Resolutions

Did (Do)any of you do the old fashion act of making New Year Resolutions? And how long do you expect that you will make the attempt of following them? Actually, if you have no confidence in yourself about following them, then making them is an exercise in futility - a waste of time. That may have sounded harsh - but true. 

When I was a child and we were going through this annual ritual, I must admit I was quite ambitious about the act of developing them until my Mother gave some sobering advice.  She said: rather than attempting a complete makeover, why not pick 2 or at the most 3 attainable (the operative word) things that I could, and would actually take the time and have the possibility of making a change for the 
better. Did I actually follow through and try to change/improve? Yes, at least 
longer than trying to do the complete makeover.

We do realize that the act, the mindset of investing in our own growth is not always a simple task. All growth and change requires a commitment and follow through on our parts for this to even occur. None of that will occur through a kind of no effort, no thought osmosis. Besides, if it could be, do you want your own personal growth to be based in fatalism, in a kind of que sera, sera? Do you want this to be an act in which you are only the recipient of what you experience without any basis in an authority (and that, not man)?

So now we come to the focus of this discussion - your spiritual growth. What are you doing to grow: understand, practice? Can you look back to a year ago and see your own growth? You haven’t opted for a status quo approach… did you? Remember Paul’s declaration:

   "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you." [Philippians 3:13-15]

Does this sound like a resolution? It is. Now let me share another of my beliefs... any day is a good day to take stock of who you are and where you are headed and make a resolution(s) to recommit - even if this is a daily act. Because it is in our thinking on and committing to that determines if/how/when we grow. resolutions require actions... you can't just think it.

 

The Reluctant Leader

 If your response is that you didn't sign up to be a leader... think again. What did you sign up for when you made Jesus your Lord? Did you think that you would always be in that bubble of who you were? Did you think that making Jesus Lord gave you the right to say 'no' to Him? Well... actually the last question has an answer of 'yes'. But to assume that nothing would be required of you kind of makes 'Lord' of no consequence. And Jesus laid down His life for you so you could bask in a kind of new bubble of no responsibility?

Now that I've hit you in the back of your head (sorry) let's take another, more effective look. What, exactly, have you been called to do? What, precisely, is your problem about accepting the call? Nowhere does it say that whatever you are called to do is done all by yourself. Remember the scripture:

   "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6}

Just in case we might have forgotten, He also says in Hebrews 13:5

   "Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

Yes, there are certain requirement that we must follow, example: be strong and courageous, not afraid, our character be content and free from the love of money.

But this should be of significant understanding that we are never alone, that He has such a deep love for us (individually) that He is there to help us. Given this and Numbers 23:19 we should be able to undertake any opportunity that's He presents to us.

All of that relates to whatever you are asked to do. And yes, you have free will so you can reject the opportunity but never that you can't actually do (fill in the blank). We're never asked to do something we can't do I (think) I've learned that if I go to the Lord and request His help, direction prior to starting any 'project' and bring all that I am to the opportunity that He immediately begins to share or enhance or teach - whatever underscore my need and the project. 

I think this is the attitude, rephrased according to the person, that we need to present to the Lord every morning. We should always start expecting because when we do, we add discovering to our expecting. This, in my opinion, is a worthwhile habit. But what does all I've said relate to the title? In every way. We always approach, consciously or not, precisely who we are and what we're willing to do/be. When we're 'all in' then the Lord can take and add and create with us a blessed outcome. 

Specifically when it comes to leadership. We never are thrust into it. We always can accept or reject the leadership opportunity. We are always equipped for the specific task. We have a Senior Partner helping us. Is anything missing? Look at the following scriptures  1 Peter 5:6 and Psalm 75:7. They encouraging trust in divine timing over self-promotion. And, I might add, self-avoidance.

To put an exclamation point:

   "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,"

That self-righteous pride can take the form of false humility. 

Too busy

Are you too busy for living your life? Though this may sound like blame, that's not the intent, are you living a Martha lifestyle? And hating it? Or wishing for help (did you ask)?

Since it's that 'time of year...' the holidays can become somewhat overwhelming. My advice is that if the ugly head of 'too much to do and not enough time' or the uptick at work or the demands on your time, energy, and resources also ticks up a notch you need to STOP! Brew yourself a nice cup of tea and coffee, sit down, breathe in and breathe out, grab a pen and paper and look at your 'to do' list. Are all of those items necessary? Are there any items that you LIKE to do? Who has determine the items and priority - if it isn't you, reassess. 

What we sometimes forget is that we have been given by the God of the Universe - free choice. We can exercise it as long as we remember that we are responsible for our decisions and the consequences of those decisions. But never make a decision that goes against who you are, whose you are, and how you express you. As I look back on some of my disaster decisions I see that I never consulted with the Lord to discover if this was in His plans for me. Nor did I assess whether this was a 'put on' responsibility (regardless of who was doing the putting - you or an outside entity). I just accepted yet another 'thing' I needed to do. Silly me.

Too often we concede based on a supposed responsibility - sometimes that's true, but rarely is it all the time. Come on now - you've been given a good mind, use it! Why are you being asked to do (fill in the blank)? I realize we are to bear one another's burdens... but that's a team effort with the one seeking help. You really aren't expected to do it all on your own.

Too busy should never be our lifestyle. Don't get to any age and look at your life through eyes that see what you've missed because you were too busy. And look who you were too busy for: the Lord, your spouse, your children, your expanded family, family outings, your friends, growing, learning, enjoying... and the list goes on and on. It's never really a matter of age - we are all susceptible to the impacts on our time, energy, resources... life. 

Our enemy would like nothing better than to paint us as derelict if we don't engage. And yes, the devil really is sometimes 'right' but only in context not in fact. He loves to spread just an element of truth to catch us off guard. If you are feeling guilty... much of that can be laid at the feet of our accuser with just enough truth to causse us to question.

All of what I've been saying is never to be viewed as an excuse NOT to do what you know you should be doing. It isn't license. But being too busy is never the answer. Life is a beautiful gift the Lord has given each of us. Hopefully we see through the dog and pony show and devote ourselves to the things that the Lord has provided for us. Being 'too busy' is not part of His plan.