Author: Craig

Not a project. I hold you in my heart.

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IMG_57506And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6-8 

I’ve always loved the promise held in verse 6: He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. Jesus will complete what He has started. Its a promise for each one of us.

Its also the longing of the servant of Jesus who has poured her or his heart into the life of another. “Ok, Jesus, that’s the end of me. I’m not there 24/7. You keep doing your work from start to finish, its all about you.”

Notice Paul’s affection for these followers of Jesus, “I hold you in my heart!” “We have a share in the same grace!” “You have been part of my struggle.” “I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

The Disciple-making lifestyle let’s people get under your skin. In fact, you let them into your heart. Who is Jesus giving you? Who are you making room for in your heart?

For years I have prayed, “Lord, enlarge my heart for loving people.”

This kind of life is a matter of prayer.

When are you quiet?

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25The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

28Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;

Lamentations 3:25-28

Jeremiah is lamenting. But his lament is not without hope. He affirms the faithfulness and mercy of God towards His people.

Wisdom will not be gained with many words.

Wisdom will not be gained with persistent inattention to the matters of your soul.

Wisdom will be gained in quiet.

When we find ourselves under the weight of life and God’s hand how squirmy we become. When are you quiet?

Really, when are you quiet?

What are your patterns of quiet?

When do you exercise the discipline of turning down the chatter of the world, and tuning in to the chatter of your mind, in order to quiet yourself before the Lord Jesus?

 

Wisdom starts with worship.

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GospelWise Diagram

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord can be characterized as a deep abiding reverential awe for God. In Psalm 111 the psalmists calls a people probably wracked with the despair of their Babylonian exile to value following God and His ways even in a foreign land.

We can be that way. We start to wonder, “is it worth it to follow Jesus when faith in Him and practice of His ways runs counter to the prevailing view?”

In Psalm 111 the Psalmists reminds the readers and singers of God’s works and God’s mercy towards Israel. Both His works and His mercy generates awe.

Wisdom starts with worship.

Wisdom is needed in our day. It will not be generated by degrees. Wisdom is generated first by knowing God and taking stock of who He is and what He has to say to us.

The Truth About Leadership

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The Truth About Leadership

I just finished my first read of The Truth About Leadership: The No-Fads, Heart of the Matter, Facts you need to know, by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. Its a good read with plenty to apply in your leadership challenge. I’m getting ready for our Origin Student Leadership Retreat in February and was helped by the book to zero in on the issue of understanding your personal values as key to leadership growth.

I recommend the book. The paragraph below caught my attention as my New Year Resolution Theme is to keep saying yes to Jesus. 

Quoting University of Connecticut President Michael Hogan’s address to graduating seniors they build on Stephen Colbert’s humorous remarks on the need to always remember to say “yes” to the folks offering you a job.

Michael added: So, drawing on Colbert, James Joyce, or Norman Vincent Peale, depending on your reading list, my first word of advice is this: Say ‘yes.” And to summarize Colbert: “…say ‘yes’ as often as you can.” Of course, saying ‘yes’ can lead to mistakes. So don’t be afraid to make a mistake, because, as he continues, you can’t be young and wise at the same time.

Saying ‘yes’ begins things. “Saying ‘yes’ is how things grow.” Saying ‘yes,’ he goes on, leads to new experiences, and new experiences will ear to knowledge and wisdom. “‘Yes’ is for young people,” Colbert concludes. And I agree. An attitude of ‘yes’ is how you will be able to go forward in these uncertain times.

(Kouzes and Posner write) Michael’s advice (and Stephen Colbert’s too) is clearly appropriate for graduates seeking employment, but it’s also especially relevant for leaders seeking to make change happen. You have to say yes to begin things. You have to say yes to your beliefs, you have to say yes to big dreams, you have to say yes to difficult challenges, you have to say yes to collaboration, you have to say yes to trust, you have to say yes to learning, you have to say yes to setting the example, and you have to say he’s to your heart.

Are you ready to say yes to leadership? When you are ready to say yes, doors will open to entirely new adventures in your life. When you are ready to say yes, people will join you on the quest. When you say yes, you will discover your own truth about leadership.  p. 163-164

How Much Faith?

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Mustard Seed

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Luke 7:5-6

Jesus prevents a lie from taking root in the disciples’ hearts. It goes like this: Hey if I only had more faith, then I could do more and see more dramatic things happen.

Jesus stops that in its tracks.

“If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed…”

When it comes to that, I just need a little faith.

The issue must be in the one in whom I am trusting.

The issue must be in what I am expecting.

The issue must be in what motives I am having.

Hold this thought: Awesome Jesus! + My Small Faith

What are you trusting Him for today?