Saturday, October 23, 2010

Doers, Achievers, Survivors, Strugglers and Victims!

I have become increasingly convinced that there are 5 main categories of people in this life.

Doers do...they are always doing something...have to be moving, going, pushing.

Achievers are those that always have to be achieving their goals. They are akin to doers but achievers seem to have the uncanny knack of accomplishing whatever they set out to do, and they are successful in the doing.

Survivors are those that seem to always survive no matter what circumstance may come their way. No matter what calamity may befall them they always survive...although sometimes just barely.

Strugglers are those that are always struggling. No matter what they do...it's a huge struggle. Life is a struggle. Their job is a struggle...everything is a struggle. Struggle, struggle, struggle. It seems a vicious cycle.

Victims are the ones that when anything is happening, it's happening to them, albeit maybe in their own minds. Nevertheless they are the victim in every circumstance. Even worse still, for most, it is never their fault. (or so they think)

We all know someone in at least 4 of these categories, and some actually coexist in more than one.

The question is, can we successfully translate ourselves from one category to the next? I would like to think so.

I believe that most of it comes down to what our state of mind is. If you have the mindset of a victim, you will always be a victim. If you have the mindset of an achiever, you can be an achiever.

More importantly, if we correctly put our lives in the hands of God and rely on the plans He has for our lives, I believe that we can translate over to being a Doer, and an Achiever. But only when we put on the mind of Christ and depend on His strength, His direction, and bend to His purpose. After all, only when we are in the will of God can we truly be successful.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

My Prayer Today...."Lord, I Give it To You!"

I couldn't go to sleep until late last night. Nevertheless, I was awakened this morning at 3:30 am with the desire and need to pray.

Sleepy Jimmy almost won over and went back to sleep, but I did finally get out of bed around 3:45 and went to the living room and paid a little visit to the couch, so as not to wake my beautiful bride while talking to my Father.

I found myself praying in the spirit after a while, feeling a huge weight lifting from my mind, and shortly after that...falling fast asleep. I woke at 5:10 am rested and relaxed with my mind very much at ease.

My prayer today has been, "Lord I give it to you", everything. You are in control. I can only do what I can do, but You however....can do anything.

Now...I can say....thank you Father for a good day. Well....much better than yesterday anyway. :)

Monday, October 18, 2010

My Prayer Today..."Lord, Please Help!"

Today was probably one of the most difficult days I have ever had.

I found myself sitting at my desk in my office at work, my head reeling from the feeling of being bombarded from all sides, praying for God to please help me.

Sound a bit melodramatic? Yeah...maybe so....but that was how my day felt to me.

Admittedly some of my problems were of my own making....isn't that the way it always is? But as for the way that everything was happening at once, felt very overwhelming.

Isn't that just like our enemy? Hitting you repeatedly when you are down, always looking for the knockout blow?

But I refuse to let him get the best of me. I refuse to let him make me question myself or the calling God has placed in me. So, I will keep praying for God to help me, having faith that He will see me through this current trial. I will continue to move toward the calling placed in my heart. I will continue to allow God to show himself great through this all.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Quotable Thought

"The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives." Francis Chan

Something to think about!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Come and Listen to What He's Done!

Do you ever have a song that seems to speak directly to your heart, so much so that you can't stop listening to it? I have....and do right now. "Come and Listen" by David Crowder is running over and over in my mind on an seemingly never ending repeat.
"Come and listen, come to the waters edge, all you who know and fear the Lord. Come and listen, come to the waters edge, all you who are thirsty, come.  Let me tell you what He has done for me."
I could talk for hours and hours and still could barely scratch the surface of all He has done for me.

"Come and listen to what He's done"
He has been my healer.
He has been my friend.
He has been my savior.
He has been my hope.
He has been my light in blinding darkness.
He has been my still small voice in deafening noise.
He has been my peace in turmoil.
He has been my refuge in trouble.
He has been my loving Father.
He has been my provider.
He has been my answered prayer.   
And He still is.....

Sometimes I get so wound up in life that I forget just how good He has been to me. I loose sight of the miraculous  wonders he has worked, I no longer remember how many times He has literally saved my life. I neglect to stop, be still, and feel His grace around me and recollect how His mercy is enduring, and His love is everlasting.
"Praise our God, for He is good!"

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

His!

We are His prize.

We are His children.

His righteousness.

We are His Body.

All thanks to His goodness. His forgiveness. His design. His plan. His mercy. His grace. His unending love for us.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Life Lesson: Never let anyone make you question what God has called you to do!

I remember as a young Christian, still learning the ways of my faith, I was excited about how God was moving in me. Everything felt new. I was eager, listening for God's still small voice, looking for His movement in everything.

I remember the moment I felt God was calling me to minister to His people. I was so excited. I had to share it with my pastor. I just knew that he was going to be as excited about my calling as I was. When I told him, he chuckled and said, "don't worry Jimmy, you'll grow out of it". I was devastated!

Since that time, I have been a Youth Pastor, an Assistant Pastor and a Worship Pastor. I have served as a volunteer staff member and a full time staff member.

And then....it happened again. I was told that I was not anointed to do what I had been doing for years.

I allowed that statement to suck the life out of me spiritually and suffered because of it for years.

Now understand this, I do not blame this person for saying what they said, as I don't hold anything against my first pastor for what he said. After all, they both are men, and as men are entitled to their opinions though they may be flawed in their opinions.

It took me a long time to realize that what God has called me to do is not subject to the opinions of men. God is the one that called me...not man.

So I would ask you this, What has God called you to do? What is it that burns in you? What keeps you up at night? What is always on your mind?

My suggestion, GO DO IT!

Don't allow man to tell you that it can't be done, or worse...that it can't be done by you.

According to scripture, some are to be teachers, some pastors, but all of us are called to be His disciples.

If God has called you to it, He will show the way, He will provide, you just have to trust in Him.

Be faithful to the calling He has placed in your life!