Equipping Thoughts

Sleep depravation and improper sleeping habits affect our health - physically, emotionally and spiritually. I’ve been reading up on how to live a healthy lifestyle. It’s been an adventure discovering how I’ve misguided my health because of poor sleeping habits (& other poor habits I have - bummahs!) Check this out…

The National Sleep Foundation states that “sleep deprivation has been linked to health problems such as obesity and high blood pressure, and negative mood and behavior.”

Dr. Cherry writes, “If you haven’t had a good night’s sleep, you’re likely to pay for it. The price may be high: reduced energy, greater difficulty concentrating, diminished mood, and greater risk for accidents, including fall-asleep crashes. Work performance and relationships can suffer too. And pain may be intensified by the physical and mental consequences of lack of sleep.”

The take home for me…“Rod, get adequate rest. Make an appointment with your pillow and bed and don’t violate your health needs!”

OK Lord! Help me to obey!!

Hi servants of our King!

While you minister & serve with all your hearts at New Hope, I realize that you are all ministering and serving your families, co workers, employers throughout your week.

I would like to encourage you…please do not compromise these areas:
1. Be disciplined in your devotional life.
2. Be submissive, with a heart of honor to the overseers, leaders in your life - I’m not talking only about church leaders What about spouses, employers, etc.
3. Fulfill your responsibilities in family relationships - work around the house.
4. Obey the Lord, in pursuing the goals He’s given you for your life. Do you know them?
5. Pursue spiritual gifts for a fruitful life.
6. Be a witness to your neighbors…card, little gift, New Hope teaching cd, etc.

Thanks for building His kingdom. His kingdom includes New Hope, not at the expense of your family, work, neighborhood. Build His KINGDOM by living joyfully in the world and around the people He’s placed in your lives.

Joyfully living,
Rod

“Look up Rod…your so focused on your goals and to do list - that your skimming on your focus on Me. Don’t slip into accomplishing something on your list for Me - make sure it’s on My punch list,” says the Lord.

There are times that God may have you change something on your to do list. You may not get to “your list” until you accomplish a spontaneous assignment handed out by the Lord. It’s so inconvenient when God interrupts our flow, when He changes and redirects us - it doesn’t always come at the most convenient times.

My to do list must be God’s to do list…I’d better be checking in with Him more often during the day - to see if He’s added or taken away anything from His list.

Proverbs 3
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

…then I will accomplish God intentions, not just good intentions.

In a conflict I was mediating, one person saw only one solution, the other person saw another solution - both leading to different results. “You don’t see any other alternatives?” I asked. “If there was another possible solution, would you both consider working towards resolution?”

My way or the highway attitudes can poison people and teams. Holding on to “your way or idea” as the best answer or solution can be endangering.

Conflicts will occur on teams. Differing views, opinions, ideas and solutions to challenges are a part of diversity. There are 3 ways or attitudes to choose from.

1. My way.

2. Your way.

3. The “Win-Win” way.

The Win-Win alternative may very well be the other answer or solution. It may be the better way - maybe even better than my way.

• W - Welcome others ideas with an open heart.
• I - Initiate solutions beyond your preferences & likes.
• N - Never say never. In other words, don’t think and speak your mind about an idea being stupid or never working before hearing all the facts and giving thought and time.

Romans 14:19

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

You’ve heard of a TRO. Well, instead of a temporary restraining order on some attitudes I’ve been dealing with internally, I need to put a Permanent Restraining Order on my carnal attitudes. Reciting the Word in my heart, being deliberately diligent about taking thoughts captive - controlling erratic behaviors - spending alone time with God in my mind , soul and heart…that’s a good one! I can spend time (literally) alone with God but the company of things to do and other thoughts displace the presence of the Lord - if I give them attention. I need to be deliberately diligent in my “Alone Time” with Him.

• Be quicker about displacing wrong thoughts with right ones
• Don’t allow yourself to linger with the company of bad attitudes within, wrong motives or thoughts.
• I gotta be more diligent about my Scripture Memory efforts!!! C’mon Rod!!!!
• Let’s memorize this one…

Titus 3

• 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
• 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
• 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
• 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
• 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
• 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

If anyone knows me well, it would be my wife of almost 22 years. One thing we wanted to establish early on in our relationship when we started dating, was a genuine candidness that would deepen our growing friendship. We committed to being real, transparent and honest to the core.

I remember when I saw Beckie without make up - her true, unpainted face and hair not sculpted. I whispered to God…”Thanks for Beckie’s original, pure beauty. I was beginning to see and know her inward beauty. She was incredibly sold out to Jesus. But a little test for me, of the unknown, was where my thoughts would wander after seeing Beckie for the first time without make up. Inside, I was like…”yeah God…I like her without make up too!

What is always important in our relationship, is our ability to stay true to our commitment. That our hearts, lives and relationship would run far from the temptation of masking our inner thoughts and feelings. Our relationship has been growing solid because of our desire to not “hide or mask” anything that would hinder our intimacy, purity and oneness!

My Proverbs 31 says of my Beckie…
28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:

29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you (my Beckie) surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

On the trail leading up to the top of Diamond Head crater, there are signs that read: “Warning: Shortcuts causes erosion - Stay on trail.” As I was gasping for air on my run towards the top of the crater, it was tempting to take a few shortcuts. My mind drifted towards my spiritual walk with God as I trekked up the trail. When I take shortcuts in my devotional life, the way I serve or treat people…it causes erosion to my relationship with Jesus and others.

What a lesson!

I must stay on God’s trail, running this race of life, not compromising in my thought life, motives, when I deal with anger, bitterness, resentment, jealousy, etc.

I must stay on His trail of choosing to exercise my righteous or right-living, heeding the warning signs that are impressed upon my heart. Those signs sometimes read - “Don’t give in to thinking ugly thoughts of that person. Watch your mouth. Be slow to speak when you are tense at home.” These signs from the Lord within my heart are meant to protect me from hazardous living.

I love this passage in Psalm 119!
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord!

2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!

3 They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.

Matthew 13
23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The servant, leader, employee, spouse, student - who follows some principles from this passage will grow in productivity.

TIPS for productivity:

Receive the seed. How we receive instruction is crucial. Our attitude towards those giving instruction or counsel affects our productivity. Some people don’t receive instruction well. Their pride, hardness or stubbornness of heart affects their ability to receive.

Good soil: Refers having listening ears and an understanding heart. This person will lead a productive life.
We must listen attentively, empathetically and without preconceived judgments. Our hearts must understand the instruction - without hesitation, second guessing or mistrust.

Fruitfulness, Fruitfulness is what I long for…Fruitfulness is what I need… (song-Holiness) Isn’t this our Christ-like desire for our lives?

So here’s my Leadership Summary for Productivity:

1. Process with others to insure you are listening to and receiving instructions and counsel with a good heart.
2. Plan well. Ask yourself questions that will help you think through your desired fruit or outcome.
4. Proceed with your plan. Take action, be watchful, prayerful and slow down where God sets up “speed bumps” in life.
5. Produce by being productive with your time. Managing your time well will help you to manage your life well.