BECOME A STIMULITE!!
Sunday’s Monday
I heard a lot of talk of stimulus over the last 12 months and to my chagrin, the popular definition being used is free government money. Today’s media outlets have hipped the US CARES Act, better known as the Stimulus Package to the point that the true meaning of stimulus has been diminished to tangible items. Ergo, I turned to dictionary.com which defines stimuli/stimulus as; something that incites to action or exertion or quickens action, feeling, thought, etc... With this definition at hand, the question that comes to my mind is, am I being stimulated every day. If not, why? Could it be that I’m not positioning myself to be stimulated? I need to examine my daily comings and goings to see if my life is operating in an arena conducive to stimulate love and goodwill. Just as it is written in Hebrews 10:24 (NLT), Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Are the people which I purposely encounter during my day stimulating my dedication to leaving things better than I find them? Another question is, how much am I sacrificing to bring stimulation into these planed encounters? Stimulus is so much more than one can imagine once it's allowed to grow from a word to a selfless way of life.
This is why Paul wrote in Hebrews 10:25 (NLT), And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. We gather to grow in every area of life, it’s a time we desperately need to dialogue ourselves into meaningful relationships. Paul knew the gathering of like minds stimulates the truth of who we are, bolstering our hope, strengthening our faith. It is in this arena that we experience the power of wisdom and discovers how to build on our giftings within God’s Family. It is during these types of gatherings, that we learn the awesomeness of sharing what God has done, is doing, and hoped to do, in our lives. It is in such gatherings that we learn how to be a stimulite, people who are infected with the love of Jesus and desire to spread Jesus throughout the world. Don’t go to the dictionary to find stimulite, cause it ain’t there.
As a stimulite Paul warns us to be persistent in Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT), 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. There’s a couple of things a stimulite must know (as best we can), who am I, who does Jesus say that I am (1 Peter 2:9) and what is my purpose (Proverbs 19:21). Now I’m sure you can think of many more, but this gets one started toward becoming a good stimulite. The key is to take these two questions into a quiet private place “with Jesus” and meditate on them as many times a day as needed to reach your answers. During the writing of this article, I attended a StrongLead Leadership Meeting in Hickory, NC and for me, it lit my candle. Allow me to interject why I’m telling this, I am almost 10 years retired, ergo I have very little to bring to a table surrounded by young, highly motivated, successful leaders. But I’m there! Why? Because “it stimulates me, my mentor has instilled in me that it’s not about how much I know, in as much as it is about what I do with what I know (Joe Dillard). Ergo I bring an eagerness to gain new information, to expand my influence, and be that spark for others who need stimulation. I have a strong desire to be a stimulite, to affect people positively, to encourage people to be the best of who they are while becoming better through building on the wisdom they currently have and continually seeking God for His best. My go-to scripture for the explanation of why I feel it is so important to be a strong stimulite in this world is found in Romans 1:12 (NLT), When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. I admit it, I’m selfish! While I’ll give you the best I have, I in turn expect to receive the best you have. My description for this is, I’m like the sandpaper on the side of a matchbox, stroke me and I’ll give you my best spark but in return, I expect you to light my fire! Again, I say, No matter what level we feel we’re operating on there is always a place at every table for us “and” we will receive that which we come expecting. My philosophy on this is, I’ll never leave discouraged when I meet with others because I came expecting to receive. Giving criticism, encouragement, thoughts, and opinions come naturally but one has to be deliberate to receive the positive vibes in any encounter with other humans. Try being a stimulite for one week and see for yourself what changes come about!
My prayer this week is that we all find your stimulus package which is written in Isaiah 41:10 (NLT), 10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Have us remember Romans 8:31(NLT), What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Amen Go Stimulites!!
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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