“LEAVE IT BE”

Here we are a new year! For many of us that means…..A FRESH START, A NEW BEGINNING,,, LEAVING THE OLD THINGS BEHIND – LEAVING THE STUFF AND STRUGGLES AND DILEMAS OF 2011 IN THE DUST…READY TO MOVE ON….SOME LOST RELATIONSHIPS, LOST MONEY, LOST FRIENDS, LOST HOMES, LOST JOBS. ETCC.

NOW LOOK LETS NOT BE NAÏVE, NOT EVERYTHING WAS BAD IN 2011- SOME PEOPLE HAD A GREAT YEAR – THEY MAY HAVE HAD SOME GOOD THINGS HAPPEN – MET SOME GOOD PEOPLE – GOTTEN MARRIED, HAD A CHILD,  BOUGHT A NEW HOME, GOT A PROMOTIONS, ETC ETC.

EITHER WAY---LIKE IT, HATE IT, WE CANNOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT HERE WE ARE…IN A BRAND NEW YEAR…AND WITH A BRAND NEW YEAR---COMES NEW PLANS, NEW MINDSETS, NEW IDEAS, NEW PROGRAMS, NEW GOALS, ETC…AND ALL OF THAT IS FINE AND SHOULD BE THE WAY WE THINK……..

…I WANT US TO REALIZE THAT WE CANNOT EXPECT ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN 2012….IF WE DON’T FIRST CLOSE THE BOOK ON 2011….LET 2011 GO

“LEAVE IT BE”…  THERE ARE SOME THINGS AS WE GO INTO THIS NEW YEAR…THAT WE HAVE TO LEAVE IN 2011…. I KNOW YOU MAY NOT WANT HEAR THIS…BUT YOU CANNOT BRING SOME OF THAT STUFF, SOME OF THAT BAGGAGE, SOME OF THAT ATTITUDE, SOME OF THAT NEGATIVITY, SOME OF THAT HURT….LEAVE IT BE! YOU CANT CHANGE WHAT YOU DIDN’T DO, YOU CANT FIX EVERYTHING…LEAVE IT BE!

Philippians 3:13-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,^[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

FIRST THINGS FIRST THIS YEAR..FOCUSING ON WHAT LIES AHEAD AND WHAT WE CAN DO NOW!!

YOU AND I HAVE TO GET OUR PRIORITIES MORE THAN EVER IN LINE – MORE THAN EVER WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE FRONTLINE..NOT THE BACK ROW..FOCUS ON WHAT CAN BE—NOT WHAT WAS NOT!

FIRST THINGS FIRST---GOTTA GET OUR MINDS RIGHT AND READY FOR GREATNESS!

WE MUST LIVE, AND LEARN…BUT ALSO LEARN AND LIVE!

Hebrews 12:10-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way

I HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT LOSS…LEAVE IT BE!

YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT LOSER YOU WERE WITH…LEAVE IT BE!

YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT LACK OF FINANCES—LEAVE IT BE!

YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT LOW LEVEL OF THINKING...LEAVE IT BE!

GOD HAS SOMETHING NEW FOR US DAILY!

Lamentations 3:23

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ²³ Great is his faithfulness;
      his mercies begin afresh each morning

HE WANTS TO GIVE US NEW THINGS – FRESH OPPORTUNITIES…BUT HOW CAN HE GIVE US NEW STUFF…IF WE WONT LEAVE THE OLD STUFF!

GOING INTO THIS NEW YEAR…GOD WANTS US TO PLANT NEW DREAMS, PLANT FRESH IDEAS, PLANT LIFE AND NOT DEATH, PLANT HOPE, PLANT GROWTH, PLANT HOPE, PLANT SERVING, PLANT LIFE…BUT WE MUST STOP REDIGGING DEAD DREAMS, REDIGGING, DEAD WELLS, REDIGGING EMPTY PROMISES, REDIGGING DEAD FAILURES

I GOT TO HAVE IT – CANT GO FORWARD WITH OUT IT..BUT EVERYTIME WE KEEP GOING BACK AND REDIGGING UP THAT MESS – WE ARE COVERING UP AND DELAYING THE HERE AND NOW – AND THE CHANCE TO LIVE IN THE GREATNESS OF TODAY!

LEAVE IT BE…LEAVE IT BE! LEAVE IT BE!!

WE ARE NOT TO LIVE LIKE THE WORLD, WE ARE TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST…

Ephesians 4:17-24Living as Children of Light

 ¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

 ²⁰ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO LEAVE BE THIS YEAR! YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE – YOU KNOW THEY HAVE CAUSED YOU TO LIVE IN THE PAST, MISS MOMENTS, AND EVEN BLAME OTHERS FOR STUFF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH…

TO HAVE A GREAT 2012.....LET SOME OF THE STUFF FROM 2011.......BE.....

"WHATEVER IT TAKES"

WAKE UP THE GIANT!

Too many times we allow the situation in our lives to become greater than the God that we serve. We allow the circumstances – the problems – the issues to cause our faith to fall asleep.

Romans 13:11-14 (New Living Translation)

 ¹¹ This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. ¹³ Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

THERE IS A BIGGER PERSON IN YOU!  A BIGGER MINISTER – A BIGGER FATHER – A BIGGER MOTHER – WAITING TO COME FORTH – WAITING TO RISE – ITS TIME TO WAKE UP!

What you are going through – is not greater than what is on the inside of you!

1 John 4:4-10 (New International Version)

 ⁴You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

IT IS TIME WE WAKE UP AND BEGIN TO USE THE GIFT THAT’S ON THE INSIDE OF US TO FIGHT THE ENEMY – TO TAKE BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS. ITS TIME WE STIR UP – STOP BEIN PASSIVE – BEING WEAK, LIVING DEFEATED – BUT LET THE ENEMY KNOW – I AM A GIANT!

YOU  MAY BE 5 FOOT TALL – YOU MAY THIK YOU ARE NOT ABLE – NOT STRONG ENOUGH – NOT READY YET – BUT THERE IS A SLEEPING GIANT ON THE INSIDE OF YOU – AND WHEN IT WAKES UP – ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE! WHEN IT WAKES UP – THE ENEMY WILL RUN – WHEN IT WAKES UP --- THOSE WHO HAVE KEPT YOU QUIET – THOSE WHO HAVE CAUSED YOU TO STOP DOING WHAT YOU KNOW YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO DO –THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN OUT TO GET YOU – WILL BE PUT ON NOTICE – THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN ASLEEP – I MAY HAVE TAKEN THAT BREAK – I MAY HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED – I MAY HAVE BEEN UPSET – I MAY HAVE BEEN BITTER – I MAY HAVE BEEN MAD AT THE STATE I AM IN--- BUT NOW – I SAID NOW I AM AWAKE – I HAVE BEEN RUSTLED OUT OF MY SLEEP – I HAVE BEEN STIRRED - --- YOU BETTER LOOK OUT --- YOU BETTER BE MADE AWARE – THE GIANT IS AWAKE!! I M GOING TO START ACTING LIKE A GIANT – WALKING LIKE A GIANT – AND DEFEATING LIKE A GIANT!

THE ALARM HAS SOUNDED – THE CLOCK HAS STOPPED TICKING – MY REST -  MY BREAK – MY SLUMBER IS NEARING A CLOSE….. CAN YOU HEAR THAT ....

FEE FII FOO FUM FEE FII FOO FUM!  HERE I COME!

GIANTS ARE TO CONQUER – NOT CO MINGLE! TOO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE SITTING IN PEWS EVERY WEEK WITH A SLEEPING GIANT ON THE INSIDE OF THEM !  THERE HAS BEEN NO ONE TO RECOGNIZE THE GREATNESS ON THE INSIDE OF THEM.

POINT # 2 – MINISTRY CAN RESURRECT YOUR DESTINY!

 GOD DOES NOT SEND MINISTRY WHERE THERE IS NOT DESTINY!

IN OTHER WORDS – YOU MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT – BUT IF YOU ARE GOING THROUGH IT – THERE HAS TO BE A REASON – A DESTINY JUST FOR YOU!  YOU NEVER FIX SOMETHING YOU DON’T WANT TO USE

YOU DON’T REVIVE SOMETHING YOU WISH WOULD JUST GO AWAY.

GREAT DESTINY IS CALLED TO GREAT MINISTRY!

JESUS WAS TEMPTED IN THE WILDERNESS –SURE HE GOT WEARY – SURE HE GOT TIRED – BUT THERE WAS A GREAT DESTINY….

Luke 4:1-40 (New Living Translation)

I KNOW IT GETS ROUGH – I KNOW WE GET DEPRESSED, I KNOW WE GET TIRED – WE LOSE OUR BREATH – THE BATTLE RAGES – THE TIMES ARE TOUGH----BUT I CAME TO TELL YOU TODAY – DON’T YOU DARE HIBERNATE! YOU ARE BETTER THAN THE BATTLE! YOU ARE STRONGER THAN THE CIRCUMSTANCE – YOU ARE A GIANT!

ITS TIME WE START WAKING UP! UNDERSTAND THE BATTLE IS NOT WITH OTHERS – THE BATTLE IS NOT ABOUT THEM – THE BATTLES NOT ABOUT WHO WINS – WHO HAS THE MOST – WHO HAS THE BETTER THIS – BETTER THAT!

Ephesians 6:12-20 (New Living Translation)

 UNDERSTAND THE PETTY THINGS THAT CAUSE US TO FALL ASLEEP MOST OF THE TIME – ARE EXACTLY WHAT THE ENEMY WANTS!  WHEN WE GET ENTAGLED IN EARTHLY FUEDS THAT DON’T DO ANYTHING BUT TAKE OUR MINDS, OUR FOCUS OFF OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE – HE HAS LITERALLY PUT THE GIANTS IN US TO BED.

YOU SEE WHEN WE REALIZE I AM CALLED TO BE A GIANT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD – I AM TO READY MYSELF FOR THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE THAT IS RAGING- THEN THE ENEMY GETS NERVOUS – WHEN WE SET OUR AFFECTIONS – OUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE – THAT’S WHEN HE KNOWS WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE WORK – AND NOT JUST THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY!

YOU CANNOT HIBERNATE NOW – YOU CANNOT DIE NOW! WHATEVER IT TAKES – PICK YOUR SELF UP – GET YOUR LIP BACK FROM BEING POKED WAY OUT THERE – GRAB YOUR ARMOR – GET YOUR SWORD – AND WAKE UP!

WE HAVE TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STAY AWAKE SO WE CAN WALK INTO OUR DESTINY!

NO MORE EXCUSES! NO MORE WHINING! NO MORE BLAMING! NO MORE HE SAID SHE SAID! NO MORE I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND! YOU MAY NEVER UNDERSTAND!

BUT KNOW THIS – BELIEVE THIS! GOD HAS A COMEBACK WITH YOUR NAME ON IT! GOD NEVER SET YOU OUT TO BE ORDINARY – HE NEVER SET YOU OUT TO BE A SLEEPY DWARF CHRISTIAN! HE CALLED YOU TO BE A GIANT! HE CALLED YOU TO STOP LOOKING AT WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN – OR WHAT IS STILL LOST – AND TO LOOK AT WHAT WILL HAPPEN – WHAT WILL BE FOUND!

EVERYDAY YOU WAKE UP SHOULD BE A REMINDER HE HAS SOMETHING FOR YOU!

WHATEVER YOU GOT TO DO TO WAKE THAT GIANT – SHAKE YOUR SELF IF NEED BE! WE HAVE TO NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO FALL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL – 

YOU ARE A GIANT IN CHRIST! YOU ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE! HE HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU!

ITS TIME TO WAKE UP – ARISE...............WHATEVER IT TAKES!

Wake up the GIANT!

When the Dust Settles

Isaiah 43:18-19

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹⁸ “But forget all that—
      it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
 ¹⁹ For I am about to do something new.
      See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
   I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
      I will create rivers in the dry wasteland

Had a great time this past week at my brother's wedding in Ohio. While there among the friends, family, strangers, and others - .I thought about our lives - how we seem to be on the roller coaster, waves, and highs and lows of decisions, attitudes, hurt, resentment, pain, and mostly the past. I realzied that all of us in some way, some fashion, and some form have been or may still be in a cloud of dust. What do I mean -these clouds are different for each person, and for each situation of life. For some it could be the cloud of loss of a job, for others the cloud of loss of a spouse/marriage, and even for others it could be the loss of a loved one.

Regardless of how much of Christ we have, how much of the BIBLE we can quote, or how many people know our name - we all have been faced with the "dust clouds" of life. And no matter how we try to hide it, dance around it, or ignore it - it has happened, it has caught us - and we have had to at times blindly wade through it to try and find the light, the hope, and the answer to see the Sun shine again.

Much like the huge dust storm that occured last week in Phoeniz Arizona that caused flights to be delayed and power outages to occur - we have been stuck in a storm that has delayed our assignment, delayed our destiny, and delayed our faith. We have faced outages - that caused us to lose the power that we normally have been accustomed to. We have been in the dark - waiting for the light of life to return.

With all of that being said.........When the Dust settles - planes fly again, homes can be illuminated again, and life with resume. Today, i want to encourage us - that when ( and it will - not if!) the Dust settles on your setback, your loss, your questions, or the storm you seemingly cant seem to shake - remember

Isaiah 43:18-19 -- Forget all that! It is nothing compared to what I am going to do! I am about to do something new! Do you not see it?

Understand this----when the dust settles ---we have to begin focusing on the NEW THING that Christ will do -- and stop dwelling on the dust! Let the dust settle - let the waves of uncertaintiy subside, the cloud of doubt to dwindle, and watch FAITH ARISE in the NEWNESS that Christ has promised for you!

When the DUST SETTLES.............a NEW PATH IS FORMED...................

"Whatever it Takes"

BEND -BUT DONT BREAK!

AT TIMES THIS LIFE – EVEN THE LIFE OF A CHRIST FOLLOWER BRINGS PERIODS OF STRUGGLE – PERIODS OF ISSUES – PERIODS OF QUESTIONS – PERIODS OF CONFUSION – PERIODS OF HOPELESSNESS – PERIODS OF DROUGHT ….THIS WALK OF LIFE AT TIMES CAN CAUSE EVEN THE STRONGEST, EVEN THE MOST FAITHFUL PERSON TO BEND – TO BECOME WITHERED AND WORD - - BUT TODAY I WANT TO ENCOURAGE US THAT WE MAY BE GO THROUGH IT – WE MAY HAVE TO FIGHT – WE MAY  HAVE TO PRESS – WE MAY BECOME BENT – BE WE ARE NOT BROKEN!

ABRAHAM WAS COMMANDED BY GOD TO TAKE HIS ONLY SON – HIS PROMISE THAT GOD HAD GIVEN HIM AND TAKE HIM TO THE MOUNTAIN AND SACRIFICE HIM IN AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE. I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU LOVE GOD AND WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT –  THIS WOULD CAUSE ME TO BEND A LITTLE – CAUSE ME TO QUESTION A LITTLE – CAUSE ME TO WONDER A LITTLE – BUT THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS WAS TO SEE HOW STRONG – HOW FIRM – HOW COMMITTED ABRAHAM --- WAS TO THE CAUSE. YOU SEE GOD NEVER INTENDED ISSAC TO DIE – HE WANTED TO BE SURE HE COULD BLESS ABRAHAM --- AND MAKE HIM THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS.

YOU SEE WE THINK A LOT OF TIMES THAT OUR TRIALS, OUR TESTS, OUR HARDSHIPS – ARE

GODS WAY

OF GETTING US – GOD IS A LOVING GOD – THE THINGS WE GO THROUGH ARE OUR WAY OF LEANING AND LEARNING MORE AND MORE THAN WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT HIM!

IMAGINE HOW YOU WOULD REACT TO CERTAIN THINGS – CERTAIN PEOPLE – CERTAIN FAMILY --- IF HE WASN’T HELPING YOU!!

Hebrews 2:18 (New Living Translation)

¹⁸ Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

  YOU SEE WE WILL BE BENT – WE WILL BE STRETCHED – WE WILL BE PULLED AND PRESSED – BUT - - - THIS SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE TO US!

1 Peter 4:12-20 (New Living Translation)

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

¹⁴ So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian,^[a] for then the glorious Spirit of God^[b] rests upon you.^{[c] 15} If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. ¹⁶ But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? ¹⁸ And also,   “If the righteous are barely saved,
      what will happen to godless sinners?”^[d]

¹⁹ So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

WOW – SO IT HAS TO BEGIN WITH ME FIRST – I HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BE BENT – TO LEARN – TO GROW SO THAT OTHERS CAN SEE HIM CLEARLY IN ME! THAT MEANS I HAVE TO REACT RIGHT – RESPOND RIGHT- AND RETALIATE RIGHT!  WHY OH WHY!

James 1:2-4 (New Living Translation)

Faith and Endurance

² Dear brothers and sisters,^[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

We are growing through our trials – sometimes they make us not want to grow anymore – but we are becoming what He wants us to be – NOT WHAT WE OR EVERYONE AROUND US WANTS US TO BE – you see some people want to be the same – BIRDS OF A FEATHER – FLOCK TOGETHER.

He never made us to be like everyone else – or to be like every other Christian or Church – HE MADE US IN HIS IMAGE – to be like HIM.

UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE TIMES WE FEEL BENT AND WEAK – AND USELESS, AND DON’T WANT TO KEEP GOING –THOSE ARE THE TIMES THAT WE ARE REALLY POSITIONED TO GROW AND GO TO A NEW PLACE IN OUR WALK WITH CHRIST

Corinthians 12:9-10 (New Living Translation)

⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

YOU MAY BE BENT – BUT KNOW YOU ARE NOT BROKEN – YOU MAY FEEL LIKE THE LIMBS – THE BRANCHES ARE ABOUT TO BREAK – BUT STAY FOCUSED – STAY ROOTED – STAY STRONG!

Jeremiah 17:8-10(New Living Translation)
 ⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
      with roots that reach deep into the water.
   Such trees are not bothered by the heat
      or worried by long months of drought.
   Their leaves stay green,
      and they never stop producing fruit.

A PLANT – EVEN IF UPROOTED CAN STILL BE REPLANTED

STAY ROOTED – EVEN WHEN YOU GET MESSED UP – LIED ON – TALKED ABOUT – USED – EVEN WHEN MAYBE YOU CAUSED SOME PAIN – STAY ROOTED-----

"WHATEVER IT TAKES"

Walk it out!

Matthew 7:16
You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Alot of times we base our decisions, actions, emotions, and plans on what those around us dictate. Now, dont get me wrong, I am all for advise, wisdom from those who have been through some stuff, and would rather learn from a mentor than from experience in most areas. However what happens when we base our lives on the expectations and desires of those around us at all times--eventually we will fail them.

The sad reality is that most "Professional Christians" would rather you live up to their standards than to see you rise above normalcy and become great. Why you may say? Simple - comfort keeps us from stepping out in faith - and usually (lets keep it real) those who want to seem bigger than others always discourage BIG FAITH moves.

So what do we do....simply JUST LIVE! Do what you do - live according to your relationship as a Christfollower, serve, grow, and when its necessary===========STEP UP OR STEP OUT IN FAITH

Listen to advice ( from those who you trust and who actually invest something), learn on a regular basis, but do not limit your life to the expectations and parameters of those around you! There is greatness inside all of us -- the problem is---we sometimes let others talk us out of it!

You cant do that, that costs too much, how can that happen in this town, that will no work, etc..

Psalms 37:23
The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

In this journey called life....we will have to decide that if I have given my life and the direction of it to Christ....there is absolutely ----no way HE would lead me astray. And while this is easier said that done---we really have not exercised FAITH ---until we really take the brakes off!

Lets begin to love others, listen to others, have confidence in others....but more than ever its time that we begin to WALK IT OUT....in out relationship with Christ........................

"Whatever it Takes"

Can't Grow - Unless Planted

It is difficult - impossible really for a plant to grow if it is never planted.

I think this is the reason many Christ followers, church folks and others have a hard time really stepping out and being successful in the things, talents, and gifts that we have - we never want to plant ourselves so we can grow even more.

Its like Bananas ( which are my favorite fruit - send them to PO BOX 1254.....) ok, anyway back on track....There are times when you get one that is not fully ripe - and you can tell the difference in taste from one that is. Too often we refuse to go through the planting and growing stages of life -then when we peel back the place where we think is ready---we are not fully "ripe"

Whatever we do -- we have to have the mindset that we need to have a place where we can remain planted and grow. Too often we jump the gun and miss out on some of the greatest moments of training, learning, and development that can propel us to greater heights.

I learned early on in ministry and pastoring----if we refuse to stay planted in a minstry, church, accountablitlity, learning and development -- we "preach to others" and become castaways.
(1 Corinthians 9:27) Simply put -- unless we have a place or a people we can learn from, grow from, and be encouraged from -- we risk being haughty, full of pride, thinking we know it all.

I have seen many people ( and I have been there too) that seem willing to learn and grow -- until it actually is time to learn and grow......Here are a few points of being willing to be teachable and willing to get planted.

In those who are unteachable, these things are true...

• There is pride rather than humility.
• There is self centernedness rather than openness.
• There is reaction rather than submission.
• There is insecurity rather than peace.
• There is anger rather than tranquility.

In review– in those who are teachable we find...

• Openness to others.
• Self-acceptance and desire to grow.
• An inquisitive integrative mind.
• An appreciation of wisdom and the mind of God.
• A life that builds relationships.
• An understanding of growth process.
• A willingness to pursue a goal of value and a desire to change.

We should always look to not just "pluck ourselves up and move from ground to ground or place to place"
but to find a spot to get rooted, grounded, planted, where we can live, learn, water, shine, and then Go out and FLOURISH!

My prayer for you today is you will set your feet, dig in your roots, and watch the growth that will happen............Whatever it Takes!