I love routine. I like knowing this is exactly what I have to do, when I have to do it, and what it is going to produce as a result. The thing about routine is that it is mindless. We just get into a rut and stay there because it is easier to just continue down the beaten path rather than creating your own.
I believe that a lot of times we get use to doing life out of memory that we fail to imagine all that God has and wants for us. We get so consumed with doing the ordinary that we don’t even think about, dream about or pursue the extraordinary that God wants for our life.
I know that for me I found myself in this place back in December of 2007. I had an amazing job as an associate pastor at Bayside Community Church and I was doing what I was naturally gifted at doing. From the outside looking in, you would think that I had the perfect job and life. On the inside though, I was bored and just going through the routine to accomplish the task of my work. During this time in December, I did something different. I decided that it was time to break free from the routine and start to imagine what life would look like if I were to change the routine. Before I knew it God was rocking my world with Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”
Seeking first required me to get out of my comfort zone, the routine in life, and imagine what was the heart of God for my life. The question
“Does what breaks the heart of God break your heart?”
kept creeping in my life. I wanted to be broken for the lost, hurting, uncommitted, undecided and unchurched people. I knew that I had to change the routine and imagine life being different and challenging. So here I am today leaving everything I know, all the relationships, family, memories and successes to launch out to imagine what Ft. Lauderdale would look like if there was a place where individuals could experience a group of people dedicated to God and each other who serve and love their community.
What routine do you need to shake up in your life?
What have you imagined and just said that is to hard and just gone back to the routine?
Does what breaks the heart of God break your heart? What are you doing about it?
I love coming back and hanging out in Bradenton. I have formed so many great relationships here over the years. One of my favorite places in Bradenton is the Starbucks on SR70. The reason why is because they a barista their named Cindy. Have you ever met one of those people that is always excited to see you and greats you with the biggest hello with a smile. That is Cindy to a tee. She is one of the most life-giving people I have ever met. I just want to go buy a starbucks so I can get to see her.
I don’t know if you are like me but I like to check things off my list as DONE. I am not one of those guys who just puts a nice little check next to the completed project, I am the guy who scribbles it out until the pen cuts through the paper. There is something about accomplishing a task that is so fulfilling. I feel like I have just conquered the world but I have only really finished up a website. I think God designed us with this internal device that wants to accomplish. What happens so many times though is that we get caught up in so many projects that we finish none and then we feel overwhelmed. I think that this is one of the ways that the enemy gets to us and steals our joy. He gets us going 100 miles per hour and before long we are out of control and getting a ticket of some major anxiety in our life. We get so caught up in so many things that we can’t sort out what we are to do next and before long we are just defeated. Paul talks about this very thing in Philippians 4:6-7
When you and I have a growing and intimate relationship with God, then and only then will we be secure enough in His love to not fear. In fact you will be so secure in His love that you will embrace and look for change. God wants us in a constant state of moving forward and changing so we are secure in our relationship with Him. This is so challenging for me because more than anything I life the safe and secure way that I have always done things in life. The thing that I have found though is that when I do the safe and secure, I NEVER GROW! God wants us to continually be changing so we can continually be growing in Him.
Today was such an amazing day. Shayla and I had the opportunity to take some gift buckets full of drinks, donuts, tea, coffee, and all kinds of candy to the local schools this morning to thank them for all they do to educate, inspire, and encourage the students to develop the skills necessary to survive in life. It was amazing to see the look on the peoples faces in the offices when we told them the gift was for them “No Strings Attached”. One lady said to me “Are you for real, that is for us?” and it was so great to say yes and thank you for all that you do.