A work of art...
The artwork of the masters is amazing. Whether it is seeing great sculptures like Michelangelo’s David, or paintings by, Monet, or Degas, or Rembrandt, I am amazed at what they can do to make the art come alive.
I have some artist friends, and their work amazes me, too. Canvas, brushes, paints of acrylic, oil, or watercolor, all come together in the masters’ hands. Sometimes I have watched demonstrations of these works in progress. I think that is where you see the genius behind the paintbrush or palate knife.
One of those artists is Michael Holter. Though I don’t know Michael well, we have mutual friends. And,of course, Facebook connects us from time to time. Michael has done some time-lapse video of his amazing work on a project. I am fascinated watching it. Michael primarily uses water colors to render his masterpieces. As I have watched, several thoughts go through my mind.
At times I wonder what Michael is doing. He applies colors that seem out of place. Sometimes he puts another color on top of one he painted before, just leaving little places the original color he applied. I watch amazed as layers of colors are added in various spots on the paper, and I think, “That doesn’t belong there. It’s too bright. Too dark. Too...whatever.”
Then, amazingly, features take on a striking reality. That blob of color becomes the eyes. That streak of color shapes the nose. That color on color becomes a scarf. Many times I want say, “There, that’s good enough. It looks nice.” But the artist continues to add a touch here and a stroke of color there. And it gets more and more lifelike, with more character, more emotion, more personality.
I think that happens to us in our lives. God is painting a picture, color by color, stroke by stroke. Some of it doesn’t seem to make sense. Some of it seems out of place. Some of it washes out what was there before, and we can’t see the result of the layers of life that are being built up.
But God is up to something. He has an image in mind. And it is the image of His Son, Jesus. He is painting a masterpiece...and you and I are the canvas he is using.
[blockquote author="Ephesians 2:10" link="" target="_blank"] For we are his workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus....[/blockquote]
My job and yours is to allow God to work on us until He is finished. Our job is to allow the Creator God to continue his work. And He will be faithful to complete it, if we let him.
And it will be a masterpiece!
By the way, if you would like to see a time-lapse of Michael Holter’s work, click HERE.
Friends are friends forever...
That Michael W. Smith song came to mind the other morning as I was reading Romans 16. You remember the song? The chorus begins:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them....
What triggered that thought? I became aware of the many friends the Apostle Paul had developed through his missionary journeys, as he led people to Christ, and as he grew the church in those early days. Just look at the names of those to whom Paul gave greetings and shared loving words.
There is Phoebe from Cenchrea. Priscilla and Aquila that Paul called his co-workers in ministry. Paul mentioned they risked their lives for him. He also mentioned his dear friend Epenetus, the first person from the province of Asia to become a follower of Christ.
And then it was Mary, Andronicus and Junia, who shared prison time with Paul. The Apostle also sent his warm greetings to Ampliatus, Urganus, and Stachys.
Look at these others.
"Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my greetings to the believers from the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet the Lord’s people from the household of Narcissus. Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord. Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.
[blockquote author="Romans 16:10-15 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]Give my greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who meet with them. Give my greetings to Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and to Olympas and all the believers who meet with them.[/blockquote]
With a few exceptions, these people named by Paul aren’t prominent in our New Testament accounts. We don’t know much about them. But Paul knew them. And he loved them. And he commended and encouraged them by his greetings and his words.
I especially liked what he said about Appeles. “A good man whom Christ approves.” Wow. Wouldn’t you like that to be said of you by someone like Paul? I sure would.
So what’s the point here? Paul lived the way the Lord Jesus directs all of us to live. To love God...and to love people.
When asked about the greatest commandments in the law of Moses, Jesus had a ready answer.
[blockquote author="Matthew 22:37-39" link="" target="_blank"]Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'[/blockquote]
To encourage the saints. To remember them in prayer. To commend them for their good works and their selfless service to our Lord Jesus. That was the Apostle Paul's pattern. It is a good one for each of us to follow.
And, one more thing...Victor, I thank my God every time I think of you. Your faithfulness and your friendship is a blessing and an encouragement.
Patience: A Leadership Trait
I used to think that all leaders were “type A” personalities. Constantly on the go. Busy. Making quick decisions. That may be true in many cases, but it doesn’t paint the complete picture.
Executive consultant and mentor Fred Smith was slowed dramatically in his later years by illnesses. He wrote about what God was teaching him through that time he was slowed as he was forced to be more dependent on others.
“Until I spent several months on my back, unable to move, I didn’t really appreciate patience. Perhaps I could have given you “three points of managing a patient attitude,” but I didn’t experientially understand. Now I know that true patience reduces unhealthy distress without diminishing healthy stress. Patience brings poise to our life, enabling us to discern between the important and the less important. It gives us tolerance for the point of view of others.”
Wow. Wise words. If you are like me, you want patience...right now. But I don’t want to go through the trials that help bring patience into my life.
[blockquote author="James 1:2-4 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”[/blockquote]
May our Lord grant us His patience as we give leadership in our ministries and in our homes.
What about this new year?
New Year. New start.
New direction.
New resolve. New ideas.
New hope.
What will the new year hold for you? There is a temptation to think that the new year holds any more promise than the old one. I’m not talking about hope or forgiveness or a fresh start. I’m talking about your investment in what will happen in this new year. While it may be a “new” year, it is, in reality, a continuation of the life that God has given us, and for which He expects us to be good stewards.
I was looking at an ebook on some of John Maxwell’s inspirational and motivational quotes. At the very start Maxwell lists “Seven Steps to Success.” I’ve added some of my thoughts here on his steps for success.
Make a commitment to grow daily.
To me, that means to read, to listen, to explore, to seek God’s direction through prayer and Bible study. Daily.
Value the process more than events.
What are you learning from those things that happen, both good and bad? Realize that the Christian journey is just that, a journey. Like a family vacation, you may stop along the way and enjoy the view. Or you may stop to change a flat tire. But it is the destination that is your goal.
Don't wait for inspiration.
There is an old saying. “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Often our creativity and inspiration comes out of our own need in the daily activities of life. Be observant, and use these observations to spur you on to accomplish the Lord’s will for you.
Be willing to sacrifice pleasure for opportunity.
It may be like the boy who would have rather been playing outside with his friends instead of practicing the guitar...who became an effective worship leader. The sacrifice for the moment meant joy and opportunity later on.
Dream big.
The quote is attributed to several leaders and thinkers, all the way back to Niccolò Machiavelli in the early 1500’s. “Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.”
Plan your priorities.
This one gets me frequently. The urgent is the enemy of the important. Set your priorities early in the day, each day, and you will more often accomplish the things that are important. Yes, some interruptions are divine encounters. But many are just interruptions. Pray for God to order you day. Then do your part.
Give up to go up.
I find it hard to let go of something that has seemed successful to move on to something that we aren’t sure about. But like they say, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”
May the New Year be filled with the hope and the promise our Savior has for us who follow Him and call him Lord.
Lists, lists, and more lists...
It seems we are obsessed with lists. Ten things you must do to be successful. Seven habits to avoid. Thirteen foods you must never eat. (I hope Brussels sprouts are on that list.) List after list after list.
I’ll admit, I read some of them. But rarely do I take all of them (as we would say in Texas) lock, stock and barrel.
I try to glean a few thoughts and discard the rest.
And I did that recently on a list of 25 Leadership Lessons from Millionaire Business Owners. Some of the ideas were predictable. Prioritize and delegate. Hire people with superior skills. Give employees expectations and training.
But some of the ideas put forth by these billionaire leaders were surprising.
- Be nice.
- Set the tone for others to emulate.
- Plan for fun.
- Communicate effectively.
- Be a lighthouse, not a weathervane. In the midst of our quickly changing world, your employees need someone they can look to for guidance.
- Encourage employees to get more sleep.
- Write thank-you notes.
- Hold yourself accountable.There is nothing magical in these suggestions. It won’t transform your ministry or organization overnight. It will, however, begin a culture of caring and guiding that will translate over time into employee satisfaction, growth, and longevity. And it will make it a joy to show up each day to serve.
Remember...we work as unto the Lord. And that should always be a joy.
[blockquote author="Psalm 100:2" link="" target="_blank"]Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing.[/blockquote]
A Powerful Story
On this Monday before Christmas, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate “memo” to write than the great insight shared about 2,000 years ago. Merry Christmas!
[blockquote author="Luke 2:1-20 (The Message)" link="" target="_blank"]
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified.
The angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.’
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
‘Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.’
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. ‘Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.’ They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.
The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told![/blockquote]
All who heard the shepherds were impressed. It wasn’t the messenger that was important. It was the message.
Go...and tell...that the world may know Jesus.
God’s best at Christmas and through the coming year.
How do you focus?
In this day of mobile phone cameras, most have forgotten how to focus. It happens automatically. My first camera was a 35mm single lens reflex film camera with absolutely nothing automatic about it. I had to set the f.stop (lens opening) to let in the right amount of light. And I had to set the shutter speed I wanted, especially if the scene I wanted to capture was moving. And of course, I had to focus the lens on the object. I never knew if I had gotten it right until the film was developed, sometimes weeks later.
Today, it’s all automatic…focus, light sensitivity, shutter speed. And it’s all quite good…most of the time. But sometimes, my auto mobile phone camera focuses on the wrong thing. I have to take it again, making sure I have told it what to focus on.
Dr. Chuck Swindoll, in his book The Mystery of God’s Will, talks about the focus of our lives and of our ministries.
[blockquote author="Chuck Swindoll" link="" target="_blank"]In this life, we have focus choices. We can focus on ourselves, we can focus on our circumstances, we can focus on other people, or we can focus on God. When you think biblically you focus first on God. Regardless of what you want, regardless of the circumstances you’re under, regardless of what others say or think, regardless of how you feel, God and God alone is working out His great plan. And in the final tally, it will be fabulous! [/blockquote]
So…move up from a mobile phone camera…and to a camera that lets you set the focus. The world would have you focus on what they think is important. God wants you to focus on Him.
[blockquote]Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. [/blockquote]
Focus on Jesus.
Has creativity reached its limits?
I have an old television production book from the 1950’s that showed both microphone placement and camera angles for many musical instruments. When it got to the chapter on the piano, there were numerous places to place microphones, with varying types of sounds to be recorded.
Before the text talked about camera shots and angles for the piano, it had a simple and straightforward statement. The old production text said:
There are no new ways to shoot a piano.
From overhead boom shots, to those through the raised lid, to an extreme close-up of the pianist hands, they have all been done. I remember reading that all those many years ago, and pondering what the author was saying. I think it figured it out.
Rather than spend time trying to come up with a new angle to shoot a piano, why not seek out a fresh sequence of shots. Let the music dictate what should be pictured, and don’t depend only on some special camera angle no one has thought up yet. Sequence the shots in a meaningful and fresh way, and you will capture the spirit, the energy, and maybe even the beauty of the music.
I have often applied that to creativity in general. To my knowledge no one has created a new note. (Well, I did have a tenor in a church choir who came pretty close to inventing a new one.) We still work with the same 7 basic notes in a scale. Add in sharps and flats, and there are a few more. But that’s it.
Yet, every year, thousands…maybe millions…of new songs are written. Not one is exactly like the other. Someone took the same “old” notes and sequenced them in a fresh, new way. And…voilà…a new song was born.
My contention is that the Lord, our creator God, has not stopped the creative process. Poets use the same words we may use in conversation, but come up with amazing verses that inspire us, enlighten us, or make us smile. Artist use the same basic colors on their palate, yet paint masterpieces by applying these old colors in new ways with new designs.
My application: You may not need to invent a new program type, just put together the various elements in a fresh and meaningful way. Your program can inspire, enlighten, bring a smile…or even bring someone to the throne of Grace, to make an eternal difference.
[blockquote author="Isaiah 43:19 NLT" link="" target="_blank"]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.[/blockquote]
Be creative. Make a difference.
An Unlikely Leader
Did you ever wonder how you got to a position of leadership? I received a text recently from a lady I have known for all her life. Her father was a mentor and inspiration to me. Her message was that I have been that to her and to her husband. They both are involved in media. I didn’t seek that role…and I’m not sure I really qualify for the position.
Do you every feel that way? Unqualified? Unprepared? Unlikely to be one of God’s leaders?
John Maxwell, in his Maxwell Leadership Bible, lists five reasons why God often chooses unlikely leaders. They are based on Gideon’s leadership, found in Judges 7. You remember how Gideon had assembled a large army to fight the battle. But God had him reduce the number from 32,000 warriors until it was down to just 300. I’m sure the enemy looked at Gideon as a poor leader if all he could gather for the battle was 300 soldiers. If you are feeling inadequate today, maybe this will encourage you.
Why does God choose unlikely leaders?
To catch the attention of the world.
To bring honor to Himself.
To keep the message simple.
To prompt reliance upon Him, not people.
To fill us with His power.
God gave Gideon a great victory, and the Lord received the credit.
You see, in our world today, there is a plan for leaders and leadership. The right school. The right education. The right plan. The right friends. Many are following the world’s plan to become a successful leader. And if they have a level of success, guess who gets the credit?
God’s plan may go counter to all that the world says about leadership. Of course, we can learn leadership skills. We can have the personality that attracts people who are willing to follow. But what if God’s plan is counter to the world’s idea of leadership? Are we willing to follow?
Follow God. Follow His plan. Realize that He has selected you to be His leader, to use His plan, for His victory. For His glory.
Realignment
The front wheels on my car were out of alignment. Instead of being parallel to each other, one of them was angled very slightly to the left.
Very slightly.
I had noticed the car pulling to the left a bit, sometimes pulling me a bit out of my lane. Normally not a big deal. I could correct as needed.
At times, though, when the winds were blowing strongly, or when it was raining, that small alignment problem became a big problem.
I remember during the days of the space program that there had to be small corrections to the rockets trajectory. If NASA didn’t make those corrections, the space ship could end up millions of miles off course. Big problem.
Are you seeing the application? Is your life in alignment with what God intends for you. Is your ministry tracking along the path the Lord has laid out for you? Is there a need for some small corrections, or a major realignment before your ministry is way off target?
By the way, it would have been rather foolish for me to get upset at the mechanic who pointed out my alignment problem. It was something I needed to hear. A correction I needed to make. God’s Spirit is ready to give each of us that word, to provide his correction as we travel our ministry path.
[blockquote author="Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)" link="" target="_blank"]Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left. [/blockquote]
Stay on track. Listen for…and make…those needed corrections. You and your ministry will be aligned with God’s purpose and plan, and your ministry will be more effective in sharing the Gospel.