DuAnneSeeley.com

This week my little boy was diagnosed with swine flu. For many the flu is just an inconvenience.  When Aaron gets a cold or any type of respiratory illness we go on high alert.  He has asthma and has been in ICU over what started out as a common cold. 

Today I asked myself, why is it sometimes easier to obey God rather than trust Him?  I think my faith has grown so much over the last 30 years until I find myself in circumstances that defy explanation. When unexpected circumstances happen that seem unjust, illogical, or tragic I sometimes feel frustrated, confused or angry.  In the last few months I have known of at least half a dozen deaths of children under 18.  I have seen marriages destroyed due to affairs. I have seen young mothers diagnosed with terminal cancer. I have seen people lose jobs and homes. I have seen people die without Christ.  These things can be hard to understand. Even when we have faith in God and know that He is sovereign, in adversity we can question why God would allow such.

What I do know for sure is that God is love and He is sovereign even when I don’t understand.  I cannot view circumstances through the eyes of what makes sense to me but through the eyes of faith.  When we seek the Lord and know Him we will enjoy intimacy with Him.  When we have intimacy with God we will find that we can trust Him. Even when we don’t understand God will carry us through.

Have you ever gone through a such a difficult time in your life that you felt forgotten by God?  Maybe during such a time you ask Where are you Lord?  or Why Me?  You may wonder why God does not deliver you. It’s human nature to desire relief from a trial. It could be an illness, job loss, financial difficulty, loss of a loved one, relationship conflict, divorce or a combination of things. Maybe you are in a job that you just want out of because you desire to do something else with your life. Our prayer for relief might even reflect the outcome for the situation we think is best for us.  Being a problem solver by nature I have this tendency to give possible solutions. 

There have been many times in life when I did not feel delivered from a situation as as I desired and prayed.  Not being healed from migraines and other medical issues in my family, at times living on a lower finanical support level, relationship conflict among family members, my step father dying from tylenol poisoning in his forties, losing so much financial support for our church plant in a 10 day period that we had to give up the church, etc.  Maybe you have experienced many more major issues than this.  My friend Carol Kent once said that you are either in a crisis, just out of a crisis or close to entering a new crisis.  Reminds me of James 1 that tells us to be prepared because we will face many trials in this life. 

What I have learned is that we cannot escape trials. Sometimes it may feel like such a darkness that you cannot sense God’s presence, power or annointing in your life.  Your experience is not unique.  God’s choicest saints have at times had days, weeks, months and even years of such darkness.  But God’s answer always comes again.  God has not forgotten you! Don’t try to get off the train while you are going through the tunnel.  If you jump off the train you must eventually get back on. And if you jump off you will have more scars than if you had stayed on the train. You are on route to God’s great victory.  Hold on, and God’s power will be revealed to you.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.  So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.  Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way.  James 1:2-4

This summer we did something that I have wanted to do my whole life.  We planted a garden. Not just a couple of tomato plants but a wide variety of organic vegetables.  It took more work than I anticipated.  We have red clay which is not conducive to growing anything.  Before planting we had to work with the soil and till it before bringing in soil that we purchased at a garden shop.  After what felt like a million trips with the wheel barrel we spent a lot of time working with the soil.  It was like performing lawn surgery.  I was so grateful when I thought we completed the garden. What I learned in the process is that a garden is never completed.  No one informed me about the weeds that we would have to continue to pull up.  We found that if you don’t get the weeds they will overtake the garden.  I also learned that if you don’t pull the weeds up by the root that they will multiply and come back more quickly.  Experienced farmers understand this principle.  A garden is never finished.  Growth will be hindered by weeds and threatens the life of the garden.

So it is with the spiritual life.  Just because someone is born again and begins to grow does not guarantee continued growth.  Thinking that spiritual maturity is a point in time or something you arrive at is false.  It’s like saying that I planted a garden and it will remain alive.  Without water, care and pulling up the weeds it will die. Just like a garden is something we must continue to work, my spiritual life is something that I must continue to pursue.  It’s not a point in time, but a continual pursuit of our relationship with God. 

What happens when I keep ignoring the weeds?  Weeds such as unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, pride, jealously, envy, impurity, gossip, slander, sexual immorality, worry, anxiety, fear, etc.  can overtake my life and become a stronghold. When I don’t keep short accounts with God and deal thoroughly with sin I can easily fall totally away from God and the blessing of an abundant life that he desires to give us. 

Are there any weeds in your life today that you need to pull up by the roots?

On Monday my 11 year old began reading a biography on Benjamin Franklin.  We have enjoyed hearing Aaron share interesting facts that he is learning.  I remember reading  “Mr. Franklin often went to hear a pastor speak by the name of George Whitfield because he enjoyed watching him burn before his very eyes.”  I believe that we as Christians should be on fire for God.  In Jeremiah 5:14 God said, “I will make my words in your mouth a fire.”  On that occasion God was referring to fire as a judgment.  But God similarly makes our words fiery in order that His people may become aflame with holy love, zeal and obedience. 

When our hearts are on fire for Jesus our words will be on fire.  When we are on fire people will be drawn to us.  Fire attracts.  Fire motivates.  Fire kindles fire.  It is the nature of fire to set ablaze.  Do others see this fire in you?  The constant tendency of fire is to go out.  The Holy Spirit does not waste divine energy.  If we don’t obey God and live out of fellowship with him, the grace he desires to pour out on us will cease.  God supplies the fire, but we must keep it burning.  We are spiritually most blessed, most victorious, most at peace, most usable when we are ablaze. 

Was there a time when you were more on fire for God than you are today?  Our tendency is to cool off spiritually and lose our zeal as we get side tracked by the every day affairs of life.  Personal revival will return as repent of sin and turn from it, renew our commitment, and live the spiritual disciplines.  It is our choice whether we neglect the Holy Spirit, quench the Spirit or fan the flame of the Spirit’s presence.

Todd and I combined have over 30 years experience in consulting with declining churches. Both of us love what we do. It’s not always easy but no job is. One thing is certain, there is great blessing in living out your passion. We love the local church and consider it a privilege to pastor and serve it when and where we can. After all these years we continue to learn because each church is unique. Yet there are principles that remain the same.  

The first question we ask when an established church is declining is this:  what are you controlling?  Webster defines control as to force,manage, master or repress.  To repress is to hinder or restrain.  To restrain is to curb, keep down or from, bind or inhibit, bottle up, crack, hamper, gag, limit, choke or pull back.  Why would anyone want to control a church?  The root is fear but that is for another blog post. 

Last week on twitter Rick Warren had this to say…Every pastor has to decide what he wants most:  control or growth.  You can’t have both.  The bottleneck is always at the top.  For growth, the pastor must give up control of the ministry and the people must give up control of the leadership.  Acts. 6:1-7

As a pastor, are you willing to give up control for growth?  As a lay person, are you willing to give up control of the leadership for growth? 

 I respect and appreciate so many things about Bill Hybels. A few I want to mention are…his love for God, his passion, his love for those outside the church and his heart to help dying churches.   Another quality he has that is like a breath air is his lack of pretense. Bill is honest and transparent in the pulpit and out.  I love that.

Yesterday Bill Hylels launched the Leadership Summit at Willow Creek by teaching a session titled “Leading in a New Reality.” Here are some of the highlights of his talk …

Over 20+ years ago I still remember a coffee and prayer time in La Jolla, CA with a co-worker (Fred Wevodau) that radically changed my thinking.  The Holy Spirit used a simple prayer to serve as a catalyst in better understanding strategic praying to advance the kingdom. Prayer has been a vital part of my life since becoming a Christian as a teen.  But on that day I was convicted that more of my prayer time needed to be aligned with what God was doing and desired to do.  Fred prayed we want to co-labor in what you are doing. Not just ask you to bless what we think we should be doing for you.  Some of you may be thinking is that it?  That changed your thinking?  Please hear me out and keep in mind the biblical principle that where two or three are gathered He is there. The Holy Spirit was working in my heart.

My view of full time ministry was that I worked for God.  I saw my role as that of sales rep and God was the CEO.  He had his office and I had my territory. My territory at the time was the campus of UCSD.  He was just a prayer away.  Sure the results were up to God but I had to do my part and work hard.  The more hours the better.  For years I averaged 60-80 hours a week.  The prayer with Fred was the beginning of a paradigm shift. Colabor with what God is doing?  Rather than work for God I began to work with God.  Rather than check in with him each day and then go at it I checked in with him and followed.  I begin to understood the truth of getting involved with what God is doing vs. asking Him to bless what I was doing. 

As I became more aggressive in my prayer time my passion for Jesus grew.  As a result I felt God more in each moment. I began to taste the thrill of fellowship with the Lord that was more amazing than anything I had experienced. Instead of prayer being something I did from obedience that I could check off my list it became a delight. In addition to my daily quiet time I began to spend every Monday with the Lord.  Every summer and winter I would take a week long prayer retreat.  The more time I spent with Jesus the more I began to experience John 15.  Communion with the Lord was not just something I did because  I knew I should but it bacame like a passionate fire burning in my heart.

A result of the paradigm shift is that I resigned as sales rep.  I don’t miss that role. The one of co-laborer is much easier.  The results are bigger and better. What difference does that decision make to my life today? As a wife and mom of children I can’t pick up and spend a week alone with the Lord as I did when I was single.  Nor can I take off one day a week by myself. But I am very grateful for the years I had to lay a foundation that I am still reaping from today.  Under extreme pressure and stress I am still tempted to take control but if I listen the Holy Spirit will remind me of the truth in 2 Corinthians 6:1-10.

After our relocation transition from church planting to LEAD, on our “to do” list was to find a church where we could worship and tithe. Our prayer was that God would direct us to where he wanted us.  We honestly did not care if the church had 30 people in attendance or 3000.  Our denomination which we are accountable to does not have a church in driving distance and we were open to any Christian church.  We were not looking for the “best show” in town but we did desire a church with a kingdom mindset.  When a church has a kingdom mindset people are valued. And when people are valued reaching new people (primarily the lost) is a top priority.  We visited several churches for 3 months but only one followed us up. Yes I said ONE. By follow up I mean they responded to our questions turned in on a visitor card or other form of contact via a phone call, email or letter.

The benefit of being part of a church with a kingdom mindset has greatly blessed our children.  In the past few weeks I have emailed the children and youth director and each time I received a response in less than 24 hours.  Staff and volunteers were professional and helpful. Julie Durling (children’s director) called me twice outside of her office hours, another worker named Susan emailed me and encouraged me to call her anytime I had a question and offered to meet with me. Last Sunday night our shy 13 year old went to a youth group for the first time.  He was nervous and had no desire to go. Peter Dahlin,  the youth director immediately connected with Matthew and introduced him to others.  Margaret a volunteer approached us and her passion for reaching youth oozed out of her every word.  His small group leader, Ray White, helped to make him feel welcome and at ease.  They gave every first time visitor a sports bag with the youth logo and inside was a water bottle and a leather compact Bible that Matthew was very excited about using. Seeing  the volunteer and financial investment it was obvious that reaching kids is a priority and passion. 

Church size should not determine follow up. Are you the only pastor and your other staff are volunteer?  Todd and I have seen many single staff churches that were excellent at follow up. When people are valued follow up will happen.  When follow up happens a church will grow. How is your church doing with follow up?