DuAnneSeeley.com

How well do you know yourself?  A key process of capturing His vision for your ministry relates to the refinement of knowledge.  Proverbs 13:16 says “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.”  One of the most important types of knowledge you can process is knowledge of yourself:  how God has created you and how you perceive the world in light of your gifts, abilities, experiences and character.  Without this insight, the chances of your being able to fully grasp the detail of His vision are slight.  Here are just a few areas to look at:

1.  Start at the beginning.  Why are you in the ministry?  Forget about the stuff you were taught in Bible college or seminary.  Go one-one-one with God and honestly tell Him why you are in the ministry.  What is your motivation?

2.  Ask tough questions.  Identify your values, attitudes, assumptions and experiences.  What is it that excites you about ministry?  What keeps you awake at night?  What are your passion points?

3.  What in ministry turns you on and off emotionally?  During what situations do you feel most alive?

4.  What makes you cry?  Why?

5.  If you could only accomplish only one task in life, what would it be? (Be honest with this one!)

6.  Which passages of the Bible speak most loudly and consistently to you? 

7.  Who are the 5 most important spiritual mentors/spiritual leaders in your life right now?  Why?

These are just 7 of 70 questions that I like to ask people I am mentoring in leadership.  These questions are just designed to get you thinking in areas that must be examined to know yourself.  God wants to use you in a special way but you must be a leader who is committed to knowing and serving Him, which requires having a firm and accurate understanding of your character, capabilities and heart.  What would you add to this list?

John Maxwell once shared with me the importance of finding something you are so passionate about doing that you would do it for free.  The end result is that you will eventually get compensated for it.  I have found this to be true in my personal life.  Since my early 20’s God has provided unique opportunities for me to evaluate ministries and churches.  In the beginning I did this for fun and never expected or requested pay for it.  It was fun 20 years ago and still is.  The difference today is that I do accept pay for it.  The Lord has given me a gift to evaluate a church or ministry and determine why it is not growing or effective along with steps to implement for growth.  Over 40 pastors that I have worked with have told me I am discerning, strategic, a maximizer and a developer.  Knowing the strengths that God gives you will help you to find your passion.

With some evaluations I just give a verbal report.  Some churches request a written report which I normally do in 3-4 pages. Prior to signing a consult contract I will offer a free 20 minute phone call.  Before ending the call I usually share the two reasons Bill Hybels gives for why a church is not growing.  What are you controlling?  What are you afraid of?  If a church can answer this they probably don’t need to pay money for a consultant.  Working through these questions does cut down on the amount of consulting I do but I see it as a win-win.  With two children at home and helping to plant a new church on Staten Island I am forced to say no to more requests than I can accept at this time.  After all these years I still feel excited when I can help a church or ministry.

Is your church or ministry growing?  If not why not take the time to answer these great questions by Bill Hybals.  What are you controlling?  What are you afraid of?

At Catalyst Jim Collins spoke about having a stop doing list.  I like that.  For many years I have worked with a day planner to help me be a good steward of all that God has given me.  I love using my Living On Purpose planner and continue to get feedback about how it is helping others to live a more focused and prioritized life.  When we reprint the next time maybe we should add a new section and call it “To Stop.”  There are several things I could add.

1.  Stop listening to negative people.

2.  Stop working on Saturday when the boys are home.  (We go 6 days a week. Saturdy is for family.)

3.  Stop planning so far ahead.(Planning is great but I can be more selective if I don’t plan out more than 12-18 months out.)

4.  Stop picking up after everyone constantly.  (Put everything in one box & let them dig out.)

5.  Stop working when I am sick and need to rest. (I have done well with this one the past week.)

These are just a few things that came to mind fast.  What would you put on your “To Stop” list?

My husband was just singing an old song by Kool & the Gang called “Celebration” with lyrics “There’s a party going on right here, a celebration to last throughout the year.  So bring your good times and your laughter too, were gonna celebrate and party with you!”  This reminds me of Luke 15:7 and the big party in heaven every-time ONE person is saved.  In my 20’s when I lived with girls I was discipling at UCSD, we started a tradition of putting angels all over the house on any day that a person we knew of got saved.  It was our way of celebrating with heaven.  I love a great party.  Can you imagine one where our heavenly Father is the host?  This is another example that shows us that evangelism is the heartbeat of God.  Sometimes I need to ask myself if this is my heartbeat.  Am I consumed by this as Jesus, whom I am to be like?  What about you?  Does your heart break for what breaks the heart of God?  Would love to read your thoughts.

This month I spoke at a conference for women.  The messages were prepared in advance…just the way I prefer.  Then wouldn’t you know it?  The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and at the last minute the topic was changed. I spoke on the main thing.  The purpose God had in the beginning.  The purpose of the Bible.  The purpose of Jesus.  It is not fellowship, teaching or worship.  We get this mixed up. One reason I don’t like so many conferences for women is that they are what I call fluff.  I don’t have time for fluff.  We forget the main thing.  I get it mixed up too.  Sometimes I get so into my story and forget that my purpose is to be part of His story.  I forget that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.  The main thing is the Gospel. Matt. 28:18-20.  Everything is about the Gospel.  Without the Gospel there is nothing.  Everything that we do should be in light of this.  How do we get so off target?  How does the church get so off target?  How do we get so comfortable?  We have the responsibility to share the Gospel with everyone. Father, I pray that we would get in touch with your story and how you want us to participate in what you are doing.

It’s official.  Matthew is 13.  Can’t believe I’m a mother to a teenager.  Feel free to share any advice you have for me on “comments.”  What I want to do today is share 13 things I like about my son.  Forgive the gush.  Hey, it’s who I am. 

1.  I like that not a day goes by without Matthew telling me:  “I love you mama.”

2.  I like that my son is sensitive.  Praying that God will use this trait for his glory one day.

3.  I like that my son is passionate.  I love passion in people.  Life is too short not to have it.  Whatever field one is in passion will help you succeed.  If two people are running for an election, the one with the most passion is  probably going to win.  Remember Bob Dole?

4.  I like that my son says “Thank You.”

5.  I like that Matthew will give me a hug often.

6.  I like that he still wants to spend time with his family.

7.  I like that Matthew enjoys reading.  A leader is always a reader.

8. I like that he has a soft spot for animals.

9.  I like that Matthew enjoys sports a lot.

10.  I like that Matthew is flexible.

11.  I like that Matthew appreciates simple things.

12.  I like that Matthew thinks I am an awesome cook eventhough I’m really not.

13.  I like that of all the little boys in the world, if I could only pick two out for my very own, Matthew would be one of the two I would choose.   

Matthew, “I love you forever, I’ll like you for always.  As long as I’m living, your mommy I’ll be.”  (taken from the book “I’ll Love You Forever.”

This morning I had to make a run to the local grocer to get stuff for the boys’ school lunches.  I can’t believe they like what I pack better than getting something at school but they claim to.  The boys don’t usually wake until 6:45 to get ready for school.  Today they realized I was about to leave and jumped quickly out of beg and-begged to go with.  How could I say no to those pleading faces that melt my heart like butter? It was dark and cold when we left.  Would  you believe we were the only customers in the store?  The boys were excited to smell fresh, hot doughnuts.  I let them pick out some for their breakfast.  No, I’m not one of those junk food moms but I do let my family on occasion have something like that for breakfast.  They also got to pick out a pack of gum each.  The whole experience would be considered boring and mundane to most but the boys and I had the best time.  They were so excited about our adventure to the store at 6AM.  On the way home they kept talking about what fun they were having before going to school.  As I packed their lunches and watched them eat warm doughnuts and milk I felt so grateful.  I feel grateful that they still enjoy such simple things as going on a lunch run at 6AM.  Matthew and Aaron are only 12 and 10.  Maybe when they are teens they will prefer to sleep in vs. going with me anywhere.  But for now doing simple things in life is an adventure that we all look forward to.