There have been a handful of times (most recently) where the message at church truly gets me. Shoot, maybe that means I really need to work on myself ? ? regardless, God spoke, to me, through pastor James Grogan. And everyday heroes in the home was just what I needed to hear.
When James told his stories about terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days and how he was just, “keeping it 100”, I knew it was going to be good as I can relate to having terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. Think overcrowded Disneyland with two parents running on fumes, 90 degree heat, and a toddler who skipped his morning nap. We were all snappy McSnappertons. It was not a pleasant day. Yes, Disneyland is the happiest place on earth but not every visit is all rainbows and butterflies. And Ps. that’s just one example of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Also, keeping it 100 is a super clever way to express keeping it real. You bet I’ll be adding that to my vocabulary. Thanks, James.
So, the message…conflict is inevitable but we can learn how to deal with conflict. Look at some wise words from, James 1:19. Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Ah, yes, SLOW. Noted. Going to memorize that one. Working on being slow in so many areas of my life.
- When it comes to family don’t believe the lie: “I don’t care”.
2 Corinthians 5:14-20
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
- Through Christ, God removed every obstacle to reconciling with us except us.
Do you get it? At first, I didn’t. Let’s break it down…Nothing stands between us and God. Accept his love, grace, and forgiveness. He extends all the grace.
- A key to understanding our reconciliation to God is in this phrase- “in spite of”.
Reconciliation is in spite of not because of our sin. As followers, we should model love, grace, and forgiveness. We can’t experience it (God’s love, grace, and forgiveness) and not give or model this to others. The world will know about the love of God through people of the church. We must show it and model it.
- Everyday heroes forgive as they’ve been forgiven.
We must release pain, extend forgiveness, let go, and open the door to reconciliation. We do to others what the Lord does for us.
The end of my message notes.
If you made it through this novel of what was my chicken scratch church annotations give yourself a high five, a pat on the back, a round of applause. You go. And thanks. I hope you are inspired and are on fire to model love, grace, and forgiveness.
Watch {this} inspiring message from Saddleback Church and be encouraged as you learn what the Bible says about God’s purpose for your life including your work, relationships, health, and more.