Yesterday I was in the sanctuary praying. I found myself telling God what to do. I found myself trying to control situations I have no control over. After realizing what i was doing, a thought occured to me:
Maybe prayer isn't so much about trying to control outcomes? Maybe it's more about resigning to God's will? Maybe it's not so much about getting done what i want done? Maybe it's more about alignging my will to what God wants done?
I know we should pray and ask God for what we need. But I think we (I) often try and control God.
"Be still and know that i am God,' said the Psalmist. May God help us to do that!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Peace Maker's Pledge
I came across something once called the Peace Maker's Pledge. It was made by Ken Sande. I recommend his excellent book: The Peace Maker: A biblical guide to resolving personal conflict.
The Peacemaker's Pledge
A Commitment to Biblical Conflict Resolution
As people reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict1 We also believe that conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be like Christ.2 Therefore, in response to God's love and in reliance on his grace, we commit ourselves to respond to conflict according to the following principles:
Glorify God — Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will rejoice in the Lord and bring him praise by depending on his forgiveness, wisdom, power, and love, as we seek to faithfully obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude.3
Get the Log out of Your Own Eye — Instead of blaming others for a conflict or resisting correction, we will trust in God's mercy and take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts—confessing our sins to those we have wronged, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused.4
Gently Restore — Instead of pretending that conflict doesn't exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will overlook minor offenses or we will talk personally and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook, seeking to restore them rather than condemn them. When a conflict with a Christian brother or sister cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a biblical manner.5
Go and be reconciled — Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation—forgiving others as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us, and seeking just and mutually beneficial solutions to our differences.6
By God's grace, we will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship, realizing that conflict is an assignment, not an accident. We will remember that success in God's eyes is not a matter of specific results, but of faithful, dependent obedience. And we will pray that our service as peacemakers will bring praise to our Lord and lead others to know His infinite love.7
1) Matt. 5:9; Luke 6:27-36; Gal. 5:19-26.
2) Rom. 8:28-29; 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; James 1:2-4.
3) Ps. 37:1-6; Mark 11:25; John 14:15; Rom. 12:17-21; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 4:2-9; Col. 3:1-4; James 3:17-18; 4:1-3; 1 Peter 2:12.
4) Prov. 28:13; Matt. 7:3-5; Luke 19:8; Col. 3:5-14; 1 John 1:8-9.
5) Prov. 19:11; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:29; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; James 5:9.
6) Matt. 5:23-24; 6:12; 7:12; Eph. 4:1-3, 32; Phil. 2:3-4.
7) Matt. 25:14-21; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:18; 1 Peter 2:19; 4:19.
The Peacemaker's Pledge
A Commitment to Biblical Conflict Resolution
As people reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict1 We also believe that conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve other people, and grow to be like Christ.2 Therefore, in response to God's love and in reliance on his grace, we commit ourselves to respond to conflict according to the following principles:
Glorify God — Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will rejoice in the Lord and bring him praise by depending on his forgiveness, wisdom, power, and love, as we seek to faithfully obey his commands and maintain a loving, merciful, and forgiving attitude.3
Get the Log out of Your Own Eye — Instead of blaming others for a conflict or resisting correction, we will trust in God's mercy and take responsibility for our own contribution to conflicts—confessing our sins to those we have wronged, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we have caused.4
Gently Restore — Instead of pretending that conflict doesn't exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will overlook minor offenses or we will talk personally and graciously with those whose offenses seem too serious to overlook, seeking to restore them rather than condemn them. When a conflict with a Christian brother or sister cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a biblical manner.5
Go and be reconciled — Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation—forgiving others as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us, and seeking just and mutually beneficial solutions to our differences.6
By God's grace, we will apply these principles as a matter of stewardship, realizing that conflict is an assignment, not an accident. We will remember that success in God's eyes is not a matter of specific results, but of faithful, dependent obedience. And we will pray that our service as peacemakers will bring praise to our Lord and lead others to know His infinite love.7
1) Matt. 5:9; Luke 6:27-36; Gal. 5:19-26.
2) Rom. 8:28-29; 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; James 1:2-4.
3) Ps. 37:1-6; Mark 11:25; John 14:15; Rom. 12:17-21; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 4:2-9; Col. 3:1-4; James 3:17-18; 4:1-3; 1 Peter 2:12.
4) Prov. 28:13; Matt. 7:3-5; Luke 19:8; Col. 3:5-14; 1 John 1:8-9.
5) Prov. 19:11; Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 6:1-8; Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:29; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; James 5:9.
6) Matt. 5:23-24; 6:12; 7:12; Eph. 4:1-3, 32; Phil. 2:3-4.
7) Matt. 25:14-21; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:18; 1 Peter 2:19; 4:19.
Monday, July 21, 2008
A meaningful vacation
What makes a vacation meaningful to you? I asked at our last staff meeting. I would like you to think about that question.
Here is how I would answer that question:
1. Rest- I want to feel "refueled" when I get back from a vacation. Therefore, I enjoy taking naps and trying to get as much rest as I can.
2. Recreation- I like to have fun and do different things that I normally do. For example, I try and limitt my studying time while on vacation becasueI do that all the time in the midst of my every day life.
3. Reflection- I like to reflect on how my life is going. Someone once said that many people are climbing the ladder of success very fast. But they get to the top and realize it is leaning agaisnt the wrong wall. I like to reflect on what walls my ladder is leaning and is it the right one.
4. Reconnect- I like to reconnect with my family and invest my time with them.
"Change of pace...change of place....change of perspective"
Here is how I would answer that question:
1. Rest- I want to feel "refueled" when I get back from a vacation. Therefore, I enjoy taking naps and trying to get as much rest as I can.
2. Recreation- I like to have fun and do different things that I normally do. For example, I try and limitt my studying time while on vacation becasueI do that all the time in the midst of my every day life.
3. Reflection- I like to reflect on how my life is going. Someone once said that many people are climbing the ladder of success very fast. But they get to the top and realize it is leaning agaisnt the wrong wall. I like to reflect on what walls my ladder is leaning and is it the right one.
4. Reconnect- I like to reconnect with my family and invest my time with them.
"Change of pace...change of place....change of perspective"
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