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the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have
received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have
done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to
eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me
in." Hungry not only for bread- but hungry for love. Naked not only
for clothing- but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a home of bricks- but homeless because of rejection.
(Mother Teresa )
As followers of Jesus, how do we represent Him in our personal lives to those who are hurting?
Is
this the primary ministry of our churches and ministries or are we more
concerned with building bigger buildings or raising more money?
If this is the standard that is required of us as Christ followers, why aren't we more concerned about the "least of these?"
Why
do we spend our money on second homes when some people don't even have
a place to live? Why do we lavish ourselves with designer clothes and
shoes when destitute parents aren't able to provide adequate clothing
for their children?
Why do we preach love and grace in our churches, but we turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to those who are hurting and broken?
Why do we rip each other apart with hurtful words when we have been given mercy?
Why do we withhold love and respect from those who are different from us?
If
these questions make us uncomfortable now, just imagine how we will
feel when Jesus, who gave everything for us, asks us why we weren't
willing to give to others.
As His hands and feet in this world, why are we presenting Him as a stingy, self-absorbed, angry God who doesn't care?
In
the light of eternity, what will it matter if you are president of a
charity when you steal the home, food, and clothing from people in need
to build your own empire in the name of God? I wonder what you will
say when He looks deep into your soul and reveals your greed and
deception for everyone to see?
Perhaps we need to throw out all
our religious strategies and traditions, and start to follow Jesus.
But wait, if we go to that extreme, we may also be homeless and poor .
. . or it may lead us to a cross.
Brenda Branson, Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved
brokenpeople.org
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Invisible People
I recently attended a church where they were beginning a new
evangelistic program called “Just Walk Across the Room.” It is a very good series developed by Bill
Hybels of Willow Creek
Church. The emphasis is on getting to know the people
around you so you may have an opportunity to invite them to a relationship with
Jesus Christ.
What could be wrong with that? Nothing . . . unless you think the end
justifies the means. I wonder if our evangelistic
strategies really please God, or if He is more interested in the motives of our
hearts as we reach out to people around us.
When you decide to befriend someone, is it because you
really care about them (as Jesus did) or because you feel better about yourself
for inviting them to church? Are you
motivated by the amount of money or status they have, or do you choose them the
way you choose fresh produce—only the unblemished, most beautiful ones will do?
How much time and energy would you put into a relationship if you knew that
person would never be interested in knowing Jesus or attending your church?
When the goal has been met and your conquests have been
enlisted, do you continue to nurture these relationships or do they quickly
become invisible people as you move on to make other converts?
What does it mean to be invisible?
·
When the pastor leans across your seat to greet
the person sitting next to you, but doesn’t even make eye contact or
communicate with you, it may mean you are invisible.
·
When a clique of well-dressed church ladies walk
right past you, making no eye contact or polite greeting, and spend the next
half-hour talking among themselves in the same room while you sit quietly
alone, it may mean you are invisible.
·
When your relatives who attend the same church walk
past you without saying “hello” week after week, it may mean you are invisible.
·
When you’ve missed attending church for several
weeks and no one calls to see if you are okay, it may mean you are invisible.
As I think about the invisible people in my own church, it
grieves my heart that many of them have come and gone without notice and we
have missed knowing some amazing people.
When people are treated as objects or as a means to an end, they will be
quickly discarded unless they have something special to offer such as status or
money.
Here’s what it says in James 2 (The Message):
My dear friends, don’t
let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated
faith. If a man enters your church
wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right
after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir, this is the best
seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit
here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that
you are judges who can’t be trusted?
Listen, dear
friends. Isn’t it clear by now that God
operates quite differently? He chose the
world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and
privileges. This kingdom is promised to
anyone who loves God. And here you are
abusing these same citizens! Isn’t it
the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind?
To our shame, we do treat people differently in our
churches. People who are too fat, too
deep, too loud, too quiet, too poor, too flashy, or too much of a misfit are
often ignored and judged. Perhaps we
need heavenly glasses to see all the invisible people, to see the value in
those who have been deemed insignificant, and to see everyone the way God sees
them.
For all the invisible people who feel discarded and ignored,
God sees you! He sees the real you—the
person deep down inside your skin that others have missed, the person with
gifts and dreams and love to offer, the person He created you to be. Don’t spend too much time grieving the sting
of insensitive people who claim to know God; instead, look up and celebrate the
incredible life God has birthed inside you and ask Him to help you see others
with the same delight He has when He thinks of you.
God, give me eyes to
see those whom you love and ears to hear the cry of their heart even before
they say a word so that no one remains invisible or insignificant.
Brenda Branson Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved
http://brokenpeople.org
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Looking Back
I could hardly recognize myself. I was no longer the quiet, easy-going girl
that very seldom got angry. In my
reaction to my husband’s tirades and verbal abuse, I began having unkind
thoughts (that’s putting it mildly!) and often responded with a sharp edge to
my voice.
It felt like my insides were boiling and any day this
volcano of bitterness would erupt to scald whomever stood in my path. When my intuitive co-workers confronted me
and asked if I was harboring some anger inside, I became very defensive and
said, “I’m not angry! That’s
ridiculous!”
Although it took me a while to admit it, I began to see a
mirror image in myself of the traits I detested in my husband. How could this have happened? I despised my stinking attitude and felt
defeated by the man who knew which buttons to push to get a negative reaction
out of me. Even more, I dreaded seeing
the smirk on my husband’s face when I sank to his level, and hated hearing him
declare how “unchristian” my behavior was.
I wanted the old me back—not the part who became my
husband’s doormat, but the peaceful, kind person who was still there beneath
the surface of turmoil and anger. During
a marriage counseling session our pastor asked, “Are you willing to try to make
this marriage work?” As a good little
church lady I responded, “Of course!”
The next day his question haunted me. I knew the truth, but I had not been
courageous enough to admit it. “No! I do not want to make my marriage work!” I said it out loud as if God couldn’t read my
thoughts. “I don’t want to make this
work!”
Living with a difficult, abusive man for 20 years was just
about all I could take. I was not
willing to go back and endure more of the same.
I did not believe my husband would ever change, and I no longer had the
strength to carry both of us. As soon as
I admitted the truth to myself and to God, I was able to make one last attempt
to reconcile the marriage. I agreed to
seek the help of a professional counselor as long as he would hold my husband
accountable for his actions.
I asked God to forgive me for my sinful attitudes and
actions, and restore to me the joy of living and a purpose for being
alive. I submitted my anger and right
for revenge to God, trusting Him to provide justice and deliverance from harm.
As I expected, my husband had no intention of changing, and
seemed to delight in pushing me over the edge.
Instead of reacting to his rage, I remained calm and in control. Although
he became increasingly violent, I made a conscious choice to restrain my
tongue, set limits, and do whatever was necessary to maintain my safety.
Instead of remaining a powerless victim, I began focusing on
what I could change—myself. I began to
keep a journal and write down thoughts and feelings, as well as documenting
incidents of abuse. My prayer life was
more active as I prayed for my husband and for wisdom to know how to proceed if
he refused to change or get help. The scriptures became a precious source of
strength and builder of self-esteem as I rediscovered my worth through the eyes
of the Lord, my creator.
Like a struggling baby bird pecking its way out of the
shell, I began chipping away at the lies I had believed in the prison of my own
making. I was emerging as a person
capable of surviving and thriving on my own.
When faced with the decision of whether to allow my son to
suffer the trauma of a broken home or live in an abusive home, I chose to leave
and take him with me. It was the right
choice for me . . .and ultimately for him.
When I had to choose whether or not to be truthful on
financial questions when my husband skillfully hid assets and lied about his
income, God helped me choose honesty over money. He helped me choose faith over feelings and
integrity over manipulation.
I did not get the old me back, but the Lord gave me a new me
instead. I praise Him for the changes He
has made in my life. Some were very
painful, but all have been for my good.
My life is full of joy and anticipation as God opens doors, provides for
my needs, and fulfills my every desire.
Brenda
Branson, Copyright © 2002-2008, All Rights Reserved
www.brokenpeople.org
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Greed
“Greed is the selfish
desire for or pursuit of money,
wealth,
power, food, or other possessions,
especially when this denies the same goods to others.” (from
Wikipedia)
Greed’s two sisters are envy and jealousy. Together, they form a diabolical trinity that
sneaks their way into the heart of a person, unnoticed at first, weaving and
twisting their toxic vines around the heart, poisoning the soul.
Where does greed come
from? “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts,
do not boast and be false to the truth.
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly,
unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition
exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and
sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make
peace.” (James 3:14-18 ESV)
It was greed that germinated in Lucifer’s heart. He was one of the most beautiful creatures in
heaven, but he wanted more. Instead of
being thankful for all God had given him, he wanted what he didn’t have and
tried to take it by force. He
manipulated other angelic beings with his lies and corrupted, twisted thinking
and gained allies to join him in his diabolical attempt to gain power and
control over God himself! Crashing
headlong up against a holy God sent him reeling, banished from heaven forever,
but still power hungry in his temporary dominion of earth. Since then he has taken great delight in
reproducing his vile nature in the hearts and minds of people who listen to his
lies instead of trusting God’s promises.
Greedy people are often blinded to the truth about
themselves. They rationalize their
actions when they take what belongs to others by saying, “Well, I don’t have
what you have, so I’m going to take yours.”
They may even delude themselves into thinking they are serving God with
the bounty they have taken from others.
But God is not pleased. Jesus
spoke harshly to religious people who appeared to be generous and merciful on
the outside, but were inwardly “full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:23-26 ESV)
What does greed look
like? It often hides in the heart of
a person, unnoticed until the greedy person is squeezed by disappointments in
life; but sometimes it is overtly evident in the selfish child who grows into
an envious, greedy adult. Here are some
components of the multifaceted face of greed:
·
Narcissism—I love myself more than I
care about your well-being, and even though I say I care about you, what I want
is really more important.
·
Arrogance--I am always right, even when others say I’m wrong for taking what
belongs to you. I’m digging in my heels and refuse to consider anyone else’s
opinion, and I’m shutting my ears to what God has to say.
·
Entitlement--I deserve to have what you have, so I’ll just take yours without
any regard for your welfare or other people’s needs.
·
Envy and Jealousy—My good deeds and
hard work have gone unnoticed while people applaud you. I want what you have so people will like me
more. I will not rest until I have rendered you powerless, invisible,
discredited and stripped of everything that I want for myself.
·
Control—You are confident and
assertive while I am needy and afraid. When I take from you, it makes me feel
“large and in charge.” When I have it
all and you are left with nothing, I may be able to control you by my
selective, strings-attached generosity.
·
Judgmental and punitive attitude--You
hurt me so I will punish you by taking whatever will hurt you the most. Just
when you think it’s over, I’ll come back to take more so you will suffer like you’ve
caused me to suffer.
·
Selfishness—I want what I want when
I want it, even if it means you will go without. I will destroy you if you get in my way.
What is the spiritual
condition of a greedy person? It is
very hard for a greedy person to trust that God is good. Regardless of God’s blessings in their lives,
they wonder if He is holding out on them.
It’s the same lie Eve believed when she was living in paradise,
surrounded by everything she needed and desired, but still wondering if there
was more. When a person rationalizes
that God might not come through for them, they decide to take charge of their
own life and become a god unto themselves.
When someone values anything more than God, scripture calls
it idolatry. The twisted logic of a
greedy “religious” person says that what they are coveting and taking from
others is for God’s work in the kingdom; therefore it is justified. Greedily taking from others to further the
cause of their own “ministry” becomes the idol that separates them from
worshiping the true God who requires mercy and justice instead of tainted
offerings that have been stolen from others.
The apostle Peter spoke about people whose “hearts are trained in greed” (2 Peter 2:14-22), calling them “waterless springs and mists driven by a storm” who promise people
freedom, not realizing they are themselves enslaved. “For whatever overcomes a
person, to that he is enslaved.”
(verse19)
Are you a “waterless spring?” Do you appear to have God’s life in you
(living water) as you engage in religious rhetoric and humanitarian good deeds,
but in reality you are as dry as dead men’s bones because of your greed and
envy and jealousy?
If you have found your own reflection in the tri-fold mirror
of greed, envy, and jealousy, what should you do? You’ve already taken the first step toward
healing by opening your eyes and admitting your brokenness. God has great compassion and mercy for those
who run into his open arms for forgiveness. He despises an arrogant, stubborn spirit, but
embraces a repentant heart.
The next step in true repentance is to turn and go in
another direction. In Colossians 3, Paul
advises us to put the idolatries of our hearts behind us and pursue
“compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (v. 12), and most
importantly, to allow God’s self-sacrificing love (v. 14) to flow through
us.
As you pursue the path of righteousness, you may still
occasionally hear the voice of the enemy whispering familiar lies in your ear,
trying to get you off course. “She’s got
stuff that you don’t have . . . you deserve better . . . people love her more
than you . . . maybe God is holding out on you . . . you should take matters
into your own hands and take what should be yours.” When
those lies assault your ears and invade your heart, don’t let them take
root. Take the whole rotten mess to your
Father and let Him replace your fears with His truth. To the extent that you keep running toward
Him with a tender heart that seeks truth, the enemy’s lies will lose their
potency.
If you harden your heart and continue to embrace evil, God
will most definitely deal with you.
Sometimes He relentlessly pursues his wayward children and sometimes He
leaves them to their own devices until the consequences of their actions send
them running back to Him. For you, dear
one who is struggling with greed and envy, God desires to rescue your heart
from the clutches of the evil one. If
you’ll just risk standing naked in the presence of holy, He will redeem and
transform your heart and mind through the power of His incredible love. What will your choice be?
Brenda Branson, Copyright © 2008, All Rights Reserved
http://www.brokenpeople.org
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| I've been re-reading Brent Curtis and John Eldredge's book, The Sacred Romance, and am finding its words speaking powerfully to my soul. It has answered some questions for me . . . like why my heart has such a yearning for intimacy and deep connection. According to Eldredge, the voice of passion that awakens our heart to love is none other than the voice of God.
Eldredge writes, "Indeed, if we will listen, a Sacred Romance calls to us through our heart every moment of our lives. It
whispers to us on the wind, invites us through the laughter of good
friends, reaches out to us through the touch of someone we love. We've
heard it in our favorite music, sensed it at the birth of our first
child, been drawn to it while watching the shimmer of a sunset on the
ocean. The Romance is even present in times of great personal suffering . . . Something
calls to us through experiences like these and rouses an inconsolable
longing deep within our heart, wakening in us a yearning for intimacy,
beauty, and adventure. This longing is the most powerful part of any human personality. It fuels our search for meaning, for wholeness, for a sense of being truly alive."
Now
I understand why my heart responded so quickly once upon a time to one
wonderful prince in the Kingdom—he reflected the heart of his Father, a
man after God's own heart. On one hand he was kind, gentle, sensitive, creative, and romantic. On the other hand he was strong, courageous, protective, adventurous, and passionate. He
was wonderful, yet wounded; brave, yet fearful; full of God's life and
love, yet broken . . . just like every other prince in the Kingdom . .
. just like me.
Just a brief encounter with this prince made a long-lasting, profound impact on my heart. I hear the voice of my Father echoing in the memories of his words, and I am delighting in my Father's passionate love!
Do you want to know how to recognize a prince? He
will be a man who is full of the life and love of Jesus; a man who will
treasure you, cherish you, hold you gently, yet firm enough for you to
feel secure; a man who will delight in knowing you and getting to know
you more; a man who will spread his wing of protection over you; a man
who will entrust you to God with no need nor desire to control you, but
rather a desire to give you all the space and freedom you need to
continue to blossom into the woman you were meant to be; a man who
knows who he is in Christ, who is secure in His Father's love, who
knows who you are in Christ; and a man who delights in you.
So what should you do if your prince does not come into your life? Don't close your heart or allow it to become hardened or bitter. Celebrate your deepest desires by nestling deep into the heart of your Father. When
your hand reaches out each morning to touch the one you love, and he is
not there, raise your hands in praise to the lover of your soul who
desires to spend time with you. When the words
of your beloved are just a precious memory, listen for the whispers of
love from your Father throughout the day and the songs of love He sings
over you at night.
When
you are blessed to live another new day, greet your Father in the
morning with the same loving message you would give your prince . . .
"Good morning, my love." Say it out loud . . . say it with passionate love.
Keep
the fire of passion alive in your heart so you will be fully alive
whether you are surrounded only with the presence of God or safely
snuggled in the arms of the prince you love.
I love Bebo Norman's song, "To Find My Way To You." Even
though the lyrics may be directed to a far-away love here on this
planet, perhaps this is the sentiment of God's heart as He longs for
you.
"And
oh love, when you say to me that my kiss is like the breath you
breathe, I would set out across the sea just to find my way to you. I would give up a thousand dreams just to find my way to you."
"My beloved is mine and I am his. Behold, you are beautiful, my love."
(Song of Solomon 2:16; 4:1)
Brenda Branson, Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved www.brokenpeople.org | | |
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