Steven Furtick on Detours

Here's a clip from Steven Furtick’s blog post Detours to the Destination:

The single greatest thing standing in-between you and God’s plan for your life is not just your preconceived notion of what that life itself should be. It’s also your preconceived notion of the road you should take to get there.

Wow! How many times do we get bent-out-of-shape because we’re stuck on some road that we don’t think will take us where we’re going?

If God said we’re going to a place, we’ll get there... eventually... and usually after many God-ordained detours that He didn't tell us about up-front.

Be sure to read the rest of Furtick’s post Detours to the Destination.

The Litany of Humility

One of my wife's friends recommended this litany as a help during a trying time.

I think this is the first litany I've ever read. There's a lot to think about in these words.

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...

From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated [i.e. slandered] ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease...
That others may be chosen and I set aside...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should...

Obituary - Someone Else

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.

Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work.

Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list, "Let Someone Else do it." Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; "Someone Else can work with that group."

It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do.

Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? When you are asked to help this year, remember - we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.

- Author Unknown

A Warrior Must Fight

Warriors aren't really warriors unless they stand up to the enemy. The warrior that always runs from the battle is just a coward wearing armor and carrying a sword.

 

Saul and the Israelites spent 40 days cowering before Goliath, but David defeated him the day he first heard of him. All it took was a rock and a prayer and a warrior willing to face the giant.

 

How about you?

What giants are on your battlefield?

What fights have you been putting off for the past 40 days (weeks/months/years)?

 

Perhaps it's time to...

- start that fast

- pray that prayer

- make that call

- have that talk

- give up that habit

- surrender that will

- face that giant

Draw the Sword or Keep it Sheathed?

Sometimes a warrior must attack with his sword.
Sometimes he just needs to draw it.
Sometimes it's wiser to keep it sheathed.
Occasionally it'd be best to not carry it at all (when visiting a king or president, for example).

How do you think those circumstances apply to Christians today?

Are there times where quoting scripture is a bad idea?

What does Luke 12:11-12 say about this?