Thoughts
A few random thoughts that have occured to me this week.
I think the happiest people are the most grateful people--they don't expect anything and are grateful for everything. I think right at the heart of mastering this game of life is learning to be grateful for everything.
Lora told me a story this morning about Josiah. He asked for "cheerios" but when she went to get him "cheerios" he was frustrated because it wasn't what he wanted. So she tried the next closest thing "honey graham o's." But that wasn't it. He pointed to the cabinet, but whatever he wanted wasn't in there either. A little later she opened the refrigerator and he pointed to "spaphettios" and said "cheerios." Those moments are priceless.
Seasons
I've journaled about this several times, but it seems like the Lord is confirming it in so many ways. I think "seasons are for seasoning." Anytime the Lord wants to use us in an area he builds endurance by allowing some tough circumstances. We should be encouraged by the discouragement because it means God is preparing to use us in a greater way. James says it this way, "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds."
Several trusted people in my life have spoken into my life and said God is going to expand my sphere of ministry. In some ways that scares me. I've learned that more ministry isn't necessarily more glamorous. More ministry is more work! The reward for work well done, in the Kingdom of God, is more work.
It's sort of scary because I feel stretched so thin sometimes, but in other ways I feel a confirmation in my spirit. I think he's going to do it in two ways (of course, he may end up doing it in some totally different way). I think my ministry to church planters and my writing ministry are the two areas that the Lord really wants to use me in greater ways.
I'm on the phone or meeting with church planters almost on a weekly basis now. I hope we always have a "church planter in residence" on staff. Maybe we'll have multiple church planters on staff at some point. I'd love to be a "farm system" for church planters. I feel like NCC is called to be part of the research and development department of the Kingdom. I want to help inspire another generation of church planters by experimenting with new ways of doing church. I think we're called to make mistakes!
I'm a homebody. I love speaking to NCC and I really don't seek outside opportunities. About the only opportunities I accept are opportunities to speak to college students and church planters. I'm pretty passionate about speaking into those life stages.
I think things came too easy for two years--our staff grew from 2 to 13, the church grew from 250 to 750, and the budget grew from $500,000 to $1,500,000. We were hitting on all eight cylinders. But we hit a wall six or nine months ago. I feel like we're catching up with our body just like an eight year-old who's uncoordinated and outgrown his clothes.
I also feel like I became focused on end results--the numbers. And the Lord has brought me back to the place where I just love serving him. I think I'm back to that place where my optimism is based on the simple fact that God is doing some new things in my heart.
I think it took some setbacks. I think it took some pruning. I think it took forty days of prayer and fasting. I'm thinking I'm better able to tell church planters how to deal with discouragement which is something they will undoubtedly face at different times in ministry.
I'm also trying to enjoy the day in and day out of ministry. I put alot of pressure on myself. And I'm very future-oriented. Some people live in the past, but I definitely live in the future. I'm trying to live in the present more.
Writing
I had an interesting conversation today where I said something I'd never said before. I'm struggling so much to get my first manuscript finished. It is a labor of love, but it's more labor than love sometimes! I'm such a perfectionist it's so hard for me to tie off the umbilical cord. But I said something that surprised me when it came out of my mouth. I said that I thought the Lord would someday use me more as a writer than a pastor. I don't think I'd ever said it or thought it that way, but I think it's true.
I read something interesting in the 7 practices of Effective Ministry . It said, "The needs and interests of insiders have a tendency to determine the agenda for the organization. This is especially true of the church. Focus your efforts on those you're trying to reach rather than on those you're trying to keep."
I feel like I've gone through a season where I was "on my heels" focusing my efforts on those we're trying to keep rather than those we're trying to reach. I think one of the greatest threats any church can face is becoming ingrown. That doesn't mean we don't disciple people. It means we disciple people to disciple people! The focus is always on the Great Comission. We exist for the people who haven't been here yet. I think that has to be a dominant part of our church culture if we're going to stay healthy. Matthew 11
Matthew is an interesting insight into the human situation. It says that John the Baptist came fasting and the people found something wrong with it. Jesus came feasting and the people found something wrong with it. The bottom line is that somebody can always find something wrong with what you're doing.
Abraham Lincoln said, "You can please all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time."
I love the juxtaposition of Proverbs 26:4-5. I'll let you read it, but the principle is pretty simple. When you're dealing with a fool you're in a no win situation.
I think the happiest people are the most grateful people--they don't expect anything and are grateful for everything. I think right at the heart of mastering this game of life is learning to be grateful for everything.
Lora told me a story this morning about Josiah. He asked for "cheerios" but when she went to get him "cheerios" he was frustrated because it wasn't what he wanted. So she tried the next closest thing "honey graham o's." But that wasn't it. He pointed to the cabinet, but whatever he wanted wasn't in there either. A little later she opened the refrigerator and he pointed to "spaphettios" and said "cheerios." Those moments are priceless.
Seasons
I've journaled about this several times, but it seems like the Lord is confirming it in so many ways. I think "seasons are for seasoning." Anytime the Lord wants to use us in an area he builds endurance by allowing some tough circumstances. We should be encouraged by the discouragement because it means God is preparing to use us in a greater way. James says it this way, "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds."
Several trusted people in my life have spoken into my life and said God is going to expand my sphere of ministry. In some ways that scares me. I've learned that more ministry isn't necessarily more glamorous. More ministry is more work! The reward for work well done, in the Kingdom of God, is more work.
It's sort of scary because I feel stretched so thin sometimes, but in other ways I feel a confirmation in my spirit. I think he's going to do it in two ways (of course, he may end up doing it in some totally different way). I think my ministry to church planters and my writing ministry are the two areas that the Lord really wants to use me in greater ways.
I'm on the phone or meeting with church planters almost on a weekly basis now. I hope we always have a "church planter in residence" on staff. Maybe we'll have multiple church planters on staff at some point. I'd love to be a "farm system" for church planters. I feel like NCC is called to be part of the research and development department of the Kingdom. I want to help inspire another generation of church planters by experimenting with new ways of doing church. I think we're called to make mistakes!
I'm a homebody. I love speaking to NCC and I really don't seek outside opportunities. About the only opportunities I accept are opportunities to speak to college students and church planters. I'm pretty passionate about speaking into those life stages.
I think things came too easy for two years--our staff grew from 2 to 13, the church grew from 250 to 750, and the budget grew from $500,000 to $1,500,000. We were hitting on all eight cylinders. But we hit a wall six or nine months ago. I feel like we're catching up with our body just like an eight year-old who's uncoordinated and outgrown his clothes.
I also feel like I became focused on end results--the numbers. And the Lord has brought me back to the place where I just love serving him. I think I'm back to that place where my optimism is based on the simple fact that God is doing some new things in my heart.
I think it took some setbacks. I think it took some pruning. I think it took forty days of prayer and fasting. I'm thinking I'm better able to tell church planters how to deal with discouragement which is something they will undoubtedly face at different times in ministry.
I'm also trying to enjoy the day in and day out of ministry. I put alot of pressure on myself. And I'm very future-oriented. Some people live in the past, but I definitely live in the future. I'm trying to live in the present more.
Writing
I had an interesting conversation today where I said something I'd never said before. I'm struggling so much to get my first manuscript finished. It is a labor of love, but it's more labor than love sometimes! I'm such a perfectionist it's so hard for me to tie off the umbilical cord. But I said something that surprised me when it came out of my mouth. I said that I thought the Lord would someday use me more as a writer than a pastor. I don't think I'd ever said it or thought it that way, but I think it's true.
I read something interesting in the 7 practices of Effective Ministry . It said, "The needs and interests of insiders have a tendency to determine the agenda for the organization. This is especially true of the church. Focus your efforts on those you're trying to reach rather than on those you're trying to keep."
I feel like I've gone through a season where I was "on my heels" focusing my efforts on those we're trying to keep rather than those we're trying to reach. I think one of the greatest threats any church can face is becoming ingrown. That doesn't mean we don't disciple people. It means we disciple people to disciple people! The focus is always on the Great Comission. We exist for the people who haven't been here yet. I think that has to be a dominant part of our church culture if we're going to stay healthy. Matthew 11
Matthew is an interesting insight into the human situation. It says that John the Baptist came fasting and the people found something wrong with it. Jesus came feasting and the people found something wrong with it. The bottom line is that somebody can always find something wrong with what you're doing.
Abraham Lincoln said, "You can please all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time."
I love the juxtaposition of Proverbs 26:4-5. I'll let you read it, but the principle is pretty simple. When you're dealing with a fool you're in a no win situation.
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