The need for Solitude……..

I must admit I have a hard time being alone. I guess I am haunted by all the days of my youth that were spent in “Time – Out”? I do not do alone very well. I don’t always have to be with a crowd, but I have a need for companionship. Truthfully it is by God’s design, He said, “It is not good for man to be alone” so we know that He is very much ok with my need for companionship He made me this way. However, there is another principle in Scripture that Christ practiced that has gripped me in the past several days. I must admit, it has been to some degree a battle, because it does not come natural for me. What I am talking about is the need for Solitude. The need to get alone. To withdraw and refocus on the things that matter. The need to let the noise of life die down and hear from my father in heaven. One man said it this way, “There must be solitude if there is going to be a testimony of power.” Wow. What a thought, in order to walk in power I need time alone with the Source of that power. You know what I know about myself? I like to ride the wave of momentum or past victories. I like to embrace the moment, but often I linger too long in that moment and in the moment of lingering, my pride in self grows. I begin to run and do on my own power and strength. I feed my ego and if not very careful become very self focused instead of Christ focused! But this thought isn’t new. Christ taught us the need and practice of solitude. In fact in Mark 1 we learn that Jesus is baptized, He begins preaching, he heals many, and in the moment of all of these great things the bible says, vs. 35, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” In fact when His disciples find Christ they inform Him that everyone is looking for Him, they want to be with the man of the hour. But Christ says, no, it is time to move on we must stay focused on why I came. 

You know, I am fearful of solitude. It is in the moment of solitude, in the moment where the cheering stops, the boasting is gone, the making much of me is quietened, and I am alone face to face with Christ Himself that I am reminded of who I am not and who He is! It is in that moment of solitude that my heart and eyes are refocused. It is in the moment of solitude that I can cry out, I can listen. It is in the moment of solitude that Christ refreshes me for the task for which He created and saved me. Moments of solitude with Christ are not a good idea they are a Necessity.

Question – Do you fear solitude? Do you make time for solitude? What do you learn when you get alone with Christ?

Obama and Lincoln………

As we are fast approaching the historic swearing in of President – Elect Barack Obama, it is very clear both from the media and the average American that President – Elect Obama has and is currently imitating and taking guidance from the foot prints of Former President Abraham Lincoln. President – Elect Obama makes no apologies about his close association with the leadership of Lincoln, and has even been said to be reading books about the leadership of Abraham Lincoln. It is clear that President – Elect Obama is looking to the Legacy of former President Lincoln to guide him along the way to and through his presidency.

 But this publication isn’t just about these two men, this is a publication about you!

Question – Who are you following and imitating in life? Where do you get your wisdom? Where do you get your guidance? As you walk through life who are you currently watching or who from the past do you look to? Tell us who it is that you are currently (whether they are Past or Present) you are modeling your life after.

Time to DREAM!

I know that most of us think of a new year and automatically think Resolution! You have heard of all the resolutions that people come up with…….I’m going to diet, I’m going to spend more time with my family, time to seriously consider getting married, etc. There are all kinds of resolutions, but this year I have a new resolution. My Resolution for this year is to DREAM! I don’t mean like sleep dream, I mean dream an impossible dream. I’m talking about an expectation dream. An expectation that can only be achieved if God shows up and blows my mind. I can not express how stoked i have been over the last 6 months. We have had the awesome opportunity of starting a new campus, where i have the most unbelievable and humbling opportunity of speaking weekly. And God has poured out blessing after blessing. People actually come, I know that may not mean much to you, but it is crazy to me. People get up and make a conscious decision to come and worship at First Baptist Concord Westlake. And when i say people have come, i mean there are Sunday’s that we are actually out of room. This is by no means a reflection of a particular person, it is a reflection of the goodness of our Savior Jesus Christ! And HE is changing lives! I honestly can’t believe We get to do this!!!! So back to my resolution, Im DREAMING. I am dreaming and asking God to do even greater things. People, men, women, families, teenagers, teachers, businessmen and women, couples, we all need the Love of Christ. Im dreaming and asking God to supernaturally and unexpectedly open the flood gates on this campus. I believe that there are more people that need a touch of Christ then we have room for! I Pray and Dream that this little campus will be known as a place that Christ Changes lives, Restores families, Saves Souls, brings about blessings. I’m dreaming this year, I’m anticipating this year, I am crying out for God to do something bigger and greater then one person or one place, i pray that God will leverage this place at this moment for maximum Kingdom Impact. I invite you to Dream with Me, Come and Worship with Us, Seek Christ with Us. I’m confident you will find, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Refuse to sacrifice the permanent on the Temporary

4. Spend time with those who will cry at your funeral.

One of the greatest statements that my mentor ever said to me was simply, “Phillip, Spend the majority of your time with the people who will cry at your funeral.” I must admit, that statement caught me off guard. I really didn’t know what he was telling me. But what I have learned is that one statement may be one of the greatest and hardest lessons to learn. I spend so much of my time and my day pleasing people I think I have to please. I’m constantly wondering if I have done enough. If I could have done more to meet the needs and desires of that other person. The truth is that I have 3 boys, 1 daughter, and a wife who need my attention. They have simply request like, take me to dunk’n doughnuts, or let’s play outside, or can you rock her to sleep, and most of the time I’m too busy meeting the needs of others. How many times have I been guilty of not taking the time to rearrange my schedule so I can be the one to tuck my boys into bed. Or say no to that meeting so that I can be the one who is helping with my daughters first baby pictures. The fact is, many people would like to have our attention, but there are a few people who God has given us, that NEED our attention. When these days are over, it will be the ones who NEEDED me that will CRY for me. As one man said it best, ‘REFUSE to sacrifice the Permanent on the temporary!”