I Am Not a Victim

I refuse to be called a victim.  I am not a victim.

I have seen some pretty horrific things in the name of the "church" over the years.  I have had some unusual things happen to me.  I have also made mistakes over the years and ended up hurting people I cared about.  I've always heard two things; one, that if you are looking for a perfect church, don't go inside, because you'll ruin it.  And two, the church is made up of humans - fallible creations fashioned by a perfect God.  We all make mistakes.  We all stumble along the way.  The beautiful thing about it is God still loves you.  He still loves me. He still loves us.  Very much.

I've learned some pretty valuable lessons over the time I have served in full time ministry, and the truth is I'm still learning.  I am a tremendous Monday morning quarterback, always second guessing that I did the right thing - always wondering if the voice I heard was really God's.  I have done the worst kind of thing, too:  I've asked how could two people who serve the same God have such different views on some things.

But that's where it ends.  Because when I start to play someone against God in favor of my approach, not only do I lose, but I (try to) put God in a box.  So with that in mind, I say it again:

I am not a victim.

What I am is a conqueror.  Why do I say that? Romans 8:37.  Go read it.  I'll wait.  Read the entire chapter...

Okay, now we got that straight, here is the bottom line: There are folks out there who want to say nasty, horrible things about me and my family.  Let them.  God will sort out truth in HIS time.  But the truth is, there are people out there who pray and support each other (and I am one of them, and so are you), and I want to be one of them.

So because of this conqueror status, I will not fight.  I will not argue.  And I will not defend myself. 

My life verse has become one that few I know share with me.  It's Exodus 14:14.  Go look THAT one up.  My job as a conqueror is simple - to share God's love with others and to "always have an answer...for the hope that I have."

Don't get me wrong, I'm still human.  I sometimes want to go and poke someone's eye out.  But that doesn't point others toward Christ.

This past week, I was reminded of a valuable lesson.  It's from the movie Frozen. It's the song every 7 year old can sing from memory.  They actually have sing-alongs in the play-yard at school. Yep, it's "Let it Go."  My counselor repeatedly told me that, many years before the movie came out.  He would say, "I am going to encourage you to let that go."  I always hated that.  I REALLY hated when he'd say that.  Because that meant I would lose.  But I tell you the truth - every time I listen to his advise.  I win. And most (all) of the time, the enemy is Satan.  Everytime I ignore him, I win.  He loses. GOD WINS.

That's what a conqueror is.  You can be one, too.  Go read Romans 8 again when you need the reminder.

Be encouraged.