From the September 28, 2008 Meeting
Everything great starts with a dream; a vision of what could be. Like faith, a dream is something we can see in our mind’s eye, but don’t yet have the evidence of in hand yet. Too many people stop at the dream stage and nothing happens. It becomes a “hope” or a “nice to have” that in most cases will never come to be.
Only when we convert our dreams into goals can we begin ordering our steps; the events in our lives, to reach them.
In Success Is Not An Accident, Chapter 3, Newberry covers some excellent points and practices around setting goals:
The Importance of Goal Setting – pg 57
Here’s the proof – pg 58-59
The Top Ten Reasons for Setting Goals in your Life – pg 61
Psychological Blocks to Goal Setting – pg 63
Seven Reasons People Don’t Set Goals – pg 65
Eight Rules for Highly Effective Goals – pg 66-76
1. Highly effective goals are WRITTEN
2. Highly effective goals are stated in the present tense
3. Highly effective goals are stated positively
4. Highly effective goals are consistent with your Personal Mission Statement (and Core Values)
5. Highly effective goals are specific and measurable
6. Highly effective goals are time bound
7. Highly effective goals are reasonable and challenging
8. Highly effective goals are thoroughly planned
The Goal Setting Workshop – pg 76
Eight Steps to setting goals
1. Brainstorm you dreams
2. Create your ideal lifestyle
3. Take a three-year leap
4. Convince yourself
5. Plan on Paper
6. List available resources
7. List potential obstacles
8. Identify ways to overcome obstacles
Daily Work Discussion Audio
Get it on the Calendar Audio
John Goddard Audio
Success Is Not an Accident Chapter 3 Audio
Blanchard's Research and Evaluation Audio
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Developing Dreams and BIG Goals
Maybe you're out of practice and haven't dreamt any wonderful dreams for a while? Maybe life has beat you down so much that you've just forgotten how? Here are some thoughts on how to begin that process again. Try it this week!
Relax. Take a deep breath and find a place where you can be alone. Somewhere that is as quiet and peaceful as you can. Maybe it’s your prayer closet, or off somewhere by a lake or hillside. You may want to play soft music, or light some candles or arrange some flowers nearby that will scent the air and remind you of the beauty of God’s creation. Maybe your retreat is no further than your bathroom, and you can just draw a warm bath and settle in as the tension flows out of you and is replaced by a sense of inner peace and tranquility.
Close your eyes and open up your heart to your loving Father. He knows why you are here and is pleased that you are willing to once again lay your life down before Him. In Psalm 37 David say’s “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Now, try to picture yourself as you’ll be twenty years from now. Think about how you’ll feel, the important relationships in your life, where you’ll be living, your walk with the Lord, career accomplishments, places you’ll have traveled . . . begin to dream and envision what could be.
Faith
Consider how you grew in faith and your relationship with God. Look back over the past years and the path God had planned out for you. Did you follow His leading? Did you see miracles along the way? Have you shared God’s love with others, helped orphans and widows, mentored children, or led many people to a knowledge of Christ? How much have you been able to sow into the kingdom to further the gospel and expand the church? What great adventures have you seen in Him and with Him? How deeply have you felt his warm loving embrace?
Can you see how you’ve learned to forgive yourself for failings and past sin, just as He has forgiven you? Envision how you have completely forgiven others who hurt you in the past, in order to gain inner peace and enable God to have free reign in your life. Imagine what your church friends and family will be saying about you at a memorial service for you many many years from now. How is the world a better place because you were a part of it. How is the Kingdom of Heaven a fuller, richer place for your obedience, kindness, and wisdom? You have been placed into this world for a purpose, called by name by the God of creation to do great and wondrous things in His name, to prosper and lead others into a better future with great joy and fulfillment and inner peace.
Dream about your spirit-man and your faith walk and how it will be . . . now, write it down. . . .
Family
Dream about your children, or a future family, as they will be twenty years from now. They will be grown up. Can you picture them as successful, happy people who have all of the skills and attributes to live their lives building upon the things you’ve imparted to them? What kinds of things do you want them to be thankful to you for? What life-lessons have you taught them to help mold them into the people they’ve become?
Did you laugh a lot as the children were growing up. Think about the silly jokes they told and the way you kidded with them and praised them when they did little skits for you. How many times did you use a kind word or a little laughter to help them over a hard time? Did they grow up reading the comics in the newspaper with you, and were your dinner time’s wonderful opportunities to kid around and share the funny things that happened during the day? How happy were those days together as a family?
Did you get them braces? Did you home-school them or have them attend private schools? Have they become skilled musicians because you helped them with lessons and encouraged practice and positive reinforcement of their talent? Did they become great athletes, fit and successful at track or tennis or football?
Have they grown in faith with strong moral values and deep commitment to God and His church? Are they serving others with their gifts? Have they been healed of any problems and learned how to trust God as their source of all good gifts?
Are they intelligent and learning to become wise? Have you cultivated in them a love for learning and a discipline to study? Have you shown them how the world of finance and investments work so that they can prosper? Do they have goals and dreams for themselves, and can you see what they are doing to fulfill them?
Think about your spouse or a spouse that you’ll have someday, and your relationship as it will be. Are you still in love? Do they support and nurture, encouraging you to be the best you can possibly be? Look back at the special moments you’ve had over the past twenty years; the places you’ve been together, the long walks and tender conversations? Has your love making been passionate and intense and as beautiful as when you first married and fell in love? Do they go the extra mile for you to delight you, and have you done the same for them?
Can you feel the respect your spouse has for you, and pride for whom you’ve become? What things have you taught each other? How much individual space have you built into your relationship, and how has that made you grow as a person, and in trust of each other?
Describe how interested your spouse is in you, and you in them, twenty years from now. How much have you shared together about the deep things of life, core beliefs, desires, ambitions, frustrations? Think about how they’ve responded with empathy and love, when you’ve shared your heart, supporting, caring, and enabling you to grow and be successful. Consider the things you’ve openly shared with them; your dreams, your fears, the embarrassing moments, your preferences and what pleases you. Have your communications been an open book together, or have you held part of your self back to protect something? In the future, how will your dream relationship look and feel?
Have you laughed a lot together and played, free to be silly around each other, enjoying the commonalities that pull you together? Do you still cuddle and laugh at the bad jokes and puns, no matter how bad they are?
What has happened in your immediate and extended family? How close are you to them? Do you see each other often? Do you live close to them or call them frequently? How have you celebrated birthdays and Christmas, and the 4th of July each year? How much richer are their lives for what you’ve imparted to them, and how much richer is yours because of their support and love?
Dream about your family and how it could be . . . . now, write down your dream . . . .
Home
Can you picture where you’ll be living? Where is it? Is it in the city or country, or perhaps a cottage by the water? Is it a townhouse, a contemporary home or maybe a large estate with a vineyard out back? Will you have a circular driveway leading to a three-car garage with nice cars or maybe a workshop? Maybe your home will be small and cozy, and easy to take care of, or perhaps God’s call for your perfect life is free of any fixed home. Maybe you’re dream takes you to the mission field.
If you do have a home twenty years from now, what will it look like? Is there a big foyer when you enter the front door? Are there hardwood floors or Italian tile or perhaps a spiral stairway leading to a master bungalow bedroom? Do you see a big eat-in kitchen or a smaller one with a large formal dining room? Maybe you would love a double oven or a separate pantry to store all of the supplies and kitchen appliances out of sight. Do you have a large family room big enough to host many people for bible studies, or would you rather have a smaller den and a proper living room with a grand piano and a couple love seats? Are the walls decorated with original artwork or pictures of your family?
Does your master bedroom have walk in closets, a king-sized canopy bed or oriental rugs? Will your bathroom have a Jacuzzi or an oversized shower for two? When you look out the window can you see beautiful gardens, or perhaps a swimming pool? Maybe you have fruit trees or a garden, or perhaps a koi pond in your back yard.
Is there a vacation home, or a winter home in Florida or maybe in Aspen? Would you love a place at the beach for the summer, or would you prefer something in the south of France or Italy? Does your dream include a time-share in Hawaii, or a fishing hut somewhere in NY State?
Dream . . . . now, write down your thoughts of your home . . .
Career and Community
Will you be working twenty years from now? What accomplishments did you achieve in your career? Did you start a business, or work in the home, or maybe you became excellent in investing and made a fortune in real estate or the stock market?
Did you take classes to develop your work skills? What degrees did you attain over your career? Maybe you went to night school to get your Masters Degree, or perhaps you learned to speak French fluently. Did you learn accounting skills or become skilled in investing in real estate or stocks and bonds? Perhaps you learned how to breed dogs or do garden landscaping or design web pages?
Have you climbed a corporate ladder, or started the small business that you’d always wanted? What skills did you learn along the way to help you with this endeavor? When co-workers describe how you were to work with what terms do they use? Have you been tough, fair, smart, caring, driven, social, supportive, a great team leader, or perhaps a great mentor?
What was your role in the community? Were you active in your church, or in a civic association? Did your expertise in your career allow you to speak at meetings or perhaps conferences? Have you helped the homeless, or supported a great cause that you believed in either financially or by helping out physically? How gratifying was it to see the impact of your giving? Was it wonderful to see God pouring overflow into you because He knew you would be obedient with how you directed it? How many people have you mentored and helped to improve their lives and relationships? Did you help build your church up or go on mission trips to minister God’s love to others?
Dream about your church, your career and your social contributions . . . now, write down what it looks like . . .
The New You
Walk to a mirror. What do you look like in twenty years? Are you trim and fit? Are your clothes designer fashions or comfortable old friends? Picture the beautiful appearance of the person you’ve become, older but still attractive and healthy.
Have you picked up any hobbies that have brought great joy, and caused you to stretch over the years? Do you play an instrument or sing? How proficient did you become and where did you perform? How did it feel when you finished your performance and the audience applauded for you or were your talents used in church to lead others into worship of the great King? Did you enjoy the camaraderie of other musicians as you practiced? Did you become an artist and learn to blend colors and create wonderful paintings or computer generated images which captured the emotions and beauty God placed deep inside of you?
Do you have a library in your home? Have you read many books and magazines to grow your intellect? Have you used your wisdom to help others, or become wealthy? Have you learned how to fix or build things and repaired your own car or helped with skillful repairs on the widow’s home who lived down the street?
Where have you traveled to over the years and what have you seen? Have you traveled Europe, skied in the Alps, or perhaps spent summers on the Costa Brava in Spain or in the south of France. Have you walked on the Great Wall of China, or climbed Mount Washington, or perhaps taken a river cruise down the Danube River, or gone on a photo safari in the African tundra? Did you hike the entire Appellation Trail or ridden by burrow to the base of the Grand Canyon?
Did you become a proficient cook or baker and delighted people with your wonderful foods? Maybe you’ve entertained and had the finest chef’s cater those affairs, had wonderful jazz trios play for you, and had social events to share with your family and friends, or perhaps to raise money for the causes you believe in? How have you grown intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and experientially over the years?
Consider the sports you played or the distances you ran and walked. Over the years how many races did you run, or tennis matches did you play? Do you have any trophies on the desk in your office? Have sports helped you stay fit and has the social aspects of those activities brought you many new friends over the years?
Look at yourself again in your future mirror. Did you live the past years with integrity? Did you keep your word? Do people regard you as a giving person, or social, spiritual, or caring? How many people have relied upon your experience and wisdom to help them through the problems in their lives? Have you learned to love yourself? Are you self-confident and able to navigate the bumps in life’s road by yourself and through God’s grace, without a co-dependence on someone else?
Dream about the person that you’ll become . . . now write it down . . . .
Other areas?
What other things do you seen as you dream? What kinds of things have you accomplished looking back over a successful life?
Write down your responses to the questions above and consider other areas that you’ve thought about before. Ponder them and continue to imagine what your world can be like in twenty years time. Be sure to write them down and for at least a week, review them every day, adding to them or changing them. Don’t limit yourself in any way as you do this. God is huge and has placed good desires in you. And through Him and with changes in your daily activities, anything is possible. All things are possible!
Relax. Take a deep breath and find a place where you can be alone. Somewhere that is as quiet and peaceful as you can. Maybe it’s your prayer closet, or off somewhere by a lake or hillside. You may want to play soft music, or light some candles or arrange some flowers nearby that will scent the air and remind you of the beauty of God’s creation. Maybe your retreat is no further than your bathroom, and you can just draw a warm bath and settle in as the tension flows out of you and is replaced by a sense of inner peace and tranquility.
Close your eyes and open up your heart to your loving Father. He knows why you are here and is pleased that you are willing to once again lay your life down before Him. In Psalm 37 David say’s “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Now, try to picture yourself as you’ll be twenty years from now. Think about how you’ll feel, the important relationships in your life, where you’ll be living, your walk with the Lord, career accomplishments, places you’ll have traveled . . . begin to dream and envision what could be.
Faith
Consider how you grew in faith and your relationship with God. Look back over the past years and the path God had planned out for you. Did you follow His leading? Did you see miracles along the way? Have you shared God’s love with others, helped orphans and widows, mentored children, or led many people to a knowledge of Christ? How much have you been able to sow into the kingdom to further the gospel and expand the church? What great adventures have you seen in Him and with Him? How deeply have you felt his warm loving embrace?
Can you see how you’ve learned to forgive yourself for failings and past sin, just as He has forgiven you? Envision how you have completely forgiven others who hurt you in the past, in order to gain inner peace and enable God to have free reign in your life. Imagine what your church friends and family will be saying about you at a memorial service for you many many years from now. How is the world a better place because you were a part of it. How is the Kingdom of Heaven a fuller, richer place for your obedience, kindness, and wisdom? You have been placed into this world for a purpose, called by name by the God of creation to do great and wondrous things in His name, to prosper and lead others into a better future with great joy and fulfillment and inner peace.
Dream about your spirit-man and your faith walk and how it will be . . . now, write it down. . . .
Family
Dream about your children, or a future family, as they will be twenty years from now. They will be grown up. Can you picture them as successful, happy people who have all of the skills and attributes to live their lives building upon the things you’ve imparted to them? What kinds of things do you want them to be thankful to you for? What life-lessons have you taught them to help mold them into the people they’ve become?
Did you laugh a lot as the children were growing up. Think about the silly jokes they told and the way you kidded with them and praised them when they did little skits for you. How many times did you use a kind word or a little laughter to help them over a hard time? Did they grow up reading the comics in the newspaper with you, and were your dinner time’s wonderful opportunities to kid around and share the funny things that happened during the day? How happy were those days together as a family?
Did you get them braces? Did you home-school them or have them attend private schools? Have they become skilled musicians because you helped them with lessons and encouraged practice and positive reinforcement of their talent? Did they become great athletes, fit and successful at track or tennis or football?
Have they grown in faith with strong moral values and deep commitment to God and His church? Are they serving others with their gifts? Have they been healed of any problems and learned how to trust God as their source of all good gifts?
Are they intelligent and learning to become wise? Have you cultivated in them a love for learning and a discipline to study? Have you shown them how the world of finance and investments work so that they can prosper? Do they have goals and dreams for themselves, and can you see what they are doing to fulfill them?
Think about your spouse or a spouse that you’ll have someday, and your relationship as it will be. Are you still in love? Do they support and nurture, encouraging you to be the best you can possibly be? Look back at the special moments you’ve had over the past twenty years; the places you’ve been together, the long walks and tender conversations? Has your love making been passionate and intense and as beautiful as when you first married and fell in love? Do they go the extra mile for you to delight you, and have you done the same for them?
Can you feel the respect your spouse has for you, and pride for whom you’ve become? What things have you taught each other? How much individual space have you built into your relationship, and how has that made you grow as a person, and in trust of each other?
Describe how interested your spouse is in you, and you in them, twenty years from now. How much have you shared together about the deep things of life, core beliefs, desires, ambitions, frustrations? Think about how they’ve responded with empathy and love, when you’ve shared your heart, supporting, caring, and enabling you to grow and be successful. Consider the things you’ve openly shared with them; your dreams, your fears, the embarrassing moments, your preferences and what pleases you. Have your communications been an open book together, or have you held part of your self back to protect something? In the future, how will your dream relationship look and feel?
Have you laughed a lot together and played, free to be silly around each other, enjoying the commonalities that pull you together? Do you still cuddle and laugh at the bad jokes and puns, no matter how bad they are?
What has happened in your immediate and extended family? How close are you to them? Do you see each other often? Do you live close to them or call them frequently? How have you celebrated birthdays and Christmas, and the 4th of July each year? How much richer are their lives for what you’ve imparted to them, and how much richer is yours because of their support and love?
Dream about your family and how it could be . . . . now, write down your dream . . . .
Home
Can you picture where you’ll be living? Where is it? Is it in the city or country, or perhaps a cottage by the water? Is it a townhouse, a contemporary home or maybe a large estate with a vineyard out back? Will you have a circular driveway leading to a three-car garage with nice cars or maybe a workshop? Maybe your home will be small and cozy, and easy to take care of, or perhaps God’s call for your perfect life is free of any fixed home. Maybe you’re dream takes you to the mission field.
If you do have a home twenty years from now, what will it look like? Is there a big foyer when you enter the front door? Are there hardwood floors or Italian tile or perhaps a spiral stairway leading to a master bungalow bedroom? Do you see a big eat-in kitchen or a smaller one with a large formal dining room? Maybe you would love a double oven or a separate pantry to store all of the supplies and kitchen appliances out of sight. Do you have a large family room big enough to host many people for bible studies, or would you rather have a smaller den and a proper living room with a grand piano and a couple love seats? Are the walls decorated with original artwork or pictures of your family?
Does your master bedroom have walk in closets, a king-sized canopy bed or oriental rugs? Will your bathroom have a Jacuzzi or an oversized shower for two? When you look out the window can you see beautiful gardens, or perhaps a swimming pool? Maybe you have fruit trees or a garden, or perhaps a koi pond in your back yard.
Is there a vacation home, or a winter home in Florida or maybe in Aspen? Would you love a place at the beach for the summer, or would you prefer something in the south of France or Italy? Does your dream include a time-share in Hawaii, or a fishing hut somewhere in NY State?
Dream . . . . now, write down your thoughts of your home . . .
Career and Community
Will you be working twenty years from now? What accomplishments did you achieve in your career? Did you start a business, or work in the home, or maybe you became excellent in investing and made a fortune in real estate or the stock market?
Did you take classes to develop your work skills? What degrees did you attain over your career? Maybe you went to night school to get your Masters Degree, or perhaps you learned to speak French fluently. Did you learn accounting skills or become skilled in investing in real estate or stocks and bonds? Perhaps you learned how to breed dogs or do garden landscaping or design web pages?
Have you climbed a corporate ladder, or started the small business that you’d always wanted? What skills did you learn along the way to help you with this endeavor? When co-workers describe how you were to work with what terms do they use? Have you been tough, fair, smart, caring, driven, social, supportive, a great team leader, or perhaps a great mentor?
What was your role in the community? Were you active in your church, or in a civic association? Did your expertise in your career allow you to speak at meetings or perhaps conferences? Have you helped the homeless, or supported a great cause that you believed in either financially or by helping out physically? How gratifying was it to see the impact of your giving? Was it wonderful to see God pouring overflow into you because He knew you would be obedient with how you directed it? How many people have you mentored and helped to improve their lives and relationships? Did you help build your church up or go on mission trips to minister God’s love to others?
Dream about your church, your career and your social contributions . . . now, write down what it looks like . . .
The New You
Walk to a mirror. What do you look like in twenty years? Are you trim and fit? Are your clothes designer fashions or comfortable old friends? Picture the beautiful appearance of the person you’ve become, older but still attractive and healthy.
Have you picked up any hobbies that have brought great joy, and caused you to stretch over the years? Do you play an instrument or sing? How proficient did you become and where did you perform? How did it feel when you finished your performance and the audience applauded for you or were your talents used in church to lead others into worship of the great King? Did you enjoy the camaraderie of other musicians as you practiced? Did you become an artist and learn to blend colors and create wonderful paintings or computer generated images which captured the emotions and beauty God placed deep inside of you?
Do you have a library in your home? Have you read many books and magazines to grow your intellect? Have you used your wisdom to help others, or become wealthy? Have you learned how to fix or build things and repaired your own car or helped with skillful repairs on the widow’s home who lived down the street?
Where have you traveled to over the years and what have you seen? Have you traveled Europe, skied in the Alps, or perhaps spent summers on the Costa Brava in Spain or in the south of France. Have you walked on the Great Wall of China, or climbed Mount Washington, or perhaps taken a river cruise down the Danube River, or gone on a photo safari in the African tundra? Did you hike the entire Appellation Trail or ridden by burrow to the base of the Grand Canyon?
Did you become a proficient cook or baker and delighted people with your wonderful foods? Maybe you’ve entertained and had the finest chef’s cater those affairs, had wonderful jazz trios play for you, and had social events to share with your family and friends, or perhaps to raise money for the causes you believe in? How have you grown intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and experientially over the years?
Consider the sports you played or the distances you ran and walked. Over the years how many races did you run, or tennis matches did you play? Do you have any trophies on the desk in your office? Have sports helped you stay fit and has the social aspects of those activities brought you many new friends over the years?
Look at yourself again in your future mirror. Did you live the past years with integrity? Did you keep your word? Do people regard you as a giving person, or social, spiritual, or caring? How many people have relied upon your experience and wisdom to help them through the problems in their lives? Have you learned to love yourself? Are you self-confident and able to navigate the bumps in life’s road by yourself and through God’s grace, without a co-dependence on someone else?
Dream about the person that you’ll become . . . now write it down . . . .
Other areas?
What other things do you seen as you dream? What kinds of things have you accomplished looking back over a successful life?
Write down your responses to the questions above and consider other areas that you’ve thought about before. Ponder them and continue to imagine what your world can be like in twenty years time. Be sure to write them down and for at least a week, review them every day, adding to them or changing them. Don’t limit yourself in any way as you do this. God is huge and has placed good desires in you. And through Him and with changes in your daily activities, anything is possible. All things are possible!
Visions and Dreams – Getting a God View of You
September 21, 2008 Meeting Notes
They say that a person’s philosophy of life is formed before they reach the age of ten years old. Most of us by then will have developed patterns in our thinking that dictate our self-confidence, willingness to take risks, co-dependency needs, self-image and the overall limit to how successful we will allow ourselves to be.
Children who are encouraged and given positive affirmation tend to do better. Those who were given responsibility and recognition tend to have higher self-confidence levels. Children who were exposed to parental love with consistency tend to have more self-worth, while others may have stronger co-dependence needs.
With many patterns in place already by the time we reach our teen years, we tend to amplify those patterns by our choices and the responses the choices produce. The best students work harder to stay in front as the best students. Kids where the home life tends to have inconsistent love shown to them sometimes gravitate to quicker and sometimes destructive relationships in a quest to be loved. Children from homes with genuine Christian backgrounds tend to have stronger morale boundaries, and often, greater inner peace.
These patterns also form the barriers that limit our future success. If our parents worked blue-collar jobs, we gravitate in that direction. If they promoted college the children tend to get more education and gravitate towards white-collar jobs. If the family was lower middle class or upper middle class or had issues with over-eating or drinking or interacted abusively with each other, the patterns permeate our life-view and we begin to see ourselves in a modified version of what we grew up with. We desire to do better certainly, but typically not striving to move more than a notch or two up from where our parents were when we were growing up.
The phrase that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is usually used to depict the injustices of government taxation, or the bias associated with corporate opportunities. It is an accurate statement, but the dominant problem is not the government or the job market. The greatest reason is the patterns we’ve embraced, that have created the chains which bind us, or the wings that lift us.
So how does God see you? The scriptures indicate that He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He desires good for us and not evil. He is a loving father who gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). He tells we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Nothing is impossible for those who believe and place their trust in Him (Matthew 17:20 and Luke 1:37). Christ paid the price for all of us to have salvation, a sound mind, and a healed and healthy body when He was crucified on the cross of Calvary, died and rose on the third day, sitting at the right hand of God the Father as our intercessor (Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 and Mark 16:19)!
These are bold statements and promises. We boldly accept our salvation through faith. Why do we have more trouble with the other promises? Why do we not see what God sees? Is it sin awareness? Then repent and know that He will forgive us as many times as necessary! Is it lack of understanding of what He wants for us? Then pray and move forward, setting some goals, continuing to pray and allowing Him to steer your course.
We need to see ourselves as His children, who have access to all of His promises. We need to see ourselves as God sees us. He sees you washed in the blood of His Son. He sees you able to do all things. He sees you as an extension of Him, willing and able to reach out and love others, fulfilling the Great Commission, and prospering because you are related, through a blood covenant, to the Creator of the Universe. Nothing is impossible for you.
For most of us, our view and God’s view are very different. They shouldn’t be. He wants you to be successful. He wants you to be fulfilled and loved and loving, and prosperous enough to do anything He wants you to.
You are beautiful, and caring, and very special. You have great gifts poured into you that you’ve may have begun to utilize. You have a treasure-house in heaven that is open to you to make withdrawals that you just need to ask for. You have the wisdom of God behind you to guide your decisions and order your steps. In Him, you can do anything!
This is the truth, though it may not yet be your reality. To see it manifest in your life requires change in how you listen to His voice, and manage your life choices. Before that can happen, you must change how you see yourself. You have to change how you think.
How big is your God? How wonderful are your dreams? Walt Disney said “If you can dream it, you can do it.” We need to dream dreams, and envision how life could be years from now. Health, prosperity, joy, strong loving relationships, wisdom, social status, great philanthropy should be part of your future.
Are you ready to embark on the greatest journey in your life? Let’s begin the journey down a path that will open your eyes to who you really are, and find out where the long road of life can take you; a path that will be difficult at times and require changes in choices and habits, but if you decide to move ahead, you will never be the same.
Homework
Read through the handout on Visions and Dreams and follow the instructions to imagine what God could do with your willing life over 20 years, and write it down.
Review of Survey Audio
Visions and Dreams - God's View of You Audio
Visions and Dreams - Homework Discussion
They say that a person’s philosophy of life is formed before they reach the age of ten years old. Most of us by then will have developed patterns in our thinking that dictate our self-confidence, willingness to take risks, co-dependency needs, self-image and the overall limit to how successful we will allow ourselves to be.
Children who are encouraged and given positive affirmation tend to do better. Those who were given responsibility and recognition tend to have higher self-confidence levels. Children who were exposed to parental love with consistency tend to have more self-worth, while others may have stronger co-dependence needs.
With many patterns in place already by the time we reach our teen years, we tend to amplify those patterns by our choices and the responses the choices produce. The best students work harder to stay in front as the best students. Kids where the home life tends to have inconsistent love shown to them sometimes gravitate to quicker and sometimes destructive relationships in a quest to be loved. Children from homes with genuine Christian backgrounds tend to have stronger morale boundaries, and often, greater inner peace.
These patterns also form the barriers that limit our future success. If our parents worked blue-collar jobs, we gravitate in that direction. If they promoted college the children tend to get more education and gravitate towards white-collar jobs. If the family was lower middle class or upper middle class or had issues with over-eating or drinking or interacted abusively with each other, the patterns permeate our life-view and we begin to see ourselves in a modified version of what we grew up with. We desire to do better certainly, but typically not striving to move more than a notch or two up from where our parents were when we were growing up.
The phrase that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is usually used to depict the injustices of government taxation, or the bias associated with corporate opportunities. It is an accurate statement, but the dominant problem is not the government or the job market. The greatest reason is the patterns we’ve embraced, that have created the chains which bind us, or the wings that lift us.
So how does God see you? The scriptures indicate that He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He desires good for us and not evil. He is a loving father who gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). He tells we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Nothing is impossible for those who believe and place their trust in Him (Matthew 17:20 and Luke 1:37). Christ paid the price for all of us to have salvation, a sound mind, and a healed and healthy body when He was crucified on the cross of Calvary, died and rose on the third day, sitting at the right hand of God the Father as our intercessor (Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 and Mark 16:19)!
These are bold statements and promises. We boldly accept our salvation through faith. Why do we have more trouble with the other promises? Why do we not see what God sees? Is it sin awareness? Then repent and know that He will forgive us as many times as necessary! Is it lack of understanding of what He wants for us? Then pray and move forward, setting some goals, continuing to pray and allowing Him to steer your course.
We need to see ourselves as His children, who have access to all of His promises. We need to see ourselves as God sees us. He sees you washed in the blood of His Son. He sees you able to do all things. He sees you as an extension of Him, willing and able to reach out and love others, fulfilling the Great Commission, and prospering because you are related, through a blood covenant, to the Creator of the Universe. Nothing is impossible for you.
For most of us, our view and God’s view are very different. They shouldn’t be. He wants you to be successful. He wants you to be fulfilled and loved and loving, and prosperous enough to do anything He wants you to.
You are beautiful, and caring, and very special. You have great gifts poured into you that you’ve may have begun to utilize. You have a treasure-house in heaven that is open to you to make withdrawals that you just need to ask for. You have the wisdom of God behind you to guide your decisions and order your steps. In Him, you can do anything!
This is the truth, though it may not yet be your reality. To see it manifest in your life requires change in how you listen to His voice, and manage your life choices. Before that can happen, you must change how you see yourself. You have to change how you think.
How big is your God? How wonderful are your dreams? Walt Disney said “If you can dream it, you can do it.” We need to dream dreams, and envision how life could be years from now. Health, prosperity, joy, strong loving relationships, wisdom, social status, great philanthropy should be part of your future.
Are you ready to embark on the greatest journey in your life? Let’s begin the journey down a path that will open your eyes to who you really are, and find out where the long road of life can take you; a path that will be difficult at times and require changes in choices and habits, but if you decide to move ahead, you will never be the same.
Homework
Read through the handout on Visions and Dreams and follow the instructions to imagine what God could do with your willing life over 20 years, and write it down.
Review of Survey Audio
Visions and Dreams - God's View of You Audio
Visions and Dreams - Homework Discussion
Friday, September 19, 2008
Why Change? Finding Your Burning Platform
The difference between people who just dream and people who succeed begins with a DECISION. The world is filled with dreamers and philosophers but many are not very successful as people or Christians. James 2:26 says that "faith without works is dead." Faith being the visualization of things to come; a belief in something not yet manifest. Yet, without works and action, our faith is dead or useless.
God has created each of us here for a purpose. He has placed gifts and talents in each person to be used to bless Him and others. He has given and inspired dreams and visions in everyone but without "works" and action to use our gifts and move towards our dreams, they are simply unused talents; pleasant thoughts.
The Burning Platform
There seems to be two motivations for people to change. The best motivation is when we look to a brighter future and that desire drives us to set goals and take steps to get there. Most of the motivational books key in on this approach. Understand what really matters to you, dream great dreams and set long-term goals, and then bring it down to daily actions to get you there. This motivation and approach works if people follow through, however complacency and old habits can often delay or derail successful adoption of the new and better life-patterns.
The stronger motivation is sometimes referred to as "the burning platform." The concept is that when you're standing on a burning platform, a crisis burning all around you, a great sense of urgency motivates you to do something and to put your passion and heart into the decision. This is exemplified by the drug addict who hits bottom, finds themselves in the hospital after an overdose and finally takes stock of their lives to make a change. They may decide to accept Christ, or to check into a rehab center, or perhaps move to a new town where their dealers and peers won't influence them. It is why so many people change direction after a major life event; the death of a loved one, a divorce, job loss, or a medical crisis.
Perhaps the most successful people use both motivators to propel them forward? When you look at your life, what are the things that are destructive to you? What are the areas that cause you to fail to get promoted in your job, or to avoid exercise, or stop you from learning new things? Where are the destructive relationships with people who appear as friends, but who encourage you to do things that can hurt you? What choices are you making daily or weekly that cause you to fall, hurt others around you or put them at risk?
The bible refers to our decisions as either life or death. Proverbs 13:14 says "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." In Proverbs 14:27 it says "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 18:21 says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." The speaks powerfully to how the words we speak influences how we think and perceive things, and how that choice brings life or death into our lives.
Can you write down the things in your life that are causing you to stumble? Can you write down the relationships that are unhealthy, and sometimes cause you to fall or do things you regret? Are there places you go or things you do, web sites you visit, or television shows you watch that are taking you down a path of high risk, or even death?
Write them down on a sheet of paper.
Next to each one write some notes describing the impact of those choices on you. Write down what you believe could be the possible outcomes if you continue down that path.
Maybe you're dealing with pornography or you find too much comfort in medications, or alcohol. Maybe you have friends who are leading you down un-Godly paths. What impact are your current choices having on your body, your mind, your self esteem?
Are you a workaholic? Are you balancing your obligations to your employer with that of your family, the body of Christ or other activities that fulfill your core values and life-mission?
Write down your list. Make it as long or short as it needs to be and then write down the possible long-range impacts of those things. If the road you're taking with those choices is wrong, write down where it might be taking you.
This list is now your burning platform. Keep it with you and pull it out once a day to consider the choice(s) you have to make that day. Let your burning platform motivate you and instill the "Fear of the Lord" into you, the "fountain of life." It will not only cause you to depart from the snares of death, it will propel you towards the life you love!
“Changing Your Course” by the Blanchards
In the book Changing your Course, the Blanchards say the first step in “living the life you love” is to make a DECISION. The following ideas come from their book:
“What are your dreams? What do you want?
You can’t change what you see in your rear-view mirror. The road ahead is based on the CHOICES you make. All Decisions have consequences (and no decision is a decision).
The following audio clips are from the 3% Club meeting of Sunday, September 14, 2008:
AUDIO: Why Only 3%?
AUDIO: Review of Core Values and Mission Statements
AUDIO: Living the Life You Love and the Burning Platform
AUDIO: Homework and the Surveys Discussion
God has created each of us here for a purpose. He has placed gifts and talents in each person to be used to bless Him and others. He has given and inspired dreams and visions in everyone but without "works" and action to use our gifts and move towards our dreams, they are simply unused talents; pleasant thoughts.
The Burning Platform
There seems to be two motivations for people to change. The best motivation is when we look to a brighter future and that desire drives us to set goals and take steps to get there. Most of the motivational books key in on this approach. Understand what really matters to you, dream great dreams and set long-term goals, and then bring it down to daily actions to get you there. This motivation and approach works if people follow through, however complacency and old habits can often delay or derail successful adoption of the new and better life-patterns.
The stronger motivation is sometimes referred to as "the burning platform." The concept is that when you're standing on a burning platform, a crisis burning all around you, a great sense of urgency motivates you to do something and to put your passion and heart into the decision. This is exemplified by the drug addict who hits bottom, finds themselves in the hospital after an overdose and finally takes stock of their lives to make a change. They may decide to accept Christ, or to check into a rehab center, or perhaps move to a new town where their dealers and peers won't influence them. It is why so many people change direction after a major life event; the death of a loved one, a divorce, job loss, or a medical crisis.
Perhaps the most successful people use both motivators to propel them forward? When you look at your life, what are the things that are destructive to you? What are the areas that cause you to fail to get promoted in your job, or to avoid exercise, or stop you from learning new things? Where are the destructive relationships with people who appear as friends, but who encourage you to do things that can hurt you? What choices are you making daily or weekly that cause you to fall, hurt others around you or put them at risk?
The bible refers to our decisions as either life or death. Proverbs 13:14 says "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." In Proverbs 14:27 it says "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 18:21 says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." The speaks powerfully to how the words we speak influences how we think and perceive things, and how that choice brings life or death into our lives.
Can you write down the things in your life that are causing you to stumble? Can you write down the relationships that are unhealthy, and sometimes cause you to fall or do things you regret? Are there places you go or things you do, web sites you visit, or television shows you watch that are taking you down a path of high risk, or even death?
Write them down on a sheet of paper.
Next to each one write some notes describing the impact of those choices on you. Write down what you believe could be the possible outcomes if you continue down that path.
Maybe you're dealing with pornography or you find too much comfort in medications, or alcohol. Maybe you have friends who are leading you down un-Godly paths. What impact are your current choices having on your body, your mind, your self esteem?
Are you a workaholic? Are you balancing your obligations to your employer with that of your family, the body of Christ or other activities that fulfill your core values and life-mission?
Write down your list. Make it as long or short as it needs to be and then write down the possible long-range impacts of those things. If the road you're taking with those choices is wrong, write down where it might be taking you.
This list is now your burning platform. Keep it with you and pull it out once a day to consider the choice(s) you have to make that day. Let your burning platform motivate you and instill the "Fear of the Lord" into you, the "fountain of life." It will not only cause you to depart from the snares of death, it will propel you towards the life you love!
“Changing Your Course” by the Blanchards
In the book Changing your Course, the Blanchards say the first step in “living the life you love” is to make a DECISION. The following ideas come from their book:
“What are your dreams? What do you want?
You can’t change what you see in your rear-view mirror. The road ahead is based on the CHOICES you make. All Decisions have consequences (and no decision is a decision).
The following audio clips are from the 3% Club meeting of Sunday, September 14, 2008:
AUDIO: Why Only 3%?
AUDIO: Review of Core Values and Mission Statements
AUDIO: Living the Life You Love and the Burning Platform
AUDIO: Homework and the Surveys Discussion
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Mission Statements and Core Values
In the August 31st meeting of the New 3% Club we discussed Mission Statements and Core (Governing) Values. The audio clips of the session are linked below.
Everyone agreed that this process was forcing us to be very introspective as we sought to identify and understand what our purpose was in this world. Most people spend their lives being swept along by circumstance and chance. They become very good at reacting to those things but often do little to anticipate and avoid them. As Christians, we might look at those events as opportunities to "exercise our faith," and certainly they are! How much better is it though, to recognize the path God has destined for us and to prayerfully make the twists and turns guided by His hand at evert step! That is a goal worth pursuing!
Core (Governing) Values
This first step is to determine what your Core Values are and write down what they are and what they mean to you. The examples from Hyrum Smith's book "The 10 Laws" contain many samples that will help you through this process. You still have to personalize them, to make them yours.
With a clear foundation of Core Values, and with a Mission Statement it is possible to dream and consider what the fulfillment of those values could look like in 15 or 20 years. Will your children attend an ivy league college? Will your family grow stronger and closer? Will your physical condition and appearance improve over time? Will you start a missions outreach in a remote land? Will you be living where you are now? Will much of your time be spent in ministry? Will you have a family retreat at the beach? Will you simplify your life with less material obligations? What are your dreams?
Remember that when you're on God's path for your life ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! "All things" is BIG. "All things" is probably more than you can even dream right now, but try, and start moving along that ever-clearing pathway.
Please continue to refine your Values and Mission Statement, and begin to dream again. God gives men Visions and Dreams. Seek Him to know yours!
The following are the audio clips from our Sunday August 31st session:
Mission Statements Discussion Audio
Core (Governing) Values with the Hyrum Smith Clip Audio
Homework for Next Meeting (Sept 14th) Audio
Please note that there is no meeting next week (first Sunday). The next meeting will be Sept 14th, at 8AM.
Everyone agreed that this process was forcing us to be very introspective as we sought to identify and understand what our purpose was in this world. Most people spend their lives being swept along by circumstance and chance. They become very good at reacting to those things but often do little to anticipate and avoid them. As Christians, we might look at those events as opportunities to "exercise our faith," and certainly they are! How much better is it though, to recognize the path God has destined for us and to prayerfully make the twists and turns guided by His hand at evert step! That is a goal worth pursuing!
Core (Governing) Values
This first step is to determine what your Core Values are and write down what they are and what they mean to you. The examples from Hyrum Smith's book "The 10 Laws" contain many samples that will help you through this process. You still have to personalize them, to make them yours.
With a clear foundation of Core Values, and with a Mission Statement it is possible to dream and consider what the fulfillment of those values could look like in 15 or 20 years. Will your children attend an ivy league college? Will your family grow stronger and closer? Will your physical condition and appearance improve over time? Will you start a missions outreach in a remote land? Will you be living where you are now? Will much of your time be spent in ministry? Will you have a family retreat at the beach? Will you simplify your life with less material obligations? What are your dreams?
Remember that when you're on God's path for your life ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! "All things" is BIG. "All things" is probably more than you can even dream right now, but try, and start moving along that ever-clearing pathway.
Please continue to refine your Values and Mission Statement, and begin to dream again. God gives men Visions and Dreams. Seek Him to know yours!
The following are the audio clips from our Sunday August 31st session:
Mission Statements Discussion Audio
Core (Governing) Values with the Hyrum Smith Clip Audio
Homework for Next Meeting (Sept 14th) Audio
Please note that there is no meeting next week (first Sunday). The next meeting will be Sept 14th, at 8AM.
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