Tag: dreams

Monday Kfirst Kickstart: “Six-Word Story” #DreamsAndDrama

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

Sunday, we started our fall series at Kfirst. Every September, we study a specific person in scripture and this year we’ve landed on Joseph.

He’s a brother sold into slavery. A slave who faced trials and temptation. A prisoner innocent of any crime. A wise man, full of integrity, elevated to a position of influence amongst his enemies. This is the story of Joseph.

Sunday, we continued this “dreamer’s” story. Now in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, God is blessing him in the place of his incarceration. It is here where “isolation” begins to test the dreams he’s had.

Check yesterday out either from the website or from the Facebook livestream:

Other thoughts from the Youversion notes from Sunday:

  • Live a story; leave a testimony.
  • Everything I do and say tells a story of whom I serve.
  • In Christ, we are NEW creatures with OLD stories.
  • God is using your whole life to tell His story. All of your story matters, because God’s story matters.
  • A glimpse of God’s glory will change how you view your story.
  • Never BURY what you are meant to CARRY. Your story matters.

Love you all. Have an amazing week.

BTW: Here’s our new song at Kfirst.

You Have My Attention; I Follow Your Direction

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” Psalm 96:11-12

“You have my attention; I follow your direction.”

It’s from those eight words that the entirety of last Sundays message was birthed. 8 words tuned into 8 pages that turned in to 35 minutes of focused energy and passion. And they’ve been burning in my heart ever since.

They’ve not just been the “kickstart” to a single message, but they’ve been the substance of my prayer lately as moments have caught my eye and stirred my soul.

As I walk through my neighborhood seeing the beauty of the fall in Michigan, “You have my attention; I follow your direction.”
As I step sit quietly in my dark office with the song “Do it again” playing in the background, “You have my attention; I follow your direction.”
Listening to my daughter and my wife laughing together, “You have my attention; I follow your direction.”

That prayer has not only stirred my heart from those beautiful moments but in the face of challenging situations.

Getting a text from a hurting friend in ministry, “You have my attention; I follow your direction.”
Approaching the emergency room to visit a child with pneumonia,”You have my attention; I follow your direction.”
Receiving a phone call that seems to close the door on a dream, “You have my attention; I follow your direction.”

My simple prayer has been that intentional centering of my soul upon who Jesus is. But it’s not some ethreal thought but a determination to take notice and fix my attention up on the Lord. It’s to grasp the beauty of His majesty and to ponder on His wonder and fame. But that’s where most people leave it. Don’t get me wrong, worship is awesome. Recognizing His greatness is necessary. But it’s shallow at best if we don’t translate it to obedience.

And that has been the emphasis on the last part of my prayer.

I want to recognize Him and I want to respond to that revelation.

In Psalm 96, the psalmist captures the something in nature that captures his attention to who God is. I think we need to do that more.

To take notice on a drive of the beauty of creation as the trees begin to change.
To see an evening sky change colors as the sun sets.
To sit at lake Michigan and see the water splash against the pier.
To walk in a quiet forest and listen to the sound of the wind through the trees.

I love the words of Psalm 104, 24-25 when they say “How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small.“

But let us not leave revelation in our hearts. Let’s live revelation in our hands and feet. Let us allow the shaping and tones of our words bear the revelation of our Savior. Let us look for someone in need to give a revelation of a God who cares. Let us find someone to encourage to give them a revelation of a Savior who hasn’t forgotten about them.

This week, would you take notice of the glory of God in creation around you? But don’t just leave revelation in your heart. Let revelation live in your life in everything you do.

“You have my attention; I follow your direction.”

Before you head into your day, an appointment, a store, or into family time, would you say that prayer?

 

Thanks for letting me ramble…

 

Monday Kfirst Kickstart: “Secure Your Spotlight” #DreamsAndDrama

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

Sunday, we started our fall series at Kfirst. Every September, we study a specific person in scripture and this year we’ve landed on Joseph.

He’s a brother sold into slavery. A slave who faced trials and temptation. A prisoner innocent of any crime. A wise man, full of integrity, elevated to a position of influence amongst his enemies. This is the story of Joseph.

Sunday, we continued this “dreamer’s” story. Now in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, God is blessing him in the place of his incarceration. It is here where “isolation” begins to test the dreams he’s had.

Check yesterday out either from the website or from the Facebook livestream:

Other thoughts from the Youversion notes from Sunday:

  • When I give God my attention, He gives me my direction.
  • How do we lose our attention on the God-Dream in our lives?
    • Unexpected turns.
    • Unmet expectations.
    • Unreleased Issues.
  • Your faith will go in the direction of your attention. What you focus on most will be where your faith lives.
  • If we’re not careful, our ideals can quickly become our idols.
  • Attention creates access.
  • Those who don’t lose sight of their progress will find joy in the process.

Love you all. Have an amazing week.

BTW: Here’s our new song at Kfirst.

 

 

Healing Begins with Forgiveness

“Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

Last Sunday at Kfirst was pretty awesome. If you missed it, click here for the Livestream from it.

There’s something about seeing people, in humility, stand and admit, “I’m dealing with bitterness and/or unforgiveness.” There’s something about that step of faith that confronts your own issues in order to see growth and change.

And that’s where healing begins. Forgiveness is where healing begins.

There’s something about an heart that is broken by offense that heals different than a bone that has been broken by an impact. While a bone can heal and you may think nothing of it a year later, an offended heart can think of the offense a year later and want to return to the broken state.

And we in the church world can simply say, “forgive” and it will be all better. While the principle is correct, we misunderstand that forgiving someone is making the daily decision to choose mercy and grace over bitterness and resentment. It is that every day decision to follow Christ and not where our desires want to lead us. 

We forgive as quickly and thoroughly as we’ve been forgiven.

Forgiveness doesn’t validate the one(s) who hurt you. Forgiveness doesn’t justify their hurtful actions toward you or the ones you love. Forgiveness is that choice that says, “Despite what has happened, I refuse to be held captive to the offense. I will show the depth of grace that I have been shown in Christ Jesus.” 

Showing grace and forgiveness releases me.
It saves me.
It sets me free

As I’ve heard it said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”

Forgiveness doesn’t mean a trust is rebuilt. It doesn’t mean you don’t have boundaries in the friendship. Grace doesn’t mean the friendship will be (or should be) reconciled. It just means you are no longer living in the prison of bitterness.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean you get what you want. But forgiveness ushers in the peace, love, strength, wisdom, and honor into a moment that could have left you defensive, bitter, broken, and hurt. 

Today, would you step out and forgive? Would you trust God to get you through this forgiveness journey so that you can finally heal?  I love the words of Isaiah who said, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you” (Isaiah 26:3). He promises to grants us peace when we stop fixing our minds on other “things” and put our trust in Him. 

Be honest with yourself and the Lord. Trust God with your offense. Give your hurt to the Lord through prayer. Say it out loud or journal them out. Lay them at His feet, release the forgiveness, and let the healing begin. 

And tomorrow, if your heart wants to go back to them because it hasn’t fully healed, rinse and repeat.

I love you all. I’m praying for you.

 

Thanks for letting me ramble.

Monday Kfirst Kickstart: “I am Joseph part 2” #DreamsAndDrama

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

Sunday, we started our fall series at Kfirst. Every September, we study a specific person in scripture and this year we’ve landed on Joseph.

He’s a brother sold into slavery. A slave who faced trials and temptation. A prisoner innocent of any crime. A wise man, full of integrity, elevated to a position of influence amongst his enemies. This is the story of Joseph.

Sunday, we continued this “dreamer’s” story. Now in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, God is blessing him in the place of his incarceration. It is here where “isolation” begins to test the dreams he’s had.

Check yesterday out either from the website or from the Facebook livestream:

Before I give you the notes from yesterday, here’s a statement I made yesterday about the things that have transpired in our nation:

1 – May we be cautious with accusations.
Allegations/accusations are a weapons of mass destruction and, at the mention of them, can destroy people. The day and age of innocent till proven guilty is over.

2 – May we be advocates and agents of healing.
We need to create and encourage safe avenues for people to come forward with the pain of their past AND get help. Shame causes people to stay hidden. May we help them come forward to get healing.

3 – Living for Jesus matters at every age.
Teenagers/young adults, what you do today matters. How you live, what you post, matters.

4 – May we love people for who they are and not what they can do for us.
When people are viewed as nothing more than “pawns for political gain” we really need to rethink what we are trying to accomplish.

Both sides need to repent. We ALL need the heart of repentance.

Other thoughts from the Youversion notes from Sunday:

  • Forgive quickly. Forgive often.
  • Wrath is not my business.
  • Until your bitterness turns into brokeness, you are going to be stuck in your walk with Jesus.
  • To love Jesus is to cooperate with His grace.
  • Forgiveness doesn’t justify others, it frees you.
  • Forgiveness is the beginning of healing.

https://twitter.com/DawnHause/status/1048950913594007553

Love you all. Have an amazing week.

BTW: Here’s our new song at Kfirst.

 

Living Out My “Why”

“I am Joseph.” – Genesis 45:3

I’ve been so captivated by those three words over the past couple weeks. It’s not only sent us into our week 4 of our series “Dreams and Drama” last Sunday at Kfirst, but it’s carrying over into week 5 of “Dreams and Drama.”

The words “I am Joseph” doesn’t seem like much on the surface. That’s what we know him as. But for the previous 9 years, he’s lived behind an Egyptian name and his Egyptian title (Genesis 41;45). But when it came to really confronting the issues of his heart, it would have been easy to stay hidden behind the authority given or a name handed to him. He chose to come forward with who he was.

“I am Joseph”

In 3 words, he establishes connection and relationship.
In 3 words, he makes himself vulnerable to those who stand before him.
In 3 words, he risks his heart being hurt by the response of others.

These 3 words spoke of the “who” in his life (identity). Joseph had a security within him formed by the One who had been with him ever step of his journey.  You might think, “It’s easy to be secure in your identity sitting on a throne.” But I submit: This was the pattern we’ve seen in Joseph for the previous 23 years. A pit, a prison, a palace; diverse circumstances, same identity. Joseph was secure not in what he dealt with but who he was in God.

And from that identity, he lived out his “why” (purpose).

“…for God sent me before you to preserve life.” – Genesis 45:5

Many times, we think life is about us, our preferences, and our accomplishments. I’m not against ambition per se. But when the ambition centers around our own selfishness, there is much to call into question. Because those pursuits were never meant to be life-giving but life draining. Again, wanting to accomplish something is good. But when it’s all about “you,” it never really satisfies.

It is in Genesis 45 we see a beautiful way to shape our “why” in life (why we do what we do). Our “why” is about glorifying God and blessing others. I know no greater way to live that is as live-giving as navigating your identity with the “why” of honoring Jesus and looking to pour into people.

This translates into every facet: marriage, job, friendships, hobbies, etc. When the center of our lives is who we are in Jesus AND we live that out in a way for Him to be honored, we truly understand what it means to live. Ultimately, it really won’t matter the “what” in life (titles, accolades, roles). That get’s fleshed out when we understand the “who” and the “why.”

Today, next step can you take to deepen your identity in Christ? As you are in prayer, ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to live out your “why.” Ask Him for an opportunity to glorify Him and bless others.

Love you all. Praying for you.

 

Thanks for letting me ramble…

Monday Kfirst Kickstart: “I am Joseph part 1” #DreamsAndDrama

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

Sunday, we started our fall series at Kfirst. Every September, we study a specific person in scripture and this year we’ve landed on Joseph.

He’s a brother sold into slavery. A slave who faced trials and temptation. A prisoner innocent of any crime. A wise man, full of integrity, elevated to a position of influence amongst his enemies. This is the story of Joseph.

Sunday, we continued this “dreamer’s” story. Now in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, God is blessing him in the place of his incarceration. It is here where “isolation” begins to test the dreams he’s had.

Check yesterday out either from the website or from the Facebook livestream:

Other thoughts from the Youversion notes from Sunday:

  • Who (my identity) + Why (my heart/motivation) = What
  • My “why”: To give God glory and to serve others.
  • If the enemy can get you to question your identity, he can get you to do anything.
  • God has not called us to be successful; he’s called us to be faithful.
  • In the hands of Jesus, every part of your story can have purpose.

Love you all. Have an amazing week.

BTW: Here’s the new song for you from Sunday.