Purposefully Being Private

Restricted movement declared for two weeks. 

God speaks to us in all circumstances

Success from the Inside Out

Sharing a short article by Nona Jones which might resonate with some of you readers ...

Have you ever experienced outward success while privately battling internal feelings of insignificance? Have you ever smiled for the camera after receiving an award or recognition, but struggled with emptiness and worthlessness afterward? Have you ever hustled your way to professional or personal success, only to find fatigue and frustration on the other side of it? We get the dream car. The dream house. Take the dream vacations. And, after all of that, we wake up from the dream and realize… we’re just tired. I’m not sharing this in theory; I’m sharing this out of my own lived experience.

I started out in my career with an appointment to an executive-level role at just twenty-three years old and I have been blessed to experience a steady string of promotions across various sectors of business over the last fourteen years. My name found its way onto several “30 Under 30” and “40 Under 40” lists, but with every new position, recognition and relationship, I never experienced the sense of fulfillment that I assumed would come when I achieved it. Have you ever been there? You assumed that if you achieved “X” position/title you would finally feel successful, but once you achieved it, the “magical success fairy dust” faded over time. I’ve discovered that there are two types of success; success that empties and success that fills.

God desires that His children experience a success that fills. Good success.

Joshua 1:1-8 is a foundational passage of scripture for my life. Contextually, it is like a divine parentheses in the story of the nation of Israel because, immediately prior to this text, Deuteronomy ends with the death of Moses. Moses was the faithful and revered leader of the Israelites, hand-picked by God to lead them out of Egypt and into the promised land. Due to the unbelief and rebellion of the nation of Israel when God told them to take possession of the promised land, God told Moses that neither he nor anyone in that generation would see the promised land. Instead, Joshua would lead the new generation into it.

Right after Joshua 1:1-8, Joshua instructs the children of Israel to take possession of the land, so this passage comes between two momentous events in Israelite history. And what happens in these eight verses is consequential for Joshua and us today. God pulled Joshua to the side and gave him some very important instruction that was intended to set direction for him and the entire nation of Israel. God said:

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. — Joshua 1:7-8 NKJV, emphasis mine

Do you want to live a prosperous, successful life? I certainly do. And this passage of scripture finds God telling Joshua how to do both, but the Hebrew words for prosper are actually two different words. First, when God says “do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go,” the word translated “prosper” is the Hebrew word Sakal which means “to be prudent, circumspect, to have insight and comprehension.” In other words; God says, “do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have wisdom wherever you go.” Many people are searching the business and management section of Barnes and Noble to find wisdom when God lets us know his Word contains the power to make us wise if we know it and apply it.

Second, when God says, “meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success,” the word translated prosperous is not Sakal, it is the Hebrew word Tsalach, which means “to advance, make progress, succeed, be profitable.” This particular word is used sixty-four times in the Old Testament to describe God’s divine power to bring about success apart from man’s intervention, but this is the one and only time is it used to describe a man’s ability to be successful. In this one verse we find God, for the first and only time, teaching us how to translate His divine power of favor into human capacity. God says to us, “if you do this you will succeed on your own.” And that success will be good.

We tend to believe success is good by virtue of it being success. In our view, if you achieved your goal, you succeeded and, therefore, that is a good thing. But in order for there to be “good success” (Joshua 1:8), there must be success that is not good. Anything we achieve that leaves us frustrated, tired, angry, arrogant, selfish, depressed and isolated is not good success, no matter how many trappings may have come with it. Sure you got the promotion, but you can’t get any sleep from stress. Yes you grew the church past 1,000 members, but you’re frustrated and anxious from limited staff. What if God never intended for you to get that job? What if the season for growth was forced before God’s timing? As He said to Joshua, we must remain fixated on God’s Word and will more than comparing our lives with other people because the type of success God wants for us begins within. It begins with a surrender to God’s plans; even when those plans are not our plans. It requires knowing God’s Word and trusting God with our resume.

Written for Faith.Full by Nona Jones, author of Success from the Inside Out.

Dream On....

So the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat played in the city. What an amazing wonderful time.  

For seven-eight months they have been rehearsing. Last night was the finale. So many lessons from this amazing but true story!

Only God, and He alone, can deposit hope in hopelessness situations, bring about redemption, and an amazing beyond-all-imagination future. The promise that

biblia.com

“.....all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” 

holds true even today. We can't see the end from the beginning - only He can. We can't imagine what lies beyond the horizon - but He's seen it. We can foresee what is around the corner - He already knows.

Thankful!

Wrong Turn Turned Out Right

Does this look like a strange photo to post? Permit me to tell you the story behind this.

We were navigating to a totally unknown area. None of the five passengers had been to this area. The electronic navigation wasn't clear. So at the very last minute, a decision was made to swing left instead of going ahead.

That left hand turn was a correct call! Phew!

Then, instead of turning right to get to the building we sought, we suddenly saw this - parking under a huge tree. It appeared to be free, and available. So we made our way over and voila! There was a parking space as if it was just waiting for us! 

We hopped out and made our way to the building concerned. There, we found a sale was going on! Just in time, for what we wanted. We had a short wait and then left with not only what we had gone for, but also a few smaller gifts.

It was a good example of how He makes all things work out for good. SO glad that none in the car were upset. SO glad for the seemingly wrong turn turning out right!

Special Message from a Special Person

A series of amazing events led to Arrow #3 and I making a special trip to see this special person. His message was simple but came from a life fraught with challenges. What an inspiration!

Born limbless, he says there are no limits. His faith in God was what keeps him going and he has such hope! Wow! A privilege to have seen him closeup indeed.

Moth Musing Moments

There I was, feeling a bit off. Emotions a bit topsy turvy, thoughts going a little awry, and under pressure from many quarters. Dropping the ball here and there, apologising profusely as I go scrambling to pick them back up.

Then as I locked up one day, I saw this. On the glass door. I was arrested in my routine of closing up the place.

It was pitch black from where I was so the moth didn't notice me going up close with my camera. 

As I snapped the photo, it occurred to me that the moth was there for all to see, almost nakedly so. It stayed there, still and alone. But it was not out of place, nor did it seem afraid. It was quite settled there.

In the same way, sometimes what I do, and where I am positioned now, is quite public. And quite alone. Or seems that way. I can't expect anyone else to understand. No one else except God. 

And that should be enough. 

So I am comforted as I muse about this moth. I take a few more moments, thank the Lord, and then continue my way. 

Ministry is not a call to lead, but to die

Read an old article that I had saved. So glad I saved it. Francis Frangipane writes

When I first came to Christ, the Lord gave me a dream about my future. I thought that everything the Lord said was supposed to occur immediately; I didn't know of the work of preparation and dying to self, of learning patience and maintaining vision through testing, that would occur before God's promise would find fulfillment. Consequently, I was filled with ambition. Ambition is the first motive that arises in the spiritually immature. I was like the disciples who, a few days after Jesus' resurrection, were already asking, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom?" (Acts 1:6).

Ambition is very deceptive. It can seem just like obedience, yet because we don't truly know the Lord, the voice we find ourselves obeying is not God's, but our own. Our vision can actually be from God, but our motive be self. Consequently, where there is ambition, James tells us there will soon emerge "disorder and every evil thing" (James 3:16). Why? Because we begin thinking we can accomplish the will of God through the strength of man. We are seeking a breakthrough; God wants to give us brokenness.

The spiritually immature do not recognize their immaturity because they are immature. Thus, they become impatient, fearful and demanding. Because pride blinds the ambitious, we presume we are ready for greater assignments in God. In fact, we become a harder assignment for those who work with us, for our actions continually generate strife.

Ambition seeks to put to death what stands between it and spiritual fulfillment. Yet, it is ambition itself that must die to reach fulfillment. Webster's tells us that ambition is "an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as wealth or fame, and the willingness to strive for it." The word translated "ambition" in the NAS is rendered "strife" in the King James. Truly, ambition is a major cause for strife, church splits and conflicts within the church.

I thought having a promise from God was the same thing as receiving a commandment from God. I did not understand what I personally lacked in character or what I needed to attain concerning faithfulness, becoming a bond-servant, and possessing a grateful heart. These things needed to be worked in me before God would truly begin to fulfill His larger promises and opportunities. What I became for God was more important than what I did for Him.

Today, I am living in the spiritual substance of what was just a dream thirty-eight years ago. My ambitions have suffered greatly, yet my dreams are being fulfilled. While I have not yet arrived at the greatest aspects of my calling, I understand the difference between ambition and true leadership and it is this: Ministry is not a call to lead, but to die.

Every advance that I have made spiritually was preceded by an opportunity to die to self. The power in my life comes from where I have died to self and now live unto Christ.

Do you want to advance spiritually? The gateway to resurrection power is crucifixion. God will arrange opportunities for you to die to self. You must discern them. Dying to self and its ambition is the means of reaching true spiritual fulfillment. If you react to the opportunity to die with fleshly anger or resentment, you will fail to reach fulfillment. However, if you can maintain your vision even while your ambition dies, you will succeed.

Breaking my Heart

A song has been reverberating in me.

Or rather, a phrase "Break my heart for what breaks Yours...."

Then I was given a list. It was entitled "Am I a Proud or Broken Person?"

There were checklists about attitudes. Attitudes to self, others, etc.

I found myself checking myself on the list.

And left wanting.

Take for instance

ATTITUDE about THEMSELVES

PROUD PEOPLE feel confident in how much they know
BROKEN PEOPLE are humbled by how very much they have to learn

PROUD PEOPLE are self-conscious; they worry about what others think of them
BROKEN PEOPLE are not preoccupied with what others think of them.

PROUD PEOPLE are concerned about appearing respectable; they are driven to protect their image and reputation.
BROKEN PEOPLE are concerned with being real; they care less about what others think than about what God knows – they are willing to die to their own reputation

PROUD PEOPLE can’t bear to fail or for anyone to think they are less than perfect. This can drive them to extremes – workaholic tendencies, perfectionism, and the tendency to drive to drive others or to place unrealistic expectations on themselves or others.
BROKEN PEOPLE can recognize and live within God-given limitations

So yes, I try to sing the next line, "Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause"

A Story of Forgiveness, Hope and Love

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. What a musical. What an inspiring true tale from Genesis.
God is so amazingly good. We embarked on the musical because the Senior Pastor felt that the Lord asked us to. So he told us.

And the church responded.

Over 170 people involved in one way or another for the days of the performances. This doesn't include those who helped out before the performances. That's a lot when you think the church is only 600 strong.
And what an amazing five-performance-over-over-four-nights it has been!

There were many responses received. Now to process them, link them, touch base with them and be a part of introducing them to a closer relationship with the One Who made it all happen....!

Catch 22?

How can you allow someone to do something when you suspect they might make mistakes along the way?

But if you don't allow them to try, making mistakes as they do, how will they learn?

Line upon line, precept upon precept, grace upon grace.