Decisions

I've been involved lately with a very important decision. One that will have long term affects on my time, my family, my ministry but probably most significantly on me! When faced with an important decision I have noticed that I have changed over time. I think the change is for the better but what do you think?
How have I changed? Well, I think that I used to just make a decision, go for it and let the chips fall where they may. This worked sometimes but most times it caused significant stress on all those who were trying to work with me or walk with me through different circumstances. I believe I have been called a "bull in a China shop" to often when it came to my almost reckless approach to decision making. I also remember praying more for everybody who might be affected by my decision to "get along" with it and "move along" with it. Fairly selfish I suppose.
Over time, and I believe it is from maturing in my faith; I have taken a very different approach to making decisions. I think I try to see them from every possible angle, deciding who will be affected most, what that affect will be, how will I communicate the decisions being made. I also have noticed that I talk to more people, inviting them to participate with the process in coming to some sort of conclusion. The focus of my prayers is more on searching His heart and mind so that I do not bring disgrace to his glorious name. I think I focus less on what the outcomes will be and focus more on trusting God and trusting his work in me over time to enable me to make wise, spirit-directed decisions. The journey is as important as the decision.


Recently someone I know was having a very difficult time trying to make a decision. It was during this process that I noticed how important motivations are in making decisions. If your motivations are split then it seems that making the choice and sticking with it is also split. Can I trust myself, can I trust the advice of others, can I trust that I won’t make a decision I will regret later on? Not wanting to make a mistake can really hold us back from moving forward. It almost freezes us. Prayer seems more focused on one word, “help”!

Have you ever sat down and figured out just how you go about making decisions? Do you make them and then change them often? Do you make them and not change them no matter how horrible they may be? Where does God fit into this process?


God is Good All the Time!

Cyclone

Cyclone,
Hurricane,
Typhoon,
Monsoon,
call it whatever you want but it's basically just a big bunch of wind and water! From what I understand it has to do with hot air and cold air mixing which creates a circular ferocious and many times deadly wind. Of course of all this happens over ocean water and that's were the massive waves begin to smash anything that happens to get in their way! Truly nothing to mess about with, better to steer clear and run than to stand firm and face it! At least if you run you can live to brag about it another day!

And that's what our fearless captain did on a ship our family was sailing on a couple of weeks ago. When we came across a tropical storm called Cyclone Fiona we pulled anchor and skedaddled! We still managed to encounter 10 meter swells and at one point the ship pitched 10 degrees! It was a little bit like riding a GIANT roller coaster. I must admit I was a little surprised at how comfortable I was even through the worst of that stormy, topsy-turvy day and a night on the open seas.
Why so calm? I guess as I look back now I would say that I’ve had a life time of practice at trusting someone else with my life, sort of my personal life captain you could say. Yup, I've weathered a few storms in my day and all because I decided many years ago to ruthlessly trust in the Captain of my soul. It may sound funny but way down deep inside of me somewhere I've learned to let go of the ships wheel and let Him guide me into safe harbor when the storms of life hit!
I heard there were some on board who disagreed with the captain, who felt we should have gotten what we paid for, who thought he was way too careful in his judgment. I guess they must have trouble trusting the wisdom and understanding of a seasoned Captain.... Not me!
God is Good All the Time.