Questions for God
John Maxwell says there are two questions a leader should ask of God each morning.
- What is the main event today?
- What do you want me to focus on today?
Henry Blackaby would likely agree with these questions. A recent devotional of his in the Experiencing God Day by Day devotional book gives us this great insight.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Prayer does not give you spiritual power. Prayer aligns your life with God so that He chooses to demonstrate His power through you. The purpose of prayer is not to convince God to change your circumstances but to prepare you to be involved in God’s activity.[/blockquote]
I might want to clarify Maxwell’s question this way: God, what is Your main event today?
If you were to sit down right now and make a list of the things that are on your agenda, you could probably fill a page. Likely you would have meetings, planning, budgeting, personnel issues, and on and on. And it would all be important, no doubt about it. But would it be the most important? And would you be able to lead your staff, your organization, in the proper way?
Solomon has some advice for us in Proverbs that seems to fit here. You are probably quite familiar with the passage.
[blockquote author="Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.[/blockquote]
A budget meeting? How do you know where to expend the precious funds the Lord supplies? Personnel problems? What do you tell the person on your staff when they are in jeopardy of failing? How do you know which way to take your ministry in the coming year? Two years? Five years?
From Solomon’s wisdom, here would be his bullet point response:
- Trust God.
- Don’t trust your own wisdom.
- Seek Him and His will in everything. Everything.
- God will guide you to the right path.
Simple? No. We are programmed to do just the opposite. If we were to put the bullet points together it would look like this.
- Trust yourself.
- Trust your consultants.
- Set a good career path.
- You’ll probably succeed.
To that kind of thinking, God...through Solomon...says,
...do not depend on your own understanding.
Trust in the Lord.
Wisdom? I need it!
I’m looking at Proverbs in a different light. A new friend of mine is a very successful architect who counts among his clients the world’s largest retailer, Walmart. He has designed buildings for them for over 20 years. Raymond Harris is also a man who seeks to run his business God’s way. A few years back he wrote a book called The Heart of Business: Solomon’s Wisdom for Success in Any Economy. As I read through the book, I quickly saw what great application it has for those in the business world.
What about those in ministry? Whether nonprofit or for profit, could those who lead ministries also apply these principles with the assurance that it will make a difference in their organization and in their lives? My short answer?
YES!
Raymond Harris (who is no relation to me) did an extensive three-year study of Proverbs. He synthesizes some of the promises in the Old Testament book this way.
God promises that he will:
- Bless
- Protect
- Provide
- Thwart
Our responsibilities are to:
- Seek after these things
- Do these things
- Develop these things
- Avoid these things
- Become these things
In other words, says Harris, we should fulfill our responsibilities of seeking, doing, developing, and becoming the things God loves, and avoid the things he condemns. That will keep us on a path of righteousness.
As you might guess, what Solomon gives us in Proverbs is counter to what the world says we need to do in order to be “successful,” whatever that word may mean for you.
Again, Raymond Harris nails it down.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]In the world’s economy, people are defined by what they have accomplished. In God’s economy, they are defined by who they have become as a result of God’s transformation of their hearts.... God wants us to be fully devoted to His instruction. He wants our heart, not simply our actions.[/blockquote]
Knowing God’s Word and seeking to live by its truth is the key to the blessings God has for you in your ministry work. How can we apply His Truth as a pattern for our lives? We ask God’s Holy Spirit to grant us His wisdom.
[blockquote author="James 1:5-6 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.[/blockquote]
Seek His wisdom today.
An Island of Excellence
This past week I took time to do something different...something I should do more often. I surrounded myself with elements of excellence. It was a wide range of media things, from the boys choir of The King’s College in Cambridge, England, to a CD by Andrea Bocelli, to old TV footage of jazz musician Dave Brubeck (who became a Christian late in his life) and his quartet playing his iconic “Take Five.” A wide variety linked by a common thread...excellence!
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]An Island of Excellence in the Sea of Mediocracy[/blockquote]
Do you ever feel like I do, that we are swimming in a sea of mediocracy? Sadly, much of our Christian media is bogged down in the average. Maybe we feel the press of the schedule, having to crank out program after program. Or, we feel we don’t have the resources to allow our offerings to rise to the level of excellence. By the way, I sometimes fall prey to that same mentality.
That’s why I took a bit of time to enjoy some excellent efforts by these artists and production specialists. I will watch a television drama to see excellent actors take outstanding writing and bring it to life. I’ll listen to a great singer like Andrea Bocelli, listening to not only his excellent vocal production and interpretation, but also to the orchestral arrangements and quality recording techniques.
And whether a recent video of a boys choir or a more than 50 year old black and white video of top jazz musicians, I can appreciate the effort it takes to produce something of excellence.
Why do this? Why spend the time that could be used for something else?
First, because it helps me reestablish a high standard for our service to the Lord Jesus. As Oswald Chambers put it, we give our utmost for His highest. But if I am not careful, my reference point of “excellence” gets lowered, watered down.
Second, scripture implores us to do just what I have done. Listen to Paul’s words to the Philippian believers:
[blockquote author="Philippians 4:8 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable,
and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.[/blockquote]
Finally, excellence is a response of the heart for all that our Lord Jesus has done for us. At church, we recently sang the classic Isaac Watts hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” After taking us through the agony of Christ’s death on the cross, Watts concludes with these powerful and instructive words.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.[/blockquote]
How can I aim at less than excellent work if I am to represent our excellent Christ to a lost world?
Are you a gatekeeper?
The beauty of a Rembrandt portrait is often found in the subtle shifts in color within a narrow range of tones. This most famous Dutch painter was a master, so it would be an affront to him and his work to slash a brush stroke of red paint across one of his paintings. The eye would be drawn to the out-of-place color and stroke, and a person viewing the painting would then miss the depth of the beauty of the portrait, and miss the message of the artwork that the painter wanted the viewer to understand or receive.
In a similar way, what you program on your station, what you place on your website, what music you play and who you select as teachers for your ministry are all contributing to a portrait of Jesus for the world to see. In the U.S., we have lots of places where a person may get their image of Christ. Sadly, many are not painting a very good likeness, or it is marred by an errant stroke, a wrong color, an out-of-context image.
In many parts of the world, the Christian media outlet is one of the few places where people of all backgrounds can see an image of God’s Son. How accurate is that portrait?
In my years of leadership in Christian media, I had to make some hard decisions about musical artists and Bible teachers on our stations. Some had to be removed from the lineup when their lifestyle did not reflect the Gospel they proclaimed. On a rare occasion a program had to be dropped because the theology espoused was not solid biblical Truth. These were not popular decisions with the staff or the listeners. However, I did not want to taint the image of Christ for the listener, or at the very least distract them from the true picture of the Master.
Are you a good “gatekeeper” for your ministry? Do you critically analyze the message that is going out, and even consider the lifestyle of the messenger? Keep the image pure and true. There is a world looking for Jesus. It is as true today as it was in the Lord’s time on earth.
Just before Jesus was to be crucified, some Greeks were at the festival in Jerusalem. These Greeks sought out the disciples and pleaded with Philip, as they looked for the light.
[blockquote author="John 12:21 (HCSB)" link="" target="_blank"]Sir, we want to see Jesus. [/blockquote]
Don’t tarnish the image of Christ that the world desperately needs to see.
One thing at a time
I was watching a live program online, using my smart phone to check out something on Google, and looking through the paper all at the same time...when it hit me. Actually, it was a feature story in the paper that hit me. More specifically, it was the headline.
The Myth of Multitasking
While I must admit I am a practitioner of multitasking, I am not a fan of it. In my own experience, I have realized that I can only effectively focus on one thing at a time. Anything else, no matter how important or well-intended, is a distraction.
In my Christian radio days, I hosted the morning drive each weekday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. For most of that time, I was also the station’s general manager. I had a rule that I reinforced with my leadership staff.
“When I am in the control room,
I am not the general manager.”
I knew that trying to make a management decision while I was on the air would distract me from my focus on the listeners and what I needed to share with them. And, I also knew that since I could not give full attention to an important decision while I was on the air, I might not make the best decision for the good of the station, staff, or ministry.
Now, it seems, there is support for that understanding. The newspaper writer, Mark Fadden, says that multitasking has a negative effect on our brains. He points to numerous studies that tell us multitasking can affect our mental clarity, lower our IQ (who needs that?) ...maybe even permanently, and makes us less efficient. Yikes!
He gets a bit technical, but here is the gist of it. When you successfully finish a task, a “reward hormone,” dopamine, is released. But over time, constant multitasking releases another hormone that is very negative. It is a stress hormone, cortisol, and it causes us to feel worn down and exhausted. And if that weren’t bad enough, cortisol sometimes blocks our ability to burn fat. Double yikes!!
Seriously, multitasking is not our best use of the time God has given us to serve Him, our families, and others. I’m trying to think of a single time that Jesus multitasked. He was focused. He was single minded. Jesus often pulled away from even his disciples so He wouldn’t be distracted in the most important task He had...talking with His Father.
The Apostle Paul picked up on that, no doubt. His context was a bit different, but the point is still true. Paul talked about not having arrived, or attained it all. Paul talked about his focus.
[blockquote author="Philippians 3:13-14 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Insert your content here[/blockquote]No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
See that? “I focus on this one thing....”
Multitasking...or monotasking. There may be a time for both. But don’t be fooled into thinking you’re more productive and efficient when you multitask. And don’t neglect the importance of focusing on that single thing to which Christ has called you.
Only one way to lead?
Here’s a thought I shared with you previously about leadership.
Most leadership books today tell you the way to be a successful leader. “Follow this plan, and you will succeed.” The only problem with that is someone else has penned a book that gives an opposite viewpoint on leadership. So, who is right?
In my lifetime, I have heard about many scientific studies relating to coffee and health. One study says coffee is bad for you. Then another study says that one cup a day is actually good for you. And yet another study says, "...drink more coffee and you will be more healthy!" Hmmm.
I’m thinking that there may be more than one way to accomplish God’s will in your leadership role. Our Lord is more creative than just following one path to success (whatever that may mean). Jesus healed blind people, but He didn’t always do it the same way.
One time, Jesus just spoke a word. Another time he touched the man’s eyes. In John 9 he spit on the ground, made mud, and placed that on the man’s eyes. When he washed it off, the blind man could see.
Today, I suspect someone would write a book on how to heal blind men and begin selling that book along with a container of that special mud. “Here’s how you do it!”
It's true, we can learn some valuable techniques that will help us manage and lead others. And we should be willing to study and apply what we learn. But don’t think there is only one way to manage. Don’t just adopt the latest leadership style or practice without asking God to guide you.
You see, if you are successful following someone’s human plan, people will attribute that success to you or to a book or a system.
But if you seek God’s wisdom and follow His direction in leadership, God will get the glory.
After all, isn’t that what we want in ministry?
Is anyone back there following?
Leadership has many challenges. First, you need to have people follow you, otherwise...well, you get the point.
Erion Prendi, my friend and a media and evangelical leader in Albania, made some great points about leadership the other day. I suspect we have all had to deal with this in our leadership roles.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]One important truth about leadership is that it is isolating. Because of your position, a natural division is created between you and those around you who often see you as a superhuman. The more these occurrences take place, the more isolated you feel. The solution:
Maintain close relationships! [/blockquote]
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"] Deepen the friendships you have! Increase your circle of true friends! Surround yourself with people who motivate and build you up... and equally pour into the life of those who see you as one who builds them up. Don't wait for things to get better, for the new house with more space you dream of, for better furniture so your living room looks nicer, etc. etc. Start now and start with your family and the friends you have![/blockquote]
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Tomorrow may be too late![/blockquote]
I think of the Apostle Paul, who must have felt that loneliness of leadership. Yet as Paul closed out most of his letters, he made sure he greeted his friends in Ephesus, Philippi, and other towns where he served. And he often talked of those who surrounded him, even while he was in prison.
And listen to this passage from the Apostle John’s letter:
[blockquote author="3 John:1-4 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. Some of the traveling teachers recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. [/blockquote]
Do you have friends you can get with and share some of the deep things of life? Are there those with whom you can just sit and laugh? These folks are valuable. And it is a part of your spiritual and leadership health to cultivate these kinds of friends and relationships that keep you grounded and fresh...so you can lead!
Make your bed!
You may have heard that phrase a few times in your life.
“Make your bed.”
Parents have been known to say it again and again. It may be one of the chapters in the How to Parent handbook. A major luxury of staying in a hotel (which I do quite often) is not having to make the bed. Yet I find myself pulling the covers up and at least making it look neat each morning.
Right about now you are probably saying, “Nice, Ron. But what does that have to do with anything in my life and ministry?” Good question.
My friend Don McMinn recently wrote a blog on this topic. In it he quoted retired U. S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven, who was also commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command. Admiral McRaven is now Chancellor of the University of Texas System. He spoke at UT Austin a few years ago and related that in his SEAL training, the first inspection of the day was their bed. It had to be made, and it had to be perfect. Admiral McRaven explained why.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.[/blockquote]
That goes right along with what I often told our staff in Christian radio. Our normal work day for the office staff was 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. My advice to the them was to accomplish one job before 8:30 a.m. Get one task accomplished in the first thirty minutes of work.
The reasons for that were simple. It put the staff in a work mode right from the start of the morning. Because all on the team were also good friends, there was a tendency at times to visit with each other as they arrived at the station. These friendly visits could easily stretch into a half-hour or more. By tackling a job right at the beginning of the day, each person was in a mode to accomplish things throughout the day. Like making your bed, getting that first task done gives a sense of pride, and encourages a person to head to the next job on the list.
Of course, there are biblical principles and truths that also encourage us to do the work.
[blockquote author="II Timothy 2:15 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.[/blockquote]
So, did you make your bed this morning? These small “wins” each morning can lead to greater momentum and larger accomplishments, all for God’s kingdom.
Patient Endurance - 2017
August 2017
MEDIAlliance International Prayer Newsletter
Patient Endurance
It is exciting to see the hand of God at work through faithful servants. We would call him an itinerant evangelist, serving in a country that had denied God for over half a century. Yet he knew his calling.
Like the call the Apostle Paul received to come to Macedonia, Xhimi (Jimmy) Baraku knew what he was to do. The Lord wanted him to travel to the many small villages of central Albania and share the Good News of Jesus with the mostly Muslim population. And Pastor Baraku did just that.
It could not have been easy in the early 1990s, sharing Christ in a country that had just emerged from Communist rule. A country that had been the most closed country to the outside world, much like North Korea is today. A country that had been officially atheistic, with that tenent written into their Communist constitution. Yet, with all that against him, Xhimi Baraku remained faithful to the call of God’s Holy Spirit. Tell the lost about Jesus.
But there was a growing challenge. Xhimi Baraku's health was not good. And soon it became so bad that he could not travel from town to town, village to village. Pastor Xhimi was led to another plan. Take the Gospel to the people by way of radio. And, after several years of prayer, planning, and dealing with the government...patient endurance. Radio Emanuel was born in Korce, Albania.
[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]
His tasks apparently finished, God called Pastor Baraku home at an early age. But the Lord is never without a plan. At the age of 19, Xhimi’s son, Meritan was called to lead this fledging broadcast ministry. Before long, a young lady joined the Radio Emanuel staff, and soon Meritan (Tani) and Eftali (Efti) fell in love, and began a journey of growing and serving in what had to be a challenging ministry...Radio Emanuel.
My first visit to Korce and the radio ministry was over six years ago. I found a dedicated staff, several faithful volunteers, and a broadcast facility that was painfully small for what they were doing. I encouraged Tani to begin to think about having a new facility someday... one that would allow them to produce today's programs, and adequately serve them in the future as well. I’m sure Tani and Efti had thought of this before. Of course, the big questions was, "Where will we find the money?"
By God’s grace, faithful support was cultivated over the ensuing years. First, a building was found. Old, but in a good location. The one selected had 34 owners, and each one had to agree to the purchase. Quite a task. The original plan was to remodel the old building, which is very near the vibrant city center. It soon became obvious that the building needed to be torn down to its foundation and all new construction begin.
On June 24, 2017, with pastors, missionaries, supporters, and family in attendance, the dream became a reality. Radio Emanuel’s new broadcast center was formally dedicated.
Several key donors took part in the dedication time. Judy and I were honored to be there, and I was privileged to speak briefly at the dedication program. Now, a faithful ministry has a beautiful new home, fitting for the critical work begun so many years earlier...to take the message of hope found only in Jesus Christ to the lost of central Albania and beyond.
Our friends at Galcom International, with great encouragement from its director emeritus Alan McGuirl, have been instrumental in getting the facilities up and running. They are due a big thanks.
Congratulations to Meritan and Eftali Baraku for your faithful service. God has rewarded your patient endurance and your dedicated service in a great way.
Ministry Updates and Prayer Opportunities
Middle East
I’ll soon be visiting a ministry in a Middle Eastern country, assessing how we might help them be more effective in sharing the love and hope found in Jesus. This ministry has faced some hardships and persecution, but has been faithful to God’s call as they impact lives throughout this region.
Please pray for the ministry and those who serve there faithfully. Christians in this country have endured persecution through the years, but God has also brought about great victory. Pray for the Lord’s wisdom as we spend time with these faithful servants. More on this later.
India
For the seventh year, we will be helping our Christian media friends in India with their amazing media conference. This year we will be in New Delhi September 27-29, assisting 400-500 attendees in expanding their understanding of media, and how to effectively use it for the Gospel.
It seems like every month we hear of new challenges in India for those who are following Christ as their Lord. This land is largely Hindu. Media is a powerful tool to reach beyond any cultural barrier to present Christ to India.
MEDIAlliance has a team of instructors who teach television, social media/internet, church media, and media management. Pray for these gifted Christian media professionals as they travel and prepare for the 8th Kingdom Media Conference. Pray for the Indian Christian Media Association as they prepare this significant event.
International Summit
In October, MEDIAlliance will again host approximately 45 key Christian media leaders in Dallas for our second International Media Leadership Summit (IMLS). The inaugural event last year was a wonderful success, due to the prayers and support of many of our MEDIAlliance friends. This invitation-only event is for ministry leaders from their own countries. The IMLS is designed to provide insight in leadership, media, and spiritual growth. And it is for the personal refreshment of these great servants who are impacting their culture with God’s Word through Christian media.
The event is held on the campus of Dallas Baptist University, who provides wonderful support for the IMLS.
Pray for the funding needs. Our budget for the Summit is $100,000. At this point, about $60,000 has been committed. Anyone wishing to donate to the IMLS can do so by clicking here to give online. Or a check can be mailed to our ministry office:
MEDIAlliance International
3309 Shellbrook Court
Arlington, TX 76016
Pray for the speakers as they prepare to share insight and wisdom with our Summit attendees.
Turkey
Radio Shema is growing, and has changed their ministry name to reflect that. With three stations and other media initiatives, the new name is Shema Media Group. In addition, they are reorganizing their staff to oversee the various media ministry facets. We are praying on how we can best serve them as they grow the impact of the Gospel of Christ in this country.
Turkey is often listed among the largest of the unreached people groups. There are only a few thousand evangelical Christians among the 80 million Turks, who are largely Muslim.
Pray for Shema Media Group as they deal with the new structure, and for the finances needed to keep the ministry strong.
Indonesia
Some of my early involvement in international media work was in Indonesia about 16 years ago. Now, our friend Paulus has asked MEDIAlliance to consider providing some training for the various media ministries operating Christian radio in Indonesia. We are looking at the summer of 2018 to begin this connection.
Pray for the wisdom we need as we evaluate how we can help these Christian broadcasters in this part of the world. As always, there are financial needs for such conferences. Pray that God will supply what we need when we need it. He is always faithful.
Haiti
MEDIAlliance will also return to Haiti in 2018 to hold another media training conference. Our ministry partners at Radio 4VEH anticipate having a much bigger group than the 75 we had two years ago. We enjoy the opportunity to help strengthen the work of Christian radio and television throughout Haiti.
This poor country needs the light of the hope that Christ brings to all who put their trust in Him. Christian radio reaches into jungle villages, into the midst of a voodoo culture, and, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, transforms lives for all eternity.
Ukraine
Novomedia will hold their annual Forum for journalists in Ukraine in November. We have had the privilege of speaking to this group, which is a mix of top secular and Christian journalist in radio, television, and print.
Next spring, MEDIAlliance will be back in Ukraine to hold another media training conference. This has grown over the past three years, and we anticipate the largest group attending in this next conference.
Pray for Ruslan Kukharchuk and his Novomedia team as they use these powerful media tools to take the peace of Christ to a nation that is dealing with war along its eastern borders.
MEDIAlliance International Needs
We rarely use these newsletters to ask for funds for our ministry work. God has been so good to us through faithful supporters. However, as these new opportunities continue to come, we need to expand our budget to be able to do what the Lord is placing before us.
We have set a goal of $200,000 by the end of 2017. Due to some wonderful financial gifts, our need is now down to $140,000 to be raised by year end. This amount will allow us to accomplish what God has for us in the last half of this year, and to begin 2018 in a strong way.
Would you pray about making a special donation to MEDIAlliance now? I never worry about our financial needs...but I do want to be faithful to let you and other friends of the ministry know of them.
If you would give, you can do so online with a credit card by clicking on the button below. You can make a one-time gift to the ministry through our secure website.
[button title="DONATE" link="/donations/" target="_blank" align="" icon="icon-money-line" icon_position="left" color="#004B76" font_color="#ffffff" size="4" full_width="1" class="" download="" rel="" onclick=""]
I would also ask you to consider giving monthly to MEDIAlliance. As our ministry grows, our monthly needs grow. We have a very small budget for a ministry with such global impact. We have chosen to work from our home, with our assistants working from their homes as well. Our virtual offices allow us to be good stewards of the funds given.
Monthly gifts usually allow people to give more than they might be able to with a one-time gift. I hope you will prayerfully consider that. The donation page on our website will allow you to designate a monthly gift. Click HERE to find out more.
Finally...
Almost 30 years ago, a handful of us who were serving as media ministers in large Baptist churches formed the Metro Media Ministers Association (MMMA). I am delighted to say that the group is still going, and is stronger than ever. This gracious group of men and women recently awarded me a life membership to the MMMA.
At their recent gathering in Naples, Florida, they asked me to speak to the group. We shared with these media ministers about our calling to the international work of MEDIAlliance, and about the joy and the value of mentoring others. This plaque from the group will hold a special place of honor for me. Thanks to the current MMMA president, Bryan Bailey, for giving me the opportunity to be with this great group.
Again, thank you for your prayers and your support. May God continue to bless you...and may He continue to guide MEDIAlliance International as we help others share the promise of hope found only in Christ Jesus.
God’s best…
A job? Or more...
A while back I was privileged to speak to journalists in Ukraine about our media profession, whether it is a job or a calling. In that message, I quoted from a book, A Case for Calling, by Tomas Addington and Stephen Graves. They said:
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]Calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to His summons and service.[/blockquote]
So, do you have a calling? Is what you do for the Lord based on His direction for your life? Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, is quoted as saying:
“It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and with a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires.”
Ouch! Chambers goes on to say this.
[blockquote author="" link="" target="_blank"]You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will.[/blockquote]
The Apostle Paul summed it up this way.
[blockquote author="Acts 20:24 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.[/blockquote]
If you believe that the Bible is fully inspired by God’s Holy Spirit…and I do…then Paul’s words, “…my life is worth nothing to me…,” means just what it says. Paul counted anything he did that was not under God’s assignment as rubbish, garbage, nothing. Good things that are not God’s things are nothing.
So, what’s on your desk this morning? What’s on your agenda for the week? Are they leading you in the path to which God has called you? Are they part of His plan, or simply your plan? I don’t know about you, but I have some pondering and examining to do. Remember…we serve the King who bought us with the blood of His Son. As Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth:
[blockquote author="I Corinthians 6:19, 20 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]…You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price….[/blockquote]
Your plan. Or God’s plan. What will it be today?