Jim Reklis
Posted January 25, 2012
I picture myself in the boat and feeling like the disciples, questioning God’s care for my life. When I am caught up in storms of life, I don’t always have immediate confidence that God is going to do something to get me out of it. I usually have to wrestle with me thoughts of doubt. The picture of Jesus at rest in the midst of a storm is extremely helpful to me. He doesn’t panic. God doesn’t panic, wringing his hands wondering what he is going to do about the storm. He really does care and have it all under control. My prayer is to recognize who is in my boat when I’m going through a storm and that he does care,but is not agitated or panicked like I may be.
-Jim Reklis
Posted January 21, 2012
Here is the last in my series on personal growth. If you haven’t read the other three, I recommend you go back and read them to get the full picture.
Assessment asks “where am I?”, alignment, “where am I going?”, and action asks, “how will I get there?” You may have noticed that a gap was created between your assessment and alignment, where you are now and where you hope to be. The third and critical step is creating an action plan to bridge this gap. Think of it as a road map to get you from current location to your desired destination.
Think for a moment on why you haven’t grown in some area in your life. For me, I knew my present condition and where I preferred to be, but I failed to create a clear plan to get there. Nothing changes without action and forward movement.
Let me speak a word of wisdom to you. I had fallen into a false belief that trusting God meant you don’t need to plan. If God wants it to happen, it will happen. Then I saw the truth that God plans and carries out what He plans. Proverbs praises the virtues of planning wisely and not being lazy. Paul planned to carry the Gospel into certain regions with specific dates and people and resources. So planning is actually a God given activity, not simply something we do in our own strength. This is where you join God is what he is doing in your life, Phil. 2:12-13.
There are two components to this action phase, creating goals and action steps to reach those goals. A growth plan is a dream or vision with a deadline and markers that keep you on track.
Goals are most easily created from your alignment statements. Let’s use our devotions example. You want a daily time of connecting with God. You now need to take this vision and create a goal such as, I purpose to have a consistent connection with God each day, by June 30, 2012.
Actions steps are how you will accomplish this goal. Here is an example you might come up with for this devotional area. Since I connect well with God when I’m exercising, and not sitting down, I’m going to take time to listen to the Bible on my ipod every morning and take a 30-minute run. I will also take time to pray during my run or when I am done as I reflect on what he is saying to me.
Be sure you write this action plan down on paper! Then review it weekly or at least monthly. I recommend you enlist your spouse or good friend to help you execute it well.
Every plan has to be worked on. Growth is not automatic. You take two steps forward and then one step back, but you make progress. Also, goals should not change, but your action steps are flexible. If something isn’t working, try something new. There is not just one way to do anything. God wired you uniquely, so cooperate with his design and grow! Little by little you will change. God purposed it and promised it. Now, what are you going to do about it?
Posted January 20, 2012
Welcome to part 2 of my previous posts on developing your own personal growth plan. We have moved from assessment to alignment.
If assessment asks the question, “Where am I?” alignment asks, “Where am I going?” Alignment is about vision, a preferred future in the areas you assessed and relies on your deeply held values, beliefs, and convictions. Another way to think of alignment is as a compass, it points you in the true direction you want to move toward.
As a Christian you draw from Scripture as a revelation of God’s design and the Holy Spirit who is working in you to transform you into the image of Christ. So more than just wishful thinking, alignment brings God’s purpose for your life into focus and asks, “By God’s grace where will I grow this year and what will it look like?” This is where you ask God for wisdom and clarity on what he is doing in your life and how you are to cooperate with him at this time .
Take each area you assessed and write down the preferred future. Let’s use our prior example. The assessment- I have an inconsistent devotional life and only have a quiet time a couple days of my week and even then it is brief and feels hurried. Mornings are hard for me to do this. The alignment (a preferred future for this area) I want to daily connection with God not out of duty, but for vital life giving relationship. I want to listen to him, get more of my identity from him and then talk to him about my life.
Just as in the assessment phase being specific and clear is an essential component to developing a good growth plan. General and vague descriptions will not help you. Be creative and descriptive in this area, not just practical. Picture it, then describe it in words.
Posted January 16, 2012
I hear so much in this one verse that encourages me, inspires me, and makes me take courage. It is loaded with the good news of what God has done and continues doing in me. I hear God assuring me that despite what my circumstances try to tell me, he personally started a work in me. My faith is not my own invention, rather he initiated a relationship with me when I didn’t look for it or deserve it. And he won’t stop working by this same grace until I’m complete in Him. Then to add grace upon grace, he makes clear to me that it’s a future fulfillment, not in this life, so I don’t have to struggle with condemnation when I see what is left to finish in my life. That is really good news!
-Jim Reklis
Posted January 15, 2012
Where to begin
If you have never attempted this before you might be asking, “Where do you start when developing a personal growth plan?” There is no single way, but a wise person stated that you cannot move forward into the future without a clear understanding of where you are in the present. This is true in your personal growth. So I begin with an honest assessment of where your life is right now. I recommend you focus on your spiritual life, family (marriage and children), finances, and personal life. As a believer you have the Holy Spirit to help you with this. Often I’ll ask him to show me where I really am, not where I think I am. Here are some thoughts and questions I use to assess my life.
Where are you right now in the key areas of your life?
Ask God to reveal what He is working on in your life. It’s pretty easy to see our failures and make a long list of ways you want to improve. The primary goal of a life assessment is to discover what God is working on in your life and cooperate with him.
Be honest. What I mean is this, depending on your personality temperament you will see things better than they really are or worse. I tend to be optimistic and always see things better. So I have to “get real”. I have found a brutal honesty actually helps me grow.
Be specific. The less vague you are and the more specific you can be in each area, the greater potential for growth. For example, “my devotional life stinks”, may be true, but is not at all specific. You will get more traction with, “my quiet times are inconsistent and my mind wanders when ever I try to pray.” Or, “I’m $8,000 in credit card debt and have no savings”, will serve you much better than “my finances are a mess”.
Write your thoughts down. You will be able to clarify your current condition when you put your thoughts on paper.
Here are some areas I find helpful to assess
Worship -am I giving God his rightful place or have I let idols come in to take his place somewhere?
Devotional Life – what does my devotional life look like, in the Word, prayer, fasting, spiritual development, spiritual retreats, etc? How is my connection with God?
Relationships – If you are married, how am I relating to my spouse? What is our current relationship lacking? Same for my children. Singles, you can ask these same questions about other family or close friends.
Finances - Where am I in relation to my finances? Are they mastering me or am I mastering them? Do I have an adequate plan for now and the future?
Personal Development - How do I take care of my own soul, mind and body? Think about what books you read, relationships you intentionally build for friendship or mentoring, and your physical health and fitness.
This is the more difficult part in this process because you intuitively know these things are not where you want them, and it can be painful to see exactly where they are. But, that is ok, God does not intend to leave you there. Like the day you realized you were a sinner in need of Christ, it was both painful yet hopeful and joyful, so this assessment holds the promise of transformation. You are identifying the areas God wants to make new by the power of Christ in you.
Posted January 11, 2012
We are eleven days into the New Year. Hopefully, you are excited about the possibilities of potential significant change in your life. If not, perhaps you are not considering your life from God’s perspective. He sees your future as a continuing process of change for the better. “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil.1:6. God’s purpose for every Christ follower is for you to grow progressively into a complete person, beautifully reflecting the image of God through Christ.
During the last couple of years I have come to realize I have hindered the growth God wanted by a lack of planning for it. Since then I have come to discover the power of a personal growth plan. Honestly, it has revolutionized my life and God-graced growth has increased significantly. And, because I am not naturally great at planning, I developed a process that is simple and connected to my relationship with God and others.
A personal growth plan helps you discover what God is currently doing in your life and intentionally join him in this transformation. We are not to play a passive role, but actively pursue the growth God is causing in our lives. In fact, we are commanded to do so.“ Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12-13. You see, God is the initiator, causing us to desire change and empowering us for growth, but we have an active role in seeing it come about. We work with God, by His grace, to see growth.
Over the next few days I’ll share the 3-step process I use, Assess, Align, Act. If you want to see more growth, I invite you to take a look and give it a try. Whether you use this plan or another, don’t go without a plan. God has much more for you than you might imagine, but you will have to be purposeful and intentional to join him in it.
Posted November 27, 2011
Posted September 8, 2011
Phyllis and I love going to the movies. Unfortunately, it’s been a rather dull season for good movies with one powerful exception, The Help. It is the story of a young white woman who wants to tell the story of black moms who work for wealthy white families in the South in the 60’s. It touches on so many issues still affecting us today. Kathryn Stockett, the book’s author wrote it from her own experience. She causes all of us to face the cruelty that lurks in the human heart and the power of confronting those evils with truth. We had read the book last year and loved every page of it. So when we heard it was made into a movie we went on opening day. Movies can be watered down and even vastly transformed from the book. We weren’t disappointed with The Help. The acting was great, but it is the story itself that is so griping and impacting on your heart. Rarely would I say this of a movie, but you need to see this one, especially if you are from the South.
If you have read the book or seen the movie here is an set of article’s by Ed Stetzer helping you address the issues that surface front and center in this movie. Phyllis and I were moved in so many ways and I’m sure you will be as well. Get ready to have your heart moved and definitely bring some tissues.
Posted June 26, 2011
Posted May 5, 2011
I am completing a 10 month master’s program in June. At that time I will have read over 40 books for the program, each averaging 250+ pages for a total of over 10,000 pages. Now if you would have told me that before I signed up I would have laughed and said, no way! I am a slow reader, so the mountain of reading would have intimidated me. But, I am glad to say, I read it all. In fact, I read several other book as well for pleasure and personal interests.
I like to read, but this past year has made me a reader. Before I would justify that I just didn’t have the time to read much. So I would average several books a year, but would have several gaps of non-reading times. Many people when I ask, “how much do you read’ answer only a couple of books in a year. I found that true especially for men.
One of the required books by John Piper had an exhortation to pastors to be readers. He confessed he also is a slow reader, so I paid close attention. He related a secret he learned and began to practice years ago; to tackle reading don’t try to read a lot at once, instead read for short periods of time every day.
Twenty minutes a day for a slow reader will get you through 12 1/2 pages. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? But if you do so every day, six days a week you will read 3900 pages a year. That’s fifteen 250 page books! Far more than a one or two which is fairly normal.
Why read? You will grow! God gave us a mind to use to learn and grow in both knowledge and wisdom. Reading is one of the best ways to exercise your brain. You discover more about yourself, others, the world God made, and you will see the hand of God in ways you haven’t before.
Give your self a personal growth exercise and read just 20 minutes. Watch and see yourself bloom!
Jim
Posted March 31, 2011
It is hard to believe, but tomorrow marks 30 years since I was ordained into the ministry. Certainly not where I expected to be when I was a teenager looking out at the world seeking to find my place. God had other plans for me when he snatched me from the depths of darkness at age 18. Together Phyllis and I have been on an adventure with God, not always following Him perfectly, but our hearts have been to serve His purposes with our lives. In the course of these 30 years we have experienced an abundance of the grace of God working in us and through us. By that grace we have grown and are excited about the impact we can make in this next season of ministry.
Some reflections on 30 years of ministry –
* I’m thankful for the churches I served the first 10 years of my ministry. They endured my lack of experience mixed with a ton of zeal and greatly encouraged me.
* God does far more than I ever asked or imagined.
* Teamwork brings greater impact than a person’s ministry by itself.
* The most important aspect of ministry is just showing up…faithfulness.
* Ministry is truly a calling. It’s not a profession or a job. As someone recently said, “There are better paying ways to be make a living and be unappreciated.” Pastors are not in it for the money or fame or to be liked.
* Family comes first and deserves the best of my life, not leftovers. I did not always live this way and at times it hurt my wife and kids. Thankfully they are forgiving and we’ve been able to move past those hurts.
* It’s all about people. Ministry is about helping and coaching people to know God and grow relationally.
* People changed by God’s grace are beautiful to behold.
* Serving in a church that appreciates you is a gift from God. I feel that here at Grace Church and have for these 22 years. I hea plenty of horror stories of pastors and their wives who are dying from a lack of encouragement and lack of appreciation. We’re blessed!
* The greatest thing a church can do for its pastors is follow their leadership. When people resist God given changes the burden on pastors is greatly increased. Again, we are blessed at Grace Church for the way people love leaders who lead.
* The best is yet to come! I’m excited for the next season of my life and ministry. I believe God has more to do in us and through us to advance his mission on the earth. I am so glad to be serving a church that stands ready to move forward in all Gods has for us.
Posted March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Amazing how much is made of this day with most people not knowing anything about this amazing minister of the Gospel. As I read about him I am struck at how Christ-centered and Gospel-centered he lived his life and ministry. He was by all definitions a 5th century apostle to Ireland. God performed signs and miracles through him. He had a keen prophetic gift through which God spoke to him and others clearly. He trained over 1000 pastors, planted over 700 churches, and saw roughly a quarter of Ireland converted in his 30 some years of ministry there. And he was not sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church and was never sainted by them. Pretty amazing.
To get a feel for his devotion to Christ and how he lived out his faith, here is his most famous poem. Enjoy and celebrate a real model of Christ. Notice his prayer includes the very things he encountered as he evangelized Ireland’s pagan culture.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.
