Resiliency

How resilient are you with life’s challenges and setbacks? That was our topic last Saturday at our MERGE Workshop. Tim Hoerr, CEO of Serra Ventures, led us through a morning discussion of how to move forward in times of failure and challenge.  It was an incredible message for me as I stepped back and got God perspective on how God sees these times and how He wants to use them. No waste in the Kingdom.

Tim led us through practical tools for overcoming our challenges and setbacks, put into a simple acronym of REBAR.  Rebar is a steel bar that is used in laying concrete to reinforce the strength of it. For our purposes, rebar stands for:

R – Resist the enemy: If you discern temptation or attack, arm yourself with prayer. 

E – Embrace the circumstance: Flight, denial, use of “should: and “oughts” are counterproductive. Embrace the circumstance for what it is.

B – Be honest with yourself: As you embrace the circumstance, seek discernment on the cause. “Own” your stuff.

A – Accept the Holy Spirit’s help and instruction: The Holy Spirit wants to comfort and direct you in the midst of your circumstance. Accept what He’s doing.

R – Rest in Jesus: All who are weary…come to me.

Rest was a big one for the group and the realization that as business professionals we are all about fixing our stuff, getting out of the situation as fast as possible, and working hard not to repeat it.  These do not keep us resilient for the enemy attacks. We need to invite and welcome God into our situation and know:

• God is not mad.
• God is in love with you and wants the best for you.
• God is intimately acquainted with our situation.

That is good news. Jesus’ completed work on the cross was a success and we get to be in relationship with the one who knows all about our struggles. We are not guaranteed to be challenge and setback free but only that He has our back!  I love the verse from Message that Tim used James 1:12:

“Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”

For many of us, we realized that we aren’t risking enough and maybe life is a little too comfortable. Time to get out of the boat and keep our eyes on Jesus. We will discuss more of this at our next MERGE on August 13^th at 11:30…join us.

Leadership from a Different Perspective

Matthew 20:26-28
"whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

There are lots of books written on leadership and even some on servant leadership. But the question that the MERGE community wrestled with this month is how does servant leadership look in a workplace setting? We are inundated with the way the world wants us to do business. We need to continuously sharpen the way we need to do business God's way. The principles we are taught in church aren't just for church and families but for our work as well. 

So how does servant leadership work? Organizationally, we are set up in a hierarchy chart for top down leadership. We are given boundaries, span of control, and job descriptions to keep us in our place. While that is appropriate for how to do business, relationally it falls a part. Servant leadership, the model that Jesus provided, shows us how to be compassionate, come alongside, and lift others up.

This model becomes a way that we show Jesus to the world. We can be the bright spot in someone's world. When the people are stuck in their job, we have the opportunity to come alongside and help others see what God is doing, see solutions where others only see problems, and be the light to the world. 

What's this do for us? It takes our eyes off ourselves and what is really happening around us, not to us. We can trust that God will take care of us as we pay attention to what God is doing. It also increases our sphere of influence. The world as a whole doesn't do this, the world doesn't stop to help those around them succeed, fill in the gap, and be strong when they can't be.  We have more opportunity to breathe into other's lives when we humble ourselves and take the posture of servant.

In the story of John 15, where Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. It's interesting because He washes Judas Iscariot's feet, right before he betrays Jesus. We aren't just servant leaders for the people we like but also for those at work that we don't like, the ones sitting around our tables. We may be the only Christian in their life, the only way they may meet Jesus. We may be the kindness they need to change everything. Don't take offense by their harshness and miss the opportunity to be Jesus to others.

Take this month and pray about how God wants you to demonstrate servant leadership in your workplace setting. Read the gospels to see how Jesus modeled it. Let the Holy Spirit be your teacher to be amazing servant leaders.

Share your experiences by commenting on this blog.

First Things First - Recap

Last Wednesday at MERGE, we had a great study on "First Things First." Everyone was challenged with putting God first in all things. Looking at Matthew 6:24-34, we were challenged with how easy it is to take our eyes off Jesus onto the worries of this world. This scripture is interesting because the subtitles of the Bible often keep us from looking at the preceding and succeeding verses. This passage starts out with not being able to serve two masters, Matthew 6:24:

 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

 It is usually broken then by scripture talking about "worry and anxiety." Then goes into a favorite for many, Matthew 6:33, 

^"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

When I read all these passages together, it seemed to tell a story about choosing mammon or money as a master. It delivers worry and anxiety, whereas there is so much more promise and freedom and rest in choosing God and His righteousness. 

The amazing thing about being in community, like MERGE, is you get to hear how God is speaking to the you through others. Richard Herschberger, a photographer, discussed taking pictures when you focus on one thing in a picture and blur the rest, you see it more clearly. This image really spoke to me as we keep God and His Kingdom in focus and blur the things of this world, we will see it more clearly through His lens. If we start to blur God and His Kingdom, then the worries of this world are more focused and become the main thing. 

How do we keep God in focus in our picture?  We seek first His Kingdom, making time to pray, scripture, be in community, and waiting on Him. Share your stories this month as you seek His Kingdom.

What's Your Story - Recap

by Tim Hoerr

The group participation and interaction in the most recent MERGE workshop – What’s Your Story? – was some of these best I’ve experienced in a seminar/workshop setting.  I really enjoyed hearing pieces of several folks’ life stories throughout the morning-long session, gaining new insights into how the Lord shapes and interacts with our individual stories.  The Spirit was present as participants actively engaged in discussion, wrestled with the personal exercises and shared their discoveries with each other.

The profound truth that each of us does indeed have a story – and a meaningful, irreplaceable one at that – never ceases to grip me in a powerful way.  Importantly, our stories are meant to integrate with, support, and impact the stories of those around us.  That’s the beauty of God’s design for authentic community – that each of us “get to play” in His bigger story, as we connect with and love on others.  I was really encouraged to see this in action during the workshop!

Finally, it was obvious that the Lord was doing something with a lot of workshop participants in regards to risk-taking.  Of all the topics covered, this one seemed to resonate most strongly.  Risk is central to the life of faith – and God seems to always be inviting us to take steps of risk in our journeys. Sometimes small, sometimes large.  I believe that risk-taking is at the center of God conforming us to His image and inviting us into His story.  How will we each respond to his invitation?

Thanks to Tim for sharing this workshop with us. For all of those that joined us, please use the comments section of the blog to share your experience.

Birthdays and Getting Old

Last week marked another birthday. How do you deal with them? So you won't be wondering how old I am, I will just tell you, 47. Back to my question, how do you deal with them? How do we react?

My daughter announced earlier this year that they were going to have a baby. I am going to be a grandmother in 10 weeks. She asked me what I wanted to be called, which was about everyone's question after they congratulated me. I thought about it for about a half a second and decided...grandma. What other time do you get "grand" before your name. My grandmothers were some of my most favorite people. I count it a privilege. 

Christmas is around the corner. I'm sure I will get my share of family letters which I love to read. What a great look at the year, trials and celebrations. For my birthday I made a list of goals for 47. I definitely want to celebrate what a great year 46 was. But you all know that as you get older, the years go faster. I want to be intentional about each one that I am given. Here is a look at some of the things that made the list.

• I don't like that my body feels older but that is mostly my fault. It went down on my list to get in shape. 
• I put family on my list. With my kids all adults and their lives getting busy. I don't want to get to far away from being a part of their life.
• For work and my entire life, I want to be totally centered on what God has for me. He created me for a purpose and I want to make sure I fulfill it. No more wrong turns ... no more Ishmaels.
• It is also a time to really focus my work. As one that has a tendency to say "yes" to lots of things. It's time to trim back the things that don't fit. It's no longer about saying no to bad things, it saying no to good things that keep you from great things.
• In the spirit of bringing things together, God came through with a great blessing. And that is faith for a family business that my husband and I are starting. Only He (our Abba father) could pull our strengths, our past experiences, and our desires from two relatively different people. 
• Here is what I say to 47...bring it!

Each year is not something to regret but something to look forward to. God has something for us every day, every week, every month, and every year. It's a testimony of His faithfulness and goodness. 

Ephesians 3:13-21

Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, ²¹ to Him be the glory 

30 Days To Be Thankful in Your Work!

It's hard to believe that November is here already. Every year we seem to say where did the year go. November is one of my favorite months. While the weather hardly ever proves to be something to brag about in Illinois, it is my birthday month and the month of my favorite holiday.  I love Thanksgiving. You get all the benefits of Christmas without the gift buying. Guaranteed four day weekend, great food, amazing family get together, and a great kick-off for all the season.

My sister is doing her own Thanksgiving "Advent"...every day she writes on facebook what she is thankful for. I think that would be great exercise for us this month. Let's do it in the framework of our work and see if how we view our work changes in the next month.

We are already a couple days behind but the first days of the month are easier anyway.  I'll start I'm thankful...

November 1 - that God puts a vocational desire on my heart.
November 2 - for my husband and how he supports my business ideas.
November 3 - for my great friend, Tina, that I get to do life with and discuss how we see God in our work life.
November 4 - for all the great support I get in MERGE.
November 5 - for how God speaks to me in my work.
November 6 - (let's continue together)

Philippians 4:4-7

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Just because November and December are holiday months doesn't mean the demands and pressures of our work go on hold. But being intentional about being thankful can only benefit us during this season and any actually. I love verse 6, be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication. Let's bring all our requests before God.

Then share with someone or comment on this blog for how it works.

MERGE Halloween Blog: Zombie Apocalypse

I don't know how many of you have actually watched a zombie movie. I have, and I have found most of them uninspiring and not that overly entertaining. Although I do like the one that tells you all the rules and they are on the hunt for Hostess Twinkies and get upset when they find a truckload full of Hostess Snowballs. No one likes a snowball. That was amusing. When watching all the zombie stuff, I always wonder about the fascination with it and where is the truth and the life lesson. Then I saw this on Facebook, which I had thoughts of this as well.

We have so many distractions in our world today. That we are not present to what is really going on. Not much different then a zombie. One of the enemy's tactics is to distract us. Whether you are dressing up for Halloween or not, let's make sure we are present to what God is doing right in front of us. You have been created for something amazing.

Genesis 1:28
God blessed them:
        “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!

October 31st is also Reformation Day. On 31 October 1517, Martin Luther wrote to Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, protesting against the sale of indulgences. He enclosed in his letter a copy of his "Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences," which came to be known as The 95 Theses. 

Don't let the distractions in your life take away from the amazing things God is doing.