There is a four letter word in the American Church.
This is something that is rarely mentioned in most churches across the country and even more rarely practiced.
Jesus said it, why don’t we?
Jesus did it, why don’t we?
Discover what this word is and what it means for us.
Blessings,
~John
This past week my wife and I took our kids to Disney World! Their excitement was through the roof (so was ours)! Emily and I have three children but there were five children in our party all week. Emily and I were like kids again! The pure joy and utter excitement was evident as we ran from one ride to the next, from the parade to the next show. We had a blast! It reminded me of what being a kid was like and it made me think…
In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” What is it that is so special about a child? What have we lost through the years of growing up and facing difficulties and disappointments? I believe we have to look at a child in order to discover what we’ve lost. So, here is a short list of what I observe when I think of children.
Children:
-DREAM BIG,
-BELIEVE IN THE IMPOSSIBLE,
-HAVE LOTS OF JOY
-ARE NOT USUALLY BORED
-ARE EASILY EXCITING OVER EVERYTHING
-ARE NOT OFFENDED
-OFTEN FORGIVE IMMEDIATELY
-FORGET ABOUT PAST FAILURE
-DON’T DWELL ON THEIR MISTAKES
The list really goes on, as does the list of things we can learn from it. A child’s most important relationship is with their parents or the one who cares for them. Can we say the same about us? Is our most important relationship with God our heavenly father? On Average Children laugh four hundred times a day versus adults who laugh only fifteen times a day! That contrast is huge! Adults can be boring. I don’t want to be an adult, I want to be a kid! Not once does the Bible have the word adult in it, God never calls us adults, He calls us His children!
So, where have you lost your childlikeness? Have you stopped dreaming? Do you no longer believe in the impossible? Are you bored in life? Are you offended and dwelling on the offense or on your own shortcomings? I dare you to accept the invitation Jesus has extended! Be like a child again, be filled with awe and wonder, let joy bubble up again from the inside and enjoy life!
I refuse to be a kid only at Disney World. I choose to have a childlike joy and faith year round! Life is too short to live any other way. So, today I pray that you and I may see through the eyes of a child and be filled with faith, joy, awe and wonder yet again!
Blessings friend!
~John
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This time last year God put it on my heart to begin to increase my influence. What does that mean? ha Basically he began to stir my heart to do three things:
1. Invest more into a small group of people on a regular basis.
2. Write blogs, books and the like to get into the hands of all who would read them.
3. Record videos and audio teachings to share what He puts on my heart.
And so it began, in January I began writing, meeting with and investing myself into a small group of believers, and I began recording short encouraging videos each week to share what the Lord was putting on my heart. I didn’t know all what I was doing, I was simply obeying Him and doing all that He put on my heart to do. (Click here to watch my very 1st video – an insightful message on Honor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0ZIlmOskfM)
As I continued to do this, He began to expand and develop what I was doing and He began to give me more and more thoughts and ideas. At times it seemed overwhelming but I was excited and I knew it was the Lord. I began to work with a good friend in order to develop a website. I began to write the book the Lord was putting on my heart. I became a student again and began to learn many new things in order to fulfill the dreams He was putting deep down within me.
Fast forward almost one year and I’ve made 50+ videos, wrote and released my first e-book, mentored several individuals, and created my own website. I’ve begun to write a couple blogs a week in addition to the weekly VLOG’s I release. Next week I will be releasing my first Audio Course titled, “Hearing God’s Voice – When it Matters Most” and as we enter into 2015 I plan to have my 501c3 Non-Profit Status. And all this is just the beginning as He continues to give me direction and enlarge the vision within my heart.
Think about all of that though. All of this has transpired in just one year! Which by the way was the busiest year of my life (my wife and I learned to balance taking care of three children and not just two, we moved from Ohio to Florida to answer God’s call, worked hard to sell our house and many other things along the way)!
I say ALL this to encourage you with this one thought:
“Do not despise the day of small beginnings.” Zechariah 4:10
Regardless of what it may look like, no matter how impossible your dreams may seem if they are from the Lord then give your heart to them. Work diligently to do all that God puts on your heart and as you do He will open up even greater doors for you and you will look back and be amazed at all that you and the Father have accomplished together.
Go ahead, get excited! Give God praise now and begin to pursue the dreams He has put deep within your heart. Remove all excuses, step out in faith and get to work! Don’t despise the day of small beginnings because as you are faithful God will richly bless you and the work of your hands. To God be the glory!
Blessings friend,
~John
God put it on my heart to pray a prayer of blessing over you so that is just what I did. Agree with me in prayer! Let’s see the hand of God in our lives, silencing the enemy and awakening faith, hope and love.
Praying for you friends,
We will see the goodness of the Lord!
~John
What’s really better? What’s needed more? What about the busy seasons of life?
God created family, he has a patent on it 🙂 He created us to be relational beings, to have a relationship with Him and with one another. The word relationship by definition means CONNECTION. The greater the connection the greater the relationship.
Too many people buy the lie, “Since I’m in the same room I’m having quality time.” Sure there are times a family can bond around the TV all watching a show or movie together but this is rare. The real quality time comes when you shut the TV off, turn off your devices and engage with the people that are IN THE ROOM with you.
You can be around your family but not really there if that makes sense. Too often this is a sad reality for most, your heart or mind is elsewhere while your spouse and children are crying out for your attention. Not your half-hearted acknowledgement of them but your complete attention, a fully engaged heart, all in!
I’ve noticed when I’m intentional about things that need to get done I accomplish a lot more. I’ve also noticed that this is true not just at work. We need to be intentional about the time that we have with our loved ones and really press in and find out what’s going on in their hearts. We need to let go of all that we worry, stress and think about. We need to let go and just play, laugh, and make memories with our loved ones.
Some would argue that there is no need for quantity if the time together is quality time and although I agree that quality time is more important I would also argue that there needs to be times of quantity as well.
Especially in the busy seasons of life, if you don’t take time to allow your soul to be filled with the love of your family you will burn out or worse blow a gasket and make some horrible decisions.
So this week take an evening, take a day, take a weekend and ENGAGE with the people closest to you. Spend (both quantity AND quality) time with your loved ones and make memories that will last a lifetime.
Praying for you friends,
~John