Confession is good for Celebration

Would you be willing to work your way through the steps of confession before this service is over? You may have come here this morning with unnecessary weight, unnecessary guilt, but you don’t have to leave the same way. The choice is yours…

1. Address everyone involved

That may be just God. That may be others as well. You need to confess your wrong to everyone affected by your sin.

2. Avoid ifs, buts, maybes

“God, I cheated on the test, but if You hadn’t let her paper be so visible, I don’t think I would have.” “God, I yelled at my mom, but she yelled right back at me too!” Dr. Tony Evans says, “If it contains an excuse, it isn’t a confession.”

3. Admit specifically what you did wrong

It’s easy to hide behind vague generalities. Don’t do it. Identify your sinful attitudes (pride, selfishness, envy, greed, bitterness, ingratitude, stubbornness, etc.) and sinful actions.

4. Acknowledge the hurt you’ve caused

Let God know you realize your sinful behavior has caused him pain.

5. Accept the consequences

Tell God that you’re willing to bear the consequences of your sin. God may graciously let you off the hook. That’s his call, not yours.

6. Alter your behavior

Proverbs 28:13 says we should confess and forsake our sin. Make a commitment that with God’s help, you won’t walk down this path again.

7. Accept God’s forgiveness

Have a Great Day

David

A Couple of Questions

Perry Noble writes that he is asking himself four questions that are really stretching him as a leader. These are great questions, and humbling questions. Great leaders need to take time to ask these questions. They will keep you on-track, and keep you from becoming a pompous jerk of a leader, (who just happens to have a growing church). Here are the four questions:

1. What do I need to stop doing?

2. Do I always have to be right?

3. Am I helping people around me succeed?

4. Am I speaking positively of other people?

What Questions are you asking yourself today?

Have a great day

David

Missed Opportunities

We can all be honest and confess that we have missed opportunities. We have wasted relationships that could have been built, wasted years running from God and have missed opportunity after opportunity to grow closer to Jesus. Some have missed the opportunity to become the Christian man or woman that God wants them to be.The lesson for us is to treasure every moment; make the most of every moment and don’t miss your opportunities. I could list all the opportunities we have for you at our church and into our community and could remind you of all the opportunities you have with your family and friends. I could also list serving opportunities, sharing opportunities or educational opportunities, but what I will do instead is ask a couple of questions and share some scriptures:

• Today, have you missed opportunities with God? Did you spend some time with Him today? Did you take time to read His word and journal today?

• Are you making the most of the opportunities in front of you?

• Are you making the most of the relationships God has given you?

• What opportunities to be the heart, hands, feet and mouth of Jesus are right in front of me?

• Who can I be of help to in mentoring?

• Who needs me to be the answer to their prayer and the opportunity they are looking for?

God is calling on you and me to seize this moment and seize every opportunity we have to grow closer to God. If you have missed opportunities it is not too late to grab one now – change your heart and mindset and focus on what you believe God could be saying in regards to a relationship, open door, serving and giving opportunity and more. As you pray ask God to help you. Tell Him, now Lord, this very moment I want to seize my opportunities with you and for you and with others for you. I want to see what has prevented me from serving you like I should and I want to commit before you that I will not let anything stand in my way of seizing the moment and the opportunity for you. God and this church family that I am not going to let those things stand in the way again.

• Galatians 6:10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

• Ephesians 5:16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

• Colossians 4:5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.(all verses taken from NIV)

Have a Great Day

David

Picking People

In the book of Nehemiah, he speaks of bring people into your life that will pull you up, not bring you down. Selecting those kind of people are critical. The right people can help you reach many more for Christ. The wrong people can hold you back like a thousand-pound anchor.

In a blog that I often read, the author gave ten of the biggest lessons he learned on selecting those kinds of people:

1. Character is more important than giftedness.
2. God often uses those others overlook.
3. My wife is almost always a better judge about people than I am.
4. Past success is a good indicator of future success.
5. There is often a reason someone is looking for a job.
6. Teach-ability is non-negotiable.
7. When I’m trying to talk myself into liking someone, it’s best to move on.
8. People from within the organization typically have a huge advantage over those who are from without.
9. One of the best ways to attract better leaders is to become a better leader.
10. We’re all better off when we pray, listen, and obey.

Which one(s) speak to you? What would you add?

Have a Great Day

David