A Sad, but joyous day lies ahead for Mercy Ships, as the baton is passed to Africa Mercy this June in Tema, Ghana.
Anastasis and Caribbean Mercy Retire - Mercy Ships
Sunday, February 26, 2006
I took this from Reuel's blog. Reuel is an amazing person who lives radically for God. Check out his blog sometime (see links). I met him in KC a couple of years ago, and have enjoyed reading about his life since.
Below is a challenging piece (for me anyway) to meditate on.
Excerpted from:
The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Proud People Vs. Broken & Humble People
Focus on Failures of others
Vs.
Overwhelmed with sense of personal spiritual need
Critical & fault-finding spirit; looking at other’s faults with a microscope; own with a telescope
Vs.
Compassion- being able to forgive much knowing how much Grace has been given
Self-righteous; looking down on others
Vs.
Esteeming others better than self
Independent spirit; self-sufficient spirit
Vs.
Possessing a dependent spirit; recognizing need for others
Claim entitlements; Rights & possessing a demanding spirit
Vs.
Yielding rights; possessing a meek spirit
Have to prove “I’m right!”
Vs.
Willing to yield the right to be right
Self-protective of own time, rights, and reputation
Vs.
Self-denying
Desire to be served
Vs.
Motivated to serve others
Desire to be successful
Vs.
Motivated to be faithful and to make others a success
Desire self-advancement
Vs.
Desire to promote others
Possessing a drive to be recognized and appreciated
Vs.
Having a sense of personal unworthiness; thrilled that God would use them at all
Wounded when others are promoted & them overlooked
Vs.
Eager for others to get the credit; rejoicing when others are
lifted up; promoted
Have subconscious feeling, “This organization is privileged to have me and my gifts”
Vs.
Heart attitude of “I don’t deserve to have a part in this thing”
Thinking of what they can do for God
Vs.
Knowing they have nothing to offer God except brokenness
Confident in how much they know
Vs.
Humbled by how much they have to learn
Self-conscious
Vs.
Not concerned with self at all
Keep others at arms’ length
Vs.
Willing to risk getting close to others and take risks of loving intimately
Quick to blame others
Vs.
Accept personal responsibility and seeing own wrong in situations
Unapproachable or defensive when criticized
Vs.
Receiving criticism as constructive; with humble spirit
Concerned with being respectable; what others think;
Vs.
Concerned with being real; only what God thinks, matters
Working to protect reputation
Vs.
Willing to die to reputation
Find it difficult to share spiritual need with others
Vs.
Willing to be transparent; open with others as God directs
Careful that no one finds out when they’ve sinned- constant cover up
Vs.
Once broken, not caring who knows or finds out; willing to be exposed because of nothing to lose
Have a hard time saying “I was wrong; could you please forgive me?
Vs.
Quick to admit failure and seek forgiveness needed
Tend to deal in generalities when confessing sin
Vs.
Able to acknowledge specifics when confessing sin
Concerned about the consequences of sin
Vs.
Grieved over cause of sin at it’s root
Not remorseful over sin, but sorry they were caught or found out
Vs.
Truly genuinely repentant over sin, evidenced in forsaking same
Wait for others to come to ask forgiveness when there is misunderstanding or conflict in relationship
Vs.
Taking initiative toward reconciliation when misunderstanding or conflict in relationships (inevitable) occurs- quick to get to the Cross, no matter how wrong the other
Compare themselves with others and feel worthy of honor
Vs.
Comparing themselves with Holy Standard of Almighty God; feeling desperate need for His Mercy
Blind to their true heart condition
Vs.
Walking in the Light
Think there’s nothing to repent over / of
Vs.
Realizing continual need of heart attitude of repentance
Don’t think they personally need revival, but everyone else sure does
Vs.
Continually sensing personal need for encounter with God; for refreshing or His Holy Spirit
Below is a challenging piece (for me anyway) to meditate on.
Excerpted from:
The Heart God Revives by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Proud People Vs. Broken & Humble People
Focus on Failures of others
Vs.
Overwhelmed with sense of personal spiritual need
Critical & fault-finding spirit; looking at other’s faults with a microscope; own with a telescope
Vs.
Compassion- being able to forgive much knowing how much Grace has been given
Self-righteous; looking down on others
Vs.
Esteeming others better than self
Independent spirit; self-sufficient spirit
Vs.
Possessing a dependent spirit; recognizing need for others
Claim entitlements; Rights & possessing a demanding spirit
Vs.
Yielding rights; possessing a meek spirit
Have to prove “I’m right!”
Vs.
Willing to yield the right to be right
Self-protective of own time, rights, and reputation
Vs.
Self-denying
Desire to be served
Vs.
Motivated to serve others
Desire to be successful
Vs.
Motivated to be faithful and to make others a success
Desire self-advancement
Vs.
Desire to promote others
Possessing a drive to be recognized and appreciated
Vs.
Having a sense of personal unworthiness; thrilled that God would use them at all
Wounded when others are promoted & them overlooked
Vs.
Eager for others to get the credit; rejoicing when others are
lifted up; promoted
Have subconscious feeling, “This organization is privileged to have me and my gifts”
Vs.
Heart attitude of “I don’t deserve to have a part in this thing”
Thinking of what they can do for God
Vs.
Knowing they have nothing to offer God except brokenness
Confident in how much they know
Vs.
Humbled by how much they have to learn
Self-conscious
Vs.
Not concerned with self at all
Keep others at arms’ length
Vs.
Willing to risk getting close to others and take risks of loving intimately
Quick to blame others
Vs.
Accept personal responsibility and seeing own wrong in situations
Unapproachable or defensive when criticized
Vs.
Receiving criticism as constructive; with humble spirit
Concerned with being respectable; what others think;
Vs.
Concerned with being real; only what God thinks, matters
Working to protect reputation
Vs.
Willing to die to reputation
Find it difficult to share spiritual need with others
Vs.
Willing to be transparent; open with others as God directs
Careful that no one finds out when they’ve sinned- constant cover up
Vs.
Once broken, not caring who knows or finds out; willing to be exposed because of nothing to lose
Have a hard time saying “I was wrong; could you please forgive me?
Vs.
Quick to admit failure and seek forgiveness needed
Tend to deal in generalities when confessing sin
Vs.
Able to acknowledge specifics when confessing sin
Concerned about the consequences of sin
Vs.
Grieved over cause of sin at it’s root
Not remorseful over sin, but sorry they were caught or found out
Vs.
Truly genuinely repentant over sin, evidenced in forsaking same
Wait for others to come to ask forgiveness when there is misunderstanding or conflict in relationship
Vs.
Taking initiative toward reconciliation when misunderstanding or conflict in relationships (inevitable) occurs- quick to get to the Cross, no matter how wrong the other
Compare themselves with others and feel worthy of honor
Vs.
Comparing themselves with Holy Standard of Almighty God; feeling desperate need for His Mercy
Blind to their true heart condition
Vs.
Walking in the Light
Think there’s nothing to repent over / of
Vs.
Realizing continual need of heart attitude of repentance
Don’t think they personally need revival, but everyone else sure does
Vs.
Continually sensing personal need for encounter with God; for refreshing or His Holy Spirit
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