Examining Your Foundation

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This past week I spent some time with a man who is both a friend and trusted advisor. He has taken a great interest in my work over the past 18 months, but has taken particular interest in the church planting ministry that I launched in November. As we were talking, he addressed with me his concern over my foundation. As I probed into his statement, he accurately assessed that I was beginning to rapidly put together a structure, but my foundation was not set. He further elaborated that I may even need to pull back the reigns on the ministry, because the monthly provisions for my family were not fully in place.

There was great wisdom in those words. A structure is only as good as the foundation it is built upon. The foundation determines to what degree and at what pace the structure can be erected. It also determines the longevity of what is built, and the types of adversity the structure can withstand.

This conversation has had me thinking about the following passage of Scripture:

Luke 6:47-49 (NASB)

47 "Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49 "But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."

The greatest detriment to the lives we are building is the poor foundation work, we all too often settle for. We may hear the words of God, but how often do we fail to implement those very things into our lives. We know we are cutting corners, but we don’t think anyone will ever notice the shortcuts. Unfortunately turmoil has a way of exposing our frailties, shortcuts and shortcomings. The places we chose to hear, but not obey become glaringly obvious as we watch the structures of our lives come crashing down on the shifting foundations upon which they were built.

Today, I encourage you to evaluate your foundation. Have you taken the time to dig deep and lay your foundation on the bedrock principles of God? If you have, the storms may be fierce, but they will not topple the things God has directed you to build. In the end the structure will stand, unmoved by the tempest, because the foundation never shifted.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

A trip through time

Good morning! I hope you are well rested after the weekend.

Last week my son Collin began a road trip adventure with my dad. He has been very excited to call each night and tell us some of the things he has gotten to see. As part of this trip my dad has taken Collin to see his boyhood home, my boyhood home, my first school and a variety of other nostalgic places.

The importance of a trip like this is the insight into the experiences, places and people who shaped you and your family. These are the places where what was and what is come together once again to weave a beautiful tapestry of life. This is also a place where the lessons of the past are taught to the generations of the future.

The Bible speaks about this intergenerational sharing as well:

Deuteronomy 4:9 (NLT)
“But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the Lord do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

The greatest institution of learning established on the face of this earth is still the family. I have forgotten many classroom lessons over my lifetime, but the lessons of the home still stick. The importance of faith, the value of integrity, work ethic and the dynamics of relationships are all life lessons that were learned in those times of sharing. My grandfather birthed in me a love for fishing; my dad a love for flying and my mom a love for reading and cooking.

Take a look around at your children and grandchildren they are young minds still exploring their true identity. Seize the moment and help them unlock the doors of their heritage and the frontiers of their imaginations. Share with them your own stories of God’s providence and movement in your life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl