In Your Face!

I certainly do not like to be confronted with problems in my life, but often times that is exactly what I need. There are areas in my life where I struggle. It's true, I am NOT perfect. I know that may shatter my image with some of you, but it's true. And some times...just sometimes...I don't like to deal with my own junk! And when I struggle to deal with it, sometimes God send someone to throw it up in my face.

Now, let me talk about this a little bit. When I say God sends someone to throw it in my face, I don't mean God sends someone to give me their opinion. Let me elaborate on this. My opinion is what I believe by examining the things that I see from the outside and is driven by my own personal thoughts. Notice that in this definition there are a lot of "I's". This is the problem Jesus was addressing in the story of the splinter and beam. Remember, Matthew 7:1-5! I could care less about your personal opinion...and Quite honestly, you should care less about mine! In fact, if people would keep their personal opinions to themselves we would have a lot less hurt in this world. (Example, the latest gaffe from England's prime minister while the mic's were still on!) Personal opinions should be kept more...a, what's the word...PERSONAL! Keep them to yourself!

When God's sends someone he sends someone willing to listen! Perhaps, I should spend more time here, but I fear you may not listen to it and skip to the next paragraph. (A little humor, but maybe you get the point.) When God sends some, they put aside their personal opinions and preconceived talking points and genuinely listen to what I have to say. But more importantly, they are listening to God himself. When God has a message to send, He is far more interested in the messenger listening to Him than listening to any other outside influence. For instance, God's message out weights our personal opinion, our misconceived beliefs, the sermon Oprah is preaching, the diagnosis Dr. Phil is making, anything Dr. Spock has to say, or for that matter anyone else! But when God places a message on the heart of his servant, you better pay attention!

Not does the messenger have to listen to God, but they must be willing to communicate the message in the power of the Holy Spirit evidencing His (The Holy Spirit) fruit. So there is both a message to communicate and a manner in which to communicate the message! Many of God's messages have fallen of deaf ears because the way in which the message was communicated was full of anger, condescension, greed, arrogance, etc. According to Colossians 3 these things are of the flesh, not the Spirit!

That's why it is so valuable to find a person who can "counsel" you and be God's person to get in your face! My counselor has counseled me to learn more about being a successful child of God, than a successful Pastor! I may need some personal space for a minute! You need to back up and get out of my face! That's a little too personal. He was right. The struggle in me and the exhaustion in me often comes from me "doing" too much and not "being". Do you know the difference?

Let me see if I can help you, at least let me tell you where my heart has been challenged. What would it look like if I were a successful Child of God? Immediately this list came to my mind:

• Read the Bible
• Pray
• Witness
• Obey
• Be a proper Steward with my money
• Eat less
• Exercise more
• etc.

Notice that my list always ends up as a list of things to do! And with that line of thinking, when I don't do these things, I am a complete failure. What if I told you that my thinking is being challenged! I can be so busy in the doing that I forget about the being. What if I told you that God is far more interested in your being than in you doing? Sometimes we thing that by doing more we can becomes closer to God. But do you know what that usually causes? It usually causes people to move further away from God! It did me. I was so busy doing things for God that I was missing many opportunities to be with God. Think this is a new problem, or just a problem I am having? Think again, and read Luke 10:38-42. Read closely..."one thing is needful..." WHAT? ...but God, the chairs have to be in place...but God, the restrooms have the be cleaned...but God, I must read 10 chapters today...but God, I must spent 1 hour in prayer today...but God... It is true that the work must be done, but what is needed first is to "be with Jesus." Have you been with Jesus today?

"Dear God, I confess that I have been more worried about the work of the ministry, than I have been about being with. I know that I am forgiven! So help me to choose that one thing that is needed. Help me to value our time walking, or driving, or setting in silence. I am glad to be your child more than anything else. I come to you for everything. I come to your for strength. I come to you for direction. I come to you for the words to say, or write. I want to be successful at just being your child! Thank you for sending Dave to get all up in my face. God, bring that change that is needed for me to BE. I love you Lord."