Improve My Family
Notes
Transcript
Introduction. “Improve My Family” (II Samuel 13:28-39 NLT). He needed it! His family needed it! They needed HELP and HEALING, Resolution and Restoration, Intervention and Improvement. This family was full of secrets and scars, rumors and rascals. Adultery. Abuse. Assault. Affairs. Abandonment. This was the A-list that made this family a failure. Unfortunately, David, a man after God’s own heart didn’t wise up and own up. Since FAMILY requires critical care, choose the right ICU and improve your family! If we’re going to improve our family . . .
Iyanla fix my life is a show that took the Own network by storm in 2012 and her episodes continue to show us the deep need for finding healing in our lives. Iyanla is so good at analyzing stories, body language; and others that I must say: please watch at your own risk. She will have you confessing things in your life as you sit watching through your television.
As she breaks down each and every situation, there are a couple things she utilizes to bring harmony to families. These are some things we can use to analyze our story in this text and confront issues in our lives and the lives of our families.
Learn from the Past: Transparency
Listen to People: Talk
Labor with a plan: tough Love
I. Learn from the Past! (II Samuel 12:10) “Transparency”
I. Learn from the Past! (II Samuel 12:10) “Transparency”
Let’s face it. Every family has their secrets, scars and sins. The consequences of David’s affair with Bathsheba lasted longer than just a one-night stand and resulted in more than an unplanned pregnancy. (1) Don’t cover-up the past and act as if nothing ever happened. (2) Don’t color-over the past making it more glamorous and better than it really was. (3) Don’t copy the past repeating the same mistakes. Break the Cycle! Teach from your experience. Learn from the mistakes of others. Experience IS NOT the best teacher!
Let’s face it. Every family has their secrets, scars and sins. The consequences of David’s affair with Bathsheba lasted longer than just a one-night stand and resulted in more than an unplanned pregnancy. (1) Don’t cover-up the past and act as if nothing ever happened. (2) Don’t color-over the past making it more glamorous and better than it really was. (3) Don’t copy the past repeating the same mistakes. Break the Cycle! Teach from your experience. Learn from the mistakes of others. Experience IS NOT the best teacher!
II. Listen to People! (II Samuel 13:20-22) “Talk”
II. Listen to People! (II Samuel 13:20-22) “Talk”
It seems as if no one was listening and talking. (1) There was no heart communication. Everyone was keeping the hurt on the inside. (2) There was no honest correction. Ammon was never punished by David. (3) There was no healing conclusion. Time doesn’t always heal; sometimes, time just perfects the plot. Better the Communication! Don’t say “Nothing” when you’re feeling “Everything” – What’s wrong?
It seems as if no one was listening and talking. (1) There was no heart communication. Everyone was keeping the hurt on the inside. (2) There was no honest correction. Ammon was never punished by David. (3) There was no healing conclusion. Time doesn’t always heal; sometimes, time just perfects the plot. Better the Communication! Don’t say “Nothing” when you’re feeling “Everything” – What’s wrong?
III. Labor with a Plan! (II Samuel 13:39) “Tough Love”
III. Labor with a Plan! (II Samuel 13:39) “Tough Love”
Healing from the pains of a broken heart; helping solve the problems of addictive behaviors; requires WORK, requires a PLAN. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” Make sure your PLAN includes (1) Prayer – for the spiritual warfare; (2) Love – for the human component; (3) Action – for practical solutions and (4) Navigation – clear understanding of desired outcomes and expectations. Battle Complacency!
Healing from the pains of a broken heart; helping solve the problems of addictive behaviors; requires WORK, requires a PLAN. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” Make sure your PLAN includes (1) Prayer – for the spiritual warfare; (2) Love – for the human component; (3) Action – for practical solutions and (4) Navigation – clear understanding of desired outcomes and expectations. Battle Complacency!
How can we battle complacency? Some of us need to reach back to the songs from the saints of old. . . .
Lead me, guide me, along the way. . Lord if you lead me then i can not stray. . Lord i need you to lead me . . .
some of us need to start right there. there are some situations holding you down. . it leaves depressed, staying up all night long. Before you try to handle it in our own way; ask the Lord to guide you . . give me the right spirit, give me the proper plan. . help me to be gentle. . don’t let me lose my mind.
IV. Conclusion
· Gospel – Jesus –
· Many families are in the I.C.U. – Intensive Care Unit – experiencing an unexpected trauma, a prolonged condition and now they are unable to survive on their own, in need of round the clock attention,
· The right I.C.U. – Intentional Compassionate Understanding