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.

, 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?

Be Willing, Be Available, Be Real

It keeps on surprising me, even tho in my head I expect it, that God can, and will, use me in a very significant way in the life of people. A few weeks ago, I met with a friend for breakfast, but as I was waiting for my friend, the phone rang. "I need to talk before we enter into the diner". As I waited for her, I sensed that God was saying to me "Be Real, be tender with her heart". We met outside, started to walk and ended up sitting on a bench on main street. She poured her heart out to me about some things that she was dealing with, thinking about, questioning. One of the things that came to mind to share with her was "We live in a small part of a much larger story, God's story. We see our part, God see's all parts" After some time of conversation, we went and had a quick breakfast, then we each went our way for the day. As I headed to work, I was thinking about what I had said, did it make sense to her?, Did I do what God had asked me to? Later feed back would indicate that God had indeed shown up and shown His grace and love to her.

Bottom line is, through God's Spirit, I was willing, available, and I shared myself with her. God is so good! I hope I can continue to be sensitive to God's leading.

After The Hearts of Men

WOW!  That's what I can say about this past "Wild at Heart" weekend. Our TP of CNY team blended very well with the True Pursuit team from Michigan, and God showed up. We worked along side each other and watched as God began His work in the lives of 40 plus men that were there. Some of them were "met" by God in very significant ways. Between the personal action of the Holy Spirit in their hearts, the shooting event, (of which about half of these men had never shot a gun before), and the high ropes course, we witness'd amazing things happening. A lot of the conversations and comments were very personal, which is hard for men to get to that level and share so openly. Altho I was "working" the event, God spoke to me as well. I truly feel that this "Wild at Heart" weekend was the fulfillment, and start, of one of the visions God has given me personally. I am very excited as I move in the directions that God has called me to, and very blessed and proud to do it with some guys that I truly respect and admire.

After The Hearts of Men

It has been an exciting journey so far in June. I have the privilege of teaming together with a few guy's to bring a "Wild at Heart" boot camp experience to local men. We are planning a fall retreat to spend 3-4 days talking about, experiencing, praying, for the recovery of our hearts. I am amazed how much God is teaching us in the process. (Altho I shouldn't be.) It seems that the closer we (I) get to being and doing what God has called us to do, the more intense the spiritual warfare seems to get. It sometimes starts with little thoughts, "who do you think you are", "you have nothing to offer", "nobody wants to hear what you have to say", etc. Satan, the deceiver, can not beat God, (he has try'd and lost) so he comes after His creation, (we were made in His image you know.) Other times the attack is more direct. I am so glad to have others praying and supporting this effort. With out God, we can accomplish a little, with God, we can accomplish much.