Top Ten Lies

Randy’s December 2009 Update

 

 

Merry Christmas! It’s a season of celebration!

 

 

 

Here is an anonymous story of life-change worth celebrating.  It’s a great representation of some of the lies that many people struggle with:

 

My Top Ten Lies List – by Anonymous:

          “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

 “Identifying and naming my Top Ten Lies was huge for me.

“Lies like:
1) I don’t have what it takes.  I’m not good enough (not smart enough, not eloquent enough, not good looking enough, not outgoing enough, not __________ enough);

2) People are thinking bad thoughts about me.  They see my flaws and inadequacies.  They are judging me, even though they are acting nice to me.  I fall short in their eyes;

3) My lovability is based on my performance – when I succeed perfectly I’m lovable, when I fail (even slightly) I am reject-able;

4) I have greater worth and value when I please people, when people think and say nice things about me;

5) If people really knew me inside, they wouldn’t love me.  I have to stay hidden;

6) I have to take control of my life.  I know better than God what I need and want for my fulfillment.  God doesn’t have my best interest at heart.  He won’t give me what I want, or he’ll ask me to do something I don’t want to do – like stay single or serve in a third-world country;

7) I have to fix myself first and get myself presentable before I can go to God;

8) Showing and feeling emotions equates to weakness.  It’s better to ignore, minimize, and/or repress them;

9) As a leader I have to look perfect, I can’t show any weakness or vulnerability, or people won’t want to follow me;

10) When God looks at me, he’s usually disappointed.

 

“After naming these awful lies, I realized how much they were holding me back.  Through the mentoring process, I’m slowly claiming the Truth that offsets each lie.  Over time, I’m believing God’s truth more.  And the truth is setting me free.” – Anonymous

 

Closing Thoughts:

We all have lies that hold us back at times.  What are your Top Ten?

Thankfully we still have a Savior who frees us from lies and leads us into truth.  I believe he desires to remove any lies that would keep us from fully experiencing God’s extravagant love and our amazing full potential to extend love lavishly in our world.

Recently a young man said to me, “This ministry has major exponential life-change on people”.  He’s observing the rippling impact this unique ministry style can have – following Jesus’ example of pouring into qualified men and women who are equipped to pour into others, who can then pour into others, and so on…

Jesus was an amazing lover.  I think he wanted to multiply lovers like himself when he said:

“Therefore go and make disciples (lovers) of all nations, …teaching them to obey everything I commanded you…” (Matt 28:19a, 20a)

His great commandments to obey, he narrowed down to two:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…and…Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30, 31b)

Not only are the young people we are investing in becoming extraordinary disciples, they are also becoming extraordinary lovers – lovers of God, themselves, and others.  I applaud these young people for their courage to go on such a journey, and I’m grateful for their honesty.  The truth is setting them free…to love extravagantly.

 

Thank You:

Thank you so much for your participation in this life-changing, world-changing work.  I believe your investment in these amazing individuals will reap eternal dividends.  They truly are difference makers, living out their unique redemptive potentials in a wide range of social issues, communities, and locations.  They (and others like them), the young church, are the hope of the future.

 

Financial Support Update:

There is still a financial need in reaching my support-raising goal for the year.  I could use your help and your prayers!  Contributions are tax deductible.

Contact me at:  randy@legacyshepherding.org with any questions.

May you be blessed by His love this Christmas season,
Randy

Photos by mysza831 at flickr.com