Word of God Speaks

Have you ever heard the voice of God?  I'll be honest, I have never heard an audible, out loud, from the Heavens, burning bush voice.  But I know God has indeed spoken to me.

I hear people say, "God spoke to me" and just naturally assume they heard God as if I was talking to them.

There have been more than a few times in my life where I have either had a dream, or a vision (which I would usually chalk up as an overactive imagination) and that very thing come to be true.  I remember several years ago when I was a youth pastor and the senior pastor was on a trip, I didn't know he had asked his wife to speak for him on Wednesday night service, but I woke up Wednesday morning with the faint remembrance of dreaming to be ready to speak to the church for Wednesday night service.  Going in the office doing my regular duties the Pastor's wife came in and looked distraught, I asked if everything was okay and she proceeded to tell me she didn't want to speak that night and didn't know what to do. I shared with her my "dream" and that night was able to ease her mind and speak to the church what I had prepared because of God's "unction."  There have been many times this has happened to me, sometimes at night while sleeping other times during the day in front of my open eyes in technicolor.

About a month ago I had one of those "God speaks" moments.

Over the last few weeks I've felt like my life has been one single focus of placing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together.  Honestly, some of it has been exciting, like when you're working a puzzle and find that piece that completes the border so you can then start on the middle.  I look back at some of the messages I've shared and clearly see God's hand and what He orchestrated months later as more pieces come together.

While I've not heard God's voice like I think Moses did, "Moses! Moses! Take off your sandals for you are standing on Holy ground."  I do hear God speak, He confirms it in many ways.

As I type this I know I'm being very vague but I hope it helps someone out there to know, there is a God who loves you and if you'll listen He does speak.  For me, one day when the dust settles and all the pieces come in full connection to each other I'll be able to bring my children to this post and say, "remember when that thing happened and all that stuff happened that you thought or others thought didn't make sense?  Look I posted this long before those things happened because God was already at work, God already had given me courage to do what needed to be done, God already confirmed, God spoke and took care of things long before we ever even thought what should we do."  And my children and others will be able to look at the faithfulness of God even in the times they can't hear him speak.

Blocks, Scaffolding and Rocks

During my time in the restaurant business; I managed with the mindset, "people are our greatest assets."
After all, buildings become outdated, tools need revamping, equipment breaks down; but people, people can learn, grow, bend, and adapt. People are our greatest assets.

Then along comes, Jim Collins with his book, "Good to Great" where he expounds on the thought with the "First Who then What" principle and explains that people are not our greatest assets---the RIGHT people are and furthermore the right people in the right spot.
At first glance this sounds like a heartless and even manipulative statement. But I've discovered it's mainly heartless and manipulative leaders who think that; because they interpret out of how they see. (Every one's toes okay? Whew good, I know that wasn't for anyone reading this anyway)

It's true. While we as leaders want everyone to run with the vision, the truth is not everyone will.
I've discovered there are three types of people who run with vision you have.
1. People who run with you.
2. People who don't run with you but hang out for the after party.
3. People who run with you for a while, then change tracks.

I love how my friend, Barry Morton, who church planted four years ago, puts it (as he quotes a mentor of his)
"Some people are like scaffolding; they're important and valuable for the beginning stages of the building, but eventually have to come down."

This is important to know when building, because some simply won't go the distance. They will find something "that needs their help" or "is just getting started"---and they will go.
Don't get discouraged with "scaffolding people."

In building; rocks, blocks and scaffolding all have their place. It's important to know what their place is and allow them to contribute to the level they can.

Getting the right people in the right spot makes all the difference as you lead with vision.