Pressure produces opportunity.

Have you ever found yourself in a pressure situation? A situation where decisions need to be made. Decisions that could effect other people. Decisions that could see you lose favour with others. Making such decisions will be centred on your core convictions and beliefs.

 

Some people don't know what they believe in. Some are not committed to anything and are easily swayed.

What are your beliefs? Where do you stand?

Your convictions and beliefs are central to your decision making. They ground you and establish the pattern for your life.

Every decision you make will produce an opportunity. If you make a decision to run a red light, you may have the opportunity to pay a fine. You may also have the opportunity to experience what it feels like to have an accident and you may also experience what it feels like to be responsible for the death of another human being. A seemingly small decision can have far reaching effects.

Central to the decision of running that red light is the belief that chances of getting caught are slim and what harm can it do anyway.

Without strong conviction and beliefs you will be prone to making poor decisions that may have negative outcomes. There is a difference between living with conviction and living by consequences.

Pressure situations provide us with the opportunity to make decisions based on our convictions and beliefs. When we stand firm on these convictions and beliefs they will help us determine right from wrong.

A decision, based on what you feel is right in your heart, will always be the best decision. It may not be the most popular and it may not endear you to many though nonetheless, a right decision it is.

 

So true.

Abortion is only advocated by those who have been born.

Ronald Reagan

Influence

Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.

Albert Schweitzer

What's in your hand? Part 2

Brian Houston goes on to say; "What is it about us that wants to do what somebody else does?

There are a number of reasons why we attempt to pursue what is in our hearts, rather than starting with what is in our Hands. The first is:

What is in your hand often involves pressure, discipline and diligence: what is in your heart is romantic. 

The pressure of the present is is not on what is in your heart. Your heart holds a dream to which you escape. Sometimes we get so enamored that we escape to the romance of what is in our hearts because the dreams of the heart do not feel like work; there is no pressure to achieve those dreams.

What is in our hands is present and familiar; what is in our hearts is distant and mysterious. 

We often take for granted that which is familiar to us. Familiarity can cause us to fail to appreciate fully what we have in our hands.

What is in your hand can seem self-indulgent; what is in your heart can seem noble. 

I believe when it comes to focusing on our gifts and talents, we feel that we are too self-focused and self-indulgent. And this can be the case if we take our focus outside of Jesus and his cause and pursue instead the path to fame and fortune.

On the flip side, what is in our heart is often attached to a noble cause; it is about making a difference to others.

What is in your hand looks like you; what is in your heart looks like the way you would like to look. 

What is in your hand looks like you because it is you! It is the way the Father made you. Human nature tends not to like the way we look. This dissatisfaction with our appearance can cause us to look in the mirror and focus on our imperfections. We can try and build an image around how we would like to look or have others see us.

What is in your hand carries the weight of expectation; what is in your heart is unexpected. 

Maybe your friends and peers have expectations in relation to your gifts and talents. The expectation of others may even lead to a little rebellion as you try and break out of the box you feel you have been put in. Those same expectations may cause you to pursue what is in your heart prematurely and out of the wrong motive.

What is in your hand is natural; what is in your heart is spiritual. 

We can devalue what is in our hands by seeing it as natural when compared to the spiritual gifts such as evangelism, prophecy and healing of the sick. Your own gift may seem to lack spiritual significance or weight. However, every gift has value and a spiritual dimension when you have the cause of Christ in your heart. Regardless of whether your gift is in plumbing, carpentry or accounting, when you are faithful with it, the Lord will use it for his purposes.

Finally, I encourage you to begin serving if you are not already. Luke 16:10 says "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much." Start serving in church or volunteering your time to a charity or applying your gifts in your workplace. Start being faithful and diligent there, and I believe God will open the door to what is in your heart.

What is in your hand? Is it a musical gift? An ability for numbers? Business acumen? The gift of hospitality? Great communication skills? An ability to listen and comfort? It could be one or more of a multitude of things. I honestly believe that we all need to consider what is in our hands right now. See the potential of what God has given and how it could lead to the opportunity to fulfil what is in your heart on a much bigger scale."

Banks losing big $$$$$

NAB, one of Australia's largest banks, is forecasting to lose up to $1,000,000,000 largely due to their exposure to the US Sub-Prime mortgage debacle. All fuelled through their insatiable demand for higher profits. 

NAB and others have thrown enormous amounts of money at the U.S. lenders because the returns were so high. Properties in the U.S. were over valued, yet many lenders were keen to loan to people, who at best, would struggle to make repayments.

Now we have people defaulting on loans, walking away from their properties and letting the banks have their home. Surprise, surprise, the homes are not worth the amount at which they were valued and banks are losing vast quantities of cash. 

Compounding the issue is the fact that we seem to want everything now. We are not prepared to wait for that new TV, car or furniture. We want it now and banks have been keen to cater to our desires. More and more money has been financed until people have no expendable income. No-one considers what may happen if interest rate go up, as they have been. We now also have the unfortunate situation where banks are increasing rates outside of Reserve Bank rate rises. (Trying to re-coup some of their losses I'd say.)

Rents in Australia are forecast to continue to rise, as more and more people find themselves in the rental market because of housing unaffordability. 

Where will it end?

Excuses

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

Benjamin Franklin

What's in your hand? Part 1

Often we go through life asking; "What is this all about? What am I meant to be doing? What is my gifting? What am I called to do?" 

Many times we get frustrated, we feel robbed of our calling because we are not working in what we believe to be our calling. 

Some words from Brian Houston reveal more:

"The best way to fulfil what the Lord has put in your heart is by being faithful with what he has put in your hand.

What is in your hand? This is the question God asked of Moses in Exodus 4 as he was grappling with the fact that God had asked him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and the bondage that they lived in. Moses tried to convince the Lord that he was not the right person for the job. The gist of Moses' response to God recorded in Exodus 3 and 4 was, "Who am I and who is going to listen to me? How am I possibly going to do that?"

God replied, "What is in your hand?" (Ex. 4:2). Moses was holding a staff, and that is exactly what God told Moses to use in order to see God's desire to free the people of Israel fulfilled. 

Often your calling is screaming at you; it is staring you in the face. It is what you do naturally, the very thing that is in your hand. Sometimes people are waiting for a still, small voice to tell them what their purpose and calling are. They tell God (and anyone in earshot), "I just don't know where I fit. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't know what God's will is for my life." But the actual Bible word called means to "call out aloud." There is nothing still and small about it.

Ask yourself, "Where am I gifted? Where are my talents? What comes naturally to me? That is your calling.

There are those who say, "I just feel like God wants me to lay it down." The result can be Christian sports people who want to be pastors, and pastors who want to be business people, and worship leaders who want to be rock stars, and pastors who practically sing their sermons because they want to be worship leaders! The fact is that we do not actually have the right to lay down what the Father has given to us as a gift.

Maybe you have acquired some skills along the way that do not seem to have a whole lot to do with Jesus and the cause of Christ. Maybe over the years you acquired a knack for getting out of tricky situations by stretching the truth. If your gift is clearly at cross-purpose with God, then it is probably best to lay that talent down. But we can often underestimate the God-given gifts and talents we have.

James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights." In other words, the Lord does not change his mind. He is not schizophrenic; he has not made you one way to use you a different way. 

God has given you gifts and talents for a purpose - His Purpose."

Rick Warren - What's in your hand?

Rick Warren speaking to a group of influential business people.

This is 21 minutes long so make sure you allow the time.

Secrets of success

Richard St. John: Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes.

Freedom

"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes."

Mahatma Gandhi

Called.

Another Brian Houston gem from his book, For this I was Born.

"Saved! What a miraculous provision that is, but salvation is not one dimensional. It is much more than raising a hand and praying a salvation prayer. Furthermore, it is not only about the afterlife. Millions of Christ's followers have experienced the joy of salvation, but I have a vital question for you. Are you simply living as one who is saved, or have you taken up the challenge to live as one who is called? It is important that we grasp the revelation that we are not only saved, but we are also called for a purpose.

Sandwiched between your salvation (or your connection to the Father) and God's grace (his favor, blessing, and enabling) is your calling and purpose."

Change

It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not.

James Gordon, M.D

Vision

In his latest book, For this I was Born, Brian Houston states: 

"On its own a vision has limitations, but when linked to the cause of Christ, it has supernatural power and purpose. When you surrender your vision and future into Gods hands and align them with his will, your life is a miracle waiting to happen. The cause of Christ will take your personal vision, your passion, dreams and goals to levels you could never have imagined. 

Vision is essential, but the cause is powerful. The cause of the King is the impetus that keeps the church moving forward as a united force on the earth. Your vision tied to mine and that of other believers and underpinned by the cause brings great power and momentum. Together we have an incredible opportunity to bring positive and eternal change."

A powerful and accurate statement. When we understand that Christ came so that we may have life in abundance. When we understand that we have been set free. When we understand that it is finished, that the enemy has been defeated, only then, when we turn and concentrate our focus on a cause which greater than us will we see the miraculous happen. It is then that we will be able to effect positive change in our neighbourhood, city, nation and planet. 

Happiness

Many persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

Helen Keller

Zibi & Magda

We have just spent a great day with Zibi and Magda  Zarbec who are from Poland. Early next year they are starting a church in Krakow. 

They came to Australia to attend the Hillsong conference in Sydney and then up to Townsville as guests of James and Sam Macpherson. 

They are leaving on Friday to spend a week on the Sunshine Coast, where they will catch up with Steve Penny from Kings Christian Church and other friends they have on the coast.

We had the opportunity to take them to the Billabong Sanctuary where they were able to experience some of the native wildlife.

The Billabong Sanctuary is great as there you can touch and hold some of the animals which, when your from Poland and have never seen these animals, is just a fantastic experience. They couldn't stop smiling.

Hope

Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.

Helen Keller (1880-1968)

The need to be loved.

The need to be loved forms the basis of most of our decision making. Deep down we all have the desire to be loved. Loved for who we are, loved by what we stand for, loved for our reputation, loved for who we know, the list goes on.

We are alway making decisions which, deep down, are driven by our desire to be loved. If you think about it, this would dramatically cloud our decision making ability after all, we all want to be loved.

There's plenty written by motivational authors about decision making.
One of the simplest is this "Do what is right".
Deep down we all have an inbuilt sense that tells us what is right.

John maxwell puts it this way.
"You don't make decisions because they're easy.

You don't make decisions because they're cheap.

You don't make decisions because they're popular.

You make decisions because they're RIGHT".

He goes on to say:
"We often make decisions in the heat of the moment. If we're not careful, we can make a life altering decision based on our temporary situation rather than on our values. Or we can base it on our feelings. Instead, if we make critical decisions before we have to, then we can make them without our emotions controlling us. When we do that, we are more likely to make decisions with integrity".

Making decisions when we're emotional clouds our thoughts and we then fall back on making a decision based on what would be the most popular.

Successful people make decisions based on what is right not on what would be the most popular.
Many people in leadership make decisions which would see them become more popular with their staff only to find that their respect level falls with each decision. This is because the decision was centered on their desire to be loved, not doing what was right.
Tough decisions may upset some people however if they are made with the correct thought process that is, doing what is right, then ultimately the decision will be proved correct and respect and love will follow.

Hillsong Conference

Only two more sleeps and we'll be in Sydney for the awesome Hillsong Conference.

It would be wrong to say that this year will be special, because every Hillsong Conference is special.

I must admit I'm looking forward to hearing Joyce Meyer speak. That will be great, though Joseph Prince will be there and he's always got a great message.

So many great speakers from here and around the world.