Category Archives: Christian Living
Friday Focus
In the spirit of blogging I am attempting a new project. It will be called ” Friday focus” and the intent would be to focus on serving the ones who serve highlighting a focus of servant leadership. This weeks focus is on the call of leadership.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV)
If God be for us, than who cam be against us? Too often the question comes to the forefront of I am not able to carry out the task of _________. You get the idea. “I don’t think I’m able to support my pastor,” or “I don’t think I’m ready to begin ministry,” How can I lead? “. Well the answer lies in these words penned over two thousand years ago.
I want to share that apart from Christ, we can do nothing ………. That means nothing , NO thing, projects that have been completed without the leading and direction of his holy inspiration will come to ruin in time. This is why, in my opinion many “on fire leaders” soon burn out as a result of an unbalanced life style. But that is another focus.
I have a tool box at home and each tool has a function, even the brake bleeder kit with its rustic blend of hose and jar with a coat hanger to compliment the home manufactured asset. Each tool is designed for use to assist in the production of the end item. By it self it can’t do anything but in the hands of a mechanical ninja. It can breakdown or build. These tools have been designed for the challenges it will face and much like a butter knife it can be made versatile for other uses.
We can be referred to as tools in God’s tool box. Tools that can produce or destroy. In the hands of the master mechanic we can do many things but failure is not on the list. If The Lord who called you formed you and designed you for the purpose that only you can do, then what things can try to come against or better yet win against the armies of God. You are unstoppable because of Christ who lives and lives inside your heart. Because of whose you are you are able to do greater things that have been recorded in history why? Because you are a tool, used by God. When you belong to his toolbox you’re not alone you have other tools that can help bring change, to find hurts and heal them. And with a team that strong, who can win against you.
So as services begin and the people need a word. Know that you are not alone but part of a team. And we are behind you in your service to The Lord, together who can be against us.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV)
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What Will It Be For You?
2014, today marks the beginning of the New year. For many this is the first day of their resolution. Maybe it could be breaking a food addiction to even adopting a style of fitness. Whatever your challenge. Go after it with with all your heart, even if you don’t think it can be done. Do it anyway because it is what needs to be done. This is the year of great exploits for God. This is the year where destinies are fulfilled, sacrifices are honored, and dreams are realized.
So what will it be for you in ’14? How do you feel about it? In other words, what is your attitude concerning this newness or commitment? Is it just another year to you? Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth having?
Ignited,
Mike
Happy New Year
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Esteem Away
There are people in life whom I have held in great esteem. For example, when I was a young teenage girl many of the pop culture music stars had my attention. Now when I say they had that attention I don’t mean only when I watched a music video. I attended to their articles in popular magazines that decorated the checkout stands, watched the talk shows that they appeared on, and even news segments that highlighted their lives. I took the time to get to know who they were as an individual and valued what they had to say. As I was in my early twenties, I held a great regard for friends I had built a certain amount of trust for. Giving them the same type of attention as I did to those stars, I would take a genuine interest in their lives. Unfortunately, as my trust was breached I easily let go of the value I held for their words or even who they were as a human. This became my defense mechanism; a wall so carefully built that it could not be penetrated by people rather taken down by God himself.
During the season of what I call my “heart renovation”, I was very skeptical of people and their intentions, inadvertently keeping at bay great people for fear of a catosrophic repeat of pain. Yet, one day I came across these words in the Bible, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). This verse literally changed my outlook on life and my position in it.
You see, I would give to people the attentive dedication only if I didn’t feel threatened-my good was the first thing considered; not theirs. However, this is not how God freed me to live. He has freed both you and I to live and give of ourselves unhindered. As God’s children, we don’t have to walk around guarded, or looking out for our own interest all of the time; that is our heavenly father’s role. We can freely look out for the good of others.
We can highly regard people over ourselves, this is the model that Jesus displayed on earth. Although it isn’t always easy to do, it is much easier than painstakingly building walls that keep you bound to the pain of the past. Esteem my dear friend, esteem away.
Teresa Escalante
Escalanteministries.com 