Pastor Dan’s Blog

Losing Your Edge

Have you been having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning? Is work becoming something you endure rather than enjoy? Are you finding it difficult to stir up the motivation to keep going & keep doing?

If so, then maybe you have lost your edge.

In 1 Kings 6 the University of The Prophets are experiencing incredible success and growth. This growth causes them to to recognize the need for a bigger facility to house more trainees. As they are building one of the students is cutting down a tree when the unthinkable happens. The axe head flies off and lands in the middle of the Jordan river.

He lost his edge.

To make matters worse the axe was borrowed! You see, there was no Home Depot to run down too and pick up another one. Iron was a very expensive metal in those days. This man would have to become the slave of one he borrowed it from if he could not recover it. In a panic he runs and tells their University President, Elisha.

How do we lose our edge?

1. We lose our edge when we are focused on completing a task.

This young man was so focused on his task to cut the wood, he lost focus in other areas. His heart may have been in the right place but his desire to finish his task caused him to overlook the care of the tool. I have seen many people fail personally while they make great progress professionally. Marriages can crumble while careers flourish because we get tunnel vision.

2. We lose our edge when we ignore the warning signs.

Axe heads don’t just fly off. Signs the axe head is loosening will always precede its loss. Each of us must be aware of the warning signs that we too are losing our edge. The signs will show in our marriages, relationships, careers, educational pursuits and our ministries. The problem is like this student we too ignore the signs that things aren’t as tight as they need to be. Then without further warning we lose something of extreme value.

3. We lose our edge when we don’t take ownership.

The axe head was borrowed but the young man didn’t consider that until he had lost it. An owner treats his tools with care. Why? Because he paid a price for them, it cost him something. We must take ownership of our families, marriages, ministries and salvation. It must cost us something otherwise we become careless with what someone else has paid the price for.

If you have gotten careless or ignored the signs that your are losing your edge, it is time to tighten it up or find it, if you lost it. It might seem an impossible task to reclaim the edge but all things are possible.

Next week . . . How to get your edge back or listen to the message on now on the CWC Podcast on iTunes, Passion.

Tags: care, Edge, passion, warning signs

Pain Doesn’t Only Have To Hurt

Everyone has a painful experience or story. Here is our story. (Click on link)

Your pain doesn’t only have to hurt. Tell your story. Help someone else. They did. (Click on link)

Tags: hurt, pain, story

Pain - Doesn’t Only Have To Hurt

The space between our present and our purpose is often wrapped up in a process called pain. The thing about pain . . . it hurts. Miles McPherson states that pain doesn’t only have to hurt.

We all face it. We all feel it. We all experience it.

The good news is that God has a plan to make your life count. Sometimes that plan includes pain. I know that doesn’t sound like good news but the good news is . . . that pain is not always bad. Pain is given for two reasons.

First, pain is given for our protection. Pain in our body is a warning sign to protect us from further damage. When we touch something hot, our senses tell us to move our hand or we will burn. The pain sends a message to the brain to change the behavior. God gave us pain to protect us.

Secondly, pain is used to promote us. When we respond correctly to painful circumstances in life it can catapult us toward greatness. Consider that life’s greatest struggles can become your greatest stories. What would Helen Keller be without her handicap? David without Goliath? Paul & Silas without the prison? Jesus without the cross? Each of our biggest stumbling blocks are actually stepping stones to the next level. Your pain is the process for your promotion.

Pain can be identified to come from two distinct sources. From self-inflicted pain due to unwise decisions or what I call life-inflicted pain caused by others or just life happening to us. Either way we will all experience pain at one time or another. How we view that pain will determine the value we receive from it. Rick Warren says “God never waste a pain.”

Let me introduce you to Naomi. She is a very attractive lady, inwardly & outwardly. She is a noble woman. Whether at the mall or a local restaurant everyone celebrates her arrival. She has a wonderful way about her that makes others comfortable. She has a successful husband and two active boys. They live on a piece of land that has been in the family for generations. That is until the recession hit.

They lost it all. So serve was the famine they couldn’t feed the family, lost their property and relocated to another country. Her sons grew and married women from that country. Things seemed good until more pain hit. Her husband died. Then not one but both of her sons followed suit, they passed on as well. All she valued in life was gone. She had only one option . . . return to home she had left.

Upon her arrival the city was abuzz in anticipation for her return. They remembered her joy and pleasant nature. They anxiously sought her out. However, when they saw her they openly questioned if it was really Naomi. Naomi hearing their inquiries tells them, “Don’t call me Naomi (pleasant, joyful) call me Mara (bitter).” (Ruth 1:20)

You pain will make us bitter or better. It is your choice. Bitterness can keep us from recognizing what God is doing in our lives. He may not cause the pain but He sure can work from it.

Make a choice to be better not bitter.

Next week, find out how she worked through the bitterness to become better.

Tags: better, bitter, Miles McPherson, pain, Process, promotion, protection