Phases of Transition

taken from John Paul Jackson's blog:

DISCIPLINE: The SECOND PHASE of TRANSITION

Discipline, the second phase of Transition is the most difficult phase and, like it or not, can last months or even years. That is precisely why it takes discipline. Not only will you have to keep your eyes on the vision ahead, you will have to navigate through the land mines of discouragement the enemy will lob your way. Consequently, you will actually determine the length of the delay. Few there are who will go through this phase unscathed. Fewer still who do not end up blaming someone or something else for the delay.

The courageous will look toward themselves before they blame others and realize the peripheral issues were not the problem. The thread of truth that God is addressing lies within ourselves; no matter what the external problem might seem to be.

THE MAGNETIC PULL
In this phase the magnetic pull of our “tomorrow” seems to be contrary to the circumstances of our life and/or the situations we find our self in. These outside events may even seem to war against God’s call, but it is all a part of God’s preparation for our transition. During the Discipline stage we are taught to overcome the last of our weaknesses that will limit our success on the other side of transition. We cannot become what God created us to become if we do not let go of the baggage that will drown us in the waters ahead.

Even if we are not overjoyed at the thought of transition, we eventually begin to feel like we just want to get it over with. So many matters seem out of our control. This is just where God wants us to be – out of our control. Once we give up the need to control our destiny, God looses us to go there.

THE DISCIPLINE OF “BEING”
Here we also learn the discipline of “being” where we are. The act of “being” keeps our focus on today. In “being” we learn not to overlook the mundane of today for the supposed joy of tomorrow. The Bible calls this “occupy,” and it is hard to keep doing, but it does build leadership in us.

WHEN GOD IS SILENT
Yes, as is often the case, in the discipline phase God does seem to be silent – why? Because, we have yet to fulfill the last thing He directed us to do. It is not necessarily disobedience; it is usually a matter of timing or finishing the process needed for the transition to occur. In either case, here we learn a major attribute of broad leadership – a double dose of patience!

For the prophetically gifted – this is a true “death to self” process and there are no short cuts. For those so gifted, I empathize, it is hard to see the future and then have to wait for it to come.

The next post will be on “The Delight of Transition”

Blessings,
John Paul

God's interesting lessons

if God wants to teach you something, Hed go all out on a lesson (regardless of how much it will cost or how long it would take) as long as you will learn it good.

ive been going through one of those lessons for the past year. and the lesson i learned is. when God is doing something, GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!  Desire should be tempered by timing. There really is no substitute for being at perfect peace and freedom when it is time for you to receive it.

My God is indeed very very rich. Sosyal ng lesson ko and I just had to go to Russia to learn it. Talk about dying in style. hee hee. ;-)

spending sunday at the red square like a russian :-D

after months of bad and unpredictable weather, the sun has already started to be consistent. today, although it was cold, it was really sunny. i had to get out!

Inside the St Basil's Cathedral

So. Finally. After almost 1 year of being here, I have just started doing the touristy stuff. Meh. -_-

Just today, I had the brightest idea (after almost 1 year of being here) of getting inside just the most famous structure in Russia. Just today.

Im not really much of an artsy fartsy and I dont know what is really beautiful and what is not. pero this one, i could say that It is just BEAUTIFUL.

mark, this is for you! you forced me to do this! :-D

my birthday weekend

my birthday started on Friday night, with Jane Chris and I watching Swan Lake at the Novaya Opera. It was the start of the Ballet Festival in Moscow and this was the first show. It was very nice. the ballerina was terrific.

On Saturday, i wanted a quiet birthday, giving myself a treat at some quiet place. but that didnt happen. had to wake up early because it was a declared working day *sob* in Russia because there will be a 4 day weekend starting June 12. of all the saturdays in the year, the working day had to be on my birthday! anyways, im glad there was work. my colleague friends gave me gifts and my audit team surprised me with roses. awww.

After that, Sasha and friends informed me that they organised a birthday party for me. They invited people and planned everything. As they said, all I had to do was show up :-D I wasnt really planning on anything because I wanted a quiet day but I was pressured because they told me that if i didnt show up, they would still celebrate my birthday anyway. :-D

So we went to BB King, a jazz bar somewhere. It was a pretty cute place. and the jazz was nice. they gave a lot of toasts for me. After that place, we went to a Russian retro club. Horrible! think dancing to the wowowee song or Dayang dayang! the russians were singing and dancing along with the music. they were jumping and jig-ging! had a fun night.

On Sunday, as I did not get my quiet birthday, I decided to have a date with myself. I took out my new toy and went to the Red Square. took a lot of pictures. After that, went to a Chokoladnitsa (i think it means chocolaterie) and talked with Jesus.

and it did not rain over the whole weekend (the forecast was a rainy one). although it was cold, it was sunny!

This 26th year is going to be an exciting one! :-D

at the racetrack

last sunday, there was some sort of russian horse breeders cup. we went there to experience something new. we were actually the only women and the only young people there. most of the people were old men walking with canes!

we bet on one horse, #7 Peregrada, because it was pretty and so relaxed - as if it wasnt in a race.

after that, we went to tanya and giorgio's flat to play tennis on Wii. i am so not made for video games. i am too hysterical :-D

playing with my new toy

got me a canon eos 450D! and got it at a good discount pa. yipee! had to download the manual because i got mine in russian. :-D

trying to tinker with the aperture, shutter speed, ISO stuff. im still not getting it pero i should kay sayang ang camera!

next project: a good lens. any suggestions?

coffee talk with john paul jackson

http://blog.streamsministries.com/
hes the author of the book "Unmasking the Jezebel spirit" - sharp and wastes no words.