LIVE BOLD.

Min or Max

Greg — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:46:30 +0000

There are two ways to approach life: (1) Minimum amount to make it through – we’ll call them “Min” or (2) Above and beyond expectations – we’ll call them “Max”. It’s not hard to see that most of the world falls into the first group of mins. The world probably appears quite overwhelming, bland, or complicated when you do the very least it takes just to get by. Complaining and dread are usually normal attributes in the daily life of the Min. But the Max, on the other hand, looks at life as an endless opportunity. If there is another bite left on the apple, the Max will take it. In the normal day of the Max, worry has no room nor place in life, and the word “can’t” is understood, but rarely embraced.

The world around us is jam packed with Mins. There are days it feels that we are running out of space in Mindom. But the Max world is wide open and not very populated. There are no long lines, the best fruit is always available, and it seems that favor shines all around them. The Min… views the Max world as spoiled, or elite… but the Max knows that it took long hours and only their best efforts to get there.

Just as it is in our faith life. For all of those who put very little into their faith… you get very little out. In fact, you live in a world that ends up questioning God and His provision for you. God demands our first fruits, our best effort, our ultimate attention. The Max understands this and gives all he has to his faith and lives in the glowing light of Christ all around him. Sure both have good days and bad days… but life is abundant for the Max… and usually only tolerable for the mins.

If you find yourself living in worry, concern, and wondering where God is in your life… take a look at what you are putting into your faith life. The minimum or the maximum?

Doesn’t God deserve our best efforts? And doesn’t it seem natural that the best way to honor God is to use the gifts he’s given you at their maximum potential? Push your way out of the Min crowd… and move over to the wide open spaces of the Max life. God created you to make a difference and live life abundantly… but it takes a little effort.

Peace,
Greg Arnold
Acts 4:31

Inches and Miles

Greg — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:43:26 +0000

Regardless of how you approach life, you will find your way to a poor decision more than once. Some of those momentary lapses can take you to places you never inteded to travel. Your response during these seemingly random chaotic events are the ones that define you.

Too often we only give God an inch to operate… while we allow ourselves miles of leeway to overcome our consequences. Of course, God can operate in small spaces… just look back at your life and see the ways He has righted some wrongs. Our proposed solutions are rarely ever really that good.

God has done some amazing things in the small space you carved out for his provision. Just imagine what He could do if you gave it all to Him! Wouldn’t the results be bigger? More lasting? Honorable?

Regardless of the mess you’ve made… fess up. Come clean. Stop trying to hide the facts and clean up the mess. You don’t have the skill set to do what God can do… so don’t pretend “you’ve got it under control”.

You will have a few more momentary lapses… next time… you take the inch… and give God the mile. Watch how he repairs the broken pieces. It’s awesome.

Confidence

Greg — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:58:35 +0000

Have you ever felt as if God left the room? In the midst of your challenge and at the peak of your prayer… the only thing you hear is the trailing echo of your last “amen”. It’s those moments that you just want to look up to heaven and yell out… GOD! Where are you?!? How are you going to get me out of this?

Raising a child has been one of the most challenging and amazing opportunities I will ever have in this life time. I have learned more about the picture of God’s love, His relationship, and His commitment to me through this process. When my daughter comes to me and asks for help… I give it freely. But more so… I hope to teach her a little each time so she can learn to do things on her own. The toughest part of being a father of “Daddy’s little girl” is stepping back when I know she can accomplish something. It’s that moment when we have to let go of the bicycle seat and allow them to ride freely. The next lesson isn’t riding the bike… it’s building up her confidence.

What kind of person would she grow to be if I never let go of the seat? She would be unsure and lack the confidence needed to survive some of the tough situations that life can offer.

In those times when you feel as if God has left the room, do you think it’s possible that He’s ready for you to move forward? You’ve spent years developing your relationship with Him… but do you have confidence(faith) that He’s equipped you to move through your difficulty?

God is interested in empowering His people to move boldly forward. Christ told His disciples to.. GO! And he came back to them and said again… with the confidence of the Holy Spirit… Go!

It’s hard for me to let go and potentially see my child struggle as she learns how to implement the things I’m teaching her… but it’s necessary for her if she is going to grow into a mature, capable, confident, person.

I don’t think God wants to see us struggle… but I also don’t think He would turn us loose if He didn’t think we were ready. Our Faith in God grows stronger when we realize that we are equipped to move forward and actually do the work he’s designed for us.