Working It

I was talking budget/finances with a colleague and discussing programs for helping people manage their resources. There are several good ones available and while they may have different flavors, they essentially share one common ingredient: have a plan & work the plan.

This obviously isn't just true of budgets and financial planning, but applies to us holistically. If we want to experience growth in any area of our lives we have to determine how we are going to get there and then work towards those goals. It helps to lay out the direction we are desiring to move and then fulfill the intermediate steps that mark off our progress. A lack of planning will only lead to our failure to achieve anything worthwhile. 

Higher

I have always considered the phrase "high capacity leader" to be something that I desired to be and am working towards. I think it speaks to the ability to get things done, the potential for growth, and someone who is able to influence others to maximize their own potential. 

I was meditating on leadership and my own growth recently however, and realized that simply striving to be high capacity is an incomplete vision. The equation that actually brings the greatest level of success, influence, and vision fulfillment is this: 

High Capacity + Execution = High Productivity

We take the abilities that God has given us and apply a focused work ethic and dedicated performance so that we are able to produce what we are most capable of. It's a conscious decision to translate "what could be" into "what is." 

Action combined with ability turns potential into reality. 

Still Moving

There are certain traditions that I have started that continue to this day. One of those is a result of traveling with teens for many years & long hours of driving. Inevitably I would be asked the question, "Are we there yet?" and my standard response (no matter where we were in the journey) was, "5 more minutes!" When my kids would ask my wife this question on a trip, she would respond by asking them, "Has the van stopped moving yet?" The truth was that asking the questions didn't change the length of the trip or our arrival time.

Whether we are on a physical pilgrimage or moving spiritually the truth is the same. The journey we are on will take exactly as long as it takes. We can't speed up the process and work that needs to be done in us. Maturity happens as our preparation, faith, failure, and obedience collide in a constant journey of motion and development. The process can't be rushed so we might as well enjoy the trip.

Something New

I want something more. This isn't a statement of greed or desire for physical pleasures, but a yearning for an increase of God's power and direction in my life. My eyes have continually been opened to the great changes that He has worked in me and yet it only heightens my awareness of how much more needs to be transformed. The journey is difficult, but I am longing for the next phases of discovery for me & my family. I feel that we are on the cusp of something powerful in our faith progression and calling, but I know that this will also call for new, bold moves of living out our faith. I don't know the details of what that looks like, but I know that it impassions me to see the potential of  God-given vision become a reality. I have full confidence that He will do this great work and I know that our obedience in attitude, word, and deed are required as well. The deliverance of a preferred future calls for an increase of active faith in our present reality.

Good Enough

We often have a common misunderstanding about our relationship with God. We believe that God cares more for us when we are doing the right things and less when we do the wrong things. It's the trap of believing our performance determines the level of God's love for us. The Father actually settled that question before we were even created and instead of accepting the grace & mercy that are offered through Jesus, we fight against the truth of it. We keep trying to score points in a game that God stopped keeping score in a long time ago.

I Used to Be

There is a Jewish proverb that states, "A man is what he is, not what he used to be." This can actually be a positive or negative thought depending on our perspective. It can provide encouragement when you aren't necessarily proud of your past. It can be a sign of growth and positive transformation when we have worked to correct character deficiencies and glaring weaknesses. It's also a reminder that we can't boast about the positive things we have done in the past and not continue to work in the present. Our spiritual growth, healthy relationships, financial strength, and physical health cannot be maintained because of something we once did. We have to be willing to build on the past, learn from our mistakes, and continually push forward to grow.

Clearly in Control

I am still meditating on 1 Peter 4:7 which God really highlighted for me this past Saturday morning. The need for clear-mindedness and self-control has been constantly impressed on me and I am still meditating on the depth of what that means. 

As I was re-reading it, I began to wonder why we were told to be clear minded before we exhibited self-control. I believe it's because we can't assert self-control if we are not focused on who we are working to become. That works out differently for each of us, but can share some common characteristics.

• Monitoring what you eat & how you exercise when you have a picture of the physical improvements you want to make
• Refraining from gossiping about other people's lives when you understand the damage it causes & how it doesn't reflect the character you are working to develop
• Being patient & understanding in your marriage because your goal is strengthening your relationship and not winning an argument
• Refusing to miss conversation opportunities with your children about real life situations because we realize our time of day-to-day influence is limited
• Being content with what we own and using our financial resources to be generous instead of buying what we feel we need
• Investing in community as part of church for the greater benefit of spiritual growth instead of choosing to fill our schedule with social engagements that don't challenge us
• Choosing to relate with people outside our church (even when it's difficult) because we grasp the greater vision of transforming our community by working alongside them.

Clear vision is essential to consistent discipline.