Pastor Dan’s Blog

Stinking Thinking

Identity equals Destiny.

If we lose our identity we lose our destiny.

What is identity? Identity, according to Webster’s Dictionary is the state or fact of remaining the same regardless of varying aspects or conditions. In other words, who we are does not change according to circumstances or situations in our lives.

The wisest man to ever lived penned the words in Proverbs 23:7 that “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Solomon’s revelation was that the heart was the center of our ability & faculties to ascribe, to calculate and estimate our value. Your heart determines who you are and how you think.

45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. ~ Luke 6:45

If our thinking determines who we are then it stands to reason that the most powerful thing is a thought. The most important thing is the source of that thought. Our thoughts are powerful. They can create. The source of that thought is the most important.

A source will transmit an idea or image, that word or image becomes a thought in our mind. Thoughts conceived become ideas that give birth to ideologies. Ideologies then become beliefs. Beliefs evolve into convictions that produce philosophies. Philosophies become lifestyles that ultimately produce your destiny. It all starts with a thought.

Wrong source . . . wrong destiny. Correct source . . . correct destiny.

That is why Jesus first words He preached were . . .”Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Repent means to change your thinking. Contrary to popular belief, repentance has little to do with being sorry. It is a 180 degree shift in thinking that changes your direction.

Who we are will never change until our thinking is changed first. That thinking will not change until we adjust our ears to the proper source.

Who are you listening to today?

Tags: Destiny, idea, identity, thinking, thought

The Reborne Identity

Have you ever seen those identity theft commercials from Citibank where there someone is speaking but the voice doesn’t match their body? Identity theft was a 54 billion dollar problem last year and is only growing. However, identity theft did not begin in the digital age; it started way back in the beginning.

Satan’s initial attack was on the woman’s identity, self-worth & self-esteem. His proposal was that eating of the tree would make her like God. His implication was that there was something lacking in her; that she didn’t measure up. His attack on her identity was tragic in the fact that she was already like God! She was created in the same image of God that Adam had been.

Our identity equals our destiny. If we lose our identity we lose our destiny.

In the Hebrew culture your name was more than a moniker, it was your identity, a description of your character and a prophetic declaration of your capacity and potential. Each father carefully chose the name for his children based on this knowledge. When Jacob’s youngest son was born, his mother named him Ben-Oni (Son of my sorrow) as she died in the laboring process.

Imagine going through life with the label and constant reminder that you killed your mother? Jacob, whose name was changed from Jacob (trickster or deceiver) to Israel (Prince of God) after wrestling with God, knew the power of a label. He would not allow his son to be labeled as a source of sorrow and changed his name to Benjamin (Son of my right hand). Jacob changed his son’s destiny. Like Jacob we have the power to change the destiny in people’s lives by the names we call release over them.

Adam was given dominion and authority to name all the animals in the garden. Whatever he named them, that is what they were recognized as. He had the God given authority to ascribe identity and value to each living creature. However, he never gave the woman a proper name until after the fall. The woman was looking for identity . . . a name . . . more importantly . . . a destiny.

Eve lacked identity because Adam failed to release her potential with a name. All he calls her is woman in Genesis 2:23, but no personal identity, no prophetic destiny. It is not until after the fall is her personal identity given and potential released.

²⁰ Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. ~ Genesis 3:20

Before this time Eve had no children . . . after Adam’s declaration she begins to produce and have children. They could not fulfill God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply” until Adam released the potential inside of the woman and called her “Eve”. When we receive and accept our God given identity we too have the power to fulfill God’s commands.

It doesn’t matter what label the world, your parents, your ex or your enemies have placed on you. God’s intention for us is greatness, influence & impact. God wants to give you a Reborne Identity!

Tags: capacity, Destiny, identity, identity theft, name

From Dream To Destiny

Joseph’s dream led him to his destiny. He moved beyond the problems of the now into the promises of the next. Many of Joseph’s now moments would have caused many to give up on the next. Joseph was able to see beyond the now. Your dream is the hope that fuels your passion through the problems of the now.

 

When I was 17, I left San Jose to a small bible college in Arizona. I never lived in San Jose again. When I left, I did so knowing I would never return. Little did I know that God’s road map for my life included bridges I had burned.

 

I had a dream to make a difference. I wanted to encourage & challenge a generation through the word of God in a non traditional way. I had never dreamed that some day I would plant a church, pastor a church, author a blog that has reached 49 states and 72 countries, speak to NFL executives & players, it just wasn’t my dream but it was my destiny.

 

When I came out of high school, the Air Force was my destination. I took the ASFAB test and scored a 95% in mechanical and 17% in communications. In other words, public speaking was not my gift. In fact the recruiter told me I could pick my field in mechanical but would never be in the communications field. Now today, I am a communicator. Your dream will lead you toward your destiny.

 

The word of God explains it this way. The dream pushes you toward your ultimate destiny (purpose) for being placed on this earth. Joseph’s dream in actuality was a very small part of the big picture. Joseph’s dream was for his brothers to bow before him but to his destiny was to use his influence & power to save the world. The dream of his brothers was an insignificant part of his destiny. Sure the brothers eventually bowed before him but that was not his destiny. The bowing (dream) is the result of his destiny (purpose) being fulfilled.

 

Your dream is not your destiny but it will lead you to it.

 

Your dream is about you but your destiny is about others. Joseph’s dream was about people bow to him but the dream left out the “why” they were bowing. The “why” is our destiny. Like a carrot in front of a stubborn mule that motivates him to move, our dreams are God’s carrot to keep us moving toward our destiny.

 

Next week I will tell you how to push beyond the now in life to reach your next.

Tags: Destiny, dream, next, now, purpose

Vantage Point

Vantage Point according to Webster’s is a position or standpoint from which something is viewed or considered; especially point of view. In essence it is how we view things. Your vantage point determines your breaking point. We all have personal vantage points. Each crisis in our lives has been viewed differently. Every person in our family & even friends respond to these experiences differently. How we view each event will determine the ultimate effect that event will have in our lives, positive or negative.

 

How you see is more important than what you see.

 

A movie by the same name came out in 2008, which highlighted the same event through the eyes of various characters. Each saw the same series of events, yet through different sets of lenses sue to their unique vantage point. Our vantage point in life will determine whether or not our experiences will make us or break us, bring breakthrough or breakdown, or make us victims or victors.

 

How you see is more important that what you see.

 

Joseph’s life gives us great insight to vantage points and how they affect our outlook on life. Someone said one time, “If we have buggers on our glasses then everyone we see will have buggers on them.” Joseph’s trials can be viewed through three different vantage points:

 

1.      Through The Vantage Point Of Our Failures:

Joseph’s brothers carried the weight of the guilt and shame of their younger brother’s demise with them through out their lives. The sound of his cries never left them. They went on with their lives but seeing through the lenses of their failures. Even when blessings came their way, they considered it a curse. When they found the money they used to purchased grain in the each of their sack, they considered the blessing a curse from God.

 

Notice:

They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us.”  ~ Genesis 42:21

 

Our failures of yesterday can skew our vision today. We live our life based on regret for sins & failures of yesterday. We reason that we don’t deserve happiness due to our failures of the past. So when blessings do come many people sabotage their happiness because they don’t think they deserve it.

 

How you see is more important than what you see.

 

2.      Through The Vantage Point Of Our Past:

Joseph’s father saw the series of events through the vantage point of the past. Past & failure are two different things. While both are products of the past, our past is not necessarily failure. Our past experience can affect our view of today’s blessings. Jacob’s vantage point has been affected by the perceived loss of his children. He has experienced difficulty & loss. Now, every event he see is now through the lenses of disaster.

 

Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” ~ Genesis 42:36

 

Many experiences we have had in the past can change our vantage point in life. If we experience constant hardship we get use to seeing all events in life through the vantage point of trouble & tragedy. Jacob’s past experiences have even caused him to forget about his name changing encounter with God. He is still referring to himself as Jacob not Israel. His past has left him hopeless.

 

How you see is more important than what you see.

 

3.      Through The Vantage Point Of Our Destiny:

Lastly, we have Joseph who viewed each event through the lenses of destiny. Vision has the power to see beyond the current trouble to the coming triumph. It changes your lenses by which we view life. It does not dismiss the pain but is acknowledges a greater purpose is at work.  

 

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ~ Genesis 50:20

 

Destiny is not fate. Destiny puts confidence in God not in chance. Destiny reasons that I am God’s therefore, He has a plan therefore I will be patient. Your ability to wait is connected to our confidence in the person who has promised. Joseph had great patience because he had great confidence in the God of his dreams.

 

How you see is more important than what you see.

 

So how do we change our Vantage Point?

1.      Face Your Failures

We cannot live life through the eyes of our failures because once we are in Christ we are new creations, the old is gone & the new has come. If we are new, then we have no failures of the past to worry about. If God has forgotten shouldn’t we? We have no past therefore & no failures. We can’t change our failures of yesterday but I can affect my choices today. You failed, okay. We all do. Now get up & move forward.

 

2.      Pass Up Your Past

The rearview mirror of a car is much smaller than the windshield because what is behind is less important that what is ahead. Our past can cause us to live in the rearview mirror of life not the windshield. Jacob missed out on the fact that Joseph was indeed alive, Simeon was in prison but still alive as well and Benjamin would not be killed but in fact taken care of better than any of the brothers! Our past can make us miss out on the breakthrough that is happening right in front of our faces.

 

3.      Declare Your Destiny

Joseph spoke his dream and ended up in a pit. When you speak your dream, get ready for the dream to take action. The dream belongs to God. Nothing you face can wipe out the promise God has for your life. Today view each and every pit & prison in life as a process towards the promise. Change your vantage point & change your breakthrough point!

 

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

 

 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.    ~ Romans 8:35-39

 

Nothing can separate you from God & He holds your destiny!

 

Remember, How you see is more important than what you see.

Tags: Destiny, failure, lenses, past, vantage point

The Perfect Storm

Matthew 5:45 45 states, “In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

 

Storms are a part of life. We have all seen them. We have all faced them. We have all been in them but most importantly we have all survived them. The word of God is extremely clear in its declaration that everyone will face good times & tough times in their lives.

 

In fact some of the greatest triumphs in the word were a result of a storm or challenge someone faced in their own lives. One of these storms is vividly illustrated as the disciples get into the boat, as a result of Jesus command to go to the other side, following the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Upon reaching their half way point a storm hinders their progress. Its violent winds and raging seas made their efforts seem futile.

 

What once came easy is now overwhelming. No longer are they progressing, they are just maintaining. They are expending all their efforts just to maintain not to gain. It is at this point where marriages fall apart, people quit jobs, leave ministries and give up on life. We can easily find the motivation to keep rowing when we see we are making progress but how do we keep pushing on when all our efforts bring no progress?

 

I love what the disciples did. According to the account in Matthew 14 (same story in Mark & John’s Gospel) these fisherman had been in storms before. They would not let the storm just toss them about, doing so would mean sure doom. They would face the boat toward each wave and meet each wave head on. To allow the storm to move you would result in a rogue wave that could capsize the boat. No fisherman or mariner worth his salt ever let the storm determine their course. They would keep rowing, keep striving and keep pushing toward the goal.

 

My friend, in the storms you are facing today, don’t you dare let the storm determine your course. God determines your destiny not the storm. You stay the course! Keep on keeping on. Jesus told the disciples to go to the other side & the other side is where they were going to go.

 

Today, stay the course. Keep going where Jesus told you until He tells you something different. Next, do your part. You must keep rowing & facing those waves head on. Don’t give up and let the storm determine your course or direction. Lastly, know the Son is coming. This storm will not out last the Son. Keep the faith, the Son is coming.

Tags: Destiny, effort, maintaining, perfect storm, progressing, stay the course

Wrong Turn

Yesterday I had just finished a trying counseling session and sat at my desk pondering the struggles of a young lady.  She had made some bad decisions that overwhelmed her and placed her in a troubling situation. Our night prayer meeting was still an hour and half away when Pastor Matt came into my office and offered to buy me a cup of coffee

 

We left the office and proceeded to our destination. It was then I hear Pastor Matt moan, “Oh No.”

 

“What’s wrong?” I asked

 

“I made a wrong turn, I wanted to go to Peet’s not Starbucks,” he replied.

 

It wasn’t a big deal. You see he had turned on a street that also had access to the coffee shop just from a different direction. In fact, it might have even been faster this way. I could hear the Spirit whisper to my soul, “You make take some wrong turns in life but you can still reach your destination.”

 

My mind quickly reflected on the plight of this young lady and so many others like her, who have made wrong decisions and feel helpless & hopeless to reach their God ordained destination. Wrong turns cannot void our destination. It might delay it but it cannot be denied.

 

(BTW, we did get there and Pastor Matt forgot his wallet!)

 

 

 

Tags: coffee, Destiny, wrong decisions