Word of the Week - Joy

May the God of hope fill you with all Joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

I was reminded this morning as I was reading the one-year bible of the power of Joy, and the fact that if we have Joy in the Lord, we are strengthened.  So, I spent some time meditating on several scriptures related to Joy pulled up this Word of the Week.  This is a repeat I shared awhile back but I don’t think we can ever hear enough about pursuing Joy in the Lord.

Joy defined by Merriam-Webster is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: Delight: The state of happiness or felicity:  a source or cause of delight: (verb) to experience great pleasure or delight: rejoice:

Joy vs. Happiness - Even though it is similar to the concept of happiness, Joy is much deeper because it is an attitude and condition of our soul.  Happiness tends to be more short term and based upon circumstances and driven by our feelings, whereas Joy is more foundational and based upon a deeper inner condition that can withstand the waves of feelings and circumstances that we all face in our day to day lives. 

Joy is powerful - It is pretty amazing how both James and Paul talk about the power of Joy at work in our lives and how it can produce within us an inner fortitude that can supply us the strength to live in victory no matter what circumstances we are facing.  “Consider it pure Joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” James 1:2-3.  James is reminding us of a key concept as it relates to Joy, if we trust God and know that He is using us for His plans, then we understand that there is purpose in the pain and we can find the Joy of the process of being sanctified in Christ Jesus.  This gives us hope, peace and strength, which are all foundational to having Joy.  Jesus our savior modeled this for us as He was sacrificing His life for us on the cross.  “So we fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  For the Joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2. 

Joy is a choice and a gift - Most importantly I think we need to realize and remember that Joy is a choice.  We receive Joy by faith when we decide to trust God by surrendering our lives to Him and choose to abide daily in Christ through His word and truth, which gives us deep security in our eternal destiny.  Joy is a fruit of God’s spirit that is a byproduct of abiding in Christ. We know that as sons and daughters of the living God our names are written in the Lambs book of life, this is a Joyous reality.  We are co-heirs with Christ Jesus in God’s Kingdom.  If we believe God’s truth then you cannot help but be overjoyed by the reality of what God has so graciously done for us.  “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s suffering, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy”. 1 Peter4:12-13

I think it is pretty amazing how our God so deeply desires us to experience the Joy of the Lord, so much so that He uses the word Joy over 200 times in the bible and encourages us to “Rejoice, always (experience Joy over and over continually), pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I pray that “The Joy of the Lord will be your strength” Nehemiah 8:10 

Have a Joy filled week…

-Duane

Word of the Week - Humility

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11

Humility – In January of this year I shared a word of the week on Humility, see below.  Since then, I have personally learned more about humility as I am navigating through a season of pruning.  As I reflect over the past few months, I realize that being humbled is a large part of the pruning process and likely why it is so painful.  Realizing that we have limitations in life and from time-to-time certain things need to be trimmed or removed from our lives is a humbling process.  “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2 Even though I think the Word I shared back in January is good and accurate, I have learned more on this virtue that I would like to share.   

Humility is not weakness perse’ but it is a mindset of brokenness and surrender – Jesus was meek but not weak.  He had all the power of the universe at his disposal but chose to be sacrificed as a lamb led to the slaughter.  There were times that he showed his strength and power, like when He entered the temple and flipped over the money changer tables because people were not honoring the house of God, but for the most part He lived a life of surrender and total dependance on God the Father.  God has reinforced in me that humility comes when we are surrendered (realized we are not in control) and dependent (out of the mode of self-reliance).  Outside of my walk with the Lord this is somewhat of a foreign concept for me.  I have been trained most of my life to pull up my bootstraps, take charge and make it happen.  This approach has worked well for me in many aspects of my life.  As followers of Christ this approach is flawed and surely not humble.  First of all, God is our provider and has given us all that we possess so even when He allows us to accomplish things it is because of how He has gifted us.   Secondly and most importantly, we really don’t control anything except maybe our attitude.  Thus, we lack humility if we really believe that we are calling the shots and forget that God is our provider, and we are and have nothing apart from Him.  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  Acknowledge Him in all things and He will direct your paths and keep them straight”. Proverbs 3:5-6

Humble yourself or you will be humbled – Ultimately, I don’t think humility is optional for those who are in Christ,.  I truly believe that if we stay the course in our walk with the Lord, we will have to humble ourselves or God will humble us.  I would go as far as to say all of God’s children are humbled along the path of maturing as a believer.  There are lots of stories in the bible of great men of God being humbled, King David and Saint Peter come to mind.  I believe this is part of process of being sanctified.  Like all things in God’s economy, there are surely degrees of humility, and I am not sure any of us ever achieve humility in its fullness this side of heaven. That being said, there are lots of ways that Jesus demonstrated humility and we can surely learn from Him. 

The following are a few ways that I am learning about how we can humble ourselves:

• Being willing to share weaknesses and be transparent, even in my failures

• Obeying out of a love motive, because I desire to not because I have to

• Looking to the Lord to fulfill me rather than trying to be fulfilled by people, performance, and accomplishments

• Willing to receive my trials as God’s instrument to perfect me

• Willing to not be defensive or to justify myself, willing to be misunderstood and be ok

• Relinquishing control and being comfortable with others fixing and directing

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up”. James 4:10

Have a great week.

-Duane

Word of the Week - Willing Spirit

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." Psalm 51:12

What is a Willing Spirit?  When it comes to our walk with the Lord, I believe a Willing Spirit means we have a posture of “yes”.  God is always leading us towards growth and maturity and for us to be able to receive what He has for us we must have a Willing Spirit, or we may not receive the best things that God has for us. 

Trusting God by His Word – By knowing the Lord and walking with Him, we grow in our trust and confidence in Him, which produces a more Willing Spirit .  Knowing that God loves us and has our best interest at heart gives us the reassurance we need to trust and be willing to say yes.  “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths and keep them straight” Proverbs 3:5-6

Renewing our Minds in God’s truth – The renewing of our minds through God’s word is key to maintaining a Willing Spirt.  We must stay grounded in the truth so that we can be transformed.  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

God alone is our source – Knowing that God is the source of all life, and everything we need comes from Him gives us a posture of dependance.  King David, a man after God’s own heart, knew that his posture towards the Lord was key to his blessing from the Lord.  A Willing Spirit positions our hearts and minds to receive what God has for us and to be open and willing vessels, with the “Yes Lord” on the inside.  David gives us the key to having a Willing Spirit in verses 10 and 11 leading up to verse 12.  To have a Willing Spirit we need a pure heart and the Holy Spirit leading us. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”  Psalm 51:10-11.  This shows David’s dependence upon the Lord and his deep desire for God’s presence in his life, knowing he could not even trust his own motives but needed God’s spirit to lead and guide Him.

A Willing Spirit sustains us – God promises us that if we keep a Willing Spirit, He will be there for us.  “If you seek me you will find me if you seek me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13  Jesus also promises us that “if we abide in Him He will abide in us and we will bear much fruit but apart from Him we can do nothing.” John 15:5  

I pray that we would have a Willing Spirt toward God so we can receive all that God has for us; for He has great things in store for each of us.  Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Have a great week.

-Duane

Word of the Week - Servant Leadership Continued

"Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." Matthew 20:26

Servant Leadership – As I noted a few weeks ago, I am in a season of reflection and pruning whereby I believe the Lord is calling me to a new level of serving as a husband, father, friend, and leader in business and ministry.  This is surely a process of dying to self and is counter to many of the typical mindsets of our world and culture.  As part of this process, I am studying a book titled “Servant Leadership in Action – How you can achieve great relationships and results” by Ken Blanchard and Renee Broadwell.  It is a great book that compiles principles in short chapters from over forty world class leaders who are leading organizations using the Servant Leadership model.  It has been insightful for me to understand what it really looks like to be a Servant Leader and how to practically implement this at a new level into my life and business.  The following is a short excerpt from one of the chapters that I found especially insightful and worthy of sharing.

Great leaders Serve – This chapter written by Mark Miller https://tmarkmiller.com/about/, who was an early employee at Chick-fil-a and served on their leadership team for over 40 years.  Over twenty years ago, Mark and his team began a project to accelerate leadership development across the Chick-fil-a organization.  One of the main goals of the project was to develop a common definition for leadership.  They knew the stakes were high to get this right because it would drive countless hours of leadership development and millions of dollars of investment and would shape the caliber of their leaders and the organization for decades to come.  Well, we all know what has transpired with Chick-fil-a over the past 20 years as they have become the “gold standard” in the fast casual food industry among other categories.  They were just recognized as America’s favorite restaurant for the 8th year in a row by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).  I would suggest that their success has been driven by the investment Mark and their leadership team defined and committed to over two decades ago.  This process resulted in a book that Mark co-authored with leadership guru Ken Blanchard titled The Secret: What Great Leaders know and do. 

The following is a quick overview of five strategic ways Great leaders SERVE from the book: 

• Great Leaders See and Shape the future – Leadership begins with a picture of the future and being able to paint a picture of a preferred future. When the vision is clear and compelling it will create life, energy and momentum. Our people want to know where they are going, what we are trying to accomplish, what we are trying to become and why it matters.

• Great leaders engage and develop others – Engagement is about creating context for people to thrive. It is incumbent upon leaders to proactively develop team members to help them grow and realize their full potential. Our job as leaders is to engage our people in the process and aligning dreams and goals.

• Value results and relationships – This is the tenet that generates the most angst for many leaders. Most leaders have a default bias towards one or the other. The best leaders value both!!! There is a tension here and our challenge as leaders is to manage the tension.

• Embody the values – People always watch the leader – whether we want them to or not! They are trying to determine if the leader is trustworthy. If a leader says something is important, people expect that person to live like it is important. Leaders must do everything humanly possible to walk the talk!

• Reinvent Continuously – If you do what you you’ve always done, you’ll get what you have always got. To make progress, to move forward, to accomplish bigger and better, something has to change. This includes Self: How are you reinventing yourself? Systems: Which work processes need to be changed to create better results? Structure: What structural changes could you make to better enable the accomplishment of your goal?

Are you ready to become a servant leader?  It is not a strategy or shortcut to success.  However, if we are willing to begin the long journey of adding value to others, putting their interests ahead of our own, helping others win, and mastering the five fundamentals we just reviewed, we will enjoy new levels of success, satisfaction and impact.  Most importantly we will develop other Servant Leaders that will reproduce and multiply.  This is not only the right thing to do but it is a huge opportunity to walk out the gospel in our day to day lives while adding and creating value for others.

Have a great week.

-Duane

Word of the Week - Service

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45

Service is defined as someone providing help and assistance to those being served.  I would suggest that Service should always involve adding value to the person or organization being served.  I believe that Service is as much an attitude and perspective as the specific Service being provided.  The majority of us work everyday Serving others to make our living by providing something that is of value such as food, repair, maintenance, computer or financial advisory services.  We have the opportunity to be both providers and recipients of Services and typically have a sense for what constitutes bad, average and good Service.  Service is typically evaluated and measured relative to our comparable Service experiences.  For instance we compare our experience eating at one restaurant vs. another restaurant and would typically not compare a fine dining experience to a fast food experience.  Service makes the world go round and creates a tremendous opportunity to influence others and make an impact in this world.  This is what we see with companies like Chick-fil-a who have taken service to entirely new level and set the gold standard for the restaurant industry.

Heart of Service – I believe the single most important key to providing great Service is ensuring that we have the right heart attitude, which begins on the inside.  Understanding that it is truly a blessing and privilege to be able to Serve others.  Not seeing it as a burden but as a blessing. “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus himself said; ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive”. Acts 20:35  With the right perspective we realize that there is true joy in the act of Serving and giving of ourselves, especially when it is done with pure motives.  This is really the essence of the Gospel, that Jesus “Gave His all for us” to model what it looks like to be a follower of Christ.  As believers, we exist to Serve others by showing God’s love in practical ways through meeting the needs within our communities, families and spheres of influence.  Simple acts of personal kindness can open hearts to the love of Jesus for both those being served and those serving. 

Going the Extra Mile  – “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two” Matthew 5:41  Having a willing spirit to go the extra mile is one of the things that differentiates typical Service from exceptional Service.  When we are willing to go way past what is expected or the minimum threshold, we typically make a meaningful impression and engender goodwill with those we are Serving.  It is important to keep a pure heart and not do it so that person “owes you” but do it out of the desire Serve them well.  This is the true heart of ministry Service and what the Lord has done for each of us who call upon His name.  That being said, these principals work well in any and all areas of life, especially in business.  If you want to differentiate yourself in business and build strong and loyal client/customer relationships then go the “extra mile” by going well beyond what is “expected” and you will win clients and friends for life.  Moreover, the person who Serves selflessly, lovingly, without complaint, and without seeking recognition is highly regarded in the Kingdom of God.   Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

Serving others – One of our values at Founders Advisors is Service.  We value serving our clients, our team, and our community/others.  As a firm/team, we take the opportunity a few times a year (on MLK day and one day during the summer) to Serve our community.  This gives us the opportunity to walk out this value in a tangible way Yesterday, in conjunction with Church of the Highlands Serve Day, we had approximately 25 of our team members invest their Saturday morning serving at Restoration Academy https://www.restorationacademy.org/ .  It was a great opportunity to Serve an organization that is making a difference.  There is truly something special about coming together as a group and serving others, especially in the name of Jesus.  I am grateful to the Lord Jesus for living a life of service and making that the example for us as Christ followers. 

Have a great week,

-Duane

Word of the Week - Grace

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works." Ephesians 2:8-9

God’s Amazing Grace is the essence of our Christian faith, but we have such a hard time receiving and believing this because it is so counter to the way things work in the world, especially our merit based Westernized society.  This is especially hard for those of us who come from a religious background where we are taught that we needed to do certain things or be a certain way to be accepted by God and the church. 

Even though our cultural and social tendency is towards conforming to a worldly pattern to gain acceptance and success, the gospel is very clear on the fact that we literally receive our salvation as a free gift from the Lord by simply believing on Him and being in relationship with Him.  “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:9-10  Outside of pursuing a relationship with Jesus, we cannot do anything to earn our salvation, which is why Jesus makes it crystal clear that there is only one way to the Father and it is through His work of the Cross.  “I am the way the truth and the life, no one can come to the father except through me” John 14:6  What is more amazing is the fact that in the process of receiving salvation we become part of God’s family as co-heirs to His Kingdom. 

Once saved, God desires for us to give our hearts and lives to Him and remain connected to Him through a daily abiding relationship, so we can receive His protection, benefits and power, and so we can fulfill the purpose He has for us while we are here on earth.  If we receive His amazing grace of salvation and walk in an abiding relationship with the Him, we will have a grateful heart and desire to serve Him and thus we will do “good works” that He has already destined for us as part of His divine plan. Ephesians 2:10. 

So, rejoice in God’s amazing grace and receive the full benefits of our faith and live the abundant life of the redeemed in Christ.

Have a great week and enjoy the fully sufficient grace of the Lord.   

-Duane

Word of the Week - Freedom (Independence Day Word)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 

Independence Day - I hope you are celebrating this day of Independence with family and friends.  This is a special day set aside to commemorate one of the most significant events in our Nation’s history.  July 4th – also known as Independence Day – is a time to celebrate America. The holiday marks the day in 1776 when the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, signaling the official separation of the 13 original colonies from Great Britain amid the Revolutionary War.  Even in the midst of so much turmoil and division in our country as of late, we must recognize that we still live in the most amazing nation on earth and rejoice in God’s blessing over the United States of America over the past 245 years.  We have much to be thankful as we celebrate this day of Independence. 

The price and value of Freedom:  I think it is most important to reflect on the true blessings and responsibilities of Freedom.  In a practical sense, we are truly blessed to live in a country that values Freedom and Independence for its citizens.  The United States of America was founded by men of faith on the premise that we must value and protect individual rights and hold these things sacred as outlined in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”.  It is easy to take this for granted because we are so accustomed to this reality that we really cannot fathom not having these Freedoms and individual rights.  Besides bar-b-que, fireworks and time on the water with family and friends, the purpose of the July 4th Holiday is to set aside a day to recognize the high price that has been paid over the past 250 years to gain and defend this amazing gift of Freedom and to never take it lightly or for granted.  To remember the cost of Freedom and the blood and sacrifice that was poured out to attain our Freedom as a nation.

Responsibility of Freedom:  As American citizens and believers (citizens of the Kingdom of God), I think it is most important that we take on the mantle and responsibility that comes with the gift of Freedom.  Ronald Reagan said “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”  It is our responsibility as Americans to value, protect and steward our Freedom.  Similarly, but more importantly, Christ Jesus was crucified, died and rose again so that we could overcome death and have the ultimate Freedom that comes with salvation through Christ.  His blood gives us the power to find true Freedom from the wrath of God and the sin and strife of this world.  “It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1.  It is interesting that the Freedom of Christ is received not through a spirit of independence but by a spirit of dependence whereby we live our lives depending on God through an abiding relationship that He describes in John 15:5.  By living connected to the vine of Christ He blesses us with Freedom so that we can do His good work and produce godly fruit in our lives for His glory and purpose.  “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  Galatians 5:13

Lord we thank you for our many Freedoms to include 1) Freedom of religion and individual belief, 2) Freedom to worship, 3) Freedom of prayer and 4) Freedom of speech to name just a few.  We are grateful that we live in a nation that that values Freedom and want to remember and honor all of those who have sacrificed and died to make this a reality for us by exercising our Freedoms in a healthy, respectful and honoring manner.  Lord, most of all, we thank you for the fact that while we were still sinners you died for us so that we can be Free from the wages of sin and live with you in Eternal Freedom.

On this day I pray that we would remember the cost of Freedom, rejoice in the reality of our Freedom and come together as a nation and body of believers in unity to acknowledge and honor the sacrifice of our veterans and American Heroes who have paid the price for our Freedom.  Additionally, that we would rejoice in the goodness of the Lord and the sacrifice He made on the cross for our eternal salvation/freedom.  This is something to truly celebrate and unite together over.

I hope you are having a great summer.  God Bless you and God Bless America, the land of the Free,

-Duane

Word of the Week - Servant Leadership

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45 

Servant Leadership Context – As I mentioned in my “Word of the Week” last week, I am currently reading/studying a book called “Servant Leadership in Action” – How you can Achieve Great Relationships and Results.  Conventional wisdom may suggest that these two things are not fully aligned, but the truth as modeled by Jesus is when we put people ahead of our goals there is amazing fruit and benefits, especially over time.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4.  I sincerely believe this is the truth and there are lots of case studies that prove it to be true.  The following are a few insights I am gaining from this book and process that I thought would be good to share with you my family, friends, and colleagues.

Servant Leadership is a leadership philosophy whereby the leader is a servant first,  Thinking about people and their needs ahead of stated goals and objectives.  It begins with a conviction that one wants to serve first and lead second.  This is counter to most traditional leadership philosophies.  So how do we know if we are truly living as Servant Leaders?  The best litmus test are the following questions:

• Are the people I am serving growing holistically (emotionally, relationally, intellectually, spiritually etc)?

• Are they becoming healthier, wiser, freer and more autonomous?

• Are they themselves becoming Servant Leaders?

Key Characteristics of Servant Leadership according to Robert K. Greenleaf one of the most renowned experts on Servant Leadership

• Listening - Leaders traditionally have been valued for their communication and decision-making skills. Although important skills for a any leader; listening, coupled with periods of reflection, is essential to the growth and effectiveness of a Servant Leader.

• Empathy – The Servant Leader strives to understand and empathize with those he/she is leading. The most successful Servant Leaders are those who become skilled empathetic listeners. Working hard to relate with the other persons perspective.

• Healing – The healing of relationships is a powerful force for transformation. Most people have broken spirits and have suffered from a variety of emotional woundedness. One of the greatest strengths of a Servant Leader is being an agent for healing. Starting with ourselves, our relationship with others and helping others walk through process of relational healing.

• Awareness – General awareness and especially self-awareness strengthens the Servant Leader. Awareness helps gain understanding and lends itself to allowing us to view situations from a more integrated holistic perspective.

• Persuasion – Effective Servant Leaders rely on their ability to influence those they are leading by persuasion to gain buy-in and trust verses using positional authority. Servant Leaders seek to convince others rather than coerce compliance.

• Conceptualization – Servant Leaders seek and nurture their abilities to dream great dreams. They must be able to rise above the day to day and see the bigger perspective. It is also important to be able to share and communicate the vision with inspiration.

• Foresight – Related to conceptualization, the ability to foresee the likely outcome of an initiative. Foresight enables the Servant Leader to understand the lessons from the past, the realities of the present, and likely consequences of decision on the future.

• Stewardship – This is the idea that as leaders we are responsible by holding something in the trust of others. Understanding that we are taking care of people and the organization on behalf of others. It is not about us but about others.

• Commitment to Growth of People – Servant Leaders truly believe that people have intrinsic value beyond their tangible contributions as workers. As such, Servant Leaders are deeply committed to the growth of each individual within their organization.

• Building Community – Servant Leaders seek to identify means for building authentic community among those on their teams. Finding ways to help team members realize they are a part of building something special for a purpose larger than themselves. All team members have a unique and important role in the organizational family.

I find it interesting that all of these characteristics are clearly seen and demonstrated in the person of Jesus.  By walking out our leadership with a Servant Leadership philosophy, we become more Christlike allowing us to live out the gospel message.  I believe this is the abundant life that Jesus talks about in John 10:10.  

I pray that the Lord would give me the wisdom, power and grace to be a Servant Leader in all areas of my life.  

Happy Father’s Day to all of you dads. 

-Duane

Word of the Week - Servant Leadership

“Not so with you (my followers).  Instead (of the way of this world), whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever want to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” 

I am on vacation with my wife Amy in Northern California at a wonderful place called Scott River Lodge www.scottriverlodge.com , see pic attached.  We are having a wonderful and meaningful time together as we retreat and are renewed in our mind, body, and spirit.  Even though it is a long way from our home in Birmingham, AL, I highly recommend it if you are looking for a get-away to enrich your relationship with the Lord and your spouse.  

During my time here the Lord is continuing to do a deep work on my heart through the Holy Spirit as I remain in the season of being pruned and experience a sort of reset in my life.  I am realizing more and more that I have walls that have been built up over time through the reality of life that need to be deconstructed piece by piece to allow me to realize the full potential of what God has for me, my marriage, family, ministry.  The theme continues to be humility and love.  Learning how to go to a new level in all areas of my life in all my relationships.  Making Love, 1 Corinthians 13, the key force that underpins my day-to-day actions.  Being more focused on loving and serving others ahead of being driven by results.  Caring for others first before driving towards achieving goals and objectives.  This is totally what Jesus modeled for us and what He expects of us as His followers, especially as we grow and mature in our walk of faith.  I feel like the Lord is leading me to a new level of this in every area of my life.  This is challenging for me, so I am spending time with the Lord asking Him to transform my heart and mind.  I am currently reading/studying a book called “Servant Leadership in Action” – How you can Achieve Great Relationships and Results.  Many would believe that these two things are in competition, but the truth as modeled by Jesus is when we put people ahead of our goals there is amazing fruit and benefits, especially over time.  I truly believe this is the truth and there are lots of case studies that prove this to be true. 

Due to my vacation, I am a bit off schedule, so I will be sending my “Word of the Week” when I get it put together, which will probably be later this evening or tomorrow.  Over the next few weeks, I would like to share with you some of the truths I am learning from my study on Servant Leadership.  

 -Duane

Word of the Week - Be Still and know I am God

Be still and know I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalm 46 

For me, Being Still is one of my bigger challenges.  I seem to be built for doing; therefore, I am either in the middle of doing something or thinking about what I need or want to do next.  That being said, God is clear about the fact that there is something powerful in simply being still by bringing our body and soul (mind, will, and emotions) to a place of stillness and quiet.  This is really where we become conscious of the here and now and fully present to connect with God and receive what He has for us.  To fully experience and know God, we must sit before Him undistracted, which is the power of learning how to be still.  This is not my strong suit but I have developed some disciplines that help me in this area.  I am in a season of life where I have made this my primary focus. “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.  Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes” Psalm 37:7

The following are a few biblical principles/truths I am focused on at this time:

• Finding a quiet place – Our environment and the ambiance can either set the stage for stillness or be very distracting. Every one of us is different but when we find or create a space that allows us to quiet our mind we can begin to experience the power of being still before God. Whether your truck, basement, closet, chapel, library, cabin in the woods or back porch try to find a place where you can mentally and physically retreat from the noise of life and the worries of the world. “The Lord is in His holy Temple. All the earth – be quiet in His presence” Habakkuk 2:20

• Slowing Down – There is something about our daily pace that I am learning really matters when it comes to hearing from God. If we go through life too fast and busy, which is more typical today than ever before due to technology, we miss many of the biggest blessings of life. Slowing down to a more intentional pace allows us to be more conscious and available to notice others, see people and hear form the living God. “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, those who seek Him”. Lamentations 3:25

• Sabbath – The principal of Sabbath is for this purpose, to set aside time and space each week for “being” with the Lord and enjoying His presence in a state of rest. Giving ourselves permission to stop doing and producing by trusting God as our provider is very powerful and can lead to experiencing relationship with God at a deeper level. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even over the Sabbath” Mark 2:27

• Taking thoughts captive – The 3 disciplines noted above can really help quiet our minds but we may still have thoughts that are trying to sabotage us, in this case we can take captive the thoughts by acknowledging them mentally or by writing them down so we can release them to the Lord. So when thoughts come that are not welcomed we can “take them captive and make them obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

When it comes to relationship, I believe the key is to be connected at a deeper level.  I am not sure we can connect with God or people at a deep level if we are moving to fast and trying to do too much.  Being still before the Lord allows us to connect with God and know Him at a deeper level.  I am in a season of learning how to slow down to a sacred pace so I can “be still” before the Lord and go deeper.  Making it a priority in my daily and weekly walk with God so I can experience His amazing power and presence to the full.  This is well demonstrated in the story of Martha and Mary in the Gospel of Luke, “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42

Lord I pray we can learn to be more like Mary and “Be still in knowing you are our God and Abba Father”. 

Have a great week…..

-Duane 

Word of the Week - Remember

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 13:12-13 

Memorial Day weekend we celebrate something that I think is sometimes hard for us to comprehend:  the ultimate act of love – to lay down one’s life down for others.  This sacrifice of our fallen service men and women who paid this ultimate sacrifice for the sake of our freedom. In recent years I've heard many conflicted views on this matter. But I think it would be a mistake to see these brave men and women as merely victims. While each fallen soldier has a unique story, each soldier is a hero who gave their lives for a greater cause.  I think part of our struggle to understand the fallen soldier comes with our difficulty in accepting sacrifice, especially when a sacrifice seems so final and appears to hold no obvious reward. The idea that someone could give up everything - for people they don’t even know - is hard to process. We spend so much of life trying to gain, to acquire, to win. Our country is home to the American Dream, the land of opportunity. So remembering the fallen solider can feel uncomfortable but it is most important to remember the Sacrifice.  This is the only way we will be willing to do what is necessary to protect our freedom as a nation.  May we never forget!!!!

On this Memorial Day we remember the 1.2 million men and women who have made the ultimate Sacrifice by giving their lives in service of our Country, I am reminded of the sobering reality of the true price of freedom, and how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America, “the land of the free” because of the price others paid for our freedom.  I am very grateful and humbled by this amazing reality.  Click the following link to watch a short 5-minute video “Path of the Warrior” tribute to remembering the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for me and you Memorial Day Tribute .  

In a similar frame, I am even more grateful for the fact that God freely chose to come down to earth in the flesh as Jesus our Messiah and was crucified for our sins, so we can have eternal freedom (salvation) and live with God forever.  “For it is for Freedom that Christ set us free”Galatians 5:1.  “You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” Galatians 5:13.  Let us remember who God is and what He has done for us through the Cross and let this be our motivation to live the great commandment to “Love God and Love others” by serving God and others in Love.  Lord, I pray that we would remember and understand the reality of what others have done for us as Americans and even more amazingly what you have done for us as Christians and never forget the suffering you endured for our benefit.  Let us receive the fullness of your love and Sacrifice. 

Jesus our Messiah who Died to give us Life and Freedom both now and for Eternity, the ultimate Sacrifice.  

I hope you have a blessed Memorial Day.

-Duane

Word of the Week - Love

 Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  

This is where God has led me during this season of pruning.  I have been meditating on this verse for 4 weeks and will stay here until I sense God releasing me.  This is so, so good.  I desire to know and receive this love at the deepest level so I may have the capacity to love this way.  I surely have a long way to go.

Below is my “Word of the Week” from January 2018 that speaks to this verse and the amazing Love of God our Father. 

Of all the gifts that the Lord has given us He makes it clear that Love is the “why” that underpins everything He has done for us.  The concept of Love can be so misconstrued and has been perverted in many ways by the world and our culture.  God’s Love is so deep and has so many dimensions that it is really a mystery and hard to comprehend in its fullness.  That is why I cherish this verse because it clearly defines Love and describes practically what Love looks like.  It does not make reference to Love being a feeling, which is many times how we tend to describe Love.  No, God makes it clear that Love is a decision put into action.  As I grow in my walk with the Lord and get to know Him more, I better understand the fullness of God’s Love and how He extravagantly displayed His Love for us in the person of Jesus Christ.  And yes, He calls us to Love others like He has loved us.  “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is Love.”  Love is one of the spiritual fruits produced by abiding in Christ.  I rejoice today in the reality that I am Loved by the Lord Jesus; as we receive God’s unconditional love we grow in our capacity to Love like Jesus. 

Love never fails……

-Duane

Word of the Week - Easter - Christ is Risen!!!!!!!!

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.  Romans 8:11

The death and Resurrection of Jesus over 2000 years ago is by far the most significant event in world history.  Jesus death by crucifixion and His resurrection from the grave are historically recorded events that changed the world.  These facts are most meaningful because of their spiritual significance in that through His death on the cross Jesus bore the sin of all mankind (past, present and future) so we can be saved from the wrath of God through forgiveness of our sins and have eternal life.  ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.  This is truly Good News for us to embrace by faith and celebrate on this special Easter day.  

By accepting and believing in Christ and what He did for us on the cross, we receive the full benefits of the Resurrection.  First and foremost, we receive access to forgiveness of our sins by the blood of the Jesus, the lamb of God who was slain on our behalf.  This is what allows us to be restored to fellowship with God our Father and have eternal salvation.  This is the “Good News” and truly the focus of this day, but there is much more for us to receive in Christ through what transpired on the cross at Calgary.  Through the cross we have access to the same power that allowed Jesus to rise from the dead.  God has empowered us as His sons and daughters to walk out our faith with confidence and trust in Him, which is what activates this power in our day to day lives. 

The following are 5 additional benefits/opportunities for His resurrection power to come alive within us:

• Resurrect Hope – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
• Resurrect Purpose – “ For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works that He prepared for us in advance” Ephesians 2:10
• Resurrect Faith –  ^“Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 
• Resurrect Joy – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
• Resurrect Life – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10  

In a world that lacks hope, purpose, faith, joy and life; Easter (Resurrection Day) is a day that reminds us that we have access to God’s power so His life can come alive in each of us.  Jesus is the source of our Resurrection power.  "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;” John 11:25

My friends Dub Stocker and Chuck Scott always remind me of all of the R words we now have access to “Today” and every day, due to the Resurrection of Jesus:

We are REDEEMED, RENEWED, RESTORED, RECONCILED, RESCUED & made RIGHTEOUS in Christ.  

Hallelujah Christ is Risen!!!!!  Have a blessed Easter!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Duane

Word of the Week - Hosanna

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” John 12:13

Hosanna means to save; and is used to express adoration, praise and joy.  It is also used as a plea for help.  “Please Lord, please save us.  Please, Lord, please give us success”. 

Declaration of Christ as our Savior – Just before Christ went to Calvary to be crucified there was a declaration from His followers that He was their savior and they were praising, thanking and acknowledging Him as Savior.  It is so important that we remember that we cannot save ourselves and that we continue to cry out to the Lord in desperation to acknowledge Jesus as our Savior.

“Hosanna” and Palm Sunday – The first time “Hosanna” is used is in Matthew 21:9 for Jesus’ triumphant entrance to Jerusalem as King.  “Jesus was in the center of the procession, and people around Him were shouting. ‘Hosanna (praise God) for the Son of David!’ Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna (praise God) in the highest heaven!” The crowed was shouting this with emphasis.  Many people view this as a proclamation of our new salvation.  Palm branches were placed in Jesus’ path and marked the beginning of what we celebrate as Palm Sunday.

“Hosanna” depicts two places of Spiritual Well-being – Hosanna exemplifies man’s transition from pleading with God for action, to thanking Him for the action taken.  It shows the true impact of Jesus’ act at Calvary.  This represents the two places of spiritual well-being we all find ourselves in.  We often find ourselves either crying out to God for help or we are thanking God for our blessings and what He has done for us. 

As we begin Holy Week in preparation for Easter, I pray we take hold of the reality of what this means and cry out Hosanna, Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  Salvation is here and His name is King Jesus!!!

Have a great Holy week!!!  

-Duane

Word of the Week - Sabbath

Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. "So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28

I am on spring break vacation with my family enjoying some R&R and was reminded how God blesses and speaks to us in Sabbath Rest as we slow down and get space away from our day to day work. 

The principal of Sabbath seems to be misunderstood by most.  As the 4^th of the10 great commandments, many of us associate it with the old covenant and see it as a constraining and legalistic religious tradition from Jewish custom.  Or, we simply believe it is a day to attend church, which should be a major part of our Sabbath. The truth, as stated in Mark 2:27 above is that Jesus gave us the Sabbath for our own good and health.  

The Sabbath is for our us and our health - Since He actually designed and created mankind, He understands what is best for us and desires only the best for His sons and daughters.  In Exodus 20:8-11 God makes a clear connection to the Sabbath day by modeling it for us in the Creation story “on the seventh day God the Creator rested”.  Sabbath observance therefore involves the affirmation that God is Creator and Sustainer of the world.  If God took a day of each week to rest surely we would benefit from doing the same.   

Observing Sabbath is an act of Faith – It seems pretty simple, if we really Trust God for who He is we will Trust that He is our provider and we can rest in Him.  He makes it clear that we are here on earth to glorify Him and serve others through our work and being productive, adding value to this world.  We should work heartily at all we do with passion and vigor.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”, Colossians 3:23. But God is so amazing and good that He did not create us to be production machines; He created us for soulful fellowship with Him and His creation. He truly desires us to be healthy and enjoy the blessings of life.  Since He is our Maker, He knows we need time away from the day to day grind of life to recharge and be refreshed spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally, even if we love our work.  

Sabbath is beginning the week with faith, trust and rest so we can start our week rested and refreshed - We all need space between us and our work or else we run the risk of burnout, not to mention the fact that we are more productive and creative when we take time away to recreate and recharge. This is the principal and gift of Sabbath.  To cease from our work to simply rest in knowing God   To honor God by putting our faith in action by demonstrating we trust God and desire to set apart one day a week, typically the first day, to refocus your energy and attention on Him and those closest to us.  Most Christians who observe the Sabbath on Sunday because that is the day they are off of work but the Sabbath is not necessarily a specific day of the week.  For some like pastors who have to work on Sunday, they make other days of the week their Sabbath.  

Personal Testimony - For years it was very hard for me to do this but over that last 10 plus years I have made it a priority in my life each week.  I begin my Sabbath at 5:30pm on Saturday and end it at 5:30pm on Sunday.  I found that it is important for me to spend some time on Sunday evenings preparing for the week, so I have adjusted my weekend to ensure I get a full 24 hours of true rest/time away from work.  Since I love being productive this is not always easy for me, but it has been a blessing to my life and my family.  I literally try not to think about my work/business during this time and surely don’t engage in emails or correspondence unless it is an emergency.  You would not believe how much God has blessed me over the past 10 plus years.  My life health meter is running at the highest level ever and I believe it is largely due to the principal of Sabbath (margin).   

If you are not already doing so, I encourage you to take one 24 hour day of your week and make it your Sabbath by not engaging in your day to day work/job.  Instead of working spend your time fellowshipping with the Lord, your family and other believers (Church and more) enjoying praise and worship, prayer, bible reading and just hanging out with family.  Enjoy great meals with family.  Take a long walk with your wife or some one on one time with your son, daughter or good friend.  Spend time doing things that refresh you and bring energy.  

Try it an see how God blesses you by simply trusting Him and His ways.  His ways are not our ways but He knows what is best for us.

Have a great week!!!  

-Duane

Word of the Week - Community

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:24-25

What is community?  The definition is simply to have common unity with others.  For people to come together under common values and beliefs to live in fullness.  God created us for relationship, first and foremost with Himself and secondly and as important with each other.  It is impossible to live to our full potential without being in Community with others.   ^“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12: 4-5  As a body of Christ we do life with others in healthy interdependent relationship that allow the body of Christ to function in fullness.  

Community is Healthy and Life Giving – Life Giving Community should lift us up and bring out the best in us as we help bring out the best in others by using our God given gifts to love, relate and serve others.  I love the quote from John Maxwell that says “show me your friends and I will show you your future”.  The bottom line is that we become who we commune with; life begets life and but bad company corrupts good character.  It is very important that we develop Community with people who are like minded and share our core values, especially as it relates to our faith.  We need to pursue Community with godly people who desire to grow and live to their full God given potential.  People who are authentic and speak the truth in love.  Friends that will challenge us and love us enough to admonish us and call us out if we are headed down the wrong path.  Friends that we enjoy spending time with and have our best interest at heart and visa-versa.  Friends that will be there for us in the good times and especially through the storms and challenges of life. 

Community is Covering and Protection  – Part of the reality of life is that we will all face trials and adversities in life.  “In this life you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world”  John 16:33.  One of the keys to going through tough times and persevering through the trials is to have a strong Community support system around us to provide encouragement and protection as we endure the trials of life.  We were not created to do life alone and we all need help and encouragement to navigate the challenges of life.  We can comfort one another with words, physical presence and prayer.  “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2.  We can encourage each other in the process and always point to the hope of the Lord and his promises, helping each other keep an eternal perspective.  We often are inclined to give up too early but with good Community of believers “band of brothers” we can be encouraged to hang in there through the pain to get to the other  side so we can experience God’s best for us.  “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all”.  1 Thessalonians 5:14

Man was made for relationship and Community and was not made to do life alone in isolation.  The abundant life that God promises is one of Community with others.  I have truly found that the most joyous experiences in life come through being connected to others through Christ.  It can be hard for some of us to commit to Community, especially if we’re guarded due to past wounds or simply more introverted and prefer solitude.  Community is God’s desire and design for us and a sign of mature faith.  At the end of the day, when we grow in our relationship with other through authentic and vulnerable Community with others, we are growing in our relationship with God.  We really are better together!!!!

I spent the weekend serving at the Birmingham JH Outback JH Outback at Grace Farms.  Over the weekend I was reminded of the power of connecting with others in small groups and building true Community.  If you are not connected to Community of believers, I encourage you to make it a priority.  Remember that we all desire to be connected in good healthy Community and we have as much to offer as we have to receive.   

Have a great week,

-Duane

Word of the Week - Passion

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27

Passion – Passion is how the bible describes God’s love for us.  The sacrifice that Jesus made through His death on the cross.  We just entered theseason of Lent where we are preparing ourselves for Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday also referred to the Passion of Christ.  This is summed up in the most popular verse in Christianity:  “God so loved us, that He sent Jesus His only begotten son as a living sacrifice”, so that we can have relationship with Him and have eternal life.” Paraphrased John 3:16  Through this amazing act of love God also gives us the opportunity to be born of His spirit and live the abundant life.  So we can be forgiven, renewed and redeemed to our God given purpose and live free and flourishing lives during the short time we have on this earth.  This is the amazing and good news!!!  So what is our response to this wonderful Passion God has shown us?   

God desires for us to worship him with our affections – If we truly love someone or something our love will be expressed.  It can be through our actions in terms of how we invest/spend our time and money or our speech in terms of what we like to talk about or share with others, and our lifestyle in how we invest/use our gifts and blessings.  These things are typically referred to as our Passions.  If there is not an expression towards someone or something then it is questionable if there is truly love present.  The book of Psalms, which is the longest book in the bible is a beautiful expression of God’s love for us His children with reciprocating love towards Him.  If we are honest, we all enjoy receiving love and affection from others, especially from those closest to us.  The word Hallel, which is the root of Hallelujuh means to celebrate wildly, rave, boast and be clamorously foolish in our expression toward someone or something.  Like our Pastor Chris Hodges often says, “if you act this way on Saturday at a college football game you are admired as a Passionate faithful fan but if you act this way on Sunday at church you might be considered a questionable fanatic.”  God expressed His love for us in a radical manner.  If we really understand this and believe God’s Word we should be compelled to respond in a radical manner by loving the Lord with everything in us as our theme verse.  Our affections toward God demonstrate our love and Passion for Him. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord” Psalms 150:6 

God desires for us to worship Him with our attention – In our human nature we will give our attention to whatever we love and cherish the most.  Think about it, whatever we love the most is what we think about the most and where we invest our time, money and energy.  It is what we make thepriority in our lives.  The Lord desires to be our “first” love.  Just like our family and friends desire our undivided attention, how much more does our Savior and Creator desire for us to give Him our full attention.  Our Passion for placing God first and making Him a priority each day is evidence of our love for God.“Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness and all things will be added unto you” Matthew 6:33

God desires for us to love and worship Him with our abilities – This truly one of my Passions in life, to use what God has given me as a platform for loving and serving others.  Early in my life/career, before I came to know the Lord as my personal savior, I saw my gifts, abilities and vocation as simply a means to an end.  A way to make a living and acquire things I desired for me an my family.  This seems to be the more typical perspective in our western culture.  I will never forget how excited I was when I had the revelation that God wanted to use everything, especially my giftings and vocation, as a platform for worship and ministry.  We have the amazing opportunity every day to love and worship the Lord by seeing our jobs/vocation/ministry/business as a way to express our love for God. We must recognize that we are worshipping God when we invite Him into our daily work and commit our efforts, abilities and outcomes to Him.  This is a game changer and brings an entirely new level of joy and Passion into our lives and our love and relationship with Jesus.  It also demonstrates our love and trust for God and others. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if you are working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23 

So let’s be followers of Christ who respond to God’s amazing love and Passion for us by loving Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  By this Passion they will know we are Christians and He will know our love.

-Duane

Word of the Week - Sowing and Reaping

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  Galatians 6:7-8

The principal of Sowing and Reaping is one of key truths of life both on earth from a practical sense and in heaven from a spiritual sense.  Whether we like it or not, over the course of time, we will Reap what we Sow.  Just like many of God’s principals within His economy, this is a wonderful truth that can really be a blessing if we understand it and align our lives accordingly.  

Are we Sowing Good Seed (Blessings) or Bad Seed (curses) - If you have lived any amount of life you have a general understanding of how this works.  If we Sow good seeds that are life giving, we will generally Reap good fruit, like for like.  Of course life is not perfect and there are times when we may be Sowing good seed into bad soil or Sowing during seasons of drought that prevent the seed from sprouting and taking root.  We cannot control the outcome but we surely can resolve to continually Sowing good seeds and look for good soil to Sow into.  This is the opportunity we have each day, and over time, the sum of our Sowing is what results in the fruit of our lives.  On the contrary, if we Sow bad seed then we can expect Reap the same.  For example, if we Sow seed by investing in and building strong relationships with good solid people then we will have flourishing relationships that multiplied blessings.  If we don’t invest in building solid relationships and hang around with the wrong people, we may find ourselves lonely and surrounded by dysfunction and brokenness in a negative cycle that is very hard to break.  I think we have all witnessed this to some degree or another in our lives or in the lives of those around us.  Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.  Proverbs 13:20

Sowing and Reaping in Spirit - This is even more important and pronounced, as noted in my recent “Word of the Week” on being 100x soil.  TheLord makes it very clear that when we Sow seeds into His Kingdom through praying, worshipping, giving, serving, loving and sharing the Gospel with others with pure motives, then we can expect to Reap a harvest in heaven.  Moreover, God’s is so awesome that He multiplies the harvest and allows us to Reap in abundance.  In the parable of the Sower in the Gospel of Mark he talks about how the seed was sown into good ground produced and abundant crop “Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty and some a hundred times” Mark 4:8.  

Abundant Living = Twofer - Finally, it is important to note that these things are not mutually exclusive.  I think some believe that we can only Sow one dimensionally in life.  We are either Sowing into our vocations/jobs or into our faith through religious church activities.  One of the most exciting truths I ever discovered was the fact that God desires for us to integrate all of these things together.  We have the opportunity every day to get a twofer.  For example we can serve people in our vocations whether it be customers or employees both practically and spiritually.  We don’t have to separate the two, we can Sow seeds of life by practically serving them with excellence while at the same time building a personal relationship that would allow us to minister to them as they navigate the challenges of life.  This is the Gospel.  “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life”. 1 Timothy 6:19

Remember this:  Whoever sows spraining will also reap sparingly, and whoever Sows generously will also Reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6  S

So let’s Sow generously!!!!!!!!!!

-Duane

Word of the week - Family

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15

Definition of a family - The basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children: a group of individuals living together under one roof usually under one head:  a group of person of common ancestry or blood relationship: a group of people united by certain convictions or common affiliation:

Family is a gift   - “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court” Psalm 127:3-5  God is so good that He blessed us with the gift of family.  Starting with sacrament of marriage, the union of one man and one woman to become one in Christ.  “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh”. Genesis 2:24 This is the one relationship on earth that God compares to His relationship with His bride the church (us).  What a beautiful picture and opportunity we have to relate with Christ and become more Christ like through the sanctifying experience of the marriage relationship.  God did not stop with the gift ofmarriage, He then blessed us with the mandate to procreate and made it an intimate and delightful part of connecting in marriage😊.  God blessed us with the ability to have children to enjoy and raise up in Christ who will pass down our heritage and legacy to the next generations.  “God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” Genesis 1:28’

Responsibility of leading our family well  -  As followers of Christ, our children are a huge blessing from God but they are also our greatest responsibility as stewards of our blessings.  Like all things in life, God desires for us to enjoy and delight in our blessings but He gives us these blessings for His purpose to be a blessing and build His kingdom.  This is most evident in our role as parents and grandparents.  First and foremost, it is our utmost privilege and responsibility to ensure that our offspring know God and are trained up in the ways of our faith.  As parents and grandparents, we must make it the first priority to share our faith and testimony with our children and lead them in the way of God both in word and deed.  Generally these things are more caught than taught, so the true test of our faith is how we live.  Have we ordered our lives according to God’s values and are we living this way?  Are we abiding in Christ daily and seeing the fruit of God’s spirit being multiplied and passed down to our children and grandchildren?  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:25

Opportunity and Blessing  - “Now therefore that the Lord your God is God; He  is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9.  What an amazing blessing and opportunity we have to impact generations through the short life we have on this earth.  God makes it very simple, if we make His values our family’s values, we will experience generational blessing.  But if we don’t make God’s values our priorities then the curse and river of mud from our forefathers will continue to be passed down to future generations.  God promises us that that our offspring will have an enduring blessing if we pass down a godly Heritage.  This starts with really assessing our values.  Are our values and the way we live our lives based on the values of the world (money, social status, pursuing self) or God’s values (Christ, family, others). This is the great commandment, loving God first and loving others second as we love ourselves.  I am convinced that if we make God the priority “First Fruits” we will receive His blessing and our children and their offspring will be blessed.  With divine order comes divine blessing.  God does not call us to perfection but He does call us to a life that makes Himself the top priority in all things starting with how we live our lives day to day.  Living the surrendered life making Christ our Lord.  

Building our Family’s on the rock of Christ – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” Matthew 7:24-27  Are we building the foundation of our house and family on the rock of Christ so we can survive and even thrive through the storms of life.  Blood family relationship is thick but has no comparison to the power of God’s spirit alive and well within our hearts and families.  The best family is a family that is one in spirit in Christ.  The greatest inheritance we can leave our children is that of a godly Heritage submitted to the Lordship ofChrist.  We recently completed a weekend together with our kids and grandkids at our farm down in Marengo county where we spent time talking about our family Heritage and the opportunity we have to pass down blessings to the next generations.  I was so encouraged by this time together as I experienced how God is working in our family through our kids and how God’s values have become our values and are being transferred to our kids and grandkids.  This is the biggest blessing and opportunity in life.

If you want to learn more about building your family on the rock of Christ for generational blessing, I highly recommend this message from Pastor Jimmy Evans on Building a Lasting Family https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/building-a-lasting-family .  This is one of themost encouraging messages I have ever heard on family and the opportunity we have for influencing our families toward generational blessings.

I shared this Word of the Week last year but I felt it appropriate to follow up from the 100x Soil message from last week.  Family is our biggest opportunity to be 100x soil.

Have a great week.

-Duane

Word of the Week - 100x Soil

Listen!  A farmer went out to sow seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.  Still other seed fell on good soil.  It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.  Mark 4:3-8

Rocky Shallow Soil – “As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.  Other, like seed sown in rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away” Mark 4:15-17.  The issue of our hearts and souls being rocky shallow soil is probably more prevalent today than ever before, due to our culture of instant gratification fueled by our virtual reality.  God requires us to be all in not half-hearted and lukewarm.  Faith in God is both real and deep, it is not a surface thing.  We must be touched by God at the depths of our souls and transformed by the renewing of our mind and spirit.  We need to really get to know God if we want our faith to take root and endure the test of time and persecution.    

Thorny Competing soil -  “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful” Mark 4:18-19.  I see this as the biggest threat, especially at my stage of life.  There are so many things competing for our attention especially as we realize success in life, we end up having lots of stuff, responsibilities and options on how to spend our time, energy and money.  How do we sort through all of this and keep our relationship with God as our priority?  We all have an enemy of our soul whose job is to steal, kill and destroy to keep us from our God destiny and he is a master at using good things to distract us and keep us from God’s best. Solid believers with the best of intentions are at risk in this category. The things of life can sneak up on us and begin to compete for our heart and attention.  I am convinced that the primary antidote to this is simply making God “The Priority” in our lives.  First in every category including our time, attention, finances etc. God desires to be first and will not settle for any other position in our lives.  “Seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and all things will be added unto you”.  Matthew 6:33

Good Fertile Soil - “Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown”. Mark 4:20  This is what God desires for us as His sons and daughters, that we simply accept/receive His love and make it the highest priority in our lives.  That we allow God to water us daily as we remain connected to Him through the vine of Christ and receive the water and nutrients so we can be fruitful and multiply by God doing His work in us and through us.  This is Jesus promise to us in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches, if you remain/abide in me, I will remain/abide in you and you will bear much fruit.  Apart from Me you can do nothing”.  

Force Multiplier 100x soil - “Man and woman are to serve as His image, to be fruitful, to multiply, and to be about His work.” Genesis 1:26  First and foremost, we can be 100x fruit bearers by ensuring we are investing in our families to reproduce.  God literally instituted family to be the primary way that we multiply physically and spiritually.  This is our greatest opportunity and biggest responsibility.  To be 100x Force Multipliers we must understand that we are called to have generational impact.  Yes, what we do in our lives will impact future generations.  We can either be proactive and pass on a heritage of godliness and generational blessing or miss the opportunity.  If we are not proactive in this area we may be allowing curses to pass from one generation to the next.  This is the primary reason I founded the Heritage Forum www.heritageforums.com, to help men/families understand that God desires for us to engage intentionally in our families and passing on a godly heritage.  Even though it is as much caught than taught, we must be intentional.  The average family will have approximately 250 decendents after 5 generations and 2500 after 10 generations.  How we lead our families in the ways of faith, values and heritage are huge.  If we want to be 100x fruit bearers, I believe we must stay connected to the vine of Christ, intentionally steward our families and be generous sowers to those in our centers of influence.  “For he who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, but he who sows generously will reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

As a business person, I love the idea of getting the best Return on Investment (ROI).  As a follower of Jesus, I get even more excited about Eternal Rate of Return (ERR); ROI is temporary but ERR is eternal.  I hope this message encourages you to want to be good fertile soil that God can use to produce 100x crop.  God’s promise is that He will produce abundant fruit if we are faithful as emphasized in Ephesians 3:20.  “For He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine by His power at work within us, for His glory”. 

Have a great week….

-Duane