Todd's Blog

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Relational Maturity by Todd Pierce

Relational maturity - I think we can all agree that our relationships are the most important experiences we have in this life. I believe that when Jesus wrapped the whole law up in this "Love God with your whole being and love others as you love yourself", He made relationships the most important thing. Although people are the greatest part of life, they are also the most dangerous and have the potential of inflicting the greatest pain. Because of this truth, I believe we should continue to grow in our ability to enjoy deep, rich relationships and teach others the same. It was Jesus who said that the world would recognize us as his followers by the love we have for one another.

This last week, I found myself counseling three different people who were struggling in three different kinds of relationships, but in each situation they had the same issue. I want to briefly give you a glimpse of some things our Father has shown me about preparing ourselves for deeper relationships.

Usually we choose to enter into relationships with people we like. Right? We like them because of their great qualities and willingness to like us back. There is no problem with building relationships with people you like, but if you have somehow forgot that every person in your life will eventually let you down and that they have many characteristics you won't like, then you are set up for resentment and conflict. Because it is so common for people to have shallow relationships, many of us have developed some really bad habits that effect the people we should be in deep relationship with. We have become so used to being the impressive person that people like that when someone close notices a flaw in us, we can become offended and defensive. We forget to practice giving the people around us some slack and giving ourselves the same. It is as though we are so protective of our appearance to others that we want others around us to do the same. So the time comes when someone close to you notices a flaw in you and maybe even chooses to point it out, our image is broken and it causes all sorts of emotional responses. Most of them are ugly. We have all experienced this. Right?

So what's the point? We must take a step back and realize that we must change our opinion of ourselves before we can succeed in our relationships with others. If you are able to receive the truth that our Father loves you with an everlasting love and He does it even though He sees all your flaws, then why do we think that our love for ourselves or one another should be any different? It is the Holy Spirit that will continue to make the changes in us and others. If you are able to see all your flaws in yourself and still be ok with you, then you can do the same for others. Now, when someone close points out something that offends them, you can honestly say, "Your right, and I am sorry. Please forgive me and know that our Father is still working on these areas." We won't be shocked and offended. We are free to be gracious because we are mature enough that we see our issues and others issues as part of the human experience and we are ok with it.

In service of the King, Todd Pierce

www.ridinghighministries.org

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Monday, August 22, 2011

Suffering Saints by Todd Pierce

Have you ever seen someone walk on water?

I have watched a family do it for this entire last week. I think it is impossible to imagine the level of suffering the death of a child can bring upon someone and it's my prayer that our Father forbid that you or I ever have to endure such a hit.

With that said I can say that watching saints suffer is to watch the miraculous. I have been overwhelmed this last week as I have watched the Custer family walk out the reality of the parable that Jesus told when he described the building that was built on the rock and how when the storm hit, the house was still standing. Although the Custers have suffered and will continue to suffer, they are still standing. The way Stacey put it was that she is definitely not alright with what happened, but she is alright. She said she knows that this is part of life and we are a part of an unshakable Kingdom and our Father always brings life out of everything. I suppose that when you know that God is good, nothing can move you. Over the six days I was there, there was a constant stream of people from all over the Country who filtered through the Custer home. Day after day, Cody and Stacey greeted their friends and family with a smile and a hug and thanked them for being there. They understood that no one had the words to say, but they were grateful for the fact that they knew what to do. Sometimes your presence is enough. Multiple times over the week, I was literally floored as I saw people break down and Stacey and Cody would hold them up and poor this everlasting life into them. As much as this is a great tribute to an amazing family, I want it to be an encouragement to you. This life of growing in the knowledge of who our Father is and who we are is a life of unmovable strength. The promise we have is that our Father will work all things together for the good of us who love him and have been called to live according to his will. The Message Bible, Romans 8, says it this way:

"He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun."

I want to encourage you to take a step back for a minute and resist the tendency to think about your current situation. Know that our Father is building in you an unshakable character that is fully reliant on Him and saturated with His love. When the storm hits, it won't destroy you, but rather it will be a catalyst to bring about revival in the life around you. I am proud to call the Custers my friends.

In service of the King,


Todd Pierce
www.ridinghighministries.org

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