Shant be an Ant

Giving in the corporate sense can be a very scary concept - especially for an entrepreneur. Most worldly advice available gives the business owner guidance counter to the kingdom principles. Like little ants we store during the feast, to ensure survive during any possible famine.

I don't want to live like an ant. Period. Here's some advice I also heard: If it looks like a ant, walks like an ant, acts like an ant, it _IS_ an ant. Well, I don't want to be an ant. I want to be a king. I am not busy toiling away to build an ant hill? Ant hills have to be rebuilt after every storm - my corporation stands strong. I'm going to pause here and allow all business owners to pound their chest for a bit.

I think about that story in the bible where someone was describing the temple. And the water levels on the different sides of the throne were different. At times you could hop over the stream, other times you could wade through it, other times you had to forge through it, and yet other times, you HAD to leave yourself at the mercy of the water.

Business is the same way. Sales cycles , contracts, negotiations, accounts payables, accounts receivables are the same way. Depending on your outlook, you can either hop over it, or feel powerless over them. Either way, there is one certainty, it's coming, in some shape or form, all of the previously mentioned aspects are coming. You should welcome them - you just pounded your chest earlier. Well, my question is do you want to prepare yourself for this onslaught by being the best ANT you can be? Or the best KING you can be?

I will say it again. I am a king. Now I'm going to let you take another minute and say it. Now behave like one. Here, let me help you, let me give you your staffs - unity and favor. Build unity through mercy and grace and vision and yes, at times, through ruthlessness. Build favor by giving. Giving builds roots which builds connections and relationships. Through unity and favor, you can be sure that no matter what happens or you the king sees on the horizon, you will be prepared. Because you now have the power of the kingdom's army. And as I learned from a 3-year-old prince (upcoming king) in Kid's Church -- I'm in the Lord's Army.

That's how I have grown - through the realization that I am a king.

Build first the Kingdom

We all have big dreams and visions for our lives. When we moved to NY, Pieter and I had to sacrifice a few of ours so that we could step into a new level of growth and faith. Over the past few years, God has challenged us to put our dreams and desires on hold , while we plant ourselves in His house and we commit to building His house first. Initially we thought that the process would include a standstill in our plans to move forward, but over the past year especially, we've seen God open so many doors for us - in the natural and spiritual world - and we've been able to see him working on our behalf and moving us closer to His purpose for our lives. As leaders, we all have incredible stories of sacrifice and building faith around that, and now it's time for us to impart that into the people around us to inspire and encourage them. We can't wait to see the incredible testimonies that will be birthed from our Rise and Build campaign - not only for ourselves, but especially for the people around us.

Peace, Provision and a Cat called Lucy

Living in New York has it's challenges - especially when it comes to housing. Over the past 3 months Clara and I have lived in 6 different places as we have navigated the New York rental market. What we have come to experience is that God provides for us and we can have great peace in that.

Imagine coming to New York from another country with no US credit history, no income verification and no guarantor. On paper we look like the worst tenants ever. Nevertheless a property owner in Sydney Australia gave us an apartment in Grammercy Park (rent free) from June 2006 - May 2007. With just 3 days notice the apartment was sold in May, and the search was on to find a new place.

We literally had all our property in a truck. We had no confirmation where we would move in next. We ended up in Hell's Kitchen for 2 weeks while the owners were in Ireland. The problem with the property was that I am terribly allergic to cats and there was a cat called Lucy that lived in the house. A day before we moved in, Lucy was put down due to a serious cancer and we were provided Cat free accomodation.

Later we jumped out of the kitchen into the Union Square while another friend went to Australia. Time was running out - we had until June 16 to find a place.

We applied for 2 apartments but they were taken before our applications were submitted. One apartment was signed by another tenant in the 15mins it took to walk from the apartment viewing to the management office. Finally we found the perfect place - and the management didn't mind at all that we didn't have credit histories or all the normal documentation. We took occupancy on the 15th of June - all in perfect timing.

What we have learnt in the midst of all these adventures is that there is a plan and purpose for all of us even when we can't see it. Peace and patience in the face of seeming uncertainty is a great gift that grows as we trust God more and more.

It should be noted that even Lucy's owners took great comfort in the timing of her passing. It seems sad to say that a Cat died for us, but in a way it's true. The owners saw their loss as part of a bigger picture in God's perfect plan. They were actually encouraged to catch a glimpse of purpose and provision in the loss of their cat.

Getting Bigger Through Giving

We love to give because this House has taught us to give . . . it's that simple. We've learned to trust God in our giving . . . trust Him enough to step "outside the box" in the way we approach our businesses and our finances to prove to ourselves that He can do it better and bigger than we can. While giving at c3m we saw our savings/investments accounts soar into 6 digits, we saw them drain to zero when we spent every last penny on a wedding and a home in the city, and we saw those same accounts recover and continue to grow since then. We now treat that account strictly as "God's account." Whatever He wants to do with it, He can (He's done so well, why stop Him now!?). While giving at c3m we've watched our annual tithes and offerings increase every year . . . and in bigger leaps and bounds than we had budgeted towards. We are continually amazed at the blessings we've experienced and have been able to give back out of. Our businesses have become testimonies to our God and to our family within this House. This year, even with one less salary, we have renewed our commitment to increase our tithes and offerings. It seems ridiculous in the natural, but with God, anything is possible! We've decided to focus on the fact that if we commit to larger giving, the money has to come from somewhere . . . and our God has proven faithful!

The Fellowship of the Unashamed - Commitment Statment

I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed". The die has been cast, the decision has been made, I have stepped over the line. I won't look back let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure. I'm finish and done with lone living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotion, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right first, tops recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, love with patience, live by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I can not be bought, compromised, detoured, loured away, turned back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, and ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up and paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till he stops me and when Jesus comes for his own, He will have no problem recognizing me, my banner is clear, I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.