Holding On

As a kid, did your parents ever tell you where you were going on summer vacation, but it was still 2 – 3 months out?  My parents did, like the first summer we went to Disney World.  I remember my parents telling me and my brother we were going but it was a ways off, so we had to wait.  Even though the excitement was already there for the trip, there was a good chunk of time in between finding out about it and actually getting there.

It is like that in life sometimes, as well.  We know the end result and we know that some thing will happen but we have to “hold on” till it gets here or comes about.  That is the story of the season of life God has me in right now.  Over and over, it is confirmed that certain things are going to happen or doors are going to open up, but there is time in-between now and it actually happening.  It is this “holding on” or waiting that causes the issues in life or bothers us the most, especially when we know some thing is going to happen.  In a society where “fast”, “quick”, and “now” are the sales pitches that draw people in, waiting is not the easiest and most ideal thing to do in our human nature.

We have to learn to hold on and not rush it , but be diligent in what we know we are supposed to do in the meantime.  It is that “in-between” time that gives us fits (well, at least it gives me fits) One friend referred to it as “waiting well”.  We have the promises that God will take care of us, that He will provide for us, that He will watch over us and that He will give us our desires, but most of the time, at least at the beginning of a situation, we don’t know when and how He will do it, we just know that He will.  Even sometimes, we know what the exact end result will be, but we don’t know when it will come about. These situations can be in relationships, jobs, finances, etc.

For me, I know God will one day send that special lady into my life to be my wife and we will have that family I strongly desire, but I don’t know who she is yet (at least I don’t think I do) and I don’t know when it will happen.  But, in the meantime I do know that I have to be diligent in making sure I am the man that I need to be to lead her and my family spiritually and in life.  I am holding on to the promise I have for this in my life, but I am not letting the end result consume me and try to rush a relationship, dwell on it day and night, or make bad choices.  I am working on me which is part of the process of “waiting well” personally in this situation.

Another situation is my financial security and career, I know that the end result that God has for me is to be successful in my career.  I am not sure what that looks like or how long it is going to take to get me to that specific job or to bring about the right number of clients and situations that would position me and give me the best set of opportunity for growth.  I know this will happen, as it continues to be confirmed over and over in my quiet time, scripture, friends and situations, but I just don’t when it will happen.  So, in the meantime I am learning, pouring into myself, making myself available for opportunities and networking so that it will position me best for when the Lord does open the doorway or brings it about.

It is so difficult to wait or try and figure out what the plans and details are that are leading somewhere when you don’t know everything that is going on in the background or the exact location of the destination, but you do know that God has our best interest in mind and has a itinerary for us.  This is especially hard for people like me who want to know what the next 5 to 10 steps are and which direction to take.  But, a lot of time God will just give us what we need right now for us to focus on that and when we are ready He will show us the next step to take.  When in the desert, the children of Israel didn’t know where they were going until the pillar of fire/cloud at night moved to show them, but when it did not move they were to be about life – what they knew they were supposed to be doing.

I came across this scripture this week while reading and it really stuck with me:

God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It’s up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation.

Deuteronomy 29:29 (The Message)

To many times we spend time worrying and trying to figure out the next steps and the things we don’t know yet, instead of focusing on what we do know and what we are supposed to be doing.  We miss out on what is in front of us or what we have to learn now, when we try and jump ahead, rush things and situations and try to figure everything out before it happens.  Those are the hidden things, the things we trust God to do, take care of, and reveal.  We need to learn to wait well and be about the things we know we need to do, while holding on to the promise that the Lord will bring it about.  In everything there is our part and there is God’s part.  Our part is what He has revealed for us to do, and the unseen, the breakthroughs, the open doors (and sometimes closed doors) are His part to take care of.

So if there is a “childhood vacation” – a desire or a promise that you are waiting for in life, I challenge you to seek after God and find out how He wants you to wait well and hold on until it is time for it to come about, while He does His part and you do your part.

Intersections in life

Sorry it has been a while.  I have been trying to sort through and take care of some things – good and bad – and ended up being a little too busy for my own good.

Intersections in life happen daily.  The easiest one to think of is while driving, you come to a four-way stop – that is an intersection.  But there are many other intersections that happen daily like talking with friends, meeting a stranger at the store, and even conversing with God.  All of these are a type of intersection.

Intersections are just part of life, they are a connection point.  Some can be very good and some can be very bad.  So, it falls on our individual shoulders to makes sure we do our very best to try to make every intersection we have through out the day and ultimately our lives, the best they can be for everyone involved.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately.  Throughout our lives we have many crossroads that end up defining us.  Whether it is having that teacher in high school that had such a profound effect on you it directed you into what kind of career you would have, or maybe it was meeting that girl or guy  for the first time who would later become your wife or husband, or maybe it is a circumstance that happened like being laid off from your job.  These are just a few examples, but the truth is all of these are intersections in life.  It is where two or more different lines cross.  And out of this cross or intersection a decision is made and a direction is taken.

In today’s world and economy, and at this very moment, people everywhere are facing an intersection or a crossroads. They are faced with important decisions to make. The hope is that out of this intersection and the choices and decisions that are made some thing better will happen for each and every person.  That is what we have to strive for and hope for.

Recently, I was faced with an intersection in life.  I was laid off from my job of 13+ years.  I thoroughly enjoyed what I was doing, I was very passionate about it and I felt like I was making a difference in the world and for the Kingdom of God. But in the end, I felt it was cut short and I had unfinished business to take care of in what I was doing.  So, at my intersection I had to decide which way to go.  There were/are so many options.  I began the process of submitting resumes and networking to find my next assignment but nothing completely materialized.  So, after praying and talking with people in my field of expertise, I came to the conclusion that I could continue what I was doing and so passionate about.  It might not be the easiest way to do it, but God has gifted me with talents, abilities and expertise that one way or another I am responsible for to use to help people.

So, the result was the creation of my own business, Intersect Management Solutions.

The purpose for IMS is to provide organizations and businesses with knowledge and direction on best practices of business process design, as well as management of projects, marketing and social media.  Today, non-profits and small to medium size organizations/businesses (and even some larger businesses), are in need of someone to assist in giving a fresh look at and to streamline business flow and processes.  They are also in need of someone to provide leadership and assistance in directing in the ever-changing world of social media, branding and marketing, as well as project management.  These three avenues for organizations/businesses create intersections in thought processes and decision points, which result in actions.

So, at the intersection that I am currently at I decided to make a choice.  A choice that allows me to continue what I was deigned to do whether or not I get a full-time, 40-hour a week job next week or on down the road.  It is exciting and scary at the same time, along with all other range of emotions included in life.

I encourage you, if you are at an intersection now, or when you come across one in life (and you will), be sure to stop, look both ways and make sure you know the direction you are supposed to go before you start.  The choice you make will have a profound affect on you , your life, and those around you.  Remember, God might have you at this intersection for the purpose to take you down a new road that you would have never gone down before.

 

More than Meets the Eye

(no this is not about Transformers…)

I love the way this reads in the Message Bible:

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (Message)

No matter how bad things look, we have the hope as children of God that our future rests in Him and He has a plan.  He has a “lavish celebration” planned for us.  He sees what we need, right when we need it.

I know in my life I have questioned a lot of times what I “see” going on, and that usually is what gets me into trouble or discourages me.  But, it is at the point of what is working in the “unseen” and the plan that is unfolding that we don’t know about yet, where hope springs forth.

So, if you feel like your world is crumbling or nothing is going right, be encouraged and know that as a Child of God you have access to the One who holds all things in His hands and knows every detail.  Trust. Hope. Expect. Things might not turn around in one minute, but you can rest assured there is action and motion going on in the “unseen” that is to your benefit.  And as the scripture mentions above, “There’s far more here than meets the eye.”

Life or Death?

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (The Message)

This such a profound scripture that sums up life completely.  Time is a funny thing.  It can have a beginning and it can have an end, but not just one of each.  There can multiple starts and stops, multiple beginnings and ends.  I find myself at one of of those ends now.  But if I am to stop right there, “the end”, that would not be life.  That is death.  And while I could look and see that a very dear part of my life has now come to death, that would just be a sad story. But there is so much more.

There is LIFE.

Life is about newness, freshness and beginnings.  This day with so many unanswered questions, so many opportunities to stay in the end, you have to stop and ask:

“What good would that do me?”

“What is the benefit of that?”

“How will that help me?”

It won’t.  Not one single bit.  When we focus on the end of something in our life, we revere the dead that is there.  So, I pose the question, would you rather hang out with the dead or the living? Stay with me here.  This is a question we all must ask ourselves.  Will we choose life or death everyday, in every situation we are posed with.  Will we choose to see the life and the possibilities sat before us, or will be choose to look back and see the things that are gone or lost?  If we get caught in staying at the end or choosing to keep looking back or at the things lost, we WILL miss the new beginnings (life) and possibilities before us.

So, again, while there is a time and season for everything and life will have many of both, some expected and some surprising, we choose what happens next.  We will choose, for every situation, life or we will choose death.

In my situation, I have chosen life.  I would rather put all of my energy, strength and being into a new possibility of happiness, encouragement and the joy of my future, rather than sinking who I am and all that is within me into looking back, being discouraged and being downcast.  It is a tough choice.  And everyday is not easy.  It is a constant decision to choose to have the right mind set, even when my emotions, my logic, and at times my heart tells me different.  But, I know for my well-being and the mission that God has called me to in life, I have to make the right choice and choose life and hope.  There can not be any other choice.

What will you choose?

There is one more thing I want/need to mention with this. Probably just as important as whether we choose life or death for ourselves in the situations we are faced with daily, is whether we choose life or death for others God has caused our paths to cross with. We make the decision to speak life (encouragement, joy, peace, happiness and hope) or death (discouragement, unrest, uncertainty, fear and sadness) into people.  Our words and actions, speak volumes to the people around us, so we need to be intentional in what we say and do, and what we speak into other’s lives.

(There will be another blog next week more about this, it was just too important not to mention this right now.)

New Direction

You will probably notice if you have been here before, everything has changed. Not only with my life but with my blog. New blog name, new direction with content (forth-coming), new look.

I have just experienced a major change in my life, of which I will be adding insights here over the next few weeks, and God has used this to drastically change my perspective on things and life in general.

Bare with me, cause I am letting you into some of my inner most thoughts and struggles in figuring things out, but also my joys, my decisions and celebrations.

It should be a fun journey.

12 Stone…coming to a city near you!

Well, not exactly near you, at least near me.

Some exciting news a couple of weeks ago was released at 12 Stone Church. They are going to open a Flowery Branch Campus. I am pretty stoked about this! This is an exciting time at 12 Stone. There are so many wonderful things going on here.

So, just a break from my normal Crown news and financial stuff to this awesome news taking place at my home church.

By the way, the Cliche series is rocking! Literally, and you know what I mean if you were there last Sunday. You never know what you are going to get when you show up to a service. For those who are not familiar, 12 Stone is doing a series on cliches we use in our Christian walk and they have partnered with Crown Financial Ministries for this awesome series.  If you are available, come check out the final  two Sundays in the series.  You will love it.

Oh hey, check out this awesome organization too. 

 Cause and Affect Network.

This organization is doing some big things and helping a lot of people.

God Provides Short Film Series

Well, one of the perks of coming to my blog is from time to time you will get to hear about stuff possibly before anyone else.  This is one of those times.  Well, at least a few hours early. 

One of the most exciting things I have been apart of while at Crown and really in my whole professional career has been the God Provides short film series.  Tomorrow we will be launching the companion website to go along with the teaching component of the film series.  This is one of the projects I have been “managing” for the past couple of months, but the real heroes are the awesome web/creative guys at Crown.  (Thanks, guys!)  The website is the first step in our promotions plan for the film series.  There will be more exciting things to follow.  You will want to keep up to date through the new website.

I could go on and on about the films, but I would rather let you see for yourself.  Words can not express the power within these films.  Please visit the new site HERE.

You can see the trailer for the films in HD on the website, but of course I want to personally share the official trailer with you here on my blog, but promise me you will visit the site, too.  After you view the site and the trailer please comment you thoughts below.  Also, please feel free to share the website address and the trailer with your family, friends and on facebook or twitter.  All of the links to do this are located on the website.

Enjoy… (again please visit Crown.org/GodProvides after watching the trailer)

What to Do After an Economic Earthquake

Chuck did a great podcast on Friday in follow up to some of the stuff going on in the economy and the “economic earthquake” we have been experiencing.  Some great insights in there.

Here are some great quotes from the podcast:

We are in a sugar high economy.

The government’s bailout plan will make things better for a season, and create an economic calm, but in putting this massive infusion of money into the economy, we’re spending money we don’t have.

When you’ve borrowed too much, you can’t solve the problem by borrowing more. All the borrowed money also will cause inflation down the road, maybe hyperinflation.

You can listen to the show HERE.

Rate is not the # 1 consideration in a mortgage loan

Since I am in the process of selling my house and buying another one (that is a whole other blog – a long one at that – for another time).  I am always watching the mortgage rates and looking for the best one and watching the news for any current issues with the housing market.  There is a lot of good stuff out there.  I stumbled across this article on the Crown website – I know, I know I work there, but I can’t keep up with everything.  It really has some good points in it.  Check it out.  Here an excerpt below:

An Article from Crown Financial Ministries, by Dale Vermillion, called Rate is not the # 1 consideration in a mortgage loan.

 During the week of January 9th, mortgage rates hit the lowest level recorded since the Mortgage Bankers Association survey began in 1990 (4.98%). And although interest rates have increased about one-half percent since then, there are still great rates available on mortgage loans today (see www.bankrate.com for the latest rates). In these times of economic uncertainty, this is great news if you are a homeowner who is thinking of refinancing. However, let me tell you something that you may have never been told before – the interest rate is NOT the most important consideration on a mortgage loan!

Check out the rest of the article HERE.

Stepping it up…

Here is a great article from Runner’s World. about improving your running abilities.

Almost everyone who runs wants to get better. Indeed, in a recent survey on runnersworld.com, 89 percent of respondents hoped to take their running up a notch in 2009. Whether you want to dial up your mileage, pick up the pace to make yourself a stronger runner, qualify for the Boston Marathon, or use training tools to better focus your efforts, achieving your goal doesn’t have to be complicated, say running coaches from around the country. Here are five common goals and simple ways to make a change for the best.

Read the rest of the article here

I have found one of the best things for me, that helped me challenge myself more and improve was a little tool for my Ipod called Nike+.  This thing rocks!  It tracks your distance, pace and calories burned and it keeps a running list of your best times and total runs on your own personal website within the Nike+ site.