Letters of Recommendation

In all our history, society is at the height of self-promotion. You don’t have to attend a large University to be a marketing major. Everyone wants to be the next bombshell, the next big thing, the one everyone talks about.  Relationships are leveraged, connections made, a good amount of schmoozing and inauthentic investment in others, and it is only so long before our motives are naturally revealed.

While companies like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have so many great strengths, every once in a while, I get annoyed. Not so much with the website itself, but when I cross paths with certain types of people. You know those people, right? You get a notice that a complete stranger is following you on Twitter, you feel flattered. You notice their profile only talks about what they are selling instead of who they really are. And within a day, after you followed them back, they have disappeared. These people have thousands of followers, but where are the relationships?

Jesus had thousands of followers, too, but it was ALL based on relationships.

I will NEVER forget when I heard The A-21 Campaign founder, Christine Caine, speak and she said 

"It is better to be marked by God, than marketed by men." 

Her words ring in my heart on nearly a daily basis!

In 2 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul exhorts a timeless practice, a signature of those who have been marked by God.

 “Are we beginning again to tell you how good we are? Some people need to bring letters of recommendation with them or ask you to write letters of recommendation for them. But the only letter of recommendation we need if you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.”  --2 Corinthians 3:1-2 (NLT)

True evidence of a World Changer, begins with changing the world of an individual. Paul preached the gospel, stuck his neck out on the line, was obedient to every humble job God called him, and he was, undoubtedly, a world changer. In all of his letters he greets and acknowledges people by name. He knew them, loved them.

These scriptures made me wonder WHO might be my living and breathing letters of recommendation? Who are those that are BETTER OFF because of me? Who is walking in obedience? Who is taking huge steps of faith? Who is filled with more peace, more joy? Who is free from insecurity, because I modeled confidence for them?

I think of my children, my friends, my family, neighbors, co-workers. My husband just stepped into a new role as a Children’s Pastor at our church. Each little girl or little boy, will be a reflection of Christ’s love in me. It’s not a once a month “high-five”, or cool costumes and silly skits, (though, I DO LOVE the silly skits!!)  It is the connection, the relationship, the life-giving prophetic words of hope, the trust to be given responsibility, the grace for when we fail. These moments build a legacy.

What do your letters of recommendation say about you?

>Do they reveal that you overcommit yourself? That you live without discipline? That you live only for yourself? That you stick to surface level concerns instead of eternal vision?

“Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts.” – 2 Corinthians 3:3 (NLT)

What are you doing TODAY to change the world of those God has put around you?

I pray that my letters will be long lasting! Eternal destinies altered. Generational curses broken. Faith lifted. Marriages stronger. Freedom flourishing! God glorified!

Systematic Success and a Whole Lotta Grace!

I am becoming more and more convinced that good things, success, and victories don't happen on accident. I don't know if it's the fact we live in a fallen world, but it seems like everything naturally erodes, or unwinds, or just falls apart. Even when I think of the beautiful flowers that pop up out of the earth out in an open field, I feel certain that our Heavenly Father has been tending to the beauty of our earth with rain and sunshine. :)

Sometimes I think that since we are a people saved by Grace, we get the idea that Grace allows for total, unstructured, unguided freedom. Like we can do whatever we want because we are covered by God' s grace. Obviously, I think a lot of people don't feel that way in regards to sin ( I hope so anyway!) since our sin grieves the Lord so much, BUT I wonder if we don't have that perspective for everyday living and relationships. Sometimes I walk from day to day without a plan or if I have one, it is easily tossed about by the whims of my flesh or things that seem to need immediate attention.

DISCLAIMER: For those of you who are so legalistic or dogmatic about your daily lists, try to hear the heart of this message, and not turn it into another set of rules. :)

I recently read an article by John Maxwell in my Joyce Meyer Ministries Magazine from May 2010. John spoke about the value of SYSTEMS in our life. Of course as a leader whether in business or ministry, then good systems are key to prioritizing and maximizing your productivity. However, I think this principle can have a great impact on our personal lives, too!

Maxwell says that a system is a way of doing things, like a set of good habits to help you accomplish your goals. Systems can save you time, help you do more, promote creativity, and even enhance relationships.

SO, how does this fit into my life. A system I have had for seeking the Lord is my quiet time every morning. And even by having a plan for what I will read, or where I will pray helps me know right where to go. As weird as it sounds, I like reading my Bible more when I actually know what I am going to read. Randomly picking up my Bible and flipping to a page doesn't work for me in a long-term perspective. Sure, God can speak. But there is certainly something to be said about soaking in God's Word as a big picture narrative. And it also amazes me when God can totally speak to my needs on a specific issue when I have been reading the same book for three weeks. It shows me all the more how divine His timing is.

But what about other relationships???
Are we intentionally and systematically investing in our relationships?
Systems for relationships can be a powerful tool!

Take my marriage for instance. I would tell you that my marriage is the single most importantl earthly relationship I have. No question about it, but do I feed that relationship as much as I value it? What about regular date nights? What about praying together every day? What about worshipping together?What about just talking and sharing dreams together?

If we are not careful, life will fly by, and it will be months since I went on a date with my husband! A system that says: "OK, we plan to take this marriage class and then talk about it and regularly open up our hearts to one another" can be such a powerful thing.

Don't just wait around and 'hope' that your marriage or friendships will grow deeper. Do something about it! Join a small group and be committed to it growing relationships each week. Talk to your spouse and set up a time each week to invest in your relationship. (Maybe do it more than once a week! Why not?!) Type it up and put a schedule on the fridge, or declare that a particular night of the week is sacredly held for a certain reason.

Grace is so much more than an allowance for our mistakes.

"So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to ENABLE you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live and you will be honored along with Him. This is all made possible BECAUSE of the GRACE of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Grace is not just a hall pass to do whatever we want... but Grace transforms us and calls us to something so much bigger than ourselves. And Grace EMPOWERS us to do all that God has called us to do.

This means that the Grace of Jesus can empower you to be a better husband or wife to your spouse. By God's Grace, you can be a better employee, a better friend. With the grace of God, you can be brave. You can dream bigger. By the grace of God, we can come boldly and confidently into the presence of our Savior. God's grace can help you faithfully invest in the things that most important to you and to God.

SO, today, be filled with the Grace of God, and take the steps forward to be the person God knows you CAN be!

Nothing But Grace,
Tiffany