If I’m losing my way on an ocean of brokenness,
Wandering, wondering which way is home,
Will You still be merciful, Will You still know me
And call out my name when You come back again?
If you’re losing your way on an ocean of brokenness,
Wandering, wondering which way is home,
I’ll still be merciful, I still will know you
And call out your name when I come back again
If I’m pouring out light in the harbor of faithfulness
Saving the sinking with rumors of hope,
Will You be my brightfulness, Will you enflame me
And show me Your light when You came back again? [click to continue…]
Perspective is important, and it’s very helpful to change it every once in a while. Just remember, a different perspective doesn’t always mean a better one.
People in certain parts of the world have their own built-in (literally) perspective changers – they live in houses with flat roofs. That includes people in the Bible.
I’m just thinking how cool it would have been to hear my mother say, “Go to your roof!” She had her own ways of changing my perspective, though. Whew!
Anyway, you can find a lot of action on the rooftops of certain biblical houses. And some lessons along the way. Here are some quick idea generators for you to learn from the perspective and example of others. [click to continue…]
The morning sun comes calling a bit later here because of where we sit in the time zone. But even here in a West Texas version of suburbia, it can be a glorious reminder of the comfort and love of its Creator.
I realize that most of us, Christians included, live in awe of the Grand Gesture – those spectacular moments in time that define a life, a love, a generation. After all, nobody ever made a movie about taking out the trash. And we don’t have to look very far to find that in the Lord. The cross of Jesus will forever stand as God’s Grand Gesture.
But it’s in the daily expressions of faithfulness and regular reminders of His care that God’s love is most personally experienced. If, of course, we take the time to notice. To listen. To watch.
And so this morning, like most mornings, that’s what I’m doing. [click to continue…]
“I promise.” Has a certain charm, doesn’t it? Power, too! Were there no promises, business or trade in the world would not exist. Without promises, you would never experience friendship. There would be no families, no churches, no faith if there were no promises. Think of what your life would be like without the promises that have been made to you.
“And I believe you.” Imagine what that does to the one making the promise. The encouragement to faithfulness! The linking of two hearts! The formation of a solid friendship! The birth of a profitable business relationship! In Bible terms, we call it, “faith.” In the real world, we can’t live without it.
Much of our lives are spent making, breaking, and keeping promises. When we’re not doing that, we’re probably in the process of believing or doubting the promises others have made to us. Think about it: [click to continue…]
“Something’s wrong with your work.” The conversation eventually landed there.
A member of the denomination’s hierarchy delivered the critical review to a faithful old pastor during a prescribed periodic evaluation.
“Only one convert has been added to your church this year, and he is only a boy,” the boss said.
Later that same day, the pastor languished alone in his study, praying with a heavy heart, when someone walked up behind him. [click to continue…]
by Andy Wood on December 10, 2008
in Ability, Enlarging Your Capacity, Five LV Laws, Hoarders, Insight, Life Currency, LV Alter-egos, LV Cycle, Money, Principle of Abundance
Why do you have the resources, abilities, relationships and intelligence that you do? Why do you lack the brain, the pain, the financial gain that others have?
It all comes back to the Trust.
What you “have” isn’t yours any more than what somebody else “has” is theirs. It all – even your life – belongs to God. He purchased it completely with the death and resurrection of His Son. But He has entrusted the management decisions to you. Incidentally, the primary management decision you must make is what you will do with the death and resurrection of His Son!
Jesus’ story of the talents illustrates the point. (You can read my paraphrase/summary here.) Each of the servants received part of the master’s possessions to manage for him while he was away. That represents your life and all it entails. [click to continue…]
Problems are real.
Promises are important.
And the faith that clings to them often fragile.
That’s why it’s a good idea, if you’re offering yourself (or your church or organization) as the solution to somebody’s possibly-desperate problem, to make absolutely certain that somebody is there to answer the phone.
Or that the phone is actually there in the first place.
They may not be thinking about jumping off.
Maybe they just need a tank of gas…
A safe, friendly voice…
Or answers without religious jargon or clichés.
Maybe they just need to know where to find a phone that works.
(Photo – Taken on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge by Throwingbull. Used by permission.)
by Andy Wood on April 23, 2008
in Allocating Your Resources, Consumers, Enlarging Your Capacity, Executing Your Plan, Five LV Laws, Life Currency, LV Alter-egos, LV Cycle, Money, Principle of Increase, Time
I mentioned in my previous post that it’s possible to live in such a way that laughs at the future. Just so we’re clear, we’re in “life hack” territory. We’re talking about what to do with your money, your time, your relationships, your attitudes, and your spirit.
Look at this biblical description:
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” (Proverbs 31:25)
What is it about this woman that put her in a place where she wasn’t wringing her hands every time somebody predicted the end of life as we know it?
1. Establish trust in those who know you best.
“Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life” (v. 11-12, NLT).
For years I assumed that her husband trusted her in a moral sense, but this is much deeper. This man trusted her with his business, his family, and his money. She had earned his trust. How? By adding value to his life.
By doing a little more, being faithful to tasks assigned, or by keeping the trust of those who know you best, you create a compelling future. Take it from somebody who has both earned and betrayed trust: it takes months and years to earn trust, and you can destroy it – and your confidence in the future – in a matter of minutes.
2. Buy like an investor, not like a consumer.
[click to continue…]
