Reflections from Proverbs 4:20-23

How did you get here?

It is rare to find a case where items of extraordinary value or items that present an extraordinary threat of harm to others is left unsecured.

 

Security guards, security systems, reinforced walls…etc are strategically positioned and deployed to control access both in and out.  Anyone or anything that doesn’t have specific and vetted authority is not given access to the secured areas where those items are and even if they are given access, their every move is monitored in order to prevent theft, misuse and/or destruction.

Do you realize that you hold something of extraordinary value? Something that when handled appropriately will determine the success you have, your multi-generational impact, the quality of life that you will experience and will impact every relationship that you have?

This precious treasure is your HEART!

Your heart is the repository of your innermost treasure…your wisdom, your emotions, your passions, your appetites and it is also the divinely determined filter that information and experiences flow through in order govern the way you experience life as influenced by the choices you make under your heart’s influence.

 

Your heart impacts the depth of your perception, the degree of your participation and the development of your priorities.

So why don’t we take more responsibility for guarding our hearts like the precious treasure that it is?

We let negative thoughts linger…We entertain negative people…We cling to fear…We cling to doubt…We hold on to hurt…We allow an unforgiving spirit and vengeance to reside…We even allow feelings of unworthiness to dwell.

Instead of allowing what is true, edifying, hopeful and ultimately life giving to deeply penetrate our hearts we leave our hearts exposed and unguarded so that the enemy can steal, kill and destroy the seeds of wise and purpose-filled living and success before they even get a chance to take root.

I invite you to examine your heart.  Examine not only the choices that you have made but the underlying emotions or heart influences whose results are the choices that are limiting you from experiencing “the best of you”.  As you see “uninvited guests” in your heart, feel free to have a “Deborah Cox moment” and ask, “How did you get here?”  Well if you are honest…They got in because you had a breach, didn’t arm the system or left an entry point open or exposed.

I encourage you today to arm your systems and guard your hearts because your heart determines the course of your life.

 

Ask God to help you to bring your system up to date, to help you to evict any “uninvited guests” and to remedy any breaches.  Your heart is too valuable to give everyone and everything open and easy access.

Is your heart safe?

Proverbs 4:20-23 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Be Blessed,

Soul of a Man (ZBJ)

Beware of the Dog!!!

It was one of those archetypal spring mornings. The sky was clear and powdery blue. The birds were performing their customary Spring Morning Concert and God turned the Sun on “pre-heat”, to begin to heat up the Earth. Life was good. What a great start to a blessing filled day. I went through my usual routine and then headed out to work.

As I began my drive to work, I lowered the windows to let in the fresh air. Traffic was light so I was able to observe my surroundings a little more than usual. Suddenly I began to hear what sounded like a huge dog belting out in a very deep, consistent and constant barking. It was the kind of barking that seemed to convey, that whoever came near him, would be in for the fight of his/her lives. It was a “Cujoesque” bark. It was almost hellish in its sound and intensity.

As I got closer, my curiosity grew because I wanted to see what this dog, that was making such a fuss, looked like. From a distance I was finally able to see the canine and it was HUGE. He stood at the top of a hill on “his lawn”. His apparent rage was triggered, by a man who had come to a complete halt on the walkway that ran in front of the dog’s unfenced yard. I saw the man’s fear as he looked up at the dog as it seemingly taunted him and dared him to come closer. The dog circled, jumped and kicked in anticipation of a face off. As a result, the man “backtracked” in an effort to avoid the perceived threat. As I got closer and drove pass to dog, I was able to see something that the man could not see from where he was standing. This vicious dog was securely chained to a large tree in the yard and while it appeared that he was free to attack at will, he was bound by a thick steel chain.

As we journey along the “walkways” of life, we will face many intimidating circumstances, people and schemes of the enemy. We may even have goals and dreams that are intimidating. We must always remember that God has promised to provide and to protect those who are walking in His will. When speaking of those with the heart of God, Psalms 41:2 says, ”The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies.”

From a human perspective, many times what initially appears to be a “dangerous” “out of control” challenge in our lives is just opportunity for God to demonstrate His Sovereignty. It does however take faith and the audacity to take God at His Word. God has all power, all wisdom and His will is just and is fulfilled through Love.

We must walk in faith in order to see the enemy for who the enemy ultimately is….a defeated foe. We must walk in confidence past those who stand between us and our dreams and God’s plans for us. We must be aware of the “dangers” around us but not allow those challenges to “turn us around” and return to the “safe comfortable and familiar places” where we came from.

Too many people run at the first sign of danger or challenge and revert to what is comfortable. GROWTH NEVER OCCURS IN THE COMFORT ZONE!!! When I think over my life, the times I grew were times when I had to exercise my faith and trust God’s Sovereignty over my life and my circumstances. In my comfort zone, I’m comfortable and my tendency is to rely on myself. Life was never meant to be lived in a permanent comfort zone. We must face our “Big Barking Dogs”, and walk just long enough and allow God to elevate us enough so that we can see that the “Big Dog” that we feared is being restrained by the Power of the Most High.

Don’t allow your fears, your circumstances or your challenges to turn you around on the “walkway of life” on which God has placed you. Ask God to open your eyes and to give you His perspective so that you can see that the enemy can not harm you because God is your ultimate protector and He is the author and sustainer of your life.

Don’t Turn Back!!! Keep Walking!!!

Be Blessed,

B

The Backroads

My commute to work is generally uneventful. Most of my commute takes me through several “backroads” that span across a wooded park area. I’ve memorized the hills and mastered the curves like the back of my hand and I often pretend as if was “Speed Racer” as I dash through the “natural” track that is produced by the ascents, descents and twists of the landscape the roads rest upon. The backroads are all one lane in either direction. Rarely does anyone pass another commuter on the road because there really aren’t many safe areas to pass, so the car that is in front of you when you enter the “backroads” is generally the same car the is in front of you when you exit the “backroads”.

On this particular day, I entered “the track” behind a late model Black S Class Mercedes. As we trekked though the rollercoaster-like trail, I began to mentally prepare for my day. I rehearsed the tasks, meetings and projects of the day in my mind. I also traveled though my mental archives, to make sure that I had all of the essentials that I needed to survive the day…my wallet, my lunch, my portfolio, my IPOD etc. I visualized myself completing my tasks and I imagined myself dashing back home in the opposite direction on these same “back roads” at the end of the day. My mind was racing faster then I was able to drive.

About 15 minutes passed and as I approached the traffic circle at the end of the “back-roads”, I looked ahead of me in disbelief. “WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED!?!?” No longer was the Black Benz in front of me. There was now a Ford Escort immediately in front of me and the Range Rover was directly in front of the Escort. There were now two vehicles between me and the Benz and I had no idea where they came from. I was so caught-up in thinking about other “things” that I totally missed the fact that two vehicles somehow made their way between me and the car that was entered my journey with. I was driving in a state of unawareness.

Proverbs 4:23-27 (MSG) says, “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

If we are not focused on what is ahead, on our purpose, on God’s plans for our lives and specifically on following the lead of God, we may look up one day or open our eyes from “sleeping at the wheel” and find out that we have allowed other things to come between us and God, between us and our spouses, between us and our ministries, between us and our personal relationships, between us and our ability to love and ultimately between our lives as they currently exist and the state that God desires for them to exist.

As you travel on the “backroads” of your life, take a look at who is in front of you. Is it the “vehicle” that you started with, or have you allowed yourself to become sidetracked and have you let so many “distractions” come between you and the “lead car” that you can no longer even see the “Benz” that you were once tailgating.

We must guard our hearts and focus straight ahead and not allow “evil” to have a foothold in our lives. For where your heart is, your mind and body will eventually follow. GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS!!!!

On the “road of life” God encourages us to “tailgate” as He leads us. Follow Him as closely as possible and make NO ALLOWANCES for distractions along the way.

If you can’t see the “Benz” from your current position because you have “let too many other drivers get over”, it is time to put the pedal to the metal, cut them off and retake your proper position. God has not left you. He is waiting for you to take your proper position (right behind Him).

Who are you following along the “backroads” of your life…The Benz or The Escort???

Be Blessed,

B

Time to do the Dishes

We all love to sit down and enjoy a delicious meal. There is something special about partaking in a meal that not only taste exceptional, but that was prepared in a spirit of Love by someone who we know loves us. The food seems to come to life and is filling to not only our bodies, but it has the ability to touch our hearts, minds and souls. As we finish off our plates and the meal comes to a close we usually have two thoughts:

“NOW THAT was some GOOD FOOD!!!!” OR

“Are there anymore left for SECONDS?”

After one of those meals, unless I’m really focused on demonstrating Love, I don’t beeline straight to the kitchen and begin to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen area with the same vigor in which I devoured the meal. While I’m thankful for the meal…Washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen are not tasks that I typically enjoy.

Over the years, I have found that two things have made cleaning the kitchen more enjoyable. One, when I reflect on the blessings that God has allowed in my life to even position me to purchase, prepare and partake in a meal in my own home, with family and friends, my perspective changes. In addition, I have found that when I share the cleaning tasks with another person, the two of us can work through the tasks and we can enjoy each other’s company, while we “serve the household” together.

This past week our study explored the idea of Serving Together. The keys to successfully Serving Together are:

· Being Available (ready and willing to step up to the task)

· Working as a Team (Maximize our strengths and make allowances for our weaknesses) Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone, because then you will get more enjoyment out of what you earn. ¹⁰If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.

· Being Humble (seeing, placing and meeting the needs of others before your own and being someone else’s “BIGGEST FAN”) Hebrews 10:24: We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things.

· Performing all tasks with the same level of dedication (both the tasks that “get the glory” and the “behinds the scenes” tasks are of equal importance, so do both with equal diligence)

Vince Lombardi said, “Build for your team a feeling of oneness, of dependence on one another and of strength to be derived by unity.”

We are “good” alone, but we can only be “GREAT” together. We are not served because we are Great…We serve because of our greatness. One of the main obstacles to service is pride. We think “too much” of ourselves so we begin to put certain “acts of service” beneath us. We pick and choose who is “worthy” of our service and what tasks are “worth” our precious time. God has equipped us with all that we need at this moment to serve immediately with others in some capacity. Take yourself off the pedestal, lace up your boots, clear your calendar, put on your work gloves and make yourself available to serve.

There is no greater joy than the joy that springs from experiences centered on helping others. This is because joy is a byproduct of Love. If you Love you will serve others. If you choose not to serve, and you build your world around “you”, your life will be filled with emptiness, loneliness and a lack of joy.

The world needs each and every one of us to make a difference, in our own way. We can only make a lasting difference when we choose to put “self” on the “bench” and to put “service” in the game. When we serve together and begin to trust and depend on one another the power of our united Love can spark an unstoppable Movement of Love. We were not designed to work this life alone. We were made to “Serve Together”.

SO…Now that dinner is over…how about you dry the dishes after I wash them? :-)

Be Blessed,

B

Growing in Tolerance

We have all seen people that fall apart over any and everything. Sometimes you just want to give them a little shake and whisper two words of wisdom to them… “GROW UP!!!!”. It can be said that immature people have very little tolerance.

The culture that we live in preaches tolerance but most people can’t “tolerate” to a large extent. Tolerance is defined as a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own. Tolerance is also defined as the act or capacity of enduring; or endurance. We are “expected” to tolerate people with differing views, different ways of doing things, different looks etc, but there is a strong and many times overt tone that resonates within the walls of our culture that is evidenced by the “world revolves around me”, “I got to have it my way when I want it” and “if you can’t do it for me right now, then I’ll find somebody who can” syndromes. We want to be tolerated but we don’t want to endure.

We give up on spouses, children, family members, friends, jobs, vehicles, homes and sad to say God when conflict, confrontation or challenging circumstances arise. Many times the reason that we give up is due to a lack of a willingness to grow. Growing is one of the most rewarding yet one of the most difficult aspects of life, but growing is tied directly to Love.

At our last small group session concerning 40 days of Community, we delved into the topic of Growing Together. In order to Grow Together we must have endurance or patience. Show me a person who is wise and I can assure you that person is a person who knows the value of patience. Think about some of the many “impatient” things that you have said and done in your life. I’m sure that the result of those actions and words were not indicative of “LOVE”. “Rushing” is the Miracle Grow that accelerates the growth of the flower called “Regret”.

Slow down because Love is Patient.

Love is also Truthful. Trust is the basis of Truth. Love opens the door to the innermost workings of our hearts and minds and exposes them to the ones that we love. If you are not willing to be transparent, you are not willing to love or to be loved. When we are transparent, truthful and totally accessible, we foster an environment of trust. It is only in an environment of Trust and Truthfulness that we can effectively begin to Speak the Truth in Love. When a person knows you (your faults and your successes) then they, through your openness, can accept your truthfulness about them because they know that your motives come from a place of Love.

Speaking the Truth in Love is not easy, but if we love each other then we must be willing to come face to face with the very conflict that will usher us into a deeper level of intimacy in our relationships. In order to speak the Truth in Love, we must:

· Check our Motives (We tend to criticize in others what we hate about ourselves. Our motive must be to help not to hurt) Matthew 7:3-5 (NLT) says, “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye^[a] when you have a log in your own? ⁴ How can you think of saying to your friend,^[b] ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

· Plan your presentation (when to speak, what to say, how to say it)

· Pray (for wisdom, for grace, for courage and for your hearts to be prepared and softened)

· Say it tactfully, lovingly and gently (Proverbs 16:21, “Wise hearts are known for understanding what is right. Pleasant words make people want to learn more.”)

Love requires that we forgive. Forgiving involves no longer looking at the person who “wronged” you through human eyes. It involves humbling yourself, viewing them and the situation through the filter of grace and surrendering your need to avenge yourself. It is giving up your right to “recount” all the wrongs that someone has done because true love keeps no record of wrong. Love is true tolerance.

We are all imperfect people and we bring our imperfections into every relationship that we take part in, but Love makes allowances for our faults and says that I’m willing to accept you, open my life up to you and allow you to grow because I want to grow along with you. God uses the people and the circumstances of life to shape you, but you must make a commitment to grow and to tolerate the uncomfortable and uncertain state of being that accompanies moving from one stage to grow into another.

Are you willing to endure for Love? Can you “tolerate” others long enough to allow Love to grow in you and in them? Are you ready to speak the truth and to hear the truth in Love?

It’s time to “GROW UP” together.

Be Blessed,

B

Fallin' in Love

The hit song “Fallin” by Alicia Keys begins:

I keep on fallin in love with you
Sometimes I love ya
Sometimes you make me blue
Sometimes I feel good
At times I feel used
Loving you darling
Makes me so confused

I keep on fallin in and out of love with you
I never loved someone way that I loved you

This song details the rollercoaster ride and the uncertain feelings that accompany a person’s journey of “fallin’ in love”. This song is one of many that touch on the process or idea of “fallin in love” and most of us have at one time or another felt the turmoil, confusion and uncertainty of what we describe as “fallin in love”.

Have you ever stopped and thought about the actual meaning of the words “Fallin in Love”? I don’t know about you, but I have never experienced an earthly “fall” that made me a stronger person. When you fall (physically, emotionally, spiritually or mentally), IT HURTS and is almost always a NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE. Falling is accompanied by fear and a sense of being alone because there is no one there to catch you or prevent you from falling. “FALLING” IS A LONELY PLACE.

Love is something that is uplifting and that instills a sense of stability and unity. When we love one another, we don’t “fall” for one another or because of one another we in fact open the door and set in motion the process of belonging to one another.

We explored the notion of “Belonging Together” this week in our small study group. We continued to talk about how “Love Looks” in the Family of God. Simply stated:

· Love always protects. Covering each other in prayer and providing an environment that is safe and where confidentiality dwells. Love and gossip can never occupy the same place. Proverbs 11:13 “A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.”

· Love always trusts. When we love, we believe in and for each other. We make ourselves vulnerable toward others and we intercede on their behalf. We stand “at the altar” in faith for them.

· Love always hopes. We view others with a joyful expectation. We celebrate their achievements as if they were our own. We eradicate the thought of HATE and jealousy when we see others get blessed. We should be inspired and energized when we see God working in others, knowing that the same God loves and will work through us as well. Are you a “fan club” for other people or are your loudest cheers for yourself?

· Love always perseveres. Through thick and thin, when the dust settles, when the chips are down…Are you still around? Proverbs 18:24 “There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.”

Love is based on commitment. “Fallin in love” is based on feelings and feelings always fail you. As members of the Family or God, we belong and depend on each other and because we belong to each other, we must commit to loving one another; however our love can not be confined within the four walls of the building in which we meet to worship, the house in which we live, the circle of “the lovely” that we surround ourselves with. Real love compels us. It should not be restrained or confined to our “brothers and sisters” in our “Godly Family”. God intended for His love to penetrate our very beings and radiate from us to light the world. This can only be accomplished when we realize that we are connected and that we “Belong Together”.

Is your love based on feelings? Are you ready to make a commitment to love instead of just “fallin in love? If what you call “love” doesn’t protect, trust, hope or preserve, then stop “fallin” and begin to “rise up” in love.

Be Blessed,

B

Regret

Regret can motivate you to never miss another golden opportunity or it can paralyze you so that you are no longer willing to take a chance because you can’t “get over” the opportunity that you missed in the past. We have all been there. Regret is a powerful force, but there is something that is far superior than regret. This force has the power to bring regret to its knees. Simply stated…it is the powerful force known as PREPARATION!!!

Some opportunities are missed due to the fact that we aren’t willing to step out, but I believe most opportunities that are missed are missed because we aren’t prepared.

Preparation is the prelude to success.

As we continued our small group study this week, we dug deeper into the topic of Love and Community by introducing the idea of “Reaching Out Together”. We are constantly faced with opportunities to be loving and kind. Both (Love and Kindness) are actions and can only be seen by others through our deeds. Maturity as it relates to Love is also measured by how much we are focused on the wellbeing, growth and needs of others. “Baby Love” or immature “love” is inwardly focused and severs the true bond of community that is meant to be shared by people who care and desire to be kind to one another.

In order for us to be effective in delivering the gift of Love and to take advantage of opportunities to Love we must be prepared. We must:

· Recognize the needs of the members of our communities

· Take inventory to see what God has provided to us to assist us in meeting the needs of others

· Get Organized (so that we can effectively and efficiently serve)

· Measure the need (break down the need into “workable” parts)

· Prepare our hearts. II Corinthians 9:11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.

· Be Available. James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

God specializes in taking little and turning it into much, but in order for God to multiply our efforts, our resources, our talents etc, we must WILLINGLY give what we have back to HIM. God can make miracles happen through those with a willing heart.

Our challenges (opportunities) are seemingly impossible to overcome/defeat… widespread homelessness, physical starvation, emotional distress, broken families, lack of education, lack of opportunities etc. We may feel regret, from missed opportunities to serve others in the past or regret and pain from a past experience when someone didn’t reach out to us when we were in need; however, let’s not let regret hold us back from love. Once we give what we have back to God, in the face of trying to overcome the “impossible”, we can rest assure that once the dust settles and the battle is won, we will be able to rejoice at the fact that God took our “little” and shaped it into VICTORY!!! That is why is it important to know what you have in order to recognize the miracle it will take to make up the difference to overcome the “challenge” you face.

When you live a life bent toward genuine love for God and others, the only regret that you’ll have is that you didn’t have more time to love.

Why not begin to “Reach Out Together” Today? Don’t let yesterday’s regret, destroy today’s opportunities for a better tomorrow.

Be Blessed,

B

You can do it!!!

Fall is quickly approaching and Summer is quickly coming to an end. Soon Saturday morning’s air will be filled with the roar of leaf blowers and the gentle rustling of leaves being gathered and bag. No longer will the lawn mowers, trimmers and edgers dominate the lawn…nor will they be in the weapon of choice when it comes to the “Backyard Battle”. We will be faced with a lighter and more elusive foe…the falling leaf. With the coming of fall, kids begin to flow like rivers into the “ocean of knowledge” called school and the light traffic that we commuters experienced during the summer months is replaced with school busses and scores of “new commuters” (who I guess didn’t have to work during the summer).

As we prepare to say goodbye to Summer…we say hello to FOOTBALL…good old AMERICAN FOOTBALL!!!! Not to be confused with Soccer (or football as the rest of the world calls it). I love “our football” and I have had the pleasure of both playing it and coaching it (at the youth level). This past weekend, my age 7-9 team had their opener. Many of the kids are playing organized ball for the 1^st time, but after practicing together for 2 hours a night each weeknight in August and by scrimmaging on Saturdays, you could hardly tell who the “new guys” were. We were successful in our quest to achieve victory.

While there are literally about 100 lessons this experiences taught me, a couple of thoughts recur in my mind as I reflected on our victory.

1. We came prepared. We had walked though, jogged through and ran through our core plays 50-100 time each leading up to the actual game. Our players knew their assignments. They were comfortable in their positions and in the team as a whole. We even prepared for adjustments that we would make if the opponent had some “surprises” for us.
2. We didn’t give fear a chance to creep in. While we are generally out “sized” by our opponents, I did not allow my guys to even look at our opponent, because it really didn’t matter who we were up against. We knew our jobs and we knew that if we carried out our responsibilities, to the best of our abilities, that success was there for the taking.
3. We didn’t allow the opponent’s demeaning words diminish our confidence in our preparation or our ability. As we passed by our opponents in the weigh-in line, they criticized us. They called us small and said that there was no way that we would be able to stop them. Our players responded with a “victory chant”, used to encourage us and energize us.

In our life journeys, “the enemy” WILL ATTACK. The Enemy, through the forces of evil and darkness throughout this world has yet to forfeit, or show up late to a battle to try to take our victory. Notice I said take. Victory is something that you must surrender, as it is already yours. God has given you all that you need to be victorious. It is up to you to practice, prepare and to perform. Don’t allow your eyes to focus on your enemy, your problems or your circumstances, for the more you do, the more you will be afraid, overwhelmed and confused. When you are afraid, overwhelmed and confused, you tend to cultivate an environment that prevents faith from growing and from leading you to victory.

I John 4-5 (Message) says: “Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God”

Never allow what the world, the enemy, your family, your friends etc. diminish your confidence in what God has promised for your life. Self-Doubt has no permanent place in the life of a prepared people. When words of discouragement come your way, begin your “victory chant” by glorifying God through your situation. Magnify Him and your “opponents” prowess will be minimized.

• Prepare by planning for victory.
• Practice through allowing the character of God to take root in you through studying and applying His word.
• Perform to the best of HIS ability for it is the power of God that works through you to obtain/maintain your victory.

Always remember that by the strength of God through Christ, like Rob Schneider says, “YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!”

R U Ready for some FOOTBALL!!!

Be Blessed,

B

Input....Output

Truth be told…my wife is an excellent cook. She can whip up a meal in no time flat and that meal will have you wanting to lick the plate, the cooking utensils and the pots and pans she used to make the meal or the dessert. Me on the other hand, I can do a “lil somethin’ somethin’” in the kitchen too. I have noticed that on occasion when I try to duplicate a meal or a dish that she has made; it just doesn’t turn out the same. It turns out good and is edible, but it is just not quite as good as when she prepares it. We will use the exact same ingredients, but the final dish will not taste the same.

I began to think, “How can two people use the same ingredients and produce drastically different meals and why can some people “burn” (cook very well) and other people just burn?” :-) There is a system at work that we sometimes ignore. It is always at work, but we are not always sensitive to it. It is the system of “Input-Output”. We are all familiar with the sayings “You get out of it what you put into it…What you put in you’ll get out…You are what you eat…etc”. There is truth in those sayings. Simply stated, the way the system works is that raw data is introduced into the system (Input). The data is then processed and then data exits the system (Output). This is basically how computers work. Data enters in the computer processes the data and produces an output.

When it comes to the input/output system, the main difference between us and computers is that two people can input the same data and come up with different Outputs. We tend to “process” data based on our emotions, past experiences and an attempt to manage our expectations/futures. This is why two people can listen to the same conversation, the same instructions, the same teaching etc and come back totally different conclusions or points of action. Our minds, bodies, souls and spirits operate within this system, but with a twist…What comes out of us is usually a representation of what is already in us, and that output (action we take or words that we speak) was just brought to light, triggered and/or activated by an input.

In addition, like computers, our processors (our mind, bodies, souls and spirits) can be impacted by the input that enters the system. Just as a computer can be “infected” by a corrupt process or by “corrupt data”, we too can fall prey to “contaminated data” that enters into our systems.

Proverbs 4:23-27 (Message Bible) reads:

Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

Luke 6:45 (Amplified Bible) reads:

The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.

What does your output look like? Is it positive or negative…good or evil…productive or destructive…Godly or Worldly…loving or hateful. Our output is tied to our input and the quality of our “processors”, so if you don’t like your output, examine your inputs (the outside influences that you are exposed to…the people your are around…the shows your watch…the music you listen to) or make some modifications to your “processor” (renew your mind, your heart and your spirit daily). “Good” inputs will do you no good if you can’t receive them and produce “good” output, because your “processor” is corrupt.

I challenge you today to “upgrade” your “PC” and watch what you put into it so that what you produce will be pleasing to and bring glory to your “Ultimate Programmer”.

Be Blessed,
B

Step Up!!!

Two of the features in my home that added to its aesthetic appeal are found in the master bedroom. They are the lofty cathedral ceilings and its sunken floor. These features make the room’s experience stand out as your eyes are drawn up. Conversely the sunken floor gives the room a sense of warmth and depth.

While these are exquisite features, about a month after we moved in, we were faced with a “challenge”. We wanted to add a ceiling fan to the bedroom, but because the ceiling was so high, the ladder that we possessed would not allow me to elevate high enough to install the fan (but believe me, I tried and I tried to use the ladder that I already had as most men would have done, before finally admitting that I needed to buy another ladder or borrow one from someone who had one that was tall enough). Fortunately a friend of mine, who lived right around the corner (Terrance who worked for Tyco as an installer/repair technician), had a ladder that I could use. This allowed me to “dodge the bullet” of having to buy a ladder. Thank God for Terrance!!!

Fast forward, about 5 ½ years later, to last week…I arrived home to here a loud high pitched beeping sound. It was the sound of the low battery warning coming from one of our smoke detectors. I dashed up the stairs to track down the sound. Low and behold, it was coming from the smoke detector that was located just shy of the apex of the cathedral ceiling in my master bedroom. “Oh Boy!!!” I thought to myself. How am I going to take care of this one? (Terrance now lives about 45mins to an hour away and I don’t think that even his ladder was tall enough to allow me to reach the smoke detector).

As I discussed the matter with my wife she said, “Baby are you sure that you can’t reach that smoke detector using our ladder?” I emphatically said, “NO!” I quickly reminded her of my failed attempt to install the ceiling fan using my ladder, but she was not convinced. She said, “Are you sure you can’t reach it?” I’ve heard that tone before…it was that “I need to see it to believe it tone.” I said, “Evidently you are acting as if you are from Missouri (the “show me state”), so let me get the ladder and just show you.”

I retrieved the ladder from the garage and set it up under the smoke detector and began to climb it. Chanda assisted by securing the ladder as I climbed to the second to last step from the top of the ladder. This is where I usually stopped climbing that particular ladder. To my surprise, I could almost reach the smoke detector. I looked down at the ladder and warning label said that I could safely climb to the next step, which allowed me to reach and to change the battery with ease.

Chanda gave me that “I told you so look”, which I deserved, but what she said to me was so profound. In summary, she told me that I was probably afraid to take that next step when I was by myself and chalked it up as being out of reach and impossible, but since she was there with me helping me, I had the support and encouragement that I needed to take the next step and to do what I didn’t think I could do while I was alone. The concept was so simple yet so true. Alone, I had accepted a limitation that really didn’t exist. I had all I needed to solve the problem. All I needed was the encouragement of someone else and for someone else to see me “operate under” and “demonstrate” this limitation that I had formulated in my mind. My “limitation” in her eyes didn’t exist. I was fully capable.

This experience led me to think about how I have placed “limitations” on myself in other areas of my life. I have at times been my worst critic, heaviest anchor, largest stumbling block and “loudest” heckler. I have been the victim of “self sabotage”. I am however so thankful for my wife and for other people that God has placed in my life that serve as an encouragement to me. They push me and they see my potential and have the ability to “disqualify” the limits that I have conjured up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (Amplified Bible ) says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

Do you have spiritual “partners” that encourage you to go beyond your limits and your comfort level in your walk with the Lord? Who do you need to reach out to and encourage today? What limits have you placed on yourself and on God’s ability to work through you?

It’s time to take that “next step up” on the ladder of your life. God and your true friends will be there to support you and they will not let you fall and if you do, they will surely be there to break the fall and to help you get back on your feet.

Just take the step!!!

Be Blessed,

B

Are you covered???

As a kid when I was afraid of something at bedtime (a monster, a thunderstorm etc), I would sleep under the covers on my bed. I had a couple of techniques that I used. Sometimes, I would “mummify” myself in my sheets so that no part of my body was exposed to “whatever was out there”. Other times I would cover my entire body and place my head under my pillow. My favorite technique, however, was what I like to call the “impenetrable dome” system. This was accomplished by spreading and then throwing my sheet or blanket into the air, making a parachute of sort, and quickly pulling the sides down to make a dome. I would then hide myself under the dome and be fully covered and protected for the night.

As a kid you may have had your favorite blanket or sheet that served as a “comforter” and “protector”, but for me it didn’t matter. I used whatever was available to cover myself. I fully believed that nothing could “get me” as long as I was covered. My covers were invincible. No monster could rip through them, no robber could break in and harm me (or see me for that matter) and no lightening could break through my protective barrier. I was covered, so that means that I was “hands off” to anything that “meant me harm”.

As an adult, I don’t sleep “under the covers”, but I am still faced with the “monsters” of life which include the monsters of doubt, of worry, of lack, of not achieving success, of hurting my loved ones, of peer pressure, of not being the follower of Christ I should be, of not being the man, husband or father I should be, etc. These “monsters” are much more powerful than the ‘monsters” that I faced as a child, because these “monsters” can come out in the day as well as in the night.

I have found that I still need covers, but I have exchanged my physical covers for spiritual “covers” (or a shield). Psalms 5:12 says

For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love. (New Living Translation)

For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor). (Amplified Bible)

In the face of my “monsters” I can hide under the “covers” of God’s Favor (Grace) and His Love. His favor is an impenetrable force in my life. It protects me not only from the attacks of the evil one, but it protects me from my “self destructive” tendencies. When I recognize that God has favor toward me, that He is “covering” me and protecting me, I can “boldly go where no man has gone before”. What once appeared as a “Leap of Faith” begins to look like a baby step as I look at my destiny through the eyes of the Most High.

I thank God for being full of Grace (unmerited favor) and with Love (unconditional acceptance and sacrifice). There isn’t a “monster” that is strong enough to “get me” when I’m hiding under my “covers”.

As you face your “monsters”, what are you hiding under? Are you relying on your own might, your own wit and your “connections”? I guarantee you that outside of the Grace of God as your cover, your enemies will find a weakness in your defenses and you will fall. When God calls you to do whatever He wants to accomplish through you, He will cover you with the favor needed to get the job done. He will open doors that you didn’t even know were there (forget about the ones that you thought were closed), He will guide you to the right connections (by ordering your steps) and He will make your enemies your footstool. When you hide under the “covers” of God, there is no need to fear for He will protect you.

What “covers” are you hiding under?

Be Blessed,

B

Seed…Time…Harvest....It's Spring Again!!!

It’s Spring Again…Everybody knows…It’s Spring Again.

Early Spring and Early Fall are my favorite times of the year, especially when it comes to weather. These are times, where the Beauty and Splendor of Creation are undoubtedly evident in Nature. In the Spring, you can see the grass, the flowers and the trees bring forth life and grow at a subtle but rapid pace. Many people plant seeds in hopes to fill their gardens and their flower patches with dazzling arrays of colors. While others, who “winterized and aerated” at the close of previous growing season, sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor as their lavish lawns become the envy of their neighbors.

Almost everyone has at one time or another planted a seed and went through the process of nurturing that seed until a mature plant was able to spring forth. Whether or not we planted our seed in a dirt filled Styrofoam cup, a jar or in a yard, the principles of Seed… Time…and Harvest were at work and could not be ignored. We had to plant the Seed. We had to care for the seedling over Time and then at the appropriate time we could enjoy the satisfaction of the Harvest.

I was recently talking to my Mother, and I sensed that she was a bit down. After talking to her for a bit, she said that she felt as if she was not “harvesting” as much as she wanted to. She was living off of her reserves and not adding to them. I had to quickly stop her and tell her that she was in the “Seed” phase in life.

Before my Dad passed last year, he was able to make sure that my mother was provided for so that if she wanted to pursue some of her dreams, she was afforded the luxury to do so. My mother has taken advantage of Dad’s planning in several ways. She began to take college level business courses, birthed a foundation, laid the ground work for her own insurance and financial services venture, sold a house, renovated two homes…just to name a few things, but still she was a little discouraged because she wasn’t bringing in the money that she wanted to at this point in time.

I shared with her that this is her Seed time. Seeds are like dreams. God gives us dreams and desires for a “better” life. A “better” Life that is connected to the fulfillment of our purpose on this Earth and with it a burning desire within us to “complete the mission”.

Dreams are a blessing and can be a “curse”. A Dream inspires and gives you hope. During the “Seed” time you can envision the “Harvest”. You can see, smell and taste it. Dreams can provide fuel for your soul, but a Dream can also be a “curse” because if you don’t act on your dreams and “plant your seeds” they will rot and you will be “plagued” by the “heaviness of heart, soul and mind” that accompanies deferring, delaying and denying your dreams.

I explained to my Mom that she should not be discouraged by her lack of “harvest”, because she just planted her seeds. She must now cultivate them, care for them and keep watch over them, so that the “weeds” of competing priorities, naysayers and discouragement won’t have the opportunity to “choke the life” out of her Dreams. She must allow some time before the Harvest, but she must always keep in mind that the Harvest is on its way and it will exceed her wildest dreams.

Psalms 27:14 (Amplified Bible) “Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord. “

Isaiah 40:31 (Amplified Bible) 31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

Whether you are in the Seedtime (having your Dream and beginning to position yourself to make it happen), the Time (protecting and nourishing your Dream) or the Harvest (fulfilling your Dream and reaping the rewards) phase of life, learn to appreciate and to identify where you are. Don’t allow the reality of where you are prevent you from becoming what you need to be.

Timing is everything, so make sure you are listening to the True Gardener, who knows what to plant, when to plant it and when to harvest it.

Aren’t you glad that it’s SPRING AGAIN!!!!

Be Blessed,

B