Articulate Your Vision

This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

Woe to the foolish prophets

who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!

– Ezekiel 13:3 (NIV)

Everyone who is speaking about vision isn’t being honest about it.  They claim to be prophets of profit or visionaries of victory.  It sounds good, but it seems worthless.  Some are called gurus.  Believe it if you dare.  They are false prophets.

They are able to lead people in a particular direction, but they do not seem to be able to accomplish true success.  Yes, they are able to have small victories and have moments of progress.  However, they have little beyond the rhetoric that they spew or the sound bites that they play repetitively throughout the airwaves.  According to Ezekiel’s prophecy, they are foolish and following their own spirits, having seen nothing at all or from the Lord.

Don’t be found in that category.  Lead as God leads you.  Whatever God gives you to do, articulate that vision.  Put it in words so that others can grasp the depth and the concept of the vision.  Put it in visuals where others can see the vision for themselves.  Articulate your vision with all that you have within you.

Most importantly, share the vision that God gave you just the way that God gave it to you.  Don’t abridge or edit it for political correctness or popularity, not even prestige.  It’s not about you or how you feel.  Your opinion doesn’t even matter.  You accept it from God and make others aware of what God gave you.  Confirmation will come from God through others who speak up and say that it sounds a lot like what God had been sharing with them or what they had been reading in their daily devotional reading.  Give it to others like God gave it to you.

Providing Support, Promoting Success

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Revisit the Vision

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
      But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
      Though it tarries, wait for it;
      Because it will surely come,
      It will not tarry. – Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV)

You haven’t seen it yet.  Although you know it is from God and of God, you have yet to see the vision unfold.

Is something wrong?

Most certainly not.  God asserts that vision is for an appointed time.  There is no error with God’s timing.  He is perfect, just as His timing is perfect.  He makes everything to happen in its due time.  It will come forth because God says that in the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

God’s directive is for you to wait for it.  He wants you to fully trust Him in it.  He desires that you hold on as He will bring the vision forth.  Hold on with the true faith that you will need as it comes in its own appointed time.

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A View from Above

 Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity,  A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the Lord, They have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.- Isaiah 1:4 (NKJV)

God shared a vision from above.  God revealed His vision of Israel with His prophet.  He showed Isaiah exactly what He thought of this “sinful nation.”

How the faithful city has become a harlot!…- Isaiah 1:21

For Jerusalem stumbled,     
And Judah is fallen,     
Because their tongue and their doings     
Are against the Lord,     
To provoke the eyes of His glory.
– Isaiah 3:8

And so it shall be:     
Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;     
Instead of a sash, a rope;     
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;     
Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;     
And branding instead of beauty.
– Isaiah 3:24

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;     
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;     
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!     
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,     
And prudent in their own sight!
– Isaiah 4:20-21

What is the view from above today? Does God look down upon us and smile pleasantly as we sit passively and await change to come about by osmosis? Is God delighted as we watch and sit by silently as man and woman go on with earthly merriment and continue to move towards eternal damnation?

Imagine if God were to grant a vision to those who lead the body of Christ today.  Just think it over for a moment.  Let the thought of God’s view from above sink into your mind, heart and spirit.  Thoroughly think through and over what words might fall from heaven as the Lord describes His views of the Christians on earth below.  Let your thoughts wander to the multiple metaphors and various visual images God’s words would conjure up in your mind.

Just take a moment and imagine the view from above.

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Time Well Spent

Recently, I spent some time away at a training in the La Jolla area of San Diego.  Known for its picturesque beaches and scenery, this area makes one recall thatlife is a great adventure.  You begin to wonder how much of the adventure you have taken advantage of or simply avoided over the years.

The training refreshed me spiritually and otherwise.  Also, it renewed my vision and focus.  I even made a connection with an old friend who had been just as busy as I have lately.   We committed to getting together and making things happen for the benefit of our communities and the generation coming up after us.

All in all, I would have to say that it was truly time well spent.  I thank God for the opportunity to have been selected from among my peers to gain this training and experience as well as the responsibility to bring back what I have learned to the larger group.

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Marketplace Messengers

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“God is moving in a powerful way in the marketplace”- Henry Blackaby

In this era of multimedia, the Christian entrepreneur has a plethora of information sources.  Many of these are exclusively online, but others are in print, on television, even the radio, and online.  These men and women offer insights and ideas on how the Christian can be a powerful vessel of God in the modern-day marketplace.

John C. Maxwell

Dave Ramsey

Ken Blanchard

Steve Marr

 

Zig Ziglar

Laurie Beth Jones
Henry Blackaby

Bob Briner

Larry Burkett 

Ron Blue

Providing Support, Promoting Success

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Dreamers Dream

“We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”- Max de Pree

God gave you a vision. (They don’t call them “dreams” any more, I guess.  I still get mine through dreams.)  Others go so far as to say that they have had a revelation from God.  I will not indulge an argument over the semantics and working definitions of any or all of these words.  However, I will share the simple fact that all require some form of response.  If it is believed to be something given from God, the Most High, the Almighty One, then the believer has a responsibility to respond.
Dreams can reveal to us what the Divine wants to do with us, either now or further down the road of time.
 
Jacob’s son Joseph had dreams that revealed his future.  He even went so far as to interpret the dreams of others while in prison and before the throne of the king of Egypt.  Joseph was a dreamer.
 
Dreamers need to recall their dreams.  Don’t let them become dead.  Keep your dreams alive with remembrance.
 
Dreamers refer to their dreams. Don’t be afraid to toot your horn.  Share and let others hear about your dream.  Keep it in mind as you draw closer and closer towards it becoming a reality.
 
Dreamers respond to their dreams.  Dreamers should eventually evolve into doers.  Be sure to have an accurate response.  Be sure to have an appropriate response.  Be sure to have an active response.

Providing Support, Promoting Success

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Building Through Vision

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.

– Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

 

You need to cast the vision before the people so that they can run with the vision with purpose.

• We need to put the vision in plain view. 

• We need to put the vision in plain terms.

 

Be sure that our people are:

• Aware of the vision
• Activating the vision
• Advocating for the vision

Our people will see the vision for themselves.

 

Our people need to grasp the vision.

Providing Support, Promoting Success

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Ideas into Innovations

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!

– Proverbs 6:6 (NLT)

Some people are full of ideas. Ideas just pop into their head all of the time. Inspiration and creativity spark inside their minds and they jot down something in a notebook or journal, even on their Blackberry or iPhone. They’re simply full of ideas.

I empathize with such people, for I am one of them. However, as I reviewed some notebooks from a few years back and got drawn in deeper and deeper into my own notes and ideas, I realized that I was full of ideas and need to convert more of my ideas into innovations. I would imagine that that’s the case with many others who share my flaw.

The Bible is full of verses that speak of productivity. Yes, I said productivity. Look at Psalm 1:3, John 15:8 and others that speak of fruitfulness, prosperity and service. Even as salt and light, we are called to produce something that leads to others glorifying the Father based upon what they see in us. Proverbs points out that the “lazybones” should look at the ant and take in the wisdom of such a creature who needs no supervisor or manager and is productive, being considered wise.

Here are some steps for converting your ideas into innovations:

• Find Initiative: Get an idea about how to get started, but by all means get started and soon.
• Focus Intensity: Keep your focus on doing and doing it right. Don’t get so intense that you get distracted or detoured doing other things. Keep your intensity focused on the right things.
• Fortify Infrastructure: Build beyond a “one hit wonder.” Dream about other ways to enhance or expand your idea. Broaden the scope of your vision and build a structure that allows for it to grow and expand into a possible enterprise.
• Formulate Innovations: Could your sermons become podcasts on iTunes or articles for online e-zines? Could you write a how-to article for your church or community newsletter on the topic? Could you blog or tweet regularly on related and relevant subjects centered around your idea? Think it out, and then plan it out. If you plan on going anywhere but where you currently are, you are going to need a map.

I pray that this is helpful to those who are full of ideas and inspired to convert those ideas into innovations.

Providing Support, Promoting Success

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Envision the Vision

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained…- Proverbs 29:18 (NASB)

Can you see it?

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.- Habakkuk 2:3 (KJV)

You should be able to visualize the vision. Let your mind run wild with mental pictures and images of what God wants you to do and what He wants to do through you. This image will help you put the vision in writing for others.

Can’t get others to see it?

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent– Acts 18:9 (NIV)

Put the vision in writing and in a visual. Take your trustees to that plot of land. Have someone create a sketch of what your new community center and worship house will look like upon initial completion. Make it simple and safe for others to catch the vision.

Where do you see yourself in three years? Or, how about five years? Get clear on what is included in the picture. Who is there with you? Are you beaming with pride or looking intently at the next opportunity over the horizon? See what condition you will be in at that phase of the journey. Keep the picture in mind.

 

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. -Serenity Prayer

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Call and Response

Knowing that we are fulfilling God’s purpose is the only thing that really gives rest to the restless human heart. -Chuck Colson

The Word of God is ripe with countless accounts of individuals called into service by God. Whether it is Isaiah seeing the Lord high and lifted up or fishers by the Sea of Galilee called to follow the Messiah and be made to become fishers of men, people are called upon by God.  People are called by God and a response is expected from the one being called by God.

God expects a response from those whom He calls.  The called must realize that God is calling them from their former life into a new life when it comes to salvation.  Service is a lot different.  John the Baptist was called to prepare the way for the Lord.  Jeremiah was called to share of Israel’s captivity.  God calls His servants for a purpose.  He wants to do something through you.  He wants to use you as a vessel, where He can pour into you and pour out what He pours into you before the people who need to hear it and see it.

Do you sense God’s calling upon your life? Is He urging you to do more for Him? Is He leading you to new experiences and opportunities that you never noticed around you before?

What are you doing with God’s calling?  How are you responding? Are you prayerful about it? Have you asked God to make it plain and clear to you? Have you fasted about it? Is it on your prayer list?

Are you responding or retreating? Ask Moses about excuses.  Ask Elisha about having attachments.  Ask Peter what it may cost you.  Check with Jonah about reluctance, resistance and running.  Respond to God’s call with an appropriate response.

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