I love the process of the way you think and express your thoughts on paper! I too understand these 3 word sentences, and have had many battles won and lost at the choices made of expressing with these grouped swords as well as receiving them (or not) from others. As I was contemplating your words, I heard another group of 3 word sentences, that have profoundly changed my life: “I am he” and “here I am”. May we all dive deeper into His truth to help us grow in understanding and in love of the other 3 word sentences, in His amazing name.
Oh dear friend, thank you so much for sharing these powerful examples. When I read "here I am," I pictured my youngest crying my name out in the dark after a nightmare. The moment I say "here I am," all goes still. I love it when the Lord says that to me as well. Thanks friend.
A couple I include, especially when talking to leaders: I need help and I’m sorry. These together with I don’t know make a solid humble leader foundation.
Definitely! I lament how often Christian leaders don't understand that true leadership is a pursuit of curiosity, a constant learning. We don't need to have it all figured out ("I need help"). Failure is fine so long as we learn from it and make it right ("I'm sorry"). Many people will follow leaders who live search words. Thanks for this, friend.
My adult son is beginning the journey of understanding himself and his struggles through the events of his childhood. It was a tremendously weighty gift when he came to me and asked if we could have an open conversation about the possible origin of these things. I now understand. I’m not ashamed. Abba loves me. He’s my safety. I forgive you. I forgive me. So many powerful words that build relationship and bring truth and life.
I agree, friend. God is more tender with me than I am to myself. I'm so grateful for his patience and gentle corrections. I'm praying for your son right now, friend.
Most difficult to address someone going thru cancer or the loss of soemone too early . To tell them praying for you, seems so hollow and empty. I prefer to stay silent, for often I myself have no words
Indeed. Words can definitely disrupt silence, which at times is the true healer. My dad is a hospice chaplain, and my wife is a hospital chaplain. They both say more with their presence than I can say with my words. Thanks for this reminder, friend.
"I don't know" can keep us from wanting to be part of a study group in fear of being asked a question that we may not know the answer to.... when I first started studying your lectures online and heard a couple sermons from you, I remember hearing you say, "I don't have all the answers" and that stuck out to me as I knew you are a teacher, and I was like wow to be that honest with our selves is impowering on some level to engage in prayer over scripture and deeper study verses forcing our understanding and say good enough moving on...
I agree, friend. I'm consistently humbled by the amount I don't know as I dive deep into the infinite God. He really is tender with me in my ignorance. For that, and much more, I'm truly grateful.
I’ve been contemplating your post, as those three-word sentences can be brutal. My mom heard that same “You have cancer” only once and the “It has metastasized” a year later. That was before the advent of those pink ribboned races. My 15 year-old teenaged self had another three-word sentence ringing in her head…”What is happening?”. To Mom, to me, to my life as I knew it? As teens do, I buried it deep down and tried to live as normal as possible while ignoring the inevitable. At 19, I was still wrestling with “What is happening?” as I heard “She is dying”. I should have said “I am sorry” more often. Instead I was saying “I love you” while losing the first love of my life but also saying “I love you” to the new love of my life who would eventually become my husband and life-long partner. As my family fell apart when losing the glue that held it all together, I was unknowingly being given a new family through my new love. God really does make beauty from ashes.
As we so often do, I followed in the footsteps of those who inspired me most, and I became a nurse. “I don’t know” wasn’t the right answer in nursing school or in practice, and I have fallen prey to that ever-feared imposter syndrome more than I’d like to admit. My dear husband often recognizes the pressure I put on myself and will say “It’s okay if you don’t know the answer, it’s not a test”. And through the years I’ve learned that “I don’t know” followed by “I’ll find out” is okay. I appreciate your perspective, and listening to your lectures often challenges me to think of things in new or different ways. Turning “I don’t know” into a quest or journey to find an answer is certainly a better perspective than “I should know”. But these difficult three-word sentences are all about surrender. And surrender can be hard, but God makes it easier. I’m so thankful for Jesus, the rock we can cling to and who is the only truth in this crazy world. Turning those three-word sentences into four-word sentences can make all the difference.
What is happening God?
I love you God.
I am sorry God!
I don’t know God.
Thank you Shane, for sharing your thoughts. Your teachings, videos, and sermons have blessed me more than you know, and I’m continuing to learn so much from you. God Bless!
Oh dear friend. My heart hurt reading about your teenage pain. Wounds that deep, by God's grace, become scars, but still hurt in different moments, in different ways. Yet, as you say, our rock provides a solid foundation from which we move, grow, and become new. Thank you for this reminder and transparency. I'm grateful for you sharing your thoughts as well. Thanks :)
My adult son is beginning the journey of understanding himself and his struggles through the events of his childhood. It was a tremendously weighty gift when he came to me and asked if we could have an open conversation about the possible origin of these things. I now understand. I’m not ashamed. Abba loves me. He’s my safety. I forgive you. I forgive me. So many powerful words that build relationship and bring truth and life.
I love the process of the way you think and express your thoughts on paper! I too understand these 3 word sentences, and have had many battles won and lost at the choices made of expressing with these grouped swords as well as receiving them (or not) from others. As I was contemplating your words, I heard another group of 3 word sentences, that have profoundly changed my life: “I am he” and “here I am”. May we all dive deeper into His truth to help us grow in understanding and in love of the other 3 word sentences, in His amazing name.
Oh dear friend, thank you so much for sharing these powerful examples. When I read "here I am," I pictured my youngest crying my name out in the dark after a nightmare. The moment I say "here I am," all goes still. I love it when the Lord says that to me as well. Thanks friend.
A couple I include, especially when talking to leaders: I need help and I’m sorry. These together with I don’t know make a solid humble leader foundation.
Definitely! I lament how often Christian leaders don't understand that true leadership is a pursuit of curiosity, a constant learning. We don't need to have it all figured out ("I need help"). Failure is fine so long as we learn from it and make it right ("I'm sorry"). Many people will follow leaders who live search words. Thanks for this, friend.
My adult son is beginning the journey of understanding himself and his struggles through the events of his childhood. It was a tremendously weighty gift when he came to me and asked if we could have an open conversation about the possible origin of these things. I now understand. I’m not ashamed. Abba loves me. He’s my safety. I forgive you. I forgive me. So many powerful words that build relationship and bring truth and life.
We serve a redeeming, loving God.
I agree, friend. God is more tender with me than I am to myself. I'm so grateful for his patience and gentle corrections. I'm praying for your son right now, friend.
Most difficult to address someone going thru cancer or the loss of soemone too early . To tell them praying for you, seems so hollow and empty. I prefer to stay silent, for often I myself have no words
Indeed. Words can definitely disrupt silence, which at times is the true healer. My dad is a hospice chaplain, and my wife is a hospital chaplain. They both say more with their presence than I can say with my words. Thanks for this reminder, friend.
"I don't know" can keep us from wanting to be part of a study group in fear of being asked a question that we may not know the answer to.... when I first started studying your lectures online and heard a couple sermons from you, I remember hearing you say, "I don't have all the answers" and that stuck out to me as I knew you are a teacher, and I was like wow to be that honest with our selves is impowering on some level to engage in prayer over scripture and deeper study verses forcing our understanding and say good enough moving on...
Grace and Peace!
I agree, friend. I'm consistently humbled by the amount I don't know as I dive deep into the infinite God. He really is tender with me in my ignorance. For that, and much more, I'm truly grateful.
I’ve been contemplating your post, as those three-word sentences can be brutal. My mom heard that same “You have cancer” only once and the “It has metastasized” a year later. That was before the advent of those pink ribboned races. My 15 year-old teenaged self had another three-word sentence ringing in her head…”What is happening?”. To Mom, to me, to my life as I knew it? As teens do, I buried it deep down and tried to live as normal as possible while ignoring the inevitable. At 19, I was still wrestling with “What is happening?” as I heard “She is dying”. I should have said “I am sorry” more often. Instead I was saying “I love you” while losing the first love of my life but also saying “I love you” to the new love of my life who would eventually become my husband and life-long partner. As my family fell apart when losing the glue that held it all together, I was unknowingly being given a new family through my new love. God really does make beauty from ashes.
As we so often do, I followed in the footsteps of those who inspired me most, and I became a nurse. “I don’t know” wasn’t the right answer in nursing school or in practice, and I have fallen prey to that ever-feared imposter syndrome more than I’d like to admit. My dear husband often recognizes the pressure I put on myself and will say “It’s okay if you don’t know the answer, it’s not a test”. And through the years I’ve learned that “I don’t know” followed by “I’ll find out” is okay. I appreciate your perspective, and listening to your lectures often challenges me to think of things in new or different ways. Turning “I don’t know” into a quest or journey to find an answer is certainly a better perspective than “I should know”. But these difficult three-word sentences are all about surrender. And surrender can be hard, but God makes it easier. I’m so thankful for Jesus, the rock we can cling to and who is the only truth in this crazy world. Turning those three-word sentences into four-word sentences can make all the difference.
What is happening God?
I love you God.
I am sorry God!
I don’t know God.
Thank you Shane, for sharing your thoughts. Your teachings, videos, and sermons have blessed me more than you know, and I’m continuing to learn so much from you. God Bless!
Oh dear friend. My heart hurt reading about your teenage pain. Wounds that deep, by God's grace, become scars, but still hurt in different moments, in different ways. Yet, as you say, our rock provides a solid foundation from which we move, grow, and become new. Thank you for this reminder and transparency. I'm grateful for you sharing your thoughts as well. Thanks :)
You are loved- (3)
You are not alone- (4)
= (7)
Goodness. These short sentences can do wonders to heal the brokenness in so many. Thank you for sharing.
My adult son is beginning the journey of understanding himself and his struggles through the events of his childhood. It was a tremendously weighty gift when he came to me and asked if we could have an open conversation about the possible origin of these things. I now understand. I’m not ashamed. Abba loves me. He’s my safety. I forgive you. I forgive me. So many powerful words that build relationship and bring truth and life.
We serve a redeeming, loving God.