Proud or Broken?

Got this from a sermon by Phil Smuland I think he says that he got this from someplace else.

Which do you identify with? I started bold-ing the ones that I feel most guilty of and realized I'd bolded three-fourths of the list. If you don't have time to read the whole list read the first 4 pairs and the last 4 pairs.

Praise the Lord He is able to sanctify me and move me closer to the broken. I know I'm not capable to move myself....

proud - focus on the failures of others
broken - overwhelmed by their own spiritual need
proud - self righteous they have critical spirit. look at own faults with telescope, others' faults with microscope
broken - forgiving spirit. they look for good in others.
proud - look down on others
broken - esteem all others above themselves
proud - independent. self sufficient
broken - dependent. recognize and seek needs of others.
proud - seek to maintain control, must have agenda their own way
broken - surrender control
proud - prove they are right, need to be right
broken - willing to yield the right to be right.
proud - claim their rights.
broken - yield their rights
proud - demanding spirit
broken - giving spirit.
proud - self protective of time, rights, reputation
broken - self denied
proud - desire to be served
broken - motivated to serve others.
proud - long to be successful
broken - desire to be faithful, to make others a success
proud - desire self-advancement
broken - long to promote others
proud - driven to be recognized and appreciated.
broken - sense of unworthiness, thrilled to be used at all.
proud - wounded when others are promoted and they are overlooked
broken - rejoice when others are lifted up.
proud - think the ministry is privileged to have them.
broken - think they don't deserve to serve in this ministry
proud - think what they can do for God
broken - know they have nothing to give to God
proud - confident in how much they know
broken - humble at how much they have to learn
proud - self-conscience
broken - no concern for self view
proud - keep others at arms length
broken - risk getting close to others. willing to take risk to know others.
proud - quick to blame.
broken - accept personal responsibility
proud - unapproachable
broken - easily approached
proud - defensive when criticized
broken - receive criticism with humble, open heart
proud - concerned with being respectable.
broken - concerned with being real
proud - concerned with what others think.
broken - know that all that matters is what God thinks.
proud - work to maintain an image and protect their reputation
broken - die to their own reputation
proud - find it difficult to share their own spiritual needs.
broken - willing to be transparent
proud - want to be sure no one finds out about their sin
broken - willing to be exposed, and realize after confession have nothing to loose
proud - hard to say "I was wrong, will you forgive me"
broken - quick to admit their faults and seek forgiveness
proud - concerned about consequences of sin.
broken - grieved over the root of their sin
proud - remorseful for being caught
broken - repent over sin
proud - wait for other party to come to resolve a conflict
broken - take initiative to be reconciled. They get their first and apologize
proud - compare with others and feel they deserve honor.
broken - compare with Holy God and feel desperate for mercy
proud - blind to true condition
broken - walk in the light.
proud - don't think they have anything to repent of
broken - never stop repenting the deeds of the flesh
proud - think they don't need revival, though they think everyone else does
broken - continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God

Life is short, Come to Christ

Another friend of mine has died.

I'm sad. I'm sad for my friend's wife. He wasn't a believer. Or at least I don't think he was. He didn't claim to be. In fact he claimed the opposite. My friend's wife is a baby Christian. I'm praying that this tragedy drives her to the Lord, to rely on His strength, and not on her own. I hope I can respond to the Spirit's prompting and help her in any way I can.

I visited my friend in the hospital a couple of times. The last time, I shared the Gospel with him. I tried to call him to believe in Christ and not in his own efforts. I am sad that I did not try harder to convince him that he needed Jesus now, because he might not make it through the next series of surgeries. Instead I joined him in his assumption that he would return from surgery and have more opportunity to study Christianity and make a decision later.

We were both wrong, and now he's gone.

Since I found out about his passing I've been pleading with the Lord in hopes that He saved my friend before he died. But thus far I have no expectation of an 11th hour reprieve. I'm not God so I don't know for sure though.

Please, if you're reading this post, come to Christ. Don't depend on your good works to earn your way into heaven. Its not what you do that pays your debt. It's the blood of Jesus who died for our sins that is the only acceptable currency to God. Of course true faith will result in "..Good works that God has prepared for us." But these works testify to your love of Jesus. They don't make Him love you.

Please, don't wait. Time is slipping away every moment. This night of sleep could be your last. Don't risk your eternity.

Re-Energized

Sometimes I feel like I'm not attending the right church. And maybe just that sentence is enough to point out the problem. Church isn't just some building I show up at on Sunday mornings. Church should be something I live out every day through fellowship with believers in my community. Church should be sharing Jesus' love through serving others that can't return my service. Church should be about discipling others. Church should be loving and caring for my family.

Its so easy for me to be critical of the Sunday service. I feel like its in my gift to point out where people can improve. (Of course I rarely point that gift at myself ;). I've been feeling pretty negative about the sermons in particular for the last year or so, and I've realized that I'm even getting bitter about them. I know Jesus is not interested in me being bitter towards my brothers who are working hard to preach.

God kicked me in the pants this week when an old friend of mine preached at my church. He spoke about Matthew 28:19,20, aka "The Great Commission." He said we should be studying Jesus' life and learning how He discipled His followers with stories, miracles, and formal doctrinal instruction. I need to be intentional to share stories of my life that witness to God's Grace. I want to serve others who can't repay my service as a demonstration of the miracle of the Spirit's leading and prompting in my life. I want to teach others the amazing depth and glory of the Theology of God.

I feel excited to get back in the game and disciple people, and to give up being bitter. God has called me where I am, and I will serve Him.