On America’s 250th birthday, the freedom that matters most is freedom from the pharaoh systems that tell you your worth is your output. You're not a productivity machine. You are an instrument of God.
Anything built from your own power will eventually be corrupted no matter how well intentioned, as it becomes separated from the Will of God (which is what we see time and time again with powerful men trying to enact “clever” solutions that always somehow become perversions of their intentions)
When you walk with the spirit, your victory is dependent not on your own might but on the grace and mercy of God
Sometimes the way to win the battle is to surrender all movement entirely
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
One of the things I wonder about is if I will be judged for not using my God-given talents correctly or enough in this life. What if my truest self is to "participate in the divine act of creation"?
In that context, failing to listen to who I am and what makes me unique -- and acting upon it -- is denying God's plan for me.
For people starting careers, there can be a lot of pressure to conform and take the tried and true path. To align with the world's greatest brands and build a resume'. Like it or not, the world judges people based on past experiences, and for many a job inside a prestigious company IS the path to career success. Those opportunities are sometimes worth the leap, if for no other reason to be open to serendipity. Who's to say those things aren't God's plan for you.
For me -- a builder -- I left a cushy corporate gig in which I was getting promoted regularly BECAUSE I could feel in the depth of my soul that it was not what I was truly called to do. Was it the right financial decision? Probably not. But I've lived interestingly and try to continue to do so, and my life is much more full as a result. I haven't regretted that choice for a moment.
In my current role, it is easier to see and identify when folks make "business decisions" instead of following their heart or vocation as parent/spouse/etc. Sometimes it's by necessity -- financial pressures, health concerns, family demands, etc. are real. So I think it can be dangerous to judge those situations.
But discernment of who you are and what you are and where you should go -- certainly should at minimum define the 2nd half of a career. Perhaps sooner. I think that's an interesting philosophical question -- when to take that leap of faith.
Will continue to noodle on this concept. Thanks for sharing!
Praise God! Gary, thank you for being a vessel to receive this message + put it out! This season is truly about being in obedience to Him versus forcing our own will to meet standards that the West imposed upon us. May we all continue to walk closely + abide in Christ, Our Savior.
YES, The truth and nothing but the truth .. To God be the Glory Forever and may we all Seek Him First .. and his righteousness.. and KNOW that ALL things will be added unto us ♥️.
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” — Matthew 12:50
Let’s hold on to that thought. We’ll circle back, but first let’s investigate what kinds of material promises Christ actually makes:
• In Matthew 6:31–33 and Luke 12:30–31, the Lord promises food, water, and clothing for those who seek the Kingdom first.
• In Luke 6:38, Jesus promises tangible return proportional to the measure of one's giving.
• In Mark 10:29–31 and Matthew 19:29, the Lord promises to those who leave house, family, or lands for His sake and the gospel’s, a hundredfold return now in this time of houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands (with persecutions), and in the age to come, eternal life. He caps it with a sobering reminder: "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Circling back to Matthew 12:50, two truths stand out:
1. We are called to do the will of our Father.
2. Doing the Father’s will makes us literal family.
Many of us come from broken, dysfunctional earthly families, which makes trusting this dynamic difficult. Yet God’s view of family isn’t dysfunctional, it is holy, beautiful, and rooted in true covenant. When we inspect Mark 10:29–31, we find the Lord’s blueprint for community. Over the last seven months of studying this passage and sharing it, I've watched many people react just like the rich young ruler, walking away sorrowful. They suffer from "RYR Syndrome," unable to imagine life without the grind because they fear destitution.
The conclusion across scripture is simple: the family of God is the safety net.
I’m not talking about a non-profit, a startup, or an institutional bureaucracy. I’m talking about ordinary people who call Jesus King. So, when we are obedient to the Father's will, and work together like a family who loves one another, just as the early church walked out in Acts, our lives cease to be about toiling for Pharaoh. They become about serving the Lord and providing for our local brothers, sisters, mothers, and children.
The way of Grace is not dependent on toil!
Anything built from your own power will eventually be corrupted no matter how well intentioned, as it becomes separated from the Will of God (which is what we see time and time again with powerful men trying to enact “clever” solutions that always somehow become perversions of their intentions)
When you walk with the spirit, your victory is dependent not on your own might but on the grace and mercy of God
Sometimes the way to win the battle is to surrender all movement entirely
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Thought-provoking post here!
One of the things I wonder about is if I will be judged for not using my God-given talents correctly or enough in this life. What if my truest self is to "participate in the divine act of creation"?
In that context, failing to listen to who I am and what makes me unique -- and acting upon it -- is denying God's plan for me.
For people starting careers, there can be a lot of pressure to conform and take the tried and true path. To align with the world's greatest brands and build a resume'. Like it or not, the world judges people based on past experiences, and for many a job inside a prestigious company IS the path to career success. Those opportunities are sometimes worth the leap, if for no other reason to be open to serendipity. Who's to say those things aren't God's plan for you.
For me -- a builder -- I left a cushy corporate gig in which I was getting promoted regularly BECAUSE I could feel in the depth of my soul that it was not what I was truly called to do. Was it the right financial decision? Probably not. But I've lived interestingly and try to continue to do so, and my life is much more full as a result. I haven't regretted that choice for a moment.
In my current role, it is easier to see and identify when folks make "business decisions" instead of following their heart or vocation as parent/spouse/etc. Sometimes it's by necessity -- financial pressures, health concerns, family demands, etc. are real. So I think it can be dangerous to judge those situations.
But discernment of who you are and what you are and where you should go -- certainly should at minimum define the 2nd half of a career. Perhaps sooner. I think that's an interesting philosophical question -- when to take that leap of faith.
Will continue to noodle on this concept. Thanks for sharing!
:) good reflection!
Praise God! Gary, thank you for being a vessel to receive this message + put it out! This season is truly about being in obedience to Him versus forcing our own will to meet standards that the West imposed upon us. May we all continue to walk closely + abide in Christ, Our Savior.
Halleluyah! I love this!
We are Christ ambassadors, the toil mentality is not for us children of the most high God.
Thanks Gary
God bless you
YES, The truth and nothing but the truth .. To God be the Glory Forever and may we all Seek Him First .. and his righteousness.. and KNOW that ALL things will be added unto us ♥️.
Praise the Lord! Another fire article from a brother
Amen
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” — Matthew 12:50
Let’s hold on to that thought. We’ll circle back, but first let’s investigate what kinds of material promises Christ actually makes:
• In Matthew 6:31–33 and Luke 12:30–31, the Lord promises food, water, and clothing for those who seek the Kingdom first.
• In Luke 6:38, Jesus promises tangible return proportional to the measure of one's giving.
• In Mark 10:29–31 and Matthew 19:29, the Lord promises to those who leave house, family, or lands for His sake and the gospel’s, a hundredfold return now in this time of houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands (with persecutions), and in the age to come, eternal life. He caps it with a sobering reminder: "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Circling back to Matthew 12:50, two truths stand out:
1. We are called to do the will of our Father.
2. Doing the Father’s will makes us literal family.
Many of us come from broken, dysfunctional earthly families, which makes trusting this dynamic difficult. Yet God’s view of family isn’t dysfunctional, it is holy, beautiful, and rooted in true covenant. When we inspect Mark 10:29–31, we find the Lord’s blueprint for community. Over the last seven months of studying this passage and sharing it, I've watched many people react just like the rich young ruler, walking away sorrowful. They suffer from "RYR Syndrome," unable to imagine life without the grind because they fear destitution.
The conclusion across scripture is simple: the family of God is the safety net.
I’m not talking about a non-profit, a startup, or an institutional bureaucracy. I’m talking about ordinary people who call Jesus King. So, when we are obedient to the Father's will, and work together like a family who loves one another, just as the early church walked out in Acts, our lives cease to be about toiling for Pharaoh. They become about serving the Lord and providing for our local brothers, sisters, mothers, and children.