Holly's decision making grid for ministry opportunities
Several years ago, my life coach, Carol Travilla, asked me to put together some kind of a grid for making decisions. I went to work not really knowing what I was supposed to be doing with the assignment. After wrestling with it for a while I finally came up with eight very pertinent questions to ask myself before I made any ministry decision. These questions have stood the test of time. By sharing them, perhaps I will stimulate you to work on your own set of tailor made questions which incorporate your particular unique gifts and personality. You can use some of mine if they work for you. I would be flattered!
1) Does it exhilarate me?
Exhilaration is a combination of fear and excitement. Fear because a new challenge has a risk component and excitement because God designs the BEST opportunities to grow. In fact, if something presented to me doesn't have both of these elements, I do not believe that God is in it!
2) Is this something only I can do?
A friend shared with me this very effective way of prioritizing. There are some things many others can do but there are a few things that ONLY I can do! These are the things I must attend to!
3) Does it allow me freedom for stimulating growth?
This is my mission in life. God has made me a person who consciously and unconsciously stimulates growth in others. I want to be strategic in using this ability wisely.
4) Is it experiential and/or interactive in nature?
Unlike my husband who is a very excellent speaker and lecturer, I really prefer opportunities to interact and dialogue with people. In fact, the more spontaneous the interaction, the more I like it!
5) Does it support my goal of developing a product and/or a tool?
I love to create something that is transferable to others and that can be used over and over as a personal diagnostic tool.
6) Does it "use me up" or energize me?
Because I am an introvert, I must be careful to steward my energy. I have discovered when I am working in my giftedness, however, that I am very energized even if I am required to relate intensely to people.
7) Am I equipped and/or gifted for it?
There is so little time. I must be careful to choose wisely.
8) Does it negatively affect my commitment to my family?
I believe that God does not punish my family when I am doing His will. Ultimately, obeying God should benefit the people I love, not trash them or throw them under the bus!
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Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Saturday, September 8, 2007
I’ve been thinking about saying farewell…
A Farewell to Scottsdale Bible Church
June 3, 2007
farewell n. 1: a wish of well-being at parting
In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul said, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and my ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus.”
The course of our active, full-time ministry with Scottsdale Bible Church is ending here tonight. This evening is a celebration of finishing the course with our integrity intact and our love for the body here preserved for all time. There is an expression I remember reading years ago. “It’s gone to the publisher,” meaning that the end has been written and it cannot be altered in any way. This is truly something to rejoice about!
A few months ago I was sitting in the service here at SBC and God interjected His thoughts into mine. As I looked around the auditorium that morning, He said to me, “Holly, you have been faithful with the task I gave you. Well done, good and faithful servant!” My heart flooded with joy that closure had finally come to me after months of agonizing over our decision.
My most important priority is to obey the mission that God gives me in my “holy ground” moments with Him. I will stand accountable before Him one day for the choices I made in this life.
Oswald Chambers understood the “holy ground” of God’s calling. He said, “It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires… It is even possible to be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad.”
It is my intention to attempt to value and respect “holy ground” missions in the lives of the people I love. I may not understand or even appreciate the choices being made because God’s calling is specific – and often demanding.
But, by respecting the movement of God in each other’s lives we are all free to obey Him. What that means to me, practically speaking, is that I can pursue the calling of God with the wholehearted approval of the people I love and who love me. Thank you for being those people, tonight. I will never forget you. I will hold you in my heart forever!
###
May 2007
June 3, 2007
farewell n. 1: a wish of well-being at parting
In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul said, “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and my ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus.”
The course of our active, full-time ministry with Scottsdale Bible Church is ending here tonight. This evening is a celebration of finishing the course with our integrity intact and our love for the body here preserved for all time. There is an expression I remember reading years ago. “It’s gone to the publisher,” meaning that the end has been written and it cannot be altered in any way. This is truly something to rejoice about!
A few months ago I was sitting in the service here at SBC and God interjected His thoughts into mine. As I looked around the auditorium that morning, He said to me, “Holly, you have been faithful with the task I gave you. Well done, good and faithful servant!” My heart flooded with joy that closure had finally come to me after months of agonizing over our decision.
My most important priority is to obey the mission that God gives me in my “holy ground” moments with Him. I will stand accountable before Him one day for the choices I made in this life.
Oswald Chambers understood the “holy ground” of God’s calling. He said, “It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires… It is even possible to be more prosperous and successful, more leisure-hearted, if you never realize the call of God. But if once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God wants will always come like a goad.”
It is my intention to attempt to value and respect “holy ground” missions in the lives of the people I love. I may not understand or even appreciate the choices being made because God’s calling is specific – and often demanding.
But, by respecting the movement of God in each other’s lives we are all free to obey Him. What that means to me, practically speaking, is that I can pursue the calling of God with the wholehearted approval of the people I love and who love me. Thank you for being those people, tonight. I will never forget you. I will hold you in my heart forever!
###
May 2007
I’ve been thinking about ping pong…
Ping-Pong\trademark – used for table tennis
Many years ago my husband and I attended a worship service at the Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, California where Chuck Swindoll was a very popular pastor at the time. That morning he shared an illustration that I have repeated on numerous occasions.
Chuck used the analogy of a ping-pong game to drive home his point about the most serious problem in relationships. In fact, if the problem is not resolved technically there is no relationship.
How the Game is Played
Ping-pong is a lively indoor game that resembles a miniature version of tennis. The server places the ball on the palm of the hand, throws it up vertically, and hits it with his paddle. The ball must bounce on the server’s side of the net, clear the net, and bounce on the opponent’s side. For a good return, a player must hit the ball after one bounce so that it clears the net and bounces on the opponent’s court. Play continues until one person misses the ball, hits it off the table, or hits it into the net.
The Potential of the Game
The player who first scores 21 points wins the game. However, the winner must have at least a two-point lead. An entire match consists of either two out of three games or three out of five games.
The Tragedy of Unfulfilled Potential
The fact is it takes two individuals to play ping-pong. Two people can know the rules of the game, have the best paddles and balls, but if one or both players do not pick up the paddle there will not be a game. The potential of enjoying a lively match is lost. This is a tragedy of the worst kind because the essence of life is relationships.
Ping-pong cannot be played with only one player because it is impossible for a person to run around the table and hit the return shot. Perhaps you long to play with someone you care deeply about but they won’t pick up the paddle. Even though there is tremendous agony in waiting to play at least you understand the problem and can pray accordingly.
Or perhaps you have decided to not pick up the paddle even though the nature of the relationship would require you to play. In that case, Romans 12:17 & 18 instructs you to, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
My job is to deal with my anger, bitterness or lack of forgiveness so that I am ready to play with my paddle in my hand. This is my responsibility before God. Am I ready to play the game?
###
May 2007
Many years ago my husband and I attended a worship service at the Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, California where Chuck Swindoll was a very popular pastor at the time. That morning he shared an illustration that I have repeated on numerous occasions.
Chuck used the analogy of a ping-pong game to drive home his point about the most serious problem in relationships. In fact, if the problem is not resolved technically there is no relationship.
How the Game is Played
Ping-pong is a lively indoor game that resembles a miniature version of tennis. The server places the ball on the palm of the hand, throws it up vertically, and hits it with his paddle. The ball must bounce on the server’s side of the net, clear the net, and bounce on the opponent’s side. For a good return, a player must hit the ball after one bounce so that it clears the net and bounces on the opponent’s court. Play continues until one person misses the ball, hits it off the table, or hits it into the net.
The Potential of the Game
The player who first scores 21 points wins the game. However, the winner must have at least a two-point lead. An entire match consists of either two out of three games or three out of five games.
The Tragedy of Unfulfilled Potential
The fact is it takes two individuals to play ping-pong. Two people can know the rules of the game, have the best paddles and balls, but if one or both players do not pick up the paddle there will not be a game. The potential of enjoying a lively match is lost. This is a tragedy of the worst kind because the essence of life is relationships.
Ping-pong cannot be played with only one player because it is impossible for a person to run around the table and hit the return shot. Perhaps you long to play with someone you care deeply about but they won’t pick up the paddle. Even though there is tremendous agony in waiting to play at least you understand the problem and can pray accordingly.
Or perhaps you have decided to not pick up the paddle even though the nature of the relationship would require you to play. In that case, Romans 12:17 & 18 instructs you to, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
My job is to deal with my anger, bitterness or lack of forgiveness so that I am ready to play with my paddle in my hand. This is my responsibility before God. Am I ready to play the game?
###
May 2007
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