How Much Do You Want it?

"I gave an altar call right away and a bunch of people came forward. The service went on and at the announcements I was thinking about how to tell the people if they missed the first altar call to come and talk to the prayer teams when God told me to give them another altar call. I thought"But I only have five minutes left!“ And He responded "So, give them an altar call.” I gave the quickest altar call I ever did. It reminded me of a radio broadcast invitation for salvation. Eighteen people responded! Ten showed up but I think some were repeats and realized they had already done what we were doing. Still, ten people needed that altar call. God would spare a city for those ten. He would certainly leave the ninety nine and go after the one. At home the Lord spoke to me about a double portion. We can have it if we want it. We have to want it. We have to ask for it. And we have to stick in there to receive it. Once you get it you have to walk in it, or, use it."

Whatever we want in life, after we have settled the issue of if it is God's will, we can have. The question we all have to answer is; "How much do you want it?" The answer to this question will determine if you get what you want. 

As a pastor my life's work is to help people on their journey with God. From birth to death I work with people in all stages of life. Primarily I want to see people start their new life by being born again. Every time we have a church service there will be an altar call. I pray and seek after God for people to respond when we give the invitation. 

On morning I woke up before my alarm and had the thought to go back to sleep. As I closed my eyes I heard God whisper in my spirit, "How bad do you want it?" I knew exactly what He was talking about when I heard the question. How bad did I want to see my prayers answered for people to respond tot he call for salvation? How bad did I want to see them grow? How bad did I want our church to grow? I responded by getting up and going to prayer and preparation for the day. 

It is the same for anything we want in life. How bad do you want to grow? How bad do you want a great marriage? How bad do you want your kids to grow up right? How bad do you want to prosper in business? The answer will determine what your next move should be. 

Once you know how bad you want it then prove it with your life. Prove it to yourself, to God and to those around you. Spend the time you need to working at what is important. Work at it without getting distracted. The longer you stick with it the more progress you will make until you eventually achieve your goal. 

It sounds easy but, like with all things that truly matter, will take a lifetime. I don't know that this side of heaven we will ever say we have arrived when it comes to building a marriage or family or with our spiritual growth. We can always be growing and attaining greater heights. If you really want it, whatever it is, you will be in it for the long haul. And chances are if you stay after it you will not only get it but it will be wonderful. 

Day 352 - Fix It

"Jess is currently replacing her broken phone glass."

My wife is not only pretty but she is a go getter. She just gets in and makes things happen. When her phone glass was broken she decided to fix it herself. She did it too. 

I have benefitted from being her husband because I don't always have the same drive that she does. In fact I often would rather avoid certain issues and see how they play out on their own. 

As a leader and someone who is responsible I can't always do that. More often than not the right answer is to confront an issue and hit it head on rather than bury my head in the sand. 

Laziness and apathy will hinder this drive and halt progress. If left unchecked it will morph into fear and will drive us even further away from courage and doing what is right. Eventually we will find ourselves frozen without the capacity to make changes or do anything productive. The issues will rule us. 

Rather than be ruled by issues we will rule them when we confront and deal with issues as they occur. It is hard work tackling tough issues. In the end it is worth it. I find that afterward when the dust has settled I feel better and the outcome is right. There is nothing unresolved and the issue is settled. 

If you have left something unresolved and your issues are ruling you it is time to fix it. Let me be to you like my wife is to me. Get after it. Don't be afraid. You can do it!

Do you see any examples of unresolved issues that damaged someone? What scriptures deal with this? 

Day 252 - Finish the Sentence

"For some reason I got it in my head to make crab cakes. I got a recipe from the How to Cook Everything app. They turned out well. Pretty tasty."

I like to cook. A bit of culinary adventure from time to time makes me happy and if I had a stronger stomach might even consider being a 'foodie'. Last year I ventured out and made crab cakes (which I posted a picture online and got rave reviews). All I needed was a recipe, ingredients and the drive to make it happen. 

Lots of things are like that. You could build a business or finish that home project if you had the right stuff, the plan and the drive. You could have a great marriage or be a wonderful parent if you knew what to do and really wanted it. 

I find that there is usually not a lack of resource but rather a lack of drive. People want something in their minds but their hearts aren't in it enough to go after it. They don't want to sweat or bleed. They would rather not be sore or tired at the end of the day.  

Finish the sentence; "I can do all things..." We know this verse and we also know that it is "through Christ who gives me strength". But we lack the drive. The statement Paul made when he wrote this was saying that Paul had no obstacles, not even himself. When you have this attitude that you can do it, you will. But if you don't think you can then you won't. It starts in the head but then it is backed by the heart. 

Today examine your dreams and see if you really want them. If so then it is time to declare that you can do it through Christ. The resource will be there if you have the drive. Even if it is just to learn to make crab cakes. 

What are some things you have desired to do but haven't got started on yet? What are the obstacles and how can you overcome them? 

Day 35 - I Just Don't Care

"I had bean dip and chips for dinner. Not sure how healthy that is or is not but whatever."

Often on busy days and some lazy ones an attitude of "I don't care" settles in. That is not always bad unless you think having chips and dip for dinner is bad. My wife confesses that when I stay long at the office she and the kids have cereal for dinner. I don't mind that if they had eggs and bacon for breakfast. Somehow in my mind it makes a well rounded set of meals. 

We have to pick our battles. There are things worth fighting for and things worth fighting. The attitude of "I don't care" is a tricky one. You can't turn your back on it too long because it may start with dinner, go to bath time, and end with a late bed time. With kids though they don't always sleep in when they have had a late night. Their internal clock still wakes them up before dawn. Then later in the day they may be irritable because they are tired and fighting or whining may ensue. 

Can I be honest? This isn't just with kids. Sometimes (and I'm being polite with that word) adults can play into the trickery of an "I don't care" attitude and cause all kinds of irritation. We need to fight against it where it counts. And when it doesn't matter, go ahead and have the bean dip for dinner. 

Do you find yourself fighting an "I don't care" attitude? What is a funny dinner food you have eaten because you didn't care?