Cheerleader

Someone asked me "how it is that i don’t let IT go to my head", (referring to an audiences affirmation and applause). I gave him some reasonable explanations but I held back fearing my anger and frustration would come out at the wrong time in front of the wrong people.

Here is the real answer. Here is why it doesn’t go to my head - why I don’t follow my dreams the way I should and why more people don’t follow their dreams and take risks: (you ready)
Because there will always be someone waiting in the wings, with regularity to make sure you know that you are not any better than you were yesterday, that what you do is not only misunderstood but not understandable and for that reason not relevant and useful. There will always be someone waiting to make sure you know that you are less than what God sees you as.

I have noticed with young men in my circle of influence that a few choice and focused words can without hesitation lower the ceiling to within microns of their head.
The next time they jump they hit their head, HARD. And you might think that would be deterrent enough to prevent any more jumping. But you would be wrong. There are plenty of men out there that experience low ceilings and still jump.

So what is the real deterrent? how DO you make a mans heart grow cold? Well, its something the devil has celebrated since the beginning of time…SHAME - his silly little tool that he uses with precision and accuracy. It is so insidious a tool that he can wield a force to level an army. But the funny thing is he doesn’t need to – he just needs to topple a great man or woman.
You want to make a man stop jumping - don’t lower the ceiling or cut his legs off.
Shame him – make him feel like just a man. Tear him down with your words and your tone.

What’s wrong with considering myself as just a man? Everything! (for a follower of Christ).
Gods effort to revive my soul with His indwelling Spirit says that I cannot fail and therefore I must see myself useful in the His economy.
Why do we make each other conscious of our flesh when the Lord is wanting us to be conscious of our Spirit, The Holy Spirit and do what is necessary to proclaim His Gospel.
Jesus said himself that I will do what He has done and greater (because He will ask the Father on my behalf to make it so).

So where are the cheerleaders? Where are you? It is a skill to see sin in someone, to see the flesh but to celebrate potential and Gods will for someone. Start practicing that for it is a lost art in the Church.
Make men see what Gods sees in them. Bring out in them the things that the Holy Spirit will use! Bring the things in them that will benefit their spouses and children, that will benefit their church and community.
Sadly the few cheerleaders in my life have small voices compared to the blaring sirens that constantly offer me their services. It is a difficult but necessary choice to believe the small voice. It is a choice to “be still” (psalm 46) and commune with the Lord. It is a choice to let the Holy Spirit in you and God the Father commune – a divine communion that can and will literally kill you. It is a choice to let your physical body waste away during this divine contraction.
Why is this necessary? … because we haven’t seen the fullness of our suffering. (Colossians 1)
I have had more people talk down to me and treat me like a servant in the past few weeks than I have in years. It has been a hard, hard time and I resent it (or at least my flesh and ego does) but it has been good for me to see that I am capable of extraordinary stillness and prayer.
It has been a difficult time to keep my head up but I know in the end the right parts of me will corrode and die away and the Holy Spirit will own more real estate in my body. After all i am a prince of the Kingdom and my mind is to be focused on my Fathers affairs.


moving on…

I have 17 saved messages on my phone, most of which are from my friend Jim.
Jim is my one of my biggest fans, one of my best friends and an amazing encouragement to me.
Out of all of my friends he has not only encouraged me to dream big but has made sure, almost on a weekly basis, that I hear Gods thoughts about me.

Next time I see you, ask me to play some of his messages. He is Jesus to me when I need a physical reminder of kindness, encouragement and friendship.

Be that to someone. We need the young men in the Church to heal of their baggage and move on and forward with the Lord. As much as I would like to make them do pushups and scream at them all day I know, because I know personally how it affects me, the God given power of words and encouragement.

Tell them who you see them being in the future through Jesus. Tell them they can do it. Tell them they will do it because Jesus refuses to fail them.
Make them feel as Jesus would.

Our words carry with them real life consequences. Be the cheerleader.