“Seek first the Kingdom of God and all else will be added unto you.”
Have you noticed that throughout history, the great cities are built along flowing rivers and/or oceans; they are built by water? Why do cities and industry flourish along rivers, lakes and oceans? Water is life! Life, whether human, plant, animal or industry is dependent upon water. The best agricultural soils are often found in river valleys. One of my favorite hymns is “Shall we gather at the River.” As a child I heard my dad sing and whistle this song innumerable times while we were along the river; whether working, fishing, hunting, or socializing with friends on a summer Sunday afternoon.
Water transports some nutrients in the soil and in the plant; water also enables plants to stand vertical. These are a few simplified benefits of water in soil and plants. Water cleanses, water refreshes. Our blood is mostly water. Water forms valleys, as well as the consequential hills. Did you know that the deepest soils are nearly always found in the valleys? More about that tomorrow. Water enables root growth, root growth provides stability and greater area from which the plant to draw the necessary water and nutrients to prosper. Water is life!
We too should build our ‘city’ of life by the flowing water of Christ. Water is frequently used in scripture literally and metaphorically. Jesus was baptized in Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove saying, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.” The water in a flowing river is a representation of the ground water underneath the surrounding land. When we build in the river bottom, we have the flowing water near-by; additionally we have ample water right below our feet; available for promoting and strengthening life. Water cleanses our hands, the waters of our baptism symbolically cleanse our sin; permanently washing them away because of Christ’s death and resurrection.
Water is necessary for seed germination, leading to wheat, leading to bread. Christ blood, containing mostly water germinate the seeds of the eternal bread of life in our life. We simple must accept the watering of our souls from Christ’s blood, we must seek and accept the Kingdom of God and all else will be added unto us.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ,
In Christ,
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Rapport - The Fragrance of Life
Have you met people that you instantly like? You and they have established instant rapport.
What is rapport? Is all rapport good? A quick search on Amazon.com returns 14,961 Results. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the French origin Rapport as, “a close relationship in which people understand each other and communicate well.”
How do we build rapport? The recordings and references I have listened to over the years, define the establishment of rapport as the foundation of successful salesman, “instant” credibility, likeability and relationships. One person defines rapport as, “The Key to Influencing People, Including Yourself.” The techniques include mirroring someone’s body language, voice tonality and pace. Mirroring includes empathizing with others emotionally; agreeing with their position.
Masterful manipulators use these techniques to influence others in taking the manipulator’s desired action. The real question is whether the desired action is Christ’s will for the person being manipulated.
Whenever I attempt to use the above techniques for establishing rapport, I fail miserably in placing hope on myself. For that, I am grateful! Conversely, when focusing on Christ; helping others achieve Christ’s will for their life; I establish instant rapport with all whom have a heart for Christ. II Corinthians 2:15-16 says that we are the aroma of Christ, “To one the smell of death, to the other, the fragrance of life.” Is there a greater way of establishing rapport than being the fragrance of life in Christ?
What kind of rapport do we establish by assuming the smell of death? Have you smelled death, a decaying animal? The smell of death is atrocious! We go out of our way to avoid the smell of death.
The fragrance of life is greater than the greatest fragrance on earth. The fragrance of life is better than any flower, cologne or perfume; past, present or future. The fragrance of life in Christ has greater attraction than the world’s most powerful magnet. Yet, just an object lacking the proper chemical properties is not drawn to the most powerful magnet, those lacking the spiritual qualities of Christ will not be drawn to the fragrance of life. Can iron be injected into plastic for magnetic draw? Absolutely! Can Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit be injected in into those currently opposed to the fragrance of Christ? Absolutely!
As you search for techniques of building rapport, thoroughly investigate your motives. If your motives are secular, the techniques above will work just fine; especially for those who continue smelling Christ as death. However, if your motive is loving the Lord your God, with all of your heart, mind and soul; loving your fellow man as much as you love yourself; establish rapport with the saturation of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in your every thought, word, and deed. Allow Christ to saturate you with the fragrance of life.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
In Christ,
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com
What is rapport? Is all rapport good? A quick search on Amazon.com returns 14,961 Results. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the French origin Rapport as, “a close relationship in which people understand each other and communicate well.”
How do we build rapport? The recordings and references I have listened to over the years, define the establishment of rapport as the foundation of successful salesman, “instant” credibility, likeability and relationships. One person defines rapport as, “The Key to Influencing People, Including Yourself.” The techniques include mirroring someone’s body language, voice tonality and pace. Mirroring includes empathizing with others emotionally; agreeing with their position.
Masterful manipulators use these techniques to influence others in taking the manipulator’s desired action. The real question is whether the desired action is Christ’s will for the person being manipulated.
Whenever I attempt to use the above techniques for establishing rapport, I fail miserably in placing hope on myself. For that, I am grateful! Conversely, when focusing on Christ; helping others achieve Christ’s will for their life; I establish instant rapport with all whom have a heart for Christ. II Corinthians 2:15-16 says that we are the aroma of Christ, “To one the smell of death, to the other, the fragrance of life.” Is there a greater way of establishing rapport than being the fragrance of life in Christ?
What kind of rapport do we establish by assuming the smell of death? Have you smelled death, a decaying animal? The smell of death is atrocious! We go out of our way to avoid the smell of death.
The fragrance of life is greater than the greatest fragrance on earth. The fragrance of life is better than any flower, cologne or perfume; past, present or future. The fragrance of life in Christ has greater attraction than the world’s most powerful magnet. Yet, just an object lacking the proper chemical properties is not drawn to the most powerful magnet, those lacking the spiritual qualities of Christ will not be drawn to the fragrance of life. Can iron be injected into plastic for magnetic draw? Absolutely! Can Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit be injected in into those currently opposed to the fragrance of Christ? Absolutely!
As you search for techniques of building rapport, thoroughly investigate your motives. If your motives are secular, the techniques above will work just fine; especially for those who continue smelling Christ as death. However, if your motive is loving the Lord your God, with all of your heart, mind and soul; loving your fellow man as much as you love yourself; establish rapport with the saturation of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in your every thought, word, and deed. Allow Christ to saturate you with the fragrance of life.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
In Christ,
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Do you Finish God's sentences?
Do you finish other people’s sentences?
Several years ago, following a Toastmasters meeting I visited with a local businessman and philanthropist, Joe, whom visited our club to promote a fund raiser. Joe told of attending Kansas State University’s world-renowned College of Veterinary Medicine.
When Joe began telling of his experiences in Manhattan, I began finishing his sentences whenever he paused as I knew exactly what he was going to say. Wrong!!! I did not know how Joe was finishing his sentences.
I normally do not engage in finishing someone’s sentences, however the excitement of discussing Manhattan and Kansas State got the better of me in that conversation. Moreover, his favorite professor of Vet Med was the father of two of my friends and high school cross country teammates.
The first few times of my interruption, Jim patiently stated, “No, I was going say…” Following my sixth repetition of rudely and inaccurately finishing sentences, Joe politely dismissed himself.
Are you irritated when others finish your sentences, especially when completed inaccurately? Have you ever finished someone’s sentences? Others tend to inaccurately finish my sentences when I pause, just as I did when Joe paused.
Instead of listening we jump to conclusions. Frequently, emotional irritation is the only damage. However, when continued, we lose credibility as a listener. Eventually we risk causing great damage to our relationships or suffering physical consequences.
Once in the summer of 1986, Jim and I were instructed to drive a farm truck to Fettger’s (the name of a farm) to meet my cousins where we would load straw bales. As soon as Jim and I heard “Fettger’s” we stopped listening because we knew exactly where the Fettger place was since we irrigated there every morning.
We jumped in the truck and drove the 12 miles on gravel roads to the Fettger place. During our drive we discussed that the wheat and resulting straw bales must be in the dry land portion of the property. Since we were only familiar with the irrigated portion of the property, we tried to hypothesize the specific location of wheat field on this farm. We were puzzled upon arrival because we saw no wheat nor a single person around this field.
Twenty minutes later we remained the only two at this location. We reassured ourselves that we were told to meet at the Fettger place. After thirty minutes passed and no two-way radio to communicate with the others--this was long before cell phones became popular--we drove back to the ‘yard’, which is the farmstead where my mom and her siblings were raised.
Once in the yard, we sheepishly began calling for direction on the two-way. My uncles were less than thrilled! We were told to go to a different, nearby Fettger place. Additionally, we were to have waited and followed my cousins to the specific field instead of taking off on our own.
We wasted significant time, fuel, and energy along with generating enormous frustration at us. We finished the sentence of our directions; we failed to listen to the full instructions.
Do you finish God’s sentences? I have!
At times, I strongly believe God is giving me a specific message through reading the Bible and prayer, only to fail upon acting. I later realize I finished God’s sentence instead of listening to the entire message (non-audible). I inaccurately finish God’s messages when He pauses, or when I errantly believe that I know exactly what He is going to say. Unfortunately, I am wrong! His wisdom far exceeds my wisdom and your wisdom.
Perhaps you say, "But Lord, you told (non-audible) me to accept this promotion, this new job. Why am I miserable?" The Lord responds in your heart, "No, I told you to interview for the position." We say, "Lord, why am I unable to pay for my new car that you told me to buy?" He replies, "I instructed you to visit the dealership and test drive the new car."
God desires relationships with His people. Consequently, He often mercifully uses us to interact and develop relationships with others for His glory. These interactions may include interviewing for a position, testing a car, or any of the seemingly endless possibilities of interactions.
The primary purpose of an interview, test drive, meeting someone for coffee or lunch may range from the obvious of the occasion to us unknowingly providing the write words to those we meet, their positive impact on our lives, or all of the above along with other benefits.
The next time our Lord speaks to your heart: Listen! Listen through the pauses; listen to the entire sentence, paragraph, chapter and book. Listening to the entire message enables you and I to be fully in tune with our Savior and the Holy Spirit.
Ask in prayer and through studying scripture, "Lord, why did you arrange for me and someone else (others) to meet and interact at this juncture in time and location?"
Keep an open mind as you progress forward with the Lord's lead. Remember, God's wisdom far exceeds my wisdom, your wisdom, and the cumulative wisdom of all creation combined.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/
Several years ago, following a Toastmasters meeting I visited with a local businessman and philanthropist, Joe, whom visited our club to promote a fund raiser. Joe told of attending Kansas State University’s world-renowned College of Veterinary Medicine.
When Joe began telling of his experiences in Manhattan, I began finishing his sentences whenever he paused as I knew exactly what he was going to say. Wrong!!! I did not know how Joe was finishing his sentences.
I normally do not engage in finishing someone’s sentences, however the excitement of discussing Manhattan and Kansas State got the better of me in that conversation. Moreover, his favorite professor of Vet Med was the father of two of my friends and high school cross country teammates.
The first few times of my interruption, Jim patiently stated, “No, I was going say…” Following my sixth repetition of rudely and inaccurately finishing sentences, Joe politely dismissed himself.
Are you irritated when others finish your sentences, especially when completed inaccurately? Have you ever finished someone’s sentences? Others tend to inaccurately finish my sentences when I pause, just as I did when Joe paused.
Instead of listening we jump to conclusions. Frequently, emotional irritation is the only damage. However, when continued, we lose credibility as a listener. Eventually we risk causing great damage to our relationships or suffering physical consequences.
Once in the summer of 1986, Jim and I were instructed to drive a farm truck to Fettger’s (the name of a farm) to meet my cousins where we would load straw bales. As soon as Jim and I heard “Fettger’s” we stopped listening because we knew exactly where the Fettger place was since we irrigated there every morning.
We jumped in the truck and drove the 12 miles on gravel roads to the Fettger place. During our drive we discussed that the wheat and resulting straw bales must be in the dry land portion of the property. Since we were only familiar with the irrigated portion of the property, we tried to hypothesize the specific location of wheat field on this farm. We were puzzled upon arrival because we saw no wheat nor a single person around this field.
Twenty minutes later we remained the only two at this location. We reassured ourselves that we were told to meet at the Fettger place. After thirty minutes passed and no two-way radio to communicate with the others--this was long before cell phones became popular--we drove back to the ‘yard’, which is the farmstead where my mom and her siblings were raised.
Once in the yard, we sheepishly began calling for direction on the two-way. My uncles were less than thrilled! We were told to go to a different, nearby Fettger place. Additionally, we were to have waited and followed my cousins to the specific field instead of taking off on our own.
We wasted significant time, fuel, and energy along with generating enormous frustration at us. We finished the sentence of our directions; we failed to listen to the full instructions.
Do you finish God’s sentences? I have!
At times, I strongly believe God is giving me a specific message through reading the Bible and prayer, only to fail upon acting. I later realize I finished God’s sentence instead of listening to the entire message (non-audible). I inaccurately finish God’s messages when He pauses, or when I errantly believe that I know exactly what He is going to say. Unfortunately, I am wrong! His wisdom far exceeds my wisdom and your wisdom.
Perhaps you say, "But Lord, you told (non-audible) me to accept this promotion, this new job. Why am I miserable?" The Lord responds in your heart, "No, I told you to interview for the position." We say, "Lord, why am I unable to pay for my new car that you told me to buy?" He replies, "I instructed you to visit the dealership and test drive the new car."
God desires relationships with His people. Consequently, He often mercifully uses us to interact and develop relationships with others for His glory. These interactions may include interviewing for a position, testing a car, or any of the seemingly endless possibilities of interactions.
The primary purpose of an interview, test drive, meeting someone for coffee or lunch may range from the obvious of the occasion to us unknowingly providing the write words to those we meet, their positive impact on our lives, or all of the above along with other benefits.
The next time our Lord speaks to your heart: Listen! Listen through the pauses; listen to the entire sentence, paragraph, chapter and book. Listening to the entire message enables you and I to be fully in tune with our Savior and the Holy Spirit.
Ask in prayer and through studying scripture, "Lord, why did you arrange for me and someone else (others) to meet and interact at this juncture in time and location?"
Keep an open mind as you progress forward with the Lord's lead. Remember, God's wisdom far exceeds my wisdom, your wisdom, and the cumulative wisdom of all creation combined.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Word of God
When I was about fifteen months old, my dad said I quickly went from standing right beside him to climbing nearly to the top of a twenty feet windmill tower in our farmyard. I began walking at seven months old, and loved climbing. Dad yelled at me to "Get Down!!" I can only imagine the concern racing through his mind. Upon hearing his voice, I nearly jumped.
Why did I nearly jump? Because, I knew and respected my father's voice. I knew Dad was speaking to me. If an unfamiliar voice were to have proclaimed the same words, I would have been nonrespondent. If Dad would have delivered the precisely same message to a stranger, would they have reacted as I did? No, because my dad's voice possessed no meaning to them.
Do you know your parent's voice? Does or did it get your attention? Just as we know our parent's voice, we know God's voice. For those who have never met their parents, would they recognize their father's voice? Of course not, how could they recognize something they had not heard.
Unfortunately, not all recognize God's voice. Unfortunately, not all know Christ.
"The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." John 10:25-26
Is transforming God's Word, written or spoken, through people a miracle? Is maintaining accuracy of the Word while translating between languages a miracle? I believe both are miracles. Jesus is the Word made Flesh as described in the first chapter of John.
Occasionally I hear people say the Bible is NOT God's pure Word, rather simply stories of faithful people during that time. I realized they lack belief of God's ability to speak to the prophets and the interpreters of language over time, because they are unfamiliar with God's voice in their life.
Only in knowing Jesus, being one of his sheep, are we able to comprehend and believe the miracle of God's pure Word in scripture as written by other sheep belonging to Christ.
Christ's sheep know His voice, enabling them to believe His miracles. Knowing and hearing Christ's voice allows us to comprehend and believe the human transcribers of scripture also knew, listened and obeyed the pure Word of God.
If you have difficulty believing scripture is the pure Word of God, pray for God to open your heart and ears allowing you to know and hear Christ's voice as one of His sheep.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
In Christ,
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/
Why did I nearly jump? Because, I knew and respected my father's voice. I knew Dad was speaking to me. If an unfamiliar voice were to have proclaimed the same words, I would have been nonrespondent. If Dad would have delivered the precisely same message to a stranger, would they have reacted as I did? No, because my dad's voice possessed no meaning to them.
Do you know your parent's voice? Does or did it get your attention? Just as we know our parent's voice, we know God's voice. For those who have never met their parents, would they recognize their father's voice? Of course not, how could they recognize something they had not heard.
Unfortunately, not all recognize God's voice. Unfortunately, not all know Christ.
"The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep." John 10:25-26
Is transforming God's Word, written or spoken, through people a miracle? Is maintaining accuracy of the Word while translating between languages a miracle? I believe both are miracles. Jesus is the Word made Flesh as described in the first chapter of John.
Occasionally I hear people say the Bible is NOT God's pure Word, rather simply stories of faithful people during that time. I realized they lack belief of God's ability to speak to the prophets and the interpreters of language over time, because they are unfamiliar with God's voice in their life.
Only in knowing Jesus, being one of his sheep, are we able to comprehend and believe the miracle of God's pure Word in scripture as written by other sheep belonging to Christ.
Christ's sheep know His voice, enabling them to believe His miracles. Knowing and hearing Christ's voice allows us to comprehend and believe the human transcribers of scripture also knew, listened and obeyed the pure Word of God.
If you have difficulty believing scripture is the pure Word of God, pray for God to open your heart and ears allowing you to know and hear Christ's voice as one of His sheep.
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
In Christ,
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/
Monday, November 8, 2010
Read - Ready - Readiness
Ephesians 6:14-15 "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of Righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."
Have you noticed and considered that Ready and Readiness begin with "Read?"
Your reading determines your READINESS! Readiness from the Gospel comes from Reading the Gospel, including communicating with the Holy Spirit.
If I read unhealthy topics, I am then ready for unhealthy thoughts and activities.
What are you Reading? Are you READY for Christ?
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
In Christ,
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/
Have you noticed and considered that Ready and Readiness begin with "Read?"
Your reading determines your READINESS! Readiness from the Gospel comes from Reading the Gospel, including communicating with the Holy Spirit.
If I read unhealthy topics, I am then ready for unhealthy thoughts and activities.
What are you Reading? Are you READY for Christ?
See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
In Christ,
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
http://www.rickemeyer.com/
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