My Job Description

office

My job description:

To put a earthly language to the spiritual life.

To create a voice for the eternal part of all of us.

To articulate a dialect that frames what the interior life is all about.

To come up with the words, stories, phrases and pictures that connect people to the part of their existence that is eternal.

To illustrate in 30 minutes how the EXTERNAL life is powerfully connected to the INTERNAL life.

Hahaha no Problem! – I think it would be easier to explain trees, birds, cheese or anything you can touch tangibly.

Today’s study for tomorrow’s sermon.

God bless all the pastor’s, teachers, preachers, poets and song writers that will attempt this on any given Sunday.

Dust and bone tied to spirit and soul.

Pastor Steve Lummer

Discovery Church, outdoors

LISTEN – Outdoor Nature Lovers Experience God Everywhere

keith-points

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (K-LOVE News – Abby Aronoff) – Outdoor Nation’s the name lovingly given to millions of Americans who can’t get enough of the great outdoors. Many of these nature enthusiasts use the whole weekend to explore the world around them. But now one pastor is capitalizing on the passion of those who feel God in nature.

[Rather LISTEN to this story? Scroll down to the podcast]

In Arizona, there is a lot to discover. With over 450 miles of trails and 1.25 million acres surrounding Prescott National Forrest, locals and visitors have trouble staying indoors. Pastor Steve Lummer of Discovery Church tells PE News, “You can whitewater raft, hike, mountain climb, bike, the options are endless.” And with moderate weather year-round you can explore from dawn to dusk.

After attending his own “pastors adventure” in Zion National Park exploring canyons and discussing the things of God with other like-minded church leaders, Steve caught a new vision: Church outside.

Steve explains, “We encourage people to get outside and let God speak to their inside.”

Pastor Steve started Discovery Church, but just about everyone in leadership is an outdoor enthusiast. And whether it’s trips to Yosemite, the Redwood National Park, or rafting at the Grand Canyon, members focus on faith as the congregation continues to grow.

Creation provides a powerful backdrop to connect and talk about God. And Steve points out, “Over half of Jesus’ teachings occurred in the outdoors.” In fact, Jesus took his disciples to mountains, in gardens and on boats to show them his purposes and teach them deep lessons about themselves.

At almost every adventure at Discovery Church a campfire is roaring and people are talking about the Creator.

For Pastor Steve it is simple, “We worship in outdoor classrooms to acknowledge that there is a center of the universe, and we are not it.”

Listen to the article on sound cloud here.

http://www.klove.com/news/2017/07/25/listen-outdoor-nature-lovers-experience-god-everywhere/

Books I'm Reading, Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott, leadership, Ministry

Seven Week Speaking Sabbatical at 60

“Every leader functions on two stages–the front stage and the back stage. The front stage is the public world of leadership. The back stage is the private world of the leader. There are many resources to help you succeed on the front stage. But who is talking to you about you and your backstage life?

prioritize matters of the soul
develop healthy spiritual practices
address problems that lead to burnout
create a healthy rhythm in your life
craft a healthy leadership culture
develop better systems in your church
move toward an unhurried life”

From the book Replenish by Lance Witt

At the age of 60 I had a personal goal to take a six week sabbatical from my ministry responsibilities at Discovery for the above mentioned desire.

However, real life would not allow that to take place.

Then, an idea of a partial sabbatical took shape and here is how it worked.

Discovery church here in Prescott has developed and been given some amazingly gifted and talented people.

Seven of them responded to my request to speak on Sundays and each brought such a rich and diversified message.

Something besides giving me the much needed break came out of this as well.

Over the seven weeks I noticed something I have never that experienced.

Each speaker showed our church what our actual theology was and that was powerful to witness.

Here are a few quotes and statements from the past seven weeks.

Week 1 with Keith Dionise

“Jesus is the continuation of the story of God.”

“We need the Gospel to transform the heart, to grow with our relationship with God.”

“Jesus is coming back…..Without this truth rooted in our heart we can be discouraged.”

“In our everyday practical life we are living one of four ways: our hearts are hardened to the word of God, we recognize the word of God but do not accept it, we accept the word of God but not the reconciliation, & we accept the reconciliation of God.”

“Without having a foundation of faith, we can become a skewed in our beliefs.”

“God doesn’t want us to have a piece of him, he did not sacrifice his son for this, to deny him is to deny the work he has done for us.”

“We are not here to reinvent the gospel … we are here to let the gospel will reinvent us.”

Keith Dionise

Listen to the sermon here:

https://podpoint.com/episode/embed/96855

Week 2 with Helen Jackson

“As mother’s we are not given a manual. Our manual for life & reference is the word of God.”

“The Bible gives us instruction for birthing, marriage, family & anything else we may encounter in our lives.”

“We can say that we love God, but if we don’t read the Bible, how do we know how to love him?”

“We live with God & he lives with us, he is a personal God.”

“In our times of trial & trouble we can sometimes question God’s direction. The Bible can help answer our questions, & define God’s character.”

“We eat everyday, food is our body’s fuel. The Bible is no different, it is the food for our spiritual body. If you don’t fast for your physical body, why are you fasting your spiritual body?”

“Sometimes the message we feast on can be undesirable, & other times it can be pleasant, but remember no matter the message it feeds our spiritual being for the better.”

“To glorify God is to bless God.”

“We can glorify God by our character & our actions.”

“God did not create us for him to be our pleasure, he created us for HIS pleasure.”

“If you want to live for God & have a relationship with him, you cannot live without his word, the Bible.”

“It doesn’t matter where you are in your life, God can use you.”

“In today’s world, people are feeling beaten up, all they want is hope. God IS hope, he is faithful, present, giving, generous, & good. He will give direction, just read it.”

Listen to the message here.

https://podpoint.com/episode/embed/97158

Week 3 with Maureen Simpson

“Never pass up an opportunity to break bread with someone who you don’t know. A new relationship & possibility to share the story of Christ may arrive from that occasion.”

“Live with intentionality with the people around you everyday. You do not need to be blood or have any other connection to any one person in order to serve selflessly.”

“Do not take for granted your availability to serve, worship and live as you do in America, because not everyone has that opportunity to do so.”

“The relationship of Christianity isn’t meant to be just for us, but to be given away & shared with others.”

This message is not available online.

Week 4 with James Dufour

” I have not even read the entire bible and yet I have been ask to preach it.”

“Ephesians 6 tells us to “stand” three times.”

“I’m so excited for the next best book in the bible.”

“The belt of truth holds us together.”

“All of us are fighting a battle.”

“Our righteousness is found in Jesus.”

Week 5 with Jason Dyer

“If we are only trying to please people, then we are not servants of God.”

“Deep down we all seek validation & approval.”

“As Christians we share because of our love for others. Regardless of what others may think of us, we must never miss an opportunity to share God.”

“Understand that the approval of “they” & “them”, doesn’t matter.”

“Do NOT seek the approval of man, you will only lose your way, because at the end of the day IT DOES NOT MATTER.”

“As a society we have been conditioned to a culture of “SELFIES”. Do not chase after the approval of man.”

“We are not called to donate & give for the acknowledgment & pride, when we give, give without saying.”

“A lot of us are caught up in seeking the approval of others & ourselves, that we are missing the real reason that we are here.”

“If you are struggling with the circumstances of your life & questioning your approval from God, remember, he GAVE up his ONLY son because GOD LOVES US.”

“God doesn’t only just love us, he cherishes us, we are valued by him.”

“No matter where we are at or what we’ve done, GOD loves us, because Jesus died for US.”

“Understand that God isn’t going to love a FUTURE version of yourself more than he loves you right NOW. ”

Listen to the message here:

https://podpoint.com/episode/embed/98635

Week 6 with Nolan Howell

“What is Biblical meditation: Finding an opportunity to have a time of quiet to focus on God.”

“Every time God gives us something good, the world finds a way to pervert it.”

“With Biblical meditation we strive to fill our minds’ with positive thoughts & strengthen against the attacks of the enemy.”

“When we meditate on God’s word, he is with us.”

“Meditating on God’s word renews our souls. It allows us to discover God’s will for us.”

“Meditation is not easy, it takes practice. All too often when we try to focus on God, the distractions of life can come rushing in.”

“Do not be intimidated by Biblical meditation, if you’re not sure how to begin, start by focusing on a specific scripture or think about all of the gifts that God has given you, & thank him for those gifts.”

“Remember to focus on what’s next, Jesus.”

“Be honest with yourself, we may look like we are put together, but we’re not. The reality is we’re a mess. We need his help, but we may not know what to say. Guard your mind & thoughts & invite God in, to meditate on his word.”

Listen to the message here:

https://podpoint.com/episode/embed/99024

Week 7 with Boniface Musyoka Nyamu

“God came down to rescue the people from the power of the Egyptians, & to bring them up from that land to a land that is good & spacious, to a land flowing with milk & honey to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, the Jebusites…..(.& the websites)”

“At times we may know who we are, but along the way we can forget who we are. Remember though that God will always remember who we are.”

“A mirror is a tool that allows us to see ourselves. We have many different “mirrors” in our lives that let us see our selves.”

“The people in our lives can act as a mirror in the way that they can reflect onto ourselves what they themselves see in ourselves.”

“Our jobs can act as a mirror in reflecting our outward successes to those around us.”

“Our cultural influences such as social media can act as a mirror in the way that they reflect our thoughts & public personification of ourselves to others.”

“The hardest mirror for us to look into is our past which shows us our mistakes & regrets.”

“The most important mirror in our lives is the word of God. We are a reflection of him. Walk towards this mirror.”

“We have to trust in the word of God. We have to have faith to walk through the hardest parts of our lives & trust that God will not fail us, that the past is gone, & that he is working on us.”

“We put so much pressure on ourselves in the different “mirrors” that we choose to look into. Look into the word of God & see your true reflection. We are not perfect, but we will see ourselves freely when we look into God’s mirror.”

“God is the light, the light of our lives & our future.”

“Through the other “mirrors” we can get distorted views of our lives & believe the lies these false mirrors reflect to us.”

“Our distorted views that we reflect cause us to question our worth, value & purpose.”

“These distorted reflections can give us a false identity. We are not here by mistake, we belong here. Our true identity is because God wants us here, & that he LOVES us all so much.”

Thank you all who contributed to this seven week journey.

Pastor Steve

Discovery Church, FASTING

2018 Giving God the first part of the year.

As we move into 2018, we are collectively asking God for blessing, provision, and favor as Discovery Church dreams for an amazing future.

We are committing to give God the “first part”; such as the first part of the year, the first part of our day, and the first fruits of our lives.

12074916_10208026472360053_503509443461163918_n
Our 21 day Daniel fast will begin Sunday night, January 1st, at mid-night and go through Sunday, January 21st.

I encourage you to join in at what ever level you wish. Some may dive in completely and others may change their fasting experience to fit their needs.

Many friends have ask me for a “shopping” list or “menu” for a resource.

So I will do my best from here to update us on our informal shopping guidelines.

The concept of a Daniel fast comes from Daniel 1:8-14, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.’

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.”

Here are some simple informal menu helps for the 21 day Daniel fast.

SOME INITIAL GUIDELINES FOR DANIEL FAST:
(Foods We May Eat)
Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley
Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas
Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices

(Foods to Avoid)
All “fast” food – hahahaha ( no really).
Meat
White Rice
Fried Foods
Caffeine (are you kidding me?) 😡
Carbonated Beverages
Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
Refined Sugar
Sugar Substitutes
White Flour and All Products Using It
Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

Please do not risk your health to go on this fast. Consult your doctor with specific question regarding an extended fast.

Brenda and I have been amazed to see what God has done in our lives over the years through fasting and prayer. We can only imagine what He has in store for us over the next few weeks and the year ahead, not only for our family, but for your family and our church.

I am really looking forward to this year’s 21 days of fasting for Discovery.

Pastor Steve

church family

FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

If there is a golf course in heaven, my friend Paul is on it today.

As I was in the tall grass trying to find my sliced little white ball, Paul was already on the green.

It was that way in almost every sport except fishing and mushroom hunting. – Paul was excellent at tennis, basketball, golf and everything that had to do with a ball agility and speed.

And the gift of comic relief and his infectious laugh!

That is why I asked him to go on the first date I had with Brenda. I needed a wingman, and he came through with flying Callaway colors. Our double date was a success and 40 years later my wife Brenda and I say good bye to our good friend Paul Callaway.

Thank you for everything you gave all of us Paul.

The memories are too many to mention in a post like this.

Have a great day on those fairways in heaven my friend.

We love you buddy and will miss you BIG TIME.

Until that day.

Steve and Brenda Lummer

Ministry

Guest Blogger Jeff Peterson

jeff

My favorite devotional bible resembles a worn ball glove. Its front and back once-blank pages are lled with notes and thoughts compiled over the past couple of decades. I don’t carry it outside the house, due to its fragility and the treasures that reside in those pages.

While most of my reading today is in my Logos software, to return to the familiarity of those leather-bound pages brings a sense of anchoring unlike anything else. I can’t count the number of times I opened it in distress or weariness of ministry, and closed it with a renewed sense of God’s presence and power for the next step ahead. And those notes…

ose notes have coupled with God’s Word to be of great encouragement to me! All of us can identify with the Psalmist David, as he wonders to himself over his own discouragement. All too often, the greatest source of encouragement in ministry has to come from within. is is an awesome grace that God provides, through His Holy Spirit residing within us. We have to choose to receive it in those moments.

Be encouraged today. If you’re feeling low, go for it— encourage yourself like David did!

Stay healthy in ministry!

Ways to encourage yourself:

• Talk to yourself about why you are discouraged. King David did it, so can you.
• Remain in His Word. Review personal notes. Re ect upon God’s past faithfulness in tough times; and realize God will do the same for you in this present di cult season.
• Save personal notes for future encouragement. If they encourage you now, they will again one day.

Ministry, outdoors

FORGE 2017

FORGE 2017 ON THE BANKS OF THE BUFFALO RIVER ARKANSAS

21751365_10214393413849611_1004367812953648528_n

I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
¹²Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

– Psalm 41:11-12 NIV

What a great time with the men of Journey Church.

21106616_10214260930377607_4183449943650730644_n

America’s First National River

Established in 1972, Buffalo National River flows freely for 135 miles and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48 states. Once you arrive, prepare to journey from running rapids to quiet pools while surrounded by massive bluffs as you cruise through the Ozark Mountains down to the White River.

21106829_10214262709342080_6686296253880903269_n

buffalo-river-map

21230856_10214262705941995_168499285205800585_n

21106506_10214262706302004_8497690622785781155_n

21150371_10214262708342055_7894978995747790080_n

21150466_10214262707582036_5645714829160569754_n

21106670_10214262705301979_7140334921608861737_n

21149988_10214262702621912_3474580637509870275_n

21150109_10214262704181951_8865681542601322060_n

21150436_10214262701981896_939592357567510519_n

21192390_10214262701501884_7333331894251455289_n

21106365_10214262702741915_3610782689009314933_n

21151275_10214262703421932_1031026582618074223_n

Thanks for getting us there Jesse Quiroz.

21192423_10214273742177894_4559472462619557342_n

http://www.journeychurchmo.com

Discovery Church, outdoors

Nate and Sarah Moore

This couple are U.S. appointed missionaries to the rock climbing community. They also work in Hollywood for the TV show American Ninja Warrior. http://www.anwexperience.com

The symbiotic relationship these two fields have, has created so much opportunity for Nate and Sarah to reach people who would never otherwise enter the doors of a church. Nate and Sarah have been married for 8 years and have lived off and on out of a vehicle for the last 6 years. For the first time in their marriage they have a home base in Golden, Colorado.
Join us Friday night through Sunday with this fun amazing couple.

http://www.nbc.com/ameri…/…/celebrity-ninja-warrior/3520440…

Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

DISCOVERY DREAMS

Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

JUICE IT – Part 3 VISION

In this series we will looking at how to squeeze the most out of:

PRAYER – (Apples Perspective, Possibility and Prevention)

MARRIAGE – (Mangos fertility and drive to keep your marriage alive)

VISION – (Carrots)

CHURCH – (Pomegranate )

PARENTING – (Bannans – Parent panel

FINANCES – (Grapes – Abundance)

The purposes of JUICING:

1. It’s the best way to get your DAILY SERVINGS of Fruits/Veggies.

2. It allows you to absorb nutrients BETTER with less digestion.

3. It strengthens your immune system

it allows you to MAKE SURE you are getting ALL your body needs to live in health and wellness.

“They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.

When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” – Mark 8:24 (NIV)

“he saw everything clearly“

Man I wish that was me…..TO BE ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING CLEARLY.

I wish I could see why, what and when.

“Vision is the art of seeing the invisible.” — Jonathan Swift

“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” – Helen Keller

“Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” – Napoleon Hill

JOKE

A woman walks into an optician to return a pair of spectacles that she purchased for her husband a week before.

The assistant asks, “What seems to be the problem, Madam?”

The woman replies, “I’m returning these spectacles I bought for my husband. He’s still not seeing things my way.”

Most of us don’t have clarity toward our future because of clutter in our today.

In other words, we’re so busy today that we can’t even see our tomorrow.

In part three of our JUICE IT series we use the power of the carrot to relate the spiritual fruit that God has to your spiritual vision.

Macular Degeneration: This is a common eye disease of the elderly that impairs the function of the macula. Research has found that people who ate the most amount of beta-carotene had a forty percent lower risk of macular degeneration compared with those who consumed the least. Beta-carotene can also split itself via an enzymatic reaction to form provitamin A, which is often associated with antioxidant capacity in relation to vision. Therefore, carrots are an all-around vision booster.

Improves Eyesight: Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty in eyesight.

Where do you SEE yourself in 5 years

We need to to be clear about our future because we are going to spend the rest of your life there!

Provers 29:18 “where there is no vision the people perish

WHAT IS VISION?

It is the ability to see…..

SPIRITUAL VISION IS THE ABILITY TO SEE WHAT OTHERS CANNOT SEE.

If your vision is limited your life is limited … limited vision is limited life.

7 times in scripture we see God say’s “what do you see?”

It is God’s design for us to have clarity !

THE PROBLEM

But, many people don’t have CLARITY because of the CLUTTER.

We don’t have CLARITY ABOUT OUR FUTURE because we have too much CLUTTER TODAY.

WORK – BILLS – SCHEDULES – FAMILY – CHURCH

ILLUS – DRIVING A CAR IN HEAVEY SNOW.

THE SOLUTION

WE CAN HAVE GOOD VISION IF?

1. WRITE IT DOWN.

All God originated visions ARE SHARED VISIONS.

AN EFFECTIVE VISION WILL HAVE FOUR COMPONENTS:

1. a problem.

2. a solution.

3. a reason something must be done.

4. a reason something must be done now.

“Write the vision

And make it plain on tablets,

That he may run who reads it.

³For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come,

It will not tarry. –

Habakkuk 2:1-4 (NKJV)

2. CLEAN IT UP.

The Ministry Of Margin

ESSENTIALS IN CREATING MARGIN RESERVES.

INVEST TIME with those who charge your battery

“…a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” Pro. 27.9 (The Message)

Leave room for margin –

Reserve some down Time –

Plan for lead Time –

Seek solitude –

Find a sacred Space –

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 (niv)

A cleaned calendar is like a carrot for your eyes.

“I see people like trees walking”

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into^[a] the village.” – Mark 8:24 (NIV)

3. PRIORITIZE PROGRESS OVER PERFECTION.

Jesus went back a second time and then the man could see clearly –

Don’t give up on the process just because things are not perfect right now.

4. TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE.

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)

Exit the Freeway
In their book, Finding the Open Road, the founders of Roadtrip Nation talk about their RV journey crisscrossing the United States interviewing all kinds of different people. In one of the chapters they talk about exiting the freeway. They were driving through western Montana and they decided to exit I-90 and check out the Clark Fork River. When they got to the river they ran into a trucker and they were somewhat surprised to see him skipping stones. Truckers are notorious for getting as far as they can as fast as they can. That’s how they make a living. They asked him what he was doing and he told them that his wife passed away from cancer the day before and he realized how impermanent life is. He said, “For thirty-five years I’ve driven by this exit a million times, and I’ve never stopped.” They said the look on his face was part regret and part enlightenment.

I think I was so busy getting where I wanted to go during my twenties that I didn’t enjoy the journey as much as I could have and should have. Too many of us suffer from destination disease. We’re so focused on tomorrow that we fail to enjoy today. When we’re in high school we can’t wait for college. When we’re in college we can’t wait to graduate. When we’re single we can’t wait to get married. We can’t wait for kids. We can’t wait to climb the corporate ladder. We can’t wait to make money. We can’t wait for retirement. And when we finally retire we wish we were young again!

“Nothing slows us down like trying to get ahead of God.”

“The Scenic Route”) questions whether we’re the most impatient people in the history of mankind. He adds that “we wear busyness like a badge, like an honor roll bumper sticker.”

If you are dependent on whatever is next to make you happy, you are suffering from destination disease. You are trying to get ahead of God. But, by God’s grace, the journey needs to be enjoyed too. The journey is the destination.

Mark asks when the last time was that you exited the freeway and took the scenic route. While the freeway shortcut is the path of least resistance and well-traveled, the scenic route is less traveled, takes longer, and is “an uphill climb both ways.” However, the scenic route creates a spectacular view from the top!

Goals must be accomplished step-by-step. You can’t rush and get ahead of yourself- or get ahead of God. Although you need to establish God-sized goals it is important to remember that the goal you set really isn’t the goal.

the goal you set is the habit that helps you get there.

Your responsibility is not to figure out where to go or what to do- that is God’s job. Your only job is to keep in lockstep with the Holy Spirit.

Here is a little maxim for anyone who seems anxious about missing the will of God:

“God wants you to get where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go.”