Serving Strong

Got Courage?

"Where do you find the daily courage you need to do your job?"

This is asked by Todd Rhoades on his blog, Monday Morning Insight. Todd quotes Steve McCoy as Steve expresses his experience during a change in church direction that resulted in a mountain of work and stress in his life. He grew gun-shy of checking email or answering his cell phone. That was until he read Joshua 1.

Check out the site. Contribute your thoughts.

Receiving the kind of courage that comes from the true Source of courage is the only way to Serve Strong!

The Triangle Of Intimacy

The accompanying diagram illustrates a concept that impacts both the spiritual and marital dimensions of the people-helper. In order to understand the concept, let's look at the various parts of the diagram:

First, notice the 3 points: You, Your Spouse, and God. For the purpose of this illustration, these are the basic components of a Christian marriage.

Second, notice the line between You and God, as well as the line between Your Spouse and God. This signifies the journey You (and Your Spouse) travel as you get closer and closer in (or farther away from) intimacy with God.

Lastly, notice the two lines entitled "A" and "B". These represent the closeness between you and your spouse.

The concept is simple - Notice that line "B" is shorter than line "A". As You and Your Spouse grow in intimacy with God on a personal level, the distance between the two of you becomes smaller. In essence...

Growing intimacy with God promotes growing intimacy in your marriage.

We can allow the distractions of life to keep us from growing in God. But the effort we invest on our relationship with Him not only impacts us personally, but our marriage as well. What are you doing to invest in your relationship with God these days?

People-helpers who are married must make their marriage a priority in order to Serve Strong!

My Dog Is Helping Me Follow Christ

I was putting on my running shoes the other day to go out and work on the yard. There was Emma, my dog, at my feet. The look on her face was priceless. She was staring into my eyes. She was looking for any indication that I was putting on my shoes to go out and throw the frisbee with her.

Emma loves to play frisbee. She lives for it. It's her passion in life. I think it's the main thing she lives for, given the abundance of energy she devotes to getting out the door when she hears the word "FRISBEE".

So, there I am putting on my shoes. Emma is watching for something (anything) from me to indicate even the slightest sign it's "frisbee time."

My thoughts turned to my journey with God.

How much do I look expectantly into God's eyes, looking for any indication He can use me in his grand scheme to reach other people or to meet others' needs? What if I were as interested in doing His Will as Emma is to "frisbee time"? I want to be so closely connected to God that I am ready at a moment's notice to be used by Him. I want it to be what I live for. I want it to be my passion in life.

So thanks, Emma, for reminding me what passion is all about. And thanks, God, for helping me keep my priorities straight about what I'm passionate for.

Renew your passion for being all God wants you to be and you'll be Serving Strong!

Death By Message

According to the Non-Profit Times,

"The typical American is exposed to more than 1,000 messages each day. If the averages person gets seven hours of sleep at night, that's nearly 60 messages every hour."

That's a ton of messages. And I would bet not all messages are supportive to what you're focused on at the time. This leads me to two questions:

1. "How do we maintain focus on our priorities?"
2. "How do we know when one of those 1,000 messages is a "divine interruption" by God?"

First, how do we maintain focus on our priorities?

I Googled "managing interruptions" and I got 32,600 hits in .19 seconds. The resources are out there. One of them was an article by Paulette Ensign, on Daytimer.com. It lists 11 tips for managing interruptions. Click here to the entire list.

Second, how do we know when one of those 1,000 message is a "divine interruption" by God?

This requires a sort of closeness to the heartbeat of God on a moment-by-moment basis.

In the words of Jack Hayford, "Become disarmed with a sense of your own perpetual vulnerability to evil and capacity for self-deception, and awaken to your need for regular breaking before the altar of private worship." We must never presume to know anything. Instead, learn to exercise your people-helping in dependency upon the grace and wisdom of God day-by-day, moment-by-moment.

Learning the art of managing the messages we receive each day leads to Serving Strong!

Deeper Roots

Paul Dazet just posted an incredible illustration of how we can serve strong. It comes from a Starbuck's, of all places. It shows a picture of a tree with a caption, "The Deeper The Roots, The Higher The Reach."

The message for us: The deeper we are with God, the higher (more significant) our reach to those in our Span Of Care. That's cool!

Check it out.

Carve Out Space For Beauty

"He emerged from the Metro at the L'Enfant Plaza Station and positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket. By most measures, he was nondescript: a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap.  From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw in a few dollars and pocket change as seed money, swiveled it to face pedestrian traffic, and began to play."

This is a quote from Gene Weingarten in a story on Washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post had conducted an experiment in which world famous violinist, Joshua Bell, entered a busy Washington, D.C. metro station at 7:51 am on a Friday. In the middle of morning rush hour.  Joshua Bell played six classical pieces in 43 minutes as 1,097 people passed by. He had earned a total of $32.17 (not including $20 from one person who did recognize who he was.)

Weingarten goes on to say,

"A onetime child prodigy, at 39 Joshua Bell has arrived as an internationally acclaimed virtuoso. Three days before he appeared at the Metro station, Bell had filled the house at Boston's stately Symphony Hall, where merely pretty good seats went for $100.  Two weeks later, at the Music Center at Strathmore, in North Bethesda, he would play to a standing-room-only audience so respectful of his artistry that they stifled their coughs until the silence between movements."

Weingarten echoed Kant's words:

"Conditions must be optimal for the recognition of beauty. It is not that Americans are unable to appreciate beauty per se, just that appreciating art while on the way to a busy day is extremely difficult. In a concert hall, space has been carved out for appreciation: the audience is attentive because they have nowhere else to go."

"Space as been carved out for appreciation."

Wow! Do we have to carve out space to appreciate beauty? What if we were to make room for appreciating beauty everyday, everywhere we go? No matter what we're doing, we can appreciate God and His beauty and wonder. We don't have to wait until we go to church where, historically, space has been carved out for appreciation. The people in the Metro station that morning were too focused on their agendas to recognize a virtuoso playing on a violin worth over $3.5 million.

It's up to you. Do you want to limit your recognition and appreciate for the wonder and awesomeness of God to an hour at church each Sunday morning? Or how about living a life of wonder and appreciation 24/7/365?

Let's journey with the wonder of God every moment, everyday and we'll be Serving Strong!

Check out Weingarten's article, complete with video of the experiment.

Waiting On God

I'm re-reading the book by Andrew Murray titled, "The Believer's Secret of Waiting On God." Chapter 4 is titled "For Supplies." Check out this quote from that chapter:

"If an army has been sent out to march into an enemy's country, and news is received that it is not advancing, the question is at once asked, what may be the cause of the delay. The answer will very often be: 'Waiting for supplies.' If the stores of provision or clothing or ammunition have not arrived, they dare not proceed. It is no different in the Christian life: day by day, for every step, we need our supplies from above. And there is nothing so necessary as to cultivate that spirit of dependence on God and of confidence in Him which refuses to go on without the needed supply of grace and strength."

As you pursue God's call on your life to engage in the needs of others, are you advancing without your necessary supplies? If so, you're likely headed for a very difficult mission.

What are the supplies we receive from God? Here are just a few...

• Grace
• Patience
• Endurance
• Strength
• Perspective
• Wisdom/Insight

Would you try to serve without supplies like these? If your answer is "yes," you're Serving Strong!

Is Self Care The Opposite Of Sacrifice?

I want to address a misconception about self care. Some may think that self care is the opposite of sacrifice. Below is a post which appeared on this blog in October 2007.  I want to resurrect it again because I don't want those in ministry to neglect their own self care because of a misunderstanding of what it means.

------- October 15, 2007 post -------

For some, the concept of self care may come across as selfish and humanistic. Aren't we suppose to be LIVING SACRIFICES?

I would suggest that self care is quite the opposite of selfishness. In fact, to NOT take care of ourselves [especially as people helpers] is a sure sign we think we know better about ourselves than God.

Bill Hybels, in his book, "The Volunteer Revolution", makes a distinction between self-denial and self-destruction:

"Self-denial is about denying sin, self-deception, and selfishness. It's about denying whatever God asks us to deny, either through commands in the Bible or through the more personalized direction of the Holy Spirit.

Self-destruction, on the other hand, is about denying authentic feelings, legitimate needs, healthy activities, and life-giving relationships that God never asked us to give up."

Without a plan to take care of ourselves, we run the risk of succumbing to the pressures of what we do as people helpers (such as burnout, depression, overeating, stress, anger, etc.).

Here are (5) ideas to add to your own personalized self care plan:

• Get good sleep
• Take periodic sabbath times away from work
• If you counsel, be realistic about back to back sessions with people
• Delegate more
• Create "margin time" (don't pack so much into your waking hours that you are dangerously vulnerable to the slightest unpredictable interruption)

Learn to take better care of yourself and you'll be serving strong!

Balanced or Centered?

I'm working on a complete definition of Life Balance. I think it's more than the typical concept known as "work/life balance." I think it's multi-dimensional. One dimension is what I'm calling "Centered."

By being centered I mean centered in Christ. Not a humanistic centering toward the universe or the "real you" deep inside. Centered in Christ.

Most life coach training will address what is called The Life Balance Wheel. This is a circle with pie slices. It looks like a round pizza with triangle pieces. The idea is for you to signify each pizza slice as an area of your life. Rate each area from 0 to 10 (0 being at the center and 10 being at the outer edge.) Then connect the dots and the closer your wheel represents a large, smooth circle, the better balanced you are.

But I'm working on a couple other diagrams. First, instead of the spiritual area of life being one slice of pizza like the others, I am thinking it as the center circle in the middle. That way, every life area touches on the spiritual. The stronger my relationship with Christ, the stronger all the other areas of my life will be - the more balanced I will be. I'm centered.

Another idea is that the spiritual area of life is the foundation on which all the other life areas are constructed.

The main point is centering. If, at the core of my being, I am at the top of my game with God - all other areas of life will be in balance. The areas won't always be perfect (life's not perfect because we live in a fallen world). But I will be balanced. I will be Serving Strong!

I wonder what you think...

If you read the comment by Fritz on this post, you'll read how he points out that each area of our lives doesn't occur in a vaccuum.  For example, my eating habits can effect my emotions.  So, I went online and found an image of an atom.  Perhaps our center relationship with God is like bubbles in the center and the areas of life revolve around it, intersecting from time to time...

Jim's comment below talks about God being the container which holds all of the areas of life together. It's another great way of looking at being centered.

What's on your ipod?

ipods provide a great way to listen to music, books, podcasts, etc. It's a way to close out the world and relax, run, exercise, or study without interruption.

But there's an interesting truth about ipods. You can only listen to what you've transferred to it. If you transfer a James Taylor CD to it, you'll be able to listen to James Taylor. It's that simple.

So what does that have to do with serving strong?

Our minds are vital to serving strong. We are on the top of our game when our minds are sharp and alert. The mind is impacted by what it's fed. If it's given a steady diet of negative input and stimuli, it will begin to develop a negative world view. On the other hand, if it's fed a steady diet of positive and possibility thinking it will develop a "can do" world view. It's that simple.

At this close of the year and opening of a new year, now is a super time to take stock of what's on your "ipod". Make it a priority to clean out any "can't do" thoughts this new year and transfer a constant diet of "can do" thoughts and you'll be Serving Strong!

Are you learning but never seem to get any smarter?

Ken Blanchard, Paul J. Meyer and Dick Ruhe have published the book, Know Can Do! in which they highlight the obstacles that prevent people from implementing what they learn. These obstacles include:

• Information Overload (too much learning in too little time)
• Negative Filtering (holding onto negative thought processes which prevent an open mind)
• Lack Of Follow-Up (not having a plan to put the new knowledge into action)

I have indicated in previous posts that there are two well-documented realities:

1. First Reality: There is overwhelming evidence that pastors are struggling with burnout, depression, stress, low self-esteem, loneliness, and obesity. Some say is is a result of the very profession pastors are in. They are expected to be all things to all people. Plus they are dealing with people and their struggles.
2. Second Reality: There is an over-abundance of information that addresses burnout, depression, stress, low self-esteem, loneliness, and obesity. I Google'd "stress" the other day resulting in over 285,000,000 hits in 0.5 seconds. The first page of results gave me enough information to learn what good stress is, what bad stress is, what its effect is on my life, and steps I can take to reduce the bad stress from my life.

There is a gap between the struggle pastors face and the resources that sit in bookshelves and websites across the world. The problem is in what the autuhors highlight in Know Can do!

Coaching is the key to filling this gap. With a personal coach, a pastor overcomes the obstacles mentioned above:

• The learning is in smaller bits of information more frequently
• The pastor and coach discover a positive perspective for longer-lasting impact
• The pastor and coach design a follow up plan of action that is do-able

Check out more about what coaching is.

Contact me if you're interested in exploring a coaching benefit for yourself. Learn the art of weaving balance and self-care into the fabric of your ministry.

24.7.365

When I was growing up, it was common to think of my spiritual life as merely an accumulation of daily devotions and attendance at church functions. There's nothing wrong with these things in themselves. But what I've been discovering in recent months and years is the powerful concept of a journey approach to my relationship with God.

When I look at my relationship with God from a journey perspective (a 24-7-365 view), I see so many more possibilities in addition to my personal quiet time and church attendance. This helps me serve better because I'm not confined to one or two activities that keep my relationship with God strong. I can communicate with Him all through the day.

Here are a few of the tips I found on www.wordlibrary.co.uk today that can help us all think outside the box when it comes to a journey with God:

• Read God's Word while traveling on the bus or train to work
• Pray while you walk
• Pray while you go about your chores around the house
• Keep a notebook around for insights you receive from God

Read the entire list.

Keep your spiritual life as strong as you can possibly make it. It is the core of your Serving Strong!

Continual Connection

In discussing work-life balance, a lot of time is spend talking about technology and how it's a love/hate relationship. Check this post out, for example.  Technology can save us time, but it can also promote workaholism. Look at the mobile phone - it allows anyone to reach you virtually anywhere you go these days.

"Pray Continually"

But I want to offer an additional perspective on being constantly connected. We talk about how desperately important a vibrant relationship with Christ is for effective balance and self care. Check out 1 Thessalonian 5:17 - a short, but powerful scripture verse which exhorts us to "pray continually".

What if we treated our connection to God throughout the entire day like we do the cell phone on our hip? Our antenna would always be up and our signal would always be in receiving mode. That way, when God wants to communicate with us, we're ready. As ministry servants, we risk missing out on "divine appointments" if we don't have this constant communication line open. And He can be the one to help us understand when to say "no" to a potentially-draining addition to an already-overloaded schedule...if we're listening.

So the next time you read anything about constant connectivity - think about your relationship with God. Are YOU in constant connection to His Spirit?

Stay constantly connected to God and you'll be Serving Strong!

By the way, the analogy breaks down because occasionally cell phone signals go down. But as far as God is concerned, there is never a "lost signal."

Follow up to the blog post about palm trees

Another thought on a growing relationship with God...

God's power in us will strengthen us so we can endure life's hardships joyfully (it makes us resilient.) See Colossians 1:11.

God's power helps us SERVE STRONG!

Are you like a palm tree?

I've been re-reading the book titled, "Before Burnout - Balanced Living for Busy People." The authors, Frank Minirth, Don Hawkins, Paul Meier, and Chris Thurman, address the inner life as part of the chapter entitled "Human Ability and Divine Enablement."

They draw a distinct similarity between a strong inner life and a palm tree. The palm tree is one of the most resourceful and durable of all plants. While other trees have dead centers and thinning roots, the palm depends on a thick, strong root and living heart rather than on the condition of its leaves and bark.

The palm endures through violent storms which are common in the environment. It does this by bending its resilient trunk until the rain and wind passes.  Then the palm springs back. The palm's root (which is the same size as the trunk) is able to store a great surplus of water and in time, the palm is able to produce fruit which becomes sweeter as the tree ages.

The authors point to Psalm 1:2-4 ("Blessed in the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law...day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers."

Here's the main point:  "We will bear fruit, all kinds of good deeds, and will grow spiritually as we get to know God better and better."

Get to know God better and better and you'll be serving strong!

Is Self Care The Opposite Of Sacrifice?

I want to address a misconception about self care. Some may think that self care is the opposite of sacrifice. Below is a post which appeared on this blog in October 2007.  I want to resurrect it again because I don't want those in ministry to neglect their own self care because of a misunderstanding of what it means.

------- October 15, 2007 post -------

For some, the concept of self care may come across as selfish and humanistic. Aren't we suppose to be LIVING SACRIFICES?

I would suggest that self care is quite the opposite of selfishness. In fact, to NOT take care of ourselves [especially as people helpers] is a sure sign we think we know better about ourselves than God.

Bill Hybels, in his book, "The Volunteer Revolution", makes a distinction between self-denial and self-destruction:

"Self-denial is about denying sin, self-deception, and selfishness. It's about denying whatever God asks us to deny, either through commands in the Bible or through the more personalized direction of the Holy Spirit.

Self-destruction, on the other hand, is about denying authentic feelings, legitimate needs, healthy activities, and life-giving relationships that God never asked us to give up."

Without a plan to take care of ourselves, we run the risk of succumbing to the pressures of what we do as people helpers (such as burnout, depression, overeating, stress, anger, etc.).

Here are (5) ideas to add to your own personalized self care plan:

• Get good sleep
• Take periodic sabbath times away from work
• If you counsel, be realistic about back to back sessions with people
• Delegate more
• Create "margin time" (don't pack so much into your waking hours that you are dangerously vulnerable to the slightest unpredictable interruption)

Learn to take better care of yourself and you'll be serving strong!

Go on and fall...

I was on my way back to the office from lunch.  I was listening to a country station on the radio.  A song came on called Fall, by Clay Walker.  I don't know a lot about Clay Walker.  I assume the song means something other than what I was thinking.

But what if the lyrics of the first verse and chorus match you today as a person who helps other people?  What if it was God singing to you? Check out the lyrics and take heart that God wants to be the center of your life balance and self care.

"Hold up.  There you go again.  Puttin' on that smile again.  Even though I know you've had a bad day.  Doin' this and doin' that.  Always puttin' yourself last.  A whole lotta give and not enough take.

"So fall.  Go on and fall apart.  Fall into these arms of mine.  I'll catch you every time you fall.  Go on and lose it all.  Every doubt, every fear.  Every worry, every tear.  I'm right here.  Baby fall."

A strong relationship with your heavenly Father is the ultimate in serving strong!

Spiritual Resources

I've found the following sites to be helpful for maintaining a strong spiritual journey with God:

• Daily Devotional (http://sacredspace.ie)
• Scriptures (www.biblegateway.com)

I believe a strong relationship with God is the ultimate center of life balance and self care - no greater way to be serving strong!

What keeps you strong?

Serving from the inside out.  It's the best way I know how to describe what it means to serve strong.  What's on the inside of your heart?  Better yet, who's on the throne of the center of your heart?

One of the first posts of Serving Strong was called "Step 1 to Effective Ministry."  Check it out.

I recently read an article in the latest Rev! magazine about people in ministry and their struggle to keep from falling.  Here's a short quote:

"While we need to maintain adequate levels of external accountability, if we hope to survive in the long run we can't neglect the "old fashion" means of soul growth - practicing the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, solitude, and fasting.  No silver bullets, easy answers, or slam-dunks exist." (I would add to those disciplines, compassionate ministry)

When all the layers of the onion are peeled away, it really comes down to our daily walk, the relationship we maintain with our Creator, and the disciplines that help keep that relationship strong.

Why all this talk about life balance and self care?  Because those in the business of helping people are vulnerable to living out of balance and neglecting their own care.  It's why ministers fall.  It's why spiritual leaders resign.  Don't you want to serve for the length of God's call on your life?  Don't you want to be effective in your ministry?  Don't you want to serve strong?

Serving strong means serving from the inside out.  There may just be no other way.

Pastors: Difficult to study the Bible for yourself?

This post is particularly for the person who leads a flock of church members.  1 Corinthians 9.26-27 says:

"I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself." (MSG)

The Apostle Paul, writer of Corinthians says that while he's telling everyone else about Christ he doesn't want to get caught napping and missing out himself.  I've spend time with pastors who have told me how difficult it is to be in the Word on a personal basis and not keep seeing truths or concepts that they could preach about to their congregations.  They really want to get deep with God personally, but they keep seeing the faces of their congregation.

How does a pastor keep his own personal relationship with God healthy, alive, and vibrant?  I'm sure there are a ton of 12-step, 7-step, 3-point, and 8-step processes that answer this question.  You could also probably find a small library of books on the subject.

But I wonder if the entire "personal devotions" concept has gone a little off course.  Don't get me wrong.  I believe in the power of closing off the world and getting quiet before a holy God.  But maybe we've begun to think that's the sum total of our relationship with God (kind of like the way some people view tithe - as long as they give their 10% to God, the rest is theirs.)

I offer an additional perspective:  What if personal alone time with God was only one of many facets that make up our spiritual relationship with God?  Why not be praying and listening to what God is saying to us as we serve our people?  What can God tell you when you're on a hospital call, preparing for a wedding, putting last minute touches on this Sunday's sermon, making coffee for the staff?

Think of your relationship more in terms of a journey rather than a compartmentalized personal retreat time.

On a more practical basis, consider these ideas:

• Start a personal journal with random thoughts (no effort spent on grammar or punctuation - just free flowing mind dumps.)  Review your entries every other month and see if any themes stick out;
• When in personal prayer time, keep a note pad and pen handy.  When an idea about a parishioner pops into your head, jot it down and get back to your own personal time.
• Keep a pad of paper & pen with you all the time.  When you sense God is talking to you personally as you are going about your daily routine, jot down the thought(s) and review them during your next personal alone time with Him.

Keep your spiritual life alive and vibrant and you'll be serving strong!

P.S.  If you're a pastor and you've found a great way to maintain your personal spiritual life, feel free to comment on this post. 

Who are you pleasing?

Steven Curtis Chapman is, in my opinion, one of the most gifted song writer/artist I've ever known.  I've been listening to some of my old CDs lately, and the lyrics are still so compelling and encouraging.  One such song is "Please Only You".

These lyrics are a reminder to us all that, at the center of our efforts to help people, our journey with God is paramount.  It's the ultimate in life balance & self care & serving strong.

Check out Steven Curtis Chapman's website for more great songs and info.

Verse 1:
So here I go again, again
I've let myself get spread so thin
I can see right through my skin
And I don't like what I'm finding in my heart

So many different voices call
And I try hard to please them all
I run in circles til I fall
So I'm falling on my knees and praying

Chorus:
Please, please, please only You, only You
Please, please, please take my heart and make it true
Let everything I say and everything I do
Please, please only You
Please only You

Verse 2:
For every moment of my time
For every thought that fills my mind
For every melody and rhyme
This is the prayer that I'll be praying

Chorus again

This is what it means to be
The reason why I live and breathe
To know that I am totally existing for Your pleasure

I'm still learning but I know
As this becomes my only goal
The more I find my heart and soul is filled up with joy
When I, I please only You
I please only You
Please only You

Marathons and 100 Meter Dashes

What are your expectations for results in the area you serve?  What about your expectations for your own self care, balance, or spiritual journey?  If you ever get impatient about your progress or the progress of those you serve, remember the difference between a 100 meter dash and a marathon.

100 meter dashes are short, quick spurts of energy.  Then the race is over.  This is a kind of philosophy intertwined in our American culture.  We want things now.  We want to accomplish tasks fast and get them over with.  We see this in fad diets, fast food, instant messaging, and instant potatoes.

Marathons are a process - a journey.  Some training runs are long.  Shoes, eating right, stretching, and adequate sleep are vital to a successful marathon finish.  This kind of philosophy is rare in our American culture.  It means we have to wait longer for results.  It means hard work.  It means taking our time.

The 100 meter dash approach will not ultimately lead to long term success in ministry.  The marathon approach will.  Add these words to your vocabulary:  Endurance.  Patience.  Perseverance.  Strength of service.  Waiting... and serve strong over the long haul!

Uh oh! The lights went out!

As the entire Couchenour household was getting ready for work & school this morning, the lights went out.  "That's interesting," commented my wife.  Instantly our minds raced with all the things that would have to change if we didn't have electricity this early in the morning: no dry hair, no hot coffee, no morning news, eventually no hot water, cold pop tarts, wash the dishes by hand, have to open the garage doors by hand, and so on.

Our "fears" melted when the lights came back on (30 seconds later).  But it did make me pause and think.  One thing came to mind:

WE ARE DEPENDENT CREATURES.  We have so much dependence wrapped up in electrical power.  Perhaps it's a result of our culture of computers, blow dryers, washers, hot water heaters, TV, mobile phones, blackberrys,...  I wonder what would happen if we had that same sense of dependence on God's leadership and wisdom for our daily lives.  For many people, losing electricity would literally bring them to a halt.  I'd love to be at the place where I came to a halt the minute I sensed I was not "up to date" with my relationship with God.

I heard Mike Slaughter (lead pastor of the Ginghamsburg Church near Dayton, Ohio) speak several weeks ago.  In the context of self care, he was sharing how important his early morning time with God was.  He said something to the effect that, "it takes 24 hours for me to stray from the presence of God that I need that regular time just between the two of us."

How are you maintaining your dependence on the leadership God so richly provides to those who hunger and thirst for it?  Stay utterly dependent on Him and serve strong!

Keep the fire hot

Over the holiday weekend I was burning some twigs and branches that had fallen in my yard over the past winter and spring.  As I was doing that I was reminded of the need to keep the fire going in my heart and ministry.  Here are a couple things that went through my mind:

1. Fires need the certain elements to stay hot.  They need wind, oxygen, and something to burn.  This is true of our "ministry fire" as well.  Among other things, we need the influence of God's Holy Spirit, wisdom of others, and even adversity to help us remain hot in pursuit of all God asks of us.  What are the right elements that keep YOUR ministry fire hot?
2. Fires need to be stoked periodically.  We, too, need to stoke the flames of our ministry as well.  Sometimes the ministry gets old. The needs of people overwhelm us.  But we can keep the flames hot by by reading a book, going on a personal spiritual retreat, fasting, and so on.  It's what keeps our ministry from becoming just another job.  What do YOU do to keep your ministry fire stoked?

Keep the fire hot and serve strong!

Are you plugged in?

I have a laptop.  It's over 2 years old.  Still has the original battery.  It doesn't hold more than an hour of charge anymore.  I think about replacing it now & then.  Most of the time I just don't want to part with the money.  I ask myself, "Will a new battery really help?  Won't I still go into a coffee shop looking first at the possible outlets before I check out the types of coffee being served that day?"

The reality is, I will always feel more secure if I'm near an outlet even if I did get a battery that was newer (what if I'm with someone and our conversation extends beyond the length of my battery and I still need the laptop?)

I wonder if that's the kind of attitude needed for serving strong (I know this may be a stretch.  But stay with me on this...)

What if every day I went into every situation looking for the "outlet" (the real Source of strength - God)?  I believe a key to being a strong servant is to stay connected to the Source of our energy.

So, ask Him to show you what He wants to teach you - even if the situation is the mundane, routine, daily stuff of common life.  Look to Him for the strength.  Look to Him for the wisdom.  If we rely on our own strength and wisdom, we may be found wanting.

What color is your dashboard?

What color is your dashboard?  What was the eye color of the person you last spoke to?  Why ask these questions?  Because it gets to the heart of how so many of us live our lives: mind-in-future.

How much of the day do you spend living in the future?  Do you operate with that next task, future appointment, or upcoming stressful situation in your mind?  Worse yet, have you ever arrived at your destination and can't remember the road or events while driving because you were preoccupied thinking all the way there?  I have.  I wonder who I cut off.

Preoccupation with the future robs us of the richness of the "now".  Let me introduce an old concept called Mindfulness.

Mindfulness.  What is it?  There are a lot of humanistic definitions and uses for it.  But for the purposes of Serving Strong, it means being more aware of your surroundings; being in the moment; noticing what's going on; and practicing the presence of God.

But how?

Here's a little guide I am using recently to help me stay more in the moment and live 24-7-365 as a dependent follower of Christ:

As often as possible throughout the day, pause and go through the following:

• BREATHE.  Take 3 deep breaths.
• OBJECTS.  What are the objects around me?
• MOOD.  What is my current mood? (don't judge, just observe)
• PEOPLE.  Who am I talking/working with right now? (Pray for their wellbeing)
• THANKS.  What can I be thankful for in this moment?
• WORRIES.  What am I worried about right now? (give it back to God)
• PRAYER.  Pray to God: "I am your servant.  I, again, lay my life before you to do what you wish."

Live in the moment.  Play full out.  Give it your all.  Serve strong!

Tony Snow & Your Ministry

Cal Thomas' article in our local newspaper last night was about Tony Snow.  Tony is the White House press secretary whose colon cancer recently returned.  While reading the article, one paragraph stood out to me.

"So, how do you approach God, he (Tony) wondered? Do you ask for favors, or do you do something that is very hard in the modern era, 'which is learn how to give yourself to God, to surrender.  It's not just saying, 'God, it's in your hands,' but understanding whatever may come afterwards is a matter of not trying to get God to do stuff for you, except maybe to mow down some of the barriers that separate you from God, because for all of us, our vanities get in the way.'"

"It's not a matter of trying to get God to do stuff for you."  Henry Blackaby's book, Experiencing God, was an eye opener for me.  I discovered it wasn't a matter of doing my planning and asking God to bless it.  It's about saying to God in the morning, "God, I'm available.  If, in your process of dealing with people, you want to pull me out of your pocket and use me, go right ahead.  I want to follow where you're going today.

As you serve people today, are you asking God to "do stuff for you", asking God to bless your plans?  Or are you "giving yourself to God"?  Is your service today "in His hands" and surrendered to His will?

I guarantee, when a person puts their ministry under the direction of God's leading, they're ALWAYS serving strong!

Your temple is scheduled for demolition

There is a little church in western Pennsylvania.  At least there was.  The doors and windows are boarded up now.  The church is no longer in use (in fact, I believe the church has been demolished since the taking of this picture where an empty lot now sits.)

Interesting thing about this church building.  It was the space my father's father accepted Christ as his personal forgiver and leader.  That event changed the course of my family forever.  I honestly do not know where I'd be if it weren't for that commitment he made that day, in that building.

Of course, it's not the building that matters for eternity.  It's what takes place THROUGH the building that matters.  The longer the building is open, the more people who have a chance to get to know Christ.

In the same way, you only have so much time.  Your body, the temple, will one day be "boarded up" and laid to rest.  When you're gone, all you will have is the influence you left on other people.

Implications on serving strong:

• Take care of your temple through diet and exercise
• Develop a love of continual development
• Respect the concept of sabbath rest
• Continually Hone the strengths God has given you
• Seize the Moments God give you to serve well

What's on your "bookshelf"?

One of the things you will hear from the Serving Strong Blog and Coaching Services is the importance of staying fresh and relevant in your service activity.  A key method for accomplishing this vital aspect of service is what I call the "bookshelf".

This isn't just a library of books, but a collection of resources that you use to stay on top of your game.  Here are 4 parts of the "bookshelf":

1. Spiritual Growth.  What are you reading that augments your #1 relationship (you & God)?
2. Current trends and culture.  Where do you go to help you understand the ever-changing culture of your "span of care"?
3. Ministry/Service skills.  How do you reinvent yourself so that your skills are fresh and new?  What do you read?  Who do you talk to?  Where do you get your own continuing education?
4. Hobby.  Everybody needs to get away occasionally.  What do you do?  When you are not serving, are you engaged in a favorite hobby or interest?

Serving in the middle of 161 million gigabytes

Church Relevance has a post that highlights the tremendous amount of digital information being generated these days.  Check it out - it's amazing!

The 2 points they conclude their post with:

1. Keep doing what God wants you to do
2. Identify what knowledge can help you better fulfill God's plan

The best method for doing these things in an age where information is being generated at an unprecedented rate is to continue cultivating an intimate, dynamic relationship with God on a personal level.

It can't be stressed enough how important your relationship with God is to serving strong.  Cultivating this relationship will mean different things to different people.  For some, it includes journaling.  Others like to spend time in nature.  Picking apart passages of scripture and outlining thoughts works for many.  Still others need another objective person to bounce thoughts around verbally.

Whatever works for you - lean into your relationship with God and stay on the journey of a lifetime.  It's crucial to serving strong!

Why do you serve in the first place?

I love a quote from the December 3 entry in Oswald Chambers' devotional, My Utmost for His Highest,

"I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in other lives, not admiration for myself."

What is the purpose of the serving you do for God?  Is it to look or feel good about yourself?  Is it to bring attention to yourself?