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Same Invite, Different Tone

Come to an event devoted to your freedom.

Financial freedom? Political freedom? Cultural freedom? 

No, heart freedom.

What? Is that even possible? It is even a thing?

It begins with the proposed process map below:

  1. Our hearts are who we are. We believe with them, decide with them, and make moral choices with them.
  2. Our desires are born from our hearts.
  3. Our purpose gains direction from our desires.

Abuse, discouraging words, abandonment, and worse — What does wounding or assault do to a person’s heart? What has it done to yours?

As we absorb blows, our hearts distort. Originally designed to believe itself competent, smart, courageous, worthy of love, and/or beautiful, it instead believes it is unlovely, unlovable, cowardly, idiotic, weak, or foolish. Think this is true? Remember the words you say to yourself in the silence of your head —  uplifting, or destructive?

Returning to our process map, if our hearts are defiled, then our desires are derailed, and if these are derailed, then our purpose is confounded.

Now assume that the evil impact of these wounds and assaults can be removed, what difference would this make?

Maybe you’d believe about your self as God originally intended, as courageous or beautiful or . . .

Then the desires you once thought impossible just may awaken.

Do you think this could unleash a purpose that would enliven and ignite you?

. . . many have called this, “freedom”

On Saturday, December 2nd, you are invited to begin a journey that could awaken your heart to encounter freedom. If the process map is true, what impact might this have on your life?

Hope to see you Saturday, December 2nd. Click HERE to learn more.

PS. My daughter , my associate editor (A.E.I.B.), did a brilliant job of selecting the image for our last post, and over dinner last night we agreed it spoke more to a women’s heart, as my  bride confirmed this just this morning. There are so many ways this can be portrayed, so  I spent time looking at chains, tattoos and steel.  Landed on this as one of many good options. That these will speak to your heart as your heart understands the world. 

A.E.I.B.

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Invitation to “Awakened Hearts” on Sat, Dec. 2nd

Come to an event devoted to your freedom.

Financial freedom? Political freedom? Cultural freedom? 

No, heart freedom.

What? Is that even possible? It is even a thing?

It begins with the proposed process map below:

  1. Our hearts are who we are. We believe with them, decide with them, and make moral choices with them.
  2. Our desires are born from our hearts.
  3. Our purpose gains direction from our desires.

Abuse, discouraging words, abandonment, and worse — What does wounding or assault do to a person’s heart? What has it done to yours?

As we absorb blows, our hearts distort. Originally designed to believe itself competent, smart, courageous, worthy of love, and/or beautiful, it instead believes it is unlovely, unlovable, cowardly, idiotic, weak, or foolish. Think this is true? Remember the words you say to yourself in the silence of your head —  uplifting, or destructive?

Returning to our process map, if our hearts are defiled, then our desires are derailed, and if these are derailed, then our purpose is confounded.

Now assume that the evil impact of these wounds and assaults can be removed, what difference would this make?

Maybe you’d believe about your self as God originally intended, as courageous or beautiful or . . .

Then the desires you once thought impossible just may awaken.

Do you think this could unleash a purpose that would enliven and ignite you?

. . . many have called this, “freedom”

On Saturday, December 2nd, you are invited to begin a journey that could awaken your heart to encounter freedom. If the process map is true, what impact might this have on your life?

Hope to see you Saturday, December 2nd. Click HERE to learn more.

A.E.I.B.

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Gives and Gets

Previously I discussed the value and power of the question, “What would a great leader, parent, employee, friend, etc. do?” and that questions can drive cultures and decisions, but what other questions could shape our hearts and motives?

Circumstances arise: a promotion, a birth, a confrontation, a divorce, a death.

If the experience feels good, we rarely ask God “What am I to learn in this?”
If the experience hurts, we tend to ask God “What did I do to deserve this?”

What if, in either circumstance, we asked, “Father, what are You teaching me in this [my get]?” and “What am I to offer [my give]?”

In moments of anguish or anger it is hard enough to breathe let alone think, and God uses all for the good of those who love Him, He says he disciples us as a loving father, and He occasionally turns up the heat to remove our dross so we can look ever more like Him.

So what questions can we ask in circumstances, hard or delightful?

Lord, you just provided me this huge promotion. Am I to receive it with loose hands to advance your kingdom, or am I to learn how to live humbly with abundance?

Lord, there is a tragedy in my family. What do I need to offer in this moment?

Lord, my spouse just harshly attacked me with his or her words. You really want me to love them back? This is hard, what are you trying to change in me?

Lord, my wife just died. Can you hold me? Can you give me the energy to lead my family? Can you teach me what I’ll need to move forward? Lord, what do You want me to learn about my faith through this?

I know this can be difficult, and if we are serious about our faith and who we want to become in Christ, ask what my friend calls the “Give and Get” questions to grow and to change.

The cool part is that He will then gently and kindly transform us. Think so? Share your comments below.

A.E.I.B.