Brian Friedl's Blog, page 6
December 5, 2019
Farmer Wisdom
We literally live in the middle of a field, surrounded on all sides by crops. One year it’s corn and the next it’s beans. So we get to see harvesting up close and personal year after year.
There are some simple, but profound, principles of the harvest that never change:
1) IF YOU DON’T PLANT, IT DON’T GROW – If seeds are left in the bags, you will not reap a harvest.
2) WHAT YOU PLANT IS WHAT GROWS – In all my years of watching this process, I have never seen a farmer plant corn and have beans grow. You reap what you sow.
3) GROWTH TAKES TIME – Plants aren’t ready to harvest immediately. They grow according to the increase God provides; not the farmer’s schedule.
4) THERE WILL BE CROP DAMAGE – There are insects and inclement weather that will still damage the crop as much as we try to prevent it.
5) YOU DONT REAP IF YOU GIVE UP EARY – If the farmer believes he is unable to harvest or gives up early, He will never enjoy the joy of the harvest.
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These principles also apply to the Christian life.
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1) IF YOU DONT PLANT, IT DON’T GROW – Not doing the work of God means there will be no harvest for you to reap.
2) YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW – If you are sowing the word of truth in all of your relationships, you will reap a harvest of life. If you are sowing pride, you will reap corruption and death.
3) GOD’S HARVEST TAKES TIME – Planting and watering in people takes even longer than crops and often times can be frustrating. You water and hope to see growth, but their growth is not completely dependent on your care. Growth happens according to God’s timing, not Yours.
4) THERE WILL BE DAMAGE – We live in a fallen world and each soul has its own free will. As much as we care for those souls, they will self-inflict blows that cause their own lack of growth and difficulty. Likewise, you may also be damaged in the process.
5) GIVING UP EQUALS NO HARVEST – While this is the same principle as with crops, the impact of not harvesting in human terms is eternal. We must not leave the work of the harvest or give up early. Every plant/soul is worth pressing on for.
Luke tells us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…”. Will you join me in solving this problem and invite others to do the same?
What would it look like if we had thousands of co-laborers for Christ, sowing, planting, and watering? God would give the increase, the harvest would be great, and our world would be changed forever!
#MPWarrior
#YouReapWhatYouSow
#FarmerWisdom
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Want to know how to be a co-laborer for Christ?
Grab a copy of my new book on Amazon. It walks you through step by step to understand your identity, mission and how to build a vision and action plan. Click one of the links below:
KINDLE
http://bit.ly/MissionPossibleKB
PAPERBACK
December 4, 2019
We Are Not at Home
6 years ago, I took my first international mission Tripitaka Guatemala. My son and I had to come a day later than the rest of the team. I had never been through customs, nor do I speak Spanish.
We made it through all of the airport checkpoints and walked out the door to find our driver who was supposed to meet us. As we crossed the threshold, the reality we were not at home was very clear.
We heard several people speaking but couldn’t understand what they were saying. It seemed they all wanted us to go with them. I had to listen closely and finally heard someone call me by name.
I enjoyed my trip immensely minus a couple of scary times when our bus was stopped by police and the driver had to pay them off to let us pass. Again, I was reminded that we are not at home.
When we surrender our lives to follow Christ, our eyes are opened and we begin to realize that we are on mission here, but our home is in heaven with God. There are many things for our flesh to enjoy that try coerce us to go with them.
We must listen closely for the voice of God. His word tells us clearly that We are to abstain from the fleshly lusts of this world, keep our eyes fixed on Christ, and put our hands to the work He has prepared for us.
We must not get bogged down with satisfying the flesh and lose site of our mission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Take time daily to thank God for rescuing you, set your mind on your mission, and then take action to fulfill it. The more we focus on carrying out our mission, the less we find ourselves tangled in the lusts available to us here.
#MPWarrior
#ChristAndMissionFocus
#WeAreNotHomeYet
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Want to learn how to stay focused, build a vision, and carry out your mission?
Grab a copy of my new book MISSION POSSIBLE: Living A Life That Matters on Amazon. Click the link below:
KINDLE
http://bit.ly/MissionPossibleKB
PAPERBACK
December 3, 2019
Read It All And Know Him More
Have you noticed the tendency to treat God’s word like a lunch buffet? We pick out all the things we like and then leave the rest behind.
That happens with verses like the one in the image. We like the “…My God will supply all your needs…” part, but the “according to His riches…” part may mean it’s not according to our plan.
This could mean it includes loss that will drive us closer to Him and give us a platform that allows us to encourage thousands of others.
Grief and loss is an odd thing. It is so painful but when shared to encourage others, it can bring hope and healing.
When we remove the limitation of buffet-style reading of God’s word, we find a whole new depth to our relationship with Him.
He draws us to a place where we experience all emotions WITH Him. We not only read about Him, but truly begin to KNOW Him as He walks with us.
Our entire life and all of our experiences become a toolkit for the sake of advancing the Gospel.
God’s intent is not for you to be comfortable, but instead that you would have comfort in His presence while doing the work He has prepared for you.
#MPWarrior
#ReadItAll
#KnowHimMore
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Want to know more about how to use your experiences for to advance the Gospel?
Grab a copy of my new book on Kindle or Paperback at this link:
KINDLE
http://bit.ly/MissionPossibleKB
PAPERBACK
November 29, 2019
Love Them
Over the 31yrs I’ve been professing Christ, I’ve been blessed to see many people receive His call. Prisoners, orphans, any and all who humbled themselves and sought Him found Him.
Sadly, I have also seen some that just couldn’t believe that Jesus was better than whatever vice held them. There were also others who intentionally rebelled against everything God has given.
My heart aches for those who are missing out on the joy available in Jesus.
I am convinced our best option is to love them with the love of Christ. Love can tear down the highest of walls. We cannot win anyone to Christ with judgement.
In the end, there may be some who still choose rebellion over relationship, but we have done our part in the reconciliation of humanity.
Who can you love with the love of Christ today?
#MPWarrior
#TheHimbleReceive
#LovewithTheLoveOfChrist
November 27, 2019
Dive Deep
We already know that God prepared good works for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). So how can we be ready to walk in them? It’s quite simple: spend as much time in the word as possible every day.
Don’t be content with looking at the verse of the day for a few seconds while your doing something else.
Feast on His word as if it is your Thanksgiving meal. Savor every bite and grasp its full flavor. Immerse yourself in the conversations around the table.
Dive deep into the lives of the Bible men and women sharing their lives in Christ with you. Learn from their success and failures as they learned to surrender to God.
Do you have trouble keeping consistent? Try posting the verse(s) that stood out to you most and why on your FB wall each day. People will be grateful and will let you know. At the same time, a natural accountability will result.
You can also select a plan in the Bible app and invite a friend to study along with you. It’s a great way to be more intentional and stay accountable. It’s also more fun!
I’m praying you will accept this challenge that you may be equipped for every good work God has prepared for you.
#MPWarrior
#FeastOnHisWord
#InviteAFriend
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Want to more effectively walk in those good works?
Grab a copy of my new book: MISSIONPOSSIBLE: Living A Life That Matters at this link:
November 26, 2019
Boast In My Weaknesses?
We typically boast in ourselves to hide those weaknesses and insecurities. What if insecurities played no factor in our daily lives? How would our lives be different?
When we became Christians, we received a new identity. We were adopted as sons and daughters of the Most High. Our focus also should have changed from ourselves to Jesus.
We no longer need to look to ourselves for all the answers, but instead to Him. We will continue to fall short even as sons and daughters, but Jesus is our strength.
We can fully trust and boast in Him and His work because they are perfection. We can confidently boast in our weakness because we know that through our weaknesses, His strength is seen by all.
If we try to boast in our strength who will see the power of Christ? We are not only called to lay down the burden of insecurity but in fact, boast in our weaknesses so that Christ may be clearly seen in all His power.
Boast in your weaknesses so that the power of Christ may richly dwell in you.
#MPWarrior
#BoastInYourWeaknesses
#LetHisPowerBeSeen
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Part of living a life that matters is learning that your weakness and brokenness are to be used for the sake of the gospel.
Want to know how you can do that more effectively? Check out my new book: MISSION POSSIBLE: Living A Life That Matters at the link below:
http://bit.ly/MissionPossiblePB
November 25, 2019
Never Forget
It’s easy to remember and cry out to God when things are hard and we are walking through the wilderness. In fact, God at times allows these hard times to happen so that we return to Him.
But what about during the times of prosperity? How quick we are to claim the glory of “our hard work” instead of thanking God for His provision.
We are at a greater risk of forgetting Him when things are going well than when we are struggling. We cannot just put Jesus our back pocket only to pull Him out when we have trouble.
What if you treated our spouse like that? I’m guessing you wouldn’t even qualify to be in the dog house.
The cyclical nature of trials and rest periods is not unlike a Sport. In the off-season, you are training hard to learn and be ready for game time.
You could think of the trials as the off-season. Spend time in His word, journal all the things God is bringing you through, and take time with Him in prayer developing your trust and relationship.
Then, when you are at a place where the trial has subsided, it’s game time. Time to remember all the things you learned from His word.
Read your journal daily to remind yourself of all the good things He has done for you that you may not forget Him during the times of prosperity.
Praise Him for bringing you through and granting you a time of rest and renewal. Let your lips be filled with thanksgiving and praise as you meditate on all His mighty works!
May God bless these efforts to keep Him at the center of our lives now and forever more.
#MPWarrior
#NoBackPocketJesusAllowed
#KeepHimAtTheCenter
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Truly living a life that matters can only happen when we are confident in God, thankful for His provision, and equipped to carry out His mission.
Want to learn more about God’s provision of your design and mission? Need an action plan to get equipped for that mission?
Grab a copy of my new book: MISSION POSSIBLE: Living A Life That Matters at this link:
November 24, 2019
Lay Down Your Life
What greater love is there that someone would lay down their life for yours? We know that Jesus did that exact thing for us and demonstrated His love because we were sinners.
These thoughts should not only move us to love Jesus back but to give ourselves to the body of Christ (believers).
Everyone needs to experience the love of Christ. When we give of ourselves to others, we are sharing that love. While we may not have to lose our lives physically, we ought to lay down our plans and take Up Christ’s attitude and work.
What have you been holding on to that is keeping you from fully following God and giving yourself to His work?
Let it Go and have the same mind as Christ to give all you have for the sake of the gospel. Give of yourself to the brethren (believers)
#MPWarrior
#SurrenderAndServe
#LayDownYourLife
#nofilter
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Want to build a plan to lay down your life for the sake of the gospel?
Grab a copy of my new book MISSION POSSIBLE: Living A Life That Matters at this link
November 18, 2019
Love, Not Lie
Hypocrisy and false profession are alive and well. No greater way do we see it than when a man makes a profession to love God when he likewise professes to hate his brother.
This cannot be love, but instead lies intended to manipulate and get ones way.
For if you cannot love those whom you can see, touch and experience in the physical realm, how will your mind and heart be able to love that which you cannot see?
True love is a choice born out of the realization that God first loved us. When we contemplate the depth of what He went through for us to be with Him, we are struck to the core and are filled with love and gratitude.
This love desires to go to as many people as we can reach. It is not content with staying just with you. It must spread to those around us freely. It penetrates every corner of our being, squashing hate in its path.
Have you held on to some form of hate for a brother or sister? If so, it’s time to go back to the cross and remember the love which God bestowed upon you. You did nothing to receive it, yet He freely gave it to you.
Pray that God’s love would overthrow the hate in your heart and align your mind and emotions with His.
#MPWarrior
#TrueLove
#CannotLoveGodAndHateABrother
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When we truly understand our mission and see people with the same value God sees them with, our whole perspective changes.
Want to make that perspective change? Grab a copy of my new book: MISSION POSSIBLE: Living A Life That matters are the link below;
November 17, 2019
Feed And Protect The Sheep
When I look back at my life, there are periods of time that remind me of the movie The Matrix. I was lost in a world that seemed so real. I was focused on my career, ‘feeding myself’, and carrying out my dreams.
Meanwhile there were sheep to be shepherded and disciples to be made that I didn’t even see. I was too busy living the American dream, paying bills, and landscaping my little kingdom.
I’m so thankful that our Heavenly Father broke through the worldly mirage of ‘my dreams’ to show me His mission for me. Not only did He show me, but also gave me a heart for His sheep.
They need to be fed and guarded from the enemy of prey. They are hungry and craving to be taught to observe all that we have been commanded by our Savior.
As a Christian, we are to to make disciples. God carefully designed and equipped us for that purpose.
If we are to carry out this task, we must choose to unplug our dreams from the worlds system and align them with our true mission.
The flock in your area is under attack. Will you be a shepherd?
#MPWarrior
#UnplugTheWorldsReality
#BeAShepherd
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Want to understand more about how you were designed so you can be a more effective shepherd for God’s people? Grab a copy of my new book MISSION POSSIBLE:Living A Life That Matters at the link below:
