i'm in northern california for a conference on spiritual royalty as well as some r&r with my wife. there has been much said. more than i can write about at this moment. the ground of my heart feels saturated with what has been said. it's difficult to hold more spiritual truth and it not be the "run off" in my heart.
i will say, as a "D" type personality and a prophetic voice, I need what Danny Silk teaches. He is a great teacher on relationships and parenting. Here is church website is www.ibethel.org.
i will update more next week.
blessings.
lance
9/28/07
9/20/07
realization
There are times when conversations with other people feel like you are emotionally and spiritually eating your favorite meal. You feel built up, encouraged and hopeful.
I had one of those times today.
I am a very good leader. Leadership defined as the ability to cast a compelling vision, motivate others, be a visionary, etc.
I am not a very good manager. This diagnosis was given to me today. I believe it. I felt liberated when I heard it. I thought, "that's exactly what I have been trying to nail down for the last 10-12 years." I do not know why I have not discovered it. Maybe I didn't want to because it would require such radical change. Maybe I didn't because I didn't know how to embrace the learning curve that I would get on. Maybe I didn't because I didn't have the reference point to identify it. It would be like a cocktail waitress giving a medical diagnosis. I simply had not reference point for it.
But that is all in the past. I am a present to future thinker. So what am I going to do?
A few things. And these few things are going to be intentional, difficult and much fun. I love to learn, so this process should be good.
1. Pray.
The Holy Spirit seems like the ultimate manager. The Father released the vision. Jesus lived it out and gave us the resources to fulfill the vision. The Holy Spirit is the manager and leader.
2. Read.
In particular I am reading to Marcus Buckingham books.
3. Seek the advice of other good managers.
4. Audit a college course on business management.
I will try and keep you posted on how this is going. Please pray for me to receive the impartation and revelation of the Holy Spirit concerning this new skill set. The Holy Spirit has been preparing me for this for almost a year. It is in an unusual way, but it's been happening. He has continually been speaking to me about "sonship." That is so important because as I grow in that security two things happen.
1. I feel no need to impress anyone.
2. I have nothing to prove to anyone.
That type of security sets me up to learn this lesson publicly with the opportunity for much failure. It won't matter to my identity, because I am secure as a son with nothing to prove and no one to impress.
I hope you all have a great week. I will be off line for about two weeks as my wife and go for a get a way to the Northwest.
Until next time...
I had one of those times today.
I am a very good leader. Leadership defined as the ability to cast a compelling vision, motivate others, be a visionary, etc.
I am not a very good manager. This diagnosis was given to me today. I believe it. I felt liberated when I heard it. I thought, "that's exactly what I have been trying to nail down for the last 10-12 years." I do not know why I have not discovered it. Maybe I didn't want to because it would require such radical change. Maybe I didn't because I didn't know how to embrace the learning curve that I would get on. Maybe I didn't because I didn't have the reference point to identify it. It would be like a cocktail waitress giving a medical diagnosis. I simply had not reference point for it.
But that is all in the past. I am a present to future thinker. So what am I going to do?
A few things. And these few things are going to be intentional, difficult and much fun. I love to learn, so this process should be good.
1. Pray.
The Holy Spirit seems like the ultimate manager. The Father released the vision. Jesus lived it out and gave us the resources to fulfill the vision. The Holy Spirit is the manager and leader.
2. Read.
In particular I am reading to Marcus Buckingham books.
3. Seek the advice of other good managers.
4. Audit a college course on business management.
I will try and keep you posted on how this is going. Please pray for me to receive the impartation and revelation of the Holy Spirit concerning this new skill set. The Holy Spirit has been preparing me for this for almost a year. It is in an unusual way, but it's been happening. He has continually been speaking to me about "sonship." That is so important because as I grow in that security two things happen.
1. I feel no need to impress anyone.
2. I have nothing to prove to anyone.
That type of security sets me up to learn this lesson publicly with the opportunity for much failure. It won't matter to my identity, because I am secure as a son with nothing to prove and no one to impress.
I hope you all have a great week. I will be off line for about two weeks as my wife and go for a get a way to the Northwest.
Until next time...
9/12/07
tangled webs
i just got done talking with a friend who is really hurting. his life is a tangled web of issues, problems and struggles. he knows Jesus. but what i hate is the power of sin and discouragement. the enemy is extremely ruthless and vile. he'll go to no end to destroy the glory of who we were meant to be.
i determine to be just as tenacious in loving, praying and walking in the identity of jesus. i will be who he says i am. nothing less.
just ranting because i see a family being ravaged by sin and it's fruit.
until a more joyful next time.....
i determine to be just as tenacious in loving, praying and walking in the identity of jesus. i will be who he says i am. nothing less.
just ranting because i see a family being ravaged by sin and it's fruit.
until a more joyful next time.....
JUMP - continued
so i will continue what i started yesterday. here goes....
4. i don't know how to balance risk and wisdom.
i Isaiah 11 talks about how the Holy Spirit shows up in certain ways. the spirit of wisdom and revelation. the spirit of counsel and might. the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. this is what I felt like the Lord spoke to me, "I will give you a spirit of counsel and might, wisdom and revelation, because I want you to know me intimately. To reverence adn live in awe of me is the start to wisdom. I release the spirit of the fear of the Lord. I am motivating you towards wisdom and revelation. John 8.32, "know the truth" and be free. I give wisdom so you can risk, not to keep you from it."
5. i don't jump because i love comfort.
1 corinthians 14.3 says that prophecy is for edification, exhortation and comfort. edification is to "build up", exhortation is to "draw near" and comfort is "to cheer up." i need the prophetic when i am uncomfortable. i need the prophetic to help give me vision and to release me to a direction. this is what the Lord said to me, "would you rather have comfort from me or from yourself? you only need comfort because you are uncomfortable/fatigued. I give rest to the weary. i comfort my people. I comfort them because it makes their batteries recharge so they can advance the kingdom."
6. i won't jump because it will require great energy and effort. it's a fear of being lazy. coasting and existing rather than really living.
i was thinking about 1 samuel 14 and how jonathan got tired of sitting around while his dad, king saul, sits under a pomegranate tree. Jonathan says to his armor bearer, "let's go over there and PERHAPS the Lord will act on our behalf." I don't know about you but the thought of a "perhaps" doesn't sound like a guarantee. But as we read, God acted on their behalf and Israel had a great victory that day. Here is what the Lord said to me, "More gets done from a position of rest. Resting which is a manifestation of trust, while anxiety will paralyze you or move you to do things in the strength of human power not divine power. Rest illustrates that heaven is changing the scene. It's a faith move. I rest my mind because I am living with the mind of Christ. I rest in human initiated effort because the human behavior i have now is a reflection of God's activity. I will not dictate every detail, but want you to renew your mind so that I trust you. Your personality is important. A coach designs plays, but he doesn't tell them how to run. I have designs and plan, but they are executed through your personality and the type of relationship you have with God. resting gets much done. rest in me and eat the spoils of the enemy. rest is not inactivity but living int rust and operating in God's power.
Then I said, "If I don't trust maybe it's because I"m looking at the wrong thing. Psalm 22.4 says that "trust will breed deliverance." Also in Exodus 14.31 when the Israelites saw what God did to Egypt they trusted in God.
The father then said, "If you choose to lean on one thing, it's because you can't lean on something else. Change what you are leaning on."
7. i don't jump because i'm looking at the wrong thing. (hebrews 2.18-3.1, 12.2, Psalm 141.8)
the father said, "don't let what's wrong with you or with the world keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Meditate, fix your eyes and focus on me and the connection we have. Remember "as the Father sent me, so i send you." I get the same resources and quality of sending as Jesus.
I am still processing all of this and praying through it. I would appreciate your prayers as well.
How about you, do any of these things keep you from leaping in the unknown of God's activity? If not, what is on your list that keeps you from jumping?
until next time....
4. i don't know how to balance risk and wisdom.
i Isaiah 11 talks about how the Holy Spirit shows up in certain ways. the spirit of wisdom and revelation. the spirit of counsel and might. the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. this is what I felt like the Lord spoke to me, "I will give you a spirit of counsel and might, wisdom and revelation, because I want you to know me intimately. To reverence adn live in awe of me is the start to wisdom. I release the spirit of the fear of the Lord. I am motivating you towards wisdom and revelation. John 8.32, "know the truth" and be free. I give wisdom so you can risk, not to keep you from it."
5. i don't jump because i love comfort.
1 corinthians 14.3 says that prophecy is for edification, exhortation and comfort. edification is to "build up", exhortation is to "draw near" and comfort is "to cheer up." i need the prophetic when i am uncomfortable. i need the prophetic to help give me vision and to release me to a direction. this is what the Lord said to me, "would you rather have comfort from me or from yourself? you only need comfort because you are uncomfortable/fatigued. I give rest to the weary. i comfort my people. I comfort them because it makes their batteries recharge so they can advance the kingdom."
6. i won't jump because it will require great energy and effort. it's a fear of being lazy. coasting and existing rather than really living.
i was thinking about 1 samuel 14 and how jonathan got tired of sitting around while his dad, king saul, sits under a pomegranate tree. Jonathan says to his armor bearer, "let's go over there and PERHAPS the Lord will act on our behalf." I don't know about you but the thought of a "perhaps" doesn't sound like a guarantee. But as we read, God acted on their behalf and Israel had a great victory that day. Here is what the Lord said to me, "More gets done from a position of rest. Resting which is a manifestation of trust, while anxiety will paralyze you or move you to do things in the strength of human power not divine power. Rest illustrates that heaven is changing the scene. It's a faith move. I rest my mind because I am living with the mind of Christ. I rest in human initiated effort because the human behavior i have now is a reflection of God's activity. I will not dictate every detail, but want you to renew your mind so that I trust you. Your personality is important. A coach designs plays, but he doesn't tell them how to run. I have designs and plan, but they are executed through your personality and the type of relationship you have with God. resting gets much done. rest in me and eat the spoils of the enemy. rest is not inactivity but living int rust and operating in God's power.
Then I said, "If I don't trust maybe it's because I"m looking at the wrong thing. Psalm 22.4 says that "trust will breed deliverance." Also in Exodus 14.31 when the Israelites saw what God did to Egypt they trusted in God.
The father then said, "If you choose to lean on one thing, it's because you can't lean on something else. Change what you are leaning on."
7. i don't jump because i'm looking at the wrong thing. (hebrews 2.18-3.1, 12.2, Psalm 141.8)
the father said, "don't let what's wrong with you or with the world keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Meditate, fix your eyes and focus on me and the connection we have. Remember "as the Father sent me, so i send you." I get the same resources and quality of sending as Jesus.
I am still processing all of this and praying through it. I would appreciate your prayers as well.
How about you, do any of these things keep you from leaping in the unknown of God's activity? If not, what is on your list that keeps you from jumping?
until next time....
9/11/07
JUMP
Just to let you know, this post will be a bit longer than usual.
Several weeks ago my pastor asked me to speak on September 9th. I took my normal approach. Prayer. Meditation. Consulting my journal and what God had been speaking to me. After traveling down this familiar path I had nothing. Nothing seemed to grab my heart and nothing seemed to be the "subject" of Sunday's message.
I was getting down to the 11th hour (see previous post) and was getting concerned. My only saving grace is that our church had started, on September 9th mind you, 40 days of 24/7 prayer and fasting. I signed up for a 5-7 am shift. I knew I had those two hours to hear from heaven. Then I had 3 hours to process that download and share with my community of faith.
What transpired was no where on my radar. Some time between midnight and 4:15 am (which is when I woke up to get ready for my prayer time) I had a dream. It was short but straight to the point. In my dream I had "jumped" and was free falling. I wasn't sky diving, but it felt that way. Graham Cooke was in my dream. He had just spoken at our church a couple of days earlier. I knew he was in my dream because he was a catalyst and initiator of living by a greater realm of faith. In my dream I asked God, "why did I jump?" "What am I jumping into?" I asked it to God frustrated that I had jumped and I did not know why. The father spoke this me in my dream, "That's the problem. You want to know what you are jumping into before you jump. I want to know will you jump into the unknown and trust me?"
So with this dream as the backdrop I entered into our little 24/7 prayer room. I turned up the worship real loud and sat there. I sensed that I should write in my journal some reasons as to why I won't jump. Let's wrestle with my fears and inabilities. After all, the dream was not as much a correction as it was an invitation to make the necessary changes in my life. So this blog is a list of some of what i said to God and what he said back. I hope it encourages you as much as it does me.
1. Father I'm scared to leap because of the responsibility I feel for my family.
I'm married and have 3 kids, (14, 13, 1 1/2). I'm afraid of leaping and leaving my family behind. I do not now and will not allow ministry to become a higher priority than them. However, that good motivation can get to an extreme in me. I actually fail to embrace costly opportunities because I do not want to be a "fatherless" father. By trying to avoid this dilemma I can actually fulfill it. My children have a dad who is around all the time, but has failed to role model what it means to take risk and live a life fully devoted to God. This is what the Lord said to me (as recorded in my journal), "I'm more responsible for them than you are. Let's steward this together. Just know i'll provide the equity and resources. You just provide the access, availability and abandonment."
2. I won't leap because I'm more focused on the destination than I am the journey.
He says, "that in this hour of training the vision is the journey. The vision is not a destination that you find in google maps, rather it's a discovery into the caverns of your heart. Even when you discover "the destination", without the journey you have perverted your training and short changed the resources you need for the destination." (Luke 6.40, Hebrews 12.11)
3. I won't jump because I feel uncertain about safety.
He says, "Why do you value safety more than risk? Staying safe is more risky than trusting what you don't see. Safety is more risky because it's based upon man's ability to create safety and sustain it. That will lead to idolatry. It's idolatry because I do not always live in the land of safety. Therefore what is your hope placed in? What are you worshiping in that place? Can you show me a place where I was "safe" in the scriptures? Your safety is in me and in me, we will take risk and jump even if you do know know into what you are jumping. Do not take foolish risk. Seek counsel, but not so as to reason it out, but seek those who may or may not bear witness. (Psalm 4.8, 33.17)
I will share some of the other things tomorrow. But what the Lord shared with me when I was done writing my list is this. Lance, today is a transaction day. I want my people to give up their fears, etc. and I will give them my courage, faith, risk, etc. It's a transaction day. I want their to be a transaction between heaven and earth. Transactions are funny. I'm only willing to spend money for things I want or need. I want Jesus and need Jesus so I am willing to spend whatever is necessary. That's a transaction that feels like a win/win.
I believe for you (whoever may be reading this) that we are still in a place for transactions. Take time right now and make a transaction with God. Jesus paid the price. Give up your stuff and receive his nature and power. It's a good deal because he is a good Father.
Until next time....
Several weeks ago my pastor asked me to speak on September 9th. I took my normal approach. Prayer. Meditation. Consulting my journal and what God had been speaking to me. After traveling down this familiar path I had nothing. Nothing seemed to grab my heart and nothing seemed to be the "subject" of Sunday's message.
I was getting down to the 11th hour (see previous post) and was getting concerned. My only saving grace is that our church had started, on September 9th mind you, 40 days of 24/7 prayer and fasting. I signed up for a 5-7 am shift. I knew I had those two hours to hear from heaven. Then I had 3 hours to process that download and share with my community of faith.
What transpired was no where on my radar. Some time between midnight and 4:15 am (which is when I woke up to get ready for my prayer time) I had a dream. It was short but straight to the point. In my dream I had "jumped" and was free falling. I wasn't sky diving, but it felt that way. Graham Cooke was in my dream. He had just spoken at our church a couple of days earlier. I knew he was in my dream because he was a catalyst and initiator of living by a greater realm of faith. In my dream I asked God, "why did I jump?" "What am I jumping into?" I asked it to God frustrated that I had jumped and I did not know why. The father spoke this me in my dream, "That's the problem. You want to know what you are jumping into before you jump. I want to know will you jump into the unknown and trust me?"
So with this dream as the backdrop I entered into our little 24/7 prayer room. I turned up the worship real loud and sat there. I sensed that I should write in my journal some reasons as to why I won't jump. Let's wrestle with my fears and inabilities. After all, the dream was not as much a correction as it was an invitation to make the necessary changes in my life. So this blog is a list of some of what i said to God and what he said back. I hope it encourages you as much as it does me.
1. Father I'm scared to leap because of the responsibility I feel for my family.
I'm married and have 3 kids, (14, 13, 1 1/2). I'm afraid of leaping and leaving my family behind. I do not now and will not allow ministry to become a higher priority than them. However, that good motivation can get to an extreme in me. I actually fail to embrace costly opportunities because I do not want to be a "fatherless" father. By trying to avoid this dilemma I can actually fulfill it. My children have a dad who is around all the time, but has failed to role model what it means to take risk and live a life fully devoted to God. This is what the Lord said to me (as recorded in my journal), "I'm more responsible for them than you are. Let's steward this together. Just know i'll provide the equity and resources. You just provide the access, availability and abandonment."
2. I won't leap because I'm more focused on the destination than I am the journey.
He says, "that in this hour of training the vision is the journey. The vision is not a destination that you find in google maps, rather it's a discovery into the caverns of your heart. Even when you discover "the destination", without the journey you have perverted your training and short changed the resources you need for the destination." (Luke 6.40, Hebrews 12.11)
3. I won't jump because I feel uncertain about safety.
He says, "Why do you value safety more than risk? Staying safe is more risky than trusting what you don't see. Safety is more risky because it's based upon man's ability to create safety and sustain it. That will lead to idolatry. It's idolatry because I do not always live in the land of safety. Therefore what is your hope placed in? What are you worshiping in that place? Can you show me a place where I was "safe" in the scriptures? Your safety is in me and in me, we will take risk and jump even if you do know know into what you are jumping. Do not take foolish risk. Seek counsel, but not so as to reason it out, but seek those who may or may not bear witness. (Psalm 4.8, 33.17)
I will share some of the other things tomorrow. But what the Lord shared with me when I was done writing my list is this. Lance, today is a transaction day. I want my people to give up their fears, etc. and I will give them my courage, faith, risk, etc. It's a transaction day. I want their to be a transaction between heaven and earth. Transactions are funny. I'm only willing to spend money for things I want or need. I want Jesus and need Jesus so I am willing to spend whatever is necessary. That's a transaction that feels like a win/win.
I believe for you (whoever may be reading this) that we are still in a place for transactions. Take time right now and make a transaction with God. Jesus paid the price. Give up your stuff and receive his nature and power. It's a good deal because he is a good Father.
Until next time....
9/10/07
the 11th hour
I was talking with a friend the other day. He was sharing how he noticed God was showing up in the 11th hour. He needed provision and God seemed to be waiting to the 11th hour. I sensed the Holy Spirit tell me, "It wasn't God's 11th hour." The challenge, for us to have our timing in sync with God's. What feels like an 11th hour, may actually be the appropriate time. God give us the wisdom and discernment to know that our timing is in line with your timing.
Until next time....
Until next time....
9/7/07
graham cooke
if you are not familiar with who graham cooke then i'll fill you in. he is a strong prophetic voice in the kingdom right now. he lives in vacaville, california. his message has much to do with who we are in Christ and living out of that reality. he is speaking at our church (last night) as well as tonight.
here are few of my notes from his message and/or stuff i got from our meeting with him this morning.
how can a Christian be happy in a world that operates in powerlessness?
the "suddenlies" of God generate momentum in our journey. you can't walk at the same pace any longer.
i operate in this life at two levels:
a> relational: as a son of God
b> functional: as a servant/slave/steward to humanity
you can not place the kingdom inside of the church, but you are to place the church inside the kingdom.
prophetic words are mile markers that help us track our journey and direction.
to say "yes" to a new season is to say "no" to an old one.
prophecy is history written in advance.
changed minds can only follow changed hearts.
*this is my favorite*
prophecy says there is a better version of "you" on the way!
I love that! I need to know there is a better version of me on the way. I am loving what Graham is talking about. it is a lot of things to process, but i walk out of each meeting feeling and knowing the love of God at a heart and experiential level. i really need that right now in the season i'm in.
oh yeah, here's one more.
when God is hidden, he has not left you, he is just not a reality at the emotional level. he invented hide and seek. he hides and we seek. what a great journey to discover the kindest person we could ever meet...God!
until next time....
here are few of my notes from his message and/or stuff i got from our meeting with him this morning.
how can a Christian be happy in a world that operates in powerlessness?
the "suddenlies" of God generate momentum in our journey. you can't walk at the same pace any longer.
i operate in this life at two levels:
a> relational: as a son of God
b> functional: as a servant/slave/steward to humanity
you can not place the kingdom inside of the church, but you are to place the church inside the kingdom.
prophetic words are mile markers that help us track our journey and direction.
to say "yes" to a new season is to say "no" to an old one.
prophecy is history written in advance.
changed minds can only follow changed hearts.
*this is my favorite*
prophecy says there is a better version of "you" on the way!
I love that! I need to know there is a better version of me on the way. I am loving what Graham is talking about. it is a lot of things to process, but i walk out of each meeting feeling and knowing the love of God at a heart and experiential level. i really need that right now in the season i'm in.
oh yeah, here's one more.
when God is hidden, he has not left you, he is just not a reality at the emotional level. he invented hide and seek. he hides and we seek. what a great journey to discover the kindest person we could ever meet...God!
until next time....
prayer request
we have a media/tech position available at our church. it's part time and i need some prayer support for selecting the right individual. currently we have no one in the pipeline. that's my greatest prayer need. also pray for us to have competent and excellent leadership in this area.
thanks.
thanks.
things i learned when...(cont'd)
6. Progress feels good and is fuel for the project
* it's not enough to just have the vision of the project, but i need to see progress. progress is a testimony that the "project" can be completed. progress speaks to the incompetence that i may feel and let's me know that i can do it. sitting back and looking at the completed ceramic tile feels good. it motivates me to take on a bigger project. it's a bit like the spies who went into the promised land. it's one thing to have a promise, something quite different to take risk. progress tells me that the reward is worth the risk. so what progress are you making towards your dreams and destiny?
7. Projects happen in stages
* God told the Israelites to take the promised land. But taking the promised land started with one city. then another city. then another. i have prophetic promises, as you do, but they serve as a motivator and as a compass on where i should be going. to get to the fulfillment of the promise i need to take it stages. Exodus 23.30 says, "Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land."
God is on the move. I remember what was quoted at the end of "The Chronicles of Narnia" (the movie). Speaking of Aslan, the Lion, "He's no tame lion. But he is good."
Until next time....experience His goodness and pleasure over you.
* it's not enough to just have the vision of the project, but i need to see progress. progress is a testimony that the "project" can be completed. progress speaks to the incompetence that i may feel and let's me know that i can do it. sitting back and looking at the completed ceramic tile feels good. it motivates me to take on a bigger project. it's a bit like the spies who went into the promised land. it's one thing to have a promise, something quite different to take risk. progress tells me that the reward is worth the risk. so what progress are you making towards your dreams and destiny?
7. Projects happen in stages
* God told the Israelites to take the promised land. But taking the promised land started with one city. then another city. then another. i have prophetic promises, as you do, but they serve as a motivator and as a compass on where i should be going. to get to the fulfillment of the promise i need to take it stages. Exodus 23.30 says, "Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land."
God is on the move. I remember what was quoted at the end of "The Chronicles of Narnia" (the movie). Speaking of Aslan, the Lion, "He's no tame lion. But he is good."
Until next time....experience His goodness and pleasure over you.
9/6/07
things i learned when...
over the weekend i installed ceramic tile and a new toilet in my kids bathroom. it was my first endeavor on laying ceramic tile. here's what i learned about life....
1. life is not always square
*is it not true that when you think things are going smoothly suddenly life is no longer square and you have to make some odd adjustments. the unrenewed mind rarely comprehends the unusual "cuts" that must be made in life. the goal is to renew the mind so that any "cut" is possible and reasonable. God knows where he is leading me, he just doesn't feel me in until he thinks it's necessary. there is realm of revelation that i need.
2. projects are better when done with others.
*a good friend of mine helped me out. the project went faster than i had expected. the company was more enjoyable. i was less frustrated at myself for knowing that i don't know what i'm doing. i had another set eyes looking at the process, problems and solutions. plus, we laughed and talked about the kingdom.
3. preparation is as important as skill.
*i have a tendency to jump into projects and not count the cost. didn't Jesus say something about that? after starting projects and making more trips to the home improvement store that i care to recount, i learned to prepare so once i'm in the project i can focus on the project and not what i'm forgetting. much is life, that if i know God is wanting to work on something, i should count the cost and prepare so that i can give my full attention to living a life that's in agreement with the Holy Spirit.
4. the right tools matter.
*one of the joys of doing this project was the use of my brother's wet saw. this thing was a work of art and a beautiful piece of machinery. it cut down on our work load. increased our efficiency. we not only had the wet saw but many other tools that we needed. in life, the right tools matter. what are the tools you have which are what marcus buckingham calls your "strengths." do you use them? what are the "tools" that you have not discovered yet, but they lie hidden in your spiritual tool bag? in the project of life, the right "tools" matter.
one more....
5. Laying tile is easier when I call someone who has already done it.
*so my brother laid 400 sq ft. of tile in his house. my project was about 30 sq. ft. so what did i do when i was preparing for the project? i called him. often. i must have called him 10-15 times. what kind of grout do it get? what kind of trowel do i get? how big? etc. etc. etc. there are places in my journey with God that i want to get. i want to, as Jesus said in matthew 10, "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons." i do not always get breakthrough. i know some who do though. so i ask them, "what's your lifestyle? how are you doing these amazing things?" there are people who have done, what i am just attempting. i can make it easier on myself by receiving their inheritance and benefit from their pioneering labor.
i will write down the other things i learned tomorrow. until next time....
1. life is not always square
*is it not true that when you think things are going smoothly suddenly life is no longer square and you have to make some odd adjustments. the unrenewed mind rarely comprehends the unusual "cuts" that must be made in life. the goal is to renew the mind so that any "cut" is possible and reasonable. God knows where he is leading me, he just doesn't feel me in until he thinks it's necessary. there is realm of revelation that i need.
2. projects are better when done with others.
*a good friend of mine helped me out. the project went faster than i had expected. the company was more enjoyable. i was less frustrated at myself for knowing that i don't know what i'm doing. i had another set eyes looking at the process, problems and solutions. plus, we laughed and talked about the kingdom.
3. preparation is as important as skill.
*i have a tendency to jump into projects and not count the cost. didn't Jesus say something about that? after starting projects and making more trips to the home improvement store that i care to recount, i learned to prepare so once i'm in the project i can focus on the project and not what i'm forgetting. much is life, that if i know God is wanting to work on something, i should count the cost and prepare so that i can give my full attention to living a life that's in agreement with the Holy Spirit.
4. the right tools matter.
*one of the joys of doing this project was the use of my brother's wet saw. this thing was a work of art and a beautiful piece of machinery. it cut down on our work load. increased our efficiency. we not only had the wet saw but many other tools that we needed. in life, the right tools matter. what are the tools you have which are what marcus buckingham calls your "strengths." do you use them? what are the "tools" that you have not discovered yet, but they lie hidden in your spiritual tool bag? in the project of life, the right "tools" matter.
one more....
5. Laying tile is easier when I call someone who has already done it.
*so my brother laid 400 sq ft. of tile in his house. my project was about 30 sq. ft. so what did i do when i was preparing for the project? i called him. often. i must have called him 10-15 times. what kind of grout do it get? what kind of trowel do i get? how big? etc. etc. etc. there are places in my journey with God that i want to get. i want to, as Jesus said in matthew 10, "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons." i do not always get breakthrough. i know some who do though. so i ask them, "what's your lifestyle? how are you doing these amazing things?" there are people who have done, what i am just attempting. i can make it easier on myself by receiving their inheritance and benefit from their pioneering labor.
i will write down the other things i learned tomorrow. until next time....
waiting
i was reading a friend's blog and he was talking about waiting versus leaving. good subject. thanks preston for posting it. it has caused me to think about my own position and what God is doing in me. there are times when i think about leaving. who doesn't think that? there are times when i think about staying. how do you balance the tension? i feel like the man who walks on the high wire with a 20 foot pole used for balancing. on one end of my pole is the truth that i can't allow myself to get too comfortable in my "staying". on the other end of the pole is the truth that i can't let fear keep me from leaving.
thus the balancing act. one in which i do not balance well.
i find that i get confused. i over analyze. i hear mentors say, don't move until you are led by the Spirit. i have others who say, God will not move until you move. what? why such conflicting positions?
it's easy to be paralyzed by the unknown. it's easy to complicate the process and journey that one has with God.
i hear andy stanley in my head. "less is more." "simple is better."
okay, i'm trying to get it.
anyone else struggle with this balancing act?
thus the balancing act. one in which i do not balance well.
i find that i get confused. i over analyze. i hear mentors say, don't move until you are led by the Spirit. i have others who say, God will not move until you move. what? why such conflicting positions?
it's easy to be paralyzed by the unknown. it's easy to complicate the process and journey that one has with God.
i hear andy stanley in my head. "less is more." "simple is better."
okay, i'm trying to get it.
anyone else struggle with this balancing act?
9/5/07
called to write
I went to "The Call" in Nashville in July. On the way home, at the Nashville airport I run into a national prophetic voice. I had never met this person, but I knew who they were by face and reading some of their books. I introduced myself and just wanted to thank them for their service to the kingdom. Ends up, they wanted to chat. Needless to say in the midst of the conversation they ask me, "do you write?" I said, "no." They then said, as they leaned in closer to my face, "maybe you should think about it." Now considering the source I received it as a strong prophetic word. So what have I done since July 8th....nothing. I contemplated a blog. I thought about a blog. I read other blogs and measure mine as less than quality in comparison. Less than two weeks after I returned home a trusted friend shares with me that they see me as "writing books." OK, I get the point Abba. You want me to write. I do not like to write, but give me a grace for it. Release to me an impartation for creative and anointed writing.
The previous encounters are a big reason why I am blogging today.
I have a tendency to make the blog a personal online journal. I do not like that because writing in a journal is therapeutic. It's a place for me to be real, raw and transparent. There's no fear of judgment when I am the only one reading it. I will let my legacy and history judge my journal and my life. I most often write my journal as if I am writing to God or to my kids. I want them to know of my journal and the struggles I had. I also want them to celebrate with me.
So what does all that have to do with this site....just trying to honor the word that I got. I am doing something. It's not the fullness of the word, but perhaps God will act on when I take a step and move forward. I do not know if many others will read this or even care, but it is not for them as much as it is for me to be disciplined to write.
So until next time....
The previous encounters are a big reason why I am blogging today.
I have a tendency to make the blog a personal online journal. I do not like that because writing in a journal is therapeutic. It's a place for me to be real, raw and transparent. There's no fear of judgment when I am the only one reading it. I will let my legacy and history judge my journal and my life. I most often write my journal as if I am writing to God or to my kids. I want them to know of my journal and the struggles I had. I also want them to celebrate with me.
So what does all that have to do with this site....just trying to honor the word that I got. I am doing something. It's not the fullness of the word, but perhaps God will act on when I take a step and move forward. I do not know if many others will read this or even care, but it is not for them as much as it is for me to be disciplined to write.
So until next time....
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