Week 13 - #Prepare - “Prayers”

Even Popcorn Prayers are Heard

Philippians 4:6,7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”

Psalm 18:6 "In my distress I called to the Lord;I cried to my God for help.From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears."

I’m sure you have experienced or felt before the "power of prayer,” and heard many times how prayer is our "direct line" to our Heavenly Father.

So why then, do we often find countless other avenues to travel down, while “reaching” for something always “better” before fully surrendering to prayer?

Maybe it's because we think for God to really hear us, we must literally get down on our hands and knees and who has time for that, right?

It is true that God desires our full attention. He wants a relationship with us. He does like us to be still and listen.

But whether our petitions are presented to Him in the stillness of our quiet times, (kneeling, sitting or standing), or we are in the midst of our most chaotic moments, sending up even “popcorn” requests, God hears us. He hears you!

So maybe the most important question is not about; how you pray, where you pray, or how often you pray, but simply do you pray?

In this time of preparation, what do you need to “to establish, fix, or apply” when it comes to your prayer life?

Whatever your practice for prayer is, one strategy or key to ensuring you are consistent with prayer might be to simply "calendar it!"

Stephen Covey taught his audiences over the years to never allow “what matters most to be sacrificed for what matters least.” In order to do this we must ensure what Covey referred to as the "big rocks,” to always be scheduled first.

In this year of preparation I believe there is no "bigger rock” than to spend time with God in prayer. Although the little things are truly important, they cannot displace what matters most.

In Philippians 4:6,7, we are encouraged to“not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”

True confession, I have to work at this daily, especially on the "intentional, and sitting still in quiet moments" part to pray. But, I also have a conversation with God all day, in my work and in my play.

As the scripture in Psalms 18:6 reveals, God hears our voice, and He is always near. On your knees in the temple, at home in your closet, or in the car while in the driveway God hears and He wants to hear your voice.

DADs, let’s prepare and cry out in prayer Today.

Psalm 18:6" In my distress I called to the Lord;I cried to my God for help.From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears."

*This week we talked about prayer and how God listens to our crying out.

Next week, we practice and prepare to better hear and listen to what God is calling us to, and to become better listeners to those He places in our lives**

To God be the glory!

DADs“get in the game”
Today is game day and so is every day God gives you! 
So C’mon Men Suit Up!

#Prepare - Refresh - “Goals”

Week 12 - #Prepare - “Goals”

John 6:27 “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

Two weeks ago we talked about the difference between “having" a mission and "being on" a mission.

This past week we encountered how important it is for us today to not only have a vision for the teams and organizations we lead, but more valuable is having a personal vision for ourselves and for families.

This week we continue to build upon these ideas, and consider how to prepare strategically, ensuring our mission and vision becomes a reality.

To do this we must set goals!

Without goals our mission and vision literally become a ship without a sail. A target without a bullseye. Simply aimless.

I have always been a goal setter. Perhaps it's because of my athletic and coaching background. Regardless, it has always been the logical next step towards achievement. You could say, my personal GPS.

So how do you prepare your goals and secure their congruence with both your mission and vision?
Here is one formula...

First, simply identify your goals; then write them down; put them somewhere you can see them, set a date; identify those that can help; develop a plan of action, and finally ensure alignment with your mission and vision.

Again, as I shared the prior two weeks with mission and vision not only are goals essential for your organization's success, put even more importantly for your own personal growth and for those you love the most!

Preparing perpetual goals secures a specific plan for growth. Without goals we become “wondering generality,” on our journeys. As it says in Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

When my kids were in elementary, every Sunday night we gathered around the dining room table. My wife, my two children and myself. Every week as a family we each created and set three goals for the week. One goal school or work related, the other two individual personal goals.

Each week we reviewed our progress while each member of the family reported their status. If any of the goals were achieved, we would first celebrate, then create, and replace with new ones. If we were still working on a goal, we were reflective on the prior week’s practices, and redesigned, if needed, our plan of action while resetting a day for accomplishment.

Ultimately, when preparing our goals we must always ask the question "Does it honor God?” For in John 6:27 we are instructed, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

So I ask you: Do you have goals?

What part of your life would benefit from setting specific goals?

Goal-setting is such a great legacy to teach your precious children and others that you love.

DADs, let's prepare our goals Today!

**Did you know we all have a direct line to our Father in Heaven? Next week we discover the power of prayer and how the enemy tries to distract us from our daily time with God. Together we will prepare a plan for prayer!**

To God be the glory!

Dads “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

Week 11 - #Prepare - “Vision”

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision the people perish, but happy is he who keeps the teaching.”

Habakkuk 2:2 And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”

Did you know that the word “vision” is found 130 times in the Old and New Testament?

While many of those occurrences referred to characters in the Bible actually "seeing" a vision, Habakkuk 2:2 gives us three very straightforward, essential, and simple instructions we can follow as we prepare to“construct" a vision.

Habakkuk 2:2 says,"And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”

Number one, God tells Habakkuk,"write the vision,” literally write it down! Secondly, God exhorts, "make it plain on tablets,” write it succinct and make it clear!"

Finally, God shares, "so he may run who reads it, “make it easy to remember.”

If someone asked you today, “what’s your vision your own personal vision”, what would you say? And do you have a vision statement for your family as well?

Vision statements are typically one of the very first things any team or organization creates as their continuous destination pointing towards the desired level of success. Ironically it is rarely a priority or viewed as essentially important for ourselves.

So why the urgent intentionality of focus on the importance of visioning when it comes to other entities when often withholding one for ourselves and our families?

Well, I don’t want to get into the debate of what the definition of a vision statement is, but I was taught and have practiced to write a "vision" in terms as the “preferred future state.” In other words, something “to become” and daily to strive towards.

A vision statement should be short and memorable, but potent and direct. Something measurable and meaningful.

Just as God guided Habakkuk.

DADs, the sooner we become intentional in our own developing and preparing of our own vision for ourselves and family, the sooner we can begin to journey down that path of fruition.

DADs, let’s get around the table today. Not just in the conference rooms or boardrooms. But in our living rooms and our family rooms as well.

Casting a vision for the teams you lead is no doubt valuable but casting a vision for your family is eternal.

As it says in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision the people perish, but happy is he who keeps the teaching.”

DADs, prepare your vision today.

* Dads, for the last two weeks we have placed emphasis on the urgency to prepare our mission and our vision. So how do you undergird both of those? You set goals to undergird them. Next week we explore and prepare for the importance of setting goals. Stay tuned!*

To God be the glory!

Dads “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

“Are You On Mission?”

Luke 4:16-21 - 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read,17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.21He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

So I am sure that anyone reading this does not need to be convinced that Jesus had a mission and understood His mission. Not only did He know His mission, understand His mission, (and thankfully for all us) He carried out His mission anointed by God.

And over 2000 years later we are all still talking about His inconceivable and unparalleled sacrifice.

Did you know the Bible says that we are all anointed?

In 1 John 2:20 "But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”

And with this “anointing” comes responsibility! Did you know that we all have a mission? But there is a difference in “having" a mission,” and being “on" mission!”
Which one are you? If you are like me, I seem to always have a mission but, often lose sight and fall short.

Jesus was “on” mission His whole life. Now, I’m not saying we are "to be" Jesus. But we can be “like” Jesus. We can be “like” Jesus by striving to stay “on” mission.

So what Has God laid on your heart for your mission?

What do you need to “establish” today to #prepare for your mission?
Mission is not achieving the goal, creating the latest and greatest rave, or becoming a position in life it’s what you do with it, how it impacts others, and elevates those you come in contact with along the way.

In essence, wherever you are there is your mission.

The question is what are you going to do with it?

My brothers, don’t delay. Prepare for your mission today.

Let’s work to “stay” on mission.

Don’t wait until you “arrive,"…YOU are already there!

To God be the glory!

*So how do you stay "on" mission? Next week we will talk about the importance of continuing to evolve and #prepare your vision?

Dads “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!

“Our Finances”

Proverbs 21:5 - "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

1 Timothy 6:10 - "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Oh, how I wanted to skip over this topic of #prepare and finances!

How many mistakes have I made in the area of finance over the years?

The book I could write could be called, “everything NOT to do when it comes to finances!”

You name the mistake in regards to finances, and I’ve done it!

I could simply say, "been there, don’t go there!” Maybe this will be the title of the book?

So in this moment, and in keeping with this year long blog series encouraging us all to get on the path to “#prepare”, let me ask the first question:

What do you need to do today, “to establish, fix, or apply” when it comes to your finances?

In Proverbs 21:5, it reads, "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Now remember as I’ve expressed I am NOT the expert in this field, but I am a good encourager, so the words that I share I hope only serve as a reminder of yet another area of focus in which we all need to #prepare.

My first thought is, "oh how I wish I could turn back the page on all the past mistakes I’ve made in this area, but then, in my self talk, and my encouragement to you I say,  STOP! Stop this way of thinking and begin to prepare today your financial strategies.

One expert in my research said, "The key to preparing your finances is to be both deliberate and diligent."

Deliberate and diligent in wherever you are whether you are initiating a plan, well into the middle, or close to arriving towards financial security. "Deliberate and diligence" are essential elements for preparing your finances.

Asking the questions; “What’s the end in mind?”, “What do I hope to accomplish?” and “What will be my financial legacy?”

My brothers, these are all questions for my own careful and intentional self reflection this year and as I have stated before there is no time like the present it is time to #prepare for our finances today!

To God be the glory!

Dads “get in the game”…

Today is game day…and so is every day…

God gives you! So…C’mon Men Suit Up!