When there is no vision what happens? People perish! Not physically die, but people lose hope, excitement, zeal and basically get frustrated. And when that happens you begin to slowly die on the inside. When there is no movement, nothing to look forward to, people lose the desire to hang on and fight. Life, church, work, family, whatever, becomes stale and stagnant, and if it's stagnant long enough it starts to stink and the stink will cause people to move! Where there is no vision there is no hope, no life, and no fight. Without hope, life and fight we begin to shut down, get sick and eventually die.

We are all built with an inner desire to move toward something that is exciting, alive, and fresh. It gives us hope, a sense of purpose, a hunger and a passion to fight on.
Passion defined is divine enthusiasm. It's what keeps you driving even when the tires are flat!
In Habakkuk 2:2 it says, "Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by".
When there is a vision that is clear it lets others know that there is life, there are goals we are shooting for , and there is purpose behind what we are doing. There is excitement in the air and it becomes contagious. Everyone wants to be a part of something that is flowing, growing and alive. It's how we were created.

Seriously take some time and ask yourself these questions:

What is my vision?
What am I shooting for?
Do I have goals?
What is my purpose and my passion?

Remember, If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.

My passion is students. My purpose is student ministry.

I thought I'd take some time and share some of my thoughts, rants, quotes and encouragement from the past year.  I began to journal a little over a year and a half ago and although the format has changed many times over that span the idea has remained the same - to put on paper my thoughts, ideas, encouragements and plans to look back on.   Peter says, "I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder." Journaling, for me, is a way to stir myself up by remembering.  Here is what "stirs me up"...

"If you keep doing what you have always done you will have what you have always had!"

If you don't stand for something you will fall for everything.

The things I am tempted to do is NOT who I am.

What you focus on you will always hit.

Everyone follows someone; I am just trying to follow Jesus.

If it's not worth dying for, it's definitely not worth living for!

If you'll begin to ask God new questions you'll begin to get new answers.

I'm not perfect, but I'm not pretending either! I'm no poser! (thanks Ed)

Life is not about finding yourself but about finding the person God created you to be.

"We don't really believe that God's love is that powerful because if we did we'd behave differently!" (Dan Merchant)

SIN - it will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you're willing to pay."

You cannot keep your eyes on God and your circumstances at the same time. You need to choose which one you will focus on.

"Innovation, when not tethered to the truth of the Gospel, leads to heresy." Mark Driscoll

Serve something greater than Yourself. In doing so you will receive what you need, want and desire.

If you made it this far I hope you found some encouragement, insight and hope in the things that have blessed my life and stirred me up over the past year. 

Stir yourself up by remembering the good things that God has done in your life and is going to do in the days ahead.

Be encouraged, 

Derrick