What’s God Been Saying?

, ,

Hello blog world, it’s been a while since we talked. Nineteen months to be exact. In that time many of you have changed churches, changes roles or positions within your churches, or you’ve entered the ministry for the first time. I’m sure you read tons on blogs, listen to all the new podcast and have read all the cool new books about ministry that have come down the pike but I’ve got a question for you…”What’s God been saying to you?” Years ago I realized something that a dear friend and Timothy reminded me of, just this week, “Thus sayeth the Lord works every time!” Every time, Jim? Yep, every time!

I’ve never been sorry for hearing God’s voice and doing what He has told me to do, it always works, yes always. So here’s a question for you, why do we jump on a facebook group or listen to all these other voices and resources rather than asking Jesus what He wants us to do? One of my favorite chapter’s in the Bible is John chapter 10. It says Jesus is our good shepherd and we are His sheep. He knows us and we know His voice. In fact it goes on the say that the voices of a stranger we won’t hear. So when was the last time you sat down and really listened for His voice? What’s He saying? Are you willing to do what He says? I mean are you willing to do exactly what He says? I am, that’s why I back here blogging again. In fact in the days to come you’ll see a lot more of me being obedient to what Jesus is saying to me. I want to hear what He’s saying to me today. That’s why I’m listening with all my heart for my Shepherd’s voice and doing what He says to me. Never quit listening to God’s voice and doing what He says. You’ll discover what God says always works.

/1 Comment/by

Thankful For Freedom

, ,

As I get ready to celebrate America’s Birthday this weekend I can’t help but stop and say thanks to the countless men and woman who fought and paid for the freedoms we have as Americans. When I was younger I thought there really was such a thing as free stuff in the world but as an adult I know first hand free costs someone.  I love to give the resources I make away free, but the truth is it may not cost you, but it costs me. We live in a day when people expect certain rights and privileges. Most of the time we never stop and think about the costs and sacrifices others make for us to enjoy the freedoms we have. So before I cookout, light some fireworks and enjoy the festivities I want to pause and just say thanks and that I appreciate all those who fought and paid for the freedoms we have. Each year more and more of those freedoms are challenged and many of them are threatened. I am thankful I live in a place where I can still read and practice the Bible. I’m glad I have the right to proclaim the Gospel although it’s becoming less and less popular yet, I am still free to do so and for that I am very thankful. I’m also thankful I live in a place that gives me the freedom to bear arms. I get to vote, although each year there are less people I want to vote for and have to settle for the lessor of evils. I am so honored to be an American and I’m also thankful of all the places I could live in America I get to live in the South.

But no matter what freedoms come or go in this country I am thankful for the freedoms I have in Christ Jesus. I don’t ever want to forget what Jesus did for me. I am free indeed thanks to Jesus and what He did for me on the cross. I am free indeed no matter what the future holds, I know who holds the future and I do not want to take Jesus’ “free gift” for granted because it wasn’t free, it cost Him everything.

So as I get out the BBQ sauce and light up the grill please know this, I realize the freedoms I enjoy today as a Christ Follower and a Southern American where bought with a huge price and for that I am thankful! Praise the name of Jesus forever!  God Bless America! God have mercy on us all and help us Jesus to know that there is no true freedom outside of You!

Enjoy the 4th, go to church on the 5th!

/by

Learning To Rest

,

If you have listened to me teach at all I’m sure you’ve heard me say before, “You can learn something new everyday, the key is to want to!” One of the things it’s taken me a long time to learn is how to rest. I have never rested like I should, I usually go and go and go and then collapse. I’ve told my friends to slow down, I’ve told my kids to slow down but I never really took my own advise. I’m trying to fix that. I’ve joked and told people even convicts get time off for good behavior but then I never took time off like I should. I am changing that! If old Jim could tell young Jim something I’d tell him take more vacations, enjoy you day off and look for regular down time you can build into your schedule and enjoy life!

Yesterday was Easter, it was wonderful, today I gave my staff the day off and I’m relaxing, resting and recooperating. Next year’s plans will be there tomorrow. The celebrations with staff will be there too. Today I’m resting. I splept in, I should do this more often. I enjoyed a wonderful conversation with my wife, I did some blogging and will go work on my cabin a little and clean up behind the workmen. I’ll do a bunch of praying and check up on my kids. I need to go for a walk but the important thing is to have a day of rest. Do I have workshops to write? Yes I do.  Do I need to finish a book I’m writing?  Yes I do! Is there stuff at the church I could get a jump on? Yes there is but it will all wait and I’m going to rest my brain, rest my spirit, and rest my body.

How about you, do you need to rest? Follow some advise from the Nike folks, just do it! Go get your nails done, go fishing, go exercise or read a book. I’m praying that the Lord will help you develop this habit like He’s helping me.

It’s important that we make time to rest!

/by

Been Too Busy To Blog

Busy is one of the words that the meaning just keeps changing. Busy |ˈbizē|adjective (busier, busiest) having a great deal to do: So many times over the years I just thought I was busy and the next thing I knew I was really busy. I learned several years ago that one of the good things about being busy is that it forced you to prioritize what you can do and what others can do. Over the last few months I’ve not only had to prioritize my life and how I spend my time but I’ve had to also learn how to say no to certain things and my blog was one of them was this blog. So why did I need to say no to blogging so I could say yes to seeing my family, 25 flights, 5 conferences, 6 consulting visits, 2 infuse retreats and 3 different infuse groups. I’m having the time of my life but the key is saying no so I can say yes to right stuff. Tomorrow I work at home training a staff in Virginia, then lunch with my wife and then meet a new Kidmin for coffee to encourage him.  Then I fly out for California to help another church. So what is making you too busy for the things you should be doing? What do you need to say no to and what do you need to say yes to? I’m walking out balance in my life, my health, and going through the doors God opens and saying no to the ones that aren’t God. I made a promise in 1976 that if Jesus would open doors for me to minister I would go through them. He’s kept His end of the bargain and I intend to keep mine. So blessed!

/by

Re-focusing

I’ll never forget the night i walked the aisle during a Youth Revival at Westwood Baptist Church in Adamsville, Alabama and surrendered my life to the ministry. Jesus had gotten my attention earlier that year when someone got me thinking by telling me that “God had a wonderful plan for my life!” Those 8 words rocked my world then and 40+ years later they still rock my world. 


Early in 2007 the Lord began to stir in my heart that I was going to spend the rest of my life putting into younger leaders. I have to admit that I don’t always fully understand what things mean. Sometimes I am told something for me to know and then I have to trust the Lord to give me the next step to walk it out. About six months later God led me to resign my church of seventeen years and embark on a new assignment. That assignment led to what has been some of the most fruitful times of ministry, not just in a local church but also throughout the body of Christ that I have ever experienced.  About eight months ago the Lord began to prepare me for another part of my journey.  Several years ago I read Bob Bufford’s book Halftime about moving from success to significance. It’s a great book that I highly recomend for anyone to read especially if you are in your 40’s or 50’s. Back in March I began to ask myself some questions about if I was truly pursuing significance in my life and using my gifts, talents and abilities the way that I should in the forth quarter of my life.


I love football. There is nothing like the feeling right before the start of a game when you see the crowd, take in the atmosphere and run through the  big sign the cheerleaders made and start the game. Then there’s the first quarter, then the second then the halftime. The halftime is the difference maker and gives you a second chance to run back out there (this time with less fanfare and no sign) and just get to work being more intentional and getting what needs to get done, done! The best I can tell as I try to decern my life, it’s late in the 3rd quarter and I want to enter the 4th quarter with my head and hands lifted high with 4 fingers up chanting 4th quarter!


Several years ago I learned that in order for me to allow the Lord to lead and order my steps as He has promised to do in His word, I had to think in steps. I’m not sure why I’d rather think in leaps and jumps but it’s the steps of the righteous that are ordered by the Lord.

A few weeks ago I took a step that I believe was ordered of the Lord to resign my staff position at World Outreach Church. I am curently coaching 45 leaders in Infuse, + all the other ministries and services I offer through Jim Wideman Ministries. I am also building some partnerships with some other ministries and churches throughout the US that I believe in to consult and work with. I am not retiring, I’m re-focusing. I have been amazed at the way God has opened doors for me to use the gifts He place in me for His purposes. I am so thankful for saying yes to the call of God on my life years ago and also today and look forward to seeing what Jesus has in store for me in the days ahead. I know in my heart, God is not done with me! My best years are ahead and Jesus is going to build His Church and I am thankful that I can be a part of what He is doing in these last days!


More to come…

 

/3 Comments/by