The End of a Thing

Recently I have been reading a book about starting movements. It is an excellent book by Steve Addison. I have read many accounts of Christians who changed the face of their culture.

I saw one characteristic of each person or people that started movements. Whether it was John Wesley, Martin Luther, The Moravians or Pentecostals, they were not shaken at what they saw around them. They were not shaken by the days of small beginnings. As a matter of fact, every movement recorded was started in very small, humble beginnings.

As I survey the qualities of these leaders, I realized something: "They never judged the end of the matter by the start."

To be able to start a movement we must be able to transcend the day to day, present circumstances of that situation. When people leave or break commitment, we must be able to see beyond that point and not get wrapped up in that current situation.

Your beginning, like ours at our current ministry The Well, may start small. But you cannot judge the end of a thing by the beginning. We don't want to be a dying star.

One Paragraph that Changed my Life

I was reading a book given to me by a good friend. The name of the book is "Movements that Changed the World," by Steve Addison. My friend Billy Mitchell is the one who gave me the book. He is the church strategist for Florida Baptist Association. He helps church planters- simply put.

I was reading in my devotion time and this really hit me. "Movements that change the world are not started by people who are well resourced or have a lot of finances. They are built out of people who have a call on their life and become desperate for more of God."

This paragraph changed my life. Is the focus on our tangible resources or a hunger for more of God and His presence? People do not come to my ministry to meet lights, cameras and cool settings. When they come in the door, they come looking for an encounter with God. If I don't encounter God, they will never be able to in this ministry.

5 Keys to Favor

We have been studying the book of Ruth from the Old Testament this month in our "Breakforth" Series at The Well. Ruth chapter 2 was powerful. We see a young girl who was a "no-name" and an outcast. She was a Moabitess, which meant she was not one of the Jews. However this young girl makes it into the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Even if you did not buy into Christianity or religion, this is an amazing feat. We looked at Ruth's journey to finding favor in chapter 2. Here is what we found....

1. Favor is forged through relationships. Elimelech was Ruth's recently deceased Father in law. He had a relative named Boaz. We must all continue to be relational in pursuit of favor. Favor is not a mist that Benny Hinn give you when he prays. It is God's response to God's promises that is based on His principles. God did not send Jesus to die to create a religion, He sent Him to create a relationship between man and God.
What divine relationships are you forming?

2. Favor is forged through serving. Ruth "gleaned" in the fields. She did the job no one else wanted to do. She served her way to favor. If you only work on the days you feel like it, you would never work.
Who are you serving?

3. Favor is forged through timing. Ruth was caught in the act of serving sacrificially. Boaz took note of her service. The Bible says, "Just then..." Forge great relationships, actively serve and then look for "just then" moments!
Are you patiently waiting on the timing of God?

4. Favor is forged through making other's dreams happen. Boaz had heard of Ruth's sacrifice for her mother in law, Naomi. Doors for Ruth opened because she opened doors for Naomi. What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.
Whose dreams are you trying to make happen?

5. Favor is forged through humility, obedience and thankfulness. Ruth responded thankfully to Boaz. She humbled herself and remained obedient. God could not bless many of us with great favor because our pride and insolence would make us think it is about us. We would start to hold conferences and tell everyone how we did all this. Our posture must always be of brokeness before the Lord.
How would others describe your attitude toward life? (ask your wife or husband...)

Take time to read in my personal blog my prayer and desire for The Well Community Church. This is the church we are starting in Port Saint Lucie, FL.
http://www.thewellpsl.wordpress.com/

The Tortoise and the Hare

Starting movements take time.

We all know the story of the tortiose and the hare. The hare was a fast rabbit. He started the race fast and had superior ability than the tortiose. His only detriment was lack of perspective and understanding of the race.

Leaders that started movements in history understood the race and what it would take. They had life long perspective. It is not the best preachers, worship leaders or professors that make it. It is those who pace themselves and are careful to not make any huge blunders when it comes to character.

My mentor recently told me, "Just don't quit." I was asking for advice and help. That seemed so elementary, but it was "tortoise truth."

Bishop Tony Miller told me one day, "If I could go back to your age (30 years old), I would not try to do everything in my first 10 years. I would pace myself. I would not have preached so much. I would have spent time with my family more."

The vision killer we must set out to stop in our lives is lack of respect for time and what it produces. God is never in a hurry when it comes to incubating greatness. Fine wine takes time and usually spends a lot of time in the cellar before use.

This year, remember the tortoise and the hare....