What to Do When Shit Hits the Fan

There are so many stories in the Bible that reveal the weaknesses of humans.  But there are also inspiring stories that teach us steps we can learn to make better decisions when dropped in the middle of a belittling situation.

One of those stories is when David’s father sends him with lunch to his older brothers.  Anticipating a great reception, he collides with their disgust.  1 Sam. 17 tells us, “Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why did you come? and who did you leave those few sheep with?  I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you came just to see the might of the battle.  And David said, What have I done? Is there not a cause?”

Imagine the energy and excitement of this kid only confronted with; Who Put You in Charge?  What are you doing here?  David could have reacted by taking up an offense by saying, You ungrateful pathetic piece of crap!  But after a reaction like that you feel like a piece of crap yourself.  It deepens further when you realize you missed a chance to encourage and rescue the cirisis.

Instead of reacting to the rejection, David follows the cause at hand and volunteers to turn the crisis into an opportunity.

The Real Questions to ask yourself to keep going in the right direction when you hit rock bottom is; What’s my Calling, What’s my Cause or Purpose?  What do I Care Most Deeply About inside?

I recently heard a pastor use three words of how to turn a conflict into an opportunity: Eclipse, Enough and Effort.  I wondered if David used these words to shift his attitude from being rejected by his brothers to allowing the Cause to change the outcome?  

Eclipse means when light from one source is blocked by another.  Reminds me of Jesus when He hit rock bottom.  He couldn’t get to the next dimension of His life until he killed the giant of the cross.  Heb. 12 says, “Jesus despised the shame of the cross but for the Joy set before him, He endured the cross.”  The rock bottom of Fear could have blocked His decision.  But looking down the road and seeing You and I, His Purpose Eclipsed the cross.  Victory for Jesus wasn’t at Calvary, but at Gethsemane.  His decision making shifted from saying, “Take this cup from Me”  to, “Not My Will but Thy will be done!”  

I meet many people who are driven by a cause, but will it block out the temptation to make small decisions by reacting or go big?  

Next word is Enough meaning fully capable and equipped to meet the demand.  In that place of significance is where decisions are made determined by the fact if you think, I am enough.  David tells Saul, “Here’s your armor back!  What God has place down inside of me is Enough!  I can hear his words right now, I Can Do This!  I don’t think he was impressed that much with his stone.  He may of thought, Maybe this will knock him down, but somehow God will help me kill him!  That’s one of the most critical life altering times we go through.  It comes down to knowing that what God has placed within you, establishes the position that you are enough, which changes everything.  

The next word is Effort meaning a vigorous and determined attempt to make a cause or idea become a reality.  David saw himself as Enough, and believed that God was empowering him to defeat fear and face the giant.   When we believe and take that first step of faith, energy is released and you put forth the Effort needed to get the job done.   

When shit hits the fan, it’s meant to make you feel like a piece of shit.  When David killed the Giant, the King within him took the place of the Kid.  If you have a Purpose that Eclipses your Crisis, and an Attitude that Inspires your thinking; then you’ll be energized to overcome and put forth the effort to do anything and everything to create a future filled with hope by the Glory of God.

Dr. Paul Morgan

WHO ARE YOU?

I Love Russell Wilson’s saying, “Why Not You!”  Is it possible where you live, that You are the one who will be called to be the “Warrior Fighting for Peace” as Erwin McManus suggests!

Just think with me a moment.  How many awkward situations have you found yourself in where being the lover demanded a fight?  Those times when there was that inner fight to forgive.  A fight to repent.  A fight to smile and give a hug.

In this world of division, yelling, accusing, finger pointing and small selfish one sided attitudes I suggest, “Why Not You be the Warrior of Peace!”

Takes a Fighter when slammed in a crisis conflict to think in Godly terms!  An open mind allowing Jesus thoughts to engage your heart and surrender to Listening being empowered to miraculously turn a hateful moment into an opportunity for love and peace?

Always thought of a Fighter as winning which is true.  But a True Fighter is aggressively pursued  by their heart to lay their life down and pay the price for Peace.  

With so many relational failures in all of our lives including mine, it’s time to acknowledge God’s provision and favor.  It’s time to seize moments that are normally destructive by leaning on the Spirit, watching those moments become divine.  

I suggest today with Russell, Why Not You?  You may be asking, Why?  Because it’s very possible that You are truly being called to be as Erwin suggests, The Way of The Warrior!

Paul

The Way of the Warrior

For the last couple months I have spent one evening a week with seven of the most amazing young men who happen to be world changers.  I named "The Young Guns!"
Together we have gone through the book "The Way of the Warrior" by Erwin McManus.
The story is told of the 300 Spartans from Greece who have been sent by the Spartan King to go and hold off the Persian army at the mountain pass of Thermopylae long enough for them to prepare for battle.
At this confrontation, Xerxes, son of Persia yells across to Leonidas, "Throw down their weapons!"  Leonidas yells back, "Come and get them!"  Xerxes yells back, "If I have all of my archers shoot at once, the sun will go out!"  Leonidas yells back, "Well then, we will fight you in the dark!"
Many think of a warrior as one who dominates with strength and power.  But "The Way of the Warrior" has taught us there is a greater quest - to encounter for the first time, true inner peace.  Erwin says, "The battle is fierce.  It rages around us and inside us.  Sometimes the greatest enemies, the greatest challenges we face are within.  By following the Code of the Warrior, freedom awaits, along with your most powerful future."
May Our Heavenly Father's presence come to you today and engage your hearts and minds as we continue to follow the Ways of Jesus.

Paul

Give First!

It’s an adventure to discover if the promise is true; Whatever you lost serving Me, I will give back 100 fold!
In walking out each step of our journey, it’s hard not to get caught up choosing between following your fears or your faith.
If faith, it requires removing some roadblocks.  Coming to a place of forgiving someone might be one of the roadblocks to escape the trap of becoming a victim.  Another could be repenting of any bitterness and asking forgiveness for any misunderstanding you may have caused or insensitive actions hurting someone out of ignorance or malice.  For sure there are many other keys to unlock any opportunity hidden within any one of our crisis.
Choosing to walk out our faith might not always prove to be the quickest resolution especially if there is times of waiting that seem way to long.  But eventually a Word will come from heaven, Be It Done Unto You!
Remembering and accepting the fact that the heart of the king is in the hands of God brings hope.  Have you ever experienced God causing people to bless you that didn’t even like you?  In looking into the rear view mirror, experience tells us that the Lord always remembers us!
I used to think the hardest test of faith was to give up something I don’t have.  But I think the real test is giving up something You have.
Remember Hannah’s prayer, If You give me a Son I will give him back to You.  But later when she returns back home after giving up her son, she realizes she’s right back where she started.  But not really.  A broader perspective has enlarged her understanding.
It’s easy to miss what the story is about.  Hannah’s was about God opening up her womb and entering a new realm of existence in unlocking the secret of giving first.
Samuel wasn’t the blessing but the test!  God says first things first!  First give the then it will be given back to you pressed down and running over.
The hope is that one-day we really learn that our faith is taking us through a test to form a new habit or behavior pattern to always first give back what has been given.  Then the fullness of a miracle comes with overflow!
Truth teaches us that we have nothing that God hasn’t given first.
Imagine entering a contest with God to see who will out give the other?
So keep giving and God will give back to You 100 fold.

Paul