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.

Released To Respond | 06.30.12

Release is the freedom to start all over again but with a greater sense of responsibility than before.  Bondages are absolutely nothing to play with.  They wreck lives, destroy relationships, ruin careers, dissolve trust, deplete finances, manifest disease and ultimately kill people.  The opportunity to experience release from any form of bondage is nothing short of us witnessing the miraculous extension of GOD's life-altering mercy.  The freedom to start all over again, however, is not a license to enter into that same bondage again.

Responsibility is simply the ability to respond.  With every bondage release there must come greater ability to respond to the factors that initially led us into the bondage from which we've been released.  Why?  Because the enemy is not intimidated by freedom.  As a matter of fact, according to Matthew 12:43-45, an unclean spirit that's been cast out comes back with seven other demonic influences more evil than itself because--just like GOD's plans--Satan's plans require human anatomy for earthly manifestation.  Therefore, deliverance is about much more than a release unto freedom.  Following the recovery of territory occupied by the Kingdom of Darkness in an individual's life, there must be an imparting of power that divinely enables the now free individual to guard their territory against the greater attack to come.

You Can't Turn Back | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

While reviewing my journal this week, I ran across some notes taken during a message heard in church one Sunday in July:

"GOD has a path that will lead you into every promise He's given you (according to Jeremiah 29:11).  Your uncomfortable places are not your final destination.  When you get in an uncomfortable place, your temptation is ALWAYS to turn back.  But if you turn back you'll never get to your destiny."

At this time, the Holy Spirit was really ministering to me because I had become discouraged on my path.  I had contemplated turning back more than once because it appeared things weren't working out as I had expected, and I was growing weary of the struggle.  From time to time, as I'm sitting in a church service, I break away from what the minister is saying to clearly hear the Holy Spirit when He starts speaking to me.  During this particular occurence, I heard the Holy Spirit say the following, which I quickly scribbled into my journal:

"You can't turn back because you have no place to turn back to.  The comfort you remembered can't be found there anymore because that season is over.  Going back there searching for what was there before is a waste of time, and you'll only be miserable there."

I remember being greatly encouraged by what the Holy Spirit spoke to me that day because those words dispelled my desperation.  It was exactly what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it.  I'm not sure if someone reading this TODAY needs to hear what I heard back in July, as well; but I do know that I felt compelled to share this when I ran across those words in my journal again. GOD has a destiny for each person's life.  But you can't turn back: walking into destiny requires forward movement.  You have to stay on the path GOD has laid before you.  So stay on the path to your promise, and watch how it will lead you right into destiny.

Are You Willing To Break Through? (Part 1 of 2) | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

The following blog was posted on my former MySpace blog on October 29, 2007.

I recently read a passage of Dr. Wayne Cordeiro's "Attitudes That Attract Success" that resonated within me: "When we reach a certain level of physical, emotional or mental pain, we reach a quitting point and our systems begin to shut down.  This quitting point can be the result of past habits, or it may simply be our predetermined tolerance level for problem solving.  Whatever the cause, we bail out with predictable consistency at that certain quitting point."

I'm reminded of a time not too long ago when I was in elementary school.  For two years, I played the drums.  Between the practice sessions at school and home as well as the private lessons, I spent an awful lot of time with the sticks.  But what I remember most about that whole experience was the moment I quit.

My private instructor was teaching me how to read sheet music for an entire drum set, which was difficult by itself.  I became so frustrated with the challenge and difficulty of perfecting my hand-eye coordination along with the sight reading that I literally pitched a fit in the middle of my lesson and refused to ever play again.  Not only do I remember that event, but it's one decision I admittedly regret was ever made.

Life has a way of confronting our notions and concepts unlike anything else.  It's so true what they say: "A fool must see his folly before he can become wise."  We get so caught up in our routines and comfort zones that when life places in front of us a problem that requires us to stretch ourselves beyond our known limitations, we quit.  As soon as something demands a little more focus than we're accustomed to giving, or we're required to exhibit increased discipline in an area that was beforehand unnecessary, we jump ship real quick.

At what point do we become willing to break through our quitting points?  At what time do we realize that as long as we keep quitting we're impeding our growth?  Better yet, when will we stop committing idolatry?  Say what?!  That's right!  I-D-O-L-A-T-R-Y.  We've become so hell-bent on avoiding pain that it has become our god.


(To be continued in Part Two on tomorrow.)

Dying to Behold A New Thing

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Isa 43:18-19)

GOD wants to do a new thing, so why are we stuck in the past?  He has already purposed to do what He's never done before.  And yes, while we want to behold the new thing...we want the outcome without the process.  You see, our inability to embrace this new move of GOD eminates from our hesitance to let go of the former things.  Therefore, there's no time better than the present to really check our hearts and evaluate our minds to see what's gotten hold of us.

It doesn't matter who did or said what, or how things were before.  As long as our eyes are only focused on the past, we'll never behold the new thing.  If our hearing continues to be attuned to what we've always heard, then the new thing remains inaudible to our ears.  Craving only the flavors we've enjoyed before will surely keep us from tasting the new thing.  Being captivated by familiar fragrances will prevent us from being enraptured by the new aroma. And our longing for that old, familiar sensation will create wariness of how something new might make us feel.

But in order for us to experience the new thing, we've got to do more than MOVE BEYOND the former things.  What?  You thought moving beyond them was enough?  Not so, my friends.  We've got to DIE to them because, if you only move beyond them, you can always go back to them.  If you're dead, you can't remember or consider ANYTHING prior to your dying because death has transitioned you into a whole new realm.  What worked in the old realm is null and void in the new one.  As a matter of fact, the paradigm has so drastically shifted in the new realm that its environment will not even support the old things--they're rendered obsolete.  Furthermore, you can't even experience GOD in the new realm in the same old, familiar way as before.  Transitioning into the new realm completely redefines our experiences with GOD, thereby radically changing both our concepts and perceptions of Him and how He works.

So if you're ready to experience GOD making a way in the wilderness and carving rivers in the desert, then it's time for you to die.  The time has come for you to transition into a new realm of GOD, a new paradigm of living.  Don't miss the move of GOD in your life because you've chosen to remain in the past.  Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Don't let the enemy take your life.  Just like Jesus, you've got the power to lay it down and the Father will raise you up to a whole new way of living so you can behold the new thing--the UNPRECEDENTED thing--He's already planned just for you.