Are you misunderstood?
Misinterpreted? Misrepresented?
Misjudged? Confused? Hopelessly depressed?
Afraid? Fearful? Ashamed?
Not heard? Angry? Unkind? Hateful?
Revengeful? Ready to attack? Wanting to sue?
Escaping? Running? In denial? Hurt?
Conflict
Conflict is an opportunity to find out... some amazing realities... who you are and who God is.
We often become confused with who we are v.s. who we think we should be. In conflict we feel adrift because if God is who we think He is He can not help us. So we enter into the slippery slide hopefully wise enough to receive a guide. This is an opportunity to synchronize with not just other beings but the Ultimate Being. We are happy to be with you in your conflict. Anything is possible with His presence. We have seen the worst and best and through it all we have learned to worship Him. We invite you into the pleasure of His company and into what He can do for you, in you, with you and through you.Basic Conflict Principles
Conflict is an Opportunity
• Glorify God
• Serve other people
• Grow to be like Christ
Get the log out of your own eye
Identify wrongs - admit wrongs honestly and thoroughly.
• Address everyone involved
• Avoid if, but, and maybe
• Admit specifically
• Acknowledge the hurt
• Accept the consequences
• Alter your behavior
• Ask for forgiveness
When an offense can not be overlooked (Prov. 19:11)
• Is the offense seriously dishonoring God?
• Has it permanently damaged a relationship?
• Is it seriously hurting other people? and
• Is it seriously hurting the offender himself?
Proceed
• Pray for humility and wisdom
• Plan your words carefully
• Anticipate likely reactions and plan appropriate responses
• Choose the right time and place
• Assume the best about the other person until you have facts to prove otherwise (Prov. 11:27)
• Listen carefully (Prov. 18:13)
• Speak only to build others up (Eph. 4:29)
• Ask for feedback from the other person
• Recognize your limits (only God can change people; see Rom. 12:18; 2 Tim. 2:24-26)
Go be reconciled
• I will not think about this incident.
• I will not bring this incident up and use it against you.
• I will not talk to others about this incident.
• I will not allow this incident to stand between us or hinder our personal relationship.
Negotiation:
• Prepare
• Affirm relationships
• Understand interests
• Search for creative solutions
• Evaluate
Adapted from The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict. © 1997, 2003 by Ken Sande. All Rights Reserved.
Forgiveness
Forgive for your own sake so that you can love again. We were created to receive to give. When this process is blocked we start dying inside and we loose our joy and our life. This is why we encourage you to go and receive reconciliation. Unblock relationships that are stuck so that you can experience the essence of your life. To love and to be loved. In Romans 13:8 it says that there is only one debt that we owe man and that is the debt of love. If we love we have fulfilled the law and the law is love. What is the law? It is receiving to give love.
Even God forgives for His sake. Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am He that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember you sins." NKJV
Go be reconciled – the present is the perfect time
Time is the perfect present
Blessed are you - a peacemaker - a child of God. Mat.5:9