I was reading Mark Batterson's blog who had been reading Erwin McManus and Mark made a comment that kind of stopped me in my tracks. He said
"I think there is a such a temptation to copy when it comes to ministry. I wrestle with it as much as anyone else. I think we need models. I've got my fair share, including Erwin McManus. But I remember reading something Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in Self-Reliance: "There is a time in every man's education that he arrives at the conviction that imitation is suicide. He must take himself for better or for worse."
I think there are two simple principles that ought to guide us:
1) Keep Learning.
2) Be Yourself."
Wow! That was really powerful to me today. I have this confidence that God made me to be me. I have this confidence that the Holy Spirit comes with creativity and a plan for my life that will make me uniquely me. It is so easy just to think what others think, do what others do. I want to live my life in such a way that I face the Lord and say I endeavored to do this thing the way you dropped it in my life.
I read my bible like God has a real live word for me today, so why wouldn't I believe that God's plan for my life may have things in it that I have observed in others, but a real strain that looks like a DNA created just for me. Since God loves me as much as He has shown, I really do believe that He has a plan for my life that He wants to reveal through exposure to others, revelation from the word of God, history in general and a clear word that He whispers in my heart and says "Hey Steve try this and see what I will do".
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4 comments:
Awesome!
Keep Learning and Be Yourself - WOW! Definitely powerful words to live by, I serious love what you have shared! It's so important to remember that concept and to have a conviction for it. Pastor, ever since Sunday when you challenged us to invite the Holy Spirit to come with us to work etc I have been experiencing and learning about a new level of power and peace in my life. I stand amazed at the Holy Spirits genuine desire to counsel, guide and fellowship with me. Growing up as a Lutheran I was taught and instructed that the Holy Ghost's power was no longer active or involved in the present day like He was during the time Jesus was here on earth. I grew up feeling afraid and nervous of the Holy Spirit or when I heard others talk about him as a result. At some miraculous point in my life I got serious about my relationship with God (all because of the Holy Spirit!)Since then the Holy Spirit has been so good to me and I can not learn enough about Him and the gift of freedom that he endlessly provides! “Keep Learning and Be Yourself” – I think that you should share this with all of those who are in any type of ministry at First Assembly of God – Again Thank You sharing!
DISCLAIMER – (I seriously love the Lutheran Church and in no way intended to offend the Lutheran Church or its membership in the above comment, I was simply sharing my personal experience)
Thanks, I needed that.
"Keep Learning and Be Yourself" This sounds like a fantastic self-mission statement. I will try to remember this during this new school year.
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