Hearing God. Part 1: Pump up the Volume.

My wife Nicole and I started a course a week ago called Hearing God and honestly it’s been mind blowing. 

Previous to this I had been reading a book called Crash The Chatterbox by Steven Furtick, also mind blowing, it’s all about hearing Gods voice above all other voices internal and external. 

I gotta say between the book and the course I’ve been pretty much consumed this week and have really not spent anytime working on what I planned as this weeks blog so what the heck I thought I’ll share some of what I’ve learned this week. 

Like many people, I’m sure, I haven’t a clue what I’m supposed to do with my life and feel often like crap because of it. If your in the same boat wave or something feels like I’m on my own out here. 

I was convinced that reading this book and taking this course would clarify some things. 

Well It is NOT what I heard when this week started. 

(furrows brow in frustration) 

I heard what I needed to know. 

I heard about how God sees me and how he loves who I am and how he wants to be my friend. 

I heard how I make him proud and we dug into some pretty old hurts and got into the thick of some long time lies I’ve been telling myself and living out of but didn’t know it. 

Here’s one that I have had to deal with this week. 

“Every one in my life eventually leaves because I’m not worth them sticking it out long term for.”

Umm what?  I believe that? That’s just not true. 

That lie originated when I was a kid when it felt true and guess what, it’s been in the back of my head it’s been sitting there poisoning new and potentially long term relationships because of something that happened almost 30 years ago.  

It’s funny not funny how things we thought were true at one point can become a belief that directs our lives. 

A funny story about how that happens. 

When I was a kid my family went on a trip and we stopped at this place and they had a couple of dogs who were, a bit unfriendly I think my older brother would say, not my feelings about them. 

I don’t know how it happened but I was out in the yard of this place and the two dogs came around the house at me and my brothers maybe I don't know who was there it was just me and the dogs in my memory. 

Well I took off like a scared rabbit away from them and the vehicle that would have probably provided sanctuary from the hell hounds as I remembered them to be. 

I sprinted toward a new construction site and along the way found a pit maybe 6 feet deep with some water in it and in my terror I jumped right in only to see the two dogs at the opening barking down at me. 

Here’s where it gets funny. 

The big dog of the two was a cocker spaniel. Yup the hell hound who ran me down was a relatively small dog. I only know what kind of dog it was because my older brother told me years later when he was making fun of me. But even as an adult being told this story I didn’t see a small dog to me it was the Hound of the Baskervilles, a hell hound, a demon dog, nope it was a cocker spaniel. 

All that to say if I’m gonna move on in life I have to confront the lies I tell myself and uncover them for what they are or I will always be the kid scared of some thing I may laugh at if it were to happen now. 

I’m doing just that by learning to hear Gods voice above all others especially my own because for a big part of my life I was a scared kid and that’s a terrible voice to listen to. 

So here the challenge:

If you know Jesus but don’t know his voice and want to 

Or 

You don’t know Jesus and want to hear his voice. 

Please reach out I’d love to share why I think his voice is real and worth listening to. 

As always,

I’m Jason and this is life as I see it. 

Until next time. 

Not perfect just consistent.

 

While reading a book by Jim Stovall a month or so ago I read a game changing statement. 

“I don’t need it to be perfect I need it by Thursday.” 

This was in reference to Jim’s newpaper colum submission the editor was asking for consistency not perfection. 

Every week I don’t post I’m getting trapped in this idea that what I’m writing needs to be perfect before I hit “post” that is bullshit.

(I don’t like to commit swear words to paper because it’s immortal but that’s the highest deepest expression I can think of to describe the lie of perfection before action.) 

 

I don’t know about you but the idea that I can’t make a move till I’ve got it all set is as crazy as saying I can’t go to the store till all the lights are green.

No one operates like that in driving we just adjust as we go but when it comes to many parts of our lives we are scared that adversity is a sign to say we shouldn’t go ahead.

Well at least that’s true for me. 

Having a clear path isn’t the same as having a clear destination. 

I wish sometimes that it were but at the same time the adversity thus far has caused the development I’ve had. 

I heard that to build muscle you actually have to tear the existing muscle and the repair builds the muscle stronger well if that’s true then it makes sense why it’s so darn hard to get stronger in anything. 

I like the idea I heard about how Michelangelo created his masterpiece the David. The story goes that he said he was just releasing what was already in the stone all he did was chip away everything that wasn’t needed.

That’s me I’m this amazing creation, and so are you by the way, but Gods gotta chip or chisel away everything that is keeping that masterpiece from being fully revealed I think he uses life as his tools for perfecting. 

It’s also true that I have a David like body in there somewhere waiting for me to chip and chisel it out with some consistent activity, but I digress...

There is a Hebrew proverb recorded in the Bible that says “As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.” 

This is the story of my life people are the reason I am who I am the people I hang with either push me to become better and become better themselves or we just forget the whole thing and keep six feet apart perhaps wear masks too for good measure. 

As I said about waiting for green lights or perfect paragraphs if I wait till every thing is perfect to start living my best life I we will be waiting forever because it’s in the mixing with others and with hardship that things chipped and rubbed and polished. 

If you are struggling with anything remember that the struggle means there is growth happening it’s not always going to be easy but it’s worth it just ask Michelangelo and he’ll tell you what chipping, chiseling and polishing did. When a master is at work you can trust that the process is necessary for the final outcome. 

Be a person who isn’t afraid to rub up against adversity and isn’t afraid to go into the uncertain places because I’ve been learning that it’s in the places that aren’t comfortable that the best stuff happens. 

Personally the road of adversity brought about a restoration to my family that no one but God dreamed of, but that’s another story for another time. 

Today get going even if the road ahead is filled with uncertainty because the ride is worth it. 

I’m Jason and this is life as I see it. 

See you in two weeks. 

A little recognition please...

I’ve been reading through the Bible this year it’s for a couple of reasons. 

Reason one was I felt that it would be a good reboot for me being that I’ve heard sermons and stories my whole life and the last time I did the whole bible I was a teenager and I didn’t get half of it. 

Reason two is perhaps less noble. 

On my Bible app there are badges you get for activity and there is a badge for reading through the Bible, I want the badge, I really do. If there is an opportunity to get a badge I’ll do it. 

That may be kinda silly but it all comes down to one word. 

Recognition. 

I think there are whole days weeks even, maybe more where we go through life thinking no one notices what we are doing or who we are. 

I know I feel like that sometimes. 

I know others do too because I talk to people all the time who feel like they are not seen for their deeds and worse for their hearts. 

Personally I think that social media has faked us out into thinking a thumbs up or a heart (can you tell what media I'm on?) are the recognition that we need. When I put up a pic or a story or a status update or a blogpost I find myself looking back to see if I have any likes hoping for a comment. But that isn’t the recognition that I need. 

We’re all starving for recognition and as a follower of Jesus I have the opportunity to see people the way that Jesus did and to love them the way he did. 

Jesus saw people as they were but also as they could be otherwise how did any of the disciples make it through the vetting process Jesus put them through? 

They certainly didn’t have status on their side but what they did have Jesus recognized. 

There really is nothing like getting noticed for something that you do, but how much more for something you could be?

What would the world be like if every man, yes im talking to you fellow men out there, what if every man even just once a day took the time to see someone maybe someone doing something great or small and said something? What would happen if we saw people as they could be? Recognized the potential what would happen if we were champions out in our workplaces, in our homes, in our communities? how would the world look?

I believe that the people we notice and encourage would step up into being better. 

I’m Jason and this is life as I see it. 

See you in two weeks

Stop filling your own tool box.

Have you ever tried to do some project only to realize that you didn’t have the right tool for the job? 

If you said no then move closer to me so I can come visit when I hit this snag, clearly we need to be better friends. 

This week I really struggled in some areas and felt like I didn’t have the right tool/skills for the job. I have people I can ask for help with things in life but I struggled with the belief that I didn’t know what I was doing and that scared me. 

For a long time I thought that the crappy parenting I received as a child resulted in the deficit I felt, but I now think that everyone no matter how good they were raised feels they are lacking something and don’t feel fully equipped. 

On Friday of this last week I was listening to a podcast and the guest speaker said most men struggle with feeling satisfied in life because they don’t really understand who they are. If you're a follower of Jesus that identity has already been given we just need to take it up all you and I feel we lack is already there because of Jesus. 

My mind was blown. 

As I write this I'm still unpacking the implications of what that all means. 

But this is it. This is the key to the problem I’ve been having to feel equipped to do life. 

Here I am trying for years to get equipped trying to fill a tool box with enough skills to feel equiped to do life when all this time I am fully equiped, fully able to do whatever I need to do. 

What a revelation!

But now that I know what the heck do I do?

First It’s time to stop walking around like a kid with toy tools. 

Second it’s time to stop going to my old tool box that’s filled with whatever I could get my hands on and realize that I while I’ve been scrounging for years there has been a whole room with the right tools waiting for me to open the doors and explore the vast possibilities of what God has for me. 

In early January I called 2020 the year of victory. 2020 has felt like the year of defeat as all the paths I thought were mine to take were simultaneously blocked. 

What I really needed was those ways to be shown as dead ends and thank God they were one more good thing a global lockdown brought. 

This is the year of victory but the victory came because I finally believed the truth about who I was made to be. 

I’m Jason and this is... life as I see it. 

What I’m missing on the self improvement journey.

If you’ve seen anything in the last few years of mine on any social media platform or really talked to me I’ve been on a self improvement journey and it’s been wonderful I can’t thank the people who have been part of it enough.  

It started with 18 months of personal counseling and continued as I was introduced and brought earned a spot in a mentorship group with an emphasis of personal development. 

But really it started way before that for many many years I’ve sought to be a better version of me the best version even and I’ve grown so much I’ve moved way beyond the field I sprouted from I’m happy to announce I’m the best version of myself. Here’s the problem that’s not really what I’ve been going for. 

My personal faith demands I look beyond myself, look past the best version of myself at the best version of versions ever. I’m called to bear the image of Jesus. I know that sounds super religious and I don’t mean it to but for me if I keep trying to be a better me I’m focused inward and that’s not enough to really make a difference. 

Covid has taught me that most of us myself included are basically more interested in self preservation then global impact. 

Exhibit A: Toilet paper...  

Need I say more? 

This don’t touch lest someone infect you with the corona virus really goes against the very person Jesus was. He touched people with a massively contagious skin disease called leprosy and healed them but I’m afraid to shake your hand? 

I’m not getting political or going into a conspiracy theory I promise I’m just soul searching on my own motives with current events. 

I’ve been afraid to step out and make my mission bigger then me. 

Don’t get me wrong if you have things that need to be worked on with a mentor or counselor please do it there are lots of resources, but if we stop there we’re left with less then the best we’re left with a single digit impact and as one of my mentors says “one isn’t a big enough number.” 

This last week I listened to a virtual coach I like named Darren Hardy and he was talking about feeling like an imposter when your successful and like someone or everyone will suddenly realize your not as good as you are supposed to be. 

Well I think that’s happens because we are just living for number one. 

In early January I felt strongly, and I’ll call it as I see it, that Jesus spoke to me and said 

“Jason you have done the work of overcoming your past now it’s time to build your future” 

That resonated with me but not till recently did I realize that to build my future, the future I really want, I have to look beyond me. 

Make a mission for your life that doesn’t stop at you.

Make a mission that is so big that you can’t do it on your own. 

Maybe you feel like you need God to show up if it’s gonna work maybe you feel like others need to show up to make it work but if you alone can do it then it’s just not big enough to make a difference in other peoples lives. 

I’m Jason and this is life as I see it.