Thursday, September 28, 2006
Stress Hardiness By Loretta LaRoche
| Stress Hardiness |
| By Loretta LaRoche |
| Dr. Suzanne Kobasa developed the concept of Stress Hardiness, or resistance to stress, at City University in New York. Dr. Kobasa has studied many groups of people who have very stressful occupations. Those who seem to cope with their job stress, having a "hardiness" to it, have three specific characteristics. How do these apply to you?
Commitment: People who are high in commitment are fully involved in what they are doing and they give it their best effort--best shot. They have a curiosity about whatever is happening to them versus feelings of alienation from people or the environment. Control: People who feel that they can influence events and surroundings, who feel that they can make things happen. They a strong sense of self-efficacy and an internal locus of control versus feelings of powerlessness or feeling like a victim of circumstances. Challenge: People who take on life as a challenge welcome new situations for the opportunities to learn, to grow, to develop on a personal level, rather than looking at everything new as a possible threat. I add a fourth "C" to this profile: Closeness: Everyone who wants to be stress hardy must have one person or one hundred people with whom to share the stress, a confidante who is willing to be there when times are tough. |
| Have Fun Now! |
| by Loretta LaRoche |
|
The latest research on stress states that it can lead to weight gain, especially in the abdominals. So, what’s new? Stress is now the leading cause of just about everything. Not a day goes by without some article reporting on the increasing stress levels in modern-day America. The more you read about it, the more you begin to feel that you are constantly under assault. Whenever I meet someone for the first time and they find out I teach stress management, they immediately say, “Oh, maybe you can help me, I’m so stressed out.” I think we’re all aware now that everyone is crazed, fatigued and close to burnout. The constant need to discuss our stress does nothing but create more stress. It also trains the brain to act like a rat in a never-ending maze of self torture. I think we all get caught up in thinking that our very existence depends on how much we accomplished on any given day. No one ever approaches you and says, “I’m such a mess I had too much fun today.” This would be a totally illogical statement because fun cancels out stress. The chemistry of fun reduces our anxiety and puts us in the moment. When we’re totally in the present it allows our mind to stop punishing us with its incessant demands to keep going at all costs. Perhaps the way to handle stress is to give yourself permission to spend equal amounts of time thinking about how to enjoy yourself. If you’ve spent 10 minutes worrying about what you haven’t done, spend the next 10 minutes thinking about some fabulous thing you can do for yourself or with your friends and family. Imagine the event and how wonderful it will feel. It may be difficult at first, because I think a lot of us have been taught to think fun, pleasure and laughter are something to be earned. My mother used to tell me that I could have fun when I was done with my chores, or my homework, or any number of things. It always felt that life was an endless waiting room. And that someday I would finally get my turn to enjoy myself. Don’t wait! Incorporate fun into as many moments as you can. At the end of life your eulogy should contain a list of all the wonderful things you did for yourself and others. No one will care about how many closets you cleaned, or how often you endured your overburdened, stressed-out existence. I’ve never seen a tombstone that said ...Finished their To-Do list ... Finally Done! Copyright 2002 The Patriot Ledger |
"passing the ball in conversations". Ken Blanchard
"passing the ball in conversations".
September 07, 2005
For Labor Day Weekend I spent time with my wife's godfather, Ken Blanchard, on one of the Finger Lakes in Skaneateles, New York. Many people know Ken Blanchard as the NY Times best-selling author/co-author of The One Minute Manager , The Leadership Pill , Whale Done , Lead Like Jesus and many other best-selling books. I know Ken as a great source of inspirational wisdom. Ken Blanchard always has great 'nuggets' of information. He is adept at taking very complex issues and using very simple metaphors to educate or train people. It's why his One Minute Manager was so successful. But in addition to Ken Blanchard's use of metaphors for training in the business world, Ken has become adept at simply analyzing the various trials & tribulations in life and using metaphors to put them in perspective.
One of my favorite Ken "words of wisdom" is when he told me about "passing the ball in conversations". Essentially what this means is when someone is telling you a story don't "steal the ball" by changing the topic ever so slightly by relating it to a story in your life.
Here's an example:
John: I was at a Yankees game yesterday and there was this really drunk 300lb Red Sox fan that started punching a guy and his wife. I stepped in to try and break it up and the guy hit me in the head. <pauses for Sue to reply>
Sue: <steals the ball> Yeah I don't like Yankee Stadium. It's way too rowdy for me. I was there last year and I had a beer fall on my head. It's also a pain in the butt to get out of there. It took me forever to get home. I do like the hot dogs at the Stadium though. Do you know what brand they are?
Instead of Sue asking John if he was OK or what happened next in the story, did the police arrest the guy etc., she instead tried to relate one of her life experiences. She stole the ball. Now don't get me wrong, relating your own similar life experience is perfectly fine, but only after the person telling the story "passes the ball" to you. You can tell when someone passes the ball when there is a moment of silence on the conversation or if in this example John asked her a question such as "So can you believe what happened to me?" Then the ball has been passed.
It's actually a form of selfishness when you steal the ball to apply your own "spin" without first exhausting the person's story. For what ever reason people in some cultures seem to do better at passing the pass rather than stealing it. I leave it to you to ponder which cultures are more adept at passing the ball.
I know a few people in my personal life that are notorious ball stealers. You know who you are and I know you are reading this!
If people spent more time listening and asking questions of the other person this world would be a lot friendlier.
Thanks Ken for the insights and I look forward to more nuggets of wisdom next year!
Three secrets of the one-minute manager Blanchard, Kenneth
- Abstract- The credo of the one-minute manager rests on the implementation of three ideas, namely: the need to establish clear-cut goals, the need to praise good performance, and the need to reprimand people when their performance fails to contribute to the attainment of commonly agreed goals. This three basic ideas are known as the three secrets of the one-minute manager, namely: one-minute goals, one-minute praisings and one-minute reprimands.
The First Secret: One-Minute Goals. All good performance starts with clear goals. If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there. This is about as fundamental as God, mother and apple pie. If we were going to improve the performance of people all over this country, the simplest and easiest way would be to make sure people have clear goals.
I had breakfast recently with Lou Holtz, the head coach for Notre Dame. Holtz showed me a little book he had for himself and for each of his players where everyone sets individuals goals in addition to some team goals each season. I asked him why he used these books and he responded, "Of all my experiences in managing people, the power of goal setting is the most incredible."
It is amazing how often people are told about the power of goal setting, yet how few times there is agreement between what a person says their job involves and what their manager says it involves. Goals still tend to be set in organizations after someone does something wrong or doesn't do what is expected. Then the goal is made clear.
The secret of One-Minute Goals is simply to agree on your goals upfront so that you know what good behavior looks like. Make sure you write out each of your goal on a single sheet of paper or index card. Limit the number of goals to three to five. Identify what the present level of performance is on each goal and then what level is desired. The discrepancy between the actual and the desired goal becomes the area for improvement. Choose a deadline for reaching that new level. Make several copies of your goals for home and work so you can refer to them daily. Look at your goals, then look at your behaviorand see if your behavior matches your goals.
The Second Secret: One-Minute Praisings. Of all the things I've taught over the years, I can't say enough about the importance of praising. The key to developing people will always be to concentrate on catching them doing something right instead of something wrong. Yet most people are still managed by being basically left alone until they make a mistake that's noticeable and then their boss criticizes them. I call that a "leavealone zap" management style or "Sea gull management." Sea gull managers fly in, make a lot of noise, dump on everyone, and then fly out.
Tell people upfront that you are going to let them know how they are doing. Then there are three main things you need to emphasize with praisings. First, be immediate. Don't save praisings for a holiday. Second, be specific. Just saying to someone, "good job," is nice but it is not very helpful because they do not know specifically what is good so that they could do it again. Third, share your feelings about their work. Tell people how good you feel about what they did that was right, and how it helps the organization and the other people who work there. Stop for a moment of silence to let them enjoy "feeling" how good you feel. End with a reaffirmation and encourage them to keep up the good work.
Remember to praise progress even if it is only approximately right. Perfect behavior is a journey that happens one step at a time. A manager's job is to manage the progress toward the goal. A good manager thus constantly looks for opportunities to praise progress or to redirect.
The Third Secret: One-Minute Reprimands. What do you do when people do not perform well or make limited or no progress toward their goals? You have to hold them accountable.
The first alternative for poor performance should be redirection, which means going back to goal setting trying to find out what went wrong and getting them back on track. Never reprimand or punish a learner -- you'll immobilize them. If you are dealing with somebody who knows better, who as performed a similar task well in the past, then a One-Minute Reprimand might be appropriate.
Tell people beforehand that you are going to let them know -- in no uncertain terms how they are doing. Reprimand people immediately. Tell people exactly how you feel about what they did wrong. Pause to help your transition from your feelings to set-up the last and probably the most important part of a reprimand: reaffirmation. Reaffirm that you think well of them but not of their performance in this situation. Your intent is to get them back on course, not to try to make them feel badly. Remind them how much you value them. Realize that when the reprimand is over, it's over.
One of my favorite statements of late is from Dan Ferguson, chairman of the board of the Newell Company, a billion dollar manufacturing company in the home supply field. He told me he is most effective as a manager when he thinks of himself as the sixth man on a basketball team. When they want to call him into the game he is happy to play, but if they don't need him he is also happy to stay on the sidelines and cheer.
To me, the Three Secrets can help you be the coach in the workplace, at home or on the playing field. Share the secrets with your people, use them as needed and get your people to use them as well. You'll all perform better as a result.
One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard
One Minute Manager
by Ken Blanchard
Goal Setting is Overrated
If you want people to be good, you need to set up the situation where they can perform well.
When I first met Don Shula to talk about the possibility of writing a book together, the first question I asked him was, "What are your goals for this year?" He quickly responded, "I think goal setting is overrated." The answer certainly got my attention. After all, the first secret of The One Minute Manager was one minute goal setting, and I have believed for a long time that all good performance starts with clear goals.
When I responded with some surprise, Don explained his thinking. He essentially argued that in any competitive industry, everybody basically has the same goals. In summer camp, every NFL coach stands in front of his team and, at a minimum, says: "We want to win. We want to make the playoffs." If they have halfway decent talent, they want to win the playoffs and get in the Super Bowl.
When I thought about it, I saw that Don was right. There is not that much difference in the goals that competitive companies have. Today, companies want to be customer-driven, cost-effective, fast and flexible, and continually improving. They want to be sound financially.
Don argued that the reason he's won more games than any NFL coach is not because he has better goals but because he is willing to pay the price to do what it takes day in and day out to prepare his people for goal accomplishment. When he injured his Achilles tendon last year and had to have an operation, he missed his first practice in 25 years while coaching the Dolphins.
Don has two goals when it comes to preparing people for goal accomplishment. He wants people so prepared for accomplishing their assignment that they can go on autopilot. As a result, that means they don't have to think about what it takes to do their job. It frees them up mentally to be alert to the possibility of making something big happen. If front-line employees don't even know the policies and procedures for their jobs, they can't go out of their way to create a raving-fan customer with service excellence.
Don's second preparation goal is that he wants his people so prepared that when the big play comes, they want the ball coming their way. He doesn't want a defensive halfback who's praying that the opponent throws the ball to the other side of the field. A prepared person wants the action coming his or her way. If an important customer must be served, a prepared employee wants to be the one to take on that challenge.
When Don and I were doing a seminar in Chicago with some 500 people in the audience, I asked, "How many of you have at least a two-day orientation program before any new employees can report to their job?" Only 12 people raised their hands.
That was mind-blowing to Don. He couldn't imagine rookies and free agents coming to his camp, given their locker assignments and told to find out how things were done around there from their teammates. Rookies and free agents are treated as veterans, so that Shula and his staff can orient them to their philosophy, work ethic and procedures. If you want people to be good, you need to set up the situation where they can perform well. Too many organizations are too haphazard in training their people.
When it comes to managing organizations, I think Don is right. Goal setting starts behavior, but what makes the biggest difference is what you do after the goals are set to observe, monitor and provide feedback for your people so that they can be at their very best. All good performance starts with clear goals, but what really keeps it going is what happens after the goals are set.
About the author . . .
Ken Blanchard is co-author of the best-selling One Minute Manager series of books. He has written and co-authored 11 other books. His latest book is Everyone's a Coach, co-authored with Don Shula.
© 1995 by Blanchard Management Report, Blanchard Training and Development Inc., Attn.: Bob Nelson, Publisher, 125 State Place, Escondido, CA 92029. Past articles, interviews and subscriptions are available. Telephone (800) 728-6000, ext. 528, fax (619) 489-8407.
Music Ministry Revival part102
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of God is accompanied by a wave of Music "Evangelist". If you want to perceive the temperature of the revival , look at the move of music in the region. 
not against flesh (agents) and blood, but against principalities, powers and rulers. Behind every music high priest of narcism, sadomasochistic, sex, and perversion there is a principality, powers and ruler. 
ushered in by the Hymn-lite singing and praise and worship. Music Ministry Revival is a three pronged movement. 
GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH!
usic Ministry Revival, Music Ministry harvest angels come. Music Ministry...angels of revival come... awaken Lord. Send your glory. Send your glory... send your glory and change the atmosphere in the Music Ministry. Fire of God come. Light of God come. Go forth Light of God. Breathe ... wind of God, breathe into the Music Ministry, now in Jesus name. 
Matt Sorger: "ROSH HASHANAH AND TEN DAYS OF AWE--WHAT WE SOW NOW WILL DETERMINE THE DIRECTION FOR TH
Matt Sorger: "ROSH HASHANAH AND TEN DAYS OF AWE--WHAT WE SOW NOW WILL DETERMINE THE DIRECTION FOR THE COMING YEAR"
SEPTEMBER IS SPIRITUALLY SIGNIFICANT
This is an important prophetic word recently given to Matt Sorger before Rosh Hashanah regarding significant spiritual shifts that will be happening as we enter this New Year. Please prayerfully read this article as God prepares us for this next season.
Rosh Hashanah is one of the highest holy days on the Jewish calendar. I have come to understand that God works in times and seasons, and never does anything haphazardly. Over the last four years since God first launched us out into the healing ministry, I've always noticed that each year, September would be a significant month spiritually for us. It was in September of 2002, that our ministry was birthed, and each September following, God has brought a significant change and transition.
It was only this last year that I discovered that September marks the first month of the original Jewish calendar with Rosh Hashanah marking the first day of the New Year. I gained a revelation and understanding that the Jewish Feasts and Holy Days mark important times and seasons in the Spirit. God still works in line with His original calendar.
A TIME OF TRANSITION AND CHANGE--REALIGNMENTS ARE HAPPENING
Coming into September 2006, the Lord began to more seriously speak to me about the coming New Year. He showed me that it would indeed again be a time of transition and change. Often times when the Lord brings change, there comes a realignment of things and there is a cutting away that happens. This brings a realignment of the Body, so that we are in the right place at the right time for the purposes of the Kingdom.
I believe for many in the Body of Christ, they are entering into a new season in their lives where God is calling them to leave the old behind and step into the new. Things of the past that have hindered and impeded our forward motion must be left behind if we are to move upward in God's purpose and call. It truly is a time where God is stripping and removing everything that would hinder our race in Him.
As we transition into the new, we must understand what He is doing, and what things He is requiring of us to leave behind. This transition will be different for each one of us depending on God's unique plan and destiny for our lives. We must have an ear to hear Him in this season.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO CARBON COPY OLD PATTERNS
God is breaking out of the box. We must be very careful in this next season not to pattern ourselves after models of the past, even good models. We must not carbon copy ourselves after patterns of ministry that worked in the last season. God is doing a new thing.
To move into the new wineskin, we must remain very pliable and sensitive to what God is doing, and how He is moving. This will require a keen sensitivity to His voice, and a boldness not to blend in and go with the flow. It will require a heart of total obedience and death to self.
A QUICK SEASON OF SOWING AND REAPING
We are entering into a season of quick sowing and reaping. It says in Genesis 26:12-14, "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him." Isaac sowed into his land of inheritance and reaped a hundredfold that very same year. It was a quick sowing and reaping leading to great prosperity and blessing.
We are in a season now of quick sowing and reaping. We will sow, and in the same year, see the harvest. There will be a quick turn around of sowing and reaping, for good or for bad. What we plant will yield a quick harvest. We must be very careful what we sow with our mouths, attitudes, hidden thoughts, and intents of the heart. Nothing is hidden from God. In this season, we must be very careful what we are sowing.
OVERCOMING ENVY AND JEALOUSY
As Isaac prospered, not everyone was happy with his blessing. He had to contend with the envy and jealousy of the Philistines (Genesis 26:15-18). Let's stop here for a moment to learn an important spiritual truth we must know for this next season:
As you begin to reap the harvest God has for you, not everyone will rejoice with you. Envy and jealousy can take on a very "self-righteous" face, and even be hidden from the jealous person's own heart. When they see another person being blessed and prospering, something inside of them might say, "Well, who do they think they are?"
This is a good test to see if you have a pure heart or a heart of envy. When someone else shares about the goodness and blessing of God, do you respond with a negative attitude wondering who that person thinks they are? Or do you rejoice in the blessing of God on that person's life? Your response reveals what is truly in your heart. We may even feel a sense of "conviction" that our response is holy and Godly, not realizing that the root is actually fleshly and demonic. Jealousy can take on a lot of outward masks, but God sees the heart.
We must be prepared that not everyone will rejoice when God's blessing is released. We must not let man's rejection discourage us from possessing the full inheritance God has promised us. Rather than getting bitter at their rejection, Isaac continued on digging the wells of his father Abraham, even in the valley. Eventually those who rejected and pushed Isaac away, saw that God was truly with him, and decided they would be better off as friends than enemies (Genesis 26:28). When you keep a pure heart, God's justice and truth prevail in the end.
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS--BEGINNING A NEW YEAR SPIRITUALLY
Leviticus 23:23-32 shares about the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. There is both historical and prophetic significance in each feast. The first three feasts deal with the first coming of Christ, while the last three look forward to His Second Coming. Each feast will be fulfilled historically through the life of Christ.
The Feasts still hold great significance for us today.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, "Think not that I have come to destroy the Law, orthe prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Colossians 2:16-17, also indicates that these feasts are a "shadow of things to come." Things that have been concealed in the Old Testament, have now been revealed through the life of Christ.
September 23, 2006, marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, beginning the spiritual New Year. This day begins the period known as the Ten Days of Awe, and ends in Yom Kippur and the Day of Atonement. Rash Hashanah is also known as the Feast of Trumpets. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, during this festival the Jewish people pray for God's forgiveness, for a good new year, and for long life. According to Jewish tradition, this day is the beginning of God's annual judgment of humanity.
During this spiritual season, the eyes of God are searching our hearts. It is a time to:
1. Humble ourselves before God and let Him search and judge our hearts. We must
have a contrite attitude and repent of all sin.
2. Pray God's blessing over the New Year.
3. Pray God's blessing for a long and healthy life in Christ.
The World Book Encyclopedia also indicates that Jewish services on Rash Hashanah emphasize judgment, penitence, and forgiveness. A shofar is blown to call the people to a place of repentance from sin, and to be awakened to a holy service to God.
A MOVEMENT OF HOLINESS AND POWER
During this season, there is a call going out to holiness and power!
As we transition into the new season, we will see two very important streams running parallel to each other in the Church. There will be a stream of very deep holiness, along with a stream of extraordinary power.
The days of mixture are over--where people have operated in the anointing in public and lived in sin in private. God is calling us to a higher standard and to a place of spiritual maturity. God is bringing the Church into a place of true sonship. For this to happen, we must experience His holy, loving discipline, so we can mature into the place of holiness and power that He is calling us into.
God is dealing with all mixture in the heart of the Church, corporately and individually. There is a greater glory coming, and in order to hold its weight, we must have a firm, strong foundation. For example, when you are building the foundation of a house, it must be strong in order to handle the weight. As the cement is mixed, there can be no sand or stone mixed in with it, or it will become weak and brittle. When the weight of the house is placed on top of it, it will crack and break. As the power of God increases on the Church, we must have an even more solid foundation.
In this season of Awakening, we will see two parallel streams--Holiness and Power. God is taking all the mixture out, so we can handle the pure power of the Holy Spirit. We don't always know what is in our hearts. If there is something that must be purged, God will purge it. This is a time and a season where we need to humble ourselves, and let God search and cleanse our hearts.
WHAT WE SOW NOW WILL DETERMINE THE DIRECTION FOR THE COMING YEAR
The position we take before God will determine the direction of the rest of the year. What we sow now will release a harvest for the coming year. Rosh Hashanah is known as the "Head of the Year." Jewish tradition says that this day marks the anniversary of the creation of the world, and is the day when God takes stock of creation. Just as the head directs the body, so God's judgments on Rosh Hashanah direct the events of the coming year.
I shared earlier, that it is very important what we sow during this season. The seeds we sow will come into quick harvest. Since Rosh Hashanah begins a season of God's judgment, we must be very careful not to sow seeds of judgment into the lives of others. When I talk about God's judgment, some will jump on that and say, "Yeah! Man is so sinful, God is just going to destroy the world!"
When I say judgment, I don't mean God's destruction. God's judgment is always redemptive, and His discipline is always in love and with encouragement. Correction that comes without encouragement is not from God's heart. His discipline always encourages us to rise higher; it never discourages us nor knocks us down. That is usually the work of a critical, judgmental spirit.
In Matthew 7:1-2, Jesus exhorts His disciples "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
We must be sure to keep a humble heart and not sow critical, fault-finding judgment into the lives of others. That kind of judgment will release a harvest you don't want in your life. The measure you sow will equal the measure that comes back to you.
God will allow this reaping to expose what is in our own hearts. Many times we don't even know everything that is within us, nor what is driving us to feel the things we feel. Usually false judgment starts with an offense. That offense may not even be grounded in absolute truth. It may result just from a difference of opinion or style. We think our way is better and become critical of others. This is actually a self-righteous spirit and does not communicate the pure heart of God.
DISCERNMENT VS. ACCUSATION--KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE
It is important to understand the difference between discernment and accusation. Spiritually immature people don't know how to distinguish the two. They begin to operate in a spirit of accusation thinking they are operating with the heart of God, when they are actually coming into agreement with the wrong voice--the voice of the enemy. The enemy's voice can sound very self-righteous and indignant. If we are not spiritually mature enough to check our inward attitudes, we can easily come into agreement with this voice and become a "crusader" for judgment and accusation, thinking we are helping people by pointing out everything we think is wrong.
This can be a dangerous place when we step into agreement with the accuser of the brethren, and begin to sow division rather than love, encouragement, and restoration in people's lives. God has called us to be agents of healing and love, not division. Be very careful that your discernment doesn't cross the line into accusation. Those are seeds you do not want to be sowing.
When we are operating in true discernment from the Holy Spirit, our hearts will overflow with love for that individual and we will respond like Jesus. Jesus laid His life down for others. If we ever discern something negative in someone's life, that does not give us the right to bring the correction we think is needed, unless we are in such a relationship and place of authority in that person's life that we are able to speak with love and encouragement.
We must learn that there are levels in the army of God. Privates don't correct generals. Generals correct generals. There is a divine order in God's Kingdom. The main purpose for discernment is prayer. If we lay down our lives for others in loving prayer, then God's hand will move beautifully in their hearts bringing the change that is needed, and we don't even have to say a word. It is actually a form of spiritual pride to think we are God's agent of correction. Our job is to pray with a right spirit, and then speak only if we have earned that place in a person's life through a loving relationship, trust, and humility. Proverbs 27:6 says "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." The key word here is "friend." These wounds are easily healed because they are full of heartfelt love.
Jesus never threw stones or spoke hurtful words. He rebuked the religious people from time to time, but never cast stones at those caught in a sin. He would confront sin when needed, but at the same time would offer perfect, eternal love with a heart of mercy and restoration. We must hate sin, but always remember to love the sinner. We must also be careful not to judge someone just because they have a different style or way of doing things. Style is not a sin issue. Man judges by the external, but God always looks at the heart. We must be careful to look with God's eyes and not our own.
A GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK
If you have ever been the victim of false accusation or judgment, it is a good time to take stock of your own heart and ask yourself, "Have I ever sowed this into someone else's life? Have I ever had a critical, fault-finding attitude towards someone else?" Maybe you have, maybe you haven't. But it is good to check. Sometimes we have such a sense of conviction with our judgments, that we are sure we have God's heart. Not always. We can be sincere, but sincerely wrong about another individual. We are all susceptible to this deception if not careful.
As we move into the next season God has for us, the position to take is that of humility, searching, and judging our own hearts, so that we ourselves are not judged. It is also a time to pray for God's blessing and favor on the New Year.
TEN DAYS OF AWE
Following Rash Hashanah is the Ten Days of Awe leading into The Day of Atonement on October 2, 2006.
The Day of Atonement is the day that the High Priest would go into the Holy of Holies, and apply the blood of the sacrifice to the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the people from the previous year. There was no barrier between the High Priest and the fully manifested glory of God.
I believe that as we humble ourselves before God, and embrace the sacrifice of the cross in a new way in our lives, we will experience a depth of intimacy and communion with God deeper than we have ever known before. There will be no barrier between us and the glory as we embrace the work of the cross. Humility opens the way for us to go deeper into a pure communion with God.
It will be out of this place that we reap the amazing Harvest that is awaiting us. Not only a harvest of God's mercy and love in our own lives, but a harvest of global proportions as we see the heart of humanity turn towards God in this last hour.
Get ready to move in His extraordinary power based in a life of holiness, humility, and extraordinary love. The best is yet to come!
By Matt Sorger
Matt Sorger Ministries
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Americans' 10 Biggest Wastes of Money
By Chris Pummer
When it comes to blowing money, we Americans have no peers. We are the world champions of frivolous spending and we have the record level of personal debt to
prove it.
How profligate are we? New Jersey dental-school student Steven Toth posted a mystery item on eBay last year under the title “The Biggest Waste of Money” and got a high bid of $136 from the last of 36 bidders -- for a piece of paper on which he scribbled that phrase.
Vintage Appliance.
Vintage Appliance.
To serve this present age, you will need some new appliances.
The old techniques, methods and enabling that has carried you to this point, were applicable for the past.
Specifically, your past sacrificial prayer, song, worship are not sufficient to meet the needs of this present age.
The Great Depression of the 1930s priced a Gas Stove appliance at $19.95. 2006 Mag
ic Chef stoves price range from Price: $699.99 to $3,799.99 at Best Buy.
Your past sacrifices met the needs of yesterday. You may nee
d to inquire about the new prices the 2006 appliances. Consider getting some assistance in moving and discarding the old appliances. You can help a protégé' tool-up for their maiden journey.
Count the cost of meeting and serving the present age.
The present Age may call for a:
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realignment
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reeducation
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retooling
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reassignment
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reenlistment
African Archbishop Gets Excommunicated
The Vatican said Milingo, 76, was "automatically excommunicated" under church law for the ordination of the men a few days earlier. The Archdiocese of Washington said Sunday that the installations were not valid.
Milingo is in "a condition of irregularity and of progressive, open break with communion with the Church," the Vatican said in a statement.
The four men claim affiliation with the breakaway Synod of Old Catholic Churches.
In its announcement of the excommunication, the Vatican accused Milingo of "sowing division and dismay among the faithful."
Milingo has long had a troubled relationship with the Vatican. In 2001, he was married to a South Korean acupuncturist chosen for him by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, in a group wedding ceremony. Upon appeal from Pope John Paul II, he later renounced that union.
He gained a strong following in a church where he had been stationed near Rome because of his reputation of being an exorcist. Before his marriage, Catholic officials accused him of promoting African indigenous beliefs by performing mass exorcisms and healing ceremonies.
Rosh Hashanah and the Ten Days of Awe - Transitioning Into Spiritual Awakening - Part Two
This is the conclusion of a prophetic word Matt Sorger received recently as we approached the Jewish New Year. Please read and pray over it carefully as we enter into this New Year. God bless.
TO LISTEN TO MATT SHARE THIS WORD LIVE PLEASE CLICK HERE.
WHAT WE SOW NOW WILL DETERMINE THE DIRECTION FOR THE COMING YEAR
The position we take before God will determine the direction of the rest of the year. What we sow now will release a harvest for the coming year. Rosh Hashanah is known as the "Head of the Year". Jewish tradition says that this day marks the anniversary of the creation of the world and is the day when God takes stock of creation. Just as the head directs the body so God's judgments on Rosh Hashanah direct the events of the coming year.
I shared earlier that it is very important what we sow during this season. The seeds we sow will come into quick harvest. Since Rosh Hashanah begins a season of God's judgment, we must be very careful not to sow seeds of judgment into the lives of others. When I talk about God's judgment some will jump on that and say 'Yeah! Man is so sinful God is just going to destroy the world!' When I say judgment I don't mean God's destruction. God's judgment is always redemptive and His discipline is always in love and with encouragement. Correction that comes without encouragement is not from God's heart. His discipline always encourages us to rise higher; it never discourages us nor knocks us down. That is usually the work of a critical, judgmental spirit.
In Mt 7:1-2 Jesus exhorts His disciples "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
We must be sure to keep a humble heart and not sow critical, fault finding judgment into the lives of others. That kind of judgment will release a harvest you don't want in your life. The measure you sow will equal the measure that comes back to you.
God will allow this reaping to expose what is in our own hearts. Many times we don't even know everything that is within us, nor what is driving us to feel the things we feel. Usually false judgment starts with an offense. That offense may not even be grounded in absolute truth. It may result just from a difference of opinion or style. We think our way is better and become critical of others. This is actually a self righteous spirit and does not communicate the pure heart of God.
DISCERNMENT V. ACCUSATION – KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE
It is important to understand the difference between discernment and accusation. Spiritually immature people don't know how to distinguish the two. They begin to operate in a spirit of accusation thinking they are operating with the heart of God when they are actually coming into agreement with the wrong voice, the voice of the enemy. The enemy's voice can sound very self righteous and indignant. If we are not spiritually mature enough to check our inward attitudes we can easily come into agreement with this voice and become a 'crusader' for judgment and accusation thinking we are helping people by pointing out everything we think is wrong. This can be a dangerous place when we step into agreement with the accuser of the brethren and begin to sow division rather than love, encouragement and restoration in people's lives. God has called us to be agents of healing and love, not division. Be very careful that your discernment doesn't cross the line into accusation. Those are seeds you do not want to be sowing.
When we are operating in true discernment from the Holy Spirit our hearts will overflow with love for that individual and we will respond like Jesus. Jesus laid His life down for others. If we ever discern something negative in someone's life that does not give us the right to bring the correction we think is needed, unless we are in such a relationship and place of authority in that person's life that we are able to speak with love and encouragement. We must learn that there are levels in the army of God. Privates don't correct generals. Generals correct generals. There is a divine order in God's Kingdom. The main purpose for discernment is prayer. If we lay down our lives for others in loving prayer, then God's hand will move beautifully in their hearts bringing the change that is needed and we don't even have to say a word. It is actually a form of spiritual pride to think we are God's agent of correction. Our job isto pray with a right spirit and then speak only if we have earned that place in a person's life through loving relationship, trust and humility. Prov. 27:6 says "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." The key word here is 'friend'. These wounds are easily healed because they are full of heartfelt love.
Jesus never threw stones or spoke hurtful words. He rebuked the religious people from time to time, but never cast stones at those caught in a sin. He would confront sin when needed but at the same time would offer perfect, eternal love with a heart of mercy and restoration. We must hate sin, but always remember to love the sinner. We must also be careful not to judge someone just because they have a different style or way of doing things. Style is not a sin issue. Man judges by the external, but God always looks at the heart. We must be careful to look with God's eyes and not our own.
A GOOD TIME TO TAKE STOCK
If you have ever been the victim of false accusation or judgment, it is a good time to take stock of your own heart and ask yourself, "Have I ever sowed this into someone else's life? Have I ever had a critical, fault-finding attitude toward someone else?" Maybe you have, maybe you haven't. But it is good to check. Sometimes we have such a sense of conviction with our judgments that we are sure we have God's heart. Not always. We can be sincere, but sincerely wrong about another individual. We are all susceptible to this deception if not careful.
As we move into the next season God has for us, the position to take is that of humility, searching and judging our own hearts so that we ourselves are not judged. It is also a time to pray for God's blessing and favor on the New Year.
Following Rash Hashanah is the Ten Days of Awe leading into The Day of Atonement on Oct. 2, 2006.
The Day of Atonement is the day the High Priest would go into the Holy of Holies and apply the blood of the sacrifice to the mercy seat to atone for the sins of the people from the previous year. There was no barrier between the High Priest and the full manifested glory of God.
I believe that as we humble ourselves before God and embrace the sacrifice of the cross in a new way in our lives, we will experience a depth of intimacy and communion with God deeper than we have ever known before. There will be no barrier between us and the glory as we embrace the work of the cross. Humility opens the way for us to go deep into a pure communion with God.
It will be out of this place that we reap the amazing Harvest that is awaiting us. Not only a harvest of God's mercy and love in our own lives, but a harvest of global proportions as we see the heart of humanity turn towards God in this last hour. Get ready to move in His extraordinary power based in a life of holiness, humility and extraordinary love. The best is yet to come!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Rosh Hashanah and the Ten Days of Awe - Transitioning Into Spiritual Awakening - Part One
Rosh Hashanah and the Ten Days of Awe - Transitioning Into Spiritual Awakening - Part One
Matt Sorger Ministries
This is an important prophetic word recently given to Matt Sorger two weeks before Rosh Hashanah and the significant spiritual shifts that will be happening as we enter this New Year. We are sending this word out in two parts due to its length. Please prayerfully read this article as God prepares us for this next season.
TO LISTEN TO MATT SHARE THIS WORD LIVE PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Rosh Hashanah is one of the highest holy days on the Jewish calendar. I have come to understand that God works in times and seasons and never does anything haphazardly. Over the last four years since God first launched us out into the healing ministry I always noticed that each year September would be a significant month spiritually for us. It was in September of 2002 that our ministry was birthed and each September following God has brought a significant change and transition. It was only this last year that I discovered that September marks the first month of the original Jewish calendar with Rosh Hashanah marking the first day of the New Year. I gained a revelation and understanding that the Jewish Feasts and Holy Days mark important times and seasons in the Spirit. God still works in line with His original calendar.
A TIME OF TRANSITION AND CHANGE - REALIGNMENTS ARE HAPPENING
Coming into September 2006 the Lord began to more seriously speak to me about the coming New Year. He showed me that it would indeed again be a time of transition and change. Often times when the Lord brings change there comes a realignment of things and there is a cutting away that happens. This brings a realignment of the Body so that we are in the right place at the right time for the purposes of the Kingdom. I believe for many in the Body of Christ they are entering into a new season in their lives where God is calling them to leave the old behind and step into the new. Things of the past that have hindered and impeded our forward motion must beleft behind if we are to move upward in God's purpose and call. It truly is a time where God is stripping and removing everything that would hinder our race in Him. As we transition into the new we must understand what He is doing and what things He is requiring of us to leave behind. This transition will be different for each one of us depending on God's unique plan and destiny for our lives. We must have an ear to hear Him in this season.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO CARBON COPY OLD PATTERNS
God is breaking out of the box. We must be very careful in this next season not to pattern ourselves after models of the past, even good models. We must not carbon copy ourselves after patterns of ministry that worked in the last season. God is doing a new thing. To move into the new wineskin we must remain very pliable and sensitive to what God is doing and how He is moving. This will require a keen sensitivity to His voice and a boldness not to blend in and go with the flow. It will require a heart of total obedience and death to self.
A QUICK SEASON OF SOWING AND REAPING
We are entering into a season of quick sowing and reaping. In Gen. 26:12 it says "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him."
Isaac sowed into his land of inheritance and reaped a hundredfold that very same year. It was a quick sowing and reaping leading to great prosperity and blessing. We are in a season now of quick sowing and reaping. We will sow and in the same year see the harvest. There will be a quick turn around of sowing and reaping, for good or for bad. What we plant will yield a quick harvest. We must be very careful what we sow with our mouths, attitudes, hidden thoughts and intents of the heart. Nothing is hidden from God. In this season we must be very careful what we are sowing. I'll explain more about this later.
OVERCOMING ENVY AND JEALOUSY
As Isaac prospered not everyone was happy with his blessing. He had to contend with the envy and jealousy of the Philistines (Gen. 26:15-18). We must stop here for a moment to learn an important spiritual truth we will need to know for this next season. As you begin to reap the harvest God has for you, not everyone will rejoice with you. Envy and jealousy can take on a very 'self righteous' face and even be hidden from the jealous person's own heart. When they see another person being blessed and prospering something inside of them says "Well who do they think they are?"
This is a good test to see if you have a pure heart or a heart of envy. When someone else shares about the goodness and blessing of God do you respond with a negative attitude wondering who that person thinks they are? Or do you rejoice in the blessing of God on that person's life? Your response reveals what is truly in your heart. We may even feel a sense of 'conviction' that our response is holy and godly, not realizing that the root is actually fleshly and demonic. Jealousy can take on a lot of outward masks, but God sees the heart. We must be prepared that not everyone will rejoice when God's blessing is released. We must not let man's rejection discourage us from possessing the full inheritance God has promised us. Rather than getting bitter at their rejection, Isaac continued on digging the wells of his father Abraham, even in the valley. Eventually those who rejected and pushed Isaac away saw that God was truly with him and decided they would be better off as friends than enemies (Gen.26:28). When you keep a pure heart God's justice and truth prevail in the end.
Lev. 23:23-32 share about the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement.
There is both historical and prophetic significance in each feast. The first three feasts deal with the first coming of Christ while the last three look forward to His Second Coming. Each feast will be fulfilled historically through the life of Christ.
The Feasts still hold great significance for us today.
Jesus said in Mt.5:17 "Think not that I have come to destroy the Law, or the prophets. I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill."
Col. 2:16-17 also indicates that these feasts are a "shadow of things to come."
Things that have been concealed in the Old Testament have now been revealed through the life of Christ.
THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS – BEGINNING A NEW YEAR SPIRITUALLY
Sept. 23, 2006 marks the day of Rosh Hashanah, beginning the spiritual New Year. This day begins the period known as the Ten Days of Awe and ends in Yom Kippur and the Day of Atonement.
Rash Hashanah is also known as the Feast of Trumpets. According to the World Book Encyclopedia during this festival the Jewish people pray for God's forgiveness, for a good new year and for long life. According to Jewish tradition this day is the beginning of God's annual judgment of humanity.
During this spiritual season the eyes of God are searching our hearts. It is a time to:
1. Humble ourselves before God and let Him search and judge our hearts. We must have a contrite attitude and repent of all sin.
2. Pray God's blessing over the New Year.
3. Pray God's blessing for a long and healthy life in Christ.
The World Book Encyclopedia indicates that Jewish services on Rash Hashanah emphasize judgment, penitence and forgiveness. A shofar is blown to call the people to a place of repentance of sin and to be awakened to holy service to God.
A MOVEMENT OF HOLINESS AND POWER
During this season there is a call going out to holiness and power!
As we transition into the new season we will see two very important streams running parallel to each other in the Church. There will be a stream of very deep holiness along with a stream of extraordinary power.
The days of mixture are over where people have operated in the anointing in public and lived in sin in private. God is calling us to a higher standard and to a place of spiritual maturity. God is bringing the Church into a place of true son-ship. For this to happen we must experience His holy, loving discipline so we can mature into the place of holiness and power He is calling us into.
God is dealing with all mixture in the heart of the Church, corporately and individually. There is a greater glory coming and in order to hold its weight we must have a firm, strong foundation. When you are building the foundation of a house, it must be strong in order to handle the weight. As the cement is mixed there can be no sand or stone mixed in with it or it will become weak and brittle. When the weight of the house is placed on top ofit, it will crack and break. As the power of God increases on the Church we must have an even more solid foundation. God is taking all the mixture out so we can handle the pure power of the Holy Spirit.
In this season of Awakening we will see two parallel streams: holiness and power.
We don't always know what is in our hearts. If there is something that must be purged, God will purge it.
This is a time and season where we need to humble ourselves and let God search and cleanse our hearts.