In my experience, people spend more time in prayer when things are not going well as opposed to when everything seems to be acceptable. It could be a prayer for health, improved relationships, better finances, or specific needs, but there is no doubt that they increase when we need things changed. We know that God is capable of doing all things and that nothing is impossible for Him. There is no need that is greater than His ability to provide. Far too often, however, we can eagerly seek God's answer to our prayers and then see our own prayer life fade away until the next crisis/need.
Perhaps we would have a greater connection to God and see His work in each facet of our lives if we changed the focus of our prayers. Instead of seeking His power to change the circumstances we are facing, why don't we ask God to change our hearts instead? Not only would that radically redefine our perspective on what is temporal, I would wager it would influence our communities in a way that would open a pathway to communicate the true redeeming power of the Holy Spirit.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Bright Light
One of the toughest leadership lessons that I have taught (and had to learn as well) is that a leader will have to learn to be a follower as well. We can't always be the one who is steering the ship and determining our course, but we can have great impact by following the one that God has placed in that role.
Several years ago I was leading one of the annual trips to the American Indian Christian Mission in Show Low, Arizona with a group of high schoolers from Florida. I look at these trips as a chance to bless those that we go to minister to, but to also use the opportunity to invest in our team members. One afternoon we were engaged in a leadership game that required them to figure out a task. I had used this multiple times in different settings and the task usually took about 15 minutes to complete. On this particular trip, however, we had at least 10 very strong leaders (and several other quiet ones) which made the task much more difficult than it had to be. I offered no suggestions, but simply watched as this simple task was still not complete one hour later. While their frustrations were mounting I simply sat back and watched. When I realized we had reached a breaking point, I stepped in to tell them one of the toughest leadership lessons: lead by following. I then picked one of our quietest leaders and told them to take charge and that no one else was allowed to speak. They finished their task in under 10 minutes and the point was made.
Even though I feel that I have a better grasp on this concept than I once did, I still struggle with making this happen. Some very wise people who have invested in my life over the years have helped me to see the truth of not always having to speak the answer to situations or direct people exactly where everything should go. It is a difference of wanting to get things done or investing in the people around you so that everybody grows as a result.
This was all brought home to be today through a blog by Seth Godin where he wrote, "One option is to struggle to be heard whenever you're in the room. Another option is to be the sort of person who is missed when you're not. The first involves making noise. The second involves making a difference."
I have made a lot of noise in my life. I am working hard every day in prayer, study, and action to make a difference.
Several years ago I was leading one of the annual trips to the American Indian Christian Mission in Show Low, Arizona with a group of high schoolers from Florida. I look at these trips as a chance to bless those that we go to minister to, but to also use the opportunity to invest in our team members. One afternoon we were engaged in a leadership game that required them to figure out a task. I had used this multiple times in different settings and the task usually took about 15 minutes to complete. On this particular trip, however, we had at least 10 very strong leaders (and several other quiet ones) which made the task much more difficult than it had to be. I offered no suggestions, but simply watched as this simple task was still not complete one hour later. While their frustrations were mounting I simply sat back and watched. When I realized we had reached a breaking point, I stepped in to tell them one of the toughest leadership lessons: lead by following. I then picked one of our quietest leaders and told them to take charge and that no one else was allowed to speak. They finished their task in under 10 minutes and the point was made.
Even though I feel that I have a better grasp on this concept than I once did, I still struggle with making this happen. Some very wise people who have invested in my life over the years have helped me to see the truth of not always having to speak the answer to situations or direct people exactly where everything should go. It is a difference of wanting to get things done or investing in the people around you so that everybody grows as a result.
This was all brought home to be today through a blog by Seth Godin where he wrote, "One option is to struggle to be heard whenever you're in the room. Another option is to be the sort of person who is missed when you're not. The first involves making noise. The second involves making a difference."
I have made a lot of noise in my life. I am working hard every day in prayer, study, and action to make a difference.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Good Enough for Now
It's easy to become a slave to seeking what is next. While I am a firm believer in searching for God's vision for life, I think that we can sometimes get caught looking too far ahead and forget about what is happening around us in the present. It's an interesting tension to manage. As a leader I believe that we are called to actively seek out God's will for our futures. We must also trust in His ability to provide for this moment and to take time to revel in each day as He gifts it to us.
We should not stop asking God for more wisdom, direction, blessing, and opportunity. There is a certain peace that can be found in being content with where He has us in life now, and dwelling in the midst of the work that He is already doing in each of us. It's a constant reminder that God's plan will always prevail and that as we mature and are obedient He will reveal it in His timing.
We should not stop asking God for more wisdom, direction, blessing, and opportunity. There is a certain peace that can be found in being content with where He has us in life now, and dwelling in the midst of the work that He is already doing in each of us. It's a constant reminder that God's plan will always prevail and that as we mature and are obedient He will reveal it in His timing.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Building Project
A home is only as strong as its foundation. You can build whatever you want on a poor structure and the entire thing will collapse at some point. When we choose to follow Christ our foundation is built, but not by us. It is a gift from the King and is secure and reliable.
A foundation, though, is not a complete building, but is the anticipation of one. We trust in God initially to provide the firm basis for us to begin with, but we must then get to work to construct the rest. It is done through God's power in & through us, but requires sweat and spiritual equity on our part. It takes a vision of what we want to look like and humility to let God tweak the design as His perfect will sees fit to do. When we are striving to work with God in the midst of this, it is a symbiotic relationship that develops a structure that will withstand anything this world throws at us and will bring about confident fulfillment as we eagerly take part in seeing God's design in each of us.
A foundation, though, is not a complete building, but is the anticipation of one. We trust in God initially to provide the firm basis for us to begin with, but we must then get to work to construct the rest. It is done through God's power in & through us, but requires sweat and spiritual equity on our part. It takes a vision of what we want to look like and humility to let God tweak the design as His perfect will sees fit to do. When we are striving to work with God in the midst of this, it is a symbiotic relationship that develops a structure that will withstand anything this world throws at us and will bring about confident fulfillment as we eagerly take part in seeing God's design in each of us.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Mental Stretching
While I am a creature of habit and routine, I also need to vary that structure on occasion or I find myself falling into a rut that leads to a desperate lack of creativity. One of my favorite authors, Mark Batterson, says it best: change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. I used to make sure that this happened on a regular basis when I was working in Florida, but have not done nearly as well here in Georgia. When I do manage to shake things up I am almost always rewarded with stimulating thoughts and dialogue.
I managed to escape from the church office this afternoon and planned on having about an hour to read and think over coffee at Starbucks. I was there about 30 minutes alone before a good friend and colleague came in to meet someone else. The three of us ended up talking for about an hour about vision, strengths, leadership, reading, and our futures. It was an extremely rewarding time for me and reminds me of the need to seek out divine appointments on a regular basis. It is also affirmation of one of my strengths-investing in people-and the fulfillment that I gain when I can operate within that strength.
I have been reminded lately (especially today) of the need to invest in my strengths. There are things that have to be done in ministry (or in any leadership position) that require us to work outside of our naturally gifted areas. I would wager that we will be the most fulfilled and most effective, however, when we can spend time sharpening the gifts that God has given to each of us.
I managed to escape from the church office this afternoon and planned on having about an hour to read and think over coffee at Starbucks. I was there about 30 minutes alone before a good friend and colleague came in to meet someone else. The three of us ended up talking for about an hour about vision, strengths, leadership, reading, and our futures. It was an extremely rewarding time for me and reminds me of the need to seek out divine appointments on a regular basis. It is also affirmation of one of my strengths-investing in people-and the fulfillment that I gain when I can operate within that strength.
I have been reminded lately (especially today) of the need to invest in my strengths. There are things that have to be done in ministry (or in any leadership position) that require us to work outside of our naturally gifted areas. I would wager that we will be the most fulfilled and most effective, however, when we can spend time sharpening the gifts that God has given to each of us.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Get the Message
As I read through the Bible this year, I have decided to read from The Message. I have used this version many different times in preaching and enjoy the different perspective it brings for me. As I started this morning, I read an essay by Andrew Peterson (author of this version) that shared the concept of Read, Think, Pray, Live. This isn't the first time that I have heard this from him, but it is something I have been meditating on all day long.
I strongly believe in the authoritative power of God's Word for our lives. I have no doubt in my mind at all about its complete accuracy and the ability of that Word to create a tension that can only be resolved through the power of the Holy Spirit. In spite of my confidence in the veracity of the Word and God's ability to reveal His true nature through it, I sometimes struggle with maintaining my firm commitment to reading & applying it. I find myself getting distracted or even (dare I say it?) bored as I read through the year. It can lead to periods of time when I am reading for the sake of reading and no life transformation or powerful revelation seems to occur.
Dwelling on Peterson's challenge of Read, Think, Pray, Live narrows my focus to what is important and is something that can be encouraging to anyone. We don't necessarily have to figure it all out as we sit there. There doesn't have to be a resounding chorus of angels singing as we read it. What will happen as we follow those four words is that we will be striving to put into practice (in our flawed & mistake-filled fashion) what we read, and trusting God to guide us as we trust Him. Those four actions will identify us as Christ followers who are committed to studying the Scriptures, letting our mind work around them, seeking God's wisdom, and then taking action.
I'd like to see what would happen when a local church is filled with people committed to doing just that.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Magic Telescope
As silly as it sounds, (and since I have daughters with incredible imaginations and goofiness galore I feel that I am an expert on silly) I often find myself wishing that I had a device that would let me look into the future and then take me to it even quicker. I wish that I had something that would allow me to see how the decisions that I make today will affect my family in the near and distant future. I would love to be able to see how difficult things are going to work out (or not work out) to relieve anxiety. Who wouldn't love to have the ability to see the exact results of what they are doing now or where they will be in five years and be able to jump right to those improvements?
Instead I am faced with the daily choice of trusting God and putting my faith in His providence. I am learning to be content with knowing that if I desire to change my position and my character that I must make a choice to be that person. Nothing will be handed to me without my contributing effort and faithful perseverance. I must envision the man that I want to be at the end of this year and then choose each day to be that man. If I want to be a more faithful follower of Christ then I will pray, read, and serve like a more faithful follower. If my desire is to be a better husband and father then I will start today to speak the words, meditate on the thoughts, and form the habits of that man. When I feel that God is leading me to be a stronger and more positive leader, I will begin to act today as if that is already the true nature of who I am.
In actuality, my confidence in God's vision for my life and my disciplined obedience in seeing it fulfilled is a magic telescope of its own. It won't bring any shortcuts to my future, but in choosing to actively follow Christ each day I can be confident that I will arrive at the destination that God has set out before me.
Instead I am faced with the daily choice of trusting God and putting my faith in His providence. I am learning to be content with knowing that if I desire to change my position and my character that I must make a choice to be that person. Nothing will be handed to me without my contributing effort and faithful perseverance. I must envision the man that I want to be at the end of this year and then choose each day to be that man. If I want to be a more faithful follower of Christ then I will pray, read, and serve like a more faithful follower. If my desire is to be a better husband and father then I will start today to speak the words, meditate on the thoughts, and form the habits of that man. When I feel that God is leading me to be a stronger and more positive leader, I will begin to act today as if that is already the true nature of who I am.
In actuality, my confidence in God's vision for my life and my disciplined obedience in seeing it fulfilled is a magic telescope of its own. It won't bring any shortcuts to my future, but in choosing to actively follow Christ each day I can be confident that I will arrive at the destination that God has set out before me.
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