Happy New Year–The Windshield is Bigger Than the Rearview For a Reason

December 31, 2021

Happy New Year–The Windshield is Bigger Than the Rearview For a Reason

Perspective. At this last sunset of 2021, I am reminded of how much I love sunrises and sunsets. I am in awe of their beauty. They come every day, whether we are ready or not.

As we finish 2021 and we embark on a brand new, shiny 2022, may we reflect on the good of 2021 and look forward to an even brighter 2022.

May we remember the windshield is much bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason.

Let’s give ourselves some grace.

We have so much to look forward to.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing: now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” —Isaiah 43:19

Be encouraged, friend.
Happy New Year!!!

What are your looking forward to in 2022?

What New Year’s Revelations are you making?
—sunset photo I took at the Grand Canyon May 2017

August 11, 2021

Working For The Lord: Four Leadership Lessons From Bezalel, Moses’ Chief Artisan

Hi Leader Friend,

Goodness gracious, I’ve missed y’all. I took a sabbatical summer as I approached my 50th birthday in July, my year of Jubilee! Fifty feels good, friends. The Lord is revealing so many leadership messages, and I can’t wait to see what you think.

Many of you know how much I love Moses as a leader. I confess, though, I really had not learned much about Bezalel, Moses’ Chief Artisan whose name I can hardly pronounce.

Bezalel is found in Exodus 31: 1-6. Let me set the scene. Moses was called by God to lead the two milion + Israelites to the Promised Land. They were stubborn. What journey was supposed to take 11 days took 40 years.

Moses would go up to Mount Sinai to get away from the crowd and hear God clearly. Don’t we all need that?

God spoke clearly to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments had been given in Exodus 20. Now they need a place for God to dwell—a mobile worship Center. God gave Moses specific instructions about building the Tabernacle.

Now we come to Exodus 31: 1-6. This is where it hit me:

Bezalel, this unknown leader and Moses’ Chief Artisan to build the Tabernacle, is the first man in the Bible to have the Spirit of God in him.

What? What about Noah. In Genesis 6, found favor in sight of the Lord.

Bezalel was the grandson of Hur. Who was Hur? Remember he and Aaron, Moses’ priestly brother, held Moses’ arms up to win the battle in Exodus 17:8-13

He came from the Tribe of Judah. Who else came from the Tribe of Judah? Jesus, Lion of Judah.

What leadership lessons can we learn from Bezalel?

Like Bezalel, God sets us apart for His service and infuses His Spirit in us. Bezalel and Ohaliab surrendered their lives to the calling. First man to have “Spirit of God” in him, 1500 years before the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 officially indwells among us. Spirit of God hovered, even in Genesis 1:2.
When we serve with our best effort of excellence, God entrusts us with more. Exodus 35:6-7, Exodus 35:30, 36:1-7
In all every assignment God gives us, finish the assignment and follow through. Starting in Exodus 37, the He is Bezalel. Exodus 39:22-26. Exodus 39:32, 42-43. It is finished.
When we serve according to His will, the Lord blesses it. Exodus 40:34-36.

In the Old Testament, Bezalel built the Tabernacle. Since Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, now the Tabernacle dwells inside us with the power of the Holy Spirit. We each are Bezalels.

What is God calling you to do for Him?

How is God calling you in this season to step out in faith.

Be encouraged, leader. You are a Bezalel, God’s Masterpiece and Chief Artisan.

December 31, 2020

Happy New 2021! Resolution Revolt

As I slow down this night before a welcomed new 2021, I admit to you I don’t have my list down of New Year’s resolutions.

Each year I feel the pressure of forming New Year’s Resolutions. Why are resolutions so hard to keep?

According to research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, 36 percent of resolution-makers give up by the end of January. Ouch. Let’s revolt. How can this year be different?

Instead of forming resolutions, I want to form life revelations. What’s the difference?

A revelation comes from God. A resolution comes straight from us. No wonder my resolutions often fail because they come from my flesh, not necessarily from listening to God.

Webster’s defines revelation as “a : an act of revealing or communicating divine truth b : something that is revealed by God to humans.”

Let’s start a revolution for the new year.

The minor prophet Habakkuk was in tuned to listening to God. How can we relate Habakkuk with our New Year’s revelations today. Our resolutions turn to revelations.

In Habakkuk 1 he cried out to God. I love his authenticity, his raw emotion with the Lord.

“’How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?…Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?’”

The Lord listens and answers Habakkuk with a wonderful response.

“Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

Habakkuk continues to complain and ends it with a declaration:

“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. “ Habakkuk 2:1

‘Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:2

That’s one of my favorite leadership verses in the Bible.

The main revelation revolution lessons we can learn from Habakkuk are to:

1)Humble ourselves, pray and cry out to God. Even it seemed like complaining, Habakkuk was totally real when he told God exactly how he felt and asked God questions. God has big shoulders and can handle our big problems, our dreams, our desires. God listens and answers in His way, in His timing.

2) Strategize and write your revelation and plans on paper. Make them succinct enough that you (or anyone else) can understand them. I would encourage you to post them in your home so that you can refer to them often.

3) Be patient, work, and wait as God continues to work in your life on you and making your revelations come to fruition. God’s timing is perfect. He is never too early and never too late.

May Habakkuk’s story inspire us to start a revolution of New Year’s Revelations.

Happy, Shiny New 2021, friend. The best is yet to come.

Reflect:

What revelation is God revealing to you?