YIELDING

I’m at our off-site retreat with our executive board and pastoral staff. The Lord is already doing some great things in us. I guess I’m a bit knuckle-headed,  I should have done this several times already, if not, once a year.  I guess in my “older years” I’m beginning to wise up. I think I’m  learning to “pause.”  Another term like “yield” might be a better fit.  I love this word, it has synonymic terms as, give way, give up, defer, surrender, succumb and give in. It’s stuff I have a hard time doing.  There are times when we need to disconnect and yield to the presence of God. And at times, this needs to be practiced at a different location. That’s only if we desire to succeed with minimal set-backs.

I read a blog the other day by Pastor Mark Batterson concerning this topic. He said he came up with a little formula a few years ago, “change of pace + change of place = change of perspective.” When I read it, I fell in love with it.  I’ve realized that it’s what I personally needed and that is what I needed to do with my executive board and pastors.  Later in the summer we are planning another getaway with our entire leadership team.  This is truly a summer of DIVINE ORDER for me and all MHCers.

Pray for us…

26 Comments

  1. Simone on June 25, 2010 at 12:01 PM

    I will continue to pray for you all. I know God is going to do a tremendous thing in each of you there this weekend.



  2. GLENNA on June 25, 2010 at 2:03 PM

    I like that formula…how true…sometimes we do need the change of pace and change of place to change our perspective…I can attest to that.

    The road sign “yield” is very popular here in Jamaica as there are many “roundabouts” and as we drive on the left, we have to “yield” to the driver on the right. For the most part, that “yield” sign is obeyed, but every now and then, you will encounter the stubborn, disobedient driver who wants disregard the sign and keep on driving. How many times I am guilty of this in my own walk with the Lord…I want to have my own way instead of yielding my stubborn will to His. I am learning daily to yield to His voice, to His direction, to His leading.



  3. Jahazyel Martin on June 25, 2010 at 2:41 PM

    I pray that God gives you divine ideas and plans. May God’s voice be audible and clear. May the church be ready to establish divine order in their lives also. Have fun.



  4. JC on June 25, 2010 at 2:46 PM

    I’m glad to hear God is already moving in all of you and pray you continue to surrender yourselves to His presence, His will, and His way.



  5. Ruday Ichiban on June 25, 2010 at 3:00 PM

    I am glad to hear tha God is already doing great things in those that are at the retreat. Changing the environment in which you do things and how you do it can change your perspective. We all need to do that and not seek the presence of God a certain way or in only a certain place. When we go to unfamiliar places and seek God he will reveal to you things you never imagined before.



  6. Dolores on June 25, 2010 at 3:46 PM

    I like that ” change of pace change of place = change of perspective. Getting things in proper order can be difficult and hard work! Believing God for a freshness and new perspective that we’ve not seen, heard or felt in along time. Breakthroughs, giving birth is time consuming, painful and hard work but certainly worth the reward in the end.



  7. mari on June 25, 2010 at 10:55 PM

    Im excited to hear what God has revealed during this time in his presence. This is so awesome!!



  8. Jenny on June 26, 2010 at 12:40 AM

    Great time so far. Looking forward to tomorrow and what God has in store.



  9. Johnny on June 26, 2010 at 12:48 AM

    What a great time it has been so far. Not often do I just pause and listen. I can’t wait to do this with the rest of the team. Much needed!



  10. Andrea on June 26, 2010 at 8:29 AM

    Awesome formula! We often say in our prayers that we yield and give God the right of way but do we really mean it and do it – I agree, it’s something we need to do often. I believe it will keep us from running on empty and getting burned out.



  11. Joselyn on June 26, 2010 at 9:28 AM

    This is very good news!!! God is starting to bring order in the house like He said starting with the head of the house like it should be 🙂 I pray that all of you receive everything God has for you during these day and that you may come back safe and without complications in the name of Jesus.



  12. Jalina on June 26, 2010 at 10:07 AM

    I am anxious to hear what God has been revealing to the Group. I will continue to pray, pray and pray. See you all tomorrow.



  13. April on June 26, 2010 at 11:07 AM

    That’s awesome Pastor. We will continue to pray for you all. Have a safe journey home and see you guys on Sunday.



  14. Cindy Shappy on June 26, 2010 at 11:44 AM

    YEILDING

    I really enjoyed this blog! CHANGE OF PACE + CHANGE OF PLACE = CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE.

    REMEMBER all the meanings of YEILD shows us all the ways we need to follow GOD!!!



  15. gjstfhill on June 26, 2010 at 2:02 PM

    Sounds like a winning formula to me, so sorry we couldn’t be there. Cheri and I just couldn’t find a sitter for the boys. I’m glad to hear that good things are happening there with you all.



  16. victor williams on June 26, 2010 at 8:04 PM

    I’m looking forward to doing the same thing with the other leaders/ my church family. My home is really nice but, there is no place like M.H.C.



  17. Manny on June 26, 2010 at 9:38 PM

    Pastor, this is great time, you and the Elders have yield to listen to God. I will keep on praying and see you tomorrow morning.



  18. Stephen on June 27, 2010 at 12:21 AM

    I am glad God did some great things with you guys while you were away. As you are all back I will continue to pray for right direction and leading from the lord. So true about that formula, and so true about yielding. Something I definitely need to practice more often.



  19. mario caceres on June 27, 2010 at 7:05 AM

    I think that whenever we do something that is big and hard, if we stop and change our perspective and we climb into God’s perspective, we will see that the monster is not that big anymore and that with God nothing is impossible.



  20. Melissa on June 28, 2010 at 1:03 PM

    AWESOME weekend….can’t wait for the upcoming off site!



  21. Brandon Lee on June 29, 2010 at 12:07 AM

    It’s funny what a little pause or patience can do for you. For my football guys this is an example. They say the only difference between Chris Johnson running for 2,000 yards and Adrian Peterson running 2,000 yards is that Peterson just bursts through the holes and tries running everybody over. Where Johnson is patient. He lets the holes develope then takes off at the first sign of daylight. I believe if we stop just trying to run everything over ourselves and be patient. Let the Line block the defenders and find our hole then take off. Our life will move forward a lot better. It just takes a little bit of patience and not so much trying to run over it all.



  22. Ashley E on June 29, 2010 at 7:59 AM

    It’s always quite nice to go some place new and have your eyes opened…. it’s like someone is peeling them open for you while saying ding in the background as a lightbulb goes off…. 🙂



  23. Benjamin Medina on June 29, 2010 at 11:42 AM

    Prayer is always a god way to talk to god and ask for direction. And new places mean new perspective.



  24. Keller on June 29, 2010 at 6:00 PM

    This was a great time. A altar was built, our lives changed. We will not be same…



  25. AD on July 7, 2010 at 12:18 AM

    It is absolutely amazing what happens when we take time and set it apart to meet with God. He honors that time by speaking to you. This can only happen when we align ourselves with what He is trying to do inside us. When He does Meet us, we must build an alter for rememberance of that occasion. I believe He has and We have done so…



  26. Junior on July 10, 2010 at 6:14 PM

    I can’t wait and I’m looking forward to see what God has for our church leaders.