It's complete surrender
You probably know the name Eric Liddell, especially if you have seen and remember the movie “Chariots of Fire.” This 1981 film told the story of a Scottish Olympian who, in the 1924 Paris Olympics, refused to run his main race because the qualifying round was being run on Sunday. Eric Liddell was the son of Scottish missionary parents and had been born in China when they served there. Eric was strong in his faith, and as the film detailed, he competed in a race that he was not fully prepared for. Yet the Lord honored his commitment, and Eric Liddell not only won the 400-meter race, winning Gold for Scotland, he set a world record in that event.
The most famous line from the film was Eric telling his sister Jenny, “God…made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” What a beautiful line that can be applied in many ways in our own lives.
For most of us, that’s all the story of Eric Liddell that we know. But there is more. In fact, the line that was uttered in the movie about God making Eric fast was in context about him eventually going back to China as a missionary when he finished running. And he did just that.
Author Randy Alcorn wrote about this part of Eric’s life recently. While in China, the country became occupied by the Japanese, and Eric and many others were rounded up and placed in a squalid prison camp. Many stories have emerged in later years of Eric Liddell organizing and refereeing sports for the many kids in the camp. At some point, Eric developed a brain tumor. And it was in that filthy prison camp hospital that Eric Liddell died.
Some would call this a great waste. Those children, and many others in the camp, didn’t feel that way. One survivor said of life in those conditions, “...without the faithful and cheerful support of Eric Liddell, many people would never have been able to manage." That survivor went on to say,
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]…None of us will ever forget this man who was totally committed to putting God first, a man whose humble life combined muscular Christianity with radiant godliness.[/blockquote]
Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth also wrote of Eric’s life and its seemingly tragic end. Yet even then, there was a sense of victory.
[blockquote author="Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth" link="" target="_blank"]On February 21, 1945, Eric lay in a hospital bed, struggling to breathe, drifting in and out of consciousness. Suddenly his body erupted into a violent convulsion. Shocked, the nurse tending to his care scooped him up into her arms to calm his trembling body. Then, in those fleeting seconds before he slipped into a coma, she heard him speak these final words in a barely audible voice, no doubt reflecting on the span of his life’s choices: ‘Annie,’ he said, ‘it’s complete surrender.’[/blockquote]
Complete surrender.
What did the Apostle Paul say about gain and loss?
[blockquote author="Philippians 3:8 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ...[/blockquote]
You may be in a very real struggle today. You may be dealing with what seems like a loss by today’s standards. Yet if we are living in complete surrender to the Lord Jesus and His will for our lives, we can recognize that every victory here on earth is worthless compared to what the Lord has for us if we remain faithful to Him, day in and day out, no matter the circumstances.
It is complete surrender to Christ and His cause that brings ultimate joy and victory.
Words and Attitudes
There was an article a while back that listed ten things extraordinary people say every day. No I’m not sure if they followed a lot of extraordinary people around and took down what they said. I don’t even know who those extraordinary people were. Did they contact you? Well, whatever their methodology, there are some good thoughts in the article.
The writer is Jeff Hayden of Inc.
Without listing all of Jeff’s point, let me revisit a few of them.
"Here's what I'm thinking."
You're in charge, but that doesn't mean you're smarter, savvier, or more insightful than everyone else. Back up your statements and decisions. Give reasons. Justify with logic, not with position or authority. Though taking the time to explain your decisions opens those decisions up to discussion or criticism, it also opens up your decisions to improvement.
"I was wrong."
When you're wrong, say you're wrong. You won't lose respect--you'll gain it.
“Can you help me?"
When you need help, regardless of the type of help you need or the person you need it from, just say sincerely and humbly, "Can you help me?" I promise you'll get help. And in the process, you'll show vulnerability, respect, and a willingness to listen--which, by the way, are all qualities of a great leader.
"I'm sorry."
We all make mistakes, so we all have things we need to apologize for: words, actions, omissions, failing to step up, step in, show support... say you're sorry.
But never follow an apology with a disclaimer like "But I was really mad, because..." or "But I did think you were..." or any statement that in any way places even the smallest amount of blame back on the other person. Say you're sorry, say why you're sorry, and take all the blame. No less. No more.
Nothing.
Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. If you're upset, frustrated, or angry, stay quiet. You may think venting will make you feel better, but it never does. Before you speak, spend more time considering how employees will think and feel than you do evaluating whether the decision makes objective sense. Be quiet until you know exactly what to say--and exactly what effect your words will have.
Victorian novelist George Eliot wrote, “Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.”
King Solomon also spoke of this.
[blockquote author="Proverbs 17:27 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.[/blockquote]
What will an extraordinary person like you be caught saying... or not saying... as you lead those around you?
Turn Down the Volume
My friend Dr. Brent Taylor shared a brief devotional with a group recently, and it packed a punch. This busy pastor had just finished a seven-week sabbatical that his church gave him, so he could be refreshed and renewed. Very thoughtful of his church.
The phrase that caught my attention as Brent spoke was “the volume of life.” He wasn’t talking about quantity, like “the abundant life.” No, this pastor, professor, speaker, husband, and father was reflecting on all the things swirling around us every day that pull us away from God and His best for us. We are media people, and we have to recognize that we are part of that volume, that noise. And we are subjected to the volume of life that robs us of our time and attention for the Lord.
Have you ever come to the end of a busy day and realized you didn’t read your Bible or have any quality (much less quantity) time with the Lord? That wasn’t what you intended. The volume of life drowned out God’s still, small voice...God’s desire to communicate with you. I can speak from experience. This happens.
Brent probed a little deeper when he confessed that though he says the Lord is the most important thing in his life and in his schedule, “My life shows I am a liar.” Ouch. I’m thinking there are days that if someone followed me and tracked how I spent my time, I would fall into that same category.
So, what do we do? Live like a monk in a monastery? I doubt that is God’s plan for us. Remember the admonition to be in the world and not of it? But Jesus did give a warning about being caught up in the things of this world when he talked of the sower and the seed.
[blockquote author="Mark 4:19 NASB" link="" target="_blank"]…but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.[/blockquote]
Turn down the volume!
Carve out quality time in God’s Word. Don’t be distracted from God’s best. Spend more time listening to the Lord’s voice than in giving Him the list of things on your agenda. Turn off the radio, the TV, withdraw from social media if you need to. Let God’s voice into your life.
The old hymn says:
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give.
Do we surrender these noisy things in our lives so we can spend time with our Lord? Do we freely give Him our time and attention? I’m thinking about these things today. I have some adjustments to make.
Feeling small...
Feeling small? Inadequate?Undeserving of anything? I’m going to make a guess that most, if not all, of us have had these feelings at one time or another. We question what abilities we have to offer the Lord. We feel lacking when it comes to giving to God’s causes. We have moments when we feel greatly inadequate for the task the Lord has called us to fulfil.
And sometimes those feelings come on our good days! If you ever feel that way, don’t think you are alone. Some of God’s greatest servants expressed such feelings. I think of Moses who tried to reason God out of using him while talking to a burning bush. “I can’t talk so good.” “Who am I?” (Remember God’s answer? “Who do you think made your tongue?”)
Even the Apostle Paul, a brilliant man by any standard, admitted that he hadn’t “apprehended” it all, or, as Eugene Peterson phrased it in The Message, “I’m not saying that I have this all together....”
And then then there is David, the man after God’s own heart. When it came to providing resources for God’s work, he had questions for the Lord, too.
[blockquote author="I Chronicles 29:14 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us![/blockquote]
Did you see that? Even in the midst of David’s feelings of unworthiness, he admitted that everything we have is from God. Everything. And we give...whether it is our finances, our time, our talent, our focus...out of the storehouse of resources our Sovereign God has placed in our lives and our hands.
The Lord knows what you have. And if He asks something of you, He knows what you have to draw on. He knows your skills (He gave them to you), how much time you have (He provided that, too), and He knows your bank account, since He is the one who gave you the ability to work to earn a salary, and even opened the door for the job you have. He provides the breath to live, the energy to get up each morning, and the desire to serve Him. It is all God.
My advice? Just serve. Just give. Just expend your time in service to the King. Don’t waste energy being concerned as to how your gifts line up against others. Be faithful, and you will find a faithful Lord who will walk with you and enable you to do His work His way...for His glory.
Who are you? You are exactly who God made you to be... to be part of His plan to reach souls for His kingdom.
Trust...or not?
Trust, noun \ ˈtrəst \ : firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
Have you ever put your trust...your firm belief...in a person, only to have that person let you down? How easy was it to rebuild that trust? You have probably found that rebuilding trust is a long, long process. And if you have been the person who faltered, who lost the trust of a friend or mate, you know how painful and slow the process is from that vantage point, too.
What about your trust of God? How are you doing with that? You may have heard me mention that through the years I have developed a very simple philosophy:
You either trust God...or you don’t.
There is no middle ground.
There are times when it is easy to trust God. Will the sun rise tomorrow? Of course. Is the Lord’s salvation sure? Everlasting? Trustworthy? Yes. But what about those other areas of our lives. What about the grey areas, the tough areas, the hard times, the lingering illness, the tough financial days? What about then?
You either trust God...or you don’t.
Richard and Henry Blackaby in their devotional book Being Still with God talk about trusting the Lord in our lives.
"All I have needed His hand hath provided,” the hymnist wrote. Yet still we wonder… How in the world can we afford college? Where will I find a job now that I’ve been laid off? Will God really help me if I step out in faith?
These and many other day-to-day questions tend to pull us away from God, eroding our trust in Him. Maybe we think He is too busy. Maybe we feel our problems aren’t big enough to warrant the Lord’s attention. Or we think we are not worthy. Or...a thousand other thoughts that pull us down.
A while back a friend mentioned to me that despite some ministry challenges we have faced, I appear calm and confident. I’ll quickly tell you that I have my moments. There are times I am concerned about direction, finances, family, our world, and a myriad of other things. But as quickly as these things come to mind, I try to pray about them and turn them over to the Lord Jesus. I remember the truth of His Word from the Old Testament.
[blockquote author="Lamentations 3:23 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.[/blockquote]
Singer-songwriter Twila Paris wrote a song at a time when her world seemed to crumble. Hope was shaken. Trust in God was eroding. What do you do in times like that? In the song “Do I Trust You, Lord?” she talked of building upon the things for which we do trust God. Little by little. Step by step. At one point in the song Twila sings:
I know the answers, I've given them all
But suddenly now, I feel so small
Shaken down to the cavity in my soul
I know the doctrine and theology
But right now they don't mean much to me
This time there's only one thing I've got to know
Do I trust You, Lord? Does the robin sing?
Do I trust You, Lord? Does it rain in spring?
You can see my heart, You can read my mind
And You got to know I would rather die
Than to lose my faith in the One I love
Do I trust You, Lord? Do I trust You?
What is happening in your life and ministry right now? Do you trust God? At the end of Twila Paris’ song, she makes the firm commitment that I hope rings in your heart as well.
I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why
I will trust You, Lord, till the day I die
I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain
You were God before and You'll never change
I will trust You, I will trust You
I will trust You, Lord
Trust God.
God’s best...
Your dream...dead or alive?
How long do you hang on to a dream? Has the Lord given you a specific idea or vision about ministry, your family, your future? What happens if it doesn’t materialize on your timetable? Was it just a dream, or a vision from God? How long...?
In his outstanding book, Living Out of the Overflow, Dr. Richard Blackaby uses biblical examples to both strengthen us and encourage us about the life to which God has called us. The life of Moses serves as an example of God’s faithfulness and of Moses’ decisions that impacted the Lord’s vision for him and the Israelites he led.
We know the account of the great miracles God did, how He led the Israelites out of Egypt in a miraculous way and started them on the journey to the Promised Land. And we know of the rebellion of the people against Moses, and ultimately against God. Blackaby points out how important our choices are for God’s dream to be fulfilled in our lives.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Life consists of a series of choices. How we respond to those decisions sets the direction of our life. A series of wise choices can take a person far down the road to success. One foolish decision can derail the journey.[/blockquote]
[blockquote author="Richard Blackaby" link="" target="_blank"]Moses suffered for most of his life due to a handful of unwise decisions.... Our life typically progresses the same way. Though we make many small, mundane decisions throughout life, we could likely trace the overall success or failure of our life to only a handful of major decisions.[/blockquote]
Richard Blackaby reminds us that Moses did not make it to the Promised Land because of one instance, one unwise decision. God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come. Moses instead hit the rock. Did water come? Yes. So...was that a successful decision? No. Moses' unwillingness to follow the Lord’s direction meant he would never see the land God had promised.
So, back to that dream. God promised a new land for His people. He kept His promise. The dream of the Israelites was fulfilled, even though Moses and a generation of Israelites would not see it.
What about your dream? If it is from the Lord, He will be faithful. Your part and mine is to be obedient to the Lord’s leading in our lives, in matters large and (seemingly) small. Blackaby concludes,
“Our life has a context. We do not walk with God in a vacuum. While we wish we could serve God under ideal conditions, life rarely affords such a luxury.... We can either grow discouraged by the difficulties we face, or we can allow God to guide us through a maze of complex issues and circumstances, so our life becomes an instrument to accomplish His divine purpose.”
The Apostle Paul reminds us of the everlasting faithfulness of our Lord to accomplish His will in you and through you.
[blockquote author="Philippians 1:6 NASB" link="" target="_blank"]For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.[/blockquote]
Hold on to God’s dream, and faithfully serve Him daily, even in the mundane things of life. The writer of Hebrews put it this way:
[blockquote author="Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.[/blockquote]
Your dream may be just around the corner.
Beyond Broadcasting
As I teach university students about radio, I am well aware that most, if not all, will find work in something other than radio. But I often tell them the principles they learn for radio can apply in many situations. Everyone needs to communicate well. And most of us need some “continuing education” on how to consistently improve our communication skills.
Valerie Geller’s book Beyond Powerful Radio is a great text for those who work in the radio world. But the ideas picked up in the book have application beyond broadcasting. As I recently read through some of her bullet point principles, I recognized how important they are for anyone serving in radio ministries today. Yet I think you can draw some application for many areas of communication.
Geller begins with three principles.
- Tell the truth.
- Make it matter.
- Never be boring.
Those alone would apply to public speaking, presentations, and even Sunday messages in the pulpit. We can easily understand the importance of telling the truth. But what about “make it matter?” Most of us approach new information with the attitude, “What’s in it for me?” You should help your audience understand why the things you are sharing should be of concern to them. It should matter. And of course, never be boring!
Here are some other suggestions that are certainly radio specific but may resonate with you beyond radio.
- Speak visually, in terms a listener can “picture.”
- Start with your best material.
- Storytell powerfully.
- Never let anything go too long.
- Listen.
- Ask: Why would someone want to hear this?
- Address each listener as an individual. Use “you.”
- Stay curious, relax. Allow humor to happen.
- Be who you are.
- Take risks. Dare to be great!
Think of the last time you made a presentation, were on the radio, or spoke to a group about your ministry. How many of these principles and suggestions would have made your presentation better? Storytelling is an art, but it is something we can learn to do effectively. Speaking visually, whether on radio or in person, draws the listener in as they visualize the scene you are describing.
I love the point about taking risks and daring to be great. Think of powerful events or people who have had an impact on your life. Someone took a risk. Someone stepped out, daring to do something great for the Lord and those who serve Him. Follow their example in your communication and in your leadership.
The Apostle Paul reminded us why we ought to apply principles like these to work in the communication world or anywhere else we serve.
[blockquote author="Colossians 3:23 NASB" link="" target="_blank"]Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men....[/blockquote]
And remember...never be boring!
Need Some Insight?
One of my spiritual mentors is Dr. Henry Blackaby. His book, Experiencing God, has changed many lives, as people recognize that God has a master plan, and the best thing we can do is see where God is at work and join Him there.
Right alongside the powerful My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, Blackaby’s Experiencing God Day-by-Day is a great tool to keep you on God’s path for spiritual growth and effectiveness. His son, Dr. Richard Blackaby, also assisted with the book.
Today I’ll share a few insights gleaned from some of his daily devotions.
[blockquote author="1 Timothy 1:12" link="" target="_blank"]Your ability to serve God is not based on your past, but on your faithfulness today. If you are faithful with the task God entrusts to you, God will enable you to accomplish it.[/blockquote]
[blockquote author="1 Peter 5:7" link="" target="_blank"]Casting our cares is a choice. It means consciously handing over our anxiety to Christ and allowing Him to carry the weight of our problems. At times, this is the most difficult part of trusting God![/blockquote]
[blockquote author="Psalm 41:12" link="" target="_blank"]There are times when God will be the only witness to your righteous behavior. Sometimes God is the only one who will understand your motives. Sometimes you will do all you know God has asked you to do, only to face ridicule from others. At such times, all you can do is maintain your integrity, trusting that God always keeps His eyes on you. God looks favorably upon those who walk with integrity, doing what they know is right, regardless of how others perceive their actions.[/blockquote]
[blockquote author="Proverbs 27:17" link="" target="_blank"]Be careful in your choice of friends! Jesus chose His closest friends wisely. He did not look for perfect friends, but friends whose hearts were set to follow God. It is equally important to examine the kind of friend you are to others.... Strive to find godly friends who will challenge you to become the person God desires.[/blockquote]
[blockquote author="Matthew 14:16" link="" target="_blank"]
The key difference between what appears to be impossible to us and what is actually possible is a word from our Master! Faith accepts His divine command and steps out in a direction that only God can complete. If you only attempt things that you know are possible with the visible resources you possess, those around you will not see God at work.[/blockquote]
Maybe over the next five days you would want to take one of these truths to read, pray about, and add to the godly influences in your daily walk with the Lord.
Toward Better Communication
If you are like me, from time to time you find yourself presenting to groups of people. It may be other people in your ministry, supporters, community leaders, those in your church, or even just a group of friends. Would you like to be more effective in your speaking?
My friend Phil Cooke quoted Roger Ailes in a recent communication piece. You may know Mr. Ailes as the former President of Fox News in the U.S. Prior to that, he had a corporate communications firm, consulting and advising major corporate CEO’s, celebrities, and even folks like President Ronald Reagan.
In his book, You Are the Message, Ailes cites 10 common communication problems that those who speak publicly experience. See how many of these are issues with you.
1. Lack of initial rapport with listeners.
2. Stiffness or woodenness in the use of the body.
3. Presentation of material is intellectually oriented; speaker forgets to involve the audience emotionally.
4. Speaker seems uncomfortable because of fear of failure.
5. Poor use of eye contact and facial expression.
6. Lack of humor.
7. Speech direction and intent is unclear due to improper preparation.
8. Inability to use silence for impact.
9. Lack of energy, causing inappropriate pitch pattern, speech rate, and volume.
10. Use of boring language and lack of interesting material.
Numbers three and seven jumped out at me. But I really liked number eight. The use of silence for impact is a great tool when used effectively. I know, for those of us who live and breathe radio, silence is not golden. But it can be when used to drive home a point, or to make the listener think about what was just said.
Is there anything there on that list that you can work on before your next presentation?
Dangerous!
I have a quote from my long-time spiritual mentor, Dr. Henry Blackaby, that I have kept close by. For years it was attached to my computer monitor. It is the type of reminder I need for God’s expectation for my life and for my service to Him.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]There is nothing more dangerous than a small character in God’s big assignment.[/blockquote]
We often talk about character and integrity in an interchangeable way. To me, character is what others see. Integrity is the inner quality that drives character. It is who we are on the inside…in private…that shows itself in our character.
In my well-worn copy of Blackaby’s Experiencing God Day-by-Day, he draws from the life of Abraham, and says this:
"Big assignments require big characters. God will give you a responsibility in proportion to the size of your character. God sees your life from His eternal perspective. He will take whatever time is necessary to grow your character to match His assignment for you."
Are you impatient to begin your work before God has refined your character? A small character will fail in a large responsibility every time. Don’t be too hasty to get to the work. Character-building can be long and painful.
I'll be honest with you…I’d rather not hear that. I don’t want “long and painful” for my life. I want microwave-instant character. But as Dr. Blackaby says, “God sees your life from His eternal perspective. He will take whatever time is necessary to grow your character to match His assignment for you.”
Are you willing to submit to God, to shape you into the big character He needs for His big assignment? Am I? If you are looking for the right answer to that question, the answer should be…
YES!