Man_Up and do what is right

 

 

 

Life can sometimes be absolutely cruel.  There is not any other way to describe it.  It is just plain cruel.  Hardships sometimes seem to pile on.  Things seem to happen at the most terrible of times.  We learn to deal with pain, sickness, financial difficulty, divorce, and death.  We deal with a relentless onslaught of issues.  At times there seems to be no break.  So what are we supposed to do?  When is enough, enough?  Will this ever end?  Will I ever accomplish anything?

I have had my share of issues to deal with over the years. Some I thought I handled relatively successful while others I considered total failures. I don’t think I have ever considered quitting on God however there have been instances I really didn’t know exactly how to go forward. All I knew was what I believed and what I had preached for years and that was there was no place to quit or give up. I had to find a way to get a grip on reality and bring it into perspective with the expectation of God fulfilling His will.

One of the things I have to do to bring life into perspective is determine no matter what happens or what life looks like I will do what is right. We sometimes allow ourselves to think that nothing will go wrong if we live for God. We may find that the closer to God we get the hotter the fire becomes to purify our lives. We should maybe consider that in going through difficulties He is transforming our lives to be like Him.

There are three things I have consistently prayed for. I want to be where God wants for me to be. I want to know that it is God who is taking care of me and I want to know that it is God’s perfect will and purpose being fulfilled in my life. Sometimes I can’t see or recognize what I think I should. His ways and His thoughts are above ours. Still there is something I can do. Paul said when you have done all to stand then stand therefore. One interpretation may be when you don’t know what else to do just do what you know is right. God is not changed by our difficulties. He will make a way.

Man_Up and do what is right

Man_Up and be the man that God wants you to be.

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What do you Believe

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Why do you believe what you believe? Do you know? Where does it come from and what are you a product of?

The conversation started with the concept of how we acquire or form our belief system. Part of our belief system is acquired by what we learn from or are told by others like friends, teachers, and parents. Then there seems to come a time in our life where we go through circumstances and situations that make up the experience of life where our belief system is formed. That belief system becomes the very core of what we base all we believe and accept. If we will adequately assess our own lives we can determine where we are and determine which direction we need to proceed.

The circumstances in life sometimes serve to confirm what we believe. Those times we need just to know that we are on the right track. I can’t speak for others but I like at times things going easy or at least predictable. When God confirms that we can depend on Him for our provision, healing, and salvation and the like it makes living enjoyable. We need these times to make the other times tolerable.

Sometimes the circumstances in life challenge the very core of what we believe and that can be one of the most uncomfortable places in life. It seems that at those times we are in a place with absolutely nothing to stand on. When God has declared to you the steps to take all of your life and then He just tells you to step and after you step you can see, touch or feel Him it is very uncomfortable to say the least. God is now treating you in a manner you haven’t experienced. I really believe that this is a process of restoration that is forming a belief system that must be present in order to fulfill the purpose God has for us.

As a number of people come to the same understanding it is confirmation God is fulfilling what He wants accomplished. This restoration and confirmation allows this belief system to be passed on to the next generation.

Man_Up and be the man God wants you to be.

Hope and Expectation is not overrated

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Hope and expectation should never be overlooked when it comes to ministry. Much is said about faith and consistent living when it comes to being over comers. It is not possible to be successful without hope and realistic expectation. Don’t overlook them.

We recently returned from a trip Costa Rica where we were privileged to witness first hand for ourselves the culture and the atmosphere of some ministry there. It was eye opening to say the least. You can see pictures and videos do a little more however nothing is like the experience of being there. If you are reading the reports that you can retire on next to nothing and live in certain areas like kings it may not all be true. The culture and lifestyle of the normal inhabitants of Costa Rica was much different than what we expected.

I can’t say that we really knew what to expect except I guess we expected it to be easier to communicate. There are a number of people who are not American transplants that do speak English but I am convinced now that most do not. The man who drove the shuttle arranged by the place where we stayed spoke pretty fluent English. Without too much trouble we were able to communicate. Twice we were given directions to a given location, which is interesting, and the cab driver did not speak any English. That was not fun. As a matter of fact there are certain times as we look back now that it could be very dangerous. Easy communication as it turned out was not a realistic expectation.

We were fortunate to be able to observe a Children Worker Conference which took place at the Bible Institute. It reminded me a lot some of the camps we were privileged to be a part of as our children were growing up. The people were from all over the region. You could tell from their appearance that they were not there to impress anyone or on vacation. They were there to learn and progress in their commitment to fulfill what God had called them to do. They were just there to learn how to recognize opportunity and utilize their abilities to reach children for Christ. There was one thing they seemed to have in common with one another from the looks on their faces and their actions. Hope! They were excited and hopeful about what they were learning and the results that would follow.

The disappointments and discouragements in life associated with failures  and misunderstandings and unexpected situations can absolutely destroy being able to look to the future with any hope. That is just a fact of life we need to accept. Because that is true we need to constantly feed and reinforce hope and realistic expectation in our lives. We must trust that God is in control and He has a specific goal in mind.

Man_Up and be the man that God wants you to be.

 

Influence others by your life of Integrity, purpose, and balance

We recently took a trip to Costa Rica. This is a picture of a Sunday School class at one of the churches we visited there. Upon our return I began to think seriously. It is all about influence. The integrity that we live with as well as the purpose and balance our lives show rubs off on others. Determine to make a difference.

This is worth posting again.

Man_Up and BE A Man

Influence is one of the most important attributes we can possess. It is the means by which we affect the people and world around us. Our influence is manifest both positive and negative so we must really be careful how we use it.

Most everyone by now has heard the statement that leadership is influence. That is a very powerful statement. Because of the potential impact we possess we need to consider very diligently the direction we are going and what it will do for others. We must be grounded or settled in what we believe.  What we believe is going to determine which direction we are going to go, how we plan on getting there, and who we plan on taking with us. Once we are settled on what we believe the follow up is easier. As we begin to move others begin to buy in and follow. One of the cool things is the ones who are following often help to define the specific direction and mode of transportation for reaching the goal. It is called leadership but it is based on influence.

The word of God says that two is better than one. If one be overtaken there is protection with a second. If one gets cold there is warmth with a second suggesting comfort from obstacles. He declares that there is safety and direction in a counsel of multitudes. Influence is one way to describe it but it all starts with relationship. A healthy relationship opens the door and allows the presentation of opportunity to assert influence.

Use your attributes such as being responsible, living a balanced life, knowing your purpose, being a person of integrity, and being a person of faith to positively influence the lives of others.

Man_Up and be the man God wants you to be.

What Steps are You Taking

The Steps of a righteous man are ordered by God

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There are times I have had to admit that I was in a place I did not expect having to make choices I did not like to make because I believed I had already made those choices. I did not want to admit or accept I guess that God would put me in that position. Well, He did and I found that it was my job to accept it.

We all wonder at times why things are happening the way they are happening. There are times we question if God is really on our side. We all believe that if we had more we could do more and if things didn’t come against us at the most inopportune time we could accomplish more. We will not have a lot of control over when and where circumstances seem to obstruct our path. We could and would possibly do more if we had more and there is no right or opportune time for opposition. Realistically the time is always now and that is when things happen. Just be assured of this. God is now and always on your side.

As we search the scriptures we find that all men of God have had to face and endure their share of misfortune or opposition. Some men have even been taken from this life before receiving the promise yet it didn’t detour them. God promised He would never leave us nor forsake us and His word goes on to say that all things work together for good to them who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Each step of a righteous man is ordered of God. It is important for us to understand that God will tell us each step to be taken. It is equally important to accept that God uses each of those steps to confirm His leading us to that place of righteousness in Him. May we discover how to follow God in such a manner that we can hear Him say “well done.”

Man_Up and be the man that God wants you to be.

How much can you take?

Man_Up

Have you ever said “You’ve had enough?” Although I have been at this place several times in my own life I have not fully come to conclusion on how this works.  It is possible for us to not be fully cooperative with God’s plan and almost become dysfunctional because of discomfort.  At that point we are not comforted by what God may be doing for us.  We are not content by any stretch of the imagination.  All we know is that we hurt and we don’t want to hurt any more.  So we may say that we can’t take any more and we’ve had enough.

The reason I said that I’ve not fully come to conclusion as to how all this works is this.  I know this.  If we are serious with God we must believe that He is working also.  He said in His word that if we would draw near to Him.  He would draw near to us.  When we start getting close to the end, something starts to happen in us.  I am not so sure that we don’t sense that the end is near.  It may manifest as anxiety or anticipation but I do believe God begins to do something in us.  It may be for encouragement that this is not the end and that God has more.  It may be that others need to know and hear that God has more for you.  It just seems obvious that God begins to stop and orchestrate change.  The part that is puzzling is that there is still time involved.

We must come to the place of overcoming the temptation to withdraw or back away because that is the place we become dysfunctional. God knows that we hurt. God knows that we experiencing a near unbearable dilemma. He also knows the necessity of taking us this way.We must accept that God knows best and He is in control. There are times it is not easy however it can be accomplished.

Man_Up and be the man God wants you to be.

Follow God’s Leading

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Have you ever considered the many ways God speaks to those who will listen?

Or maybe by chance have you considered how many different ways He leads those who choose to follow Him. I by no means declare to have all the answers. Neither do I claim to understand everything. However I do know this. God knows where He is taking each of us and He is well able to get us to that spot.

I find in the word that His direction came as a directive, a necessity, an option, and as an unwanted forced participation. Each of us have experienced all of those things happen in our lives. So how are we to know what God is saying and when He is saying it? How are we supposed to know what to accept and what to resist? That is a good question.

I suppose that is what makes this a walk of faith. I am fully convinced at this point that sometimes we don’t know the answer. We just know what is in our heart. We allow the feelings and emotions involved with the experiences we encounter often times to cloud our sensitivity and interrupt our ability to think clearly. We just know we don’t want to hurt any more. We just know we don’t want to miss God. We just know we don’t want to guess on what to do and it messes with us.

So how does God lead? Even better how do you know how to follow? Do what you can. Don’t be too disappointed when you face things beyond your control. There will be things that you absolutely are required to participate in and some of them you may not be given a choice. Part of life you will even enjoy. Stay faithful. Establish yourself and maintain a life of holiness. Above all trust God.

Man_Up and be the man that God wants you to be.

Where’s the man?

How do we know we are on the right road? How do we know we are headed in the right
direction? The experiences of this life take us to places that we never dreamed we would go. The choices
of others place us in circumstances we never imagined we would encounter. That’s not a hypothetical.
That will prove to be reality in our lives. I don’t believe people set out expecting to deal with divorce,
untimely death, unexpected career changes or any other of the surprises that seem to show up in our
lives.
While life seems to throw stumbling blocks in the way we still have to live for God and stay on
the straight and narrow. In dealing with the things life throws at us we find ourselves emotionally torn at
times. Nobody else is facing the stuff we are. No matter what we do it’s not enough or good enough. Is
there ever going to be a breakthrough? In this walk we will have to deal with the surprises of life and the
emotional swings of humanity. It is just going to be reality. Because of that it is imperative we know
where we are in our walk with God. We must be able to adequately assess where we are in Him.
In the book “Where’s the Man” I used the life of David as subject matter to answer this life
question. Where’s the man? We may not be able to control what we have to face in this life but in our
lives with Christ we can overcome, endure, go over, go through, go around and pass through without
passing out. How we deal with things is going to determine whether we are on the right road. How we
respond to situations that are beyond our control is going to determine whether or not we are going in
the right direction. Our response will answer this question. Where’s the man?

Man Up through it all!

What does it mean to Man_Up? Is it relative to life today? Is it possible to live for God in this
dispensation of time and be successful at it? Can we really trust God to fulfill his will and purpose in us?

Though it may appear as a play on words, Man_Up is a relative term for today’s society. The
ever changing world in which we live is filled with circumstances that take us where we never dreamed
we would have to go and requires us to be what we never imagined we would have to be. I don’t know
why that surprises us as it has been my experience that things often happen when I least expect them
to. To man up is to step up and take your place in that process of life.

We are going to be challenged and at times those challenges will be personal. God is still looking
for one who will stand in the hedge and make up the gap. God is still looking for one who will intercede
for the land and his fellow man. God is still looking for one who will believe and stand for what is right.
God is still waiting for those who will accept the challenge of being what He wants for them to be.

We must learn how to accept encouragement also. The challenges of life have the potential to
beat us down. In order to be able to rise above that we must learn to listen carefully for the
encouragements that God inserts in life. It may seem that God is silent but he is always present. His
promise is that He would never leave us nor forsake us. He is our encourager and we must learn to listen.

If we are going to continue forward we must learn to adequately assess where we are in our
walk with God. If God gives dreams, visions, gifting and callings then we need to know how to adequately
assess some degree of success in them in order to sustain the drive to continue forward. This walk is by
faith and being able to envision the fruit at the end enables us to continue walk forward.

Man_Up and be the man God wants you to be. There is a man to whom God will listen. There is
a man who God will bless. There is a man God is looking for. Let that man be you.

Man_Up and be the man God wants you to be.