Welcome to the May 31st edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
The Story of My Week.
In March, I paid to be part of a 3-day residential event which was set up by someone I respect in faith and business.
We were just about 21 in the group with him.
After the event, we have been meeting as a group. The goal of everything, in addition to the direct access to the person who started it, is to build ourselves into a community that can create change over a 30-year timeline.
Yes, we are not just aiming for the short-term. We are committed to walking the way God does…building to last a single generation.
This is not about what we are building. This is about what we are creating.
We had a meet-up during the week.
It was renewing to be with everyone. Beyond the friendship, it is the joy of knowing that I am in a community where everyone is living with a common understanding of how we should be different.
This is not the usual “you are different platitudes”. This is something deeper.
A community that represents what the church can be and should be.
We are not threatened by each other’s gifts - we celebrate them.
We don’t dismiss each other’s challenges - we encourage them through them.
I love this community.
And grateful to God for making it happen for me.
Things I Learned
1-Make the Commitment to What Matters: Recall the 3-day residential event that I was part of, which evolved into a community that I spoke about. The original thing I signed up for was a one-day event - the first day.
All these changed when we had the event pre-briefing about 4 days before kick-off. That’s when they told me about the whole 3-day aspect.
After the pre-briefing, I reached out to find out if I could be part of the 3-day event. They told me they would look into it.
They said “Yes” and gave me the cost. What I had paid for the 1-day was just about 10% of what I needed to pay for the 3-days.
I first spoke to my wife about it - she was supportive.
A clear case of God making everything work because I made the payment, and that’s how I got in.
By the way, did I forget to mention that everyone was evaluated and screened to get in? Yes, the evidence of your life had to support that you were the right person to be part of the group.
I am benefiting from the huddles I had to go through to get in.
It’s been a blessing being on the inside.
2-The Reality of a New Season: During the time together with the group, I shared something that God has been pushing my heart towards in this new season.
God wants me to do less of what I am doing and deliver more results than I have had so far.
That is the burden of this season is that - less work and more results.
When I asked the main man counsel on how to do this, his advice was simple.
“Do an assessment of the results you have had so far, look at the activities that give you higher results for the effort you put in, and focus more on that.”
So simple. How come I didn’t come up with that?
The blindness of being in the trenches.
Missing out on what is so clear.
Not going to do that.
The reality of my current season.
Focusing on God’s major agenda for me
Postscript
May you find the community you need for your current life season. Amen
If this encouraged you, please share it with a friend who needs it. And if you are not subscribed yet, make sure you are on the list so you do not miss the next one.
Tola Akinsulire
Helping Christians excel at work and in life without the overwhelm but with peace and rest
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