Unction to Function

Unction to function

Bughatti fastest car in the world isn't it grand?

The Bughatti is the fastest car in the world.  It has the unction to function in ways no other car can match. However, it isn't very fast parked in the garage.  It may look sleek and cool, it may have all the best gadgets, the most expensive tires, but if it's not on the road what's the point? This car has the unction, the engine to function.  


Our Unction is Grace


 No matter where I go I always get this question “What’s my calling?”  Interpretation - “what are my gifts?” and “what am I suppose to be doing?”   Most people are more aware of their shortcomings and areas in need of growth than their gifting and talents.  They want to know what they are good at and they want something to do.  It's up to us leaders to help identify area’s of grace, their giftings and allow them to be exercised.  You see once we get inspired we need the unction to function.  Unction is grace. Holy Spirit gifts in action breeds confidence and confidence is crucial to the “go” of a ministry. 


Start your engine!


 Just teaching them equipping theology is not enough to equip them.  They got to get their feet wet and start experiencing Holy Spirit power.  That’s equipping them.  Teaching them about fruit and gifts is not enough, give them an arena to walk in it. Let them experience it first hand. This is one of my favorite times of ministry.  I love watching women I have been encouraging and equipping finally get it and they find the place where God smiles on them the most! They just seem to shine. The look like that car! Amazing! I just want to get me a bowl of popcorn, sit on the front row and say "that's my girl!"  I believe God does too!


What can you do?


Study the gifts, fruits and the Holy Spirit so you can identify it in others.  Most of the time we study the gifts of the Holy Spirit so we can discover what our gifts are.  That almost borderline pride and selfish ambition.  Study the gifts so you and your team can start identifying them in others. 




 Here is a great resource for any women’s ministry in this Holy Spirit equipping, my friend Pat Holland. 




What other ways can you equip the saints?




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Inspiration is the Spark

Inspiration is the Spark

Inspiration is the spark.

We love inspiration.  We flip through interior design books, we sort through the hairstyles, we watch hours of Food Network just for a spark of “That just might work!”  True inspiration, like what we find on HGTV, Hope Tour, and Fall Breakaway is the spark to moving people. It happens so quick we can even miss it.  


Inspiration allows me to say ‘Hey I can do that too!” 


Don't you just love to get around people that make things seem so simple and then share with you the secret ingredient that pulls it all off? It's just a spark, but your whole line of thinking is changed. Instead of being overwhelmed with daunting tasks, your seeing possibilities and potential. When we watch others make an overwhelming task seem simple, we are inspired to do the same.  Jesus inspired Peter to walk on water!!. Why? Jesus made it seem possible, He made it look easy. When we do things well, when we start walking in God's grace we will inspire others to do the same.  




 Inspiration will also add new energy to an already hum - drum process.


 I love inspiring messages for that very reason.  I love to hear about superwomen and their stories. I have a friend that I love dearly, she has cystic fibrosis and in the process of God healing her she has lived in 4 different continents as a missionary.  She inspires me.  When I’m tempted to complain, wallow in self pity, and walk in way too much pride,  I think of her, I spend time with her.  She walks, talks, breathes faith.  It inspires me to persevere and move on when I’m tempted to quit. When we press through we inspire others to press through too.




What inspires you? Where do you go for inspiration? Leave a comment, who knows you might inspire others.




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Unction to Function

Video Pic: I want it all

How do we juggle it all?  

We have family, work, church, ministry, friends, holidays, presents to buy, parties to attend, science fair projects x3, mission trip, mentoring, message preparation, girls night out, date night, and let's not forget your daughter's cheerleading squad coming over for a slumber party, or your son's buddies coming over for marathon game of Red vs Blue whatever that is.  

Christine Cain says it all about having it all.  It's a short video, and she doesn't elaborate too much but it's powerful and it's key. It's enough to chew on for a couple of days.  

Christine Cain is coming our way!!!

 She will be at Save the Hero (Fall Breakaway 2011) at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando, Fl  - October 20-22.  Reservations include registration and room! 4 to a room only $100, you can't beat that!  3 days/2 nights in 5 star hotel, with your girlfriends and Christine Caine.  This isn't about the workshops either there is plenty of downtime to enjoy the area! You gotta love that, a conference that you can relax at! 

It's A Go! We Have LIftoff!

Have you ever watched the Space Shuttle get off the ground?  

There is a countdown, the astronauts are turning on  the equipment, and then a roaring thunder as it leaves the ground and heads for space.  It’s a sight to see from a distance.  I couldn’t imagine how cool it would be up close and personal. How amazing would it be to sense the excitement, to smell the fuel, to feel the heat and the ground shake, and don’t get me started with being in the cockpit. Yep, your right I wouldn’t mind taking a trip to outer space.

Getting ministries off the ground can be a lot like the Space Shuttle. It’s not one particular department that gets the shuttle off the ground and into space, it’s many components working together. 

When I meet with women’s ministry leaders and pastors there is one comment that always comes up. “Sandy, I love these ladies, they are gifted, loving, give the shirt right off their back, but I just can’t get them up and out.”   It’s the go.  It’s the getting the people we serve to get up off their uh-hem pews and do something. How do we do that?  What is it that gets them up and at them?

Inspiration is the spark.

Unction to function is the equipping.


and

We are a Go!

How many times have people come back from a conference and seminars all excited and after a few weeks, the excitement is gone and back to same old stuff. There was no movement. We can give an inspiring message on giving (that's the spark), we can show them how to give (equipping the saints), but if they aren’t moved to live generously giving is short lived.  You see people will only move to the level of their highest commitment. Just so we all understand, strong commits are no turning backs.  It’s not strong proclamations or declarations it’s a direction. Let's check out a hero of mine, Naomi in Ruth 1:6-22


Naomi gets a big commit!


Here is Naomi in the middle of the worse personal crisis imaginable and gets an unbelievable commit from the most unlikely of person. Let's review her situation: Her husband moves her away from home into a country totally despised by her countrymen, and totally cursed by God.  Her boys marry two women raised in a country known for sacrificing their children, so much for grandchildren and family.  Her husband and sons die, leaving her to fend for herself and two daughter-in-laws in a foreign country.  


She decides to leave and go back home. She tells the two girls her plans and basically tries to talk them out of following her. One girl kisses her good bye and the other, Ruth, makes this covenant commit to follow unto her last breath.  She commits to go penniless into a country that believes she is lower than dirt, with no options whatsoever.  


Commitment starts with us 


Ruth's commitment is huge! She goes as far as to say "May God punish me if I allow anything but death to separate us." WHAT!?? What was it about Naomi that would cause her to do that?  Her character, her inspirational story, her know how in tough times?  All of the above. She got that commit because she demonstrated the kind of character people will follow. The kind of character that people can trust, why? She was honest and transparent about what was ahead. She wasn't full of herself, making promises she couldn't keep. Her lifestyle prior to this decision making day backed it up.  


Big commits go the distance


She got a huge commit from half her audience, that's pretty good. I'd rather have a few huge commits than a bunch of little ones.  I would rather have 5 sold out women of faith at a meeting, a Bible study, a prayer group, than 250 any day. Why? They go the distance! Huge commits take time to get. Start with small commits and be faithful to them.  Adjust the vision and strategies to closer attainable places.Take baby steps to get there, before you know it your there. 


Naomi was committed herself


Naomi was going with or without them. Elijah was going whether Elisha could keep up or not.  Joshua set his face like flint, there was no turning back for this guy.  Jesus was going to the Cross, like it or not Peter. They weren't willy-nilly with their commitments.  They were commitments they were willing to die for. There might be detours along the way, there might be hurdles, or it could be a cake walk, whatever the case may be it's how far your willing to commit that inspires others. 


It is commitment that moves people. Your task if you choose to accept it is raise the commitment level. First with you, trust me it’s contagious, then give a call to action to the individuals and then corporately move. 

What kind of character that inspires you to  move? leave a comment

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Inspiration is the Spark
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