being jake wood

Weither big jobs or small jobs, we’ve all been victim to good and bad criticism. How we respond can show how foolish or how wise we really are. If it’s a best friend, boss or a stranger on the street, here are 3 things I’ve tried to remember in the midst of criticism.

1. Listen. We can’t always throw criticism to the wayside. Even God can speak to us through encouraging words and discouraging words. If we automatically shut people off at the smallest critique, we’d never grow and learn. Sometimes, even in the most absurd critiques we can find a nugget of helpful use. The wise will sift through the criticism and find something of use.

2. Don’t Always Take Things Personal. It’s easy to tie our job, ministry or talent to our identity. When we do this, then we open ourselves up for deep hurts. If your job is “who you are”, then when someone criticizes your job, you feel they are criticizing “who you are”. We can’t always take criticism so personal. If we feel that “hurt” when someone is criticizing something of ours, then it might be a good sign that we are tied too close to that “thing” and in danger of it being an idol.

3. Your Response will determine your level of maturity. If I fly off the handle at the smallest criticism, then no one will ever want to speak honestly to me if there’s a danger of me being offended. Even if the criticism is way off base, your reaction to it will determine how far you can and will grow. A wise person will always be slow to react and slow to speak.

Criticism can be a good thing when used by the wise and can be fuel for the fool. If nothing bad is ever said, nothing good will ever get done.

JW

How often do I retreat?  How often SHOULD we retreat?  How often does God WANT me to retreat?  And how often does God REQUIRE me to retreat?  There’s no question in my mind that God has built into our souls the need to retreat.  On the the Seventh day God rested and  requires us to have a sabbath every week.  But when I grew up that meant simply “going” to church.  I then later found out that the original sabbath day is Saturday and that really messed me up.  In ministry and life in general there is a pace that we sometimes set that is hard to break from.  We feel guilty for not being busy all the time.  Maybe one of the greatest tricks the enemy pulls on us is simply believing that we should never make a habit of retreating.  Me and my wife, several years ago made a commitment that we would fiercely protect our sabbath and retreat often.  On our day off we spend as much time with each other and the kids as possible.  This doesn’t always work out the way we planned, but our hearts are in the right place.  But sometimes it’s so easy to simply forget, or get caught up in “life” that we forget to break away and slow down.  Three things I’m going to commit to accomplishing this year and next.

1.  Have a personal overnight retreat.  A whole day and night with no agendas or meetings.  Just me and God.  During these times God usually shares with me direction for the next season.  But as busy as I get, I need this time away.

2. To break away everyday.  I like to do my devotional time with God in the morning.  It’s just the time that works for me the best.  Some reading and praying.  I want my kids to see that my life matches up with my talk.

3. Retreat with my wife more.  I want to commit to having more time with my wife this year.  Plan more vacation or away time with my wife and family.

How do you retreat?  I know it’s such a broad question, but how do you get away personally?  Spiritually?  Emotionally?  How often do you retreat?  What could you commit to changing this year to balance your life better?

Things that we protect are things that we find important or give value to.  What is valuable or important in your life that you need to protect?  And what things are you protecting that shouldn’t be as important in your life?

A Few things that I need to protect…

• My family time (time with my kids and dates with my wife)
• My relationship with God
• My sabbaths (time of rest)
• My Health

A few things that I protect (value) too much…

• Media (tv shows, movies, etc.)
• Technology (iPhone, computer, audio, etc.)
• Email (yep, I’m officially addicted)
• Image (not just my own image, but my families and ministries image)

Here’s an interesting one for you!

So I’ve been talking with my brother, who is starting a church in Las Vegas.  He was sharing all the struggles and frustrations that come with being the head of a church.  And it got me thinking about the weight that our senior pastors carry day in and day out.  I work closely in our church with Sam, our senior pastor, and get to see first hand the meetings, the late night calls, family interruptions, counseling, weddings, etc.  And that doesn’t include the spiritual weight that they carry day in and day out for their sheep.  The enemy can do more damage if he can bring down the pastor.  So the attacks are more fierce and intentional.  Maybe that’s why so many pastors give up in the first year.  So if you really want to freak out your pastor, here are a list of things that I can think of.