Inspiration Overload

Inspiration is a great additive to our work, but it should never become our end goal. In other words, it’s a means to an end and not the end itself. Inspiration often tricks our minds into thinking that we are moving forward towards accomplishing our goals. Mental advancement in thought must have some corresponding movement in the physical world.

Could it be that many of us are dying of inspiration overload?

Here are some suggestions on curbing our addictive relationship with inspiration:

• Limit Meetings – You don’t need to meet everyone that asks for a meeting. Don’t let your insecurity of letting others down get in the way of living a healthy and productive life. Each meeting is actually precious time away from doing what you’re designed to do. How many times after a day of meetings have you thought, “Why does it feel like I haven’t accomplished much today?” Unnecessary meetings can kill your productivity.
• Limit Online Information Intake – Determine how much time you will spend each day/week on taking in information online. A “short” excursion online in following a trail of information can turn minutes into hours. Ask yourself, especially during work hours, “Is this necessary or a fun option?” Use something like Evernote to bookmark interesting information for leisure. Remember, you still have work to do?
• Limit New Ventures – As a serial entrepreneur, I have to constantly remind myself that “new” work must be meaningful and add to my current direction. This means that a good opportunity is not the same as the right one. Although you may not always be able to discern the difference, it is still valuable to have these kinds of conversations. Work towards refining your direction into a few areas as the year go by (unless you have millions of dollars to play with and don’t mind blowing some of it). This is not say you shouldn’t risk. There’s always risk involved. All I’m saying is that you should risk in the right areas.

Leaders, guard yourself from this and you will be grateful you did.

(Portions from article "Dying of Inspiration Overload" by Charles Lee - @ChurchLeaders.com)

God Still Heals

I received this email.  You want to read this....

Hello Mr. Tony Cruz,

I don't know if you remember me but I first heard you speak at Convention in Syracuse, NY last March.

I had asked you to pray for my eyes after the youth rally at our church. I went to the eye doctor, who told me that the nerves in my eyes are different sizes and that I also have high pressure in both my eyes. It's an early sign of glaucoma they said, which gives you tunnel vision and eventually leads to blindness later on in life when you get into your 70s or 80s. That doctor put me on medicated drops that I would most likely have to use for the rest of my life. I didn't want this to happen to me, and I prayed about it. We both prayed about it.

I went to another doctor recently who checked my eyes. I had stopped using my drops for about 1 month. She ordered a few tests that checked the pressure and my vision field. I went to the doctor last Friday and she said that the tests came out normal! The pressure in my eyes was on the high side of normal, but she didn't see a major problem with it. She also told me that I wouldn't have to be on medication! She just wanted to keep following up with me every 6 months, instead of me going to the eye doctor every 2 or 3 months like the other doctor had me do.

I just wanted to tell you the great news, and also to thank you for praying for me! Faith and prayer really do move the Hands of God. I'm so grateful. May God continue to bless you!

Ethel

Obedience is Key

Gene A. Getz, in his book, The Measure of a Church, asks the question, "What is the measure of maturity in the church?" And he lists what others believe are the measure of maturity:

1. An active church (involving people in meetings and programs)
2. A giving church (supporting the church and efforts financially)
3. A growing church (new people coming and staying)
4. A soul-winning church (leading unbelievers to faith and baptism)
5. A smooth-running church (efficient and orderly)
6. A missionary-minded church (supports missionaries around the world)
7. A Spirit-filled church (enthusiastic, emotional)
8. A big church (large attendance, with many programs)

But, God used Paul to give us a different measure for maturity of the church. Paul says that the church is mature when it functions like one body, where Jesus Christ is the Head. When we mature as the church, we individually obey what our "head," Jesus Christ, desires from us.

The Church is not obedient to a set of rules. We are obedient to the Person of Jesus Christ through a trusting relationship and to the truths He has spoken. And our obedience is not just in our head, but in the way we live and serve one another. 

Though some of these elements are vital elements in the church, many of these things can be done without even a thought of God of Jesus Christ. Be sure that if you call yourself a believer today, that your life reflects this in the fruit (actions).  

Let's never forget that the "church" are not facilities or programs - It's people that represent Him effectively.

-Tony Cruz

(portions pulled from SermonCentral)

More Than You Can Now Bear

Sometimes God holds back. He does. But we lose track and misunderstand it. Why? Because it's more than you can bear. We often ask Him for insight but he doesnt allow you to know and we must understand that, like the disciples, we too aren't always ready for what He is about to do. This is specifically why we need the Holy Spirit to open up your understanding and PATIENCE to wait.

As I was studying and reading John 16:1-14 I came across a few verses and here is what it says:

 

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

If you want what He wants, you must hear what He hears.

What are you listening to that brings about the direct opposite of what He wants from you?  

⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 

I have a few things that we have to understand is that God is more concerned with your obedience than He is your comfort.  Here are some thoughts of what the Holy Spirit will do if we allow Him to do it. Verse 8 holds the key to it all:

1.     Clarity of SIN (verse 8)

2.     Clarity of RIGHTEOUSNESS (verse 8)

3.     Clarity of JUDGMENT (verse 8)

We must know and be clear as to what He wants from you. These three thoughts are made so clear in this passage. Clarity of Sin & Righteousness. Darkness & Light. God & Satan. Carefully thrown after these two is JUDGMENT.  I think sometimes we miss it but PLEASE .... don't. His desire to speak to you is immensely more than your desire to hear.

When you take a moment and pray, ask Him is there is anything He has tried to shield you from that you run TO instead of FROM.

He love you more than you know.

Live RIGHTeous

I was recently approached online on what it means to be righteous and as I looked into it, many people probably have a vague idea of what this means. I decided to post my response here and answer the question maybe some of you may be asking.  What does it mean to live a righteous life?




Righteousness obviously comes from being righteous and so let me start with what 'righteous' is.

Righteous means that you have been justified or cleared by God. For example, if you get a speeding ticket and you go before a judge and you plead guilty and the judge looks at your record and declares that you admitted you are wrong however, they are going to let you go and so the judge lets you off and tells you are cleared to leave but not to drive like that again. The judge 'cleared' you of charges and you are free. - NOW - In Christianity, the charge was Sin which has immorally and spiritually distorted our view on life and people BUT because of what Jesus did on the cross, we are cleared of those charges and are called to live RIGHT (righteous).

In addition to that:
'Righteous' living means to come to a place where your actions are a reflection of your belief. Righteous is to take God's idea of live, love and people and adopt them as our own. That is why Jesus was so hard on those who said they believed and didn't live RIGHT over those who didn't believe and were sinners.  Those who believe are called to live 'RIGHTeous' lives.

The following are a few thoughts I found to be helpful when trying to understand righteous living. To live righteous, one must:

1. Resist evil. This means that whenever you have an opportunity to sin, you say no. This could be a temptation from someone else ("Let's go out and get drunk.") or from within your mind ("That guy just cut me off in traffic. Let me think how I can get even with him.") When you do commit a sin, you confess your sin to God and ask for His forgiveness.

2. Accomplishing a walk with God. You pray and read the Bible and praise God for His presence in your life.

3. Do righteous works. This means that you will roll up your sleeves and do the work that God gives you to do. You can contribute time or money to someone's needs. You could be the joy in someone's life. Just be loving, honest and friendly.

4. Live the Christian Life. You will show Christian love in your home and neighborhood and at your place of employment or school.

5. Rely on God. Remember, you cannot live a righteous life without God's help. This is a walk of faith with complete reliance on Jesus for His guidance and help.

We do these things in understanding that we are to do them with the Holy Spirit's help. Sarah, everyone that received Jesus Christ as their savior has access to God's holy spirit. He, through you, can achieve the work of God.

Also see

ROMANS 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

MATTHEW 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

“The just (RIGHTEOUS) shall live by faith” is a phrase that occurs in the Bible four times: once in the Old Testament, in Habakkuk 2:4, and three times in the New Testament, in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and in Hebrews 10:38.

A few verses to look up for yourself:
GALATIANS 3:11 - HEBREWS 10:38


Friends, if you call yourself a believer dont let it end with your attendance to a 'bible' event. Let the bible revampt your life! LIVE righteous. How else will the world know the God we speak of?

Tony

A New You Declaration

Rick Warren just posted this on his twitter and I wanted to pass it along to you. Simply a great declaration. Make it something YOU OWN today. Great approach to the NEW YEAR:

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN DECLARATION
Today I am stepping across the line. I’m tired of waffling and I’m finished with wavering, I’ve made my choice, the verdict is in, and my decision is irrevocable. I’m going God’s way. There’s no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God’s purposes with God’s people on God’s planet for God’s glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word. 

Since my past has been forgiven, and I have a purpose for living, and a home awaiting in heaven,  I refuse to waste any more time or energy on shallow living, petty thinking, trivial talking, thoughtless doing, useless regretting, hurtful resenting, or faithless worrying. Instead I will magnify God, grow to maturity, serve in ministry, and fulfill my mission in the membership of his family.
Because this life is preparation for the next, I will value worship over wealth, “we” over “me,”  character over comfort, service over status, and people over possessions, position, and pleasures. I know what matters most, and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I’ll do the best I can with what I have for Jesus Christ today.

I won’t be captivated by culture, manipulated by critics, motivated by praise, frustrated by problems, debilitated by temptation, or intimidated by the devil. I’ll keep running my race with my eyes on the goal, not the sidelines or those running by me. When times get tough, and I get tired, I won’t back up, back off, back down, back out, or backslide. I’ll just keep moving forward by God’s grace. I’m Spirit-led, purpose driven, and mission-focused, so I cannot be bought, I will not be compromised, and I shall not quit until I finish the race. I’m a trophy of God’s amazing grace, so I will be gracious to everyone, grateful for every day, and generous with everything God entrusts to me.

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I say, "However, whenever, wherever, and whatever you ask me to do, my answer in advance is yes!  Wherever you lead and whatever the cost I’m ready. Anytime. Anywhere. Anyway.  Whatever it takes, Lord; whatever it takes!  I want to be used by you in such a way, that on that final day I’ll hear you say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful one. Come on in, and let the eternal party begin!'"

LET'S BE DILIGENT AND TAKE 2011 BY STORM!

Tony

(found here)

FUSED (New Ministry DVD by Tony Cruz)

I am excited to announce that we just received shipment of our newest DVD: "FUSED - Releasing the Power of God in your life."

In this session, you will sit in on a dynamic message that I believe will ROCK YOU to the CORE as I bring the truth of God desiring us to fuse our lives for His glory. Is Christ as part of your life or an element? The DVD message will help you determine if you are FUSED to the world or if you are FUSED in Christ.

Believe me when I say, this is a must hear message.  We are taking orders and for a limited time we will add a free bracelet to the orders placed. Don't miss out on this life changing message.

You can download a form at: www.tonycruz.org/resources.htm and follow directions on the form.

This greatly helps our ministry. Thank you all for your support throughout the year!
Merry Christmas!