm jealousy.
A loss of privileges and opportunities When there is no peace, contentment, or happiness within our hearts, others will have a hard time working alongside us. When others sense that we are jealous or envious, they will make note of this and steer clear.
Broken fellowship with God You can read your Bible and pray, but something will be missing because there will be a wall between you and the Lord. This is because jealousy is a self-centered emotion. In some cases, a jealous person cannot pray with true devotion because she only wants to ask God to deal with "the other person." And the other person may be someone He has chosen to bless.
Physical sickness Bitterness, resentment, hostility, anger, jealousy, and envy can be stepping-stones to phyiscal disease. When your heart is right with God, you will be healthier. The writer of Provers noted, "A joyful heart is good medicine, / But a broken spirit dries up the bones" (17:22).
We'll stop there today. Tomorrow we'll look at seven ways to disarm jealousy.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #12
Continuing on with the results of jealousy and envy by Charles Stanley
The wrong focus Sometimes an envious person will seek ways to ruin the reputation of another in order to get ahead. When we step out of God's will by becoming jealous, we also take a step away from His protective care. He has a plan for our lives, but we are determined to head off in another direction. He allows us to travel our own path until we realize we are trapped in a minefield set to explode.
Indecisiveness When you are not operating within the guidelines of God's principles, you will not know the right thing to do. More than likely, you will do what you think seems best according to your outlook.
Many believers take one wrong turn after another because they think they are on the right track. They see others headed in a certain direction, and they want to go that way too. God tells us to follow only Him. We learn to do this through prayer and meditation on His Word. When our hearts are submitted to Him, the Holy Spirit will guide and direct our path - a path that leads to many blessings.
Struggle with feelings of depression When you open the door to jealousy, you also open the door to a host of other difficulties, such as feelings of despair and depression. I am not suggesting that you will become clinically depressed. However, depression usually comes when we deliberately invite sin into our lives.
For example, you may be at odds with a coworker or friend, and the first thing you do in the morning is begin to think about that person. You wonder if he is getting ahead of you. All day long you are stewing inside over the fact that you do not have what he has. God instructs us to "cease striving and know that [He is] God" (Ps. 46:10). Actually no one knows that others are facing - the heartaches and difficulties.
As you think about this person and try to manipulate your circumstances to get ahead of him, you become more anxious and downcast. The psalmist told us to life our eyes to the Lord because He is our help and strength (Ps. 121:1) This is exactly what cures a jealous heart, a depressed mind, and an anxious spirit. When you come to the place where you realize the great love and affection that God has for you, you will not be worried about what others have. You will just want God's best given to you exactly when and how He plans the delivery.
We'll stop there for today. There are three more in this section, A loss of privileges and opportunities, broken fellowship with God, and physical sickness. See you tomorrow.
The wrong focus Sometimes an envious person will seek ways to ruin the reputation of another in order to get ahead. When we step out of God's will by becoming jealous, we also take a step away from His protective care. He has a plan for our lives, but we are determined to head off in another direction. He allows us to travel our own path until we realize we are trapped in a minefield set to explode.
Indecisiveness When you are not operating within the guidelines of God's principles, you will not know the right thing to do. More than likely, you will do what you think seems best according to your outlook.
Many believers take one wrong turn after another because they think they are on the right track. They see others headed in a certain direction, and they want to go that way too. God tells us to follow only Him. We learn to do this through prayer and meditation on His Word. When our hearts are submitted to Him, the Holy Spirit will guide and direct our path - a path that leads to many blessings.
Struggle with feelings of depression When you open the door to jealousy, you also open the door to a host of other difficulties, such as feelings of despair and depression. I am not suggesting that you will become clinically depressed. However, depression usually comes when we deliberately invite sin into our lives.
For example, you may be at odds with a coworker or friend, and the first thing you do in the morning is begin to think about that person. You wonder if he is getting ahead of you. All day long you are stewing inside over the fact that you do not have what he has. God instructs us to "cease striving and know that [He is] God" (Ps. 46:10). Actually no one knows that others are facing - the heartaches and difficulties.
As you think about this person and try to manipulate your circumstances to get ahead of him, you become more anxious and downcast. The psalmist told us to life our eyes to the Lord because He is our help and strength (Ps. 121:1) This is exactly what cures a jealous heart, a depressed mind, and an anxious spirit. When you come to the place where you realize the great love and affection that God has for you, you will not be worried about what others have. You will just want God's best given to you exactly when and how He plans the delivery.
We'll stop there for today. There are three more in this section, A loss of privileges and opportunities, broken fellowship with God, and physical sickness. See you tomorrow.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #11
Continuing on with The Truth About the Landmines of Jealousy and Envy by Charles Stanley
The consequences of jealousy and envy are deadly.
A critical spirit Jealousy breeds sin, and it also is a direct pathway to cynicism. People who become jealous at the mention of another's success or something a friend has received are usually very negative. They look for ways to undermine the efforts of others.
A divided mind. If you are jealous, you will not be able to focus clearly. In fact, you will be distracted. You may have sensed God telling you to go forward in a certain direction. Instead of moving out to do His will, you linger, wondering who is going to get the next assignment.
Anger, bitterness, and resentfulness. You can only suppress bitterness so long. This is because attitudes like bitterness and jealousy are written in the eyes. Anger and bitterness are written on a person's countenance. The author of Provers wrote, "The north wind brings forth rain, / And a backbiting tongue, and angry countenance." (25:23)
A sense of insecurity. Jealousy changes the object of our focus. We become insecure, wondering whether we have done the right thing. It is important to be the best you can be at work, in relationships, and in church or civic projects, but you should never forget you are living on God's timeline within His economy. He has a plan to bless you, but first you must learn to follow Him.
We'll look at the next six consequences of jealousy and envy tomorrow. There's good stuff here, good warnings to keep our hearts in check. Have a blessed day!
The consequences of jealousy and envy are deadly.
A critical spirit Jealousy breeds sin, and it also is a direct pathway to cynicism. People who become jealous at the mention of another's success or something a friend has received are usually very negative. They look for ways to undermine the efforts of others.
A divided mind. If you are jealous, you will not be able to focus clearly. In fact, you will be distracted. You may have sensed God telling you to go forward in a certain direction. Instead of moving out to do His will, you linger, wondering who is going to get the next assignment.
Anger, bitterness, and resentfulness. You can only suppress bitterness so long. This is because attitudes like bitterness and jealousy are written in the eyes. Anger and bitterness are written on a person's countenance. The author of Provers wrote, "The north wind brings forth rain, / And a backbiting tongue, and angry countenance." (25:23)
A sense of insecurity. Jealousy changes the object of our focus. We become insecure, wondering whether we have done the right thing. It is important to be the best you can be at work, in relationships, and in church or civic projects, but you should never forget you are living on God's timeline within His economy. He has a plan to bless you, but first you must learn to follow Him.
We'll look at the next six consequences of jealousy and envy tomorrow. There's good stuff here, good warnings to keep our hearts in check. Have a blessed day!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #10
Your Situation From God's Perspective by Charles Stanley
Jealousy starts inside us - usually with a thought or a feeling that another person has more than we do. Our first inclination is to deny its existence: "I'm not really jealous." Deep inside, however, we look for ways to undermine the other person. We may accomplish this through shutting this person out of our lives or working to turn others against him or her. There is a simple principle we must not forget: we reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow.
The earmarks of jealousy include the following:
Comparison
Competition. Whether it is on the job or in your neighborhood, a competitive attitude can breed anxiety, depression, and hopelessness because it tempts yo to ask, Am I as good as or even better than him or her? The question you really need to ask is, Am I doing my best?
Fear A jealous person is fearful of being replaced by somebody or something. Strife and dissension are two of the devil's favorite weapons for war. He wants us to be at odds with God and others. The solution to jealousy is not to deny it, because you can never defeat envy and resentment on your own. It is found in admitting it to the Lord, asking Him to forgive you, and then praying that He would help you see your life from His perspective.
Many people in our world are struggling with feelings of depression, and so much of it could be avoided if only they would rest in God's providential care. I know there are clinical reasons for some depression, but far too often the anxiety and stress people feel come from the overflow of the pressure they place on themselves.
We'll stop there today. Next we'll look at the truth about the landmines of jealousy and envy. Just a side note, I've noticed that warfare usually comes before we're about to really make a difference for God. Many times the enemy starts working to create havoc in our lives before we even know we've been called. You may be reading this and struggling to understand why things are happening they way they are in your life. It could be that you're about to change something in your spiritual life, God is about to call you to something great, and you don't even know it yet. Be courageous, anxious to see what God will be unfolding in your life and face the enemy head on. He'll 'run like the devil'!
Jealousy starts inside us - usually with a thought or a feeling that another person has more than we do. Our first inclination is to deny its existence: "I'm not really jealous." Deep inside, however, we look for ways to undermine the other person. We may accomplish this through shutting this person out of our lives or working to turn others against him or her. There is a simple principle we must not forget: we reap what we sow, more than we sow, and later than we sow.
The earmarks of jealousy include the following:
Comparison
Competition. Whether it is on the job or in your neighborhood, a competitive attitude can breed anxiety, depression, and hopelessness because it tempts yo to ask, Am I as good as or even better than him or her? The question you really need to ask is, Am I doing my best?
Fear A jealous person is fearful of being replaced by somebody or something. Strife and dissension are two of the devil's favorite weapons for war. He wants us to be at odds with God and others. The solution to jealousy is not to deny it, because you can never defeat envy and resentment on your own. It is found in admitting it to the Lord, asking Him to forgive you, and then praying that He would help you see your life from His perspective.
Many people in our world are struggling with feelings of depression, and so much of it could be avoided if only they would rest in God's providential care. I know there are clinical reasons for some depression, but far too often the anxiety and stress people feel come from the overflow of the pressure they place on themselves.
We'll stop there today. Next we'll look at the truth about the landmines of jealousy and envy. Just a side note, I've noticed that warfare usually comes before we're about to really make a difference for God. Many times the enemy starts working to create havoc in our lives before we even know we've been called. You may be reading this and struggling to understand why things are happening they way they are in your life. It could be that you're about to change something in your spiritual life, God is about to call you to something great, and you don't even know it yet. Be courageous, anxious to see what God will be unfolding in your life and face the enemy head on. He'll 'run like the devil'!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #9
Winning the Struggle of Jealousy by Charles Stanley
Doctors now believe that so much of the sickness and even depression and anxiety people experience comes as a result of feeling jealous, guilty, angry, hostile, and unforgiving toward others.
It is common knowledge that landmines such as unforgiveness, fear, jealousy, envy, and more take a toll on us physically. We must work through these emotional landmines or face the consequences, which usually show up in our physical health.
Often when we are tempted to become jealous, we are afraid that someone will take our place. There is a possessiveness hidden within jealousy that is very dangerous.
I have to stop short today. Lots to do in a short amount of time. Things are moving along with the remodel. We are waiting for revised plans and yesterday we locked in our loan. It was the first time that I didn't get a call that said, the rate just went up another 1/8 or 1/4 of a percent, but instead got a call that it went down 1/8 of a point! That's what happens when your mortgage broker is a Christian! Have a great Saturday!
Doctors now believe that so much of the sickness and even depression and anxiety people experience comes as a result of feeling jealous, guilty, angry, hostile, and unforgiving toward others.
It is common knowledge that landmines such as unforgiveness, fear, jealousy, envy, and more take a toll on us physically. We must work through these emotional landmines or face the consequences, which usually show up in our physical health.
Often when we are tempted to become jealous, we are afraid that someone will take our place. There is a possessiveness hidden within jealousy that is very dangerous.
I have to stop short today. Lots to do in a short amount of time. Things are moving along with the remodel. We are waiting for revised plans and yesterday we locked in our loan. It was the first time that I didn't get a call that said, the rate just went up another 1/8 or 1/4 of a percent, but instead got a call that it went down 1/8 of a point! That's what happens when your mortgage broker is a Christian! Have a great Saturday!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #8
The Landmines of Jealousy and Envy by Charles Stanley
Whenever you sense feelings of envy and jealousy growing, you must answer two questions: How will I respond to the jealous feelings, and how will I deal with my actions, which usually include feelings of anger? Before launching a full-blown assault on the person you believe is your offender, you need to remember Satan's primary goal: shift your focus away from God and onto your circumstances.
You may feel forgotten in a relationship, on your job, or even in your church, but He will never overlook you.
Detonating the Landmine of Jealousy
If you only see your life in light of what you don't have when compared to someone else, you will never learn to enjoy what God has given you.
You may be thinking, Doesn't God say He is jealous for us? The answer is yes, but it is a different type of jealousy; it is not the kind of jealousy that leads to envy and sin. It is a protective jealousy that is much greater than a loving parent would have for a son or daughter.
If we do not receive what we think we should, we become jealous, and in doing so we overlook God's goodness and holiness. We sidestep His love and miss a wonderful opportunity for a deeper relationship with Him.
Learning to live apart from jealousy may seem hard to do, but it is not. To accomplish this we must come to a point where we realize that partial obedience is not obedience. In other words, you cannot be kind to a person in her presence and then behind her back spew out words of jealousy and envy against her.
He [God] tells us it [jealousy] is wrong because He knows it divides our minds and creates an atmosphere of resentment in our hearts.
In a very real way, the various landmines mentioned in this book are connected. Often one explosion can lead to another. Jealousy can create an atmosphere of anxiety and fear within our hearts.
The flow will go something like this: jealousy leads to envy and envy to anger and anger to fear. The cycle will continue until we become paralyzed or until we turn to God and ask for His intervention.
Anyone who trusts God for the future should never be threatened by the blessings given to another person.
Jealousy is a Matter of Choice
Everything - learning to obey God starts with a heart that is turned toward Him. Anything that threatens to erode our relationship with God should be avoided at all costs.
Tomorrow we'll look at Winning the Struggle of Jealousy. It's important to note a few of the things quoted in this chapter so far. The first is that partial obedience isn't obedience. The second is that one landmine can lead to another in a chain reaction. That's why it's so important to check our hearts as soon as we feel a negative feeling coming over us towards another person. I've seen this particular landmine start in insecurity and lead to gossip and the exclusion of others. Insecurity will be covered in Chapter 5. Some of the other topics we'll cover are Compromise, Unforgiveness, Disappointment, Fear, Immorality, and Slothfulness (laziness). Should be a fun ride!
Whenever you sense feelings of envy and jealousy growing, you must answer two questions: How will I respond to the jealous feelings, and how will I deal with my actions, which usually include feelings of anger? Before launching a full-blown assault on the person you believe is your offender, you need to remember Satan's primary goal: shift your focus away from God and onto your circumstances.
You may feel forgotten in a relationship, on your job, or even in your church, but He will never overlook you.
Detonating the Landmine of Jealousy
If you only see your life in light of what you don't have when compared to someone else, you will never learn to enjoy what God has given you.
You may be thinking, Doesn't God say He is jealous for us? The answer is yes, but it is a different type of jealousy; it is not the kind of jealousy that leads to envy and sin. It is a protective jealousy that is much greater than a loving parent would have for a son or daughter.
If we do not receive what we think we should, we become jealous, and in doing so we overlook God's goodness and holiness. We sidestep His love and miss a wonderful opportunity for a deeper relationship with Him.
Learning to live apart from jealousy may seem hard to do, but it is not. To accomplish this we must come to a point where we realize that partial obedience is not obedience. In other words, you cannot be kind to a person in her presence and then behind her back spew out words of jealousy and envy against her.
He [God] tells us it [jealousy] is wrong because He knows it divides our minds and creates an atmosphere of resentment in our hearts.
In a very real way, the various landmines mentioned in this book are connected. Often one explosion can lead to another. Jealousy can create an atmosphere of anxiety and fear within our hearts.
The flow will go something like this: jealousy leads to envy and envy to anger and anger to fear. The cycle will continue until we become paralyzed or until we turn to God and ask for His intervention.
Anyone who trusts God for the future should never be threatened by the blessings given to another person.
Jealousy is a Matter of Choice
Everything - learning to obey God starts with a heart that is turned toward Him. Anything that threatens to erode our relationship with God should be avoided at all costs.
Tomorrow we'll look at Winning the Struggle of Jealousy. It's important to note a few of the things quoted in this chapter so far. The first is that partial obedience isn't obedience. The second is that one landmine can lead to another in a chain reaction. That's why it's so important to check our hearts as soon as we feel a negative feeling coming over us towards another person. I've seen this particular landmine start in insecurity and lead to gossip and the exclusion of others. Insecurity will be covered in Chapter 5. Some of the other topics we'll cover are Compromise, Unforgiveness, Disappointment, Fear, Immorality, and Slothfulness (laziness). Should be a fun ride!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #7
Seven Steps to Successfully Dealing with Pride by Charles Stanley
The first thing you can do to combat pride is to realize that pride is present in your life.
Second, ask God to forgive you for being prideful.
Third, pray that He will give you the ability to turn away from pride.
Fourth, pray that he will set a hedge of protection around your life. Also, ask Him to give you the discernment to detect the landmine of pride before you approach it. One of the best ways to defuse conceit and arrogance is to serve somebody else, not to receive credit, but to learn humility and the goodness that comes from being submitted to the Lord fully and completely.
Fifth, remember where you came from and how far God has brought you.
Sixth, ask God to help you recall the good things that He has done in your life, and stop comparing yourself to someone else.
Seventh, be willing to experience adversity.
Tomorrow we'll look at Chapter Four, The Landmines of Jealousy and Envy.
The first thing you can do to combat pride is to realize that pride is present in your life.
Second, ask God to forgive you for being prideful.
Third, pray that He will give you the ability to turn away from pride.
Fourth, pray that he will set a hedge of protection around your life. Also, ask Him to give you the discernment to detect the landmine of pride before you approach it. One of the best ways to defuse conceit and arrogance is to serve somebody else, not to receive credit, but to learn humility and the goodness that comes from being submitted to the Lord fully and completely.
Fifth, remember where you came from and how far God has brought you.
Sixth, ask God to help you recall the good things that He has done in your life, and stop comparing yourself to someone else.
Seventh, be willing to experience adversity.
Tomorrow we'll look at Chapter Four, The Landmines of Jealousy and Envy.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #6
I started a new book yesterday. It's fantastic! We'll try and finish this one and the Identity one first, though.
Chapter 3 by Charles Stanley.
Exposing a Prideful Heart
It doesn't take the enemy long to sense our areas of weakness as we mentioned earlier. He studies our actions and our reactions to life's circumstances.
The Consequences of Pride in the Life of the Believer
...Not all sorrow and adversity come as a result of disobedience. Some of the disappointments come from living in a fallen world. Many come because we have ignored God.
Pride hinders our fellowship with God.
Pride leads to broken relationships with others.
Pride blocks God's blessings and often causes us to lose our rewards.
The truth is, if you do not tap into God's will for your life, all the success this world has to offer will not come close to the success that God has for you.
God's blessings offer a sense of fulfillment and peace that you will never be able to acheive on your own. His call to you is to be faithful in what you have been given to do.
Pride lessens the fullness of relationship with Him.
Pride decreases our effectiveness as a leader.
Pride entices us to favor people who build up our egos. The 360 review process may have originated in the workplace as a way for employers to learn more about their abilities and habits, but the concept is gaining ground in the home where family members review one another and give honest answers that foster accountability.
Pride sets the stage for us to make foolish mistakes.
Pride shuts down the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Pride breeds prayerlessness.
Pride causes us to emphasize self more than God.
The evidences of pride in one's life are obvious:
1. The desire to be number one or first.
2. Continual reference to oneself.
3. The longing to be the center of attention.
4. A need to seek the praise and compliments of others.
5. A desire to dress in such a way as to gain the attention of others.
6. A need to be seen in prominent places.
7. Unwillingness to help people who are less fortunate.
8. A rebellious spirit.
9. A tendency to take credit for something that someone else did.
10. REfusal to do menial tasks.
11. Refusal to apologize when wrong.
12. An attitude of self-sufficiency.
That's a lot for today. Tomorrow we'll look at the 7 Steps to Successfully Dealing with Pride.
Chapter 3 by Charles Stanley.
Exposing a Prideful Heart
It doesn't take the enemy long to sense our areas of weakness as we mentioned earlier. He studies our actions and our reactions to life's circumstances.
The Consequences of Pride in the Life of the Believer
...Not all sorrow and adversity come as a result of disobedience. Some of the disappointments come from living in a fallen world. Many come because we have ignored God.
Pride hinders our fellowship with God.
Pride leads to broken relationships with others.
Pride blocks God's blessings and often causes us to lose our rewards.
The truth is, if you do not tap into God's will for your life, all the success this world has to offer will not come close to the success that God has for you.
God's blessings offer a sense of fulfillment and peace that you will never be able to acheive on your own. His call to you is to be faithful in what you have been given to do.
Pride lessens the fullness of relationship with Him.
Pride decreases our effectiveness as a leader.
Pride entices us to favor people who build up our egos. The 360 review process may have originated in the workplace as a way for employers to learn more about their abilities and habits, but the concept is gaining ground in the home where family members review one another and give honest answers that foster accountability.
Pride sets the stage for us to make foolish mistakes.
Pride shuts down the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Pride breeds prayerlessness.
Pride causes us to emphasize self more than God.
The evidences of pride in one's life are obvious:
1. The desire to be number one or first.
2. Continual reference to oneself.
3. The longing to be the center of attention.
4. A need to seek the praise and compliments of others.
5. A desire to dress in such a way as to gain the attention of others.
6. A need to be seen in prominent places.
7. Unwillingness to help people who are less fortunate.
8. A rebellious spirit.
9. A tendency to take credit for something that someone else did.
10. REfusal to do menial tasks.
11. Refusal to apologize when wrong.
12. An attitude of self-sufficiency.
That's a lot for today. Tomorrow we'll look at the 7 Steps to Successfully Dealing with Pride.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #5
Continuing on from Chapter 2 by Charles Stanley:
Falling Victim to Pride
A person falls victim to pride for several reasons:
Self Centeredness
Feelings of inadequacy
Immaturity and an inability to handle responsibility
Inability to handle wealth, position, and the gifts God has given
Overcoming Pride with Trust
Our sole goal should be to be the best right where God has placed us. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time"
(1 Peter 5:6)
Specific signs tell us we are struggling with pride. While the list is long, it certainly includes the following:
Arrogance
Self-promotion
Lack of giving to God and others
A selfish attitude
Refusal to listen to the advice of others
Lack of submission to those in authority
A spirit of rebellion
Bragging
Lack of humble regard for God and others
The inability to receive a compliment or gift
Tomorrow we'll look at Chapter 3, Exposing a Prideful Heart. Again, take a moment and ask yourself if any of these apply to you. "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Romans 12:3)
Falling Victim to Pride
A person falls victim to pride for several reasons:
Self Centeredness
Feelings of inadequacy
Immaturity and an inability to handle responsibility
Inability to handle wealth, position, and the gifts God has given
Overcoming Pride with Trust
Our sole goal should be to be the best right where God has placed us. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time"
(1 Peter 5:6)
Specific signs tell us we are struggling with pride. While the list is long, it certainly includes the following:
Arrogance
Self-promotion
Lack of giving to God and others
A selfish attitude
Refusal to listen to the advice of others
Lack of submission to those in authority
A spirit of rebellion
Bragging
Lack of humble regard for God and others
The inability to receive a compliment or gift
Tomorrow we'll look at Chapter 3, Exposing a Prideful Heart. Again, take a moment and ask yourself if any of these apply to you. "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." (Romans 12:3)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #4
Here's a great story that Charles Stanley tells:
Exposing the Landmine of Pride
God called a young man to the mission field. From the beginning one trial after another assailed him. Each time, according to him, the problem involved key leaders within his organization. Amakzingly, he refused to admit that he was part of the problem - it always was someone else. The young man began to tell others that those in authority over him could not do the work as well as he could do it. Soon he became wrapped up in getting credit for his work, but no one would acknowledge what he had done. He was too prideful, and while his friends and coworkers realized this, he did not. A short time later, he became discouraged, disgruntled, and disappointed.
Pride tempts us to believe we are better than someone else. Suddenly this young man felt as though he could no longer work with this organization. Without knowing it, his obedience to God was at stake. He was blinded by his pride and convinced that his only option was to leave the very work God had called him to do. Yet he overlooked one detail: God never rescinds His call. He may change our circumstances or location, but He will never ask us to abandon His will.
The first step this young man took toward defeat came when he did not submit himself to the authority over him. He mistakenly believed that he knew more than the leadership God had placed in his life. Once this man decided to follow the deceptive words of his heart, pride had fertile ground in which to grow.
The second step came when he was confronted over his actions and stood steadfast, thinking that he was right and everyone else was wrong. Pride never admits its failures. Instead, the prideful person continues to push forward, blindly seeking self-gratification.
Satan is overjoyed whenever we walk away from the very place God has put us. This is not limited to an office. We can walk away from relationships, responsibilities, and church and community service based on what we mistakenly believe about ourselves.
If you are setting goals without God's input, then you are on pride's trail, and you are heading for trouble.
That's a lot to think about for today. Have you or are you in a position where you aren't respecting and submitting to the authority over you? In work? In your marriage? Check your heart and ask God to illuminate any areas of pride in your life. As those who know you best if they see pride in you as well.
Exposing the Landmine of Pride
God called a young man to the mission field. From the beginning one trial after another assailed him. Each time, according to him, the problem involved key leaders within his organization. Amakzingly, he refused to admit that he was part of the problem - it always was someone else. The young man began to tell others that those in authority over him could not do the work as well as he could do it. Soon he became wrapped up in getting credit for his work, but no one would acknowledge what he had done. He was too prideful, and while his friends and coworkers realized this, he did not. A short time later, he became discouraged, disgruntled, and disappointed.
Pride tempts us to believe we are better than someone else. Suddenly this young man felt as though he could no longer work with this organization. Without knowing it, his obedience to God was at stake. He was blinded by his pride and convinced that his only option was to leave the very work God had called him to do. Yet he overlooked one detail: God never rescinds His call. He may change our circumstances or location, but He will never ask us to abandon His will.
The first step this young man took toward defeat came when he did not submit himself to the authority over him. He mistakenly believed that he knew more than the leadership God had placed in his life. Once this man decided to follow the deceptive words of his heart, pride had fertile ground in which to grow.
The second step came when he was confronted over his actions and stood steadfast, thinking that he was right and everyone else was wrong. Pride never admits its failures. Instead, the prideful person continues to push forward, blindly seeking self-gratification.
Satan is overjoyed whenever we walk away from the very place God has put us. This is not limited to an office. We can walk away from relationships, responsibilities, and church and community service based on what we mistakenly believe about ourselves.
If you are setting goals without God's input, then you are on pride's trail, and you are heading for trouble.
That's a lot to think about for today. Have you or are you in a position where you aren't respecting and submitting to the authority over you? In work? In your marriage? Check your heart and ask God to illuminate any areas of pride in your life. As those who know you best if they see pride in you as well.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #3
Chapter Two by Charles Stanley
The Landmine of Pride
Of all the struggles discussed in this book, pride is the one that has the most devastating results.
God is very specific. He hates pride. In fact, it is at the top of His list of sins that He despises: "Pride and arrogance and the evil way / And the perverted mouth, I hate" (Prov. 8:13).
It is one of Satan's chief modes of operation and favorite weapons of warfare because it tempts us to take our eyes off God and place them on ourselves.
There's nothing wrong with having a sense of pride in doing things well. However, many people fail to honor the Lord with their attitudes. They believe Satan's lies, which tell them they can accomplish whatever they want apart from God. This line of thinking always leads us away from God. And Satan wins the battle.
The next section is pretty long so I'll save that for tomorrow. After reading this chapter, I asked Greg if I was prideful. I always want to keep a check on different attitudes to make sure I've got the right heart. He said, no, but I had an area that would crop up from time to time. We had a conversation the day before about people improving their lives by getting a college education. I'm pro-college because I got a Bachelor's degree and feel it was one of the best decisions I ever made. He, on the other hand, didn't finish his AA degree and isn't such a big advocate of college degrees for everyone. When we discuss the issue, he feels like I feel the way I do because of what I've done. I actually feel that it is beneficial for everyone before I went to college. You make and average of $10,000 more than someone with a high school diploma, right out of school. (That's a 20 year old figure, I'm sure it's more by now) I feel a person is more well rounded and it opens their eyes to more possibilities for career options. It also models a good example to their kids for the value of a higher education. Greg feels not everyone is cut out for college. Anyway, I guess I'll have to watch myself when expressing my opinion about college.
The Landmine of Pride
Of all the struggles discussed in this book, pride is the one that has the most devastating results.
God is very specific. He hates pride. In fact, it is at the top of His list of sins that He despises: "Pride and arrogance and the evil way / And the perverted mouth, I hate" (Prov. 8:13).
It is one of Satan's chief modes of operation and favorite weapons of warfare because it tempts us to take our eyes off God and place them on ourselves.
There's nothing wrong with having a sense of pride in doing things well. However, many people fail to honor the Lord with their attitudes. They believe Satan's lies, which tell them they can accomplish whatever they want apart from God. This line of thinking always leads us away from God. And Satan wins the battle.
The next section is pretty long so I'll save that for tomorrow. After reading this chapter, I asked Greg if I was prideful. I always want to keep a check on different attitudes to make sure I've got the right heart. He said, no, but I had an area that would crop up from time to time. We had a conversation the day before about people improving their lives by getting a college education. I'm pro-college because I got a Bachelor's degree and feel it was one of the best decisions I ever made. He, on the other hand, didn't finish his AA degree and isn't such a big advocate of college degrees for everyone. When we discuss the issue, he feels like I feel the way I do because of what I've done. I actually feel that it is beneficial for everyone before I went to college. You make and average of $10,000 more than someone with a high school diploma, right out of school. (That's a 20 year old figure, I'm sure it's more by now) I feel a person is more well rounded and it opens their eyes to more possibilities for career options. It also models a good example to their kids for the value of a higher education. Greg feels not everyone is cut out for college. Anyway, I guess I'll have to watch myself when expressing my opinion about college.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Loaded Questions
Last night we had some friends over for dinner and afterwards, were going to play Catch Phrase. Just as we were starting to explain it, our daughter piped up and said, "Why don't you play Loaded Questions? She had to refresh our memories a little about how to play, and we took her advice. It's a great game to get to know people better.
It's a board game and you take turns rolling a dice and reading a card that has questions corresponding to what color you're on on the board. Some of the questions are, "What's your greatest phobia?" Our responses were "Needles and tubes", "My kids not following God someday", "Heights", and "Freddie Kruger".
Another question was "If you could get a million dollars today, how would you do it?" Our answers were "Rob a bank", "Rob a casino", and "Call Oprah". Just to clarify, my answer was "Call Oprah".
The person reading the question has to guess which person had which answer, which are read of paper from the person next to them. (So you can't tell by handwriting)
For every right answer they move up a square on the board. There are twists to the game, like reversal. If you land on reversal, the reader of the question writes their answer and everyone else guesses what they wrote. The players get two squares ahead for every right answer and the reader gets two squares ahead for every wrong answer.
One of our guests blew us all away and won by at least two turns. It was a fun game, we laughed and laughed, and got to know each other even better.
It's a board game and you take turns rolling a dice and reading a card that has questions corresponding to what color you're on on the board. Some of the questions are, "What's your greatest phobia?" Our responses were "Needles and tubes", "My kids not following God someday", "Heights", and "Freddie Kruger".
Another question was "If you could get a million dollars today, how would you do it?" Our answers were "Rob a bank", "Rob a casino", and "Call Oprah". Just to clarify, my answer was "Call Oprah".
The person reading the question has to guess which person had which answer, which are read of paper from the person next to them. (So you can't tell by handwriting)
For every right answer they move up a square on the board. There are twists to the game, like reversal. If you land on reversal, the reader of the question writes their answer and everyone else guesses what they wrote. The players get two squares ahead for every right answer and the reader gets two squares ahead for every wrong answer.
One of our guests blew us all away and won by at least two turns. It was a fun game, we laughed and laughed, and got to know each other even better.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #2
Charles Stanley gives us several ways we can uncover and defuse the landmines that have been laid out in our pathway. They are:
1. Realize you are in a spiritual war.
2. Trust God and know He will help you.
When you ask Him to reveal the enemy's landmines that are laid out before you, He will do it. He also will teach you how to disarm the ones that are set and ready to go off. Put on the full armor of God. Pray without ceasing.
3. Remember you are not alone. God wants us to remember that He is with us and will give us the wisdom we need for every situation if we will stop and pray. God has an answer for our every need. But far too often we become paralyzed by our circumstances because we do not call out to the Person who lives inside us.
4. Recall the strength, mercy, and goodness of God.
Tomorrow we'll look at chapter two, the landmine of pride.
1. Realize you are in a spiritual war.
2. Trust God and know He will help you.
When you ask Him to reveal the enemy's landmines that are laid out before you, He will do it. He also will teach you how to disarm the ones that are set and ready to go off. Put on the full armor of God. Pray without ceasing.
3. Remember you are not alone. God wants us to remember that He is with us and will give us the wisdom we need for every situation if we will stop and pray. God has an answer for our every need. But far too often we become paralyzed by our circumstances because we do not call out to the Person who lives inside us.
4. Recall the strength, mercy, and goodness of God.
Tomorrow we'll look at chapter two, the landmine of pride.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Five Things You Should Never Hear From A Staff Member
I grabbed this from Perry Noble's Blog. I just love it!
Five Things You Should Never Hear From A Staff Member
I have the privilege to serve with an incredible staff…a fired up group of “git ‘r done” men & women who love Jesus and NewSpring Church.
However, in my ministry experience, both in the life of NewSpring, working in other churches and conversations with many pastors and leaders I believe there are five phrases that we should NEVER hear from someone on staff.
#1 - “That’s Not My Job.”
When a staff member is asked to do something and they reply, “That’s not my job,” then you can be assured that he/she does not have a heart that is fully devoted to the ministry.
The staff we have here at NewSpring Church walk around with fire in their eyes…and when asked to do something they just make it happen. Now…I have seen this abused & do not think ANYONE should allow themselves to be ran over; however, when asked to do something that might not serve the person BUT WILL SERVE THE CHURCH…the answer should always be yes.
#2 - “That Can’t Be Done.”
I have noticed something about staff members that say something cannot be done…USUALLY the ones who say that are the ones who are going to be asked to do the particular project they are freaking out about…and it will require tons of work…SO, they just say it can’t be done.
I have a rule…I don’t ever want to hear can’t be done. One of the best people on the planet at this is Ken! He is one of the founding members of NewSpring Church as was hired to come on staff in 2002. I’ve NEVER heard him say, “we can’t do that!” HOWEVER…
He is realistic with me–he has often said, “Now we CAN do that…but it will require such and such and we don’t have that–and if we want it then it is going to cost this…so what do you want to do?” I LOVE HIS ATTITUDE!
Trust me, when a staff member continually says that something cannot be done they either have a lazy work ethic OR a very small view of who God is…neither are beneficial for your team.
#3 - “All I Need Is More Staff & Money To Make This Happen.”
When people begin to use resources as an excuse for a stagnant or failing ministry then you can be sure they are in trouble and have most likely became spoiled, thus forgetting the art of being innovative.
#4 - “Recognize Me!”
Beware of the staff member who is always telling you how much work they did, how many hours they put in and how tired they are.
HOLD ON…as a leader it is our job to make sure that staff members are not sacrificed on the alter of ministry. We should pay them well and make sure they have adequate time off. More often than not we have to FORCE people around here to take time off.
BUT…when someone is always demanding attention for the work they’ve done then you can be sure that either pride or insecurity is coming out…and neither are good!
#5 - “My ministry needs BLANK to…and if we don’t get it then…”
When a staff member begins to focus on his/her ministry more than the church as a whole…trust me, you have a HUGE problem.
A good staff member does have passion and vision for their particular area of ministry; however, they have an even greater passion for the church as a whole and will gladly lay aside their plans if it means that it is best for the church.
The church will either operate as a loosely organized group of sub ministries…OR ONE BODY with many parts…and if a staff member cannot be a part of the body then they most likely do not have a kingdom mindset.
Five Things You Should Never Hear From A Staff Member
I have the privilege to serve with an incredible staff…a fired up group of “git ‘r done” men & women who love Jesus and NewSpring Church.
However, in my ministry experience, both in the life of NewSpring, working in other churches and conversations with many pastors and leaders I believe there are five phrases that we should NEVER hear from someone on staff.
#1 - “That’s Not My Job.”
When a staff member is asked to do something and they reply, “That’s not my job,” then you can be assured that he/she does not have a heart that is fully devoted to the ministry.
The staff we have here at NewSpring Church walk around with fire in their eyes…and when asked to do something they just make it happen. Now…I have seen this abused & do not think ANYONE should allow themselves to be ran over; however, when asked to do something that might not serve the person BUT WILL SERVE THE CHURCH…the answer should always be yes.
#2 - “That Can’t Be Done.”
I have noticed something about staff members that say something cannot be done…USUALLY the ones who say that are the ones who are going to be asked to do the particular project they are freaking out about…and it will require tons of work…SO, they just say it can’t be done.
I have a rule…I don’t ever want to hear can’t be done. One of the best people on the planet at this is Ken! He is one of the founding members of NewSpring Church as was hired to come on staff in 2002. I’ve NEVER heard him say, “we can’t do that!” HOWEVER…
He is realistic with me–he has often said, “Now we CAN do that…but it will require such and such and we don’t have that–and if we want it then it is going to cost this…so what do you want to do?” I LOVE HIS ATTITUDE!
Trust me, when a staff member continually says that something cannot be done they either have a lazy work ethic OR a very small view of who God is…neither are beneficial for your team.
#3 - “All I Need Is More Staff & Money To Make This Happen.”
When people begin to use resources as an excuse for a stagnant or failing ministry then you can be sure they are in trouble and have most likely became spoiled, thus forgetting the art of being innovative.
#4 - “Recognize Me!”
Beware of the staff member who is always telling you how much work they did, how many hours they put in and how tired they are.
HOLD ON…as a leader it is our job to make sure that staff members are not sacrificed on the alter of ministry. We should pay them well and make sure they have adequate time off. More often than not we have to FORCE people around here to take time off.
BUT…when someone is always demanding attention for the work they’ve done then you can be sure that either pride or insecurity is coming out…and neither are good!
#5 - “My ministry needs BLANK to…and if we don’t get it then…”
When a staff member begins to focus on his/her ministry more than the church as a whole…trust me, you have a HUGE problem.
A good staff member does have passion and vision for their particular area of ministry; however, they have an even greater passion for the church as a whole and will gladly lay aside their plans if it means that it is best for the church.
The church will either operate as a loosely organized group of sub ministries…OR ONE BODY with many parts…and if a staff member cannot be a part of the body then they most likely do not have a kingdom mindset.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Spiritual Warfare
Today we'll start looking at Charles Stanley's Landmines in the Path of the Believer, Avoiding the Hidden Dangers.
Chapter One, Facing the Hidden Threat
Face-To-Face With Our Enemy
"...It does not take long to realize Satan will do anything to prevent you from becoming the person God has planned for you to be. His strategic plan is laid out to entice you to sin and drift in your devotion to God. Satan uses many of the things we feel are harmless or unavoidable sins - gossip, feelings of unforgiveness, pride, and cynicism, to name a few. He also watches to see how we will react to a situation. If there is an opportunity for him to weave his evil mischief into our thoughts, he will take it.
The landmines in his arsenal include such sins as pride, jealousy and envy, disappointment, unforgiveness, compromise, sexual temptation, fear, and laziness - which God also calls slothfulness.
How do you uncover and defuse the landmines that have been laid out in your pathway?"
We'll look at that tomorrow.
Chapter One, Facing the Hidden Threat
Face-To-Face With Our Enemy
"...It does not take long to realize Satan will do anything to prevent you from becoming the person God has planned for you to be. His strategic plan is laid out to entice you to sin and drift in your devotion to God. Satan uses many of the things we feel are harmless or unavoidable sins - gossip, feelings of unforgiveness, pride, and cynicism, to name a few. He also watches to see how we will react to a situation. If there is an opportunity for him to weave his evil mischief into our thoughts, he will take it.
The landmines in his arsenal include such sins as pride, jealousy and envy, disappointment, unforgiveness, compromise, sexual temptation, fear, and laziness - which God also calls slothfulness.
How do you uncover and defuse the landmines that have been laid out in your pathway?"
We'll look at that tomorrow.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Identity in Christ #5
We've finished Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels. They book contains several stories depicting people's holy discontent with different things, like the AIDS pandemic. I've chosen to leave those out because they were so long, but they were very interesting. I highly recommend this book.
Back to Discovering Your Identity in Christ by Charles Stanley before the spiritual warfare book, which is great.
Chapter 5 is called Redeemed and talks about the forgiveness of our sins.
"To be forgiven is to be set free from any guilt and any consequences over one's past sins.
Sin is regarded throughout the Bible as a state of bondage that is the result of transgressions, iniquity, and evil. We commit sin because we are sinners. We were born with a sin nature. Our sinful actions further seal the fact that we are sinners. Our being and doing are cyclical.
Many people experience God's forgiveness but then suffer from lingering guilt over their past sins. To continue to hang on to guilt after receiving God's forgiveness is to say to God, "Your forgiveness wasn't enough." And surely it is!
The challenge for many of us is to accept God's total forgiveness and then to forgive ourselves and to move forward in our lives. To hang on to guilt and shame is to devalue what Christ Jesus did on the cross.
Those who have received God's forgiveness, however, have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, and they are compelled to act in a righteous way because of His presence."
I especially like what Stanley said about hanging on to guilt. This is just what the enemy would like us to do. If we sit and spin in guilt over the past, which is dead and gone, we are ineffective in the present and are threatening our effectiveness of our future. Let you love for Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit be the things that keep you from continuing to sin. Though we are all in the process of sanctification (I call it the purification process) we have the strength and power to stop sinning, stop looking at our past to comdemn ourselves and move forward with confidence as a child of the King.
Isaiah 43:18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."
Back to Discovering Your Identity in Christ by Charles Stanley before the spiritual warfare book, which is great.
Chapter 5 is called Redeemed and talks about the forgiveness of our sins.
"To be forgiven is to be set free from any guilt and any consequences over one's past sins.
Sin is regarded throughout the Bible as a state of bondage that is the result of transgressions, iniquity, and evil. We commit sin because we are sinners. We were born with a sin nature. Our sinful actions further seal the fact that we are sinners. Our being and doing are cyclical.
Many people experience God's forgiveness but then suffer from lingering guilt over their past sins. To continue to hang on to guilt after receiving God's forgiveness is to say to God, "Your forgiveness wasn't enough." And surely it is!
The challenge for many of us is to accept God's total forgiveness and then to forgive ourselves and to move forward in our lives. To hang on to guilt and shame is to devalue what Christ Jesus did on the cross.
Those who have received God's forgiveness, however, have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, and they are compelled to act in a righteous way because of His presence."
I especially like what Stanley said about hanging on to guilt. This is just what the enemy would like us to do. If we sit and spin in guilt over the past, which is dead and gone, we are ineffective in the present and are threatening our effectiveness of our future. Let you love for Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit be the things that keep you from continuing to sin. Though we are all in the process of sanctification (I call it the purification process) we have the strength and power to stop sinning, stop looking at our past to comdemn ourselves and move forward with confidence as a child of the King.
Isaiah 43:18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Holy Discontent #7
Starting Chapter 8 by Bill Hybels:
"Just imagine if pastors and other leaders let go of pride, fear, the need to please, and the need to control! What would happen if we took greater risks rather than staying married to the status quo? Or if all of us invited our colleagues and teams to engage on a consistent basis in purpose-finding instead of problem-solving . . . asking not "What do we want" but rather "What results do we want to create?"
What if leaders and teams joined hands and got on the same page so that trust could accelerate, accountability could increase, blaming could disappear, and learning through trial and error could actually be acceptable behavior?
What if church leaders of every temperament and background and denominational persuasion were wide open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and said, "God, we want your mind on the decisions in front of us, and we already say yes to whatever it is you'd have us do!"
Friends, can you imagine what might happen in corporations and churches and families all over the world if we all got serious about becoming fundamental-state people? I'm just naive enough to believe that it's possible. I believe we can all get better at seeing what ought to be and then working like crazy to actualize it.
As you can tell by now, I believe the fundamental state is a real place. Moreover, I believe that the fundamental state is where the white-hot inner flame of your holy discontent is hiding! Boundaries get expanded there. Leadership competencies get ennobled there. Fear gets stamped out there. Insecurities get upended there. Passion pursuits get clarified there. And depression is asked to take the slow boat home.
If it's up to us to decide how often we'll enter the fundamental state, then let's agree together to frequent it more and more so that the hope God has asked us to spread to this broken world does not die before we get there. Deal?"
"Just imagine if pastors and other leaders let go of pride, fear, the need to please, and the need to control! What would happen if we took greater risks rather than staying married to the status quo? Or if all of us invited our colleagues and teams to engage on a consistent basis in purpose-finding instead of problem-solving . . . asking not "What do we want" but rather "What results do we want to create?"
What if leaders and teams joined hands and got on the same page so that trust could accelerate, accountability could increase, blaming could disappear, and learning through trial and error could actually be acceptable behavior?
What if church leaders of every temperament and background and denominational persuasion were wide open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and said, "God, we want your mind on the decisions in front of us, and we already say yes to whatever it is you'd have us do!"
Friends, can you imagine what might happen in corporations and churches and families all over the world if we all got serious about becoming fundamental-state people? I'm just naive enough to believe that it's possible. I believe we can all get better at seeing what ought to be and then working like crazy to actualize it.
As you can tell by now, I believe the fundamental state is a real place. Moreover, I believe that the fundamental state is where the white-hot inner flame of your holy discontent is hiding! Boundaries get expanded there. Leadership competencies get ennobled there. Fear gets stamped out there. Insecurities get upended there. Passion pursuits get clarified there. And depression is asked to take the slow boat home.
If it's up to us to decide how often we'll enter the fundamental state, then let's agree together to frequent it more and more so that the hope God has asked us to spread to this broken world does not die before we get there. Deal?"
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Holy Discontent #6
Chapter 7, Magnetic Living by Bill Hybels
University of Michigan business school professor Robert Quinn wrote a book and the theory of a "fundamental state" resonated with Bill Hybels.
"Essentially, it says that when a person is gripped by a powerful passion (or driven by a holy discontent, you might say), he or she literally enters into a completely different state of mind; in fact, they shift mental gears altogether and begin operating on an entirely new level.
According to Quinn, people can actually migrate at will from what he calls the "normal state" to a place known as the "fundamental state." this is helpful to know, especially since you may be stuck in the "normal state" without even knowing it. Here's how to tell: in the normal state, you're almost entirely self-absorbed. You have a reactive approach to life. And you try to maintain the status quo, regardless how unbearable the status quo is. Professor Quinn puts it this way in his book, Building the Bridge as You Walk On It: "When we accept the world as it is [by living in the normal state], we deny our ability to see something better, and hence our ability to be something better. We become what we behold." What's not normal, Professor Quinn says, is embracing the fact that another state exists.
"To remain in the normal state us ultimately to choose slow death," asserts Quinn. The normal state is so self-seeking that you can spin your wheels for a lifetime and never once impact the world around you. In the fundamental state, however, people care so much about getting results that they begin to move and breathe in a totally different realm. They operate with intentionality. They act with massive doses of enthusiasm and persistence. They surrender their ego because the cause simply can't afford their pride. They open themselves up to any and all new ideas and forms of input - regardless where those suggestions come from.
People who operate in a "fundamental" state of mind concentrate at higher levels and focus more intensely because the goal they're pursuing demands it. They take risks they wouldn't normally take . . . because they have to - there's too much at stake not to! Their creativity kicks up a notch. Their energy soars. Their passion swells.
The moral of the story is that a bad day lived from the energy of your holy discontent is far better than the best day lived anywhere else.
...When you step into the fundamental state, not only will you change "states," abut you will draw others into that new state too. Think about this for a moment: when you spend time in the fundamental state, you become an increasingly attractive person. ... you experience a buzz that you'll never want to end, a marvelous dynamic I call magnetic living."
No comment for today, I think Bill said it all!
University of Michigan business school professor Robert Quinn wrote a book and the theory of a "fundamental state" resonated with Bill Hybels.
"Essentially, it says that when a person is gripped by a powerful passion (or driven by a holy discontent, you might say), he or she literally enters into a completely different state of mind; in fact, they shift mental gears altogether and begin operating on an entirely new level.
According to Quinn, people can actually migrate at will from what he calls the "normal state" to a place known as the "fundamental state." this is helpful to know, especially since you may be stuck in the "normal state" without even knowing it. Here's how to tell: in the normal state, you're almost entirely self-absorbed. You have a reactive approach to life. And you try to maintain the status quo, regardless how unbearable the status quo is. Professor Quinn puts it this way in his book, Building the Bridge as You Walk On It: "When we accept the world as it is [by living in the normal state], we deny our ability to see something better, and hence our ability to be something better. We become what we behold." What's not normal, Professor Quinn says, is embracing the fact that another state exists.
"To remain in the normal state us ultimately to choose slow death," asserts Quinn. The normal state is so self-seeking that you can spin your wheels for a lifetime and never once impact the world around you. In the fundamental state, however, people care so much about getting results that they begin to move and breathe in a totally different realm. They operate with intentionality. They act with massive doses of enthusiasm and persistence. They surrender their ego because the cause simply can't afford their pride. They open themselves up to any and all new ideas and forms of input - regardless where those suggestions come from.
People who operate in a "fundamental" state of mind concentrate at higher levels and focus more intensely because the goal they're pursuing demands it. They take risks they wouldn't normally take . . . because they have to - there's too much at stake not to! Their creativity kicks up a notch. Their energy soars. Their passion swells.
The moral of the story is that a bad day lived from the energy of your holy discontent is far better than the best day lived anywhere else.
...When you step into the fundamental state, not only will you change "states," abut you will draw others into that new state too. Think about this for a moment: when you spend time in the fundamental state, you become an increasingly attractive person. ... you experience a buzz that you'll never want to end, a marvelous dynamic I call magnetic living."
No comment for today, I think Bill said it all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
