Criticism

I tend to take criticism hard. It is never easy to hear how unhappy you make people but criticism (from the right people) makes me take an honest evaluation of myself and that is never a bad thing. Here are ten things I have been thinking to myself this week after some healthy constructive criticism...

1. You will never make everyone happy so stop thinking    you can. 
2. Get people around you. You get more done that way and its more fun to work with a team.
3. Take the time to know what you should be doing and what you shouldn't 
4. It is better to do less well, then do a lot a little...Finish well
5. Be dripping with grace in every situation and always give people the benefit of the doubt 
6. End TXT messages with a smiley face so people don't read it the wrong way 
7. Some conversions are not for TXT messaging :) 
8. My family (kids and wife) comes before the church :) 
9. God builds the church and still uses me in spite of who I really am 
10. If I am not connected to the vine my spirit withers and my flesh gets out of control. 

Here are a couple quotes I borrowed form Mark Driscoll's Facebook page this week...

 "Don't let the voices of 100's who love you be erased by a singular voice of 1 who hates you today.Do the math.You are loved."

 "If you don't want to be criticized it's simple —don’t say anything, don't do anything, and don't have anything."

 "Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable." (Luke 6:22 MSG)

Doing stuff gets you better stuff

Something I have been noticing lately is that when we are involved and busy doing the right stuff opportunity seems to show herself all over the place. But when we are being lazy and just sitting around doing nothing, nothing ever seems to come. I am pretty sure it has to do with attitude. So whats your attitude like today?

Leadership

Everyone has a position or a platform of leadership. Maybe your a leader in your home or at work but the truth is you are a leader and have influence somewhere.I have met so many men and women who think that leadership is only for some chosen elite and that they are "not gifted in that area" I have also noticed that the best leaders are the ones who don't think they got what it takes, when really they have the hardest parts figured out already. For some reason leaders have been able to slip through the cracks  because of their skill and the important stuff gets sidelined and even overlooked. For instance as a musician/worship leader I would get asked to do a lot based on my skill as a guitar player and singer rather than the things that really mattered like compassion and character. There came a time in my life when I had to simply stop honing my skills and relearn having compassion for people and living with character. Walking down this road I have discovered there are two different kinds of leaders, dictators and servants. Lets get over ourselves and start washing some feet.

Take a creative break and watch this video

Zeal and Fervor

Romans 12:11 says "never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" I don't know about you but I could use a healthy does of both zeal and fervor, and oh yeah some help balancing the two. Tell me this how do you balance your intensity (zeal) with warmth and feeling (fervor)? I am working on balancing the two in all areas of my life. How about you? 

Don't Do It Alone

I was reading a verse I thought I was more familiar with and ran across something new.

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22 NIV)

I like to be reminded of these things but I was moved by the part that says "along with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart" my mind filed through all the men and women Katrina and I have around us. So thankful for all of the precious relationships and the intricate part each one plays in our lives. Life is hard but having people with pure hearts to run with lightens the load. Some loads are impossible to carry alone and without friends to help we can be crushed. My good friend Tom is getting married to my other good friend Nikki tomorrow. I can't help but wonder what the two of them will be capable of as they team up to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. Don't do it alone!

Daily Devotions by a dead guy

The devo I read today by Oswald Chambers.

INSTANTANEOUS AND INSISTENT SANCTIFICATION

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly." 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

When we pray to be sanctified, are we prepared to face the standard of these verses? We take the term sanctification much too lightly. Are we prepared for what sanctification will cost? It will cost an intense narrowing of all our interests on earth, and an immense broadening of all our interests in God. Sanctification means intense concentration on God's point of view. It means every power of body, soul and spirit chained and kept for God's purpose only. Are we prepared for God to do in us all that He separated us for? And then after His work is done in us, are we prepared to separate ourselves to God even as Jesus did? "For their sakes I sanctify Myself." The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized the meaning of sanctification from God's standpoint. Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the disposition that ruled Him will rule us. Are we prepared for what that will cost? It will cost everything that is not of God in us.

Are we prepared to be caught up into the swing of this prayer of the apostle Paul's? Are we prepared to say - "Lord, make me as holy as You can make a sinner saved by grace"? Jesus has prayed that we might be one with Him as He is one with the Father. The one and only characteristic of the Holy Ghost in a man is a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, and freedom from everything that is unlike Him. Are we prepared to set ourselves apart for the Holy Spirit's ministrations in us?