This past week we were challenged at True North Church to participate in an exercise. We were given a package of post-it notes, and the exercise was to place sticky notes throughout your home, office, cars, etc with the word "God's" written on it... to serve as a reminder that everything belongs to God. As I began the exercise I became really clear to me how much God has given to me and has allowed me to enjoy. One young lady that was visiting said... "wow! God has a lot of stuff!" That is definitely one thing to recognize... I really do have a lot of stuff that I could actually do without if it came right down to it. The other thing I realized was the awesome task at hand ... that God has given me so much to be a good manager of... plenty from which to share His generosity. It causes me to think a little different about the stuff I have... it's not really mine... it's His... so now I am thinking more about how I can use my truck... my wallet... my debit card... my house... my life (there's a "God's sticky note on the mirror)... all for His purposes!
I dare you to take some sticky notes and do this exercise with your stuff! It just might change the way you think!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
God's
I really enjoyed the opening message of our new series this morning at True North Church. The series is entitled "God's" and it is a series on finances. We were introduced to several myths about money and then some corresponding truths about money as well. If you're interested check out the podcast at www.mytruenorth.org...
The first of three truths... "God is the owner of everything." As I sat and listened this morning I found myself extremely grateful that I learned that truth several years ago. When I realized the hard lesson that I don't own my money but rather I'm just a steward things really began to change for me financially. It's not like one day I had this realization and then the next day I was making lots of money. It was more that there was a peace about knowing the God was in control... He is the owner of everything... and He would take care of me if I would be a good steward. That peace has since transferred into confidence and courage with my finances. God has really blessed me and my family and my business!
Thank you Lord for allowing me to learn that challenging lesson! Thank you for taking care of me!
The first of three truths... "God is the owner of everything." As I sat and listened this morning I found myself extremely grateful that I learned that truth several years ago. When I realized the hard lesson that I don't own my money but rather I'm just a steward things really began to change for me financially. It's not like one day I had this realization and then the next day I was making lots of money. It was more that there was a peace about knowing the God was in control... He is the owner of everything... and He would take care of me if I would be a good steward. That peace has since transferred into confidence and courage with my finances. God has really blessed me and my family and my business!
Thank you Lord for allowing me to learn that challenging lesson! Thank you for taking care of me!
my one thing...
We've been encouraged at True North Church during the first part of this new year to evaluate the person we think God wants us to be... and then really try to focus in and determine maybe one thing God wants to do in us during this year. We studied the words of Paul in Phil 3:10... "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."
We have been challenged to think about these things... 1. Know God, 2. Experience His power, 3. Grow in holiness.
After thinking forward into the new year and evaluating who I think God wants me to become in 2011 I began to focus in on a few words that I thought might motivate me throughout the year. We were challenged to narrow everything down to one thing (if possible) rather than make a bunch of useless resolutions that we'll never stick to. Many folks have jumped on this idea of one thing and some of the words for the year are "grow", "learn", "now", "give", "confidence", "discipline", "power" and the list goes on.
For me, there are several things I believe God wants to push me and challenge me with this year. Those challenges include persevering and taking care of myself, taking passionate risks for Him, practicing righteousness more and more... but the one word that stands out to me for this year is "pray". I believe God wants me to activate my faith a bit more this year by being aggressive to pray when I know I need to. I want to pray about things rather than talk about things... I want to pray about things rather than think about things... I want to pray about things rather than complain about things this year.
I want to be courageous and pray ridiculous prayers believing God for the miraculous in everyday life. If God can part the seas... if He can make the sun stand still... he certainly can help me run my business effectively... he can certainly help me lose the necessary pounds to live a better life... he can certainly help overcome temptation and live righteously... can't He?
So, pray for me as I pursue changing my life this year and dedicate myself to PRAY... and make prayer a natural, normal part of my life.
We were encouraged to post it... make my one thing for 2011 known... so there it is... my one thing - PRAY!
We have been challenged to think about these things... 1. Know God, 2. Experience His power, 3. Grow in holiness.
After thinking forward into the new year and evaluating who I think God wants me to become in 2011 I began to focus in on a few words that I thought might motivate me throughout the year. We were challenged to narrow everything down to one thing (if possible) rather than make a bunch of useless resolutions that we'll never stick to. Many folks have jumped on this idea of one thing and some of the words for the year are "grow", "learn", "now", "give", "confidence", "discipline", "power" and the list goes on.
For me, there are several things I believe God wants to push me and challenge me with this year. Those challenges include persevering and taking care of myself, taking passionate risks for Him, practicing righteousness more and more... but the one word that stands out to me for this year is "pray". I believe God wants me to activate my faith a bit more this year by being aggressive to pray when I know I need to. I want to pray about things rather than talk about things... I want to pray about things rather than think about things... I want to pray about things rather than complain about things this year.
I want to be courageous and pray ridiculous prayers believing God for the miraculous in everyday life. If God can part the seas... if He can make the sun stand still... he certainly can help me run my business effectively... he can certainly help me lose the necessary pounds to live a better life... he can certainly help overcome temptation and live righteously... can't He?
So, pray for me as I pursue changing my life this year and dedicate myself to PRAY... and make prayer a natural, normal part of my life.
We were encouraged to post it... make my one thing for 2011 known... so there it is... my one thing - PRAY!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A Personal Challenge for 2011
In 2011 I want to be of value... right now where I am... not waiting for where I hope to one day be. I want to be of value at home with my family... I want to be of value to my wife... I want to be of value to my friends... my church... my work... my team!
Here's a verse I've decided to use to challenge myself this year: Romans 12:11-12... "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
I was inspired by some reading today to be of value right where you are. It's okay for me to dream about tomorrow and the things I hope for, as long as I give energy, passion, and prayer to what I am doing today.
Here's a verse I've decided to use to challenge myself this year: Romans 12:11-12... "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
I was inspired by some reading today to be of value right where you are. It's okay for me to dream about tomorrow and the things I hope for, as long as I give energy, passion, and prayer to what I am doing today.
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