Monday Morning Musings: Do you have a Pressure Release Valve? How's it working?

Today, I have already had a thought pop into my head that might be worth sharing. I know, crazy... I credit the Main Street Quad Cafe Mocha with Caramel for the thought and the Gloria Martin batch of Maxwell House Coffee from the Main Office for the ability to stay focused enough to write this post.

This morning, I woke up to a received text asking the question, "How do you get rid of unwanted pressure?" So now you know why I couldn't just respond via SMS. I'm not even sure that I could accomplish that in 1000 characters in a MMS and thanks to Blackberry, I don't have XMS like some LG users. No comment.

My initial response was, "Do you have a pressure valve?" Of course my cryptic response needed some detailing (as do most of my explanations). So this is me detailing some of what I am talking about.

We all get ticked at some level. Whether we show it (like me) or hide it (like you), we all get frustrated at some level. You can try to deny it, but I won't believe you. Sometimes, it is repeated frustration from the same source that drives us up the wall, or grinds our gears. When this happens we can begin to have the unwanted pressure towards someone we love or someone that we have to like. In either of these cases, nothing about the situation is comfortable or desirable. So what do we do?

Enter the Pressure Release Valve (PRV). Interestingly enough, we all have these as well. Why? Because we are all humans and at some point, we just can't take the pressure that some people try to heap on us, intentionally or unintentionally. This valve is the thing that protects us from having too much stress in our lives and, ultimately, protects our heart and the relationships that we have in our lives. Think of it as God's way to keep us in relationship with some of those "Sandpaper People" that we need to remain in connection with whatever reason.

The thing about the PRV is that it can release in any direction, release towards the source, or re-route the pressure to a place that is safe and disperse the pressure safely. As it stands in relationships, it is pretty clear that there are some better options here than others. Releasing in any direction, spewing the pressure can be very unhealthy for you and the people around you. People get hurt, relationships are destroyed, never to be mended for a long time. Releasing back towards the source can have its advantages and disadvantages. It gets your point across to that person, letting them know how you really feel about the situation. It gives them a real warning about how much pressure you were harboring. But, it also allows them to feel the brunt force of the pressure, adding pressure to their life and building the pressure up against their PRV.

It is pretty clear that the best kind of PRV is the one that re-routes the pressure to a different place in order to truly relieve the pressure in the lines. Routes it through a filter perhaps and collects the stuff that is still able to be used, giving you the opportunity to utilize the good things that can come out of relieved pressure; like a filter. This can be someone or something that you do that allows you to release the pressure and still hold on to the thoughts and desires that will benefit both you and the person or situation that is building this pressure in your life.

The critical thing with PRVs is to realize that they are not the last stop. In any re-routing process, the good things, the things that need to be re-used, must make it back to the source. In order for things to be truly relieved, you have to help the source recognize what's going on in the "system," or relationship. If this part of the re-routing isn't properly administered, there is no way for the source to be adequately altered to relieve the pressure and this whole process will take place again.

So who or what is your Healthy Pressure Release Valve?
How does yours release the pressure in your heart?
Does it just explode in any direction?
Does it point back towards the source of the problem?
Does it re-route the pressure in your life?
What changes do you need to make in your pressure relief system that will allow you to live more healthy?

Living for Tomorrow...

This video was posted on YouTube a while ago. I saw it as I was searching for something else. But this message has hit me square in the face. I think that it is because of where God has placed me and how He is showing me what it means to be at a place that I can be used completely; without any hindrance. This video is just a snippet of the entire thing that can be viewed here.

I wanna be that guy that counts my life of no value to me. I want to suffer for Christ. That's right, I said it and I believe it. I want to be a true Son of God. I want my life to be the testament. I want to be closer to Him than the food that I eat, the water I drink, and the strength that I have.

I wanna see my ticket as the only thing that I desire. I want a bloodstained ticket that I never let go of because that ticket is the only thing that I prize.

Lord, I give myself to you EVERYDAY. That I might finish the work that you have given to me in this day. God allow me to be faithful to you in my job; my calling; my vocation. Allow me to be radical in how I sacrifice my life for you. Give me strength and give me wisdom to follow YOU! Not the World! Not my Desires! Follow after you!

Amen.

Thank you Brother John.

Buying in...

Last night I led a Bible Study that was asking the question: "What is a surrendered life?" In that Bible Study, I asked the question: "Why do we live a surrendered life?" I am not so sure that we got to this point, but this is where I wanted to go with the question:

To live a surrendered life, is to fulfill the call of Christ on every single one of our lives. Look at the way that Jesus asked his disciples to count the cost of following him. Check out the hard line that he used to creatively entice his followers to come after him. Matthew 8:18-22 and Luke 9:51-62 depict the way that Jesus requires us to follow Him.

"Let the dead bury their dead. It is your duty to go and preach about the Kingdom of God."
"No one that puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."


I see a couple things that are critical in this process of living a surrendered life that is critical to all of us.

"Let the dead bury their dead. It is your duty to go and preach about the Kingdom of God."
"No one that puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."

1. We are all called to be evangelists in some way. This is not a choice in this sense. We are all called to something in the Kingdom. Sure, we may not all be called to be pastors, teachers, or missionaries across the world. But one thing is iron clad for certain, we are all called to be at work for the Lord. We are called to serve him with everything that we are. It is the only way to truly live as a follower of Christ. Do you see that? This is so critical to this process!! (I am getting chills because of how powerful this is!) You are not fit for the Kingdom of God if you are not fulfilling the call to Love God and Love Others and to spread the Word of God to those who don't know in whatever mission field you choose. Maybe your mission field is Concord High School, or the Local Elks Club, or the valley of Arizona, or Plant #32 at Keystone RV, or maybe it is Faith United Methodist Church. God is calling you to live surrendered to HIS WILL and to fulfill your call to be fit for the Kingdom of God!

So what are you doing?

"Let the dead bury their dead. It is your duty to go and preach about the Kingdom of God."
"Anyone that puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."

2. We are called to sacrifice for His cause! This isn't a request! This isn't some sort of kind appeal that Christ is trying to appeal to you in order to benefit both of you! The fact is that there are going to be some times that aren't going to be easy! There are going to be times when your very own husband or wife will ask questions! The surrendered life is not an earthly idea! Galatians 5:17 tells us that the "sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." This concept of surrendering when the Spirit calls your name is not going to be something that is easy or even feel natural! But it is the only way to live the life that Jesus Christ himself lived while he was here on this earth.

Galatians 2:20 gives us a great promise that if we have died with Christ, if we have given everything up the way that he gave his life up, that we may live in Him. Do you see what is being offered!? This idea of a sold out, surrendered life is the only way that Christ desires for us to live! And in return He offers ETERNAL LIFE!

So what are you doing?

I say all of that to make this statement, publicly and as profoundly as my 22-year old mind can profess, I AM IN! I want to make it known today, that I am officially not going to worry about the things that my flesh desires me to worry about. I am never going to say that I am not going to live in a manner that is fearful of tomorrow, today, because tomorrow will take care of itself. I am going to be passionately seeking His Will for my life and my call. I refuse to be denied from his goodness and his kindness. I refuse to divert from the call that He has on my life. This is the day that marks the rest of them. I desire only to fulfill that call. Whatever God's plan for my life is what I desire to fulfill. Amen.

So what are you doing?

Just because I am in, doesn't mean that I expect you to be in, but I am asking what you are doing? Have you realized the full call that God has on your life? Do you know what it takes? Have you COUNTED THE COST? Are you ready for a crazy, fulfilled life? Are you willing to make the sacrifice of whatever He desires to fulfill your ministry? HE IS CALLING YOUR NAME INTO HIS MISSION FIELD! HE WANTS YOU!

Are you ready?