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Somewhere deep within my soul I discover a longing that refuses to go away. Is this it? I often find myself asking that question. Life is exciting, challenging, and full of adventure for sure, but it seems as if my heart longs for more. The craziest thing about is I can’t put my finger on what that more is. More adventure? Not sure. More challenges? Perhaps. More fame? Definitely not. However, it is a longing that desires to be a part of something bigger than myself. To be a part of God’s plan. I’ve come to realize that just because I’m doing “ministry” doesn’t neccasarily mean I am running in the direction God has called me to. I can busy myself with Bible studies, speaking engagements, and leadership conferences, but none of that means anything if my heart for the Kingdom is removed. I’m realizing today that God doesn’t care about how much I get done, how many people I impact, or what my name means in this world. All He cares about is the inside of my heart. What motivates it? WHO motivates it? Why do I do the things I do? Would I be willing to erase my name from every human on earth for the sake of knowing Him more? I pray that I would. I pray that my eyes would forever lock on what is unseen. I pray that the longing that refuses to go away would only be satisfied in HIM!

-The Monday Mindset

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“I know I don’t have all the answers, but I daily read a book that does. I know that I’m not always quick to forgive others who wrong me, but I follow a God who is. I know I’m not always the greatest at listening to others problems, but I pray to One who is. I know I have so many flaws and imperfectipons, but I follow Someone who has not one. I know I don’t have it all together, but I believe in a Savior that does. I know I can be filled with pride sometimes, or should I say all the time, but I follow a Humble Servant who has nothing but humility within Him. So as I come to these realizations I ask that you don’t look at me, but please focus on the Jesus that lives in me!

-The Monday Mindset

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“It’s SO easy to sit back and watch everything happen from the back. It’s SO comfortable, knowing that if anything goes wrong you are far from it. Why is it SO hard to get out of this comfort zone? Why are we SO scared to make mistakes and to fail?  Knowing this, why is it hard to realize that the Lord often speaks to us through these hard times and guides us toward the direction HE is taking us. The answer for me, in form of a question. Why am I so worried about pleasing and failing, before man? When on a daily basis I fail at both, before the Lord”

- The Monday Mindset

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Oh thee amazement I discover when I learn to close my mouth and listen
to the One voice that truly matters. The countless times I must have
interrupted His endless supply of wisdom only to barrage Him with my
own requests, questions, and wants. As each day passes I must become
disciplined in being much slower to speak and quicker to listen. the
stripping of flesh can become such a painful process, but the outcome
of an individual who perseveres through the trials of fire becomes
refined and ever so usable for every good work.The more we strip
ourselves of our sinful flesh the more vulnerable we become, and oh how quick
this evil world will jump on an opportunity to expose our own nakedness
while keeping itself completely covered. The words Paul echoes in
Galatians 1:10 must become tattooed on the hearts of those who truly
desire to follow Christ and advance His Kingdom. “Am i trying to win
the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please men? for if I
were trying to please men I would not be a servant of Christ.
The never ending cycle we fall into trying to satisfy a world that can
never be satisfied enough. The One thing this world demands is the very
thing they deny…..Perfection! If only they understood that it was
this same Perfection that was slaughtered so that they might be able to
become flawless after leaving this temporary home that we call earth. How
difficult it has become to convince a works based society of a freedom
that requires no deeds what so ever. Learning to live a life of eternal
significance.
-The Monday Mindset

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Expectations! What a deadly thing when not communicated. We all have them. What we expect out of others. What we expect out of life. Even what we expect out of products we buy. So what happens when our expectations aren’t met? Some get angry, some are like me and get frustrated, but at the core my frustration is rooted in my own selfishness. And then when people or things exceed our expectations we seem so full of joy. Which once again that joy is driven by my own selfishness. The joy  I desire is me focused. We also hear people say things like, “I wouldn’t get your expectations too high!” As to save us from frustration or anger, and usually it works. Not having high expectations always helps when someone lets me down, versus having high expectations with someone or something and being let down. Not sure where I’m going with all this, except to caution myself with who and what I put my expectations on. At the root of all my expectations I come to this reality, I am forever grateful to serve the ONE who will forever exceed my expectations!

-The Monday Mindset

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I’m not sure I know where to begin today. The accumulation of my
thoughts is sometimes more than I can bear. The pulsing headaches I’ll
receive trying to grasp all I have to be thankful for, and not just
this week, but every morning I wake up. I shouldn’t find myself
expressing gratitude this week anymore than a day in the middle of
July! As if I need a reminder to be appreciative for all that I have,
and from all that I have been saved from! Trust me, my sin serves as a
great reminder of all I have to be thankful for on a daily basis. How
could we possibly ever take grace for granted? It leaves me perplexed
whenever I see people abusing the gift of mercy. Maybe Psalm 103:10 has
some how slipped their minds, “He does not treat as our sins deserve,
or repay us according to our iniquities.” The reality of this verse
leaves me with plenty of gratitude this week, and not just this week,
but everyday of my life. Oh how God constantly reminds me that even on
my worse days that I’m still doing better than I deserve!
I’ve come to believe that sometimes I possess a false gratitude. A
thankfulness that comes from my lips but isn’t reflected in my
heart. I fear the ignorance I might possess in ever believing that I
have ever become entitled to anything. The foolishness that comes with
believing I deserve a blessing or recognition. When I expect, I neglect
the opportunity to be appreciative. I am convinced that I take far too
many things for granted, and because of this I pray God would teach me
all that He is and all that I’m not!

-The Monday Mindset

“Don’t tell me I can’t, show me where Christ can. Oh how quick we are to criticize but so unwilling to do something about it. Accept responsibility! If I don’t like the way things are being done, may I do something about it. It’s not their fault, it’s mine. There is no one to blame but myself. We are so quick to blame the leaders, but so slow to lead.
Lord teach me to dream with a telescope and to live with a microscope. That I may see the bigger picture and venture where so few dare to go, but that I may never neglect the small responsibilities you have placed in my life. That I may be faithful in the microscopic things so that You may trust me with the dreams that lie within the lens of the telescope.
I want to hear your voice Lord, not the voice of doubters, for you are not a God of doubt. I want to be moved by Your hand, not by the hand of this world, for this world leaves me empty at its fingertips. I need Your strength to keep pressing on in a world that seemingly keeps pressing against me.
May I act, not complain. May I encourage, not gossip. May I listen, not speak. May I trust, not doubt. May I live for You, not this world. May I lead, and also follow. May I forever change, not meander in mediocrity. May I dream, not become complacent. May I focus, not be distracted. May I be disciplined, not lazy. May I love, not hate. May I forgive, not harbor bitterness. May I give, not take. Father may you do this in my life!”
-The Monday Mindset

Father God, You alone are righteous and sovereign. Into your hands I rest my life, Your ways, Your will, may they forever be mine. Keep me from floundering, may I may be firm and resolute in Your truth. May my decisions be driven by your Holy Scriptures so that I may never glorify self, but You and You alone. Captivate my thoughts before my sin dwells on them and leads me astray. May my mind be filled with thoughts of eternal things.Teach my to be patient and kind, just as You are patient and kind with me on a daily basis. May I press in to know You, may I continue to press in beyond the routine, may I keep pressing in past the comfort! Allow me to avoid living inside my comfort zones so as to become ineffective for Your kingdom. Save me from myself O’ Lord, from my sin and its desires. Oh, You are the Father of my Spirit, the King of my life, cast me not from Your presence, but purify my heart so that it may be clean before You. Take these pieces of a broken sinner and redeem them so that I may be whole, complete before You and for You. My life for the Gospel, for Your Kingdom, for Your Glory forever and ever!

-the Monday Mindset

I don’t even realize the need my soul has for solitude until I engulf myself within it. My spirit longs for desolation and yet I continually surround it with chaos. I’m amazed at the clarity of my thoughts when I escape the constant moving and rushing around. I’m beginning to realize that the amount of things I accomplish this side of heaven have absolutely no significance if they were done out of an inability to hear His voice. Perhaps I compromise what I want most for what I want now. My impatience often robs me of the blessing God has waiting for me.
I desire for my timing to be His timing. I’m beginning to understand that God does not operate like a fast food drive-thru. There is no way from the time I make my order (prayer) til the time I get to the window (answered pray) that I am ready for the prayer I prayed. If I pray big prayers I must expect big change. And big change is a process, and renewing transformational process. Not always comfortable, definitely not easy, but always beneficial for me in the end.
So Lord I keep chasing after You. Give me strength to be patient. Shower Your wisdom upon me so that I would pursue Your dreams for my life and not my dreams for today. Lead me in Your way and examine my heart. My life for Yours Lord. May you take the damp areas of life and fuel its fire for You.
-The Monday Mindset

Captivated. What a word. As humans we seem to be captivated by so many things. My sinful inclination is attracted to so many things that could prove to be detrimental to my spiritual health shall I choose to pursue them. This is why I find it vital to be captivated by Him and His love alone. When my eyes are fixed upon the Cross I find myself becoming more dis-attracted by the things of this world. My child captivates me. My wife captivates me. Adventure into the unknown captivates me. But Lord, You and only You do I desire to be captured by, never to be released. May the longings of my heart and the very things that captivate my soul be pleasing to you. This earth will fade and everything within that is not of You. May I not be captured by things that dissipate, but only by the things that are eternal, by the riches that are everlasting and can never be ripped away from me. You captivate me Lord, forgive me of the times I find myself captivated by the tawdry things of this world. Your Glory, Your Kingdom, forever and ever!

-The Monday Mindset