Welcome to the February 22nd 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.
Recall that I said during this season, God wants me to walk more in His supernatural power rather than the wisdom He has given me.
On Friday, I made a realisation.
I was working in wisdom rather than in supernatural power.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have been working long hours…and still not finishing what I want to do.
Not because of my ability, but because of the volume of what needs to be done.
I can’t make this the new normal for me. I want to enter sabbath.
Interestingly, on Wednesday, during a call with an older and wiser friend from Spain, he recommended a book he was reading - The Rest Of God - Restoring your Soul by Restoring Sabbath by Mark Buchanan. He even had a spare copy that he could give me. The only thing is that he is in Spain.
Fortunately, this was a book I had bought - I just haven’t read it. I decided to do that during this season.
This Wednesday's event and Friday realisation have refined how I will live in the coming days.
I will leave work no later than 6 pm and trust in God’s supernatural power to bless what I have done with His results.
I’m doing what God told the Israelites to do. Gather manna on the day before sabath and trust that it will still be sufficient for the Sabbath day when there is no manna drop.
Like the Israelites, I will trust that the harvest for the sixth year will last the seventh year (aka year of jubilee) and the beginning of the harvest season in the eighth year.
I will give rest to my land (my body) and trust in God’s blessings on my labour.
I have other areas of life I have to be faithful and fruitful in.
And I will be.
Things I Learnt
1-A Network for All Times: On Thursday, someone in one of the teams I oversee asked for my insight on an initiative the team wanted to take.
Where we had an issue was the value for money on the spend.
This was late in the afternoon, so I asked her to meet with me later on Friday morning.
I wasn’t going to do this on my own.
I did some head scratching, and a name popped up. I sent her a message asking to have a quick discussion
Two hours later, we were on a call where she gave me the inside scoop.
I was better prepared for my Friday meeting. I also didn’t claim overnight genius. I told the lady in my team that I had consulted with someone else.
The value of a network. They add value and occasionally make me look smart.
2-When the Message is not the Message: Over the years, I have seen friends leave churches because of fundamental issues.
One of my friends once had to leave their church because the church appointed a new pastor who had a colourful past.
He had an affair with his secretary, which led to his marriage breaking up. The secretary was now the new wife.
There was something murky about how the story unfolded and how the new guy was appointed as the new pastor.
Well, this week, another friend was telling me about leaving their church.
The reason was not as colourful as the one I just shared. They started noticing subtle changes in the message.
The message didn’t feel like the One Message of Jesus Christ.
We all have to give an account for how we live. And who we fellowship with is part of that. What we feed on spiritually defines how we see God, respond to Him, His Word and the people around us.
We will be wise
Postscript
May you receive discernment to see the little foxes that might destroy the vine. 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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