Intentional Living

Graham Cooke and Jason Upton came to the Horizon Center this past weekend and it was simply brilliant. Two people whom I respect tremendously in the same conference – worship and encouragement walking hand in hand. It was a ton of advance work, but we had an amazing bunch of people planning, organizing, and executing everything. At least 850 people were there and I know that so many of them walked away blessed in a huge way. I took  many photos which you can see on the Voice website.

No one drifts to the top of a mountain. Making it to the summit takes preparation and energy. Intentionality is a way of life.

Graham is one of those guys who just speaks life. He does it in a humorous way, with his British accent and quirky sense of wry humor. He speaks straight up, pulls no punches, but he is one of the most encouraging guys I have listened to. He knows his purpose and is walking in his destiny – unapologetic and certain. There was so much to be gleaned from the three messages that he spoke, and I took 8 pages of typed notes, so I won’t post them all in this spot, but you can download them here if you want. Here are a few sweet statements that may spur you on to thinking beyond the ordinary.

Worry doesn’t solve a thing. It prevents you from solving a thing.

A poverty spirit is about living with meager possibilities.

We need to give out of our inheritance, not out of what we can afford. This is deliciously outrageous and wonderfully impossible. That sounds like God.

He didn’t choose you to be ordinary. There are defining moments where you can change history in a given city, in a given region. You don’t want an ordinary life, a life that’s rational and reasonable. There are moments in life when you get to do something extraordinary … or you can choose to retreat back into mediocrity. It’s time to push all of your chips to the center of the table and bet it all on Jesus.

You never know who you are unless you put both feet outside the boat and let go. I don’t want you to walk in mediocrity.

I am a whole person fighting off sickness, not a sick person trying to get well.

There is no power without focus. You came here to be someone. You came here to do something. Make sure you do it. Make it count. You have to live as though you could be meeting Jesus tomorrow.

Faith is weird. It’s risky. It’s going up to the limit of what’s possible and stepping across the line.

God has abundance… the enemy is on a budget.

God is not obsessed by sin … he’s consumed by life. He’s already dealt with sin once and for all at the cross. He’s not dealing with your sin, he’s dealing with your righteousness.

We must be habitual in living in our identity. I am what God says I am. I have what God says I have. I can do what God says I can do.

There is so much more, but suffice it to say that I have been turning over these thoughts in my head and heart and I know that it will continue to shape and change me. God is after me… and you… and I need to start being far more intentional about my life in Christ and the path that I have chosen to walk.