Busy

Have you ever felt like you were too busy, or working too hard? I think many of us 'type A' driven folks have a tendency to get 'too busy' and sometimes just keep working harder and harder and end up burnt out. Often, we drive ourselves into permanent patterns instead of just seasons of busy-ness.

I don't have any earth shattering insight or iron clad answers. However, I do know I am susceptible to having my busy itenerary skew my attitude. I can look at 'work' as the bad guy. 'Work' is so demanding. 'Work' is getting me down. There always just seems like there's too much 'work' to do.

Funny thing I've learned in ministry... there will NEVER be a time... EVER... that all of my work is done. I will NEVER get to a point where I sit back and say, "Cool, I got all my work done today... I think I'll head home early."

So - we all have the same 24 hours in a day. We have control over those hours. Yes, as employees and employers, we have certain things that need to get done. We have responsibilities. We have goals and accomplishments to conquer. But there is still only 24 hours in a day and you get to control how those hours are spent. I'm all for hard work, but...

Bottom line - it's about my attitude. Do I view 'work' as a blessing? If not, maybe I should - considering how many people are looking for work these days. I recently got a clear reminder of the blessing of 'work' from someone else who is really struggling. It's when I see people I know really hurting that shrinks my apparent struggles down to more than manageable levels.

How about you? Feeling overworked? Need an attitude check? I know I needed a check. Work is not the bad guy. Just a thought.

Everyone Has A Dream... The X Factor Devotional - Day Thirty - February 19, 2010

“He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had.’”
Genesis 37:6

In 1989, a movie called “Field of Dreams” was released.  Kevin Costner played Ray Kincella, a 37 year-old man who had never done a crazy thing in his life until he heard a voice one day that said, “Build it and he will come.”  You see, Ray had had a stormy relationship with his dad.  As a rebellious child of the 60’s, he scorned his dad who loved baseball, refusing even to play catch with him.  His father died before he could make things right.  When Ray plowed his cornfield over and made a baseball field, everyone said he was crazy for following his dream, but through the magic of the movie he could be reunited with his father as a young man.  The theology is certainly not correct, and the plot is nowhere near reality, but that is what makes the movies fun to watch.

One thing is for certain; people will come to a place where their dreams can be fulfilled.  God’s field of dreams is not in Iowa, but rather in the hearts of His people.  How do we know what a dream looks like?  This list below gives us a good description of what a God-given dream looks like:

• A God-given dream will stir your passion.
• A God-given dream will be humanly impossible to accomplish.
• A God-given dream will make an impression on you for a lifetime.
• A God-given dream will cause you to exercise strong faith.
• A God-given dream can be very scary.
• The enemy of our soul will attack a God-given dream.

Prayer Focus: Pray Impact will be a true “field of dreams” where people can find and fulfill their dreams.  Pray the whole congregation will be united in our dream to see more changed lives.  Pray we can be one so the world can be won.  Pray for church leaders to have discernment for decisions that affect this dream.  Ask God to protect our dream from the enemy.

Hey Now, Hey Now - Don't Dream It's Over... The X Factor Devotional - Day Twenty Eight - February 17, 2010

“Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.”
Genesis 30:22

Rachel was Jacob’s dream wife.  They were very much in love.  Like many married couples, they desired to have a child.  God listened to Rachel’s dream for a child, and He answered her prayer by giving them a son.  Their dream became a reality named Joseph.

It is impossible to overestimate the power and role of dreams in human existence.  Dreams have brought us lifesaving medical breakthroughs and soul-stirring revival movements.  Some of our greatest athletic achievements are the result of a personal dream.  The United States of America is the result of a dream of real democratic government by a group of patriots.  Martin Luther King changed the course of a nation because he had a dream.  Your world and “the” world can be changed because of the dream inside you.

I’m specifically talking about your daytime dreams – your vision, your hopes, your aspirations, and your desires.  A God-given dream won’t go away.  Search your heart and mind to get in touch with the dream God has put inside you.  Then pray about it and take action! 

Impact’s dream is to inexpensively expand right now; pay down the mortgage; plan for our future; and bless our community… In this, countless more lives are going to change, to God’s glory.

Prayer Focus: Pray our church’s vision will become a reality in God’s perfect timing.  Pray our dreams of saving friends and family through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ will come about because of our spiritual journey.  Ask God to reveal or clarify your personal dream that is His will for your life and direct you in acting on it.  Seriously – what is God tugging on your heart to do?

Don't Short Your Dreams... The X Factor Devotional - Day Twenty Seven - February 16, 2010

“The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered.”
Genesis 39:2a

In 1930, two young brothers named Dick and Maurice McDonald moved from New Hampshire to California to pursue the American dream of being successful.  After a few failed ventures, they struck gold when they opened a small drive-in restaurant.  By the mid-1950’s, their annual revenue was $350,000, and the brothers split $100,000 in profits.

You might think, yes, the rest is history.  But you may be surprised to know the rest of the story.  In 1954, a man by the name of Ray Kroc came into the picture.  Ray Kroc saw potential the brothers did not see.  In 1961, Kroc bought the exclusive rights to McDonald’s for the sum of $2.7 million – now with 21,000+ restaurants worldwide, the rest of the story is history indeed.

The lessons learned from this story are:

• Don’t pull up short of your God-given dream
• Don’t allow someone to out-dream you.
• Don’t allow someone else to finish your dream.

Christians look to Joseph as the role model for dreaming big.  Genesis 39 holds important lessons for all dreamers.  Some lessons in this chapter can keep us from stopping short of accomplishing our dreams are:

• Know God is with us (verses 2, 21, & 23).
• Know God is aware of our actions (verse 9).
• Know God can make the bitter things in life sweet (verses 21-23).

Prayer Focus: Pray Impact will pursue our God-given dream to the fullest potential.  Pray that through the achievement of this spiritual journey we will become better Christ followers for the kingdom of God.  Ask God to show you ways in which you have stopped short of His best for you.  Ask for the boldness to identify and follow through with eliminating what is stopping you.