This thing called Grace, it’s all I got!

Watch the clip first then read.

People that know me or even people that are apart of XCEL Fellowship may wonder why we [the administrative team] are driving from Raleigh/Durham to Oxford to assist in God’s vision for a church? Why drive 45 minutes to an hour to go to church? I’ve even ask myself as I take the Henderson-Petersburg exit to Oxford. Especially, when I had difficulty driving to Durham to another church that I thought was poppin’ love it, but “oooo-uhmmm it’s in Durham? I live in Garner! I’m gonna watch service on TV or Youtube.” Heck, let me be real about it. I didn’t want to drive to my mom’s church 10 minutes away from home. *Kanye Shrug* Back to the reason why I drive, well point blank and simple, it’s God’s vision and I accepted my part in His plan. Two, it’s not about me, it’s about the lost and the Steve Harveys of the world (see video). Three, it’s for the person(s) God has called XCEL Fellowship to shepard. That’s what it is all about.

*Yells* It’s Haaaard! For YEARS I was accustomed to my Sundays being used for school or something I wanted to do!  Now, I gotta snap back into going to church? On top of that, I have to drive 2 hours round trip? Are-you-serious? The ponti (my car, a Pontiac) is holding on, my girl is hanging in there with me. WHEW…this thing called grace, is keeping her going! I have to tell myself consistently, despite how badly, I want continue my Sunday ritual of chillin’ with mom/ friends, cooking up dinner, watching the Carolina Panthers lose and then watching a B movie to laugh at; I have to remember there are Steve Harveys who needs us, need me. On a particular Sunday, I might be the only person someone listens to about God. There are those that want to have a discussion on the wondrous misunderstanding of God and I might have the words to unlock their destiny.  I can’t be a “Holy-Roller” about it.

Let's go have a talk about Him without the snubs, condescension or prejudices.

It is easy as a leader to fall into an emotional trap akin to what Steve Harvey was releasing on the show. Leaders think they have to be problem solvers for every member and act like something must be said in comfort to the hurt. If you notice in the clip, Donnie McClurkin just prayed. Steve was going through something at that time needed spiritual revelation and God had not given Donnie a Ramah or Ramen word. Pastor McClurkin bowed his head and called on the Lord instead.

There are times and situations where you WILL NOT understand and you SHOULD NOT jump into everyone’s  situation. When a person is trying to converse with God the surety that He is listening can seem like a void in their time-’o-need. In that case, people tend to search for someone that will tell them what they want to hear. If that is the case, it is leaderships responsibility to remind them of this thing called, grace. She always listens, provides and comforts. It is what God has sent to remind believers that when you get that “not being heard by God” feeling grace taps you on your shoulder to say, “C’mere give us a hug or Gurl/Maaaan, we are going to push this car down the road one mo’gin and protect you on the way to your assignment.”

1 Corinthians 2: 9-13 says,”…We speak of things which eye has not seen nor ear heard, and which have never entered the heart of man: all that God has in readiness for them that love Him…” You hear this quote often, but I think the next verses are key understanding how we should deal with understanding people, “…For us, however, God has drawn aside the veil through the teaching of the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, including the depths of the divine nature. For, among human beings, who knows a man’s inner thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? In the same way, also, only God’s Spirit is acquainted with God’s inner thoughts. …we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which comes forth from God, that we may know the blessings that have been so freely given to us by God. Of these we speak–not in language which man’s wisdom teaches us, but in that which the Spirit teaches–adapting, as we do, spiritual words to spiritual truths.”

WRAP IT UP B!

It’s easy to assume that life’s experiences permits authority to counsel others. I am here to tell you, that is not so. We’ve have been assigned to specific individuals to provide Godly wisdom. Good intentions based on your “understanding” and not spiritual truth can destroy a life. I have accepted that I am assigned to certain people coming to XCEL for the purposes of fulfilling God’s will for XCEL Fellowship. I also have accepted that I can not, must not counsel everyone that walks through those doors. It is important to recognize my place and be prepared when time comes RECEIVE understanding. To all reading this entry, Stop trying to analyze what people are going through just because they share their story.  God will come forth in His time using His language to give spiritual truths, IF you are truly the person to provide counsel.