Author Archives: escalanteministries.com
Friday Focus: moving from rent to own.
hey thanks for reading, i was inspired by one of the chapters our small group had read. the name of the curriculum is titled FREWAY. It is about re- discovery of the way our Heavenly father would want us to live. This chapter was talking about how we need to own our responses to situations. I would use this principal to apply in my ministry.
I am convinced that the level of our service is contingent upon our perception of belonging in the ministry or loyalty to the vision of the church. That means my ministry will grow only if I take ownership.
What if our attitude of ministry was likened to living in a home.
What if you don’t own? Then your renting.
Rent is due a certain time every month. It can be defined with a date and time. We pay rent because we live there, that is our base of operations and where we keep our possessions, it provides shelter for our family. but we don’t own it, we are just renting. If there is a leaky faucet? Not my problem, it belongs to someone else. I don’t own it. The landlord does. I’m just owning the home part time.
It is not our house, we are just renting. When a problem happens in the home, you call the land Lord to correct it. after all, he owns the property, he has invested his resources into the area you are only in possession of for a time and if you dont like it? you can move. Think about this: the owner chooses you to be in his property in exchange for your money that you pay regularly. Physically, money cannot keep you protected from the elements. Nor could it have kept you fed in short, it is a resource that you exchange for something tangible.
Did you notice the mindset for both the owner and the renter? What type of person are you in ministry? Are you an owner or a renter? Just like home owners, those who lead have a sense of ownership they have vision and purpose for their ministry. They have expectations. They meet The Lord while in motion not sitting on the side lines. Now being an owner does not mean you’re the pastor. It takes all of us as leaders to develop that ownership. I am reminded of when I was in Washington and I was in my spiritual Dad’s church. he is a great man of God! I wanted to be like him so I did what he did. When I saw him clean the church I knew I cleaned the church if there was papers or trash underneath the seats I would pick it up helping keep my church clean and neat. Then when I helped in the Sound booth I did my best. I immersed myself into it. I had no clue how to run a sound system but I had a heart to do it. I did it and God met me while i was in motion, it was a blessing.
I moved from just renting; checking in, checking out of ministry to taking ownership of it!
The benefits of owning far outweigh any benefit of renting. I hope you take ownership of your ministry. Ask the hard questions. When you find it’s you’re fault? Don’t beat yourself up. Own it and rejoice in the fact that you have something to do with the turnaround. Have a great week. Teresa & I are praying for you, be encouraged…
– Mike
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Our Marriage is over…..
2015 I believe is the year of reclamation. so how do I as a God fearing man redeem love in my marriage? Good question. The Answer? in short, the Holy Spirit. Now here is the essay answer:
My marriage was great! In fact, it was glorious. But it has run its course and NOW IS OVER…….
Before I get the “stink-face”, stay with me.
I wrote the header above in part because I have heard this often in my career even in myself. I heard this not as a Minister but working as a Mechanic with co-workers underneath the jet with our arms up in an aircraft engine in the heat of the day with sweat jumping off our faces. Divorce affects everyone and right now you’re seeing your marriage as over and with that thought it will be. Although it does not have to be!!!
When you were married promises were made; you to your spouse and vice versa. God made a promise to both of you. not that you will win the lotto or be famous. He promised that no one will tear you both apart from each other. That being said you have a “Silent Partner” within your marriage called the Holy Spirit. let me assure you that trying to fix your marriage by yourself within your own strength is about as effective trying to stop a train on a dime even at moderate speed.
Here it is Superman. Your marriage has ended in the way you have seen it. Try loving your spouse in the way Christ loves the church. if you need outside help, get it!!! True, Jesus does not get pestered to take the trash out or even why he left the seat up. but he does get told what HIS kid did that day. All joking aside. Praying and asking the Holy Spirit to help you and guide you to a better marriage is thee only way to begin your marriage afresh.. thank you for reading and I pray that your marriage will prosper even as your soul prospers.
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Who do you love?
What if you had been diagnosed with an incurable sickness and diagnosed with less than six months to live? Would you feel differently? No,!? How about three months??? What is your passion? What thing you enjoy makes you say to yourself if they never pay me or give me another raise i would still do this?? Friend, that is your passion. Everyone has one, it is our unique gift that we can share with the world.
Show me what your checkbook looks like, and i will show you where your focus is. But describe to me your day and i should see what you love. If i don’t? How do you feel about that? Are you doing what you must because you choose too? What do you love? The bible records in the book of Matthew where your treasure is, your heart is there also. What is your treasure? I heard a saying in high school that “if you find a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life..” I don’t know how true that is now almost 18 years later. But I know it makes the long hours bearable. It makes things you don’t enjoy drive you to go after what you want to do. It forces you to remain when you want to quit because it helps “pay the bills” while you work closer to your goal.
God has so much in-store for you, if you allow him your attention, not a minute or two at dinner time but an ongoing developing friendship. He can speak to you through his word. In your prayer time as well. Sure, I have heard from many that you really don’t hear anything in prayer. i get that. could it be that your life is turned up so where you don’t hear? Maybe you could turn down for Him?
I heard one of my favorite speakers say that the graveyard is where untapped ideas and hopes lay at rest in torment. Angry at the paradox they died with the only one that could have set them free and chose not to. My friend I don’t know what is worst. Know that I would die or, know that I had died and never lived. It’s not to late to follow after what makes you smile.. Praying for you to know your purpose and go after your dream.
-Mike
Escalanteministries.com 