FINDING YOUR PLACE

Hello.  I'm feeling a little rusty.  Its been a while.  Hello Lindsey.  Welcome home!!  Can't wait to hear about your trip!  Hello Xanga people.  I missed you!

I have been in an unfamiliar place lately.  I have been trying to face things head-on in terms of trying to identify what I have been fighting against.  There are cultural strongholds...the place where culture tells you who you are.  Then there is Kingdom culture...the place where God tells you who you are.  Sometimes I can feel convicted of things and when I press into the conviction I can find it's not even the Lord doing the convicting, but it's me pushing against the cultural grain and the cultural grain is pushing back (it can sometimes feel like conviction).  Sometimes it's even church culture, you know like how American Christians aren't supposed to drink.  I guess that's what discernment is for (and pastors). 

I had a conversation with a gal who works for me (she's Christian), she said "when one your deathbed no one ever says I wished I would have worked more" followed by "you never see a hearse carrying a U-HAUL".  Sayings I know we have all heard before.  I though I was the only one who was breaking out of living a compartmental life.  In the area of work I don't think I'm alone.  Work is not separate from our lives, it's pat of it.  It can be the place where we have been designed to make our biggest impact.  My whole married life I think I have been fighting the cultural pressures of what a wife/mother is supposed to look like.  I have"for some reason" always been successful in the workplace.  I have gotten my foot in the door in places where I wasn't even looking for it.  I have gotten promotions when I had no business getting them (seriously not applying for them).  Yet I found myself pushing against the workplace trying my hardest to stay home and be a good wife and a good mother.  Frankly I enjoyed staying home too.  It wasn't until Ken got sick and roles reversed that I was really getting a better sense of who God created me to be and the potential He put inside of me.  Ken was home on sick leave and was taking care of the home......you know cooking, picking up the house, helping Brad and Ry with homework, the usual, and I was working full time.  Major lightbulb moment.  Ken was doing way better job than I was at home (like WAY better), and I was really enjoying my work-life (without the nagging guilt of "the shoulds"....I should be at home doing something creative with the kids....I should be home cleaning...I should, I should, I should).  I was free to really enjoy what I was doing.  Blah, blah, blah. 

Anyway getting back to the conversation I was having with my work friend.  I said to her "you wouldn't wish you spent more time at work, UNLESS that is where you were supposed to make your greatest impact.  There can be a whole area of influence that is being ignored.  I told her that I was glad Boaz was working when Ruth showed up on the scene.  In the great US of A Boaz would have been labeled a workaholic.  There were seasons when he ate, drank and slept work.  In our culture he would have probably been retired.  He would have been on a golf course somewhere.  I'm sure glad David's grandfather spent more time working!!!

If you are just looking at work as a way to make more money so you could collect more things, I wouldn't want to be spending valuable time working either.  If,  however, it's where we are meant to be to make the biggest splash while still breathing then it's definitely where I want to be.  What about you?

Make today count! Love you guys.  Maria

What's Your Passion?

Just in case you're wondering about the new pic....yes you guessed it, it's a picture with me and my friend Lance Wallnau.  We only met once.....at his conference, but for sure we bonded.  I wonder if I should send this picture to him just in case he wants to put it on his blog.  What do you think Linds??  I was actually listening to some of his CD's this weekend.  He said something that really challenged me.  He said "God has given you the ability to manifest your passion".  I didn't know if there is exactly a scripture that I could point to and say..."here it is, here's where God said it".  I'll get back to that, that's not what challenged me.  It's the list that challenged me.  He said to list your passions in business from 1-10 with the most passionate being #1 all the way down through 10.  Here's the list that I came up with.  I am being really honest here.  It may not be what one would consider the best "Christian order", but honest it is. 

1.).Kingdom Philanthropy, 2.) To be a multimillion dollar company, 3.) To use my influence to share Jesus and to see signs and wonders in the place of business, 4.) To have highly motivated, high quality employees....lots of them 5.) I want to have fun, 6.) To have a business of integrity, 7.) Work flexible hours, 8.) I want to have a flexible workplace. (I don't want to be chained to my desk, I want to have a mobile work station).  

Okay, I only have eight so far.  I guess the point is when you identify your passions, it's easier to start operating in them.  For instance, I have been meditating on the my #1.  Remember when I talked about this before, philanthropy means love for mankind.  It also means to manifest provision or a gift.  I don't know why I thought I had to wait until I had an overabundance of cash until I could start giving to a ministry that I was passionate about....duh!  The Lord spoke to me on Sunday and said "okay, you're passionate about this, why wait.  give now!    Here is the biggest dealio of the day....the Lord reminded me of the parable of the talents.  Matt 25:14-15 says "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.  To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ABILITY".  Well what do you know......this is where God says it!!!  God gives you the ability to manifest your passion (talent).  Here is the real kicker....when we walk out our passion (if that isn't exciting enough), God gives us more!!! I love God!  

What's your list look like.  Everyone has one.  What is it????????? Be blessed with a really exciting week!

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

I am keeping this really simple today.  After this weekend, six days straight at MDCC from the Healing Tent all the way through the Banov conference, I am feeling sooooo fullll.  You know how after you eat your way through Thanksgiving day you feel so full that you can't even think?  That's kind of how I am feeling.  I need to take time to absorb and digest everything from the appetizers to the dessert. 

I decided to do a thought for today.   I watched a movie a couple of weeks ago.  A lot of people recommended it...I was so excited to watch it....it was definitely not my cup-of-tea.  It is so not memorable to me that I can't even remember the name of the movie.  It was, however, worth watching just to hear the first line in the movie.  The movie screen was blank and a voice was just kinda coming out of the air.  It was Jack Nickolson's voice he said "I am not a product of my environment, my environment is a product of me".   That is a Jesus line if I ever heard one.  What do you think?  Awesome, huh!

BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED

The sermon last Sunday was sooooo good! I'm not talking about yesterday, but a week ago yesterday.  (Yesterday was good too, but its not the one I'm talking about, I'm talking about the one when Pastor Pete preached on Mary being highly favored).   I have been thinking about it ever since.  I have not forgotten that it was supposed to be continued this Sunday and................it wasn't.  It's kind of like Greys Anatomy, I get everything timed perfectly down to the bowl of ice cream right at 9:00 and yes, hello, not a new episode.   I hate when that happens.  Don't get me wrong Sundays sermon was great!, it wasn't a rerun or anything.........anyway, how do I get out of this? Okay, when P. Pete read the scripture Luke 1:28  The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you"., it just kind of stuck with me.  Not to get off track or anything, but don't you just LOVE scripture!  I have been into reading books lately.  I can get pretty excited over other peoples revelation of scripture, it's a good thing....but it doesn't replace the real deal.  Anyhow....I've been asking myself what made Mary different that caused people and angels to refer to her as HIGHLY favored.  In Luke 1:45 when Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth said to her "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!", or in the NKJV it says "you are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said".   Is that what made Mary different??  She believed God would do what He said??  Is it that unusual?? (how do you like the double question marks...really makes you think twice doesn't it??  What is my problem today...Okay stay focused).  Isn't it amazing!! The Lord does the talking, the Lord does the work, then we get blessed because we believe Him.  I heard the best definition of favor, Lance Wallnau said "favor is the influence of God flowing through you that causes others to do things for you".  

When you realize favor is happening, it's pretty cool to watch.  One of the cardiologists that we work for happens to like us.  Well not us personally, but I guess he likes the work that we do for him.  In the last five years I've only talked to him a handful of times.  All of the work is done over the internet, so most of the communication is through email.  He likes to refer our transcription services out to other doctors.  (I know it's the favor of the Lord).  Our second biggest account we have is because he referred us to them.  What has been cool to watch is that Dr. B's work (the cardiologist) keeps increasing.  We work for Dr. B. at two facilities, at one place in a matter of five years his work as at least tripled, and at the other place in just a year it has about doubled.  I truly believe that the Lord is blessing his work because Dr. B. is blessing us. (Along the lines of "I will bless those who bless you.")  I don't think it's a coincidence.  It's so cool to see blessing and favor at work.

I'm kind of switching the subject, but not really....I'm going back to the scripture verse Luke 1:45 "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished".  One of the things the Lord has said to me is that I will see salvation through my business.  Honestly, that's where it is at for me.  Even just typing that last sentence totally gets me excited! I want to see people come to the Lord!!!! I mean really, really want to!  I truly believe it's going to happen too.  What has the Lord promised you?  There is something about getting it out there that seems to get the ball rolling.  So just say it....what is it?

Have and incredible week!

MONEY TALK

Hello everyone,

TESTIMONY!!! Hooray!!  One of the Doctors MDT Services (our company name) transcribes for opened a brand new diagnostic center on Thursday of last week.  It was not supposed to open until April, but my goodness miracles happen!!! This is almost unheard of.....opening early!  We are not exactly sure how much work this is going to produce, but they are thinking they will keep us pretty busy.  Yeahhh God!  Any other testimonies this week????? Tell me if there is.

Okay now that I'm done with that, can we talk about money?  It can be a tough thing to figure out.  What does God want for us??  In my first entry I talked about a scripture verse that I keep on my desk (Deuteronomy 8:10-18).  God takes a chance on us.  Even though we may get it wrong and attribute wealth to our power and the strength of our own hands, wealth is something God promises us.  Pastor Pete talked about the promises of God in his sermon Sunday.  He said "God does not have empty words".  We can hold God to His promises.  You can see all through scripture that God has kept His promises.

Then we are faced with scriptures like Matthew 13:22 which says "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful".  Or how about Matthew 6:24 which ways "No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other, you cannot serve both God and Money."  Luke 16:13 says the same - about serving God or money.  I grappled with these scriptures.  I asked the Lord for revelation.  He said simply"well.......do you serve money or does money serve you??"  Good qestion God!!! 

Last summer K. Fluetsch emailed me this article written by Peter Wagner from Global Harvest Ministries that came at a time when God was breaking some thinking patterns I had about money......definitely poverty mentality happening!!  Hope this encourages you as it did me.

KINGDOM PHILANTHROPY: 

 Can We Become Philanthropists?

What would it be like if those of us who lead Christian ministries became philanthropists ourselves?   I know that at first glance that would sound far-fetched.  However, I would not be surprised if this fits into the direction that the stream of God seems to be moving in this season. 

We live in extraordinary times.  The 21^st Century is already shaping up to be a quantum leap from the 20^th Century around the globe.  We now live in the Second Apostolic Age in which the biblical government of the church has come alive once again.   The Holy Spirit has begun speaking to the churches about taking dominion of God’s creation as God originally intended us to do.  Our 20^th Century goal of saving souls and multiplying churches has been expanded to aim for nothing less than transforming our society.

Along with all of these mega-changes is the impending fulfillment of God’s promises through His prophets for the great transfer of wealth.   My sense is that we are looking at unbelievable quantities of wealth moving from the control of the kingdom of darkness to the control of the kingdom of God.  I know that it may be an exaggeration, but I have both faith and hope that it will be on the order of the wealth in Solomon’s kingdom.

It is one thing to receive and generate this wealth.  Some will come through supernatural transfer from surprising sources.  Some will come through supernatural revelation to kingdom-minded individuals who have the personal tools to produce wealth so that they will multiply their profits exponentially.  This will be in tune with Deuteronomy 8:18:  You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth that He may establish His covenant”.

“Philanthropy” comes from two Greek words meaning “loving people.”  It is a godly pursuit because God loves people.  Those who are born again by the Holy Spirit reflect God’s love for people in their thoughts and in their actions.  They are not self-centered because they feel that their destiny is not so much to help themselves but to help others.  It is important to recognize up front that philanthropy and selfishness are opposites.  If we are going to meet God’s standards for philanthropy we must first pass the test of selflessness.  Loving others is more important than loving ourselves.

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To read the rest of the article go to:   

http://www.globalharvest.org/global_link_93.htm

Have a blessed week,

Maria