2015 Nuggets and Such: pt 1

Sometimes you find treasures in the sand of everyday life and sometimes they find you.  I don’t know about you, but I find that most of my growth and learning comes from places of struggle or missing the mark.  I think Father God has a “no-trial left behind” policy and there are some classes I would rather not have to take again and then there are others I know will be a life long learning experience (communication, relationships, etc.)

This a collection of some of those from the first half of 2015.  I tried to post every other one in a quote box to separate each one from the next.

 

You will rarely find a know-it-all in a place of leadership because leadership quickly reveals you don’t know it all. Look in the stands for the one shouting the loudest at the team and coaches on the field. There you will find the know-it-all.

 

If we had our choice we would always end victorious or with the outcome we hope for, but sometimes even better than a win is suffering defeat and continuing to move forward. What separates those that finish well and those that crumble is not always the wins or losses but how you handle disappointment and setbacks.

 

“Come back when you are perfect.” isn’t a statement any parent would make and neither does Father God.

 

• Intelligence  = knowing  what is right  
• Wisdom  =  choosing what is right

 

The greatest legacies are not built on a stage in front of a crowd of people. #lifegroup

Don’t despise the trial. The trial is your servant. It reveals every alliance we have with the enemy’s lies that you are alone and without help. Father is making you complete!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)

 

“I will never be like…”    Every judgment made against another human being from the motivation of anger or pride is a guarantee that I will do the same in my own life. Forgiveness and blessing are the pathway to freedom, growth and change.

“You and I? Our journey might be very different. Our agenda and beliefs may be very different. But, I promise you this.

We’re looking for the same things. Love, peace, happiness, pleasure. … I pray your day is great and your journey takes you one step closer to your truest desires today.”

 

What is begun in fear can lead to a course of action that looks wise but it will never produce what you hope it will.

 

Good Friday. Remembering a dark day when an innocent man paid my price so I would never have to live in the dark again.

“All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.” (Romans 5:20-21 MSG)

Easter: Remembering the day we celebrate that we now have the option to choose life because someone defeated death.

 

There are some battles we can fight with one another and some we can fight for one another. However, the bully of fear is one we must personally defeat.

Big bark, little bite.

When someone’s happiness is dependent upon you – their happiness is not dependent upon you.

My identity in Christ gives me a name and resources. My name and resources give me influence. My ability to influence requires I invest into the kingdom and people wisely.

I have the authority, resources and wealth of the kingdom – what will I do with it?

 

Public Victory from Private Preparation:

David had the authority and skill to defeat Goliath in the public arena because he spent years honing his skills when no one was watching.
God has a time and a place to go public with the work he is doing in your life. Trust His work and His timing!

Ordinary people + Extraordinary leader = Ordinary people doing Extraordinary things.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

The truth will set you free. John 8:32

TRUTH:  God loves me, he is for me, he is always with me to help me succeed and overcome because he wants that for me more than I want it for myself 
LIE:  I am unloved, alone, a failure and will always be an unsuccessful failure

#truth #freedom

True leadership is a place that is given not taken.

Following is not a powerless position. To follow takes courage. One that is independent and will not follow is often hailed as strong when really fear is the motivation not strength. Truth is we all follow someone, a philosophy or something. So now the question is where am I being led?
#leadership

“If you are in a difficult season, it’s not about changing locations it’s about changing you.” Sonny Misar
#perseverance – and sometimes you change locations

There is hope today.

My hope is not governmental, judicial, economic or educational reform. My hope is in the transformation of the hearts of men and women from every nation. I have seen transformation on the inside that changes the behavior and desires of men. Transformed people transform cities.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. (Psalms 39:7 NLT)

Do you feel celebrated or tolerated by Father God? Luke 15

That feeling is tied to a belief in your heart.
Truth is? It is not your great religious performance that gets you into the Father’s party. He rejoices every time you come to him.

 

I am so surrounded by the goodness of God it is a wonder I don’t just wander around all day muttering “thank you” under my breath.

 

When pride runs deep, the price is steep.  “You might be a tough cookie but, you’re still just a cookie.”

Isaiah 61:3 Oil of joy instead of mourning.

Ever try to run a car without oil? Ever try to live life without joy?
Joy – the awareness and celebration of his presence and goodness toward you right now
Life without joy is like an engine without oil and on the verge of meltdown and lock up. Mourning is a focus on what I am lacking and have lost. There is a time for grieving but the predominant focus of our life should be God’s goodness and presence here and now to provide and satisfy.

JESUS CHRIST, people! When I was lost he found me.
When my good was not good enough, he gave me his goodness as my own.

When I was broken he healed me.

When I broke others, he healed them.I deserved the sentence I had but he paid it for me.

This life means nothing to me without him.

Day approaching:

It is time to love and encourage one another and it can’t be done if I am the Lone Ranger.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the
Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)

Power without character is like taking a jet engine off a plane, strapping yourself to it and hitting the go button. Just like the plane is a protection that allows us to safely navigate that power, character is necessary to wield power. From Bill Easter

 

Solitude gives great advantage to temptation. Matt Henry

 

“All right” is not something I can muster up with attempts to cover my brokenness.

“All right” is a gift I receive when I bring my brokenness to the One that restores.
Genesis 3
At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

(But) the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. (Genesis 3:7, 21 NLT)
An eternal soul will never be satisfied by temporary pleasures.

 

Josh Duggar

The real question is not have I wronged someone like Josh Duggar did? The real question is have I wronged someone?
If I am honest, the answer is, yes. And then if I am more honest, I recognize I need a savior because people’s hearts are so valuable it is not just the big things like abuse or murder that require the need for a savior.
Human nature is to compare ourselves to others and render ourselves innocent because we are not as bad as the next guy.
I have not done what Josh Dugger did, but I am guilty of wronging my neighbor many times. Thank you, Jesus, for paying the price for my sin and offering me the trade of your right for my wrong.
Any other takers?

TEAM

Everyone loves the results of a good team; multiplied energy and effectiveness, but sometimes the components of effective teamwork can trip us up.
• Connection – together is better, shared goals and motivation
• Compromise – my idea is not always the best for the greater good
• Confrontation – healthy confrontation fosters trust and growth

 

The Israelites took 40 years to make an 11 day journey. (Deut. 1:2)

We must learn to know God by His grace and goodness because when you only have a relationship with the law of God, you will spend your entire life searching for a promised land that is right in front of you.

Concerning the Nephilim: After much study and consideration of the various theories, I believe it’s safe to say that the father of Goliath was a T-Rex.

 

Good team > Great player  Lebron’s career is a case study for this fact.

When I only portray strength, there is little grace for my weakness. Jm516 #gracetothehumble

 

You’re invited!

Anyone interested in long-term investing, meeting the king and his beautiful bride, treasures, Warriors, parties, feasts, out of this world creatures, mansions – mine included, perfect family, dreams coming true and anything else good you can dream of?    PM me for details because this world is not my home.

 

Injustice can make it difficult to tell the difference between the puppet and puppet master.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12

 

Some people – of any background, orientation, race, creed or religion – will hate you if you disagree with them.

That is conditional “love” and is actually not love but rather just nice treatment because you do what they want.

Love – the desire and action for another’s good – is without conditions. Approval or agreement are different than love. My wife and I sometimes do not approve or agree with each other’s actions but we don’t hate each other because of it. That would be absurd and would be a good way of controlling my wife’s objections if I were to use that on her. If that were the case God would hate all of us because there are attitudes and actions we do that wrong others that he disagrees with.

Disagreement is Hate = Manipulation

Some people hate and some people just disagree.
To every last one of you, I disagree with you on more than a few things and….. I love you.

You can’t say ‘yes’ to the best without saying ‘no’ to the less.

Daily Post