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Secret to Becoming Remarkable

William James, a distinguished Harvard professor of psychology once said,

In almost any subject, your passion for the subject will save you. If you care enough for a result, you will most certainly attain it. If you wish to be good, you will be good. If you wish to be rich, you will be rich. If you wish to be learned, you will be learned. Only then you must really wish these things and wish them with exclusiveness and not with one hundred other incompatible things just as strongly.

I love being reminded that God has a "big idea" for our lives. An ordained purpose and plan requiring all of our life's focus, energy and passion if it's to be realized. With out a doubt, one of the secrets to success and accomplishment in life is the ability to say no to the "good" and yes to the great". To whole-heartedly focus on and master what we're created and gifted to do.

It's living with that modus operandi day in and day out together with the passage of time you become remarkable at what you do. Exceptional In ways that unlock doors of opportunity, attract resources, draw others to your vision and unleash heaven's blessing to make your dream (God's dream) a reality!

Just my thought for today - God bless.

Monday's Reflection

Mondays tend to be a day of rest and recovery for me, usually spent catching up around home and enjoying time with my family. Today we went for a relaxing drive looking for possible new locations for Authentic Life Church. On Sunday, I shared a few major strategic steps we'll be taking as a church later this year, including transitioning to a new facility and location.

Even though there's much prayer and work ahead of us, we have a unique and outstanding opportunity to go to the next level of influence and effectiveness as a church. The direction God has been mapping out in our hearts will certainly prepare and position us to lead more people than ever into a purposeful, passionate relationship with Jesus Christ. 

I see a screaming opportunity flagging us down to create an inviting and relevant church that's an authentic expression of God's hope and love to this generation and our corner of the world. In fact, one community alone in the southwestern metro is forecasted to grow by over 20,000 households in the next 10 years. If there was ever a more whitened field ready for harvest, I've never heard of it.

It reminds me of what John 9:4 says, We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 

What's your God assigned task to carry out? Are you doing it with a sense of urgency and passion?

Facebook at Last

I've finally done it! After much delay I have set myself up on Facebook. I have to admit I procrastinated for some time not being able to bare the thought of maintaining yet another thing. However, I'm excited about Facebook's amazing networking potential. 

It's incredibly intuitive and efficient at connecting you with so many people who ordinarily would never cross your path. In this day and age you really can't afford to not be wired with a vehicle like this, especially if you're in business, ministry or even just keeping up with extended family. 

Now should I Twitter...? We'll, maybe.... but not tonight.

G'nite

Women's Conference Hosted by ALC

The past week has been packed with meetings and feverish preparation for a women's conference we'll be hosting tomorrow and Saturday. Even though it's a women's conference, thus I will not be attending, I'm super amped about what God is going to do during these meetings

My wife Sara and our long-time friend Margie McDaniel will be leading over 115 women into the presence of God during the next two days. The fact that so many women registered tells me they'll be bringing a hunger for God and an expectation he's going to move powerfully in their lives. No doubt their collective heart cry will bring an atmosphere of God's glory, transformation in their hearts and new beginnings to many lives.

I've been of so many people recently who have been identifying with an organic hunger for the things of God and are urgently desiring to get back to a pure, unencumbered and devoted walk with Him. I pray that will be the experience of everyone attending this conference!

Spiritual Hunger

It's end of day one of a 21 day fast for Authentic Life Church and I am hungry. Sara and I together are doing a Daniel fast which requires you to eat fruits, vegetables and juices. Let me tell you, they don't fill you up like carbs or proteins, but I'm sure they're much healthier.

Being physically hungry reminds me of the power of hunger in general. John Lake once said, Hunger is the greatest persuader I know of. It is a marvelous mover. Nations have learned that you can do most anything with a populace until they get hungry. But when they get hungry you watch out. There is a certain spirit of desperation that accompanies hunger.

The Romans over 2,000 years ago understood the power of hunger and built amphitheaters and coliseum like structures to hold gladiatorial combats, chariot races, navel battle re-enactments and numerous other forms of entertainment. Every far-flung city under Roman rule had some kind of venue for entertainment to satiate and pacify the masses.

In way, this strategy is still operating in our world today. We are bombarded with things that can satiate true spiritual hunger. These are things that give you the feeling of be full, but your not. You're actually spiritually starving and malnourished. They're like junk food that gives you the illusion of being full masking your bodies hunger for healthy, nutritional food.

Someone once said, anything that entertains your soul or stimulates your intellect, but does not impart the life of God is spiritual junk food. I wonder how many things in our lives could be categorized as such? Things that mask desire for God, neutralize our effectiveness for Him and ultimately limit our experience of His purpose and blessing.

Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

Tonight I've been thinking about the spiritual discipline of fasting. I have to admit my spirit was energized at the thought of what God can do when we give ourselves to this powerful vehicle of God. The late Bill Bright said he believes fasting as it relates to prayer is the "spiritual atomic bomb" that God has given us against the enemy. 

Old Testament (old school) fasting was about putting on solemnity and being sober, trying to convince God to move in the lives of His people. New Testament fasting is all about aligning our lives with what God already wants to do. What He's already committed to do through the redemptive work of Jesus.

In the past year I've made a concerted effort to revive and more consistently practice this discipline in my personal life and like nothing else, it produces results! It brings my life into a peaceful, patient place of faith and positions me to receive what God has already given. When I fast:

• I hear God's voice more clearly and precisely
• My life is re-calibrated to spiritual things vs. "soulish" things 
• I cultivate a strong desire and spiritual hunger for God and His Word
• The reality of God's call on my life is heightened 
• Hindrances, weights, old patterns of behavior are broken off 
• The fire of God is kindled within me 
• Physically I feel refreshed and strong 
• I experience greater spiritual and mental clarity 
• Revelation knowledge of God's Word flows easily

As our church embarks on 21 days of fasting and prayer I'm excited about the possibilities it brings. I believe many will experience personal breakthrough and I'm convinced it will build momentum in our church and position us for increase and promotion.

How To Create Goals

Really enjoyed sharing this weekend on the power of God inspired goals. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, Live purposefully and worthily and accurately.....making the very most of the time (buying up each opportunity) (AMP) 

Creating a list of prayer-inspired goals represents the ability to live in such a way. It's power to create our future in advance. In an increasingly busy and distracting world, they remind us what's important and focus our lives on God's plan.

Here are a few steps to establishing effective goals and objectives for your life:

1) Begin with prayer - praying is seeing

2) Create goal categories - relationships, finances, physical, etc.

3) Get Ideas from others - check out this link to be inspired http://www.tedstake.com/?p=8

4) Be Specific - attached a timeframe, dollar amount, detail

5) Write down your goals - Habakuk 2:2

6) Involve others - for experience sake and accountability

7) Think big - a goal should require faith, absolute dependence of God for its fulfillment

8) Celebrate your wins along the way - enjoy and leverage your wins to build greater momentum to achieve the next goal.