Crushed Expectations

 

How do you handle it when your expectations are crushed?

 

For four months, I’ve been commuting from our home in Yakima to the church I pastor (Moscow CLC) in Idaho.  Financially, we cannot afford to move the family until our house sells…. so I drive...a…lot.

 

Two weeks ago, our house appeared sold!  However, two days before closing…the deal fell through. We were crushed.  

That night, I chose to trust in God’s intentions.  I posted on Facebook:  ”In the midst of a very, very trying day, I can still say that God is awesome and He is with us. Amazed by His grace…”

 

A friend reminded me of Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, 
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, 
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,  yet I will rejoice in the LORD, 
I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

 

I thought about when Abraham (Genesis 22) was asked to sacrifice Isaac, God was asking him to sacrifice his expectation about how God was going to fulfill His promise.

I considered Moses and his frustration of being unable to march directly from Egypt to the Promised land as he had expected.  

 

I read how the Disciples didn’t get it (Luke 18:31-34).  So focused on the way they expected things to work out, the expectations hid their understanding of God’s plan.  Knowing Jesus’ power was unlimited, they expected Jesus to establish a temporary kingdom.   Later, walking along a road, they were so crushed, they failed to recognize Jesus walking WITH them! Their expectations were far from His intention.

 

Jesus is walking with YOU.  How often do your expectations completely hide His hand?

In the Bible, every time people were frustrated with un-met expectations it was because they didn’t understand God’s intentions.

I am so glad HIS INTENTIONS are never as lame as OUR EXPECTATIONS.

Isaiah 55:8 says:  “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine”  (NLT)

1. Your preference doesn’t match his plan
2. Your want doesn’t match His will
3. Your expectation doesn’t match His intention
4. When it seems to fall apart….it’s actually falling into place
5. Things rarely work out the way you think they should.
6. Don’t let your expectation hide His hand
7. God’s intention is never as lame as your expectation.

 

Trust Him

 

 

Why Proven Strategies are Obsolete

Luke chapter 5 is blowing my mind.  Let me explain:  Verse 16  says ”Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”  We know that He only did what the father showed Him to do.  Jesus withdrew in order to hear what the father wanted done. that was His entire strategy….

 

Later, in verses 37  & 38.  Jesus warned not to put new wine into old wineskins… Why?  New wine expands and stretches it’s container rendering it un-re-use-able.  Did you see that?  Although it proved successful, it shouldn’t be relied upon again.  We do that often don’t we?  We pray and receive direction from God once and find success… then we mindlessly re-use the strategy.  Or worse, we copy a someone else’s successful strategy…

 

We see in Isaiah 43:19 that God always intends to do a “new thing.”  Jesus’ example:  Withdraw often.  Discover the next “container.”  Ever wonder why proven methods don’t work for you?  He’s doing a new thing.  Figure out what He want’s done & get a new container ready.

 

Do you have a proven strategy?   It just became obsolete!

 

Jesus may not be the reason for the season

This morning I was challenged to re-think Christmas.

 

Last night, I challenged the people to turn the focus from “What Christmas means to me” to “What Christmas means to God.”

 

Early this morning I realized God’s perspective was and is very different than mine.  I dont think He would say that Jesus is the reason for the season.  I think He would say that we are the reason for the season.  He came to rescue us. 

 

Since the fall of Adam and Eve…All of heaven anticipated the defining moment when God would become human.  His mission: to rescue us and set us free. All of heaven exploded in praise when in Bethlehem, the plan was set in motion.

 

Yes, He came to rescue all of mankind, but take a moment to make Christmas personal. He came to redeem you.  You are the reason for the season. Say it out-loud: “I am the reason for the season.”

 

Today is Christmas day…God is not thinking about shepherds, wisemen or little baby in a manger.  He is thinking about you.  No matter what Christmas means to you… you mean everything to Him.  You are the reason for the season.  

 

It’s time to respond to Him.

 

 

note to self…

Gary,

Invest most of your time and energy on the things below…

+Follow Jesus

+Lead family

+Learn & grow

+Help others learn & grow

+Lead Moscow CLC

+Stay active, adventurous & healthy

 

Plan accordingly+Evaluate regularly+Stay on task

 

 

Love,

 

Gary

Setting Metabolisms In The Morning (My Theory)

Days work better for me when I set the three metabolisms in motion

during the first hour I am awake.  

 

Physical: A doughnut or pop-tart for breakfast causes me to crave sugar all day.  When I drink a full bottle of water and eat some oatmeal instead, I’ll make better food choices for the rest of the day.  If I do some sit ups or something in those early hours, my body seems to maintain the momentum. My physical metabolism is better prepared to remain active all day.

Spiritual:  If I put worship music in my ears, during that crucial first hour…I seem better “calibrated” with God’s heart for the remainder of the day.  When I put my face into His Word and prayerfully reflect on it’s application…  my spiritual metabolism is set.

Mental: I must take a few minutes to consider and deal with my “issues.” I need to make sure i am doing the right things for the right reasons at the right time for the  right reasons (my motivations need challenged often.)  It’s easier to re-adjust throughout the day if set my mental metabolism early by looking at my personal core values and maybe read something that remind me of my role on this planet…

When home:  I am trying to live out the following routine

1. Wake
2. Weigh myself
3. Headphones in
4. Coffee started
5. Drink a full bottle of water
6. Make lunches
7. Sit-up and core exercises
8. Coffee/Bible/Pray/Journal
9. Breakfast
10. Shower

A healthy rhythm of life requires more attention than what we do during our waking hours.  But I’m finding it vital to adjust my “settings” early each day.

 

What are you gifted to do?

Today at my church I taught on Spiritual Gifts found in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 & 1 Peter 4.  I then took about ten of the ministry gifts and tested to see if all of the gifts were represented in our little (for now) congregation.

I AM STOKED!  Every gift was very well represented.  Just like Paul told the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:7)….”You have all of the gifts that you need.”

We at Moscow CLC have all of the gifts that we need!  It’s Go Time!  Discover and  allow God to leverage your spiritual gifts to further His kingdom.

Below is a list of ten. What are you gifted to do?

The Gift of Serving is the ability to see jobs that need to be done and to do them.  When you see a need, do you help without being asked?  If this describes you, serving may be your gift.  Read this:  Ephesians 6:7

The Gift of Encouraging is the ability to support people with words of comfort and counsel that help to strengthen and give courage to others to need to do.  Read this:  Acts 11:22-23

The Gift of Giving is using your time and talents to give to others.  You don’t need a ton of money to have the gift of giving.  When you see a person that need something like food or clothes, you really want to do something to help them.  Read this:  Romans 12:8

The Gift of Teaching is the ability to understand and clearly explain God’s truths and to show people how to apply them to their lives.  Do you enjoy learning about God and then sharing what you learned with others?  Read this:   Romans 12:7

The Gift of Mercy is noticing when others are hurting and comforting them.  Read this:  James 3:17 

The Gift of Shepherding is the ability to guide and care for people in their walk with God.  Shepherds will sacrifice and give themselves to other people in such a way that they are built-up in their faith.  Read this:  1 Peter 5:2-4

The Gift of Hospitality is the natural ability to be friendly and generous to guests.  Those with this gift have an amazing awareness of visitors and have a desire to make all people feel welcome.  Those with this gift are a key to helping new people become a part of the group. Read this:  Hebrews 13:1-2 

The Gift of Leading is helping others to do what they need to do.  People with this gift are sometimes the only one to see what needs to be done. Do people naturally follow you?  You might have the gift of leading.  Read this:  Romans 12:8 

The Gift of Evangelism is a deep desire to help people accept Christ and ability to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ so that people receive Jesus as their savior.  Read this:  Acts 8:35 

The Gift of Faith  is the ability to have an extremely confident belief that God will always do what is very best.  A person with the gift of faith trusts God for everything.  Read this:  Hebrews 11:1 

What are you gifted to do?  If one or more of the above gifts applies to you, look up the recommended verses and read them in context (the entire group of surrounding verses.)

I highly recommend you read Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 & 1 Peter 4. as well.  It’s a fascinating study… there are far more than the ones listed here!

Please use the reply box below tell me how God has gifted you!

NOW DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

 

 

Parents: Are they disobeying?

More than we realize…HOW we instruct our children impacts their compliance. We usually set ourselves up for frustration without realizing it. Listen to and consider the words we use… They do….

“I think you should ____________.”

This is the way we usually instruct our kids. This it’s not command, its ONLY A SUGGESTION… yet, we’re frustrated when they don’t comply immediately. Their lack of compliance might actually be our fault. We’ve only told them what we think they should do. Are they disobeying when they don’t follow a suggestion?

“(insert name,) you need to _____________. Now!”

Call them by name, tell them what they need to do and give them a time frame to obey. I am finding that this gets a higher percentage of compliance and lowers household frustration (for parents and children).

I’ve been learning this the hard way. We should pay attention to the words we use.

Let me put it this way: Parent, you need to instruct better and clearer. Now!

My Pursuits

I view my life in the following categories. Everything i do should fit neatly into at least one. If it doesn’t fit…maybe I wont do it.

In preparation for 2012, I am setting multiple clear, measurable goals and “calendar-able” action plans for each. I will detail them out in future posts.

Following Jesus: Loving His Word, knowing Him more & doing things He did. Even greater. He says I can!

Growing: Challenging myself. Being a life long learner and improver. Every area of my life must grow.

Leading my family: My responsibility & love. My most important ministry is to Sheila, Caitlin, Brenna & Andrew.

Leading a church: I’ve been called by God to lead Christian Life Center to significantly impact the Palouse!

Coaching others: Facilitating life change & helping individual people step into their original design.

Staying active: Adventure is at the core of who I am. I must have regular goal oriented rigorous exercise.

“I will pursue God’s vision for me. That alone will change who I am. This pursuit is both a target and a catalyst.” -John Maxwell

I’ve got work to do… Gonna’ create a “Stop Doing List” too!

In pursuit…

What’s your Next Step?

We are in a series of messages at my church about next steps.  Everybody has a next step to take.  We connect with people far from God and bring them to full life in Christ.  At CLC, we must help people take their next steps… Below is my summary of the “Next Steps”…

First Step:  A Christ-follower must invest in you personally. (Christians must commit to reach.)  

Second Step:  Accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and open your life to the and presence of God. (worship)

Third Step: Become like Jesus & experience life change (grow)  Read your Bible every day. Get in a group, class or significant relationship that will force you to grow.

Fourth Step: Discover your gifts and use them.  Steward all your resources Biblically. (Serve & Steward)  …helping others take the step they need to take…

I firmly believe that every Christ-follower must worship, grow, serve, steward and reach.

Which of the above steps are you the weakest?

what's yours?

What next step do you need to take?

watery eyes

Wednesday was hard. With tears in my eyes i pulled out of my driveway headed to Moscow without my family. I left at the last possible moment to still make it to a prayer gathering at CLC.

My favorite humans share my last name and live in my house.  I love them and want to share every possible moment with them. Truth is, I am a better pastor when they are around. Maybe I’m a little co-dependent…or inter-dependent….either way, I want to share life WITH them.

It is so very good that Sheila, Caitlin, Brenna & Andrew all have great friendships and support from some amazing people in Yakima and a great continued relationship with Stone Church, yet are ready to be here in Moscow.  The people here continue to blow my mind!. Every prayer gathering at CLC has had a substantial time where people seriously prayed for each member of my family!

Caitlin in particular has articulated (very well) in her blog regarding her emotions about this “in-between time” and how she is ready to make this move and struggles with the changing of roles and relationships.

We made some aggressive moves that I’m sure will translate to the sale of the house and getting us all under the same roof again!

Can hardly wait to hug each of them on Sunday afternoon.