Loyalty

Right out of college, I started working as an insurance agent in Las Vegas.  I worked hard and met many prospects who became clients who became friends.  I think that’s how it worked anyway…It’s like a chicken/egg/which came first thing…

Regardless, as I fly to Vegas to see those clients today, 29 years later (yikes!), I am reminded that loyalty is a beautiful thing.  I am so grateful for those people who have stuck by me through the years.  It all has very little to do with insurance  (although I do work hard for them)  It has everything to do with relationship.  I’m grateful they see that and that they have let me into their lives…I want to be loyal too…true to those who I know. I think it shows character, depth…integrity.

(To those of you I’m talking about—you know who you are—thank you.)

Acts 2 loud

As part of the service this weekend, I read a pretty lengthy passage with my friend Santini...Acts 2:1-38.  Here's what happened...I put off 'rehearsing' the reading until just before service...we worked out the experience just before Saturday night service.  During that rehearsal, something unexpected happened...The Word of God, the story in Acts 2, became alive in me like never ever before.  I don't know how else to say it, but I experienced the living breathing active part of Scripture at a next level, wow, Holy Spirit move sort of way.  It was palpable.  It was awesome.

The question is why?  What happened to make that passage that I have read so many times come to such life for me?

All I can figure is that reading aloud-over and over- was the tool God used to awaken those verses...I am so  excited to try this out in my own study, reading aloud when there's no one to listen but me and God, and see what else He has for me to experience...to learn.

Just thought I'd share that...maybe you should give His word a shout.  Read it loud. ;)  Let me know what happens.

seasons

Last weekend,  Dave (hubby) took me to one of my favorite places in the world for my birthday...It's a hike in Stanislaus National Forest near Alpine Lake; we hike into Mokelumne Wilderness...I have hiked it several times, always at different times of the season but this was the first time at the end of October, when the top of the hike was awaiting what's probably happening there right now. (massive amounts of snow)

It was shockingly barren.  The ground that was home to the most glorious wildflowers looked like desert...it was cracked with dryness, and that grayish color that looks like nothing would ever grow there.  Dave said it actually looked like the moon...It was that--lacking.   I started to think, this ground is still very alive with something underneath...Those flowers I saw in July will be back.  This part of that cycle is important, necessary, on purpose, for the next part of the cycle.

Just like those deserts that I go through, those dry barren times when I feel parched, ignored, unproductive, unsure.  Those times in my life have also proved necessary to move me toward what's next...Hard to take, really hard to like, but necessary...and completely worth the wait.

To everything there is a season.  God did that--does that--on purpose.  I'm learning that that is actually a beautiful thing...

reality

I have a friend (thanks Jane.) who has challenged me to memorize Colossians 3.  Last night, as I pressed my head into my pillow, boom: it became reality to me.

Specifically, Col 3:4 which says "When Christ, who is your life (my life), appears, you, also, will appear with Him in glory." When CHRIST appears, I. will. appear. with. Him. in. glory.  That changed my whole mindset.  For the first time in my life, I was filled up with excitement for that day, with that Truth, and all the other tasks, duties, obligations, worries of this life evaporated...  It was exhilarating!

There's really no more to the story...I am just so excited to be excited for that to happen and so grateful that God made it real in my life...and wonder why it happened the way it did.

Think about it.  I have been working for days on memorizing that chapter, that verse.  Melding it into my mind. Hiding it in my heart.  As I did that, God made it real for me.  I have read the verse many times, but never really experienced it...Now I have.

It started with learning it--memorizing it.  That's what made that verse real to me.

You should try it.  Maybe memorizing scripture will bring it to life for you.

stagnate

This weekend, I was tackling weeds in the pasture when I found my bike.  Obviously, it's been a while since I've ridden...It made me think how when things stand still and aren't used, they get overtaken and if left alone, can be permanently damaged.  The vine is vivid, amazing, gorgeous... but out of control and robbing my bike of  its usefulness...

That could be me...overtaken by things that rob me of my purpose.  Even beautiful things can overpower if I am not actively doing what I was made for...I was made to know God, to worship God, and show and tell other people about God.  When I don't actively move toward that purpose, other things take over.  Even beautiful things...they stop me.  They make me stagnate.

I wanna see and enjoy those beautiful things around me.  (Thank you God for Fall.)  But I want more to move toward fullness in Christ...God, activate me.  Help me.  Show me You.

Somethin's burnin...

This morning I had a very cool thing happen at church.  There's this young man, maybe 17 or so...who is new to Grace.  Very humble, very quiet, very polite... He kind of blends in with the rest of the crowd and could easily go unnoticed.  He was baptized at the Big Event at Grace Church (gracechurchreno.org) .  He's new to faith in Christ and I'm here to say:  there's something burning inside...

He came up to my office and asked me to plug in his iPod.  He played a beat and shared a song he had written about Jesus that included this powerful....SUPER powerful, bold, creative rap that spoke the Truth about his transformation...

This quiet young man poured out his heart through this ability I would have never known he had the guts to do...

Makes me think:  How many of us are sitting on some kind of God-given gift?  How many of us are ok with blending in while letting some huge calling quietly die inside us?

Is God calling you to more?  Are you willing to step out and see what He does, through you?

What makes a good leader

The Global Leadership Summit is coming up at Grace on August 11 and 12.  Register at gracechurchreno.org.  As I think about  leadership, here are some thoughts on what I think helps make a great leader...Maybe I'll learn much more at the Summit.  I hope so.

A leader is willing to risk.  Willing to learn.  Willing to delegate.  Willing to let go.  Willing to help.

A leader is willing to let it be the other guy's idea...

A leader is willing to forgive.  Willing to apologize.   Willing to share.  Willing to give others ownership.  Willing to dream.  Willing to let others dream too.  Willing to stay.  Willing to leave when it's time...

Nothing earth shattering here...just thinking.  And looking forward to the GLS.