Knowing God

The horrific wildfires in California were obviously the top story on this morning’s Today Show. Although I didn’t watch, a friend was telling me that the journalists were reporting that many people were returning to the remains of their homes, finding nothing but the fireproof safes storing their most treasured possessions and paperwork. Matt Lauer then shared that he talked about the importance of those fireproof safes all of the time on the show, yet he doesn’t own one. The other journalists sitting around the couch echoed the same sentiments. They know how essential they are, but they’ve never taken the time to purchase one.

I immediately thought of how this is an analogy to the spiritual lives of many people around the world. People know about God. People know about Jesus. They know the stories. They know Bible verses. They may even go to church on a semi-regular basis. They hear people talk about God answering prayer. They’ve probably even prayed to God in times of desperation and great need. But that’s where it ends. They don’t really know God. They may even attest to how important knowing God is, but just like those journalists without the fire safes, they’ve never taken the time to get to “know” God! And unlike the fire safe, which can be somewhat expensive, knowing God and accepting His grace is FREE. Yet still, people refuse God. We refuse to spend time with Him. We refuse His grace and everlasting mercy. We refuse His love. Oh, we can know about him, but to truly know Him might mean we have to change. It might mean we have to give up something in our lives.

But what’s the alternative? Revelation 20:14-15 says, “14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. “ A life spent knowing about God but not knowing God has consequences, much like the fires in California that are destroying homes, land, and lives. We must be prepared. Someone once told me that there are about 18 inches between the head and the heart. Many people miss heaven by those 18 inches. Oh, they know about God. They know God in their heads, but God is not present in their hearts where it really matters. Knowing that you should have a fire safe has no benefit in the aftermath of a fire, when everything in your home has been destroyed. And knowing that you should have accepted Jesus as your Savior will have no benefit when you are standing before the throne of God during the Day of Judgment. Jesus stands with arms wide open, offering the gift of eternal salvation to all. "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20).

Attitude - Let Your Leadership Speak Chapter 3

In the movie "Facing the Giants" the coach is a true example of how one's attitude can make a difference. He challenged his players to change their attitudes, both on and off the football field. Leaders sometimes forget or just don't want to realize that their own attitude will determine the attitude and spirit of those that follow them. In th big things and in the little things! Making sure people know they are appreciated goes a long way. Addressing problem areas in the right context and at the right time can make all of the difference.

We can learn a great deal from the dandelion. "The difference between a flower and a weed is a judgment." This quote speaks volumes to me! I think back to a time when I was a child in my grandmother's yard. The dandelions were out in full force (in dandelion dust mode, when they are white, not yellow). I of course loved to pick dandelion after dandelion, close my eyes, make a wish, and blow as hard as I possible could. If all of the dust was gone when I opened my eyes, my wish was sure to come true. I remember my father scolding me for taking part in this childish activity. It was not that he didn't believe in wishes. He just knew that the more I blew that dandelion dust across the yard, the more dandelions would pop up, creating a yard full of them rather than grass. In my childish mind, there could be nothing better than a yard full of dandelions. I didn't quite understand my father's objection. As an adult, with my own yard, I now see his point. Dandelions can be quite annoying as they tend to consume the area around them. However, I often stop and force myself to remember those childhood wishes. It is with that spirit that I stop, pick a dandelion, close my eyes, make a wish, and blow with all of my might.

As leaders, we are more effective when we see dandelions as potential and be encouraging when dandelion dust flows and spins around us, than when we see dandelions as weeds trying to infest our territory!

Close your eyes! Make a wish! Blow! Blow! Blow!