Vulnerability

Your Mess Becomes Your Message

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1a I have witnessed it’s the sinners, the mess-ups, and those who make a muck of things who make some of the greatest disciples. If I go to my doctor with an unknown condition that I cannot cure, and my doctor says, “You know what? I had that, too. I know just the cure.” That makes me feel pretty good. That is what the transforming power of discipleship is all about. Jesus says, “I’ve seen this before. Let me show you.” There is truth to the old adage, “Your mess becomes your message. Your test becomes your testimony.” Just remember that there’s no tragedy; there’s no falling short, that God cannot turn around.  I had this radical experience in high school where I

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People Respond Well to Humility and Vulnerability

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ ” – James 4:6 Great leaders tend to be individuals who are strong and confident, yet vulnerable and humble as well. This is something I had to learn as a leader. When you’re insecure or green in this arena, it’s tempting to give off an aura of strength or overtly-strong confidence. But very often what you think is assurance and tenacity, is often interpreted as arrogance or creates a fearful environment. There’s a difference between the two. In general, if you come off as pompous and self-important, your actions will turn people off. People do not respond well to prideful, arrogant, self-glorifying, or controlling ways in which we try to hold onto things that we really shouldn’t. Leaders, whether they’re pastors of large churches, empty nesters, or founding CEOs,

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Vulnerability in Relationships

“See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” – Luke 11:35,36 Today, I want to sum up our discussion of discipline and secrecy and how it deepens our walk with God. Allow me to offer you two practical steps you can take to employ the power of secrecy in your own life and in your relationships, both with Jesus and others. First of all, when you do something really great for someone else, keep it a secret. If you’ve never done this before, I encourage you to give it a try. Give a gift to a friend or a stranger, serve in some capacity, or volunteer for a day, but don’t tell anyone. When

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Vulnerability with Him

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2 As we seek to become resilient and less fragile in our walk with God, we should keep in mind that vulnerability and humility is a difficult task. Stop pretending to be perfect; it’s not going to help anyone. You don’t have to be vulnerable in front of everyone, but you should have a few individuals in your life who are familiar with both your good and bad sides. Be open and honest about the issues you’re dealing with, and you’ll grow stronger as a result. Try to be strong and tough if you want to be vulnerable and weak, and if you want to be powerful, be transparent, modest, and broken. Don’t feel ashamed of your vulnerabilities because the light of Jesus shines brightest and most brightly through the flaws. Devote yourself

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Inspiration or Manipulation

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 Simon Sinek’s description of leadership is one of my favorites. People can be influenced in two ways, according to him: manipulation and inspiration. Now, before you leap to a quick conclusion about which type is best, keep in mind that manipulation isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For example, if I pay someone $50 to mow my lawn, that is a sort of manipulation because I am paying them to do what I want. I’m not going to get a response by listing all the advantages of mowing lawns and making a YouTube video about it; I need a clear approach to accomplish it! Discipline can be viewed as a type of manipulative influence,

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Connection Changes Things

“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.” – Proverbs 18:1 (NKJV) Emotional isolation stifles the human soul. In fact, the first five months of life are foundational to the health of body, mind, and spirit, because that’s when bonding happens. When, as infants, we internalize the love of our mother or parent figure, we’re equipped to retain a sense of connection later on, even if our guardians are no longer present. The reality of having our emotional needs met enables us to be loving and empathic people who have healthy relationships with others as we grow older. Of course, because we live in a fallen world, many things can go wrong in this process, and a lack of attachment can lead to a host of difficulties trying to build and maintain life-giving bonds. If we’re not regularly internalizing the love of our

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Connection Transforms

“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.” – Proverbs 18:1 (NKJV) Emotional isolation stifles the human soul. In fact, the first five months of life are foundational to the health of body, mind, and spirit, because that’s when bonding happens. If, as infants, we internalize the love of our mother or parent figure, we’re equipped to retain a sense of connection later on, even when our guardians are no longer present. The reality of having our needs met enables us to be loving and empathic people who have healthy relationships with others as we grow older. Of course, because we live in a fallen world, many things can go wrong in this process, and a lack of attachment can lead to a host of difficulties trying to build and maintain life-giving bonds. If we’re not regularly internalizing the love of our spouse,

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VULNERABILITY…

“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore…I know I will not be put to shame.” -Isaiah 50:7

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