My friend Kevin, who is also an elder in our church, is a professional idea generator. He drives a “Dream Taxi,” whose mission in life is to help individuals, couples, ministries, and organizations achieve their goals with excellence and bucketloads of creativity.
While I can’t hold a candle to his idea-generating genius, I thought I’d take a stab at it.
In the previous post, I looked at the first stage of the LifeVesting cycle, Allocate your Resources.
Here’s the second:
2. Consider the possibilities.
Back to the farming analogy, take a look at this familiar verse:
“He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:6).
Interesting promise. Especially when you understand that first-century agriculture was done in a way that we would consider backwards. In those days, the farmer would cast his seed first, then plow it in and cultivate the ground. Not very efficient by today’s standards, but the spiritual image is compelling. Once the farmer had a vision of what he wanted to harvest, he was prepared to start casting the seed. He didn’t do a lot of computerized soil samples. He didn’t analyze it to death. He walked to and fro, looking for opportunities to cast!
This stage of the cycle asks you to consider the kind of results you want to have by doing what our farmer did here.
Walk around.
Think.
Pray.
Dream.
Imagine.
Discover.
One of the most powerful questions ever asked is, “What if…”? Possibilities to be a LifeVestor are everywhere. It just requires you to see them. So in my best imitation of Kevin, with help from Paul in 1 Corinthians 16, here’s a little idea generation for you to personalize to your situation.
1. Who needs my support or help? (v. 1)
Next time you use a phone, remember that it was invented by a man who dedicated his life to solving the problems of the hearing-impaired, including his own mother and wife.
2. What is my church engaged in? (v. 2)
How many new missions initiatives or ministries started as a relationship between a local church and a speaker, a class, or a missionary?
3. What have I already planned to do? (v. 5)
Don’t ignore your present plans. Some of the greatest opportunities arise when you’re “minding your own business.” That’s what Newton was doing when the apple fell on his head.
4. Who do I need to rekindle a relationship with? (v. 6)
Who’s been floating around in your mind lately? Who are you missing? Curious about? Pick up the phone or send an email.
5. What are the opportunities and obstacles in my present circumstances? (v. 9)
“A great door of effective service is open to me,” Paul said, “and there are many adversaries.” How about you? Are you seeing any huge open doors? Or anybody telling you what you can’t do?
6. What’s going on in the world around me? (v. 13)
Pick up a paper (which today is talking about two hurricanes, an election, floods in India, and more shrinking of the Arctic ice cap). Where are the possibilities? The needs?
7. How do I need to “dig in” in my faith? (v. 13)
Ever since Jesus ascended to heaven, the “faith once delivered to the saints” has been under assault. This generation is no different. Your LifeVesting possibilities may be in helping someone take a stand, firm up their faith, or raising a standard of truth.
8. What requires great courage? (v. 13)
Where is life throwing down a challenge to you that calls you to say no to your fears, or inspire others to do the same?
9. What am I facing that can only be dealt with in God’s power? (v. 13)
Standing with backs to the wall and faces toward God became the story of the Exodus. It can become your story, too.
10. Who needs my love? (v. 14)
LifeVestors adopt children. Feed the hungry. Offer counsel and help. Develop solutions. Volunteer as Big Brothers and Sisters. Somewhere near you, your greatest opportunities may lie in the opportunity to do something as simple and profound as love somebody.
11. What am I passionately devoted to? (v. 15)
Stephanas led his household to “devoting themselves to” the ministry to the saints. I love the King James language here – they were “addicted to” the ministry to the saints. What are you passionately devoted to?
12. Where do my leaders/authorities want me to go or do? (v. 16)
Sometimes your possibilities aren’t the ones you see yourself, but are actually seen first by others – particularly those who may be in a leadership or authority relationship over you. Often leaders can see qualities in you that you don’t see in yourself.
13. Where do I see a hole, or vacancy? (v. 17)
Look for something that somebody ought to be doing, but isn’t. Maybe the somebody is you.
14. How can I say, “Thank you?” (v. 18)
How many life-changing ministries, profitable businesses, works of art or writing were launched as a way of saying “thank you” to someone for making a difference? Maybe your finest chance to thank someone is to pay it forward.
15. Now it’s your turn…
I’d like to know your ideas. How would you help someone explore their possibilities?
