Celebrate Freedom Teaching Letter September 2011
Submitted by Tim Howe on October 28, 2011 - 12:07pm
Hello again! I pray this letter brings encouragement to you, as together we journey toward Celebrating Freedom. I want to start by clearing something up. You see, I think some people believe that because I write these letters, and have the honor of being campaign director for Celebrate Freedom, that somehow this three-year faith journey we’ve all embarked on is easier for Meagan and I, or that somehow we don’t experience any of the frustrations or setbacks others have gone through or are going through.
The truth is, we still have to walk out God’s promises daily just like anyone else, and although we were on a similar journey during Celebrate Home a few years ago, Celebrate Freedom is stretching our faith to levels we’ve never been to before. And, we know there are areas in our lives in which we must grow if we’re going to accomplish the faith goal God gave us last November.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that you and I are on the same path—we’re traveling companions! Each month as I write this letter, I view it as if I’m walking alongside a friend conversing about the journey we’re on and the destination we’re heading towards!
So as I walk alongside you this month, I want to ask you a question…have you started nesting yet? Now before you think I’m strange, let me explain! As many of you may have noticed, Meagan and I are expecting the birth of our son any day now. Over the past six months, our house has gone through a complete transformation! Clutter and items we no longer need have been trashed, rooms have been repainted, cabinets and closets have all been organized, and furniture has been replaced.
Meagan has done an amazing job preparing our house for the birth of our son. About a month ago, the Lord started showing me the parallels between the preparation for the birth of our son, and what needs to happen for us to give birth to the dream God has placed in our hearts.
We read in Hebrews 12:1–2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
The first thing we must understand is that, just like we need to declutter our homes, we need to declutter our hearts. In order for us to see the dream God has placed in our heart come to pass, we must set aside any sin we’ve been allowing to hang around in our lives, or in our hearts. God can’t prosper us if we refuse to allow Him to be Lord over every area of our life. If there are any areas in your life that you’ve been holding back from God, make a decision today to let go and give it over to Him. Habitual sin in your life must go before you can prosper.
Next, you have to “throw off everything that hinders.” What’s hindering your progress? What’s slowing you down from birthing your dream? Is there anything else, anything that doesn’t line up with, or further the dream God’s given you? It might not even be a “bad” thing, but it could be something that doesn’t line up with the dream God’s placed in your heart. Do you really need to be listening to hours of secular music? Do you really need to watch that much TV each week? Do you really need to golf or fish for hours every weekend? Is your “entertainment” or your “hobby” slowly robbing you of your future, and hindering the birth of your dream?
I can’t answer these questions for you, but I can answer them in my own life. Over the past month or so, I’ve been evaluating things in my life that need to go. Not that they were bad things, they simply weren’t helping me reach my goals and dreams in life. I’ve realized we’re either moving toward our dream by the choices we make, or we’re moving further from it. Time keeps marching on, and the time we squander and waste is gone forever!
I recently read that people play the game “Angry Birds” for a combined total of 3.33 million hours per day, which means 380 years are being wasted every day playing this pointless game! Soon after learning this, I sold my Xbox 360 game console. I wasn’t spending a lot of time playing video games (no, I wasn’t playing “Angry Birds”), but I realized that wasting a small amount of time here and there compounds into wasting a large block of time over the course of a year, and even more over the course of my life.
I’m certainly not telling you that having a game console is wrong. And, I’m not saying that entertainment and hobbies are wrong. I’m simply sharing one of the things I’ve “cleaned out” as I started the process of “nesting” and preparing for the birth of the dream God’s placed in my heart.
So, have you started nesting yet? What “rooms” in your life need cleaned out? What things are hindering you from reaching your goals and birthing your dream? Remember, if something in your life doesn’t line up with, or further the dream God has placed in your heart, it just might be time to start “nesting” and transforming your “house” in preparation for the birth of your dream!
Let’s get rid of the clutter and get ready to Celebrate Freedom!
Tim Howe
Campaign Director
P.S. Don't forget, this weekend is Celebrate Freedom Weekend! Join us this Saturday night at 8pm for our Celebrate Freedom Mentorship Class.
The truth is, we still have to walk out God’s promises daily just like anyone else, and although we were on a similar journey during Celebrate Home a few years ago, Celebrate Freedom is stretching our faith to levels we’ve never been to before. And, we know there are areas in our lives in which we must grow if we’re going to accomplish the faith goal God gave us last November.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that you and I are on the same path—we’re traveling companions! Each month as I write this letter, I view it as if I’m walking alongside a friend conversing about the journey we’re on and the destination we’re heading towards!
So as I walk alongside you this month, I want to ask you a question…have you started nesting yet? Now before you think I’m strange, let me explain! As many of you may have noticed, Meagan and I are expecting the birth of our son any day now. Over the past six months, our house has gone through a complete transformation! Clutter and items we no longer need have been trashed, rooms have been repainted, cabinets and closets have all been organized, and furniture has been replaced.
Meagan has done an amazing job preparing our house for the birth of our son. About a month ago, the Lord started showing me the parallels between the preparation for the birth of our son, and what needs to happen for us to give birth to the dream God has placed in our hearts.
We read in Hebrews 12:1–2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
The first thing we must understand is that, just like we need to declutter our homes, we need to declutter our hearts. In order for us to see the dream God has placed in our heart come to pass, we must set aside any sin we’ve been allowing to hang around in our lives, or in our hearts. God can’t prosper us if we refuse to allow Him to be Lord over every area of our life. If there are any areas in your life that you’ve been holding back from God, make a decision today to let go and give it over to Him. Habitual sin in your life must go before you can prosper.
Next, you have to “throw off everything that hinders.” What’s hindering your progress? What’s slowing you down from birthing your dream? Is there anything else, anything that doesn’t line up with, or further the dream God’s given you? It might not even be a “bad” thing, but it could be something that doesn’t line up with the dream God’s placed in your heart. Do you really need to be listening to hours of secular music? Do you really need to watch that much TV each week? Do you really need to golf or fish for hours every weekend? Is your “entertainment” or your “hobby” slowly robbing you of your future, and hindering the birth of your dream?
I can’t answer these questions for you, but I can answer them in my own life. Over the past month or so, I’ve been evaluating things in my life that need to go. Not that they were bad things, they simply weren’t helping me reach my goals and dreams in life. I’ve realized we’re either moving toward our dream by the choices we make, or we’re moving further from it. Time keeps marching on, and the time we squander and waste is gone forever!
I recently read that people play the game “Angry Birds” for a combined total of 3.33 million hours per day, which means 380 years are being wasted every day playing this pointless game! Soon after learning this, I sold my Xbox 360 game console. I wasn’t spending a lot of time playing video games (no, I wasn’t playing “Angry Birds”), but I realized that wasting a small amount of time here and there compounds into wasting a large block of time over the course of a year, and even more over the course of my life.
I’m certainly not telling you that having a game console is wrong. And, I’m not saying that entertainment and hobbies are wrong. I’m simply sharing one of the things I’ve “cleaned out” as I started the process of “nesting” and preparing for the birth of the dream God’s placed in my heart.
So, have you started nesting yet? What “rooms” in your life need cleaned out? What things are hindering you from reaching your goals and birthing your dream? Remember, if something in your life doesn’t line up with, or further the dream God has placed in your heart, it just might be time to start “nesting” and transforming your “house” in preparation for the birth of your dream!
Let’s get rid of the clutter and get ready to Celebrate Freedom!
Tim Howe
Campaign Director
P.S. Don't forget, this weekend is Celebrate Freedom Weekend! Join us this Saturday night at 8pm for our Celebrate Freedom Mentorship Class.
