Month: January 2017

Like a Rock

When we try to do things for approval…aka…acceptance, praise, ‘likes’… the realness factor is simply not there because our passion or motive is in the wrong place, and instead of drawing people, what we seek is “taken away” or lost. We need to do what we do because it is who we are, not what others want us to be, or even what we want others to believe we are.
Matthew 21:42-43 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit…
 
“If you desire the approval of men, God’s anointing cannot fall upon you.” ~John Bevere20160601_143412
 
This is more than just for preachers, teachers, or evangelists. This is a truth for everyone in every area of life. When we try to do things for approval…aka…acceptance, praise, ‘likes’… the realness factor is simply not there because our passion or motive is in the wrong place, and instead of drawing people, what we seek is “taken away” or lost. We need to do what we do because it is who we are, not what others want us to be, or even what we want others to believe we are.
 
The ‘anointing’ will be there when what we do comes from our heart, like a fire that burns within in us that we simply can’t put out. Or, in the words of Jeremiah who said, “But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name, Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it.””
 
Absolutely, we should feel this way about God, but inside each of us this same God has a purpose for us… “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:10). In doing “our way of life” which means being truly “you”…that’s when folks will say “…this is marvelous in our eyes” or in today’s lingo, “that’s so awesome!” They may not realize that it is “from the Lord” but they will notice the difference, and the ‘anointing’ of truth will make the difference.
 
Question. What is it that you love to do more than anything? What thing do you always come back to? Though you give this a try, or that a try, this is what you end up doing, talking about, reading about…thinking about? It’s probably the very thing that God “prepared in advance” (since the foundation of the world even) to be your “way of life.”
 
Share in one word what it is excites you, that gets you going, that you could do or talk about for hours. One word.

Dang It, Darren Hardy

Dang it, Darren Hardy. Yes. I meant that. Every day (or most days) I listen to DarrenDaily, a daily motivational clip by Darren himself. It gets me motivated and sets a positive tone – and often lights a fire under my b###.

Yet, sometimes I find myself still missing the mark in my fitness business, in my missions work – shucks let’s be honest – sometimes in simple walking-around-day-to-day things. You know, it’s so cold; who can do anything in this weather (we just had a week of frigid temps)…or my house is a mess; I can’t do anything until I get it cleaned…or fill in the blank with your favorite excuse…

Guess what? Today, my friend and mentor (I’ve never met him, but I feel like I know him), Mr. Darren Hardy asked, “Why aren’t you better? Why aren’t you living your dream…hitting your goals. What keeps getting in the way?”

I sat eagerly waiting for his wisdom. Then he said, “You!” “You are the only one who can take 100% accountability for your life.” Then he said, “You’ve failed.”

What! How dare he!

Dang it. I kept listening. He said, “We’d like to blame some outside source for our failure, but cut the bull.”

Yes, he said it like that! I kept listening. “All you have in life is created by 1) what you should have done, 2) what you could have done but chose not to.” Then he said, in answer to the question, “But what if you’re hit by a bus, or there is a tsunami? Are you responsible for that?”

Uh huh. I waited with bated breath on this one. I mean, really. Tsunami. That’s a biggie. Then he said, “Of course not.”

Ah ha!

“But, you are responsible for how you react or respond to what happens to you.”

Dang it.

He said, “Take back your power. Take 100% responsibility for every condition in your life.”

This, he says, will separate us from everyone else. We will be the one who transforms problems into opportunities. No excuses. We can be free from self-imposed shackles of excuses that is keeping us from being all we were meant to be.

Challenge: Stop and take a moment and evaluate your life here in this New Year. What are the “situations” that seem to be keeping you from progressing? Determine right now what you will do about it. Remember, you (with God’s help of course) are the only one who can do you.

I’d love to here your thoughts on this. Feel free to comment here. I will respond.