Well, I wrote last week how I was really excited about the Catalyst leadership conference that Heidi and I attended in Atlanta. If you read the blog I posted last week you know that God was doing something and showing me his love.
Throughout the conference the speakers just spoke to the heart of the matter. I learned so much from experts on leadership and heard from some great Christian leaders as well. Over the last week, God has really identified for me that I struggle the most with pride and what others think of me. It's idolatry to always worry what others think of you...Heidi has been telling me this for a long time, but I guess I never really heard her. Don't get me wrong, I'm not telling you to to stop considering others, this is still very important. For me though, it's like every decision I make I have to go through a list of people to make sure that no one will find fault with me. When really, it's okay if someone sees fault in me. It's going to be a tough road to get over this...but with God's grace and forgiveness I know I will get through it.
Catalyst really challenged me, with 12,400 other Christian leaders from EVERY denomination, to embrace change in our lives; it's how God pulls us through the process of sanctification. He is a Holy God and ALL of his ways are righteous.
I pray for God's direction in your life and that you wouldn't resist when He is calling you to change. I pray that God will open our hearts to receive His grace and direction.
Posts
2 comments:
Hey, Jon!
Just a note -- I had a chance today to read over some of your recent blogs. I believe that we all struggle with fleshly pride in many different forms - sometimes it's even in the form of false humility. To have somehow progressed past the point of struggling with the Old Man in us is an impossibility this side of heaven. Remember, Paul wrote about it (and seems to give evidence of his own frustration and confusion just in the way he wrote!)in Romans 7, but by the Holy Spirit concluded: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God -- through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
You're right! He does forgive. And as He forgives, I believe He can bring healing from our self-anxieties and damaging surges of pride. We find peace in what He accomplishes through us.
It's such a blessing that truth doesn't find any orginination inside of us -- truth, absolute truth, belongs to God, and is expressed in His will -- which He graciously and lovingly communicates to us in His Word -- that Word which always proclaims the Savior as the centerpoint of God's message of truth to our world, and to you personally. The forgiving, loving, Savior! It's a message I need to be touched with again and again, especially when the enemy would like to make me think that I'm either not doing enough of what it takes or that I'm doing too much of my share!
God's peace, Jon, to you and Heidi. I think of the people of Lucumo and wonder when the next time might be that I would be able to visit again. I pray that what has been established so far will serve as growing ground for the Lord's Gospel of Truth to live amongst the people of Lucumo, Lunahuana, and further into whatever parts the Lord is sending it.
Thanks PA! I appreciate your words of encouragement! I totally agree with you about how we will never progress past the point of struggling with the our sinful nature; until the one day when Jesus takes us to be with him forever.
I believe God also shows us our sin in order to bring us back to him in repentance, to rely on His grace that we receive through faith in Christ.
The song I referred to in my blog just reaffirmed the greatness of God and how I outright ignore Him in my daily life. It may be shocking to hear, but even those called to ministry or missions struggle with these things; like pride. I believe God is pointing this out to me so I realize He is going to change me; and that it's not going to be easy.
Post a Comment