Monday, August 15, 2011

White Picket Fence

I've been thinking about a few things lately. One of those things is a quote that I got from renowned teacher on leadership, John Maxwell. The quote I remember is "to make a difference, you have to be different!" no one wants to be a "same maker".

This has helped me a lot. Often we get inspired to Make a difference, or lead others, but the thought enters our mind, "yeah but people just don't do that... Or that's not how we are supposed to do things.. Or I don't fit that mould, I'm not like the other leaders around here...

Well, in centuries past, everyone had slaves. William Wilberforce said NO! America always had white, middle aged president. Obama said No. Etc etc etc

That's great for big scale world events, but what about our own lives? My friends always get married, settle down, sit at the back and disappear. I am thinking, NO! Just because all of my friends do one thing, doesn't mean I have to do it. The only way to make a difference is to stand up for your convictions when others don't seem to show theirs.

I'm not judging them. Whoever They may be. But I am saying that some people follow the crowd, and others just can't do that! As much as they want to fit in and have friends and be normal and not stand out and be comfortable and life etc, some people are made in such a way that they can't do that! They would rather be strange, odd, out of the ordinary, misunderstood, etc because what they have in their heart is far more important to them than fitting in and doing what is expected to be done.

I think it's Important to say at this point, that we are all leaders in some way, or in some sphere of our lives, and to varying degrees. No one is better or worse than anyone else. We are just DIFFERENT.

Having said that, I just want to encourage people to stand up for their own convictions and not bow to peer pressure. If you feel really passionate about something and basically "know" its right, then go for it. Don't be obnoxious. Be wise and compassionate and slow to speak. Respect and honor your leaders, even when you don't agree with them! But still do it! Love always thinks of others ahead of yourself, and that love is what life is about isn't it?

Ive lost my train of thought! Toot toot

But I I'll say this. It's time to step up and live your life. We in the West especially, are Spiritually very apathetic and basically asleep. We just keep working and buying Stuff. It's time to wake up, or you will risk dying on the inside, long before you leave this planet. I don't want to die with two kids, a wife and a nice white picket fenced house. Yawn. That would be like going to Disneyland and sitting in the cafe. What a danger filled, exciting, risk taking life i would have missed out on. Come on. Don't let what other people think about you, stop you from having an incredible life.

Be different. Risk losing everything. Step out of the boat and try walking on the water... Don't worry! Someone will save you if you start to sink! And even if they judge you for being different, judgmental people are ultimately so focussed on themselves that they will quickly forget about you in the midst of their own ocean of self concerns, so are not worth worrying about!

See you out there!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Sprinkler

I had a bit of a prophetic word on the weekend. Christians would probably know what that means. For the rest of you, I will quickly try to explain what that means!in completely unreligious language! It's a bit like getting a picture, or a phrase, or a sense of something a bit deeper, in your mind, or heart or somewhere! that is often God trying to speak to you, or someone else around you. It's not kooky new age crystal ball rubbish, but it is an attempt by someone or something bigger than us, which we don't really understand, which Christians and many other people, would call "God", trying to tell us something, which will help us in our life. Anyone can get them, and some people get more than others. You just have to be open to listening to them. Usually, when I remember, I just say something like, "God, if there's anything you want to show me, or tell me, or maybe use me to tell someone else something, can you tell me? I don't fully understand everything, but I will try to do my best, and leave all the rest up to you!" (that's called praying, by the way ;))

This picture came into my head while I was playing drums at a church meeting on Friday night, and I did't get the chance to share it, coz I was obviously busy!

So I usually get pictures of random things, that don't seem make any sense. Some people get words, some people get feelings etc, we are all different... This was of a small, round, common garden sprinkler. It was connected to a hose, and sitting out on a sparsely covered back lawn. There was no water coming out of it, and the grass around it was dead or dying. Then suddenly, it turned on and started firing water out in a circular radius around it and instantly, the grass grew up thick and green!

The thought that accompanied this picture was, "see what happens when you are plugged in to me and you let me use you how I have designed you to be used. Everyone around you grows if you just be yourself and let my living water flow through you. It's not for your benefit, it's for the benefit of everyone around you that you let me use you how I want to. People around you will miss their destiny and not fulfill their potential because you are not setting them free! What are you afraid of?"

I love getting stuff like this! It has nothing to do with me, any more than someone buying you a present has to do with you. The only thing that you had to do was to be given it and then use it, or whatever...

So I believe I was given this, and it's no big deal, because if we read believe in God, all of us should be getting stuff like this fairly regularly I would say... It's not weird. It's completely normal. Just don't be a spiritual,religious fruitcake! Thats stupid and embarrassing for everyone involved. Just be real!

So hopefully this word is for you, or for someone you know, and I hope it makes a difference too!

If you ever get prophetic words, I'd love to hear them! It can be really encouraging.

Also, come along to La Vida this weekend, for a couple of days learning about and experiencing more of this kind of stuff, with David and Greta Peters. Message me if you're keen, coz registering ASAP is important.

Good bye