Courageous Experimentation & Avoiding Regret

Regret is something to avoid at all cost. There is nothing that can distract us from enjoying the present like considering the "what if's" of the past. Maybe there is something that is in your heart to do, or pursue or become. Maybe you have a dream that you have always been to afraid to pursue. Maybe you don't want to fail, but the only true failure is never trying.

Those that are the most successful are those that have learned what not to do & what to do through courageous experimentation. I know I usually drop a Bible verse here, but this time I will not. Not because there isn't one to reference in regards to this but because I think this is a topic that we all know in our hearts to be true.

Here are 3 tips on how to avoid regret:
1. Pursue your dreams, but use wisdom. You may be on to something, but you may not. So don't put all your eggs in one basket. Take one small step at a time in your pursuit.

2. Ask those around you if you should pursue what you are considering. Ask someone who will be honest with you. Not a "yes" man or woman but someone who will give it to you straight, even if it hurts.

3. If it doesn't work out don't stop pursuing your dreams. Fall forward, failure is one step closer to success. Failure is the currency of success, there is a cost.

What will you pursue with courageous experimentation? What regret will you avoid?

HOW TO GAIN A BETTER PERSPECTIVE

Colossians 3:1-2 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."


Perspective: its something thats hard to maintain especially if your a details person. I know I can get so caught up in the details of life, relationships, family, projects, work, and everything in between that I forget what this life is supposed to be about.

I know Jesus, Moses, Elijah and many others have retreated to the "mountain" to connect with God. Many times people talk about pursuing the presence of Jesus on the "mountain". For me I go to the "mountain" not only to retreat from the details of the world, but to get perspective on those details. To seek a clearer glimpse of where God is, where his kingdom is and how to get to where I need to be, which ultimately is with Him.

In Exodus 25-31 Moses retreats to the "mountain". Moses then records 6 long chapters of detailed instructions of how he was to lead the people of God. These six chapters start with, "The Lord spoke to Moses". Moses received God's vision, (the presence of God), the core values (ten commandments), and the details (6 chapters of them) all on the "mountain" with God. As leaders we must go to the "mountain" not just to escape but to encounter. We must go expectantly, trusting that God will grant us perspective to see Him and to see how to fulfill the purposes that He has for us and His people.

Take some time today and go to God, go to Him expectantly, pursuing Him, and pursuing a vision of His kingdom and how to get to where He wants you to be.

What to do in a "Back up against the wall" situation

"Answer me,Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." 1 Kings 18:37


I have been calling on the character of God lately. I have been asking him to defend his name. To show up and confirm through signs and wonders his presence and favor.

God wants to make himself known. Stepping into and walking through situations that look impossible seems to be what God typically requires of those that claim to follow Him.

The reason I believe He leads us to those "back up against the wall" type of places is so that He can show up and show off and prove to those watching that He is more than able to save and rescue.

Are you in a "back up against the wall" situation? Well call out to the one that can turn the impossible to the possible. Allow Him to show up and show off to those around you.

That is why He has led you to this place, it's for His glory. To do what only He can do to save the day and prove that He truly is our only true Savior.

3 Keys to Effective Leadership

Proverbs 20:28 MSG"Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity."

As I think about different leaders that have influenced and impacted my life I can remember a lot of great people and a few, less great, people.

But this scripture definitely nails the leadership characteristics that have helped me to develop:

1. "If you don't care about me I don't care about you." As a leader we must truly love and care for those that are following us. If you don't your influence will dry up quickly.

2. "Your life has to be grounded in truth." If you are someone that is following your own thoughts and dreams your plans will fail. If you allow God to lead your life with his truth and direction you will find yourself working with God and not against Him.

3. "Keep it real." When I was young I wouldn't listen to anyone if I felt like they where in-authentic. If I felt like they where trying to put up a front, manipulate me, control me or pull some religious trickery. But if I understood their faithfulness to God and respected how they lived their life I would listen and allow them some influence over my life.

Loving, grounded, authentic leaders is what we need more of because those kind of people are changing the world by influencing lives, one person and meaningful relationship at a time.

The 'get er done' Internal Motor

Proverbs 14:35-  Diligent work gets a warm commendation; shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.


Hard Work used to be something that I avoided in my younger years. In fact I wanted to find a way to make a profession out of recreation. Which is possible, but as I found out, it takes a tremendous amount of hard work to do so.

But man is internally wired for work. Man is hard-wired for diligent work. When we aren't being diligent in the work God has given us something is short-circuiting Gods internal hard- wiring.

Does your internal motor work? Are you able to dig deep when need be to get the job done? If not find out what is short-circuiting your 'get er done' internal motor that God has hard-wired you for.

The Simple Life

Proverbs 13:7 "A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life"


Trying to put on a show for those around us is a waste of time, effort and energy. To simplify things to authentic love for people and God is necessary to find true meaning and fulfillment in this life.

It can become very easy to try to do great work, accomplish big goals, do good deeds and impress those around us. But if that is our motivation the scriptures are clear that none of what we do matters, if our motivation for doing it isn't love.

Let us not envy others in our personal insecurity of insufficiency. Anything we do, not motivated in love, will end in meaninglessness and ineffectiveness. 


Keep it simple and keep it real.

IMAGINE+CREATE=IMAGINATE

I like this idea of Imaginate. Its the idea of rediscovering your imagination, using your dreamer again and then creating what you have imagined. It doesn't nessesarliy have to do with art. I think that creativity should be used in every arena of life and every job weather its working at McDonalds, Pixar or a Church, imagination and creativity should be a part of doing GREAT work. What will you IMAGINATE? IMAGINE+CREATE=IMAGINATE