“Dear David … Love, God”
Today’s post is from Dave Katz, SVP of Coca-Cola Consolidated. Dave went through Radical Mentoring in 2008, serves on the board of the RM foundation and is leading his fourth Radical Mentoring Group. Dave, his wife Daphne and his daughters Shana and Rachel live in Charlotte, North Carolina and attend Forest Hill Church.
I think it was just about a year ago I wrote my last blog post. In fact, I know it was. That post, just like this one can be traced back to the fall retreat we take with each year’s mentoring group – the one where each guy crafts a letter from God to him. It’s an awesome and powerful way to help our men hear from their Heavenly Father. Unfortunately, some of us that do it every year become calloused to that power.
On our retreat a few weeks ago, I had planned to spend the 90 minutes doing something else, just like I planned to do last year. But as I sat outside on this beautiful Saturday morning, I felt a nudge … “Just read a little.” So I retrieved my Bible and read the assignment I’d just given the guys, Revelation 2 & 3, the letters to the churches. As John’s words soaked in, I felt the same nudge … “I’ve got something to say.”
As I prayed about what God had to say to me, a rush of words hit me … “Dear David,” (Which is funny, because almost nobody calls me David. My mom used to and sometimes my dad does, but everyone else calls me Dave, except for in these letters every year. There’s something there, but I’ll leave it for another day.)
I’m not going to share my whole letter (hey – there’s personal stuff in there and I don’t even know a bunch of you!) but I want to share a few special insights from what I heard … “Dear David, I love you.” Those three words are so powerful coming from anybody but especially coming from God. We know God is Love, but there’s something awesome about the Creator of the universe loving me … personally.
“Dear David – I love you. I am proud of you.” The idea of God being proud of me really strikes home. Regi tells me I am a ‘words of affirmation’ guy … I need to hear people tell me I am worthy. But upon hearing God say He’s proud of me, it hits me I don’t need words of affirmation, I just need The Word of affirmation. If God loves me and is proud of me, I shouldn’t need affirmation from everyone else. Loving others (and being loved by others) is important, it’s just not primary. Maybe this is common sense to some, maybe even simple, but for me, this insight is changing my whole view of relationships.
One issue us ‘words of affirmation’ guys have comes when people don’t affirm us. We often get upset. Not temper tantrum upset, but it bothers us. God had something to say about this as well … “some people can frustrate you, which tarnishes My image.” Ouch. My (poor) behavior can tarnish God’s reputation, not just mine. That’s a big responsibility. Sometimes I let things get to me. Even little things. Many times certain people get to me. But I never thought about the impact this could have on God’s image. Realizing it gave me something practical to work on and a lens through which to view the impact of my behavior.
There are other good insights in my letter, but the closing pretty much sums it up … “Keep Me first, and everything else will work out. I love you, God.” A little bit like Matthew 6:33, “Seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” But laid out even simpler for me.
Have you taken the time recently to hear from God? I bet He’s got something to say to you!
If you haven’t or want some help, give the Letter From God exercise a try. It has been a game-changing part of Radical Mentoring for many men.
Breathe New Life Into Your Discipleship
Small group mentoring can help you engage your people, build your core group of leaders, and transform your church. Our free resources equip you with all the tools you need to launch a sustainable mentoring program.
Responses (2)
Wow! As a teenager, I was pushed away from the group I grew up with. I became and island. I resented it for a long time and then in my late twenties I realized that it was part of God’s Plan to prepare me for what HE had in store for my future. It has taken me an additional 30 years for God to completely heal the broken heart and replace it with HIS LOVE! It starts with listening to God. Then HE slowly tenderizes your “yielded heart.” I am completely HIS, a yielded servant of the Lord. Thank you for this great reminder today.
I had the opportunity to attend Souly Business 46 last week and had a similar word from God. He said, Be still and know that I am GOD. I guess I was not listening when I spoke with Him. And the second message was, I love you son. That was so powerful, to realize that I had a personal relationship with my father