Never Minding The Fog (Part 2 of 2)

Yesterday's post ("Never Minding The Fog - Part 1") was the result of me having to take a tough look at my life and being selfless enough to publicly share my own process of transformation.  I'm a very practical person and strive to make Christianity plain to understand.  So, as promised, here are the "6 Steps To Never Minding The Fog," as inspired by Holy Spirit on yesterday morning.  I pray these insights will also help you on your road to life transformation in Christ.

6 STEPS TO NEVER MINDING THE FOG

(1) KNOW YOUR DESTINATION.  If you don't know where you're going, then any road will get you there.  Have a clear picture of the goal.  Even if you don't quite know how it looks, at least know its address.  Every landmark has a location, so don't "go another further" until you know exactly where you're going.

(2) CHART YOUR ROUTE.  When you fail to plan, you pretty much plan to fail.  So make time to understand which road(s) to take BEFORE your departure.  Not knowing doesn't automatically spell D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R, but knowing will certainly make the trip way more enjoyable for you.  It will also provide you reference points along the way to reassure that you're headed in the right direction while helping calculate how close you are to your destination.

(3) LEARN THE RULES.  It's very important to understand how to properly get where you're going.  Accidents happen when people are ignorant to the rules of the road or simply refuse to follow them.  More importantly, you must be able to recognize the signs you'll see along the way as well as understand their meanings.  The information they provide is extremely necessary; and because of the speed at which you'll be traveling, the signs are designed to share information concisely.    

(4) GET MOVING.  It's quite easy to get stuck in the paralysis of analysis.  But in order to get where you're headed, you must go.  You can't allow the conditions of your environment to keep you at a stand still.  If the weather and road conditions aren't life-threatening, then get on the road.  Stop making excuses because you're wasting time.  Life is short and destiny awaits!

(5) PAY ATTENTION.  Don't get so caught up in what's happening around you that you miss your exit.  Watch for signs, that you may quickly recognize what they mean and react accordingly.  Missing a sign can cost you valuable time, money, and even effort.  Be disciplined and alert throughout your journey.  Doing so will ensure you avoid those mistakes that create the stressful, frustrating consequences that will give you a swift kick in the rear and leave you bitter.

(6) CORRECT ERRORS FAST.  As soon as you realize you're going the wrong way, turn around immediately.  Get back on track!  The longer it takes for you to recognize you're in error, the farther you will stray off course.  And please don't continue in error hoping that a side street or short cut will emerge.  Even if one does, you have no idea what lies there lurking.  Ditch the pride and receive the protection found in correction.  It will save you from experiencing a whole heap of trouble as well as the emotional baggage it can potentially place in your hands.

Never Minding The Fog (Part 1 of 2)

Preface: This post was actually written on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, even though I was not able to post it until today.  Since this writing was based upon what happened that particular day, I didn't want to ruin it by rewording references associated with the then-present.  Thanks for understanding.  I pray this post encourages you.

As I traveled to work this morning, a very thick fog filled the air, decreasing road visibility to less than a quarter-mile on the Interstate.  The downtown skyline, which could ordinarily be seen from many miles away, was completely out of sight--almost as if it didn't even exist.  In the meantime, I had my instrumental music playing while talking to the Father in prayer.  There were several things on my heart for which I desired  direction and clarity on from Him.  This year has been extremely busy for me and even presented some very difficult challenges.  And although I can feel the tide turning, there are just some things in my life that have consistently been troublesome for me.  The greatest of these has been identifying, understanding and following GOD's path towards fulfilling His purpose for my life.

I truly love how GOD relates to me by His Spirit...  As I drove and prayed, Holy Spirit began to speak right there through what was before my eyes: the fog.  Through this morning's commute to work, He gave me a prophetic visual of my life.  He then said, "Although you can't see WHERE you're headed, aren't you still moving forward?  Of course you are.  And why is that?  Because, even though your surroundings are foggy, you already know the location of your destination and the route you must take to get there."  It finally clicked! Right there, smack dab in my face was the issue.  The unnecessary busyness and extreme willingness to help others that I've been exhibiting FOR YEARS has been my way of coping with the fact that I'm unsure about the location of my destination.  It also means I can't even begin to determine what route to take in fulfilling my reason for being.

As I learned from Dr. Myles Munroe, vision is simply purpose in pictures.  Think of it as the brochure a travel agent gives you when planning a vacation to a destination you've never before visited.  It's the only thing you have that connects you to the place you're planning to go UNTIL you get there.  And the more you see it, the more excited you get.  Anticipation builds as the day of your scheduled arrival draws near, doesn't it?  So imagine what it's like having NO brochure, NO vision.  Imagine knowing you're going somewhere but have no idea where you're headed.  Instead of there being great excitement, there's anxiety. And when the atmospheric conditions impair your ability to make sense of the things around you, the anxiety only intensifies.  This is where the enemy is most easily able to leverage the fears we've yet to overcome.  Using our fears, the enemy influences us to make wrong turns (i.e. bad decisions) that ultimately leave us feeling lost, confused and helpless on life's journey.

No matter what may be happening around us, we should still be able to move forward, just as I was able to successfully get to work this morning in the fog.  When we are properly prepared for the journey, it becomes that much easier to never mind the fog.  Therefore, Holy Spirit impressed six directives upon me during this morning's drive in to work which I will post on tomorrow morning.  [Here is "Never Minding The Fog (Part 2 of 2)].  I feel these steps will likewise help you to never mind the fog.  Furthermore, I pray that what's been shared so far has started to stir your heart and encourage you to reflect on your own life.  It would be great to read your thoughts, so please feel free to leave your comments and feedback below.

Rejection Is Protection

In this Thanksgiving season, we're often encouraged to recount everything for which we're thankful.  Well, this past Sunday, my pastor made the following statement: "In this season [of your life], rejection is protection."  Oddly enough, it wasn't my first time hearing him say this in a sermon.  But today. as I contemplated the relation between what he said and this now being the time of year that we celebrate Thanksgiving, a string of interesting thoughts came to mind.

We've all experienced rejection, and many--if not most--of us have even dealt with the fear of rejection at some point in our lives.  And, let's be honest: no one enjoys being denied what they want.  But how many of us are actually thankful for rejection?  That's something we really don't hear people talking about, especially when the overwhelming majority of praise reports and testimonies given are about what people received.  My question, though, is this: is not GOD's protection from the unseen (and seen) dangers of our desires just as worthy of praise?

Remembering Dr. Munroe: Dying Empty

Words can't even begin to convey the heaviness of heart felt at the news: Dr. Myles Munroe, wife Ruth and others dead in plane crash.  It still seems like a bad dream, and I can only imagine the grief their two children are experiencing now.  Although I will now never get to meet on this side the individual whom GOD used to shape my mindset on the Kingdom, I thank GOD for the opportunity to learn from such an anointed teacher.

I can remember hearing Dr. Munroe say how important it was to know your life's purpose and be found doing things that are aligned with that purpose.  It became clearer to me that life is much more fulfilling and rewarding that way.  His writings encouraged me to identify my gifts and make sharing them with the world a top priority.  Even now, I can hear his voice say, "Don't die empty.  When you die, don't let them bury all of you in the ground."  His books now mean so much more to me because they contain extremely valuable, life-changing insights that will not be committed to the ground with his remains...  All because he refused to die empty.

It's still hard to believe that this amazing hero of mine has transitioned to the next life.  Only one thing overshadows this heaviness I feel deep within, and I thank my wonderful Pastor Nicole Matthews for encouraging me on this wise when she and Apostle Erick learned of the tragedy.  What a glorious reception he and his ministry team must have received as they entered into the very Kingdom he preached and taught for decades.  Heaven must have truly rejoiced, as Dr. Munroe and team made their way to the royal courts of our King.  The Ambassador has finally made it to the home country!

Although their assignments here have ended, I am confident that their work will continue.  Because they invested their time, talent and treasure into creating intellectual property that would outlive them, unborn generations will be able to receive the powerful teachings they shared while alive.  Because they invested in people and raised up leaders around the world, the nations have yet to see the anointed ministry work that will come forth from those whom Dr. Munroe taught, mentored and fathered.

Yes, our hearts ache at this tragic loss; but I am reassured that the latter glory shall be greater than the former.  As the work must now be commended into the hands of other faithful men and women, I believe that an apostolic release will take place in the lives of those he so diligently trained.  The burden for ministry will intensify within them as they mourn, and the time will surely come for them to be sent out by the instruction of the Spirit to do greater works than the phenomenal leader whom the King Father used to usher them into the Kingdom for such a time as this.

Beware of the Holy Indignant - Part 2 | 05.29.14

This blog post is a continuation of the previously published post of the same title.

The A-portion of Amos 5:15 reads, "Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate."  If something is indeed unjust, unworthy, mean, unfair or wrong, then our response should be MORE than just dissatisfaction.  It should be hatred!  Bible here instructs us to do THREE things, not just to pick and choose which one(s) of the three we want to do.  It is, therefore, critical to our ability to righteously "establish judgment in the gate" that we "hate the evil, and love the good."  And in order to fulfill this prerequisite, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as stated in Romans 12:2, so that we can appropriately--and without question--discern evil and good BEFORE we establish judgment.

In considering "the gate," we must understand that it represents an opening--more specifically, a guarded opening.  This is why the aforementioned renewing of the mind is so important: it's designed to produce the mental sobriety necessary for us to successfully determine what goes in and out the gates of our lives.  Additionally, the phrase to "establish judgment" can be better understood as presenting the verdict.  And believe me: when the mind embraces GOD's verdict, the mouth can then articulate it with conviction.  But wait... Once pronounced, the verdict still must be enforced; and dissatisfied people DON'T enforce judgments.  Only the indignant are angry enough to call for the power of GOD as well as make the Spirit-led decisions that will guard the gate.

When people are desperate for change, they will do whatever it takes to see change happen. Therefore, may your worship welcome an uprising of holy indignation TODAY that will actualize your desire for change by spurring Spirit-led decisions for the power of GOD to back up on your behalf.

Beware of the Holy Indignant | 05.08.14

Let's face it...  It's not enough for us to be dissatisfied with where we are. In order to see change manifest, we must come to a place in which we hate where we are. For that is when holy indignation can rise up and inspire the kind of bold decision making that truly manifests change in our life experiences.

Indignation is defined as anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean.  When holy people become indignant over a righteous cause, it is then that the potential for manifested change can be actualized.  In other words, the Deliverer is waiting on us to get angry and make clear decisions that will actually create a thoroughfare for Him to move on our behalf.  For those who may be unaware of it, deliverance does not happen casually.  Neither is it triggered by our mere dissatisfaction with the situations and circumstances of life.  Only hatred can inspire the degree of desperation required to experience a manifestation of change.

Now before you start thinking about how extreme this sounds and mentally begin running scripture references to refute what you just read, let me give you a quick, personal example of this.  I am the type of person that can order a meal and still eat it even though I may be dissatisfied with what I received.  However, IF I HATE IT, then you better believe it won't get eaten.  Such a simple example, yet it speaks volumes about how we live: we can hate something as minuscule as food (and even become indignant about it) but--to our own detriment--resort to just being dissatisfied about the ungodly directions in which our lives are headed... PLEASE take a few moments to really think about that.  Reflect on those areas of your life wherein you have been dissatisfied and failed to develop the hatred necessary to create change there.  (It would be great to hear your thoughts and comments on this!)

TO BE CONTINUED...

The Seal Is The Sign | 03.03.2014

Make no mistake about it... It is by the Holy Spirit that we are sealed unto the day of redemption (according to Ephesians 4:30).  His presence within us, as the redeemed of Christ, is our assurance that we will be caught up at the Savior's return.  Although, at times, we face situations and circumstances in our lives that will cause us to not "feel like" we're saved, our feelings do not determine the intrinsic truth of our realities.  How we feel (at any given moment) is merely an emotional interpretation of that particular "life moment".  When we talk about being sealed unto the day of redemption, we must understand that this refers to the perpetual (or unending) assurance of the believer.