Expectations

We are now two and a half weeks away from our official launch into public gatherings happening every Sunday evening at Magicopolis! God has done amazing things, the team is pumped, and expectations are high... as they should be.

But the expectation is not that OUR dreams would be fulfilled, rather, that God's dream would be fulfilled. All we can do is abide with Him, listen for Him, obey what He says, and trust Him with the results. Our SOLID expectation is that the plans of the Lord will stand forever. He is in perfect control and, knowing our weaknesses and faults, He still chooses to do amazing things. Why? Because He simply loves us unconditionally. He loves YOU unconditionally. Wherever you find yourself right now, His love beckons you to come and know Him.

Our expectation and assurance is that God is working to reach people far from Him with love. The Gospel is simple... we mess up awfully, but God, through Jesus... wants us, pursues us, saves us, and restores us. That is His dream.

Getting Ideas to Flow

A good post from Leading Blog.

Charles Landry is the founder of Comedia, and works to help cities to be more "creative for the world" so that the energies of individuals and companies can be brought into alignment with their global responsibilities. He recently told Sally Helgesen that his experience has taught him that “the single biggest problem in the world is not finding great ideas but getting great ideas to move, to flow.”

Getting stuck is an issue we face both individually and organizationally. At its core, it’s a thinking problem and is often self-inflicted. Creating the right kind of movement and in the right direction begins with re-thinking our view of reality. If we keep applying the same patterns of thinking even after they have been shown to be counterproductive we skew our perception of even everyday life situations and block the flow of growth, ideas and influence. Here are some common areas we need to rethink to get ideas to flow:

Re-think complexity. We create complexity by over-analyzing our situation; creating issues where there are none; forgetting our purpose. Complexity obscures the issues. Keep the issues as uncluttered as possible. Often an outsider can see the situation and the real issues more clearly than you can. Try asking, “Am I making this a bigger problem than it is because of fear, insecurity or lack of knowledge?” “Is this really a problem to be solved or a tension to be managed?” Stick to what needs to be addressed. Complexity can lead to procrastination.

Re-think systems. Trying to create a new vision without addressing old systems is at best counterproductive. Tenaciously grasping the old ways of doing things just because that is what you have always done, can stop the flow of ideas and innovative solutions and lead to hopelessness. If you are experiencing a chronic lack of movement, a resistance to change or lack of compliance to your “really good idea,” you probably have a system in place that discourages the very behavior you seek. A system should reward the behavior you want. What systems are getting in your way?

Re-think ego. Our ego frequently keeps us from exploring new ideas. We get so invested in what we have done that we can’t get out of our own way. We keep retrying to work the old and deceive ourselves into thinking we’re making progress when all we are doing is rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship. Sometime we need to set aside our ego and simply abandon what isn’t working and start over with a better design.

Re-think boundaries. Think bigger. Think interdisciplinary. Growth often involves blurring boundaries to open your mind to new possibilities. What principles outside of your world of experience could expand the possibilities for your idea?

Re-think reactions. Repetitive reactions are the result of ingrained patterns of thinking that we have hard-wired into our brains long ago. Take the time to reflect on why you think the way you do; why you do what you do. Default patterns of thinking lead to more of the same. Ask yourself, “Is this working for me?” Think about the unspoken.

Re-think failure. If you’re afraid of being wrong, embarrassed by failure or paralyzed by insecurity, you will never find the solutions that lead to meaningful growth. Failure provides the nutrients for growth when we respond to them positively. Keep failure in perspective, it’s a regular part of life. You can’t avoid them so learn to work with them. Failures help you to raise the bar and reorient your thinking to possibilities and new ways of thinking.

Re-think success. Know what success looks like. How will you know when you have arrived? Muddy expectations lead to exhaustion and defeat before you even get started. Praise short-term accomplishments to appeal to your heart and not just your head. It will keep your ideas moving along.

Barney and the Holy Spirit

My daughter's been watching Barney lately. They begin each show with a wonderful introduction of their imaginary friend, Barney.

Sadly, I think that many Christians today think of the Holy Spirit a lot like Barney. He's nice, but not very real or having much affect in my daily life. How about you? Are you walking in the reality of the Holy Spirit? Can you point to your time in fellowship with Him or to the times He is acting through you? Here's a good litmus test...

The Holy Spirit is here to empower and continue the work of Jesus on the earth. Jesus came to earth as a missionary to preach the Kingdom is near, to seek and save the lost, to die as a ransom for many, and to conquer death. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is a missionary spirit. If you are not walking as a missionary, you are not walking with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said it is best for us that He leave, so the Holy Spirit would come. "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7

The Holy Spirit is our Helper, our Comforter, our Power, our Counselor, and our Advocate! Learn to take great joy in partnering with Him in His mission. Exchange your fleeting plans for His eternal plans.