But they replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, following our own evil desires.” Jeremiah 18:12 NLT

Some people are going to reject God’s plans for their life. God will go to extreme measures to reach people, He may use you to attempt to reach them, but God will allow people the freedom to reject Him.

I think too many times, however, we spend more attention on others than we do on ourselves when it comes to obeying God.

Consider your life for just a moment. How compliant are you to the will of God for your life? Are you willing to follow God wherever He may lead? What if following God involves extreme sacrifice, which it most often will require you to do? Will you follow God then? If doing God’s will involves a total surrender of your life to Him will you still do His will?

You have the freedom to reject God’s plan for your life, at least on a short-term basis. Ultimately God is in control, but for today (if God tarries), you can live your life, as you want to live it. God’s heart, however, is seeking people who will say, as Jesus did, “not my will, but THY will be done”.

Does that describe your heart today? (Does it describe mine?)

What would you have to change in your life in order to completely follow God with all your heart?

It’s a classic example. You’ve seen it happen many times. Your ball team is behind in the game. The referee makes what you and the rest of your team’s fans believe is a bad call. It energizes the crowd and the team and helps spur your team on to victory.

That example illustrates a principle of organizational dynamics also:

Sometimes a little change, even a little drama, will motivate a team into action.

If things are becoming dull or routine in your organization, as the leader you may need to stir up some change, even if it seems disruptive at the time. There are times to change just for the sake of creating more energy. This doesn’t mean you change your overall vision and your attempt should be to make a positive change, but if things are stagnating some change may be needed. It would almost be better to have a change that didn’t work than to allow things continue at a standstill.

I fully believe this principle is true. Knowing when to use it is obviously critical, but don’t allow fear of making a mistake keep you from doing the right thing. Ask yourself this question: If nothing changes in your organization, where will the momentum on your team be a year or two from now? If the answer isn’t what you want it to be, it may be time for some change.

Is this a hard principle for you or are you a lover of change?

Here are the winning Twitter names:

dscottwilke
tim_gleason
Lowend5

I have sent them to Catalyst and they will be in touch to get you your CD sets. Thanks for playing along and be sure to register now for this year’s Catalyst conference!

If your team is like my team, you want to be in a consistent learning mode. Ministry is challenging and I need the help of others to continue the journey God has called me to do. Even before Grace Community Church launched and every year since, we have gained insight and encouragement from the annual Catalyst Conferences in Atlanta. I missed this past year, but several from our team went. Thankfully, Catalyst makes these sessions available and I’ve enjoyed listening to the CD’s from the event.

Today, in partnership with Catalyst, I’m giving away three (3) CD sets of the Catalyst 2009 conference here on my blog. Each of them is a $149 value. You will hear from great speakers such as, Andy Stanley, Jessica Jackley, Malcolm Gladwell, Shane Hipps, Rob Bell, Tony Dungy, Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, Priscilla Shirer, and Louie Giglio.

HERE’S HOW TO WIN:

1. TWEET THIS: Win @CatalystLeader ‘s 2009 Catalyst East CD set/a $149 value today only http://bit.ly/difdex

2. COMMENT BELOW: with your twitter name (so I can verify you did step 1).

3. At 5PM CST TODAY, June 2, I’ll randomly choose 3 entrants below to win 1 CD set each!

Best wishes!

“Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am planning disaster against you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.” Jeremiah 18:11 NLT

As a follow up to yesterday’s devotional, sometimes God allows plans to change during the course of our life, but His end goal for our life will be accomplished. Throughout the course of our life, regardless of what happens to us, God is in ultimate control. When God told the Israelites that He was planning disaster against them, that wasn’t His ultimate end plan for His people, but rather something God was allowing so that He could work in the life of His people towards His end goal.

If you are in a difficult situation right now, God has allowed it. I wish I could sugarcoat that fact, but I cannot. God is in control. Sin in your life may have welcomed God’s discipline, trying to get you back on the right course for your life. . You may have done nothing wrong and your situation may simply be the result of living in a fallen world. God may be strengthening your faith through the trial and you’ll later understand His reasoning, but whatever the reason you are suffering, God allowed it. God’s sovereignty is going to work everything for good in your life through the trial. Additionally, even though you may not currently understand how He could, God is going to use this time for His glory and to accomplish His end goal for your life.

The best you and I can do when going through difficult times is to cling closer and stronger to God during the hard times. Trusting Him through the hardest times of life is called faith. Without faith, it’s impossible to please God. When faith is displayed…God must surely smile!

Have you noticed your faith growing more during the hard times than the good times of life?

Richard Westley Johnson is a Local Mission Pastor at Heritage Christian Church. Richard describes his role as being ”responsible for connecting the suburban church with practical and meaningful serving opportunities with the marginalized in our city.” I love the sound of that position.  He’s helping the church be the church.  You can follow Richard on Twitter HERE.

Here are 10 questions with Richard Westley Johnson:

When you were growing up, are you doing what you thought you would be doing vocationally? If not, what did you want to do?

I never wanted to be a pastor because my dad was a pastor, bi-vocational actually, and it just seemed to be a hard life. I went to college to become a chemical engineer.

What’s the most different job you’ve had from what you are doing now and how did that job help you with what you are doing now?

I was Chuck-E-Cheese…the rat in the suit…or rather, the guy in the rat suit. I am still wondering how that helps me with shepherding others.

Who is one person, besides Christ, who most helped to shape your leadership and how did they help you?

My father, the pastor, took me everywhere with him pray for others, preach revivals, sing in groups, bail troubled teens out of juvenile detention, fight for his marriage, encourage his children. My dad was an awesome example I hope to be for my children and brothers on the journey of life.

Besides the Bible, what is one book that has most helped to shape your thought process in life and ministry?

The Journey to Success by John Maxwell…led me to pursue my dream and clarify my calling.

What are three words other people would use to describe your work style/ethic?

Relaxed, Empowering, Collaborative

What is your greatest strength in leadership?

Communication, vision-casting, releasing others

What is your greatest weakness in leadership?

Practical steps, slow decision-making,

What is the hardest thing you have to do in leadership?

Let go of a staff report that I did not agree should be let go.

What is one misconception about your leadership position you think people may have?

My desire for inclusion of others is a mask for insecurity to be an independent leader.

If you could give one piece of advice to young leaders from what you’ve learned by experience, what would it be?

1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may lift you up in due time.” The time I’ve spent under senior leadership has prepared me for where God led me next and at the right season of my life and career God opened the door of opportunity for me. Wherever you are, stay humble.

I love Richard’s heart.  Reading his answers makes me think he is a great PK (pastor’s kid). What has your experience been as or with pastor’s children?

Gerry True is someone I know only online, his leadership resume is intense and he’s worked with some great leaders. Gerry is a Minister of Communication Arts leading four teams; Worship Arts, Production Arts, Creative Arts, and Technical Arts at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. You can read more about him HERE.  You can follow Gerry on Twitter HERE. Just reading Gerry’s answers, I hope we bump into each other at a conference soon!

Here are 10 questions with leader Gerry True:

When you were growing up, are you doing what you thought you would be doing vocationally? If not, what did you want to do?

I had little direction in my life growing up… I simply wanted my own way. Never dreamed I would be a minister.

What’s the most different job you’ve had… how did that job help you with what you are doing now?

Making donuts – Lesson learned:
Hold on to opinions loosely and be teachable

Who is one person, besides Christ, who most helped to shape your leadership and how did they help you?

Richard Crotts, a pastor of a small church and now a missionary in Papua New Guinea. He taught me to sacrifice and what it was to care deeply for others. He was Authentic.

Besides the Bible, what is one book that has most helped to shape your thought process in life and ministry?

Orbiting the Giant Hairball

What are three words other people would use to describe your work style/ethic?

Believe in others

What is your greatest strength in leadership?

Valuing people more than the end product by inspiring team members to allow God to accomplish through them more than they ever dreamed possible.

What is your greatest weakness in leadership?

My passion for achieving can be interpreted as pushy and sometimes leads to intimidation.

What is the hardest thing you have to do in leadership?

Allow people to learn through their failures.

What is one misconception about your leadership position you think people may have?

People may think that I love saying “no” or killing an “Idea”

If you could give one piece of advice to young leaders from what you’ve learned by experience, what would it be?

Intentionally invest in those you lead because God is preparing them for something He already has prepared for them. The really cool thing is that the leader gets to be part of helping equip other leaders for what God will use them to accomplish. Empower and then encourage.

Gerry sounds like an awesome relational leader.  What impresses you about his answers?