Beware The Drift...
Our church has been doing a series called, "Beware of the drift" on the book of Colossians. It's really got me thinking.
Likely, no one plans in advance to gain 20 pounds in 10 years.
Most people don't set out to become distant from family members.
We're not intentional about building a habit of anxiety.
We don't hope and dream to neglect our faith.
And yet, we drift toward all kinds of unintentional behaviors and unwanted habits.
Psalm 141:4a says,
"Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness"
What if "wickedness" doesn't only means violence or intentionally hurting another person? Could it also include neglecting priorities or not pursuing what God has for you?
God offers believers so much - as a people group and personally. Let me explain.
As part of God's family, we are all offered forgiveness for whenever and however we miss the mark of...
Seven Surprising Types of People Digging in to Destiny by Design [Destiny by Design #4 of 5]
Imagine the surprise when certain specific people groups emerged and started taking our Destiny by Design course.
Originally the course was designed for college students discerning what God had next for them, but what a surprise when these other people groups started jumping in and gleaning insights as well:
- Empty nest Moms wanting to find meaning in the next season of life.
- Retirees looking for more than golf or fishing to fill their time.
- Ministers or missionaries transitioning to the marketplace.
- Businessmen or vocational workers looking to get into ministry.
- Niche seekers wanting to hone their future.
- Pastors on sabbatical.
- Young adults seeking clarity rather than just doing college because everyone else is.
Destiny by Design helped clarify the pathways for each of these types of people.
So, which category do you fall into?
Whether you fall into one of these categories or are the original college student, the course was designed to help you identify what God has...
Far And Away The #1 Obstacle That Holds People Back + some REALLY BIG PERSONAL NEWS
Whether you are a coach or a coachee, pastor or parishioner, minister, mom, or mentor the number one obstacle that holds anyone back is something I call the Sunday drive perspective.
When you are on a Sunday drive you don’t really have a destination. You are just driving around for the sake of getting out of the house. (If you have never heard of a Sunday drive, that is something we used to do before gas prices were ridiculous and also before our Sundays were a desperate attempt at recuperation from the work week.)
The point of a Sunday drive was the rambling. It was just a journey with no specific destination for the purpose of spending time with whoever went along. There's nothing wrong with that if your purpose is to slow down and spend time together.
But when our lives slip into a Sunday drive mindset we don’t have a clear destination. There is no defined purpose or goal we are working toward. Our lives are...
What’s At Stake If You Put It Off Destiny By Design?
Taking Destiny By Design doesn’t guarantee you a preferred future, and it’s not for everyone, but if you can’t say for sure where you are headed, it’s not likely you will get out of the fog by accident.
That’s kind of like saying your financial plan is to win the lottery.
It’s not very likely. Especially if you don’t play.
Here's what’s at stake:
- Wasted time waiting for something to come to you.
- Unrealized potential, because you didn’t even know what to do.
- Missed opportunities never considered.
- Recognition of personal uniqueness: giftings, passions, calling, strengths...
People who need what you have to give are waiting for you to step up.
Not that God couldn’t use another, but why not be all you can be (and we’re not talking about the army)!
Understanding your Destiny by Design may be closer than you think!
How NOT To Gamble With Your Destiny!
Do you know what an acorn grows up to be?
How about a kitten? Or maybe a tadpole?
Knowing what is “seeded” within you changes everything! And yet, many people don’t know what they are made of, or what they are meant to become.
When we aren’t sure of what’s in us, we run the risk of gambling with God’s intended destiny for our lives.
Psalm 139:13 says God knit us together in our mother’s womb. He’s the one who decided how tall you would be, what color eyes you would have, whether your hair would be curly or straight and so much more.
These external DNA markers make each of us unique, but wait - there’s more.
So much more.
We have an internal DNA that sets us apart from each other even more than how we look.
Our internal DNA consists of things like:
- Personality type
- Motivational gifts
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Five-fold ministry gifting
- 7 Mountains calling
- Personal passions and unique interest arenas
And the list could go on.
...
I'll be Happy When...
I'll be happy when....
- I get out of this tunnel
- This season is over
- That event is done
- I'm making enough money
- I get noticed
- My break comes
The list could almost be endless.
I'm sorry to say that I regularly add to the list. And the sad part is that I already have many of the things I previously said would make me happy... Here's my story.
Awhile back I was thinking an "I'll be happy when..." thought in my head and I felt like God stopped me up short and asked me a question back. "Really Cindy, will you really be happy then?"
I realized right there that if my happiness was contingent on acquiring or accomplishing something that I was pushing off happiness for later. How sad!
What if God wants us to be content IN the meantime? Joy in the journey and all that can be much more than a trite saying.
Don't get me wrong. I know "I'll be happy when...." is just a common expression and likely it's depth is shallow, but when God asked me that question, it...
The One (And Only) Way To Sabotage Potential!
Tucked away perfectly in the tiny acorn is the potential for a mighty oak tree!
The only way that’s not going to happen is if the dear acorn is not nurtured. It needs little to flourish but the recipe is clear. There needs to be healthy soil, adequate moisture, available sunshine and a good location (climate wise).
Humans are like that too. We need nurturing to grow into all we could become.
We need healthy soil. It’s like a having a healthy soul where the weeds (lies) are not taking all the nutrients for themselves.
We need adequate moisture. The River of Life is available to us all. It is an underground spring where God can bring freshness and life to our inner man.
We need available sunshine. When God shines on our nexts everything changes. Our part is in the waiting. Some times it’s not sunny when we want it to be and it’s in the waiting that our roots grow deep. His timing is always perfect.
We need a good location. The right community and culture...