We are a Disciple Making Movements (DMM) network of marketplace and ministry leaders, uniting everyday disciples of Jesus with a vision to see teams of 2 or more praying, disciple-making catalysts for every county of WI and the UP to see movements birthed here that will spread to the most unreached around the world.
Do you have a desire to be a force for good in your sphere of influence?
This tool is free, and it didn’t originate with me!
When a friend introduced me to the Discovery Group process, it impacted my life and leadership in ways I never expected.
You can gather for Discovery with friends, family, coworkers ā sky’s the limit!
Use the Discovery Questions to discuss any story or passage in Scripture together (usually about 10 verses at a time), seeking to understand, apply, and share what you’re discovering together!
1. What are you thankful for?Ā What challenge or stress are you facing?Ā How can we support?Ā Do you know anyone who needs help at this time? Ā
Check-in: Since we last met, how did your āI will…ā and sharing go?
2. Read the Scripture passage together (at least twice) and take turns retelling in your own words like sharing with a friend who isnāt here.
3. What stands out to you, and why? What do these verses tell us about God? What do these verses tell us about humanity / about us?
4. If this is God speaking, how will you apply it to your life? (Choose a specific: āI willā¦ā next step.)
5. Who will you share with before we meet again? (Name a specific person you want to share with who may be encouraged on their spiritual journey by hearing something you discovered.)
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
What stands out to you? What did you discover about God and yourself? How will you apply these principles in your life and leadership?
Itās been a while since Iāve written an original for the blogābut today, I felt so inspired, I couldnāt not write!
Last night, Sweet Bridget and I experienced a temporary power outage at our home. Morning arrived, and it was time to get our cars out of the garage. That door wasn’t going to open itself. So I pulled the red emergency cord to detach the door from the mechanism and lifted it manually.
No worries. Until I tried to reattach the door to the track so it would be ready to rise automatically again once power was restored.
I applied so much force to get that latch back into the correct groove. Push, pull, and try as I might, I kept getting really close and falling short of my goal.
I got closeāso close!ābut couldnāt get the latch to catch.
I tried in the dark. I tried with a flashlight. I tried from the ground. I even tried balancing on an upright cinder block (hint: not OSHA-approved).
Tonight, with the power restored, I brought out a ladder thinking a new angle might be the key to success. From my fresh vantage point, I kept pushing, adjusting, aligning. Nothing.
Until I paused to considerā¦ what if I stopped trying to force it?
What if I stopped pushing and pulling altogether?
What if I let it be and simply activated the door?
I stepped away and pressed the button, thinking I may need to run back over and spring into action to save the whole system from self destructing.
Instead, the chain began to moveāclickāthe mechanism aligned perfectly. The latch caught.
The door moved as designed. I had been straining in the dark, but all I needed was to let the power flow.
I learned a thing or two from this power outage.
(Thing 1: ChatGPT was correct. A freezer left sealed will hold its temperature for 8 to 24 hours if itās at least half full. Handy to know. š)
Sometimes I try to do in my own strength what only works when the power is on.
I can stop pushing in my own strength and allow the power to flow!
Where in my life am I striving alone when I believe wholeheartedly that “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)?
When am I turning to prayer last instead of first? Where in my life am I neglecting the power and wisdom of the Spirit altogether?
Where have I been laboring, meaning well with sincere effortā¦ when Jesus is inviting me to pause, to trust, to reconnectāand allow His power to move?
Yes, I can try. I can push. I can exert a lot of effort and even appear productive in my energy-draining striving.
But how much greater to pause, to pray, to partner with the Spirit?
I can check in. From a grounded and connected place, I can see more clearly. I can receive what I need. I can believe what’s true. And I can allow His power to flow!
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,ā says the LORD Almighty.” ~Zechariah 4:6
Where are you striving today?
Is there a latch youāve been pushing at for far too long in your own strength?
Where in your life are you pressing hard, maybe even telling yourself you have good reasonsābut forgetting to pause and partner with the Spirit?
I pray you pause. Take a breath. Invite the power of the Spirit to move where your strength has reached its limit. And instead choose to trust the One whose energy never fails.
What if what feels like admitting weakness… is actually wisdom?
We are a Disciple Making Movements (DMM) network of marketplace and ministry leaders, uniting everyday disciples of Jesus with a vision to see teams of 2 or more praying, disciple-making catalysts for every county of WI and the UP to see movements birthed here that will spread to the most unreached around the world.
It was a true honor to host this Groups Connection Coaching Huddle with Darnell Robinson of the Milwaukee House of Prayer.
This conversation from the archives about the power of prayer still strikes me as so relevant to this moment in history! Especially at times like these, it’s essential that we develop a prayerfully dependent way of life and learn to be led by Holy Spirit.
Especially at times like these, it’s essential that we develop a prayerfully dependent way of life and learn to be led by Holy Spirit.
During our season serving a church plant in South Africa, Sweet Bridget and I heard that an elderly woman who lived high in the hills was requesting a pastoral visit. She wanted to be baptized!
While this was certainly a special request, what added even more to this scenario, was the reality that this dear woman was physically disabledāunable to move her feet. Usually, our practice of baptism looks like being fully immersed under water as a picture of dying to sin and coming alive through faith in Christ (Romans 6:1-5)! We often celebrate baptism publicly, surrounded by friends and family, to announce our new life in Jesus and to commit to support new believers on their spiritual journey ahead.
We also recognized that Scripture uses the symbol of water being poured to depict the cleansing and forgiveness that Jesus provides, which has led some faith traditions to sprinkle with water in baptism (Ephesians 5:25-27, Hebrews 10:19-23).
Prepared with a water bottle in hand, we made the trek up to her hut.
When we arrived, she explained: āIāve believed in Jesus, so I have been born of the Spirit, but I havenāt been water baptized! The Bible says unless we are born of water and the Spirit, we cannot enter the kingdom of God! Iām afraid. I donāt want to die and go to Hell.ā
She was referring to the words of Jesus about being born again (John 3:3-8). We were encouraged to let her know she definitely had already been born of water! In fact, every human being has been. When the water breaks and we emerge from our mothers, we are born of water.
Jesus emphasized the need to also be born supernaturally by the Spirit through faith in Him! Once we have been born again by giving our lives to Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, a next step of obedience is to be water baptized to demonstrate we are His followers (Acts 2:36-39).
The next step for this dear woman was to affirm that her faith rested in Jesus alone to save her and to bring her safely home to Himself (1 Peter 1:18-21).
Have you trusted in Jesus as your Leader and Forgiver?Have you been water baptized to demonstrate you are following Him (Matthew 3:13-17)?
Do you have a life message, motto, or verse you would love to be known for?
I want my heart to beat in rhythm with the heart of Jesus for all peoples to experience His love, to follow Him, and to embrace His mission to help disciple others!
Here’s a message I got to share from Luke 10 (one of my favorite passages of Scripture), where Jesus sends out 70 everyday disciplemakers like you and me!
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
What stands out to you? What did you discovery about God and yourself? How will you apply these principles from Jesus in your life and disciple-making way of life?
Last Monday, I got to connect with Tom Rice of Great Marriages for Sheboygan County (Sue wasn’t feeling her best, but she chimed in a couple times ), sharing wisdom and experience from 53 years of finding joy in marriage!
Tom & Sue Rice on their wedding day (a few years ago) ā Iām sure it feels like yesterday! šĀ
TONIGHT, 7-9 PM Central, I’ll get to chat with our disciple-making friend Liz Kohli ~ greater Milwaukee area team leader for the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement! How Is God at work around the world? How can we be a part?
I had some AMAZING interviews on Monday night with two dear friends: Gerrylynn Ferguson & Myles Hanson!
The first hour, I enjoyed a conversation on the POWER of Encouragement with Myles Tails Hanson (especially relevant for the young, young at heart, and those with kids or grandkids):
Do you love the next generation? Do you long to see them fulfill their full potential in Christ?
What have you found helpful in connecting with your kids or grandkids?
THIS Monday, Oct. 26, 7-9 PM Central Time, I’ll have Tom & Sue Rice of Great Marriages for Sheboygan County, sharing their wisdom and experience from 50 years of a joyful marriage!
Tom & Sue Rice on their wedding day (a few years ago) ā Iām sure it feels like yesterday! š ļ»æ
On Monday, I had the great honor to chat with two dear friends: Myles Hanson & Gerrylynn Ferguson!
The second hour with Gerrylynn Ferguson, we focused on making a kingdom impact in our communities.
Gerrylynn also shared insights on clarifying God’s call for your life and how to leave a lasting legacy in your community:
THIS Monday, Oct. 26, 7-9 PM Central Time, I’ll have Tom & Sue Rice of Great Marriages for Sheboygan County, sharing their wisdom and experience from 50 years of a joyful marriage!
Tom & Sue Rice on their wedding day (a few years ago) ā Iām sure it feels like yesterday! šĀ
), sharing wisdom and experience from 53 years of finding joy in marriage! 
Living Truth 