Last year, I abandoned my blog as I mulled over the value of having it, and whether or not it was worth subjecting myself to the scrutiny and criticism of others in such a way. After several months of deliberation, I have decided that it’s time to pick it back up.

I hope that as I share from my life and heart on these pages that you will somehow encounter the life of Jesus and His desire for you — that you will connect with Him in such a way that you allow Him to meaningfully transform your life. That is what I’m after — transformation through meaningful connection with a very personal God who cares deeply for me.

Happy New Year! In 2011, don’t settle for the life you’ve been living. There’s more for you!

Join me in the journey!

If you need to be refreshed, take some time to soak in God’s presence. Acknowledge Him in all your ways. While you’re soaking, take a listen to this month’s free download song at www.dennisjernigan.com. His song, “Breathe,” is one of my new favorites.

A friend of mine is a freelance writer. This friend is actually my spiritual grandmother. About 30 years ago, she began to share her faith with a co-worker of hers who happened to be my mother. Her willingness to step out and share her faith has impacted the generations of my family — my mom, me, and now, my children. I will be eternally grateful for her “Yes” to obeying the Lord.

Judith Couchman (Judy as I know her) is taking another step of faith these days. She has embarked on a 40-day journey of focusing on spiritual renewal. I say it’s a “step of faith” because when we step out on such a journey, we must be believing that God will respond in someway — something will happen, something will change. We won’t be the same when we get to the other side. That takes a measure of faith.

Judy is sharing her journey on her blog at http://judithcouchman.blogspot.com. I have been following her blog as she chronicles this journey and have been challenged myself to consider my ways. I appreciate Judy’s ability and willingness to share honestly the realities of this journey. Somehow it seems to make it okay for me to experience my own struggles and emotions.  It’s funny how we sometimes need permission to feel what we feel, to think what we think, or just to struggle.

Would you consider joining me in following Judy’s journey through these 40 days? Why not start your own 40 day journey? I’m considering one of my own that I’ll chronicle on my blog. Let’s do this together. Let’s create a community of people who will step out in faith, completely change what we’re doing, to accommodate a focus on allowing God to speak to us and to transform our lives through a meaningful connection with HIM (what I call connect4mation – the title of this blog.) How about a connect4mation journey? If we all committed to such a thing, what kind of impact could that have on our lives, our families, our cities, our nation? Can you imagine?

Add a comment to this post and let me know what you think and what you’ve decided to do to move toward spiritual renewal.

Blessings to you, friend. And Judy, thanks for sharing your life! What a difference you are making.

Following is a post written by my wife, Darla. God has blessed me richly with a wife that could not be a better match for me. She and I complete each other in ways that amaze me over and over again as we go through life together. I wanted to share this post with you (with her permission). It was an e-mail she sent to me at work recently as a follow-up to a conversation we had.

I watched a Christian television station as I was having breakfast this morning. A lady was talking about receiving the promises of God.  She said that promises even come when they are “not possible”.  She gave examples of times when God told her to take a cut in pay for a new job that would be more like a ministry, and yet she gained the most “possessions” that year, even a new house.  As I listened, it occurred to me that as we obey Him with what he has provided for us right now, He will provide what is needed for the next step in the process.  She was saying that many people try to ‘help’ God and try to bring about the blessing and provision for the promise.  Like taking the elevator instead of the stairs. As you take the stairs you gain muscle and pick up blessings on each floor.  If you take the elevator, you miss out on all of that.  Then you are not ready for the promise as you reach the top. 

 We need to be faithful in what He has already provided for us, and be thankful!  It is so like the human flesh (with our readily helpful enemy) to want the next best thing now.  To expect His promises now.  The Israelites are a perfect example.  Only 2 of the 2 million promised, actually made it to that promise because of their grumbling and unfaithfulness.  Lord help us! 

 We must always seek Him and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33). Then, all the other things will be added — isn’t that what it says?! As we do, and are faithful in it, with all thankfulness, He will see His promises carried out in our lives. 

 “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere (patient endurance in the process) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”  Hebrews 10:35-36.

In one of his most significant books, Dr. Larry Crabb presents a different but biblical approach to healing the deep wounds of the soul—an approach that centers around building intimate, healing mini-communities in our lives and churches.  Dr. Crabb envisions a day when communities of God’s people—ordinary Christians whose lives connect as husband to wife, brother to sister, friend to friend—will accomplish most of the healing that we now depend on mental health professionals to provide.  God has deposited within us the power to heal soul disease, and that power is released to do its work as we relate to each other in meaningful ways. The problem is disconnected souls. What we need is connection.  What we need is a healing community.

To connect meaningfully with others is not easy, at least not for me. I have to force myself out of my comfort zone to do it. I kind of like my “c-zone.” But, not really. I guess I’ve just gotten used to  it and anything beyond that is a little scary.

This spring, however, I embarked on a mission of physical transformation using the Ultimate Body Make-Over (UBM) coaching program. The UBM is more than a weight-loss program. It is a life-coaching program.  Through the UBM, I was hooked up with a coach who challenged me to step out of my c-zone  I was challenged by her to connect with some other folks in a meaningful way. As I began to do that, a transformation took place, not only in my body (I’m down 31 lbs.) but also in my mind and my heart. I have to keep pressing forward now — don’t want to go back to that old c-zone!

This blog was birthed out of that transformation. Out of a long standing desire in my heart to see people connect with others in a meaningful, life-giving way, I stepped out and started connect4mation.com. Through this blog I intend to share things with you that I hope will stir your thinking on the subjects of connecting, transformation, and authenticity.

If something on this site impacts you, take a minute to let me know. Send a comment. If it’s a comment you’d prefer not to have posted on the site, tell me and I’ll keep it confidential.

If you want more information on the Ultimate Body Make-Over, click on the picture to the right of this page. Let ‘em know you heard about it on connect4mation.com!