To think that I could have said to my sons (assuming they were old enough to understand my voice and I was wise enough to know), "You are going to be such-and-such when you grow up. That's all for now," is an outlandish thought.
The daily walk with them as we uncover, together, their talents and passions, likes and dislikes, failures and successes is, up to this point, one of the most rewarding parts of my life.
Showing posts with label transition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transition. Show all posts
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
What Does Grant Desme Have to Do with You?
Maybe you don't know who Grant Desme is. I didn't.
Apparently, he was a big-time, promising, up-and-coming baseball player who just announced he's leaving baseball to go into ministry. So why am I writing about sports the day after I wrote about a politician? And what does Grant Desme (or Scott Brown) have to do with you? Or me?
Apparently, he was a big-time, promising, up-and-coming baseball player who just announced he's leaving baseball to go into ministry. So why am I writing about sports the day after I wrote about a politician? And what does Grant Desme (or Scott Brown) have to do with you? Or me?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Secrets 2 - repost
I'm not sure when or from whom we learned this exercise, and it has become so much a part of our lives that it doesn't seem to be so intentional anymore as automatic.
That's ironic because the whole intent is to avoid the automatic, the status quo, the ordinary, and the mundane.
We call it "STOP. NOTICE. AND DECIDE."
We invoke this occasionally to make sure that our lives haven't found a rut. That we are actively and in a meaningful way pursuing the plan of God for our lives. I love the quote, "A rut is just a grave with both ends kicked out of it." It speaks for itself. We don't want to be "the walking dead".
So first, we STOP.
In the busy-ness, crowds, and noise of our culture we can forget to just take a break. A day or two, or maybe an afternoon or an hour together when we purposely unplug and clear out the cobwebs. We position ourselves to hear each other and to hear the voice of God through each other.
And then NOTICE.
We turn that break into something more than an escape. We turn it into an intentional and fearless review of what we are doing. Are we in God's plan? Is there eternal significance to what we are putting our hands to? Is it good for God? For people? For our family? For our community?
And then DECIDE.
This is where the rubber meets the road. What will we do with what we have just heard and noticed? This is the gutsy, full-on, step-up-to-the-plate part of living that makes it really living.
We've closed businesses, fed the homeless, started new ministry tracks, opened businesses, bought airline tickets, fostered the abused, enrolled in universities, sold houses, had children, retired, re-hired, bought houses, changed careers and a whole lot more out of these "STOP. NOTICE. AND DECIDE." moments.
I don't have specific scripture for this, but I can tell you that the fruit has been lasting. And the adventures with God have been thrilling, fostering a relationship with Him that is alive, relevant, and head-over-heels full of love.
That's ironic because the whole intent is to avoid the automatic, the status quo, the ordinary, and the mundane.
We call it "STOP. NOTICE. AND DECIDE."
We invoke this occasionally to make sure that our lives haven't found a rut. That we are actively and in a meaningful way pursuing the plan of God for our lives. I love the quote, "A rut is just a grave with both ends kicked out of it." It speaks for itself. We don't want to be "the walking dead".
So first, we STOP.
In the busy-ness, crowds, and noise of our culture we can forget to just take a break. A day or two, or maybe an afternoon or an hour together when we purposely unplug and clear out the cobwebs. We position ourselves to hear each other and to hear the voice of God through each other.
And then NOTICE.
We turn that break into something more than an escape. We turn it into an intentional and fearless review of what we are doing. Are we in God's plan? Is there eternal significance to what we are putting our hands to? Is it good for God? For people? For our family? For our community?
And then DECIDE.
This is where the rubber meets the road. What will we do with what we have just heard and noticed? This is the gutsy, full-on, step-up-to-the-plate part of living that makes it really living.
We've closed businesses, fed the homeless, started new ministry tracks, opened businesses, bought airline tickets, fostered the abused, enrolled in universities, sold houses, had children, retired, re-hired, bought houses, changed careers and a whole lot more out of these "STOP. NOTICE. AND DECIDE." moments.
I don't have specific scripture for this, but I can tell you that the fruit has been lasting. And the adventures with God have been thrilling, fostering a relationship with Him that is alive, relevant, and head-over-heels full of love.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Informed, Conformed, and Transformed
We live beyond the information age. It seems like it is no longer even possible to maintain the amount of information we encounter on a daily basis - so we have wonderful technology to help us. Any fact that isn't in our short-term memory is just a Google-search away!
The Body of Christ has seen an explosion in good Bible teaching over the last generation or so. We are very informed by teachers.
Proverbs 10:14 tells us,
The Body of Christ has seen an explosion in good Bible teaching over the last generation or so. We are very informed by teachers.
Proverbs 10:14 tells us,
"Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction."
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction."
We are also a conformed people. Sociologists tell us that cultures and sub-cultures develop descriptors that make make us feel a part. Generations set their boundaries mainly by music, slang, hair and clothing styles. Television shows, media personalities, and performers show-and-tell us what's in and what isn't. In the Christian world, our preachers help define our social norms.
It's not a bad thing to conform. It just that our walk and identity with Christ must be deeper than that.
Where teachers inform us and preachers conform us, God TRANSFORMS us.
We need information. We need to feel like we belong to something bigger than we are. But, most of all, we need to be in fellowship with Our Heavenly Father in order to be transformed into the image of His Son.
2 Corinthians 3:18:
Unveil your face by presenting yourself to Him. And let the transformation begin!
It's not a bad thing to conform. It just that our walk and identity with Christ must be deeper than that.
Where teachers inform us and preachers conform us, God TRANSFORMS us.
We need information. We need to feel like we belong to something bigger than we are. But, most of all, we need to be in fellowship with Our Heavenly Father in order to be transformed into the image of His Son.
2 Corinthians 3:18:
"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Unveil your face by presenting yourself to Him. And let the transformation begin!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Expecting Greater Things
I Corinthians 13:9 "For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away...12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."
Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."
We see dimly.
We see in part.
We are still groaning within ourselves for the Greater Stature.
--------------------------------------------------------------
When my wife was pregnant with my boys there seemed to be constant transitions; reminders that what we had hoped for would be delivered.
This I know about transition; it is that time when "what was" no longer works and "what will be" has not yet had a chance to succeed.
We, as the Body, continue in transition.
But what He has promised He is sure to deliver. The pangs don't lie.
I AM expecting.
Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."
We see dimly.
We see in part.
We are still groaning within ourselves for the Greater Stature.
--------------------------------------------------------------
When my wife was pregnant with my boys there seemed to be constant transitions; reminders that what we had hoped for would be delivered.
This I know about transition; it is that time when "what was" no longer works and "what will be" has not yet had a chance to succeed.
We, as the Body, continue in transition.
But what He has promised He is sure to deliver. The pangs don't lie.
I AM expecting.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Personal Renewal Imperative
First of 2 parts.
I've been pondering what we in the Body of Christ need to do better in order to make a bigger splash in the world.
Without a doubt we must tend to the bedrock-core-heart issues that Jesus talked about, like loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and loving your neighbor as your self. Jesus couldn't have been any more clear (Mark 12:29-31).
But I'm thinking about two other things. One I'll address today, the other tomorrow.
Today's imperative:
We must take the need for personal renewal seriously.
To choose God is to choose renewal, which means CHANGE is inevitable - He will seek to CHANGE you. You embrace it when you embrace Him. Your life after Christ MUST be different than your life before. He has made you new.
I know that the familiar habits of the old man are hard to break. Break them anyway. The attitudes and leanings and thought patterns stick to us like colors to a beachball, but cast them off!
This is do-able...you are in Christ!
Choose a habit or attitude that you have that you know is not meant to be part of the new man and eradicate it. Meditate on scripture that gives you the advantage, spend time in prayer over it, take intentional purposeful strides to correct it and watch the new man come forth!
Then move on to the next one.
This is precisely the type of activity that will change the world. People WANT to be better!
Show them how to be NEW!
I've been pondering what we in the Body of Christ need to do better in order to make a bigger splash in the world.
Without a doubt we must tend to the bedrock-core-heart issues that Jesus talked about, like loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and loving your neighbor as your self. Jesus couldn't have been any more clear (Mark 12:29-31).
But I'm thinking about two other things. One I'll address today, the other tomorrow.
Today's imperative:
We must take the need for personal renewal seriously.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new". (2 Corinthians 5:17)
To choose God is to choose renewal, which means CHANGE is inevitable - He will seek to CHANGE you. You embrace it when you embrace Him. Your life after Christ MUST be different than your life before. He has made you new.
I know that the familiar habits of the old man are hard to break. Break them anyway. The attitudes and leanings and thought patterns stick to us like colors to a beachball, but cast them off!
This is do-able...you are in Christ!
Choose a habit or attitude that you have that you know is not meant to be part of the new man and eradicate it. Meditate on scripture that gives you the advantage, spend time in prayer over it, take intentional purposeful strides to correct it and watch the new man come forth!
Then move on to the next one.
This is precisely the type of activity that will change the world. People WANT to be better!
Show them how to be NEW!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Winning or Losing?
At any one time it takes a substantial amount of insight - beyond what we are capable of applying with our natural mind - to evaluate whether we are "winning or losing".
We all encounter challenges. We can be sure that the storms will come (Luke 6:46-49).
I'm thinking of the life of Joseph. What if he had stopped in the pit or the prison to determine his potential? Certainly he would have concluded that his life meant nothing and that he was a failure. Instead, with the passage of time, he was able to say to his brothers, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Genesis 50:20).
Or Paul and Silas in prison - all that commitment and zeal for God's work ending in the sludge of the prison depths...but they worshipped their way out of a mess.
Paul was able to write, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Joseph, Paul, Silas, others - they chose God's perspective. Their conditions didn't limit their perspective. Their future wasn't dependent on their circumstance.
When venturing out in God, pursuing His face and His purposes for our lives, we may not know if we are "winning or losing" by evaluating at any one time using the world's perspective, but we do know this...
We can have peace and rest knowing that He - the Greater One - is with us. We can have peace in the midst of uncertainty. He sees the end from the beginning.
We all encounter challenges. We can be sure that the storms will come (Luke 6:46-49).
I'm thinking of the life of Joseph. What if he had stopped in the pit or the prison to determine his potential? Certainly he would have concluded that his life meant nothing and that he was a failure. Instead, with the passage of time, he was able to say to his brothers, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Genesis 50:20).
Or Paul and Silas in prison - all that commitment and zeal for God's work ending in the sludge of the prison depths...but they worshipped their way out of a mess.
Paul was able to write, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Joseph, Paul, Silas, others - they chose God's perspective. Their conditions didn't limit their perspective. Their future wasn't dependent on their circumstance.
When venturing out in God, pursuing His face and His purposes for our lives, we may not know if we are "winning or losing" by evaluating at any one time using the world's perspective, but we do know this...
We can have peace and rest knowing that He - the Greater One - is with us. We can have peace in the midst of uncertainty. He sees the end from the beginning.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Expectation in transition
There is a certain amount of anxiety in transition but, whether chosen or thrust upon us, our seasons of transition do not take God by surprise.
When we live surrendered to Him, our life is His - which means that change is gonna' come. It is inevitable. And as agents of change He will use transitions - that we are led to and led through - to make sure we have the proper elements in our lives to cause Christ to be formed in us.
The uncertain feeling that accompanies transition can signal us to areas in which we need to trust Him more. Remember, He sees the end from the beginning, behind the curtain that hangs between us and the "next scene" of the drama that is our lives. He is both in our present and in our future, going ahead preparing a place for us. Truly "...all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Whether YOU initiated the transition or it is the result of circumstances beyond your control, God is not surprised.
Trust Him in it all, with it all, through it all.
Click here for today's Daily Bread.
When we live surrendered to Him, our life is His - which means that change is gonna' come. It is inevitable. And as agents of change He will use transitions - that we are led to and led through - to make sure we have the proper elements in our lives to cause Christ to be formed in us.
The uncertain feeling that accompanies transition can signal us to areas in which we need to trust Him more. Remember, He sees the end from the beginning, behind the curtain that hangs between us and the "next scene" of the drama that is our lives. He is both in our present and in our future, going ahead preparing a place for us. Truly "...all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Whether YOU initiated the transition or it is the result of circumstances beyond your control, God is not surprised.
Trust Him in it all, with it all, through it all.
Click here for today's Daily Bread.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Next Thing
Life is full of transition.
Ed Cole wrote a book called, "Entering and Leaving Crisis and Change", which instructed on this very true fact: that we are constantly and simultaneously leaving one thing while entering another. He also makes the point that the way we leave one thing will determine the way we enter the next thing.
In Christian-ese we say we carry a "spirit" about us that may come from the last experience or place. Or, when specific to relationships, we call them "soul ties". In mental health circles, we refer to them as "baggage" or "issues".
At any rate, it is our personal responsibility and daily challenge to leave and enter appropriately, having resolved the experiences of yesterday and having faith for the things of today and tomorrow.
When handled in a Godly manner, transition becomes the process whereby we capitalize on the events and experiences of the past, growing in Godly wisdom, and arriving at the next thing free of the disappointments and full of faith for the greater assignment.
My experience is that every event from my past, when handled and processed in God's grace and my hope in Him, is preparation for The Next Thing.
I'm in a next thing transition right now. Processing my past, walking in grace, resting in hope.
Partnership with God in His plan for creation requires that we grow and not weaken, hope and don't despair, advance and don't retreat.
On to greater things.
John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Click here for today's daily bread.
Ed Cole wrote a book called, "Entering and Leaving Crisis and Change", which instructed on this very true fact: that we are constantly and simultaneously leaving one thing while entering another. He also makes the point that the way we leave one thing will determine the way we enter the next thing.
In Christian-ese we say we carry a "spirit" about us that may come from the last experience or place. Or, when specific to relationships, we call them "soul ties". In mental health circles, we refer to them as "baggage" or "issues".
At any rate, it is our personal responsibility and daily challenge to leave and enter appropriately, having resolved the experiences of yesterday and having faith for the things of today and tomorrow.
When handled in a Godly manner, transition becomes the process whereby we capitalize on the events and experiences of the past, growing in Godly wisdom, and arriving at the next thing free of the disappointments and full of faith for the greater assignment.
My experience is that every event from my past, when handled and processed in God's grace and my hope in Him, is preparation for The Next Thing.
I'm in a next thing transition right now. Processing my past, walking in grace, resting in hope.
Partnership with God in His plan for creation requires that we grow and not weaken, hope and don't despair, advance and don't retreat.
On to greater things.
John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Click here for today's daily bread.
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