Despite going to bed later than normal, I awoke at the same time. And there on the floor was the turtle. (Now the last time I saw a turtle was at my daughter’s wedding in St. Lucia last year. A large sea turtle had crawled up to the base of the stairs and deposited her eggs.) So “seeing” a turtle in my room was a surprise. But there it was. Slowly moving across the floor. And then it turned as if to say “follow me”. Follow you? Where? Why? Continue reading Patience Is Preparing a Generation
Category Archives: Teaching
Who Has Seen The Rain?
Who has seen the rain?
I had just finished a motorcycle ride with my wife and we had come in to eat dinner. While dinner was finishing up, I heard those words. Great, a John Fogerty song. Creedence Clearwater Revival. I am pretty sure when I was a kid I was not even sure what a revival was or stood for. I knew it as an architecture style and little more. The original name of that band came from a “band member”, Creed. A beer, Olympia, the clear water. And the member’s renewed commitment to the band. Continue reading Who Has Seen The Rain?
Spiritual Parenting Is Passing It Forward
This is my final piece in the mentoring series. I hope you have enjoyed them. Feel free to share them. Thankful for all that went before me and all that will come after me! Continue reading Spiritual Parenting Is Passing It Forward
Change One, Change The World
Change a person, change a community. Change a community and change the world. The progress is simple, though the actual happening a little more daunting.
I often think of the people who are changed by spiritual parents or mentors. Continue reading Change One, Change The World
Finding Trusted Counsel
In God We Trust…
One of my gifts is that of teaching people to hear from God. My sincere question to someone describing a dream, vision or something else and asking me my thoughts, is “What is God saying to you about this?” Because at the end of the day it may in fact have more value and more insight then the best prophetic word you can receive. Only the other day a “pre-believer” asked me about hearing from God. In the beginning you may be unsure. You may not even be sure. But, I would say to you God truly has you on speed dial and is looking for you to answer and hear His voice. Continue reading Finding Trusted Counsel
Wisdom Walks In Freedom
A true spiritual parent or mentor will ascertain the gifts and the strengths of an individual. They will also look to the weaknesses as well as areas of change that can be worked on. But in the end, they look at both and encourage an individual to move forward towards completeness, wholeness and His pathway of purpose.
In the early 90’s I worked for a retail company. I worked in a lot of the locations. I traveled here and there adding “maturity” to their workplace as well as expertise. It was during that time I met some young men who over time became “friends”. As I moved up in the company they often contacted me with their business thinking and some conversations about faith and such. Continue reading Wisdom Walks In Freedom
Trials May Not Be Optional
There is no doubt in my mind that there will be times of crisis. Perhaps a loved one is ill or someone has died. Perhaps it is the loss of a job or a change in employment. Seasons come. The scriptures tell us in 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. We will experience trials. Continue reading Trials May Not Be Optional
Encouragement is Key!
I want to be encouraged. I work hard to be an encourager. I have spoken numerous times on encouragement. It is and ought to be one of the pillars of the Christian walk. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Sometimes you are required to encourage yourself!
A true mentor will encourage the person he is working with. The world has moved in another direction. The generation of “me”. “Me” does not promote others. The scriptures are clear I think that we ought to look out for the needs of others. To lift them up. (Utopia moment…what if every one felt viable, happy and whole?) The mentor who understands the power and value of encouragement will cause their “mentees” to grow well. (Look at Paul and Barnabas in Acts 4:36-37; Acts 9:26-30 and Acts 11:22-30) Continue reading Encouragement is Key!
Accountability Removes The Roughness
I don’t know about you but as a child I was pretty wild. Folks that knew me from my childhood most likely are amazed that I actually made it through that time in my life. Certainly it was the God from above who kept me from utter destruction. As a child, I grew up in a small rural neighborhood. With lots of neighbors. Let me tell you that even when my parents weren’t home my neighbors were watching! People looked out for one another. Continue reading Accountability Removes The Roughness
Growing Up Is The Way To Go
I often wonder what people are thinking. If a child was not gaining weight or growing, people would be concerned. They would begin to investigate the reason behind the lack of growth. Questions would be asked. Is it an organic reason? An environmental reason? Are the parents not contributing to the growth of their child? Something is not right…what is it? We would be concerned. Continue reading Growing Up Is The Way To Go