Die to the Dream of being a Success
I was listening to the Willowcreek case study on Matthew Barnett and the Dream Center in LA. He shared a defining moment where he felt like the Lord spoke to him: "I want you to die to the dream of being a success and live to the dream of being a blessing!"
That's so good.
Permission to speak frankly?
We waste so much energy worrying about outcomes. Focusing on outcomes is fruitless and frustrating. We ought to focus all of our energies on inputs. If we focus on being a blessing God will bless us big time!
That's one of the lessons I'm learning with In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I can't control how many copies it sells. All I can do is pray that every book is a blessing to whoever reads it.
I think it's one of the lessons I learned early on in church planting. You want to grow so bad, but all you can do is plant and water because God is the one who gives the increase! You have to be the best pastor you can be to however many people you pastor!
Quit trying to be a success. Start being a blessing!
That's so good.
Permission to speak frankly?
We waste so much energy worrying about outcomes. Focusing on outcomes is fruitless and frustrating. We ought to focus all of our energies on inputs. If we focus on being a blessing God will bless us big time!
That's one of the lessons I'm learning with In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I can't control how many copies it sells. All I can do is pray that every book is a blessing to whoever reads it.
I think it's one of the lessons I learned early on in church planting. You want to grow so bad, but all you can do is plant and water because God is the one who gives the increase! You have to be the best pastor you can be to however many people you pastor!
Quit trying to be a success. Start being a blessing!
5 Comments:
As always PM, this is so timely. I work at a place that is very outcomes driven. We need to hit our goals to make our shareholders and Board happy and to get our bonuses and feel like we are doing a great job.
This environment is a new experience for me and although I don't usually define myself by what I do, this job has been a challenge in maintaining that who I am and what I am able to do for God ie be a blessing to those around me is what is most important.
Anyway, thanks for this reminder.
A very good reminder that not all of us really want to hear, unfortunately. I want to be a blessing, but I'll admit I really want to be a success even more.
Great post.
Mark,
Great quote, and from reading the book and your blogs, there is a sense you had already taken this to heart.
I'm spreading the news about the book! God is glorified as we face the lions He places in our path.
Blessings as we journey together.
Jim
Mark, I am a youth pastor in Ohio, and I can't tell you how much of an encouragement that is to me! Last night we had one of those services where you leave wanting to throw in the towel! Numbers were down, response was minimal and all in all it was a frustrating night! What you said really speaks to me! Thanks!
I know that this is so true. I've even given people advise along these lines. But where the rubber meets the road it is so difficult to work it out in my own life.
Thanks for always being an encouragement. I appreciate you Pastor Mark!
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