A great reminder...

I have been muddling through a new devotional book that I bought. Since I feel like God has given me a platform to lead others, I need to be in tune with leadership practices and beliefs from other believers. So I purchased “Called to Lead” by John Crosby. It is a 52 week devotional. My learning style is better to do things each day, so it became a 52 day devotional guide for me.

I wish I could say it has transformed my life, but it hasn’t. Even sharing what I am about to share doesn’t make this book fantastic. In your hands it may be different, that is the beauty of God's work in each of our lives. It is just that I was moved by this morning’s reading and thought maybe you would benefit from it.

I have struggled with this in my life many times and it’s a powerful enemy of my heart. I would say that my experience mirrors what the author says. Bitterness has never brought the outcome I expected or wanted. Though I have often pushed back on dealing with this part of my life when it raises its head, usually because of my hurt or perceived hurt, bitterness has never brought resolution and peace.

So here we go. May God speak to you if you need it, if not, thanks for taking a moment and reading this. It may come back to mind in the future, if so, I thank God for his hand in our lives.

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“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 23-24, ESV)

"For most of the leaders I serve, this is the most significant character flaw I see. Leaders tend to be competitive. Yet competitive people tend to hold grudges. We begrudge former staff for leaving our organization; we resent competitors who seek to sway our customers, and believers who don’t support or appreciate our sacrifices; we state ticked about costly in house mistakes; we get peeved when a friend supports our competition. Some of these issues we attempt to reconcile, and some we just think will take to the grave.

Few things have the potential to undermine and work a leaders attempt to positively influence others like a bitter heart.

STOP. If you’re heading down the above passage and pointing out that if the other person does not know about your anger then he can’t hold it against you… just stop. You’re missing the point! Anger is like weed seeds. Spread a few in your yard and see what happens. When anger takes root, sin takes hold. Anger will choke the joy right out of your life. God values your obedience FAR MORE than your worship and/or ministry activity. That’s why he says stop and reconcile BEFORE worshiping.

Perhaps you need to put this devotion down right now, swallow your pride, and make a telephone call or-even better-man-up (woman-up) and go reconcile with someone in person. I’m pleading with you. If someone has come to mind while reading this, don’t try to determine if you should address the situation. Trust the Holy Spirit and take care of business. I know of nothing more personally freeing and blessed more often by God

than when we extend forgiveness and reconcile with others. I can promise you this-when you truly forgive the person you least wish to forgive, your load will be lightened more than you expect. It always is when we follow Christ. Indeed, what could be more Christ-like than going the extra mile and extending forgiveness, even to someone who may not deserve forgiveness?"

God's hand on your day and may your weekend be blessed! Mine will be fixing a drippy faucet, sounds like God has given me a perfect illustration of bitterness. A drippy faucet that will fill us a cup if it is set under it. Unforgiveness is a drippy faucet, work on the faucet and then empty the cup, or vice versa.

Till Monday...