What's required???

You have what's required!!!!!

This last week, I had the honor to begin our 2nd year of Merge College. It was a nice start to a new year. I have been praying for a situation for one of the students, and I believe I witnessed a miracle. We should never be amazed, when God answers our prayers. I am so excited to see the journey for each one of them this year.

I was reading, when David first arrived at King Saul's palace he was a simple, unknown shepherd boy. But he had an impressive resume'! And God, in essence, said, "I saw you kill the bear and the lion; I was watching when you didn't realize it."

Solomon wrote, "A man's gift make the room for Him." Proverbs 18:16

David's gift may have been only a slingshot, but it opened the door to his future as Israel's king. So even though what you've got doesn't seem like much--give it to God. Then step back and watch what He can do with it.

All God requires is that you show up, say yes, and make yourself available. When you give God what you've got, He gives you what He's got; that makes your odds unbeatable. You can never say, I don't have the right credentials or the right training.

Benjamin Franklin had less than 2 years of formal schooling. Yet at 25 he founded the America's first library, at 31 he started its first fire department, at 36 he designed a heating stove that's still in use today. At 45 he founded the nation's first university, and at 75 he invented bifocals.

He was economist, philosopher, diplomat, inventor, educator, publisher, and linguist who spoke and wrote in five languages.

Chances are, you already have more education than he had when he was your age. Add to that these 2 promises, "The Lord is my helper" (Hebrews 13:6), and "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and you have what's required!!!!

Always keep moving forward and not backwards.........

Merge students your future looks extremely bright and exciting!!!!!

"CORE Strengths"

"Bring me seventy......who are known.....as leaders."

Numbers 11:16

Sometimes when I can't sleep which is quite often........I find myself just channel surfing.

There is a lot of informercials about everything throughout the night.

When I was turning the channels one got my attention,

it was a exercise program that works on your CORE.

As I laid on the couch, and as someone who needs to work

on my CORE (stomach muscles).

I watched it for a few minutes and even felt like I should get up

and exercise BUT........that motivation lasted for about 1/2 of a second.

Then the word "CORE" got inside of my head.

One of the definitions of CORE is - the central, innermost, or most essential part of anything.

"What if we spend so much time on our weaknesses,

and never develop our CORE strengths."

Then I recalled this story:

A group of neighborhood kids built a tree house and formed their own club. When the grownups were told who had been selected for which office, they were astonished to hear that a 4 year-old boy had been elected president.

"He must be a born leader," one dad observed. "How did it happen that all you bigger boys voted for him?"

His son replied, "Well, he can't very well be secretary because he doesn't know how to read or write. He couldn't be treasurer because he can't count. He would never do for sergeant-at-arms because he's too little to throw anybody out.

If we didn't choose him for anything, he'd feel bad. So we made him president."

Life usually doesn't work that way!!!!!!

You don't become successful by default,

you must work from your God-given strengths.

In life, your purpose is always connected to your giftedness.

God doesn't call you to do something you've no talent for.

God told Moses, "Bring me seventy...who are known to you as leaders."

You cannot grow to your full potential if you continually

work outside your CORE strengths.

Improvement is always related to ability.........

Do you know what happens when you spend all your time

working on your weaknesses, and never develop your strengths?

You will work really hard and claw your way up to mediocrity,

but you'll never get beyond it...........

Economic pressure and family responsibility may require you to work

for a season outside the area of your CORE strengths,

but don't settle there..........

We should always seek guidance, sharpen our gifts,

be patient (which for me is hard in some situations),

and God will open doors for you................

So, for myself these are 4 qualities could strengthen my CORE............

1) Submission

Only a leader who has followed well,

knows how to lead others well.

"Connecting" with people becomes possible

because you've walked in their shoes.

Leaders who've never submitted to authority tend to be proud,

unrealistic and high-and-mighty.

2) Self-discipline

To make consistently good decisions requires character

and self-discipline. To do otherwise, is to lose control of ourselves.

British writer, John Foster wrote,

"A man without decision of character

can never be said to belong to himself.

He belongs to whatever can make a captive of him."

3) Patience

Leaders look ahead, think ahead, and want to move ahead.

That's what makes them leaders.

But the true goal of leadership is not to cross the finish line first,

but to take as many others with you as you can.

For that reason you have to deliberately slow your pace,

stay connected to your people, keep them informed and inspired,

enlist the help of others to fulfill your vision, and keep going.........

And you can't do that if you're running too far ahead of everybody.

Solomon writes:

"Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." (Ecclesiastes 7:8)

4) Accountability

Many people feel that accountability is a willingness to explain your actions. Real accountability begins long before you take action.

Most wrong actions come about because we are

not being accountable early enough.

So, besides needing to exercise and work on my CORE (stomach)........

These 4 CORE qualities is something to think about

to make us stronger leaders........

Probably, the number one CORE is learn to VALUE others -

the "salt" and "light" principles that Jesus taught calls for us

to INFLUENCE and ILLUMINATE others for GOOD and for GOD.......

"You must earn and grow, in order to give and guide."

Vision

Scott and I recently went out for dinner. Scott with his serious face looked at me and asked this question, "Where do you see us in 3 to 5 years?"

I found myself for once with the answer, "I don't know......"

I have always been one that likes challenges and I have goals. But it has bothered me because I am not sure what is next in my life.

George Barna: Vision for ministry is a reflection of what God wants to accomplish through you to build His kingdom.

Nobody can give you a vision for your life, but here is some thoughts that I came up with.........

1) Look within you.......What moves me??? What am I excited about???

Paul said, "I am compelled to preach" 1 Corinthians 9:16

Or today we may say "I am driven to preach" or whatever your passion may be..........

2) Look behind you......What has life taught me???

Experience provides us with wisdom......

The meaning of wisdom is clear enough—"the art of reaching one’s end by the use of the right means" Predominantly the "wisdom" thought of is that which comes through experience or old age.......

3) Look around you......

Rom 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Paul spoke of those who worked with him. Finding your full destiny requires having the right people in your life. When the gifted offices work right and the saints are properly equipped, there are increased maturity and greater intimacy in our experience of God.

4) Look ahead of you......One of my favorite quotes - Helen Keller said, "The only thing that's worse than being blind, is having sight but no vision."

The best is yet to be … you see, our God still has more up his sleeve for us. Our God always has something more for us to do, and it may well be that despite our feeling that our powers are diminishing, despite our sense that we are a little tired and run down, God may yet have our best years and our best work ahead of us......

"Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe." St. Augustine

5) Look beside you......If your vision is not bigger than you, it's not of God. And the greater it is, the more resources it will require.

Cultural, personal, or circumstantial obstacles are bound to stand in the way of anyone who wants to become mature in Christ.

Without maturity we cannot:
Become all that God wants us to be.
Neither can we know all that the Lord wants us to understand.
Furthermore, we cannot do all that our heavenly Father wants us to accomplish.

6) Look above you......Jeremiah 23:16 "They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord"

We need to be People who do not lack direction, and lack discernment.......

We are "called according to His purpose," not according to the need, or the fact that the door is open, or that our talent will be appreciated and well rewarded.

Your vision must fulfill your God-ordained destiny, nothing else..........

So, I am asking myself, do I need to recognize the vision, resurrect my vision, or simply just refocus my vision............

William Carey, who is considered the father of modern missions, gave up comfort and fortune to go to India and introduce the gospel. One of his most memorable quotes, "Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God!"

But you can only say that with confidence when you know what God has called you to do.....When you know God has given you a vision for your life, you trust Him, even when you can't see any way to bring it to pass.......

Keep Climbing

"Give me this (mountain) that the Lord promised me." Joshua 14:12

I read this story the other day, and it inspired me.....

Admiral Joe Fowler served in both world wars. As a naval architect he designed two of America's largest aircraft carriers, the USS Lexington and the USS Saratoga. He retired from the Navy in 1948.

Shortly after, Walt Disney asked him to head up the design and construction of his first theme park in California. Nothing like it had ever been done before. Not only did Fowler complete the project in 1955, he managed its operation for many years.

Later when Disney wanted to build another theme park in Florida, he called Fowler to do it. When Fowler was 87, and Disney called on him again to build a futuristic theme. That theme park is called Epcot Center.

When asked why he would take on such a project at 87 Fowler replied, "You don't have to die until you want to." In 1993 he completed the job, and laid down his drawing board at the age of 99. Mission accomplished!!!!

This is how God wants us to be in our spiritual life as we advance in years: growing older, but never weaker in Jesus.

At 85 years of age Caleb said to Joshua, "Give me this (mountain) that the Lord promised me (forty-five years ago)" Joshua 14:12

In fact, Caleb wants the fight. He could have asked for an easy place, but he knows that these foes must be faced and figures that he may as well be the one to do it. He doesn’t leave the work to someone else, though he could have, especially at his age.

What if all of Israel had the heart of Caleb?

What if no one in Israel had the heart of Caleb?

Again, Caleb’s secret is clear: he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.

There was a total commitment in Caleb’s life.

Did he get it?

Yes......So keep climbing!!!!

Will you make mistakes along the way?

Yes.......Henry Ford forgot to put a reverse gear in his first car. He also went bankrupt 5 times before becoming the father of the automobile industry.

You'll stumble on your way to the top, but if you seek God's help and stay with it, you'll get there. The truth is, you're not defeated until your doubts and regrets take the place of your dreams......

GIVE YOUR BEST

"Don't just do the minimum that will get you by." Col 3:23

We all want to stay in a 5 star Hotel.

Why??? 5 star is the best we can get....

The best appearance, the best things to offer, & the best service.....

We get the best furniture, & the best linen.....

I mean everything is the best!!!!

We all want to eat in a 5 star restaurant.

Why???? They have the best looking food (Nothing on the plate but it looks good)

WE ALWAYS WANT THE BEST!!!!

THINK ON THIS GOD GAVE HIS BEST JESUS GAVE HIS BEST THE SAD PART IS WE DON’T GIVE HIM OUR BEST.......

TO HAVE THESE 5 STAR ACCOMDATIONS THEY COST A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT WHO CARES “I DESERVE IT, I WORK HARD”

SERVING GOD IT COST:

1)OUR TIME

2) US DYING TO SELF

3) US LOVING GOD ENOUGH TO SAY I WANT TO SERVE GOD.

WE WANT TO BE A 5 STAR CHRISTAIN....

THE FANCY HOTEL WE STAY AT IT’S OVER WITH WHEN WE LEAVE ALL THAT IS LEFT IS THE BILL WHEN IT COMES IN.

BUT WITH GOD IT’S NEVER OVER IF WE WOULD BE A 5 STAR CHRISTAIN, GOD HAS PROMISES FOR US EVEN REWARDS WAITING FOR US.

One of Michelangelo's greatest masterpieces was his sculpture of David. He worked on it with such passion that he often slept in his clothes, resenting the time it took to take them off and put them on again.

He repeatedly examined and measured the marble to see what pose it could accommodate. He made hundreds of sketches of possible attitudes, and detailed drawings from models. He tested his ideas in wax on a small scale, and only when he was satisfied did he pick up his chisel and mallet.

He approached the painting of the Sistine Chapel with the same intensity. Lying at uncomfortable angles on hard boards, breathing the suffocating air just under the vault, he suffered from inflamed eyes and skin irritation from the plaster dust.

For the next four years he literally sweated in physical distress-but look at what he produced!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "If a man is called to be a street sweeper he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause and say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.

"If you're not passionate about what you do, find something you can be passionate about!

Don't just strive to make money, strive to make a difference.......Significance should be your goal, not survival.

Paul gives us the ultimate reason for always giving our best: "Don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best...Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ"

Making important decisions......

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.

PS 37:23 NLT

When you are making important decisions:

(1) Beware of "people pressure."

" Facing 30,000 Philistine chariots, and Samuel the prophet not around to offer the required sacrifice to God ensuring their victory, King Saul decided to usurp the prophet’s office and offer his own sacrifice. When Samuel showed up a week later and demanded an explanation,

Saul said, "When I saw the people...I felt compelled" (1Sa 13:12 NKJV). He gave in to "people pressure." Samuel replied, "You have done foolishly...now your kingdom shall not continue" (vv. 13-14 NKJV).

God’s will must be done God’s way, so wait for His instructions and don’t rush ahead of Him.

(2) Make sure your timing is right. God says:

"I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it" (Rev 3:8 NKJV).

When you open the door you have to work to keep it open; but when God opens it, "no one can shut it." You don’t have to manipulate anybody or anything " you just walk in.

(3) Remember the "restraint and release" principle.

Paul’s missionary team tried to go to two different cities, "but the Spirit did not permit them" (Ac 16:7 NKJV). Ever try to teach a teen to drive? What’s the first thing you teach them, the accelerator or the brakes?

The brakes! If they’re not interested, take your car keys back because they’re not ready to drive. As you get to know God better you’ll discover that He guides by the "restraint and release" principle: the brakes and the accelerator. That’s how it works when your steps are directed by the Lord...........

'Having then gifts... let us use them.'

Ro 12:6 NKJV

In Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Dr. Charles Swindoll writes:

'Once upon a time, the animals decided that they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer, all the animals took all the subjects.

The duck was excellent at swimming. In fact, he was better than his instructor was! However, he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was so slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his webbed feet to be badly worn so he became only average in swimming. But 'average' was quite acceptable, therefore nobody worried about it - except the duck.

The rabbit stayed at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because he had so much make-up work to do in swimming.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down... so he only got a 'C' in climbing and a 'D' in running.

The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes, he beat all the others to the top, but insisted on using his own way of getting there!'

'Having then gifts... let us use them.'

When God has gifted and graced you to do something, give yourself to it and let the rest go.

"We have different gifts."

Ro 12:6 NIV

You may have several different gifts, but you must discover your core gift and build your life around it.

David sensed that he was more than a shepherd; he was a king-in-the-making.

Killing Goliath just gave him a chance to demonstrate it. Had he failed to realize that, he'd have gone back to tending sheep.

What blinds us to our core gift?

(1) Focusing on our flaws. Instead of focusing on our strengths we listen to our critics and rehearse the qualities that discourage us most. Be careful; the company you keep will either lift you or lower you. That's especially true of those who resent your success, because it reminds them of their own lack of it.

(2) Envying the gifts of others. It's okay to appreciate others as long as you don't try to duplicate them. Instead of living in somebody's shadows, stand on their shoulders and glean from their wisdom.

Be an Elisha; ask God for twice as much as your mentor. Uncommon people are just common people who recognize their core gift and put it to work. Paul speaks of seven different gifts:

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully" (vv. 6-8 NIV).

I am still discovering it, developing it, and I will always dedicate to the God I serve...........

What's your core gift?