GlocalNet

Each year I evaluate the year that is ending.  As I have looked over the years, evaluating where I am, where I’ve come from, and where I’m going, I’ve learned I simply can’t do that alone.  I have to look outside myself and outside of my comfort zone or I just miss too much.  It’s a pretty intense and comprehensive process without which my life would be lots of movement, but not much depth.

One of the challenges we all face, is not the activity we are doing, but are we doing the right activity and is it focused in the right direction.  If you’ve been an intern at NorthWood, or on staff, or a friend, you may have been through this process with me.

It starts by reading my journal for the last year; at that point I look at the big things that really stand out.  Events, revelations, Bible verses . . . . all of it and generally get it on one page.  From there I identify the trends, themes, and lessons God taught me.  The final page of my journal is to condense what I learned to the final page of my journal.  I’ve done this for years.  I take that page, with the last page of each journal for the past 15 years and review where God has brought me and where he is taking me.  Without this, other people’s views, opinions, etc. can really be unhealthy because I would view them with no history or pattern of God having worked in my life.  That would make me a ping pong ball just responding to whoever has an opinion based on their preference. 

Next, I began to pray through that page and what God is putting on my heart.  I read Scripture extra slow and ask God to speak to my heart in his word and everything.  Any impressions he gives me, I write them down.  Any stirrings in my heart I write them down.  Burdens, thoughts, views, whatever, if there is an impression I write it down. 

Finally, I listen to my “counselors”. We all have them.  You’ve seen some of them in my blog.  We need those within our work and organizations, but also outside our work and organizations.  If you don’t have them inside your organization you can lose touch.  If you don’t have them outside your organization you can lose objectivity.  As a pastor dealing with volunteers with as many agendas as there are people, you’d better have a lot of objectivity!  Bob Buford, Ed Allen, and Bobb Biehl have been my outside counselors this year.  Inside the church I’ve had several church members and ministry partners.  I also listen to those I work closest with.  I want to know what God is telling them, what are their dreams and callings from God as we move forward. 

There’s not a better time to reflect than at this time of the year.  If you want a fun exercise, set aside 3 hours and do as much of this as you can:  make a list of questions like the previous blog, then make a list of lessons or things God is possibly saying to you, then narrow the focus and come up with 4 things you can do at home and work to dramatically increase your fruitfulness.  HOWEVER, if you want to bear a lot of fruit, spend a couple of hours a day the next week, and a day each week looking closely at all of it and come January 1 it will be the best year of your life!  How can I say that with confidence?  Since I started doing this, each year just keeps getting better and better!