Yesterday we heard from his better half, today we hear from him. (Sorry, Brent, I had to!) I’ve been blessed to know Tam and Brent for a while now, and Brent’s role in their family is powerful. It is clear that he doesn’t take his responsibilities lightly. I asked him to share a bit about how he approaches leading his family - especially in this time of decision in their lives. Men, be encouraged:
“DO” is the thing right now. Everyone has an idea, place, a people group. It’s cool to have a cause. But you may have noticed something on this blog. “DO” is followed by “Something”. I remember listening to Erwin McManus one time and he was discussing this. So often we stare decision straight in the face and end up doing nothing. Which in fact is a decision as well. McManus cries out for us to just “DO Something”!
Tam and I are there right now. Tam spoke of our heart yesterday. We need to be faithful with the little we have and we desperately need to get out of our comfort zone and engage with people. Here’s the deal. I’m scared. I fear! I am a husband to an amazing woman (I married up, big time!). And I am the father of 2 kids that blow me away everyday. I am faced with this idea of “DO” constantly. You know what I “DO” a lot…nothing. I’m tired of that.
I don’t know how many guys are reading this right now (This blog is pretty estrogen heavy) but hear me when I say this. Do Something! Don’t get me wrong. Pray up. Read up. Seek Godly counsel Then go for it.
I am realizing as a husband and a Father that I am responsible to more than I could ever ask for. I am responsible to seek Godly wisdom and then to live it out. I am responsible to protect and nurture. I am responsible to lead by example. More than any ministry or relationship I will ever be a part of, my family needs me.
Here’s the scary part. Everything I do, to please my God, affects my family. On one hand, this is awesome. As my life flourishes in Him, this is then passed along to my family. On the other hand, as my life path continues to move down the road that God has created for me, this affects my family as well. I have to understand that everything I do, if it is done in Godly wisdom, will only seek to extend God’s grace and mercy into my family’s life.
So, when I say, “DO Something”, I am truly speaking to myself. I am struggling, questioning, praying, listening and in the end “Doing” what He is requiring.
Do you get paralyzed by the decision to “Do?” Do you find that indecision becomes a decision? How do you face making decisions regarding what to do in life?
21 responses so far ↓
LSOF // September 24, 2008 at 8:13 am
Do you get paralyzed by the decision to “Do?” Do you find that indecision becomes a decision? How do you face making decisions regarding what to do in life?
I literally have learned to take it up with God, keep myself away from people for awhile, and just let it be Him and I, and NO ONE else…it has made a great difference in my decision making.
But that’s me.
danielle // September 24, 2008 at 9:22 am
Thanks for sharing this. Really resonated with my heart.
kristiapplesauce // September 24, 2008 at 10:35 am
I love that you live your life this way. I love that in meeting your bride you guys are backing up your desires by real life persuit of the Cross in action…not in chaos; but in seeking the pasion(s) of the Lord and in seeking HIM. You both are amazing and I love you more then I did 8 days ago. For reals.
alece // September 24, 2008 at 10:50 am
brent, this is so powerful. and even more so because you said it. a man said it. and is DOing it.
thank you.
mandythompson // September 24, 2008 at 11:26 am
Al: I totally agree. I really wanted to grab some of our “men” in this community to speak - and speak loudly!
Kristi: Wasn’t it amazing to have that time to peer into their lives by talking with Tam? I was blown away as well.
Danielle: HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!
LSOF: Great thoughts. Thank you for answering!
brent(inWorship) // September 24, 2008 at 11:38 am
LSOF, you are right on. More than ever in this process, I am learning to get quite and listen. Even to quite my own thoughts. It’s hard, cause I like to think, but it’s necessary to get away from everything and just seek that time one on one.
Danielle, Krist and Alece, thank you!
mandythompson // September 24, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Brent: Thank YOU!
Tammy // September 24, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Do you get paralyzed by the decision to “Do?” Do you find that indecision becomes a decision? How do you face making decisions regarding what to do in life?
Yes, Yes and
After nearly half a century I have finally learned to pour my heart out to God and…NOT being theatrical here…embrace that fear.
He is simply blowing me away with the way He brings the answers and direction.
would that I had figured this out like you all have at such a young but mature age
Bless you all and thanks for continuing to lit a fire under this old lady!
TheNorEaster // September 24, 2008 at 2:31 pm
“Do you get paralyzed by the decision to “Do?” Do you find that indecision becomes a decision? How do you face making decisions regarding what to do in life?”
Paralyzed? Not really. Well, except in ONE area of my life that I’m not going to discuss.
Does indecision become a decison? Not really. But, there are times I just need a break from the blogs–or Something–because things in real life have gotten a little…Well, let’s say “hectic.” Or complicated. Like Monday night. Yeah. Monday night got very complicated…And I am typing too much.
How do I face making decisions? Simple. Ask. Seek. Knock. Repeat as necessary. But I have also learned recently that the UNexamined life truly IS worth living. Discuss, analyze, debate…The mind has a very bad habit of convincing us that “to think” is an action verb.
It is NOT.
(And just WHAT am I doing on a “pretty estrogen heavy” blog anyway…?
)
Heidi // September 24, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I’m copying this and sliding this into my husband’s bible asking for a date night.
Thank you
brent(inWorship) // September 24, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Nor, I hear what your saying, just a different perspective for me.
Depending where you are in the process, indecision is a decision. It is a decision to not change. It is a decision to not move. In the midst of listening and learning, there comes a time to Do. When that time comes, indecision is a decision. It’s the decision to do nothing.
Heidi, Haha, let us know how that works out
brainteaser // September 24, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Not making a decision when we must — I think that is one of man’s greatest follies. Thank you, Brent, for bringing it up.
I see indecision as a decision to be swept by things we fear are bigger than us. Perhaps to elude the blame should we take the wrong route… so we could say when things go wrong that it wasn’t us that led ourselves to the catastrophe? Or perhaps we fear the consequences of our decisions? Or perhaps we think we are so small compared to the consequences of the decision that needed to be done?
By not making a decision, we are letting others make it for us, or the situation/events to take care of things for us… and then, when things go wrong, we will have someone or something else to blame — not ourselves, because it wasn’t us that made the decision — but the events that we think we do not have control of (which we could have controlled before, when they weren’t as big and tangled yet).
Right on, Brent. Let me add: stand by our decisions. And be prepared for the consequences.
Great post. Thank you.
mandythompson // September 24, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Stopping long enough to read this discussion. Y’all are amazing.
praise365 // September 24, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Brent, since Nor decided to break the estrogen cycle…
These are great thoughts and I really liked the scary part.
Giving it all to God is the best way to handle any decision.
TRUST ME
kristiapplesauce // September 24, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Your mom thanks you.
lovewillbringustogether // September 25, 2008 at 5:53 am
Do ’something’ - there’s some GOOD advice for us all in there ’somewhere’
My biggest problem comes in the ‘knowing’ what that something should be.
Sometimes i let the fear of doing the ‘wrong’ thing stop me - sometimes the knowledge that i don’t know ‘enough’ to do what i think i ‘could’ - so often i don’t.
I do not doubt Him - as He can ensure no matter what i do it can lead to His Glory and not only mine… no - i fear and doubt ‘me’. That i have what it takes, or have made a good choice of ’something’.
The thing i am doing at the moment (besides ‘reading’ and coming closer to Him in heart and mind) is mostly done through blogging and my personal life. There well may be greater things yet to come but i have most often found that i never really value WHAT i AM doing while i’m doing it - that appreciation only comes afterwards - in hindsight.
Never under-estimate what you DO - or who you are to those around you. You might think you’re resting or not doing enough, but often he can be using you right were you are ‘now’.
If we hear a voice ‘challenging’ us tho’… it might be wise to pay it some heed.
Thanks for the post Brent!
<B
neilbontrager // September 25, 2008 at 9:55 am
Good work. Thanks for the encouragement. Isn’t it funny how all of the sudden you wake up and realize that you have a really great wife and some amazing kids that depend on you for so much more than you ever thought. Nobody ever told us about this when we were 20 did they? Maybe I wasn’t listening…
Do you get paralyzed by the decision to “Do?” Do you find that indecision becomes a decision? How do you face making decisions regarding what to do in life?
No so much. but sometimes… I am realizing that there is more and more riding on decisions than used to be. 15 years ago a bad decision was was considerably easier to correct than it is now. Then there is that whole thing of getting wiser as you get older. (hopefully) For me the increased ramifications of decisions adds weight. I don’t take near as much near as lightly as I used to.
Thanks for the poke on this topic. Love to discuss this more in Feb.
brent(inWorship) » Blog Archive » Get Out Of The Boat // September 25, 2008 at 12:07 pm
[...] hits home right now. In discussion at Mandy’s over “DOing Something”. This common theme came up. “But what about making the wrong decision?” This is my [...]
brent(inWorship) // September 25, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Love, you just touched on something that I wanted to expand on and discuss more. I’ve just posted on it.
http://brentinworship.com/blog/2008/09/get-out-of-the-boat/
Neil, you are right on. As we understand more what the consequences are, we realize how much greater our responsibility is.
When this is tied to the physical, it is maddening, especially with economies the way they are. But when they are tied tot he spiritual, I believe that we will see the great reward when we take the greatest risk. I am trying to learn the balance between the two right now. I am wondering, in some ways, if the physical should ever be a part of my decision making process.
And yes…I am anxious to discuss further in February!
mandythompson // September 25, 2008 at 12:33 pm
LOOK!
All the menfolk showed up for this post! Thanks brent!
annie // September 28, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Brent - there is a lot of estrogen on here, but that makes us appreciate men like you all the more. To a woman - a godly man is like a bar of chocolate, a knight in shining armor, and a palace, all rolled into one. More blessing than you can fathom. Tam is blessed! Thanks for being the man! Great words.