Fertilizer

I have posted a couple of times now about a landscaping project that we began a month or so ago in our front yard (post 1 here, post 2 here).

This past weekend, my son Robbie and I were outside and we noticed that there were a ton of weeds in the area that we are growing new grass (see above picture) so we began to remove them. While doing this, Robbie asked me why there were all these weeds here and not in the rest of our lawn.

Great question I thought. I went on to explain that we put down a special fertilizer in the spring which helps to prevent weed seeds from germinating and that I made sure not to get that fertilizer on our new soil, otherwise, in addition to not having weeds we wouldn't have much grass either.

Then I had the opportunity to point out to him about how this is like our life. Without missing a beat he said, "I sense another devotional coming." He was right of course.

I shared with Robbie that our lives can get infested with "weeds" if we don't apply the proper fertilizer...
* Reading the Bible regularly
* Talking with God regularly
* Hanging out with other Christ-followers to hold us accountable
* Keeping a thankful heart

So remember to fertilize.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

From a Place of Worship & Rest

Last November, I had a very interesting meeting with someone who had spent the past five years on a prophetic team at The International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City. I have to be honest, I didn't even know such teams existed.

Anyway, after our prayer time at the beginning of our time together, she shared with me some things that God was speaking to her about me. One of those things was that I would get my best ideas in the coming months and years coming out of a place of worship and rest.

I thought, That's nice. But deep in my heart, I believe I was actually saying something more like, Yea, right. I have never met you before in my life. Like I'm really going to believe that.

You see, I have always felt that in order to get breakthroughs, you just need to focus more and work harder. So, what I was now hearing sounded like a foreign language to me.

In late December, I then attended the onething conference put on by IHOP in Kansas City. During that conference, Mike Bickle delivered a message on loving God with all our hearts which really rocked my world (I highly encourage you to click here and invest 38 minutes to watch it). During the message he shared that according to the Bible we are incapable of loving God totally on our own. We need His love to be poured into our hearts so we can love God properly.

Anyway, since that time, I have been asking for this increase of love in my heart. And, in this past week, I have truly noticed a change in my heart. I have sensed my love actually growing for God. Sounds weird, I know, but it's true.

Yesterday, I was at Toledo's House of Prayer from 9:30 - 11:30, which I try to do each Wednesday morning. I found myself just worshipping God and resting. I was actually not thinking about anything but Him (which is rare for me). And guess what happened?

I actually got seven or eight different ideas just dropped in my spirit. It was like they came from left field. Some were related, some not.

Then today during lunch I was working out and listening to praise and worship songs and the same thing happened! Three new ideas.

Amazing. At least to me. There must really be something to this. God is so good!

I do believe that God is changing my paradigm a bit, no? So what do you say--would you like to join me on this journey of seeking Him through worship and rest?

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

A Prayer-less Leader

While I was in Hong Kong several weeks ago, I heard Allen Hood speak. He is with the International House of Prayer (aka IHOP) in Kansas City. He said something that has been rattling around in my brain for the past weeks, "A prayer-less leader is a power-less leader."

As much as I don't want to admit it, that's one of those axioms that I think is right on the money. This is an area in my life where I have not been extremely strong. However, I was convicted during my time overseas that I needed to step up my prayer life. I am doing so by continuing on with my daily time with God and adding a trip to the Greater Toledo House of Prayer once per week. This morning is my morning to go. And you know what? I am actually looking forward to it! That is a good thing for me!

"It is written," He said to them, "My house will be called a house of prayer..."
Matthew 21:13

Who's In Your Network?

During our men's group this morning (we meet every Friday at 6 AM), one of the guys shared some pretty devastating news he received this week regarding one of his children. It broke my heart.

I know this was difficult for him to share, but I also know that he felt better for sharing it. He now knows he will have brothers praying for him and supporting him.

I was reminded of my life and how much I have grown by being involved with this group. Six years ago I never thought I would be a part of something like this. I certainly didn't want to share my troubles with anyone else because I wanted others to feel like I had it all together.

It wasn't until I experienced the freedom of being authentic in a group like this that I realized what I had been missing. The Bible tells us we are to be in community so that we can encourage others and so they can encourage us. I have witnessed the power of this in my life and in the lives of many others.

To take a line for a cell phone company, "Who's in your network?"

Teamwork - Part III

The past two days I have shared about teamwork. I did not intend to do it a third day in a row, but I must.

I had an incredible day yesterday. We conducted a couple of private briefings for Truth At Work, a ministry I am helping to bring to NW Ohio and SE Michigan. We had over 70 Christian business owners and leaders in for the two meetings to learn about Truth At Work.

I was humbled and literally brought to tears when I saw all of the help I was receiving:

• Ray and Matt, the 2 co-founders of Truth At Work came to Toledo from Indianapolis to lead the briefings
• One of their members, the owner of ServantHR took a day and a half away from his business and his family to come share about how much Truth At Work has helped him
• Many incredible leaders in the Toledo area (Al, Jim, Ed, Clint and others) have stepped up to help me by introducing me to others, giving me words of encouragement and praying for me
• Bob Borcherdt, a former teammate of mine at UT and president of Midwest Paper Specialties, not only let me use his facility for the meetings, but he had employees of his park quite a distance from the entrance so as to free up parking spaces. Two of his sons (college and high school age) were there bright and early to help with parking. He also had members of his staff helping with room setup, etc...
• Two women from the Greater Toledo House of Prayer shared with me that they had been praying for me since they heard about this and they feel led to continue to pray for me, Truth At Work and the business community in this region.
• My good friend Rod, who was extremely busy, yet found time to come and help with registration in the morning.
• My wife Connie (who is not a morning person), got up early and picked up the bagels, coffee and such by 6:45 AM. Then she cheerfully helped get everything organized and registered the guests.

And I have missed countless others who have encouraged, prayed for me and supported me.

All of this truly humbles me. I feel so blessed to have such an incredible group of people helping me, loving me and supporting me. What a great team! Thanks Lord!