Yesterday
I had a small but important breakthrough.
I
published 3 short videos online.
They
were based on the Central Diagram of Our Stewardship Community.
I
had shared those messages with dozens of individuals over the years.
Using
that Central Diagram I can share more short videos.
It
gives the big picture overview.
The
Central Diagram is like the skeleton that connects the many parts.
I
already have rough drafts of the Power Point slide for next few videos.
As
I have stated before the vision and game plan for the ministry is huge and
complex.
The
videos I put online range from 2 to 4 and a half minutes.
Each
one covers a small part of the whole.
My
ongoing challenge is to keep it simple.
I
want the videos to be 1 to 3 minutes long.
But
some will need to be longer.
I
know that the attention span of most people is very short.
But
then there are always the minority that do not care how long it goes.
The
Holy Spirit has been inspiring me in how to present the many small parts.
There
are two online services I plan to use after I have some more short videos
online.
It
will allow me to share the short videos using a large graphic context.
And
I can include short text documents on this too.
It
is an online teaching platform.
The
short videos would be offered in more of a linear format.
Also
text can be woven in with the short videos.
There
is an option to either see them in sequence or skip around.
I
like this platform because later I plan to offer biblical lessons there.
Using
that platform is essential to the next round of raising funds.
They
have a huge operation and many people who hang out there.
That
is where I will connect with strangers who are there.
And
I will use promotional tools and methods to drive traffic there.
But
what it does best is to serve as an initial contact point.
Then
from there the new people will be linked to the short videos mentioned before.
That
is like the display widow in a busy shopping mall.
That
can catch initial attention then my job is to cast the vision and sketch the
game plan.
What
I lead with there must be short sweet and simple.
It
needs to emotionally engage the stranger and make them want to know more.
That
is easier said than done.
By
the grace and providence of God the Lord put the following video into my life.
It
has instructions on just how to make such a promotional video that will lead to
more interest.
The
few key points to cover are mentioned and the importance of expressing passion
is there.
Please
pray for me to learn and apply this guidance.
During
the video mentioned before he said it is essential to express your emotions.
It
many take many takes to get it right.
He
said it is hard to do that just with the camera.
But
it is useful to imagine an audience of a very receptive and supportive person.
When
I made face to face presentations years ago most people said I was very
passionate.
My
voice tone changes and my body language got animated.
But
so far I have not been able to tap into that when recording alone.
Pray
for me to learn that skill and or maybe God will put the right person for me to
record with.
Maybe
I can adapt a Google Hangout or Skype call format and record that.
The
title of this message is Strangely Reluctant.
When
I am sharing with a person the vision for ministry using visual aids I get very
excited.
When
I pray and seek the will of God for my life for decades it comes back to this.
When
I am not working on moving forward with the ministry I get depressed.
If
I stay depressed for a long time then I tend to get into despair.
The
only proven way out of that valley is to take actions to prepare for the
ministry.
I
have been working from 800 AM to 700 PM at the community college for weeks.
But
I have not had the outcomes I had expected.
I
am closer than I was.
I
had used the image of a woman that was 10 months pregnant.
I
have felt over due on birthing this ministry.
Right
now it seems like the head of the infant has just appeared.
Now
comes the hard part for me to PUSH.
Then
I must PUSH more.
I
hope and believe that soon this that has been inside me will get outside.
It
has been on the drawing table for many years.
It
will come out and become a reality that will benefit others.
By
the grace of God and through the answers to many prayers I am at this point.
I
am no longer stuck with the following issues
Perfectionism
Procrastination
Fear
of failure
Fear
of success
Fear
of rejection
Fear
of responsibility
I
made a commitment to my accountability partner last week.
I
committed to have published 3 kinds of videos and made a list of resources.
One
of those 4 has been completed.
And
2 could be completed as soon as today, but by tomorrow for sure.
Now
I feel confident that all 4 will be online before the deadline on Saturday.
Then
I have several more measurable tasks for the next week.
I
will commit to do those and that will keep me moving forward.
I
am no longer stuck in excessive planning.
My
next step is to enroll lots of prayers for my financial needs.
As
others pray then I believe God will answer.
I
will have more than enough for my basic needs.
The
main need now is 10 dollars per night at the homeless shelter.
That
includes a bed with sheets and blanket, hot shower and 3 meals.
I
talked with the clerk yesterday about the mix up on my account.
He
will talk with his supervisor.
I
thought I was paid up for tonight.
But
maybe the records will show I need to pay for tonight.
This
is written a little before noon on Wednesday August 6, 2014.
I
need to meet with the clerk today between 530 and 730 PM.
What
I want is to have at least 30 dollars to put on my account.
God
woke me up from a sound sleep last night.
He
gave me faith in a moment to trust him for 7 nights or 70 dollars.
Then
I believe that within 7 more nights the crowd funding site will be online.
Like
I wrote yesterday my cell phone bill of 31 dollars is coming due on August 10.
But
right now that is long ways off.
There
are other needs and wants.
But
the top priority is to secure my housing.
There
are fees that come with Pay Pal and the ATM.
So
please pray for God to guide and provide.
The
need is for 35 to 75 dollars today in the next few hours.
I
will need to contact individuals to ask them
That
is how God met my needs before.
Pray
for me to know who to contact and how to approach them.
May
I find favor.
May
this need for housing be met right on time.
Today
I feel strangely reluctant.
Maybe
that is due to the needs to PUSH.
It
is my hope and expectation that after the ministry is launched there will be
joy.
I
will have various ways to express my passions for that energizes me.
Shalom
