The Heart is Central to Life

How easy it is to think of yourself as “a nothing to offer” kind of person. Lately I have been thinking of our upcoming boot camp for men this fall. As I pray about and consider my part in it, questions from “my other life” seem to re-surface. How easy it would be for me to shut down, don’t get involved, etc., But, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that All life comes from the heart. While the cares of this world, people involvement, responsibility’s, etc, tend to fill my mind, I know that God has put me here for a specific purpose. I can move through this life knowing that if I pursue my personal Walk with God and grow closer to Him, and depend on Him as my source of strength and wisdom, He will accomplish great things in my life,. And in the lives of others around me.


James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

I pray that as I step out in faith pursuing the things that God has for me, I would believe and that I would experience His love.

Where, in the battle for your heart, are YOU ?

I  heard this from a movie some time ago and have recently been thinking about it. 

 "To give a man back his heart is the hardest mission on earth".  How true! 

TP of CNY is again going to sponsor a weekend for men, to help those that attend to begin, or continue, to recover their true heart. As we, the leadership team, begin the process to pull it together, my mind has drifted back to that quote,.. possibly prompted by the Holy Spirit ?!?!?   This is hard work and the evil one certainly does not want men, who are designed by God,  to have any light shine into their heart & soul and ignite and fuel that original design put there by our loving God. I recognize that some of life’s twist and turns that we face are caused by our own decisions, BUT, I also believe that much of the battle that we face is caused by the evil one, especially as we start to understand and begin the journey of the heart, growing closer to God and become the men He has designed us to be. 

When I start to feel the pressure as I draw closer to God, it seems that the thought  “pops up”  that    “I have nothing to offer other men.”  Once I realize that negative thought is NOT from God but from the evil one, I KNOW that God will give me what I need as I need it as I pursue Him and do what He has asked me to do. It’s interesting how God can use me and the little things  in my life, (even tho I question that at times,)  to accomplish great things for His kingdom.  I have learned that walking with God is a battle and a process in my life.  Where is your heart?  Are you striving to have a relationship with the God that loves you?  If not, are you ready to engage for the kingdom? 

, but today is the "present"

Who or what controls me is often not what it seems. Many things control us,.. hunger, fear, anger, pride, possessive attitude, desire to "look good" on the outside, just to mention a few.  It is interesting that my view of my circumstances tend to taint reality, what's really happening to me right now. Should I (we) be controlled by such a diverse range of "feelings and emotions? Looking through the lense of our personal experience's can change the picture that I see before me. What I, (we), fail to see or consider at times, is the spiritual warfare that swirls around each of us. When we have thoughts that do not co-inside with God's characture,do you and I even consider "where did that come from?" 
I think God is pursuing our heart to redeem us from the "fall of Adam and Eve". (Isaiah 61)  Our enemy satan does not want that to happen,... SO, he, the devil, prowls around like a lion seeking to destroy us. (1 Peter 5:8)  Relying on God and trusting Him for the outcome sure takes the pressure off.   I have come to look at "circumstance" as an "opportunity",..  to be either used by God or molded by God.  After all, God does have our best interest in mind in everything we do, say, feel, ect.   Remember, Yesterday is history so we cannot change it, the future is a mystery that God has already planned for us, but today is a gift from God,.. an opportunity to "walk with Him" and grow in our relationship with Him.  (Maybe that's why it is called the "Present.")   Have you asked Jesus for your whole heart back?  To be restored and rescued,..  to become as we were originally designed?   To enjoy the real presence of God?  I am.

What determines who you are ?

I recently heard a quote about life.  "Life is not made by the dreams that you dream but by the choices that you make".  We as humans can make all kinds of choices ranging from really bad, "average", ok, good, excellent choices.  I think that whatever choice we, I, make ,.. it will influence how we think and or operate in life. God has known us before we were born, He designed us to be someone special with unique gifts and talents. But our choices in life, I think, can suppress or bring forth that design. If this were not true, why is there so much human suffering and damage in the lives of people you meet. I'm not talking about what you see when you first meet someone, but who they really are when the fig leaf (self protective actions, emotional barriers, etc.,) come down. Every situation seems to offer more than one way to respond.  In Phillipians 1:10 Paul writes "approve the things that are excellent."  It seems that the right thing to do would be to move toward what is "excellent" and let people see you and feel your weighty-ness that God has put into your specific design, past our personal, natural self protective responses.  Make a mindful effort to live your life full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23)  In doing that, I believe that the people around you will "see God" in action.  It will be amazing to see and experience the ripple effect of your choices (actions) as your "godly-ness" goes out among the people.

A New Year, A New Perspective

As I enter into this new year, I can't help but look back with retrospect on the many "events" that have been a part of life and how God has used them to shape me. This past year has been very difficult financially for our business, which has directly effected our personal financial picture. But thru it all, I know that God is good!
1Samuel 16:7 says "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the HEART."
Ezekiel 36:26 says  "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;  I will remove from you your HEART of stone and give you a HEART of flesh.  "Galatians 5:16 says “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” .... “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

I have camped on these verses of scripture this past year, among others, and God has done some great things in my life. I was privileged to band together with a group of men to put on a 3 day "conference" to help men re-discover their heart, the one God gave them before they were even born. We are also meeting regularly with some of these men to help them discover who God made them to be, and start living from it and to pursue Him.  I have been able to have input into the lives of some of our young people as well. 

What if all the people in your "personal orbit" were to come alive and be who God designed them to be ??  

What can you do to help that process ?? Is God calling YOU to re-discover YOUR heart, to impact people, to encourage them to follow their true heart before, and with, God ??  As you reflect on the past year, and look forward to the new year ahead, I encourage you to take the risk, take the journey of heart restoration for yourselves, and discover the true you. Lyle R.  (Comments welcomed)

Tis The Season-Are you ready?

Merry CHRISTmas!   As I enter into this holiday season, I wonder what the Holy Spirit is doing. You know the songs such as “ Peace on earth”, “Silent Night-Holy Night”, “Angels on High”, etc.,..  I wonder, have I been open to His leading? Do I respond to the “opportunity’s” presented by God?

  I for one am, at times, frustrated with the commercialism and materialism of our society. What would it be like if all of us spent time doing for others and just being with others, instead of spending so much time, energy, money, frustration, racing around to meet the expectations that have been placed on us by marketing, media, etc.? Are we pursuing the hearts of people?

  I have the real privilege of meeting together with some really good guys, talking about hurts and life as it unfolds, but also celebrating together what God has done for each of us, and what He will continue to do in our lives. I am continually growing in this process myself, that I sometimes am amazed how God works and what He is doing, although I shouldn’t be. As we think about the baby in the manger, and see how cute and fragile He is,.. Let us not forget who He  REALLY  is. The son of the most high, the savior of mankind.  The birth of Jesus Christ was an invasion to rescue all of us, to draw us closer to Him. To allow us to experience Him,.  In this life and the next.  

    As you go through this holiday season, consider your thoughts, actions, attitudes, "gut responses", ask yourself .... "Is what I am thinking, feeling, doing, Godly?"  (What does Godliness look like anyway.)  Will it draw me, and those who I come in contact with, closer to God ??   Will I be a good representative for the Kingdom? Will it cause those around me to see God in action, and know that He loves them, no matter what?  

  

  Enjoy this season with your family and friends, and remember what CHRISTmas is really all about.

What's your story?

  Everyone has a story! The story of your life that is. I don't mean what you do, have done, or will do. What I mean is, what has transpired in your life to define your perspective on life, shaped your decision making process, helped or hindered your understanding of yourself. As I meet and talk with different folks, men and women, I am struck with the different ways people have been assaulted in life and how that has effected their walk thru this life. I know some folks that have experienced living on the street, surviving through alcoholism, been physically and emotionally abused, been abandoned, and other experiences in growing up. I believe that to review the story of their lives with them, and help them discover their true heart is something God has invited me to participate in. Understanding what's behind the behavior or decision process of any person can be a step towards recovery.
  Consider Psalm 139:13-16; For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
  That sounds to me like a God who really cares about people, about you and me. So why should we settle for less than who God has designed and made us to be ?
  Are you pursuing God to discover who you were met to be?