Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

It was around 11:30pm on a Tuesday not too long ago, when after an extended day at the office, I find myself driving back home. All of a sudden I begin to feel something inside of me, and no I’m not trying to be spiritual, actually it was my stomach growling. It had totally slipped my mind, that due to my focus on work I had skipped lunch and dinner, and I was now very hungry. For the next moments I’m contemplating the idea if I rather go home and reheat leftovers or just go the nearest burger place and grab a bite. I decide to pass up my street and drive towards Whataburger. (Don’t judge me, lol)

Thankfully that burger chain is 24 hours open and because it was so late I didn’t have to wait long to get and start enjoying my food. A few minutes later I noticed a young man in blue jean shorts and a white muscle t-shirt enter and begin ordering. And when it came time for him to pay, I noticed he reached to his back pocket and then his front pocket and he couldn’t find his wallet. While this is happening, I’m not able to hear a single word what he and the lady across the counter are saying to each but just by observing them, I’m connecting the dots in my head. He then pulls out his cell phone and signals to the lady that he is going to make a phone call and he steps outside to talk. Right when he walks out, I again begin to feel something inside of me, and this time it wasn’t hunger but rather the Spirit of God leading me to get up and pay for this guy’s food.  

Honestly, at first I tried to not pay attention to what I was feeling. Reasons began to race through my mind about why I wasn’t able to and why I shouldn’t pay. I didn’t know this guy, I don’t know how much he had ordered, but I eventually gave up fighting and was obedient. I hadn’t even finished my food yet but choose to take advantage of the guy being outside to pay now discreetly. As soon as I paid I mentioned to the cashier not to tell him I had paid for him I wanted it to be a surprise. I asked for my food to go and began walking to my car, the whole while I can still see him on the phone. In my car I wait for a couple of seconds to see if he ever went back inside (no I’m not a stalker), when all of a sudden a car pulls up next to him. I’m expecting for someone to roll down their window and hand him some cash but the surprise was on me when I saw him get into the car and began driving off.

I was in shock. How was God going to allow this? I had just paid and he didn’t even go back inside to get his food. I’m not sure what rose up on the inside of me (and I warn you please don’t try this at home) but I chose to follow him in my car. Again please don’t do this and much less in the middle of the night, but I really wanted him to get his food. I tried flashing my lights, that didn’t stop him. I tried honking, that didn’t stop him either. But I was able to get his attention when he had to stop at the next red light.

And the following is a short version of our conversation that night.

Me: “Excuse me.”

Him: “WHAT DO YOU WANT?!”

Me: (with shaky voice) “Hi, you don’t know me but I was at the Whataburger you just left. I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t pick up your food and I just wanted to let you know your food is waiting for you.”

Him: “But I didn’t pay for it.”

Me: “Ya but I think someone paid for you.”

He stayed looking at me for a few seconds and then said: “You paid for it didn’t you?”

Me: (hesitantly) “Yea.”

When I said that I noticed his attitude and tone of voice changed towards me. And I too felt relieved.

Him: “Why did you do that?”

And it was there sitting at an intersection in La Joya, TX where I took the next few minutes telling him about why I did what I did and about my relationship with the Lord. After we said goodbye to each other, he made a U-turn to go back and pick up his food and I continued driving home with a smile on my face.

And it is in the front seat of my car where the Lord taught me a valuable lesson, which I want you to share with you now.

Many times when God calls us to do something or take a stand for Him, it’s going to be outside of our comfort zone. If He calls us to do something that’s in our reach and resources and we can accomplish it without Him, it won’t really require faith. But if what He is calling us to do is bigger than us and we can’t do it alone, we are going to have to rely on Him in faith.

And when we study the Bible all the examples of men and women who did something great for God; we can see that it took both faith and them stepping out of their comfort zone.

It was with faith in God that Jocabed was able to place her son in a basket and into a river to save his life; it was faith in God that Moses raised his staff and parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross; and it is with faith in God that you and I will also be able to do what God calls us to do.

I am convinced that it’s time for us to be comfortable with being uncomfortable for God.

Was I kinda hesitant and fearful in following this guy and talking him, you better believe it. Was I out of my comfort zone while I did it, you better believe it. Did I learn something that day that I’ll never forget, you better believe it.

Friend, I encourage and challenge you today to do what God has called you to do, even if it’s outside your comfort zone, believing that He goes with you and make everything possible.

10 Time Savers

I am a firm believer in spending and using our time wisely. Here are a few actions/tips I practice daily.

1. Write things down

2. Plan your week

3. Learn to say "No"

4. Don't do other people's work

5. Ask questions

6. Avoid doing too much

7. Clean your desk/ work area

8. Take time to rest

9. Record your favorite TV shows

10. Block out social media interruptions

I'm always up for learning; what are some time savers you practice?

Defining Moments

Inside each and everyone of us, God has placed a unique and specific purpose to fulfill, but it is up to us to be intentional in making it come to pass.

It’s not uncommon that while serving God and pursuing our dreams we face opposition and difficult trials arise.

But as I once heard Michael Fernandez say, “God never calls us to do easy things but great things that scare us to the point that we wonder if what is being asked of us can really be done. This is why we have this thing called faith.”

Faith allows us to stand firm in the middle of the storm, remain full of joy while we suffer, and move forward confidently knowing God goes before us.

In my life personally, I’ve had to overcome numerous events and situations where I wanted to throw in the towel and give up. But thankfully I’ve been able to rely on my faith in God and the support of those nearest me to continue ahead. And as I look back at different experiences I’ve encountered, I now understand that those difficult moments, although they felt unpleasant, I believe were actual key defining moments in my life.

And today, I simply want to share with you 3 thoughts/lessons that I’ve learned while passing through various defining moments.

1.     Defining Moments remind us of our need to daily depend on God.

Like any other relationship that we have whether it is with a family member or friend, our relationship with God must be fed daily and consistently in order to mature and remain strong. Imagine if we connected with God, through prayer or His Word, as often as we connected our cell phone to charge. I truly believe our relationship with Him would be on another level. The truth is like we needed Him yesterday, we also need him today, and tomorrow isn’t any different.  To persevere and make any type of positive impact in this world, we need His help daily.

2.     Defining Moments reveal us for who we really are.

Just like until when an orange is squeezed can we enjoy its fresh juice; or when we push down on a pen, does the ink flow out leaving a mark on the paper; when we are passing through defining moments that’s when it truly show what’s in the inside of us and allows us to leave our mark. We can say one thing when everything is good, but when certain things don’t go your way, are we the same person? Lets be authentic, lets be transparent, lets display to those around us Godly characteristics that catch their attention and makes them say, “There’s something different about him/her.”

3.     Defining Moments teach us another aspect of who God is and lets us get to know Him in a new way.

We can’t experience His healing power if we are never sick. Nor can we feel what it feels to be comforted if we never have a broken heart. If you and I are honest with ourselves and think back for specific moments of when we have felt and seen God perform the greatest miracles in our lives, it probably would have to be while we were passing through difficult moments.  I used to run from problems, I used to think they were the end of me, but we when I realized that they are opportunities for me to get to know God in a way I haven’t before, I now run to them. For where trouble is, God is there (Psalm 46:1). And if it wasn’t for those difficult moments I would have never said new prayers, and seen God in numerous facets.

Maybe you’re passing through a tough moment in your life right now and you have lost hope in others, your dreams, or even God. Remember that God says to you in Isaiah 41:10...

Dear (your name here) ,

       Fear not, for I am with you;

       Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

       I will strengthen you,

       Yes, I will help you,

       I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Mark it on your calendar today, that you will no longer avoid, hide, or see difficult moments as negative opposition but as a defining moment, a purposeful opportunity to depend on God, define who God is in your life, and tell this world He is faithful.

The 4 D's of Change

Change. Growth. Increase. Improvements. New levels...Everybody wants it but few achieve it on purpose. 

Whether it's in our finances, fitness goals, relationships, churches, or workplace; I believe there are four intentional steps that we can put into practice to see change happen. 

1. Decide- It all begins with a decision. As long as we are satisfied with our current situation and accept average as good enough, nothing will change. It doesn't matter how many meetings we have about it or how many motivational quotes we read or post, without acknowledging and first making the decision to pursue change, change cannot nor will not happen. I have come to realize that even one decision can have a huge impact in our lives, because of the momentum and rewards it can give birth to. Like the saying goes, "...if we wait for the “perfect time” to arrive or the feeling of “being ready”, we will spend/waste our lives waiting, stuck, and frustrated." That’s not God’s plan for any of our lives. You don't need to wait for January 1st or even next Monday to make a change. What you need to do is make a committed decision.
2. Define- Your goal or vision for change must be clear and well defined. We cannot accomplish it all at once nor see big change overnight, but once we know where or what needs to change then we can put our focus towards it. There is power in focus. Take a 5 foot fluorescent light bulb and 3 inch laser light for example. With the long fluorescent light you might be able to light up an entire room, but you would never use that to try to cut through steel. Did you know there are laser lights strong enough to cut through thick steel walls and even precious rocks? What’s the difference? One light bulb is wide and the other is specific. One light is focused, the other is not. When you and I define and focus on the area that we need to see change in, we will experience it. Consider the following: maybe the reason you’re not seeing change is because you’re trying too much in too many areas. Stop and focus.
3. Delete- Very few things in this world come free. Just read the fine print. Experiencing change and growth will require us to “pay the price” aka be willing to let go of the “good” for something “better”. John C. Maxwell states, “In order to go up, we must give up.” Sometimes the reason we are missing out on the NEXT is because we are holding on to the NOW. Perhaps there are some habits, addictions, mindsets and friends, that we need to remove or let go of because they are negativity affecting us, and are an obstacle to change. Don’t complain about regret if you're not willing to pay the price for change. 
4. Do- Finally, it comes down to putting in the work and taking action. Scripture lets us know, “It’s not good enough to know what we must do and not do it, but we must work and put it into practice.” What separates successful people from  unsuccessful people is their work ethic and perseverance. We need to stop fearing failure. Failure is an unavoidable part of growth. Just as an infant falls when learning to walk, we too will never grow out of failing and falling when we strive to attain a goal. We need to utilize our failures to learn new things about ourselves. Then we need to get back up and try again. Even if you have to start with baby steps the do so. SLOW progress is better than NO progress. What can you do today for the change you want tomorrow? 

Obviously, these four steps are easier said than done, but they are possible.Change is not a bad thing. So stop hoping for change and start making change happen. What are you waiting for?

Social Media Guide to Ministry- Summary

Hi everyone, I recently finished reading a book by Nils Smith called: Social Media Guide to Ministry

Here are my highlights from the book:

INTRO

-The world around us is changing rapidly, and social media is truly a game changer when it comes to ministry.

Chapter 1. WHY SOCIAL MEDIA IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR MINISTRY

-Social media is an ongoing conversation on the internet.

-When you post a video, article, or any other content, you are initiating a conversation.

-It allows the message to go farther faster.

-What's important is that we reach out as much as possible, as often as possible, utilizing all means possible.

-If facebook were a country, it would be the worlds third largest and two times the size of the U.S. population.

-We don't have a choice on whether we do social media; the question is how well we do it.

-Social media isn't a fad; it's a fundamental shift in the way we communicate.

-"Social media will make you relevant", "Social media is free"-these statements are wrong.

-It is impossible to effectively utilize without a great time investment.

Chapter 2. DISCOVERING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLBOX

-Networks you need to be knowledgeable about:

•Facebook- Jesus Daily (facebook.com/JesusDaily) Pastor Joe Wood (facebook.com/pastorjoewoodfans)and Hillsong Church London (facebook.com/hillsongchurchlondon) are ministries using facebook effectively.

•Twitter/Hashtags- The most important thing to do on twitter is listen. Utilize search.twitter.com and hear what people say about your ministry or city and community. Begin tweeting impactful messages, and always reply to anyone who directs a comment or question towards you. Retweet valuable posts from those in your ministry and tweets that you believe your followers will find value in. Rick Warren (twitter.com/RickWarren), Woodlands Church (twitter.com/#!/woodlandschurch) and CharlotteOne (twitter.com/#!/CharlotteONE) are ministries using twitter effectively. Create a hashtag of a combination of 6 to 8 letters or numbers and begin posting it for your church members to see on the screens and anywhere you can display it.

•LinkedIn- Two primary purposes. 1) Connecting wiht other pastors and leaders. 2)Getting to know the individuals in your congregation on a personal level. Create group or multiple groups for your church members to connect on this network. Brondon Cox (linkedin.com/in/brandonacox) Phil Thompson (linkedin.com/in/philthompsonlive) and Pastors Network (linkedin.com/groups/Pastors-Network-731467&mostPopular=&trk=tyah) are ministries using LinkedIn effectively.

•Youtube- is the second largest search engine in the world and a great way to reach your audience with search ability and share ability of these videos. Upload your videos, title them, and make sure you tag them effectively so they are easy to find. LifeChurch.tv (youtube.com/user/LifeChurchtv) DJ Chaung (youtube.com/user/djchaung) and Elevation Worship (youtube.com/user/elevationworship) are ministries using youtube effectively.

•Pinterest- Lets you organize and share photos of beautiful things you find on the web. Instead of worrying about creating new content on Pinterest,focus more on repining the most valuable content you can find. Mars Hill Church Seattle (pinterst.com/marshill/) and Church Urban Find (pinterest.com/churchurbanfund/pins) are ministries using this effectively.

•FaithVillage- A social network of faith experiences designed around a virtual village that delivers a powerful, free social media platform for members, groups and organizations with a robust publishing platform for Christian articles, blogs, videos and audio.

•Media Social-is a facebook app that provides a broadcast social TV channel through the Internet. It's the perfect solution for any ministry that is interested in launching online church services or online LifeGroups/Bible studies.

•YouVersion- Is a tool for people to read and interact with the bible with others. The reading plan feature is also a great tool that can be used to encourage your congregation to read the Bible in a structured way.

•Instagram- Now everyone with smartphones can serve as your event photographers, and Instagram gives you a platform to instantly share those pictures. You might try having some unofficial contests of who can take the best picture at an event or pick out a couple of pictures to post on your ministry website or facebook page.

•FourSquare- Encouraging people to check-in while at your church as well as leaving tips and comments about your church for others to see can be a great outreach opportunity.

                •Tweetdeck/Hootsuite- These are tools used to help manage your social networks.

Chapter 3. THE FACEBOOK GUIDE

-Start with facebook before anything else.

-In many ways it is an all-in-one network for individuals and organizations with live texts and video chats, inbox messages, wall posts etc.

-When it comes to setting up your profile, share what you want to share and keep the rest private.

-Groups is a great feature that I recommend for life groups, bible studies, ministry teams etc.

-A church's facebook page is just as important if not more than their website.

-A big mistake that churches make is not making it clear at what time they meet/gather.

-Strive for interactions (likes, comments, shares) and this will lead to more impressions or how many people see your post.

-Sharing and tagging photos is a great way for people to find your page as well as get to know your community before even visiting.

-Videos have the highest impressions to interactions rate and draw the most attention.

-Encourage your congregation to check in to help promote the church and also see other members who have checked in.

-Facebook makes it very easy to find out who has a birthday. To stand out say something unique as opposed to "Happy Birthday".

-One of the most valuable things you can have for your ministries facebook page is an easy to remember URL.

Chapter 4. GETTIG SATRTED: BABY STEPS

-Here are some networks to focus on based on ministry area:

Women - Pinterest

Youth - Instagram

Men/Women - LinkedIn

College/YoungAdult - Twitter

Children-Family - Youtube

Small Group - Faith Village

Worship - Youtube

Chapter 5. CREATING A CONVERSTION

-Remember, when you post on a social network you are initiating a conversation.

-We have three different posts that we typically rotate to:

•Inspiration- We post sermon points, scripture verses, or song lyrics in hopes that people will "like" these messages.

•Information- These posts are generally announcements about upcoming events, links, or some other piece of information

                that we want to share with our congregation.

•Conversation- We simply ask a question. We believe these are our post important posts as conversation helps build community. "How can we pray for you today?" is a post that has proven to be more effective than any other.

Chapter 6. MAXIMIZING YOUR TOOLS

-Set a strategy for how often you will post, what various types of content you will share and some growth metrics that you desire to reach.

-A great tool that you can use to measure social media growth is Sparkwise.

-Put limits on yourself as you get started and set realistic goals for posting and interactions.

-Many of your social networks can automatically update each other.

Chapter 7. TOP SOCIAL MEDIA MISTAKES

-Negativity

-Too much Information

-Politics/Agendas

-All communication/No conversation

-All professional/Never personal

-Create some guidelines among your team as to what's acceptable and what is not, and agree to hold each other accountable.

-Setting up your expectations as a team can help everyone feel more confident and prevent problems.

-Don’t get too comfortable. Change is coming and we need to adapt.

-If you believe that someone on your team can commit to posting once a week, a blog has a lot of value.

-Have wifi available at your church

-How to grow more with more fans? Consistency and creativity.

 CONCLUSION

-Just like any other technology or resource, social media has the opportunity to either enhance our ministry or quickly become a distraction.

You must figure out for you and in your context how these tools can become a great asset to you and the team that you lead.

APPENDIX

-First, use an accountability software program on your computer and mobile devices.

-Second, share your log in information to all social networks with your spouse and an accountability partner.

-Google offers a program for non-profits for $10,000/month worth of free advertising. Go to google.com/nonprofits and get started today.

-Facebook ads- You can specifically target an audience and use pictures to capture their attention.

-Don't invest anytime on LinkedIn ads.

-E-mail is not dead and is one of the most direct forms of communications you can use. Building an email database will cost you a little and has great value.

-If you think you might be violating a copyright law, you probably are.

-You cannot post videos or pictures of minors without parental consent.

-We include this on the back of our first-time registration forms and double check that we have it on file before posting any photo online.

The 3 R's of a New Year

As we prepare to say “good bye” to 2015 and “hello” to 2016 there are 3 things I do every year around this time that I would like to encourage you to do as well. And for easy remembering, they each begin with the letter R.

1.       REMEMBER

Remember the wonders He has done; remember His miracles (Psalm 105:5).

A great way to start the New Year is remembering who God is and what He has done for you. Maybe this year He saved a loved one of yours, healed you, gave you a promotion, etc… The Word of God encourages and even commands us to live a life of gratitude (Ps. 118:1).

There are dangers in forgetting what the Lord has done in and through our lives. Forgetting can lead to unbelief & rebellion (Ps. 106:7), make us do foolish things (Ps. 106:20), and even ignite God’s anger (Ps. 106:21-23). But remembering who He is and what He has done aligns our hearts with His.

Action Item: Make a list and write out what God has done for you this year. Let it be an exercise in remembering His goodness and grace in your life!

2.       RENEW-

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).

Like a fire requires fuel in order to continue burning, our relationship with God requires intentional care.  Year round our relationship with God is being attacked by problems, distractions, and even busyness. We must continually renew our commitment with God. Going with the same “fire” analogy, here are some steps in order to renew your relationship with God.

a.       Fan the Flame (2 Tim. 1:6)- You do this through prayer, fasting, worship, serving, giving, and going to church.

b.      Remove the Wet Wood (Hebrews 12:1)- Wet wood hinders the growth of your fire. We must remove anything or anyone from our lives that doesn’t please God.

c.       Hangout with Fire Starters (2 Cor. 6:14)- It matters who you surround yourself with and who speaks into your life. Find men/women of God you can follow in their example.

           Action Item: Spend some time in prayer, renewing your commitment and desire for Him.

3.       REACH-

I press toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

With each New Year come new opportunities, challenges, and victories. God is in the business of doing NEW things in our lives and taking us to NEW places if we allow Him to (Isaiah 43:19). A great way to accomplish new things is by setting goals. Goals help you: Move Forward, Hold You Accountable, Transform Insurmountable Mountains into Walkable Hills, and Live Life to the Fullest.

Action Item: Make a list of goals you feel God is calling you to do? Be sure to dram BIG and consider all the areas of your life: spiritually, educationally, financially, family and relationships, physically, etc…)

Happy New Year from our family and ministry to yours!

Leaders Set the Atmosphere

Shortly after I completed my ministerial internship I had the opportunity to serve on staff at Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida. For a season there I was responsible for opening the church, turning on equipment, putting the batteries in the microphones, etc… And I was also responsible for turning on the air conditioner (or heater) in preparation for our services.

I wish I could tell you that I carried out my responsibilities perfectly every weekend, but I didn’t. For different reasons there were times I forgot to recharge the batteries through out the week and now didn’t have batteries for Sunday, or I overlooked turning on one piece of equipment and it would affect the sound, but the worse thing was when I would either forgot to or get to church late and not turn on the AC/ heater. Let me tell you, the few times that happened people noticed. 

Now I don’t know if you have thanked God recently for your AC/heater but you should. lol just kidding (no but really) Just this past week our central air here at our house stopped working for like only 3 hours and dude I thought I was going to die. I seriously thought about siting in my car with the AC on until the AC repairman arrived; no lie. lol

Why? Because you feel it. If it’s winter and you don’t turn on the heater in time, you feel the cold. If it’s summer and you forget to turn on the AC, you feel the heat (especially here in south Texas).

And when I would accidently turn on the AC/heater late on a Sunday mornings back in Gainesville, people felt it. And there was nothing I could do to change that. And sure we would still have service, but it was different.

Today as I look back at those experiences, under the lens of leadership, I submit to you that we as leaders set the atmosphere for what happens in our services. Yes God is God and He can and will do whatever He wants. But what we do as leaders before services kicks off also matters. And now I’m talking about much more than your AC/heater being on, I’m referring to your spiritual life and service preparation.  

How you pray throughout the week, how you develop your sermon/ lesson, how you practice your instrument, how you live and treat others, how you plan your services and get things ready & so much more.

I believe our God deserves the best, and not only Him but the people we serve on a weekly basis.

Leader, commit to setting an atmosphere in your local church, where the presence of God can reach, touch, and transform people’s lives. For it is for that reason that you and I have been called.

Thank you for serving how you do!

Love the People, Not the Pulpit

We all want to feel cared for and valued by the significant people in our world. The students you and I lead are no different.

If you and I are going to be effective in ministry as leaders, we must responsibly grow the relationships in our lives.  Ministry is not about special effect lights, smoke machines, cool t-shirts or events; but rather ministry is about people.

Below are a few suggestions and tips on how to improve/ add value to your relationships with students:

1.    Be in prayer.

• Pray that the Holy Spirit will truly help you see them like Jesus sees them: with eyes of compassion and love.  
• Pray for them, that God will continue to guide, protect, and bless every area of their life. 
• Pray for opportunities to grow your relationship with them.

2.    Be intentional.

• With your time - we make time for the things that are important to us. If we are too busy to spend time with people, are we really leading anybody? I’m not saying you have to spend an entire day with them, but having lunch, going to a movie, or even talking with them 5 minutes after service can make a huge difference in their lives.
• With your words - The Bible says, that in our tongue/speech is the power of life and death. Use your words to edify, encourage, and build people. Contact them frequently via facebook, text, phone, email, etc… just to say hi or even pray for them. Don’t become someone who just calls people when they need something. The world today says focus on yourself, and don’t worry about anybody else; while the Bible commands us to love our neighbor.
• With your ears - We can learn so much about others just by listening to them. Because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. I don’t think it’s an accident that God designed us with two ears and only one mouth, maybe so that we could listen the double that we speak. When we fail to listen, we shut off much of our learning potential. Listening establishes trust.

3.    Be consistent.

• Become genuinely interested in the people you are leading. Somebody once said, “We can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”  
• Dr. John C Maxwell says, “Leaders touch a heart, before they ask for a hand.” In other words, get to know who they really are.
• Make others feel important. I heard a definition of success that really impacted me, which was: “Success is leaving people better than how you first found them. That people would say after spending time with us: ‘I really enjoy him/her’, ‘They encourage me’, ‘I feel a lot better now.’”

In conclusion, months and years from now the people we lead will probably not remember our sermons and PowerPoint’s but they will remember our actions towards them. Let us be found faithful with God’s most prized possessions, which are people, whom He has entrusted into our hands. I don’t expect you to put into practice over night everything you just read, but start with one thing and watch how your relationships go to the next level.