Most of us are looking to “go to the next level” in our leadership. We want more influence, more opportunity, a greater platform. But the only way to lead at the “next level” is to step up to the next level beforehand.
What we forget is that next level investments and developments must be in place before we can lead at that level effectively.
Testing and challenge often accompany this process, because we invest best when under durress.
Our generation exists in a time period where the dream of God mostly sleeps in the heart of God’s people. The church, the apple of His eye, lives largely to simply survive. We have reduced His message to theological texts, memorized lyrics, and empty tradition.
But just as in times past, there is a stirring of the spirit of renaissance in our souls. Dreamers are awakening from their slumber, longing to become what they have been created to be. No longer satisfied with being a disciple of Jesus one hour a week, we are deciding to surrender our whole life to God.
A hunger to break from religious boxes of limitation and smallness grips us. A new day has dawned, and the people of God are stepping into their freedom. Freedom to dream, dance, create, and run in the areas of God’s gifting and inheritance.
They are determined to awaken God’s dream in their generation, using the arts, creativity, leadership, service, generosity, risk, real relationships, unchanging love, impassioned prayer, and more to worship God and reveal Jesus to their dying world.
To check out first week of ‘Rise‘ series, select ‘get podcast’ on this page, or click here.
Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!”
-Luke 21:1-4
God asks us to give.
To give our time. Give our money. Give our talent. Give our life.
We know that we should.
But it often seems too soon.
So we pray for delay.
“God could you just wait a minute? I will surely give you what You want later, but not right now!”
In addition to an delay for what He asks, we pray to God to bless us with MORE.
MORE of what He is asking for, so we can give to Him from the MORE that He gave us.
It is in these actions that our true heart is revealed.
It is human nature to give from MORE. But God calls His followers to embrace a new nature. A new perspective. A new way to live. A new way to believe.
So He asks for us to give when we only have a little. While we wait to obey in a time of abundance, He watches for our surrender in a season of scarcity.
He is not looking for much from MORE.
He is looking for MORE of less.
Because it takes much MORE faith to give all when you only have a little.
God’s name is a place of protection—
good people can run there and be safe.
-Proverbs 18:10
“Only Jesus can save us.”
-Kanye West in ‘Jesus Walks’
There is only one Saviour.
There is only one Saviour.
There is only one Saviour.
Jesus is the only One that has the ability to rescue humanity.
He is our Saviour.
He is the only One.
It is an important truth to remember.
Because we so easily forget.
All too often we look to our bank account, our property and assets, our career, popularity, clothes, gadgets, entertainment, and other people to save us (and a host of other things!).
But substitute saviours are dangerous, leading us into addiction, dysfunction, and pain.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
-Mark 1:35
Yesterday morning I followed my usual Sunday routine. I got up before 5 am, got dressed and jumped in the car to get to the office to pray and make final preparations to speak and lead God’s people. There is something about driving in the dark and being the 1st person on the Renaissance campus that I love.
I listen to a talk by another leader/pastor/influencer on my iPod while sailing through empty streets.
The quiet darkness is beautiful.
But this dawn was different.
30 seconds into my drive through the darkness I noticed that was not the only one awake before sunrise. Compared to them, I probably was up desperately late. Who you ask, was active and moving before the dreak of day?
Rabbits.
They were in the park, in the field, in the road. I actually put the car in park and let the window down to watch. I even thought about getting out to get a closer look. But a rabbit is a very quick creature (much quicker than me!).
So I waited. I watched. And the rabbit that I gazed upon stopped too.
Motionless. Frozen in time.
It was a very cool moment.
As I resumed my drive I thought, “the only way to see rabbits running about like this is to be here when they do.”
And rabbits run best long before the sun shows his face.
There are special things that we can never see unless we make a special investment.
God interacts with us in a similar fashion. If we don’t make room in our life to meet with Him, then there are many things that we won’t see, won’t know, won’t experience, and won’t understand.
He is waiting for us.
If we get there (the place where God is), He will be there.
But we have to get there.
Because God is awake when even the rabbits are sleeping.
“Big ideas are little ideas that no one killed too soon.
-Seth Godin
You are more than you think.
There is more in you than you realize.
God that placed a gift inside of you that the world desperately needs.
Don’t let fear, lack of money, present circumstance, or anything else hold you back.
Don’t keep your gift locked away.
You are more than you think.
There is more in you than you realize.
The world needs you.
Posted in The Future, Creativity/Innovation, World Change | No Comments »
Most of us are looking to “go to the next level” in our leadership. We want more influence, more opportunity, a greater platform. But the only way to lead at the “next level” is to step up to the next level beforehand.
What we forget is that next level investments and developments must be in place before we can lead at that level effectively.
Testing and challenge often accompany this process, because we invest best when under durress.
Steven Furtick of Elevation Church says, “The way you respond to this test determines what you get to do next.”
Preparation, faithfulness, and having a good attitude are just some of the essential investments we must make to be next level leaders.
Talking about the next level is good, but investing in it is better.
Posted in The Future, Leadership | No Comments »
What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God!
-1 John 3:1
I love this picture. It illustrates beautifully how much I love my little girl. That is just how God the Father feels about us.
He will never leave us.
He will always help.
He will always love.
No matter what.
Posted in Relationships, Transformation, Family | No Comments »
Have you ever been sick with the ‘Nots’, the ‘Don’ts’, or the ‘Isn’ts’?
It is a really bad illness.
There is nothing like someone coming down with the ‘Nots’, the ‘Don’ts’, or the ‘Isn’ts’ . When a person is infected, they really are a mess.
They are overly fixated on what is ‘not’ here, what ‘isn’t’ happening, what they ‘don’t’ have.
Their thoughts, dreams, conversations, and even their prayers are consumed with, nots, don’ts, and isn’ts.
They are always complaining, always asking for more, but never thankful for what IS here, what IS happening, and what they DO have.
It is a terrible sickness and highly contagious.
Is anyone you know infected?
Like you?
Posted in Relationships, Discipleship | 1 Comment »
Our 2nd Daughter Kirah was born at 12:49 pm ten years ago today.
She was so cute she almost didn’t seem real.
I can’t believe it has been ten years.
Kirah is an artist, an actress, and writer.
She is a woman of God.
Her laughter, kindness, and joy are such a blessing to the world.
She is wonderful.
Happy Birthday Kirah.
We love you.
Posted in Family | 2 Comments »
Our generation exists in a time period where the dream of God mostly sleeps in the heart of God’s people. The church, the apple of His eye, lives largely to simply survive. We have reduced His message to theological texts, memorized lyrics, and empty tradition.
But just as in times past, there is a stirring of the spirit of renaissance in our souls. Dreamers are awakening from their slumber, longing to become what they have been created to be. No longer satisfied with being a disciple of Jesus one hour a week, we are deciding to surrender our whole life to God.
A hunger to break from religious boxes of limitation and smallness grips us. A new day has dawned, and the people of God are stepping into their freedom. Freedom to dream, dance, create, and run in the areas of God’s gifting and inheritance.
They are determined to awaken God’s dream in their generation, using the arts, creativity, leadership, service, generosity, risk, real relationships, unchanging love, impassioned prayer, and more to worship God and reveal Jesus to their dying world.
To check out first week of ‘Rise‘ series, select ‘get podcast’ on this page, or click here.
Posted in The Church, Discipleship, World Change | No Comments »
God wants all of us.
He wants us to go ‘all in’ when it comes to our connection to Him.
Not part in.
Not some in.
Not kinda in.
But all in.
Everything.
Everything surrendered to Him.
Empty of everything that holds us back.
Everything.
Posted in Transformation, Faith | No Comments »
Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!”
-Luke 21:1-4
God asks us to give.
To give our time. Give our money. Give our talent. Give our life.
We know that we should.
But it often seems too soon.
So we pray for delay.
“God could you just wait a minute? I will surely give you what You want later, but not right now!”
In addition to an delay for what He asks, we pray to God to bless us with MORE.
MORE of what He is asking for, so we can give to Him from the MORE that He gave us.
It is in these actions that our true heart is revealed.
It is human nature to give from MORE. But God calls His followers to embrace a new nature. A new perspective. A new way to live. A new way to believe.
So He asks for us to give when we only have a little. While we wait to obey in a time of abundance, He watches for our surrender in a season of scarcity.
He is not looking for much from MORE.
He is looking for MORE of less.
Because it takes much MORE faith to give all when you only have a little.
But without faith, we aren’t serving God at all.
We are only serving ourselves.
Posted in Worship, Faith | 1 Comment »
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
-Psalms 16:11
In Jesus there is Joy.
In the midst of everything that we face (stress, bills, urgent decisons, etc) that comes to steal our Joy…in Jesus there is Joy.
Today, in spite of our circumstances, we choose Joy.
Posted in Family, Worship, Faith | No Comments »
God’s name is a place of protection—
good people can run there and be safe.
-Proverbs 18:10
“Only Jesus can save us.”
-Kanye West in ‘Jesus Walks’
There is only one Saviour.
There is only one Saviour.
There is only one Saviour.
Jesus is the only One that has the ability to rescue humanity.
He is our Saviour.
He is the only One.
It is an important truth to remember.
Because we so easily forget.
All too often we look to our bank account, our property and assets, our career, popularity, clothes, gadgets, entertainment, and other people to save us (and a host of other things!).
But substitute saviours are dangerous, leading us into addiction, dysfunction, and pain.
There is but One that can truly rescue.
And He is only a call away.
All we have to say is, “Jesus, Rescue Me!”
And He will.
Posted in Prayer, Transformation, Discipleship | No Comments »
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
-Mark 1:35
Yesterday morning I followed my usual Sunday routine. I got up before 5 am, got dressed and jumped in the car to get to the office to pray and make final preparations to speak and lead God’s people. There is something about driving in the dark and being the 1st person on the Renaissance campus that I love.
I listen to a talk by another leader/pastor/influencer on my iPod while sailing through empty streets.
The quiet darkness is beautiful.
But this dawn was different.
30 seconds into my drive through the darkness I noticed that was not the only one awake before sunrise. Compared to them, I probably was up desperately late. Who you ask, was active and moving before the dreak of day?
Rabbits.
They were in the park, in the field, in the road. I actually put the car in park and let the window down to watch. I even thought about getting out to get a closer look. But a rabbit is a very quick creature (much quicker than me!).
So I waited. I watched. And the rabbit that I gazed upon stopped too.
Motionless. Frozen in time.
It was a very cool moment.
As I resumed my drive I thought, “the only way to see rabbits running about like this is to be here when they do.”
And rabbits run best long before the sun shows his face.
There are special things that we can never see unless we make a special investment.
God interacts with us in a similar fashion. If we don’t make room in our life to meet with Him, then there are many things that we won’t see, won’t know, won’t experience, and won’t understand.
He is waiting for us.
If we get there (the place where God is), He will be there.
But we have to get there.
Because God is awake when even the rabbits are sleeping.
Posted in Prayer, Transformation | No Comments »