The Way and the Why

I started reading a new book this past week titled Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy. (Click here to read about the book and its authors). In chapter three I came across a quote that has captured my attention since I first read it.

“People lose their way when they lose their why.”

I also read a book sometime back by Simon Sinek titled Start with Why (here on Amazon) in which the author’s premise was that understanding the “why” of the things we do most of the time produces more inspired effort to a task. The authors of both books recognize that people will be more committed to those things in which they sense a greater purpose.

For the believer, our lives should be lived for the greatest purpose of all. Consider the following Bible verses:

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. – Romans 11:36

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3:23-24

What great purpose in life, what greater “why,” than to draw attention to the Lord Jesus. Our family roles and responsibilities take on greater significance when we realize that we can make God look good by the way we fulfill those roles and discharge those responsibilities. Our jobs become less mundane and more missional when we recognize we are strategically placed in that position to serve God’s greater purposes, not just draw a paycheck. We can view shopping, waiting in lines, traveling, vacations, civic duties, etc. in a different light when we consider that we are God’s representatives in those situations.

Living Intentionally means that we recognize that God establishes our daily steps, and, therefore, we take delight in them (Psalm 37:23). You are where you are now and you will go where you will go today so that God can – THROUGH you – make Himself known to others.

Meditate to today on the greater “why” of your life – God’s glory. If you maintain your WHY, chances are you will maintain your WAY.

The Tool Box

Often, we use what we DON’T have as an excuse not to offer what we DO have for God’s use.  God has already given us everything He needs us to have for Him to use us.

 

Don’t Be Fooled by the Illusion of Time

3 Comments

Monday marked a unique occurrence in our keeping of time; it was Leap Day. Many people do not realize that we have the extra day because our standard calendar only accounts for 365 of the 365¼ days the Earth revolves around the sun. So to even things out, we tack on a day at the end of the already shortest month.

In reality, our calendars present an illusion of time to us. Cosmologically speaking, we do not actually have an “extra day.” Similarly, we celebrate the New Year on January 1st when in reality that day on any given year is nothing more than the day that followed the day before it. We reset our calendars, and make resolutions to live the next 365 days (or in this year’s case, the next 366) differently; seemingly “better.”

Our measurement of time within our days can also be illusory as well. In 13 days we will begin a standard of time measurement we call “Daylight Saving Time.” (Pet peeve alert: the word “saving” is not meant to be plural. It is not Daylight Savings time, as in a Savings account). I once heard a prominent Atlanta radio personality explain that we observe DST so that we can give the farmers an extra hour of daylight. Apparently, he never worked on a farm. Farm work is pre-dawn to post-dusk regardless of where the hands on the clock are positioned.

As we think about the supposed “extra day” we were given, let me present a question for your consideration.

For the most part, did you SPEND the day or INVEST the day?

All of this “extra day” and “extra hour” talk has stoked the burden in my heart for intentional living. Life is precious. At any moment any of our lives could be snuffed out. I choose not to live in fear of my life suddenly and unexpectedly ending, but I do, however, choose to live what days I have with purpose, meaning, and intentionality.

Consider the wise words of Moses and Paul:

So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12

…making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:16

Not just on leap day and not just during DST, but EVERY DAY and in EVERY SEASON, are you living with intentionality toward the things that matter for eternity? Do you devote your heart to spending time with God? Do you invest the best of yourself in your family? Are you building your life out of the proverbial gold, silver, and precious stones that will withstand eternity’s testing fire?

Or… are you living your life as a consumer? Spending your time and energy making money to accumulate more of Earth’s transient offerings? Do you spend your days (frustratingly so) trying to make things come out to suit you, go your way, or benefit you?

I challenge you today to take a fresh look at your priorities, aspirations, and ambitions. Even if you achieve all you are seeking here on Earth, what will be of it when you are gone? The most important investment of time and resources are in those priorities that matter for eternity.

Sunday Sermon – The Hardest Work in the Church

Jesus said the world would know we were His disciples NOT by our fancy buildings, tags and bumper stickers, cross jewelry or Christian t-shirts.  He said they would know we were His by the love we demonstrated for each other.

Maintaining a unity among a body of believers in Jesus Christ is work – hard work, but worthy work.  Today’s message takes a look at both the threats to unity and the attitudes necessary to maintain unity.

Unity and Unanimity are not the same thing.  We don’t always have to agree, but we have to always come to agreement.

The unity Jesus is looking for is not centered around a person or group of persons in the church – not a preacher, leader, or even the majority of the congregation itself.  Unity is established only in discerning and obeying the Holy Spirit.

Church Members have BOTH A PASSIVE and ACTIVE RESPONSIBILITY for unity.

Passive – don’t be a source of division
Active – be “eager to maintain”

Threats to Unity:

  1. GOSSIP – (whisperer) – Romans 1:29-31 – Gossip is saying anything about person that they would not want publicly declared.
  1. NEGATIVITY – Philippians 2:14
  1. LYING – Ephesians 4:25 – misrepresenting the truth or manipulating facts to achieve one’s own agenda. We can also lie when share something that we have decided is true when we have not carefully validated it.
  1. CRITICISM – Ephesians 4:29 – words that tear down and not build up “corrupting words”
  1. ARGUING – Ephesians 4:31–combative words, tones, and gestures; stirring up strife,
    discord, and dissension.

 

Maintaining Unity: – Ephesians 4:2

  1. Humility
  1. Gentleness
  1. Patience
  1. Bearing With One Another

Friday Flashback – February 26

Articles and Blogs

12 Benefits of Getting Up an Hour Earlier on Monday-Friday – Chuck Lawless

Phubbing ruining relationships – study says. – FoxNew

How Do I Live the Authentic Christian Life – John Piper

 

 

Worth Repeating

“The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God and the Church is famishing for want of His presence.” – A.W. Tozer  Tweeted by @VancePitman

“We harvest only what has been planted.”  – James MacDonald

“Early Christians didn’t attend church. They were the church.” – Carey Nieuhof

 

Another Look

3 ways to fail

How to Have a Life of Abundance

For several years now, at least once a year, I spend one of the months with 31 days reading through Proverbs one chapter a day. So I have read the verse several times, I am sure. Last week, however, the Lord applied the weight of Biblical authority to this work He was doing in my heart to more efficiently order my life. No longer could I weasel out of this longing by claiming it was flesh. God’s Word had now spoken. And it wasn’t even in a month with 31 days nor was it on the 21st day. Here is the verse and my challenge to you through it.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5

Funny how mathematical the verse seems. Plans + Diligence = Abundance. I want my life to be an abundant, overflowing life – not necessarily financially, but in joy, influence, and especially spiritual fruit. A joyful, influential, fruitful life, however, does not happen accidentally. It happens intentionally. Plans. Diligence.

If I want the various roles of my life to yield joy, influence, and fruit, I have to be intentional. If I want a great attitude, well-managed finances, or growing spiritual walk, I have to be intentional. I will never drift into that kind of life, I must pursue it by design. Things that truly matter in life require intention.

Here is my challenge. Choose ONE area of your life that you would like to be more fruitful. Honestly assess where you are, then where God would want you to be in that area. Work diligently in that area until you feel you are where you need to be, and then choose another area to do the same. Step by step you will find yourself closer to the life of joy, influence, and fruitfulness.

What specific, intentional steps will you take to get from where you are to where God wants you to be?

 I press on toward the goal
                for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14

 

The GPS

Do you live with intentionality and purpose, or is your life drifting from day to day as handle what comes your way?  Choose to live intentionally.

Getting My Life in Order

2 Comments

A little confessional blog today, with an invite to join me on this stretch of “the long way home.”

For most of my life, I have prided myself on the ability to “wing it,” “flying by the seat of my pants,” as they say. (OK, enough of the metaphors!) An honest assessment of the last several years of my life, however, reveals that I have begun to overlook too much, waste too much time, forget things I need to remember, and give less than my best efforts at some important things that should get the best of my attention and energy. I have come to the conclusion that I have allowed my life to drift and that I spend more time reacting to what happens around me than proactively charting a course of life stewardship.

The Old Testament sacrificial system placed great emphasis on the quality of the sacrifice being placed on the altar as well as the sincerity of the heart of the one offering it. A genuine worshipper would not bring just any sacrifice to place on the altar. The quality of the sacrifice reflected the depth of the devotion in the heart of that worshiper. I want my life to reflect a sincere heart and a pure sacrifice.

So… I am getting my life in order.

I am committing to live more intentional than ever.

I will live by God’s priorities,

I will master my schedule,

I will take care of my body, soul, and mind.

Giving more attention to the details of life will not come easily for me, and I have no intentions of becoming obsessive-compulsive about life; BUT, with God’s help

I want to order my priorities properly,

I want to invest my time productively, and

I want to live out my days passionately pursuing what really matters for eternity.

More on my quest for intentionality next time.  For now, I encourage you to take stock of your life. Are you drifting from day to day, trying to manage what happens? Or do you have a sense of what God wants from you and are you living by His design for your life? Interestingly, knowing that the time of his death was drawing near, Paul had this assessment of his life:

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7

Notice the definite articles. He fought not just any good fight, but THE good fight. He finished not just any race, but THE race. He did not just keep faith; he kept THE faith. Intentionality. The things that really mattered. Paul was not reactive, but proactive. He had a sense of what God wanted from him, and he pursued that passionately.

What about you? In what areas of your life are you adrift? In which parts of your life do you need design and order that only God can give?

Sunday Sermon – How Is Your Focus?

Churches are most healthy when they focus their attention, resources, and effort outwardly toward the community around them. Sunday morning, we will see how one of Jesus’ miracles teaches us three very important qualities that will keep us focused outwardly.

“Quit letting what you DON’T have be an excuse for making what you DO have available to Jesus.”

Flashback Friday – Febraury 19

Articles and Blogs

Love the Life You Never Wanted – Marshall Segal at Desiring God

Death, Taxes, and Armageddon – Andy Cook, Experience Israel Now

 

Worth Repeating

“God will move you into every assignment He knows you are ready to take on. Let God orient you to Himself. #ExperiencingGod” – Blackaby Ministries @ExperiencingGod

“Sometimes hard times don’t mean that you’re messing up, but that you’re growing up.” – Clayton King from @AllenDBrown

“If your life does not worship God, your lips do not worship God either.” – AW Tozer from his book Reclaiming Christianity

“While you will often have no control over your circumstances, you will always have control over the way you choose to respond.” – Dr Steve Parr @steverparr 

“Sometimes it is not enough to do our best; we must do what is required.” – Winston Churchill from @FolksofHistory

 

Another Look

no looking back               chasing rabbits