How To Pass On Potential (1)
Hey Friends,
Yesterday we started a thought thread on potential. For the rest of this week let’s look at some of the reasons why we pass on potential without ever realizing it. Let me give you some reasons given by John Maxwell:
1. The Choices We Make. When we are young we rarely think of the consequences of our choices, but they all have them – consequences, that is. Today you are a summation of your choices that brought you here. There is no way around it. You will be in the future where your choices take you.
Our decisions will ultimately define us and our destiny. That is why it is so important that we walk by faith. Decisions that are not made in faith will limit our future. You never know when the decision you face can be the door-opener. Years ago a pastor friend told me God was going to use me in great ways but that it would never happen to him. I can still remember the burden I had in my gut as he shared with me. I assured him that God had big plans for him and he would be used also. He told me he did not have the opportunities I had.
What he was saying was true that day. I had made some choices previously that opened up other choices for me that he did not have. If you go through door number one then you will be able to choose door A, B, or C. If you never walk through the first door the other opportunities will not present themselves.
What choices are facing you right now? We all face them daily. Some are small and some are huge. Have you walked through some doors by faith? Did you later have other opportunities? There is no telling what God has in store for you. Are you ready to make the right choice? I believe Christ is ready to lead you.
Please don’t restrict yourself by making poor decisions that will limit your future.
Just a thought.
Pastor
7 Comments
So I told you yesterday that I would think about those questions that you asked. The same questions came up from two other sources yesterday.
Here is where I got: (from Andy Stanley and a book called “Do Hard Things”)
Jesus helped the disciples realize their potential when he said,in Matthew 14:16-18 “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”…”We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.”Bring them here to me,” he said.
From this I learned 3 things:
1. God expects us to do hard and seemingly impossible things.
2. All that God asks is for us to bring Him what we have (our five loaves and fish…our degrees, money, experiences, gifts, and anything that make up who we think that we are)
3. We hand what we have to God…He blesses it…gives it back to us…and we feed 1000′s?
I thought what I had was only good enough for sustaining myself…but God says LEE, give them what I give to you…trust Me.
I say God…but its just a hand full…?
Lee that is what it is all about. Believing who God says you are because He made you and knows how to speak to you exactly the way you were made to hear Him. Through that intimacy He teaches us all things and shows us just how capable we are to truly love Him and man, even if we encounter obstacles and tend to shy away. You choose to believe His voice and annointing over your own no matter the circumstance or place we find ourselves in.
I always want to praise Him when He shows any of His children how much He loves and believes in us because of what He has done in our lives to walk in TRUTH. Mighty encouragement! And I thank Him for it.
I am truly inspired by Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. Essentially, if you wait on perfect conditions, you will never get anything accomplished. This blog entry made me think of that. Looking forward to the rest of this week’s entries …
Lee,
Sounds like a great book. It ties in with one of the topics I’m wrestling with and I’ve chatted with you about: what is a man’s gifting in church? That logic you outlined speaks powerfully to a man’s heart. Risk, commitment, faith, giving our all, and feeling a part of something where God uses his power to acheive the impossible (which gives purpose). I love the logic; I don’t know how to live the logic.
What I know so far… prayer, meditation, patience, persistance, and keeping it God-centered (not me-centered) is crucial. I don’t know much more than that yet. With God’s help, I’ll keep growing and learning about this. Thanks for sharing; it was good encouragement for me.
Andy Kercher.
Great blog and comments FP family. Great encouragement and insight.
Making choices means choosing a direction and GOING in that direction. ‘Feet to your faith’ as Pastor Chris likes to say.
The great commission: “GO and…”
We can’t be hermit Christians. God is a miracle worker and is masterful at picking up pieces. He knows you and I will stumble. Are you and I willing to “GO” and be used? Those are the kind of followers he’s looking for.
Working my way through Matthew right now…it always amazes me how quick the people were to just drop what they were doing and go with Jesus as He chose them to become his disciples. What faith!
Here’s a challenge for you and me this week: Pray for God to give you an opportunity to serve someone in need this week and when he quickens your spirit to do it, don’t hesitate, respond. Share what happened in your small group as a ‘Praise’ and challenge them to do the same.
When we hesitate, that shows God we’re hanging onto ourselves. We have to lose our lives to gain them. So powerful!
God bless you all!
Our Pastor is a catylist: one that promotes significant change I see the Lord say. He has submitted himself to the Lord and through him the Lord is providing a ground of which to put pieces together. It’s a puzzle or a tapestry depending on how much of an engineer or poet one possesses.
Lee was spurred to think on the things of God as how it pertains to his worth of ability to listen and do as God directs. And consequently was given and shared with us all mighty encouragement.
Josh was given the connection to potential and inspiration of the scriptures of Eccl.11:1-6. And the boldness to come forth on such a deep subject. Pastor he is shining his light into a dark world with the furvor of a child! God is good to His children.
When I went to my bible to see what Josh saw I found what God had given me, I don’t know when because I did not attach a date. I am one of those that writes in my bibles margin the things God shows me and the connections He puts forth when I seek answers from Him or just communion. What was written goes further back to Eccl.10:20 and says Mk. 4:22-For there is nothing hid which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad. And Mt. 10:26-28-Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered,that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that shall ye speak in the Light; and what you hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Back to Eccl. 11:1 Cast thy bread. I wrote PRAY. then…Upon thy waters thou shall find it after many days…with that was attached Mt.:6-34 vs.18 is the connection to SS 2:14 and 2 Thes.3:12 which says: Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” That bread is Jesus and Pastor, Lee, Josh and Andy (as a student) are calling others to learn to eat the bread of Life…Jesus. There are others out there who are doing the same they just haven’t spoken up yet, but in due time they will.
Then with Mt.6:19 I was compelled to write: If you look to man for glory then it will be stolen from your heart bringing dissappointment and bitterness.
Vs.20 of Mt. this was said: My treasure is my relationship with my Jesus; and I am his treasure.Prov 8:18. He is Honour, Durable Riches, and RIGHTEOUSNESS. What He gives me to do is blessed by Him not me or man that mindset is why I am His treasure.
Back to Eccl.11:2 I heard and wrote PRAY again with the connection of Amos chp.2. There is a mighty calling on His children to warn the multitudes and to point the way to salvation and cause them to turn from darkness and death to light and life and God is speaking to those that will seek, hear and do with what measures He enables us.
Let us step out in faith and support our Pastor in the vision God gave him for the church of Acts. Be bold to do as Lee was directed to give to God “but a handful” comprising what God has given us to feed the multitudes.
I didn’t want to write this posted comment but if I can plead with “clanging symbol” in such a public way (duly noted and humbly taken) to reach the potential he/she has that God has for them, then wouldn’t I be the hypocrite if I kept in the safety of darkness, which is a clever lie, and be persuaded to keep to myself what God has shone me.
Truly my heart’s cry is for us all to walk in Light…His Light and see His potential come to pass to save those who oppose themselves and are lost.
Well let me just say that making the decision to pay my tithe on time for the last 2 weeks has truly opened doors for me. I have secured 3 major business contracts in the last week and sales have already started picking up out of nowhere. Since taking over this Company 2 weeks ago, the Holy Spirit has enabled me to work in light speed and I am amazed at how much He has helped me put together in this business growth. It’s not always easy to put the tithe first, but this is one time, making the right decision and trusting Him for the rest has been visibly exciting to see His goodness! Thank you Pastor for your continued encouragement to put our tithe first!! Wahoo for God’s promises to provide!