tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post6126072563823514033..comments2023-10-03T06:25:41.357-05:00Comments on Grace Roots Blog: Be who you are as you follow ChristJoel Bruesekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-28280063275002945552008-04-11T17:11:00.000-05:002008-04-11T17:11:00.000-05:00I have found in my own life that in a role of lead...I have found in my own life that in a role of leadership sometimes people expect you to do all of the learning for them and just spoon feed it to them. Admittedly I do this.I recently noticed that I get "busy" water other people (out of sincere concern for what is going to happen to them, of course)that I am part of the reason they have shallow roots. Never giving them the opportunity to dig deeper into their own faith. <BR/><BR/>Whatever name I give it; feeding, fixing, mentoring, or teaching it is a great distraction from my own faith walk.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17182303558242525709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-75831223403639856542008-04-11T14:37:00.000-05:002008-04-11T14:37:00.000-05:00Amen. I truly praise the Lord that we can have our...Amen. I truly praise the Lord that we can have our disagreements and still find our delight in Him. Sometimes wonderful brethren have even bitterly disagreed like Paul and Barnabas and yet still served our same wonderful Lord. God works in mysterious ways and with a purpose to reconcile men to himself. How great and wonderful He is. I am so thankful for you and the gracewalk group of believers and know God will continue to work in our lives in a wonderful way. He is truly amazing.<BR/><BR/>Grace upon grace,<BR/><BR/>BrianOnly Lookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16074543462279905793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-12499211490289326442008-04-11T10:53:00.000-05:002008-04-11T10:53:00.000-05:00Matthew... that really hits the heart of what I go...Matthew... that really hits the heart of what I got out of Bob's message. There are a lot of controlling and manipulative people in the church (whether they mean it intentionally or not), and if we've had enough exposure to them it can be hard to shake the notion that we're here to follow them, and what they are doing. They may think they're doing God's will by trying to get us to conform, or they may simply have their own agenda that they want others to go along with.<BR/><BR/>This can make us feel inadequate, and get us into that people-pleasing mode, and it does nobody any good. We're not ourselves.<BR/><BR/>On the other side of the same coin, as Angela said, we ourselves may be the ones with the savior complex, and we can easily become overly 'concerned' about what's going on in the lives of others, and try to intervene and 'fix' them, not allowing for the Savior Himself to lead them as they follow Him.<BR/><BR/>Angela,<BR/><BR/>I agree, in theory this is plain and simple, but in practical application we still have our flesh and our savior complexes to deal with. I find this difficult mainly when it comes to kids. My own mindset as I raise our kids is to help them to grow and make their own decisions, and not just live by a set of rules that Dad gave them. I mean, they do have "rules" and "guidelines" but overall I don't want them to live in my reins but rather by the Spirit, and more and more so as they grow. Sometimes I find myself reacting quickly in ways that don't support my overall way of raising them. :)<BR/><BR/>But I find it even more difficult when it comes to their friends. This school year we've seen a tremendous increase in the amount of friends who come over to our house. I love it, in that I can directly share the love of Christ with them. But at the same time, they have been raised differently than my kids, and they don't respond to me in the same way that my kids do, and I sometimes feel as if I'm not in "control" of my house and I find myself trying to "fix" their behavior instead of taking time to simply follow Christ and be an example for them.<BR/><BR/>In the end, whether it's in my family, or in my house, or in church gatherings, or wherever, I want to be one who follows Christ and commits the lives of others to His care. I'm 'growing' in this, but I've definitely not arrived. :)Joel Bruesekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-14143043006008841452008-04-11T09:56:00.000-05:002008-04-11T09:56:00.000-05:00Wow, this a blow to those with a "savior" complex....Wow, this a blow to those with a "savior" complex. (me) <BR/><BR/>You mean I am suppose to be focusing on my relationship with Christ and not theirs?<BR/><BR/>I know this in theory but have a hard time not trying to "fix" people and point them in the right direction. Sometimes the great commision to "go" gets in the way of the "follow" for me. I think finding balance in this area of my life will always be hard to do. I forget that I am suppose to love and God does the fixing.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17182303558242525709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-77245745721836327802008-04-11T09:10:00.000-05:002008-04-11T09:10:00.000-05:00So very true. There are times when I feel I need t...So very true. There are times when I feel I need to do something in order to impress other Christians or prove myself to them, which makes me feel rebellious actually. Then I'm reminded that I need not follow men but Jesus only. Thats music to my ears when you think about all the stuff man would have you do!Mattityahuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05549061279827942555noreply@blogger.com