God’s Big Hairy Audacious Goals

By Allen White

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." Genesis 17:7-8 (NIV)

God showed Abraham that His plan extended far beyond Abraham’s life. The covenant God established is everlasting. Not only was there no end in sight, there is no end period.

The covenant involved an everlasting relationship and an everlasting possession. God pledged to “be your God and the God of your descendents after you…and I will be their God.” God will never give up on His people whether they are the biological descendents of Abraham or his spiritual descendents.

God called Abraham to something that was much bigger than Abraham. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, talks about successful organizations taking on “Big Hairy Audacious Goals.” “BHAG’s” are goals that take more than what one person or organization to accomplish and require more than a single lifetime to fulfill. Abraham was given the BHAG of all BHAG’s. Beyond the impossibility of just having a son, Abraham was the steward of a blessing and a vision that has extended for thousands of years to billions of people. With that blessing came the covenant that God would be with them.

You and I are a part of the largest organization in the world: the Church. The Church operates in every country and includes about a third of the people on the planet. But, how can you and I extend God’s love and His blessing to the whole world?

We simply need to do two things: (1) Lean into God who is always with us and (2) Do the thing that is right in front of us. Serving a neighbor or helping a co-worker times 2 billion Christians produces exponential results. As I am writing this devotional the Church is serving the nation of Haiti, including a great team from Brookwood Church. While it takes a bit of courage to travel to such a broken country, the requirements were simple: a heart to help and skills to serve.

What has God given you that you can share with others today? God has given us the BHAG of all BHAG’s. We don’t need to be intimidated by that. We just need to be available, and then God will use us.

To make a tax deductible donation to Galatians 4:19 Ministries:

http://joytotheworldfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_crowdfunding&view=details&id=1149-galations-419-ministries&catid=8-operating-projects&Itemid=105

To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog:http://galatians419.blogspot.com

A Little Name Calling

By Allen White

Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. Genesis 17:3-6 (NIV)

Abram’s encounter with God changed his identity. He would no longer be called Abram meaning “exalted father.” God gave him a new name, Abraham meaning “father of a great multitude.” What a difference adding two little letters can make.

Abram literally had been called “father” all of his life. You wonder if that was a label of shame or expectation for him. Considering that Abram’s father Terah didn’t start a family until age 70 (Genesis 11:26), Abram very well could have been on the expectation side.

But, at 99 years of age, the human possibilities were being erased. At this point, God gave Abram a new identity. God called Abraham to something that only God could accomplish.

What labels have you borne in your life? Selfish, Insecure, Addicted, Angry, Greedy or Sinful? The Bible is full identity changes. The best examples are among the Corinthians: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Paul does some name calling here. First, he calls the Corinthians out for what they used to be. Then, he reminds them of who they are now: people with a second chance; people with a clear conscience and a clean heart; people with a new lease on life.

An encounter with God radically alters our reality. Once we get a glimpse of how God sees us, He enables those things to be accomplished in our lives.

What label is dogging you these days? What has God spoken to you today about what He thinks of you? Right now, peel off that old label and ask God for a new one.

To make a tax deductible donation to Galatians 4:19 Ministries:

http://joytotheworldfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_crowdfunding&view=details&id=1149-galations-419-ministries&catid=8-operating-projects&Itemid=105

To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog:http://galatians419.blogspot.com

The Year was 1986…

By Allen White

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers." Genesis 17:1-2 (NIV)

The Lord appeared to Abram 24 years after the original promise was given (Genesis 12:1-5). What were you doing 24 years ago, which was 1986?

Ronald Reagan was president. The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after launch. Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier fled Haiti. Out of Africa won best picture. Geraldo opened Al Capone’s secret vault discovering only a bottle of moonshine. Hands Across America reached from New York City to Long Beach, CA. Best New Artist went to Bruce Hornsby and the Range.

How would you feel if God’s plan for you had been on hold for 24 years? Would you continue to believe? Would you be tempted to write it off to indigestion?

God’s plan for Abram involved far more than the birth of a son. Abram was tested time and again. Abram struggled with fear and faith. Abram was a person just like you and me. Abram’s life is an example for us. His life was not a perfect life. Abram had flaws just like anybody else.

Abram’s life is an example of learning to depend on God rather than relying on oneself. That’s a lesson we continue to learn every day.

What parts of your life do you feel are well within your control? Should they be? What parts seem completely out of control? What do you need to surrender to God and trust Him for?

What have you been waiting for that hasn’t been delivered? What might have started 24 or more years ago for you? Do you still trust God to help you see it through?

To make a tax deductible donation to Galatians 4:19 Ministries:

http://joytotheworldfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_crowdfunding&view=details&id=1149-galations-419-ministries&catid=8-operating-projects&Itemid=105

To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog:http://galatians419.blogspot.com

Playing the Movie Forward.

By Allen White

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him. Luke 14:28-29 (NIV)

In the book, 9 Things You Simply Must Do, Dr. Henry Cloud presents a principle called “Play the Movie.” The idea is that when we think about doing anything, we should stop to consider what might result from our actions.

Everything that has ever been constructed, written, created or devised started with a thought. Everyone who ever does anything puts some thought into it, whether a lot or very little to none.

Counting the cost means to examine a thought and carry it forward to its logical conclusion. Let’s say that today I think, “It sure would be nice to have a new car.” Then, I play the movie forward. I drive to the car dealer. I wheel and deal on the car. I sign the paperwork. I slip in behind the wheel. I inhale the new car small. I drive it home. I notice the admiring gazes of people that I will never meet. I explain the car purchase to my wife. (How will that go?) My insurance premium goes up, but so does my self-esteem. Then, I receive the first of 1000 easy monthly payments. Now, I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. It’s a feeling of hunger and regret. I have a new car, but we can’t afford groceries. Well, maybe we will look even better being ever so lean in the new car.

After playing the movie forward, I begin to admire my current car. No payment. Low insurance costs. Kids can eat. A shot of Febreeze mimics the new car smell. Whew, I dodged a bullet. (Please understand that I’m being facetious. No complaints here.)

What ideas are you having today? Take a couple of minutes to play the movie forward. If you don’t resolve the conflict you face, what will happen? If you walk out of this relationship, what will happen next? If you move forward on the decision in front of you, who will it affect? Be honest. Count the cost.

To make a tax deductible donation to Galatians 4:19 Ministries:

http://joytotheworldfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_crowdfunding&view=details&id=1149-galations-419-ministries&catid=8-operating-projects&Itemid=105

To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog:http://galatians419.blogspot.com

A Worthy Life Isn’t a Perfect Life

By Allen White

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:10-11 (NIV)

Endurance, patience, and joyful thanks seem like the products of much hard work. At times, they also seem like an uphill climb. But, remember the Bible is not meant to beat us up, but rather to show us God’s vision for our lives.

These three (endurance, patience, and joyful thanks) are the products of God’s work in our lives. Paul clearly states that God’s work in us starts with rescue and redemption made possible by “being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might.” And, that’s just the start.

Then we encounter a measuring stick that strikes fear into the hearts of those of us who were raised in a performance-based or legalistic setting: “live a life worthy of the Lord and…please him in every way.” Okay, time to cash in our chips (except that we’re not allowed to gamble.) I can’t live a life like that. You can’t either. Nobody can. But, where did we get the idea that a “worthy” life is a perfect life?

Paul goes on to give us the steps to a worthy life: “bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might…” How do we bear fruit? We bear fruit by being connected to the vine (John 15). How do we grow in the knowledge of God? How do you grow in the knowledge of any person? Sure you can google their name, but don’t we get to know people more deeply by spending time with them. God is everywhere. It’s very easy to get with God. Then, there’s the strength that comes from His glorious power again.

The result of bearing fruit, growing in knowledge and being strengthened is endurance, patience and joyful thanks.

For those of us who have been driven to perform, we have simply been working too hard at the wrong things. We have been inventing godly behavior apart from God’s power. No wonder we run out of steam.

Try something today. Choose two five minute appointments with God today. Start with two minutes of silence and focus on God. Then, read this Scripture passage again. End with two more minutes of silence. I started this practice about 60 days ago. It’s not a lot of time, but just stopping what I’m doing and acknowledging that my life and my work depend on God Himself is a transforming experience.

To make a tax deductible donation to Galatians 4:19 Ministries:

http://joytotheworldfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_crowdfunding&view=details&id=1149-galations-419-ministries&catid=8-operating-projects&Itemid=105

To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog:http://galatians419.blogspot.com

The Problem with Impossibility

By Allen White

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her."  Genesis 16:1-2 (NIV)

Eleven years into the promise, Abram had moved as God had directed. While he “possessed” the land on the outskirts of Canaan living in a tent, the thought of starting “a great nation” was inconceivable (sorry). How could Abram father a great nation when he hadn’t fathered a child? Hope was growing dimmer with each passing day.

Sarai decided to take initiative. Maybe she saw God’s plan making her husband miserable. Maybe she realized that the problem was hers. Sarai took matters into her own hands and proposed an unconventional (read: “sinful”) way to fulfill God’s promise. Abram consented without much resistance. What followed was much anguish and regret. The act brought punishment in itself, and still fell short of fulfilling God’s plan.

The problem with impossibility is that it just doesn’t seem possible. The beauty of it is that nothing is impossible with God.

When our son, Samuel, was a baby, he spent much of his first five months in intensive care. What started out as a “quick” repair of his esophagus was met by complications and infection. We prayed that God would heal our baby through the doctors’ care. Samuel continued to get worse. Why wasn’t God answering our prayers? It was agonizing.

We believed that God is good. We believed that God was all-powerful. We believed that God could heal. We believed that God answered prayer. Our theology was impeccable. Our God just wasn’t cooperating.

Finally, after several weeks, as Samuel proceeded to get sicker, the doctors weren’t giving us much hope. They were going to attempt one more surgery and weren’t sure he would survive that.

The night before the surgery, a woman from our church named Carol was awakened in the night. Carol began to pray for Samuel.

The next day, when Samuel returned from surgery, the hospital personnel marveled. The frequent comment was “he came back an entirely different baby.” If God had answered our first prayers for healing, the comment might have been, “well, that antibiotic worked well.” But, bringing our little guy back from the brink, well, that took more than just great medicine. And, everybody knew it.

What seems impossible to you today? How might you be tempted to take matters into your own hands? Wait. Use this experience to draw closer to God.

(Now, if you are truly in a life threatening situation, please use your God-given common sense and get out of it. If you’re not sure, then give your church a call.)

To make a tax deductible donation to Galatians 4:19 Ministries:

http://joytotheworldfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_crowdfunding&view=details&id=1149-galations-419-ministries&catid=8-operating-projects&Itemid=105

To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog:http://galatians419.blogspot.com

I Pity the Fool…

By Allen White

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. " And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.

 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.

      Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."

 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command." 1 Samuel 13:7-14 (NIV)

As a boy, I enjoyed building model cars. I even had a model of the lunar module with the lunar rover. (Readers born after about 1979 have no idea what that is. It’s not the space shuttle). I enjoyed working on the models, but I wasn’t very good at it.

Assembling models required more patience than was available to me at the time. I always wanted to finish the work in one sitting. As I charged through the steps, I soon found that pieces basically “melted” due to the over application of model glue. I ended up with a headache by the end of it. The car was a mess, and the model glue didn’t have a warning label back then.

Now, I could be spiritual and say that I was “compelled” to finish the entire model car right then and there. I would sound dignified and justified like Saul did in this passage. Saul ended up with a headache all his own.

Saul’s compulsion was driven by fear. Morale among his troops was at an all time low. The enemy was preparing for battle. Samuel was, well, tardy. Saul was compelled to break the rules and approach God on his own terms.

Samuel congratulates Saul’s efforts with a harsh word: foolish. It was foolish to presume that God wouldn’t act in due time. It was foolish to take matters into his own hands. It was foolish to assume that the offering of incense was more significant than his obedience. The whole thing just melted into a big mess.

When are we tempted to approach God on our own terms? Whether we feel that we’ve performed well as a Christian and deserve for God to act or whether we’ve entered into bargaining with God, these approaches fall into the same category as Saul and his incense.

Now, don’t get me wrong. You and I should never feel inhibited to boldly approach God. We live in a much different time than Saul. But, how are we approaching God? Are we coming with demands or asking for directions? Much of our frustration is over our unmet expectations. The closer that we can align our expectations with God’s will, the less frustrated we will become.

To make a tax deductible donation to Galatians 4:19 Ministries:

http://joytotheworldfoundation.org/index.php?option=com_crowdfunding&view=details&id=1149-galations-419-ministries&catid=8-operating-projects&Itemid=105

To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog:http://galatians419.blogspot.com