GlocalNet

I remember when I was starting out in ministry, I wanted everyone to accept Christ immediately - I still do!  One Sunday at the small church I pastored while attending seminary two people came forward during the worship service to invite Christ into their hearts.  One of them was weeping, broken, sobbing - the other was calm, quiet, and rather matter-of-fact in their decision to accept Christ.  I worried about the one that was calm, but the one that was really emotional - I thought that one really got it! 

Time always tells the story - the one that was highly emotional - would for the next few years come back and fall, come back and fall, come back and fall, the other one began to grow slowly but continued to grow.  Everything grew about them, their walk with God, with the family, in ministry - all of it.  I learned early on, emotion and outward response was no indicator of God working in someone’s life.  Sometimes it was God, and sometimes it was purely the emotion of whatever was going on in that person’s life. 

I also have learned another lesson - those who have the greatest impact are those who are consistent.  They may or may not be emotional - but they don’t run hot and cold - they run steady.  Those who are looking for the latest “spiritual fad” or flavor rarely are ever content in Christ alone - there has to be some other secret to make it easier, more fun, more exciting, more whatever . . . . 

I’ve been asked lately how it is that I maintain my walk with God, keep fresh, keep learning, and wind up on the front end of different things. 

A couple of notes:  Staying on the front edge of what God is doing, does not necessarily equate with being the most “successful” in ministry.  When you’re truly up on the edge - most people don’t yet see what God is showing you and it will take time for them to catch up - let alone understand what you are saying.  Don’t desire the front edge for success, desire it only because God has something he wants to show you and realize that you’re blazing a trail that won’t have the resources of other trails.  I’ve never known a move of God that didn’t require faith for resources.  It’s not that God doesn’t have enough - it’s that what he initiates will always be done in faith.  Also, when you’re on the front edge of something God is doing - be silent about it.  What you see at first, may not be what it’s really all about, or it could be close but enough deviation to impact what you are learning.  When you are on the front edge of what God is doing - you are in a high learning and observing mode.  If you try to teach or tell too quickly you may confuse or misdirect people you are leading.  Be content just to learn and apply in your context.

Most of the “new” things people run to really aren’t new - someone has been in that field a good while and now they’re getting a crop - and the early adopters see it because they’re near the other persons fence line and jump over and start harvesting early! 

So, how to stay fresh?

1.  Be in God’s Word daily - and daily let his Word be growing in you.  I read through the Bible every year - people have told me, that’s just you - most people can’t do that.  People who say that - don’t really know me, neither have they read the history of people that God used - no exceptions here.  I have so much energy that for me to sit still and slowly read God’s word and for it to speak into my life takes massive discipline.  It’s not just reading God’s Word - it’s the love of His Word.  It’s the power of his Word speaking directly into our lives.  As you do that - each year, you will read the Word at a deeper level.  Some years there may be certain themes as you read through it - one year I kept thinking of the Kingdom of God as I read it, another year covenant, another year discipleship . . . . when you allow the Word to pour into your life for a year and interact with it the power of the Word in your life is simply profound, powerful, and the driving force.  Neither can you minimize when God gives you a verse or word from his Word.  There are no quick short-cuts or lessons that allow you to minimize God’s word in your life - and it takes a lifetime for it to go deep within you and then flow out of you. 

2.  Journal - especially people like me.  People like me journal not because we are gifted writers - but because we are learning and want to write that learning down so we don’t forget.  We also can see patterns at the end of the year of how God worked.  As a matter of fact, people like me, of all people, should journal, because we can move so fast that if we don’t slow down we will never see how God is orchestrating things. 

3.  Read where your passion and discipline is - but outside your discipline as well.  Most people read tons of books on their interest.  Keep the focus God gave you - but when you read science, business, or literature in light of what God is teaching you - you’ll actually gain insights into those that you wouldn’t have gained by reading your one vein of thought.  I was reading some geo-political books and history books on a particular part of the world - and as I was reading them they were having the same challenges that churches have in terms of grappling with communication and people.  I began to scan some other books I’d read and realized some of what we are dealing with in the church is what all domains are dealing with in a connected and tribal world. 

4.  Hang out with someone you ordinarily wouldn’t - they see things in ways you won’t.  I keep my eyes open for interesting and thinking people.  I don’t always agree with them - and they are not always Christian.  Many people that I hang out with the most don’t agree with my view of God, but I can learn so much from everyone.  I’d love to spend a day with Gandhi, Edison, Lincoln, Caesar, Ho Chi Minh, etc.  I can’t do that - but who can I learn from? In reading the biographies of these historic individuals, I can spend some time with them. 

5.  Be alert and expect God to act throughout the day in unexpected small ways.  We’re all looking for the big shaking event - forget it!  God is in the small voice.  God is moving all around us - most people don’t see it, recognize it, or are not aware.  Seize the small moments - they are often Jesus in disguise!  When you have that kind of perspective you can’t get dry.

6.  Divert from what you are doing regularly.  Stay focused in and on target and in a clear direction.  Sometimes we can get our head down and push so hard we lose perspective.  Taking short breaks and disengaging from our work at times allows us to approach it fresh and with joy. 

7.  Exercise.  Bike, run, lift weights - pick your poison but those endorphins have to be released! 

8.  Do something fun.  Laugh at a movie, go to a concert, hike a mountain, ride a camel - - - - enjoy life. 

9.  Finally, live a life of gratitude.  Grateful for what God has done and been to you and how he is working.  Faith moves us with God in action.  Gratitude bends God’s ear towards us in relationship.  Grateful people are humble and happy people because they know their place is in God, as well as their hope and future.