Chase the Lion Session One: Taking Risks

Lesson One: The Domino Effect

Ordinary people taking risks don't know they are making history. People like Martian Luther, Oskar Schindler and Rosa Parks took risks.

What risks have you taken in your own life?
For me it would be choosing to attend SBU. It was not something that my family wanted me to do, or that they supported. I ended up needing to lean on God and good things came of that! This lesson talked about the domino effect. I can see the domino effect that has occurred in my life. It started when I was a freshman in high school and continues to today! Although I don't see myself as taking risks, I see the domino effect and see how it has worked in others lives around me.

Lesson 2: Risky Business

Daniel, Peter, and John - they all risked their lives for Christ.

Have you ever done anything risky for God? What was the result?
Again, going to SBU was a big step. I decided to pursue youth ministry in my undergrad. This does not seem too risky to me, although there were not many women in that major and I was reminded of that often. No I am not a youth minister at this time, but I see where I was used even if it was only for a couple of months. I helped out the youth at FBCKC while we were in between youth ministers. The interim couple really appreciated my help and I really got to use the gifts God gave me at that time. I still hope to see where God is going to use that training down the road in my future.
I took a risk going back to get my masters in Elementary Education. With a little nudge from a friend I filled out the application for NCA and got my first teaching job there. I have met many wonderful friends there and I have grown a lot as a teacher.

Lesson 3: Buried Talent

According to the parable in Matt 25, an essential element of faithfulness is risk! "Faithfulness is multiplying what you have to the best of your God-given ability. Faithfulness is not minimizing risk; faithfulness is maximizing risk in order to maximize reward" (p 17).

My definition of faithfulness: Faithfulness - trusting that God will keep me safe and guide me when I take a risk that He has equipped me for.

How do Jesus' words strike you? How do they make you feel?
I know that I have been given a lot of responsibility and that I need to step up to the plate and make the most of it. I need to quit living day by day and start making sure that I am prepared and that I am doing well. Again if I was not rushing then I would have time to do things that I want to do and get done what I need to do too!

What talents has God given you?
God has given me the ability to encourage others, also he has given me the gift of hospitality. Also He has given me the gift of administration.

How are you currently investing your talents? Are they safe investments or risky investments?
I am NOT investing my talents. I am burying them.

Lesson 4: Play offense

I loved the words on p 20, "Satan wants us to live in a defensive posture, and he uses two primary tactics to accomplish it - fear and discouragement. He wants us to run away from fear, uncertainty and risk. But Christ calls us to chase lions. Stan would love nothing more than our ultimate goal to be to avoid sin. However, doing nothing wrong doesn't constitute doing something right. Goodness is not the absence of badness."

All I could do is think....WOW! I can't just try to avoid sin, I need to chase after what is right! "Goodness is not he absence of badness." That one got me!

Here is the link to Ted Leonsis' 101 List: http://www.tedstake.com/?p=8

Here is the start of my list:
1. Fall in love and get married
2. Have children
3. Start a ministry for woman
4. Minister with my husband
5. Teach at the college level
6. Be an administrator in education
7. Pay off my college loans
8. Go to Hawaii
9. Go on a cruise
10. Write a book

What is tempting about living life defensively?
You only have to react to situations. You do not have to worry about people thinking you are crazy at what you are doing. You are less likely to be discouraged. When you take a risk there is a possibility that you will be rejected or others will not like your decisions.

What areas of you life do you live offensively?
None

Lesson 5: Inaction Regrets

Oh how I hate "what if's."

Regret of action - doing something that you wish you hadn't done.
Regret of inaction - not doing something that you wish you had done.

Action regrets = commission sins
Inaction regrets = omission sins

At the end of life our greatest regrets will be the thing we didn't do.

I just want to get rid of some of my what if's. I think Satan enjoys throwing our what if's in our faces. I just want to be rid of them. Especially if you can not change the present. Sometimes we can rectify our what if and God gives us another chance. Sometimes the moment has past and we just have to ask for forgiveness and give it to God. I challenge you to do that this week! Give God the regret you have, if you can't change it, ask for forgiveness and move on. If He give you another shot at it...take the risk this time.

RUN!

Scripture Verse for the week:

Matt 19:28-30 "And Jesus replied, 'I assure you that when I, the Son of Man, sit upon my glorious throne in the Kingdom, that you who have been my followers will also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life. "

Prayer Experiment:
Ask God to give you the courage and heart of a risk-taker
Confess any sins of omission.
Ask God if there are any risks that He wants you to take. Listen.
Specifically write out one risky request.
Thank God for allowing you to be a part of His adventure.

Chasing our dreams is a risk. What dreams (or goals) do you have that you need to start running after?

Check out http://chasethelion.com/guide/seizing-opportunities for this weeks audio/video lesson.

Please write answers to any of the questions that were given in the study guide, any thoughts that you have about the scripture, words written, or the audio/video that went with the Taking Risks Session.

I have had a particularly bad week and this study is helping me get through it! I also know that I need to be a risk taker and sometimes I need to go for it! It is scary but I know others have done it and they have come out just fine. I also know it is not an "easy" process, it is not all sunshine and rainbows. Risk is hard, it may not be fun or exciting, but sometimes it has to be done. I am thankful for the risk takers that I have as examples in my life. I think you know who you are!