I Have Come...............

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." 1John 10:10b


There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die,  Eccl. 3:1-2

 

Depending on the translation Jesus stated 10-11x in the Gospels that " I have come...." and it got me to thinking.....why am I here?   Surely you could reduce it to ....cause my parents....I was a mistake....I was the miracle child.....I am the only.....whatever you frame it with....God has a reason for allowing you to be born.   I know..." for such a time as this......" really Ray.  REALLY!!!!! 

Of all of the failed pregnancies,  sudden infant death syndrome, and unfortunate abortions you were born.   You made it.....but why?  You live in..........or work at...................you are married to.........your kids names are..................and why again?  Tonight was Halloween, and some of not many Christians struggle with participating in the Holy Day ( I said Holyday because Satan hasn't been able to create one day, and if God is the creator of each day, we can make it a Holiday or a HolyDay....its all about how we approach it....I finally chose to rejoice and be glad in October 31st) because as an adult....I have cowered into my basement, with the lights out, and took my kids out of the limelight of this celebration of_________________________(what.....demons, darkness, ghosts and goblins, etc) to protect them from what????  They are little cities on a hill...who can hide that......???

 

NO...I'm not giving Satan, not one of God's days!!!   I went out and bought some hot dogs (for the kids) and Rib Tips (for the adults) and pulled my Smoker out and decided to meat the neighborhood, and I believe I met almost the entire neighborhood!!!!  One person said..."Why are you doing this?"  "Another person said...if your goal was to make an impact.....you did!" My point to this is, not what I did, but rather what are you doing...with your life?  If at any moment you can check out of here....will it have mattered?  Will the 9mos of labor, sacrifice, and investment....matter to_________________________?   I'm not Jesus, but rather I am a follower of Jesus with mosaic life that I want to matter.....when my name is remembered I want people to associate my life with Love & Light.   Even once the casket is closed and the hole is covered....I want the rays of both to pierce through the wood & dirt and be carried onto another generation.   In the midst of all that happened tonight, Irreplaceable Impact was established.....and to GOD BE THE GLORY!  ALWAYS LGLP

BIBLICAL CONFRONTATION/DISCIPLINE:....It's As Easy As 1, 2, 3

“If a brother or sister sins, go and point out the fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.  Matthew 18:15-17

When you here the word: CONFRONTATION or DISCIPLINE what imagery comes to mind.  Is it the pictured handshake of what appears to be two like-minded friends or is it the pictured Simba and Scar face off vision you have?     Whichever imagery you have I felt called to post this EMERGENCY BLOG, on the heels of a Leadership Development staff meeting where this was central.   Central meaning that we as the church must become more skilled at handling this.   Handling one another in Love.   Because the truth is, albeit we operate as a body or as individuals I believe we have been more gossipers than resolvers of conflict.   We leave more damage relationships than an atomic bomb, when we go beyond or backwards when dealing with the offense of another.   The moment we step out of God's way of handling/resolving conflict gossip becomes the driver like a college party drunk with keys to the SUV lives are destined to be wrecked.  This is why I said....it's as easy as 1, 2, and 3.

The scripture instructs us to:

1) Go approach the person that the issue is with.  In other words 1 on 1.   NOT SHARE IT WITH YOUR SPOUSE, YOUR "Accountability Partner" to make sure you are seeing this right, etc.......but ONE on ONE.  At least 90% of all cases are amicably resolved and this way and a loving relationship can continue.   The minute you share with someone else before attempting to resolve it FIRST, it becomes gossip! 

2) If you and the individual can't work it out then you are instructed to take 1 to 2 others with you in attempt to again restore the relationship.  This is not about YOU winning, but rather GOD winning and a relationship remains intact.

3) If they don't or won't hear of it after you, and one/two others have attempted then you are to include the church. (Rarely does it get to this level.)  By which time if a resolution can't be met then remember the church is a body, and the body has a backdoor.

It's important to note before approaching the individual you need to wrestle with ONE QUESTION:  Do you REALLY love this person?  This is question that you need to field and allow the Spirit of God to really minister to your heart, because the reality is if people know that you genuinely love them, and care about them....they will be much more likely to receive correction in love (and because you love them you too will be able to generally deliver it in love).  It is when the person knows you don't care about them, their situation, etc....that these conflict resolution sessions go south, because you didn't invest and sow love to begin with.   So again....it all goes back to loving God, and loving people, and when you do that.......confrontations can be more of a loving conflict resolutions that are received in love.  Now back to work....LGLP

STRUGGLING?

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10b

Today I got the honor of being apart of a homegoing celebration of one, Sandra Holloway.  There were friends and families gathered from as far as Virginia and Louisiana, and all to celebrate the life of Aunt Sandy.

As I sat there looking around the room and listening to the condolences, psalmists, and eulogy I wondered how many people in the room were really struggling.   Struggling with life.  Struggling with loving others as themselves.   Struggling with past hurts, and forgiveness.  Struggling with the passing of Sandy.   Struggling with knowing there own purpose in life, hearing, seeing, sharing and swapping stories of the impact Sandy had on them.  

Jesus didn't struggle with His purpose, but rather people struggle with theirs. Jesus knew that beyond all the scriptural statements of him being our redeemer, our deliverer, our healer, ...........etc the quality of life with Him, is greatly improved for those who accept him as their LORD and SAVIOR!   

The speaker today said " there is no way to die and be blessed if you aren't a believer in Jesus Christ. Rather if you die without having accepted Jesus Christ, you are cursed."  Powerful words....three people appeared to answer the altar call given.  But what about you?  Are you?  Are you struggling with your purpose?  Allow me to simplify it for you based on the above scripture.....Jesus came that we might have life more abundantly.......GOD knew and desired the world to have a YOU, to improve the quality of life of all the people you would meet.

YES.....you are suppose to make an impact, and impression on the lives your life will intersect.   Those at the grocery store, those in the waiting room, those in your church, those in your family, those in your neighborhood, those on your facebook page.....you name it.   See when you are exposed to the love of Jesus, really exposed....you can't help but share that love with others, so when your days are done here......there will be a church full of people your life blessed.  I pray you are living your life in such a way you are a servant to all, reflecting the attitude of Christ.  GOD BLESS.  LGLP