Chasing Daylight: Door Hangers. Ripples. Eternity.

“One of the wonderful results of seizing your divine moment is that it pulls so many others into their. Not everyone moves at the same pace. Some people move at the speed of light, but for some people the light never seems to turn green. What you may never see is the number of people who are pulled into God’s purpose for their lives through the wind shear of your obedience.” p. 216

As I was hanging the Epic invitation door-hangers last night in the community, I was overwhelmed by the thoughts of the people in each home. What is the story of their life? What are their struggles? What are their dreams? Have they discovered the adventure of God’s plan for their lives? Or have they settled for the status quo? I prayed in this next year that each home would experience Christ in a real and personal way.I prayed that Epic could be a place that they could discover who Christ is and the joy of following Him.

Chapter #6, Advance: Go Unless You Get a No

After spending a week in New York, here’s a couple of observations:

1. There are a lot of people in Manhattan. 1.5 million in 22 square miles. That’s 67,000 people every square mile. That’s more people than everyone in Oakland County packed into an area 10 square miles smaller than Rochester Hills. Or twice as many as Macomb County living in an area 30% smaller than Shelby Twp.

Chapter 5: Risk, Live Before You Die, Die Before You Live

Well the “unplugging deal” has me behind schedule. Chapter 5 is one of my favorite subjects…Risk. It also which brings me to “Tim’s Critical Event #5: Africa by way of Baltimore”

Chapter #4, Influence: Breathe In, Breathe Out

“This is the essence of influence, to win the heart and soul of another person through the strength of your own character and personhood. This is why influence is always more powerful than authority. Authority can shape what a person does, but influence shapes who a person is.” p. 109

Chapter #3 Uncertainty: Know You Don’t Know

Jonathan was certain about somethings, and at the same time he was able and willing to operate in the realm of uncertainty. He called out to his armor-bearer and said “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.” (1 Samuel 14:6) You gotta love that. This is what he was saying in plain English, “Let’s go and pick a fight. Maybe God will help.” p. 68

Often when God calls me on a journey, I find myself wanting…

• certainty instead of risk
• knowledge of all the details
• guarantees of the outcome
• personal success
• an easy road

Jonathan gave not just his life to God, but he gave God the moment right in front of him. In the middle of uncertainty, he trusted the only One who is certain. It was two against thousands. Even if the outcome didn’t work in his favor, He was going to put his confidence in God. Live or die, Jonathan was going to give this moment for God’s purposes. If this was to be his last moment, it would be his greatest moment. We often want God to do the miraculous in our life, but we are unwilling to move into situations and moments where we have to put our complete trust and confidence in Him.

Following Christ means following Him into uncertainty. May we live with a “perhaps the Lord will act” faith. In reality, is there any other kind of faith?

Chapter #2: Initiative, Just Do Something

“We have put so much emphasis on avoiding evil that we have become virtually blind to the endless opportunities for doing good. We have defined holiness through what we separate ourselves from rather than what we give ourselves to. I am convinced the great tragedy is not the sins that we commit, but the life we fail to live.” p. 34, Chasing Daylight

Christianity so often gets the message of Jesus all messed up. Growing up in the church, it was all about “right and wrong,” “knowing God” and “living a holy life.” For me, it was about rules, instead of relationship. It was all about intellectual knowledge of God, instead of action. The goal was to stop doing sinful things and start doing holy things like reading your bible and going to church a lot. The holy life was defined by an unspoken list of petty things to believe and do. As long as you did those things right, you could stay in “the club.” Maybe that’s a little oversimplified, but that’s they way it was.

One year all that changed for me. Enter Critical Event #4: Tim Meets a Girl.

Chapter #1: Choices

“I am convinced that most of us could summarize our lives around five or six defining moments – moments that if we had chosen differently would have radically altered the trajectory of our lives” p. 22

I have only read through the first chapter of “Chasing Daylight” and I have enough to blog on for a month. Each page seems to unlock another insight into seizing each moment of our lives for Christ. God’s using these moments to shape us to be the person that He has called us to be, but are we listening to him? What if God wanted to intersect your life right now and in that moment change the trajectory of your life? What if God wanted to meet you in such a way your life would never be the same again? What if this next moment would change your life forever? If you knew a divine moment was coming, how would you live today? How would you prepare for it?

Looking back, I’ve already seen incredible divine moments in my life. What are some of those defining moments in your life that shaped you to be who you are? After 30 reflective minutes, I boiled it down to six. Each moment dramatically altered the path God had for my life. Each one contained a choice and a challenge to draw closer to God or move further away from Him. And in each one I was stretched me to follow a God who would always be faithful to me.

1. 8th Grade. My appendix burst, I was in isolation in the hospital, the doctors weren’t sure if I was going to make it and my mom asked “if you were to die tonight…you know you would go to heaven, right?” I wasn’t sure, but that night through the words of mom Christ became real to me.

2. New Years Eve, High School. I was feeling down, disappointed, and discouraged about life. I was all alone in the house and cried out to God “Where are you?” Pretty much as a last resort, I began to read the Scriptures for the first time and I came to know this God who was seeking me.

3. The Challenge. The youth director was leaving and challenged all of us at a banquet to “step up, get involved and use your life for God.” Wanting something more than just what this life had to offer, I asked,”God, What do you want me to do?” As a college student, I began volunteering in a high school youth group. I was not that effective in teaching or leading…actually it was pretty laughable. It’s amazing that God even picked me to be on His team. But that one decision led me down a path to seminary and a life of equipping others for God’s mission.

Before I get to 4-6, what events and choices have shaped YOUR life so far? Decisions that altered the direction of your life? I believe for many of us, one of them might just be this moment right now.

Reflect and share a choice or two from your life.

Live the Adventure!

Chasing DayLight: Summer Book Club

Adventure awaits. Opportunity is all around us. In the book “Chasing
Daylight,” Erwin McManus calls us to risk everything for a life of genuine purpose. The biblical character of Jonathan was a man filled with faith and doubt, who stepped out to launch a daring attack that energized his people. With that attitude, we can be movers and shakers rather than moaners and slackers.

Each week, we’ll share together new spiritual insights, leadings and learnings.

• June 25 – Chaper #1 Choices: Choose to Live
• July 2 – Initiative: Just Do Something
• July 9 – Uncertainty: Know You Don’t Know
• July 16 – Influence: Breath In, Breath Out
• July 23 – Risk: Live Before You Die, and Vise Versa
• July 30 – Advance: Go Unless You Get a No
• Aug 5 – Impact: Leave a Mark
• Aug 12 – Movement: Ignite a Reaction
• Aug 19 – Awakening: Wake the Dead

Pick up the book. Listen to God. Share Your Story.