From the discussion of ‘Do you have what it takes’ by John Maxwell at the Maximum Impact Club. This section deals with Risk.
‘I think it is unfortunate that to some degree the word ‘entrepreneur’ has taken on the connotation of a gambler. Many times action is not the most risky path. The most risky path is inaction.
Experience has shown me that taking risks has specific advantages.
One – you learn things faster than the people who don’t take risks.
Two – you have a broader range of experiences
Three – you bump into more obstacles sooner than the people who play it safe.
Four – you learn to get around those obstacles.
So it’s not that you’re smarter than other guys; you just get a better education – quicker.
Risks
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing you true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To live is risk dying
To hope is to risk despair
To try is to risk failure
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing and is nothing
They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves, they have forfeited freedom
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Who do you or will you serve?
Following is God’s direction to Joshua after Moses had died and that was recorded in Joshua 1:5-9. Joshua became a great warrior for God.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- Joshua eventually led the Israelites across the Jordan and into Canaan and took the city of Jericho. The conquest of Canaan had little to do with Joshua’s military savvy or the Israelite’s bravery. It had everything to do with a promise God made to an old man (Abraham) with no kids. God delivers on His promises.
- Joshua listened to what God told him above and trusted God. Why don’t we listen to God? Oh, it’s because we’re too smart you say. At least smarter than Joshua.
- It is more important now than ever to have faith in God and to live for Him.
- Why don’t we believe God? Well it’s a nice story but it’s just a story you say. And besides how can I believe in a God if he doesn’t really ever make himself visible or do the things he has done in the Bible or lets bad things happen to good people.
- One of the most important things we, my wife and I, have decided is stated in Joshua 24:15: ‘But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
- Joshua eventually led the Israelites across the Jordan and into Canaan and took the city of Jericho. The conquest of Canaan had little to do with Joshua’s military savvy or the Israelite’s bravery. It had everything to do with a promise God made to an old man (Abraham) with no kids. God delivers on His promises.
- Joshua listened to what God told him above and trusted God. Why don’t we listen to God? Oh, it’s because we’re too smart you say. At least smarter than Joshua.
- It is more important now than ever to have faith in God and to live for Him.
- Why don’t we believe God? Well it’s a nice story but it’s just a story you say. And besides how can I believe in a God if he doesn’t really ever make himself visible or do the things he has done in the Bible or lets bad things happen to good people.
- One of the most important things we, my wife and I, have decided is stated in Joshua 24:15: ‘But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Don't sacrifice the gift
A quote attributed to the Head Basketball Coach of Virginia Commonwealth University Shaka Smart is below. After researching it on the Internet I found it was credited to Steve Prefontaine a distance runner I believe.
One thing that is not questionable is the way VCU plays basketball. The VCU kids are aggressive, talented and in the opponents' face constantly. Love the aggressiveness.
VCU is leaving it all on the court every game. There is no doubt that they are giving it their absolute best.
'To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift'
One thing that is not questionable is the way VCU plays basketball. The VCU kids are aggressive, talented and in the opponents' face constantly. Love the aggressiveness.
VCU is leaving it all on the court every game. There is no doubt that they are giving it their absolute best.
'To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift'
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Charlie Sheen isn't the only one who needs a do over.
Ever do something that you regret and wish that you had the opportunity to do it over? Well most likely your faux pauxs are more private and are not broadcast all over the world.
Talk about someone who needs a do over. Read on.
‘CEO of Burger King slammed after calling British women ugly, saying U.K. food is 'terrible'’
BY PHILIP CAULFIELD DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
The CEO of Burger King is getting grilled for telling a group of students that British women are ugly and that food in the U.K. is "terrible."
Bernardo Hees, who was named the head of worldwide fast food chain in September, was speaking to a group of students in Chicago late last week when he unfondly recalled his days as a young scholar working on an MBA at the University of Warwick in England.
"The food is terrible and the women are not very attractive," Hees said, according to the University of Chicago's student paper, the Chicago Maroon. "Here in Chicago, the food is good and you are known for your good-looking women."
Hees was trying to make a point that his MBA experience was a breeze because he wasn't worried about wining and dining, but officials and chefs in the U.K. have pounced on his remarks.
Talk about someone who needs a do over. Read on.
‘CEO of Burger King slammed after calling British women ugly, saying U.K. food is 'terrible'’
BY PHILIP CAULFIELD DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
The CEO of Burger King is getting grilled for telling a group of students that British women are ugly and that food in the U.K. is "terrible."
Bernardo Hees, who was named the head of worldwide fast food chain in September, was speaking to a group of students in Chicago late last week when he unfondly recalled his days as a young scholar working on an MBA at the University of Warwick in England.
"The food is terrible and the women are not very attractive," Hees said, according to the University of Chicago's student paper, the Chicago Maroon. "Here in Chicago, the food is good and you are known for your good-looking women."
Hees was trying to make a point that his MBA experience was a breeze because he wasn't worried about wining and dining, but officials and chefs in the U.K. have pounced on his remarks.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Principles
"It's far easier to fight for principles than to live up to them..."
Adlai Stevenson (1900 - 1965)
Adlai Stevenson (1900 - 1965)
Saturday, March 12, 2011
A Different Weekend
This was a different kind of weekend for my wife and I. My wife isn’t available due to work obligations so I had to find some other things to do myself.
Something I already know and that was reinforced today and that I tell people is that my wife is truly my best friend. Usually on the weekend we do some things together and we spend time talking together. But we always know where the other is and we can interrupt each other during the day to talk or whatever.
We are both busy and don’t always get a lot of time together during the week. Between evening and weekend meetings, separate outings with friends and other activities or obligations we don’t always get a lot of time together.
We decided some time ago that rather than worry about the time we don’t get to be together we would try to take advantage of the time we do have together and maximize that time. We respect each other’s needs and desires and work together to make our lives work together.
Not everyone wants to do that but whatever your situation you have to do what works for you.
Today I got to catch up on some reading, do some shopping that I rarely ever do, do some cleanup at the house, spend time visiting with a friend and his family, hit some golf balls at a local range and there were about 20 other people with the same idea, caught several NCAA games simultaneously at a local restaurant, dinner out, did some writing and yet to do some walking/running, preparation for a meeting tomorrow, a little more reading and some more NCAA basketball.
Looking forward to the next time I see my wife. It’s always more fun doing stuff with her.
Something I already know and that was reinforced today and that I tell people is that my wife is truly my best friend. Usually on the weekend we do some things together and we spend time talking together. But we always know where the other is and we can interrupt each other during the day to talk or whatever.
We are both busy and don’t always get a lot of time together during the week. Between evening and weekend meetings, separate outings with friends and other activities or obligations we don’t always get a lot of time together.
We decided some time ago that rather than worry about the time we don’t get to be together we would try to take advantage of the time we do have together and maximize that time. We respect each other’s needs and desires and work together to make our lives work together.
Not everyone wants to do that but whatever your situation you have to do what works for you.
Today I got to catch up on some reading, do some shopping that I rarely ever do, do some cleanup at the house, spend time visiting with a friend and his family, hit some golf balls at a local range and there were about 20 other people with the same idea, caught several NCAA games simultaneously at a local restaurant, dinner out, did some writing and yet to do some walking/running, preparation for a meeting tomorrow, a little more reading and some more NCAA basketball.
Looking forward to the next time I see my wife. It’s always more fun doing stuff with her.
Something about serving and pride
Who is the most difficult person you have to deal with? You may have named one or more people without having to think very much. But you should read on and see if you agree with John Ortberg.
In his book ‘The Life You’ve Always Wanted’ Ortberg has a chapter titled “Appropriate Smallness’ that deals with pride. He offers examples of pride including vanity, stubbornness and exclusion.
But he offers a way to deal with pride. It is through servanthood and this is part of the chapter subhead. 'The primary reason Jesus calls us to servanthood is not just because other people need our service. It is because of what happens to us when we serve.'
One form of servanthood he identifies is 'The ministry of 'Bearing.' This spoke to me about the way I think about some people. An excerpt is below.
‘We are called to bear each other’s burdens…But at times it may feel as if an entire relationship is burdensome. I may need to ‘bear with’ people until I learn to love them.
…The leader of the group gave some thoughtful advice. She said we should set aside any tendency we might have to evaluate the people and their comments and simply let God speak through them.
I realized that I tend to approach things the other way. As a reflex I had started sizing up the group from our first meeting. Here is a troubled, whining, recovery junkie type, I thought as one person spoke. And here is a traditional, hyper-rational, old school character who will not discover or reveal his heart. And here is a wise, high functioning person I can really learn from. On I went, putting people on a kid of maturity continuum, ready to listen to and try to connect with those who seemed advanced and to endure those who seemed to lag behind.
The leader’s directive - to let go of evaluations and allow God to speak – was, unknown to her, a gentle indictment of my whole way of listening. I realized that my evaluations, while perhaps not totally off base, had more to do with me than with the people I was evaluating. More important, they kept me from listening to what God might want to say to me through people. They kept me from seeing the truth that all of us are somewhere on a journey to God, and the gap between least and most advanced is infinitely smaller than the gap between the most advanced and God himself.
The ministry of bearing with one another is more than simply tolerating difficult people. It is also learning to hear God speak through them. It is learning to be ‘for’ them. It is learning that the difficult person I have most to deal with is me.
This means that…I am called to free people... – repeatedly if necessary – from the little prisons to which I consign them….It may be the most difficult kind of person of all – one in whom I see the same struggles that rage inside me.’
In his book ‘The Life You’ve Always Wanted’ Ortberg has a chapter titled “Appropriate Smallness’ that deals with pride. He offers examples of pride including vanity, stubbornness and exclusion.
But he offers a way to deal with pride. It is through servanthood and this is part of the chapter subhead. 'The primary reason Jesus calls us to servanthood is not just because other people need our service. It is because of what happens to us when we serve.'
One form of servanthood he identifies is 'The ministry of 'Bearing.' This spoke to me about the way I think about some people. An excerpt is below.
‘We are called to bear each other’s burdens…But at times it may feel as if an entire relationship is burdensome. I may need to ‘bear with’ people until I learn to love them.
…The leader of the group gave some thoughtful advice. She said we should set aside any tendency we might have to evaluate the people and their comments and simply let God speak through them.
I realized that I tend to approach things the other way. As a reflex I had started sizing up the group from our first meeting. Here is a troubled, whining, recovery junkie type, I thought as one person spoke. And here is a traditional, hyper-rational, old school character who will not discover or reveal his heart. And here is a wise, high functioning person I can really learn from. On I went, putting people on a kid of maturity continuum, ready to listen to and try to connect with those who seemed advanced and to endure those who seemed to lag behind.
The leader’s directive - to let go of evaluations and allow God to speak – was, unknown to her, a gentle indictment of my whole way of listening. I realized that my evaluations, while perhaps not totally off base, had more to do with me than with the people I was evaluating. More important, they kept me from listening to what God might want to say to me through people. They kept me from seeing the truth that all of us are somewhere on a journey to God, and the gap between least and most advanced is infinitely smaller than the gap between the most advanced and God himself.
The ministry of bearing with one another is more than simply tolerating difficult people. It is also learning to hear God speak through them. It is learning to be ‘for’ them. It is learning that the difficult person I have most to deal with is me.
This means that…I am called to free people... – repeatedly if necessary – from the little prisons to which I consign them….It may be the most difficult kind of person of all – one in whom I see the same struggles that rage inside me.’
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Iron Sharpens Iron sample
Rod Cooper is a Professor of Discipleship and Leadership Development at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Following are some comments he made at a workshop titled ‘How to Help Your Marriage Hold Up and Not Fold Up’ during the Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Seminar held in Hershey, PA, on Saturday, March 5, 2011.
oOne thing that couples don’t count on when they get married is change. It you aren’t prepared for it you’ll want to go back to the good old days.
oMarriages go through stages or seasons - each depends on the other. How you prepare so it is a transition and not a crisis? Recognize the signs. Have a strategy. If you are serious (about your marriage) you will make the changes.
oMarriage is your last best chance to grow up!
oIf you want your wife to respect you, you have to put some deposits in the emotional bank account.
oTo be the leader of your family don’t run from conflict. Don’t treat your wife like a child. Don’t resort to childish behavior yourself.
oHow you fight is one of the most telling ways to diagnose the condition of your marriage.
oRuth Graham, the wife of well-known Evangelist Billy Graham, was once asked what would you change about Billy if you could? Ruth’s response was eye-opening. My job is to love Billy. It’s God’s job to change Billy.
oAn explanation of the word love in the Bible scripture calling husbands to love their wives means to look out for your wife’s interests before you look out for your own.
oCommitment to improve your marriage is more than about you. It’s about enhancing your relationship.
oBest question to ask if you want a better marriage is ‘God what do you want me to learn?’
Next Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Seminar is in the Philadelphia area (King of Prussia, PA) on Saturday, April 9, 2011. See umof.org for more details.
Following are some comments he made at a workshop titled ‘How to Help Your Marriage Hold Up and Not Fold Up’ during the Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Seminar held in Hershey, PA, on Saturday, March 5, 2011.
oOne thing that couples don’t count on when they get married is change. It you aren’t prepared for it you’ll want to go back to the good old days.
oMarriages go through stages or seasons - each depends on the other. How you prepare so it is a transition and not a crisis? Recognize the signs. Have a strategy. If you are serious (about your marriage) you will make the changes.
oMarriage is your last best chance to grow up!
oIf you want your wife to respect you, you have to put some deposits in the emotional bank account.
oTo be the leader of your family don’t run from conflict. Don’t treat your wife like a child. Don’t resort to childish behavior yourself.
oHow you fight is one of the most telling ways to diagnose the condition of your marriage.
oRuth Graham, the wife of well-known Evangelist Billy Graham, was once asked what would you change about Billy if you could? Ruth’s response was eye-opening. My job is to love Billy. It’s God’s job to change Billy.
oAn explanation of the word love in the Bible scripture calling husbands to love their wives means to look out for your wife’s interests before you look out for your own.
oCommitment to improve your marriage is more than about you. It’s about enhancing your relationship.
oBest question to ask if you want a better marriage is ‘God what do you want me to learn?’
Next Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Seminar is in the Philadelphia area (King of Prussia, PA) on Saturday, April 9, 2011. See umof.org for more details.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
A big Prayer
I saw this at ‘Kingdom Business’. It was linked on the Regent University Regent Center for Entrepreneurship site. The link to the RU site is below.
It is a prayer that encourages us to realize that we have a God who is capable of great things and we should remember and apply that. It is a good reminder for all of us that many times we don’t ask God for enough. Be bold is the message.
Bearing the Arms of Moses; Ten Ways to Pray for Mobilizers and Cross-cultural Workers
By Shane Bennett (see on original site at Missions Catalyst)
It's a fascinating picture, isn't it? As long as Moses holds his staff aloft toward the throne of God, Joshua and his army prevail against the bad guys. But Moses, though a galactic superman, got tired. Exodus 17 tells us his buds Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. Then they began to hold up his arms! I know you've heard this story since you were a kid, but think about it for a second: They used their arms to hold up his arms. I suppose Moses got tired of holding the staff, but how long until Aaron and Hur got tired of holding his arms, holding the stick? Couldn't have been long. Yet they persevered through sun, fatigue, and smelliness ... and it worked. Come evening, Joshua prevailed on the battlefield below.
Now maybe it's a stretch to equate missionaries and mobilizers with Moses. If it doesn't totally feel like you're cheating on your hermeneutics prof, try this on: We have the opportunity, through prayer, to be Aaron and Hur for our friends who are holding up the staff of God for the advance of his kingdom among the least evangelized peoples on the planet.
When I think of you who read this column, I realize that (unless you were assigned to read this as a "bad example" of persuasive writing) you probably have some stake in the completion of the Great Commission. You've made sacrifices in an effort to see the good grace of Jesus go to where it hadn't before. So I asked myself, how I would pray for you? How would I hold up your arms so that the dreams of your heart might find success?
Here it is. Here's what I pray for you. Maybe these things would be good to pray for every last one of us, but I think they have particular relevance for those who have laid it on the line for the "sheep of another pen."
1. Freedom from Fear
Perhaps more frequently than any other command, the Bible tells us not to fear. At the same time many of us live in cultures both saturated with and fueled by fear. I know I fear failure. I fear discomfort. I fear the loss of my health, security, and status. But this is not normal life for a follower of Jesus. John tells us that "perfect love drives out fear."
E. Stanley Jones, a world-class missionary who lived most of his life in India, encourages, "Then discipline yourself against all anxiety and fear. Fear is the enemy - not the thing of which we are afraid, for most of our fears are never realized. They never come. Those that do come can be used in the purposes for which we live."
May God add his grace to our discipline, resulting in lives free from fear.
2. Growing Hope
If you've been a Great Commission groupie for a while, perhaps you've wondered from time to time why the job's not done yet. Maybe (on dark days) you struggle to believe it ever will be. God's promises are huge. His commandments are extensive, and the effort exerted to obey them has been epic. But there's so much still undone. So much pain. So much despair.
As you add days to days and years to years, may you look increasingly like your father Abraham who "against all hope, in hope believed and so became the father of many nations."
My God fill us with hope. May he rekindle within us the conviction that "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
3. Big Faith
As that hope grows, I pray big faith for you. Faith that allows you to pray audacious prayers. Faith that compels you to ask for the nations. Faith not content with one Muslim here and one there following Jesus, but that asks God for hundreds of millions from the sons of Ishmael to find life in Christ. Faith that asks God for what you not only can't accomplish on your own, but can barely imagine.
4. Battle Skills
May you have eyes to see what's really coming at you. May you have wisdom to discern between the focused attacks of your enemy and the normal challenges of a world that produces thorns and thistles. May you have the kind heart of the truest Mennonite with the fighting skills of a Navy Seal (or their spiritual equivalent). Let these skills be deployed under God not only for the protection of your family, but also for the release of many captives from their prisons and the rolling back of the work of our enemy.
5. A True Band of Brothers and Sisters
As you exercise your faith and hone your spiritual warfare skills, may God gather around you a team like Moses had in Aaron, Hur, and Joshua. May he give you, as he sees fit, a husband or wife, colleagues, pals, counselors, and mentors - people who will speak the truth to you even at great risk, love you even through great failure, and accept you even though they know you deeply. May he bring you a band of people for whom you would gladly die.
6. Authority
I pray for you to grow in authority. May God fill you with such spiritual authenticity, such power, such tangible presence of Jesus that though you never raise your voice, the room is quieted. May men and women of power care what you say, even do what you ask, because the scent of Jesus is strong on you. May no pain you experience be wasted, but rather captured for the maturing of your character, readying you to prevail in the next challenge ahead.
7. Wisdom
As your authority grows so will the trickiness of your problems. Get wisdom and keep on getting it. May God push that wisdom into the depths of your heart and all the way out to the edges of your consciousness. May you understand how to humbly love people, both submit to and lead people, inspire hope and great sacrifice in people. May you have sufficient wisdom to hear and follow the voice of your shepherd and thereby give your youth, your energies, and your very life in the place of your greatest usefulness.
8. Perseverance
May you walk all the way to the end of your road. Though it seems the road will never end and for long stretches you walk alone, don't stop walking. May the resilience and perseverance we imagine, or know, to have been in our ancestors also be found in you. I ask God for your strength, determination, and commitment. Keep walking.
9. Rest
Stop walking from time to time. Obey the fourth commandment. Rejoice that you are a creature and not the Creator. Accept his gift of rest with open arms. As you pause, I pray God will restore your soul, that he will speak to the core of your being, and that he will give you strength to get up and walk again.
10. Joy
Finally, I pray for joy for you; for a radical love for God and a daily, intimate connection with him. May Jesus be your shepherd and friend. May the Holy Spirit empower you and counsel you. May abundant life be yours. Right now. And forever. May you breathe in God and radiate out the peace, power, and purpose of a God intent on defeating every evil and winning the whole world.
Amen.
http://kingdomentrepreneur.blogspot.com/2010/10/bearing-arms-of-moses-ten-ways-to-pray.html
It is a prayer that encourages us to realize that we have a God who is capable of great things and we should remember and apply that. It is a good reminder for all of us that many times we don’t ask God for enough. Be bold is the message.
Bearing the Arms of Moses; Ten Ways to Pray for Mobilizers and Cross-cultural Workers
By Shane Bennett (see on original site at Missions Catalyst)
It's a fascinating picture, isn't it? As long as Moses holds his staff aloft toward the throne of God, Joshua and his army prevail against the bad guys. But Moses, though a galactic superman, got tired. Exodus 17 tells us his buds Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. Then they began to hold up his arms! I know you've heard this story since you were a kid, but think about it for a second: They used their arms to hold up his arms. I suppose Moses got tired of holding the staff, but how long until Aaron and Hur got tired of holding his arms, holding the stick? Couldn't have been long. Yet they persevered through sun, fatigue, and smelliness ... and it worked. Come evening, Joshua prevailed on the battlefield below.
Now maybe it's a stretch to equate missionaries and mobilizers with Moses. If it doesn't totally feel like you're cheating on your hermeneutics prof, try this on: We have the opportunity, through prayer, to be Aaron and Hur for our friends who are holding up the staff of God for the advance of his kingdom among the least evangelized peoples on the planet.
When I think of you who read this column, I realize that (unless you were assigned to read this as a "bad example" of persuasive writing) you probably have some stake in the completion of the Great Commission. You've made sacrifices in an effort to see the good grace of Jesus go to where it hadn't before. So I asked myself, how I would pray for you? How would I hold up your arms so that the dreams of your heart might find success?
Here it is. Here's what I pray for you. Maybe these things would be good to pray for every last one of us, but I think they have particular relevance for those who have laid it on the line for the "sheep of another pen."
1. Freedom from Fear
Perhaps more frequently than any other command, the Bible tells us not to fear. At the same time many of us live in cultures both saturated with and fueled by fear. I know I fear failure. I fear discomfort. I fear the loss of my health, security, and status. But this is not normal life for a follower of Jesus. John tells us that "perfect love drives out fear."
E. Stanley Jones, a world-class missionary who lived most of his life in India, encourages, "Then discipline yourself against all anxiety and fear. Fear is the enemy - not the thing of which we are afraid, for most of our fears are never realized. They never come. Those that do come can be used in the purposes for which we live."
May God add his grace to our discipline, resulting in lives free from fear.
2. Growing Hope
If you've been a Great Commission groupie for a while, perhaps you've wondered from time to time why the job's not done yet. Maybe (on dark days) you struggle to believe it ever will be. God's promises are huge. His commandments are extensive, and the effort exerted to obey them has been epic. But there's so much still undone. So much pain. So much despair.
As you add days to days and years to years, may you look increasingly like your father Abraham who "against all hope, in hope believed and so became the father of many nations."
My God fill us with hope. May he rekindle within us the conviction that "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."
3. Big Faith
As that hope grows, I pray big faith for you. Faith that allows you to pray audacious prayers. Faith that compels you to ask for the nations. Faith not content with one Muslim here and one there following Jesus, but that asks God for hundreds of millions from the sons of Ishmael to find life in Christ. Faith that asks God for what you not only can't accomplish on your own, but can barely imagine.
4. Battle Skills
May you have eyes to see what's really coming at you. May you have wisdom to discern between the focused attacks of your enemy and the normal challenges of a world that produces thorns and thistles. May you have the kind heart of the truest Mennonite with the fighting skills of a Navy Seal (or their spiritual equivalent). Let these skills be deployed under God not only for the protection of your family, but also for the release of many captives from their prisons and the rolling back of the work of our enemy.
5. A True Band of Brothers and Sisters
As you exercise your faith and hone your spiritual warfare skills, may God gather around you a team like Moses had in Aaron, Hur, and Joshua. May he give you, as he sees fit, a husband or wife, colleagues, pals, counselors, and mentors - people who will speak the truth to you even at great risk, love you even through great failure, and accept you even though they know you deeply. May he bring you a band of people for whom you would gladly die.
6. Authority
I pray for you to grow in authority. May God fill you with such spiritual authenticity, such power, such tangible presence of Jesus that though you never raise your voice, the room is quieted. May men and women of power care what you say, even do what you ask, because the scent of Jesus is strong on you. May no pain you experience be wasted, but rather captured for the maturing of your character, readying you to prevail in the next challenge ahead.
7. Wisdom
As your authority grows so will the trickiness of your problems. Get wisdom and keep on getting it. May God push that wisdom into the depths of your heart and all the way out to the edges of your consciousness. May you understand how to humbly love people, both submit to and lead people, inspire hope and great sacrifice in people. May you have sufficient wisdom to hear and follow the voice of your shepherd and thereby give your youth, your energies, and your very life in the place of your greatest usefulness.
8. Perseverance
May you walk all the way to the end of your road. Though it seems the road will never end and for long stretches you walk alone, don't stop walking. May the resilience and perseverance we imagine, or know, to have been in our ancestors also be found in you. I ask God for your strength, determination, and commitment. Keep walking.
9. Rest
Stop walking from time to time. Obey the fourth commandment. Rejoice that you are a creature and not the Creator. Accept his gift of rest with open arms. As you pause, I pray God will restore your soul, that he will speak to the core of your being, and that he will give you strength to get up and walk again.
10. Joy
Finally, I pray for joy for you; for a radical love for God and a daily, intimate connection with him. May Jesus be your shepherd and friend. May the Holy Spirit empower you and counsel you. May abundant life be yours. Right now. And forever. May you breathe in God and radiate out the peace, power, and purpose of a God intent on defeating every evil and winning the whole world.
Amen.
http://kingdomentrepreneur.blogspot.com/2010/10/bearing-arms-of-moses-ten-ways-to-pray.html
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