Page 19 - RiseUpWarrior

Chapter 7 18 If I see you criticizing a waitress, I can guess either one of two things. You asked God for more, and He God doesn’t need is putting you thru a test that has you at your wits end. OR, you never went thru “life class 101”, and you don’t someone who took 3 know the normal etiquette on how to treat people in public. Usually it is the latter. courses in faith, but has If you are reading this and skipped this class, go back and get it. Ask God where to work or what to do. Sub- no idea how to actually mit to God and He will make sure you learn these basic skills. Don’t move on without it. drive a car. I’m dead serious! Go back. You can’t skip it. 7 Developing Character Recently, I read about yet another modern famous Chris- then took her home. tian who fell into sin. His whole ministry fell down with One week later I heard that she had taken the dress back him. to the store and gotten the cash back. Then she had gone Developing character in our lives is of the utmost im- to an economic seamstress and had ordered 6 dresses portance. It is what will keep you in ministry once you made with the same money. I was embarrassed. get there. I like to call this the foundation of who we I learned that day to NOT make any fanfare when I give, become. It’s the values we learn to live by, and the way but just slip someone some cash. It’s not like she was an we behave when no one is looking. This step is very alcoholic and needed to be walked into the restaurant to important; otherwise we could end up with some huge buy the hamburger, lest she spend it all on booze. When ministry that is built on a terrible foundation. That could you give, don’t make a big deal about it! end in disaster. What about this one on humility: Over the years I This is the time where we learn to have integrity, hon- started preaching more and more, and I would use vari- esty, faithfulness, giving and the list goes on. Without ous stories from my life as illustrations. One day God it, you could end up like those other guys who lose it all said to me, “Hey Kristi. You are using a whole lot of over some secret sin that went public. good stories of yourself. What about using some of the Let’s start with giving. One day we went on a trip with bad ones too?” I was a little embarrassed to have been a group of pastors in Caborca, Mexico, and when we ar- caught bragging about myself, so I apologized and told rived back home, we realized that one pastor’s wife had Him I would make a point to include some bad stories. lost her suitcase, with all her clothes in it. Everyone felt God responded “good” then He gave me another as- bad for her, but dispersed each to their home. My heart signment. My job was to do something LARGE that was torn and I wanted to help her. So I set a time to pick was good for someone and then NEVER share it with her up and take her shopping for a new dress. We went anyone. It was more character development. to several stores and settled on one, and I paid for it and Naturally, I can’t tell you what I did, or I’d have to kill