Thanksgiving combos

What memories do you have of Thanksgiving?  When I think of Thanksgiving I see the blessings that God has given.  He has brought families back together.  He has mended broken relationships, broken hearts.  What are you thankful for?  Thanksgiving brings families, friends, loved ones, and most important are people back to God.  Share good thanksgiving blessings with someone you haven't spoken to in a long time.

Lets look at other things that Thanksgiving brings together. I see turkey and stuffing.  Sometimes sweet potatoes and marshmallows.  How about mashed potatoes and gravy?  Rolls and butter. Something about turkey and sweet tea.  Oooh here's a good one, pie and cool whip.  After thanksgiving we have miracle whip and turkey sandwiches.  What does thanksgiving bring together in your house?

Bringing the invisible into vision

Only God can bring the invisible into vision.  Romans 4:17 says that God brings things from the non-existent to exist.  In Genesis it states that we are created in His image.   As we are created inHis image then we too have the ability to "speak it as if it were."  Abraham was confirmed in his faith to allow his descendants to receive the blessing of Abraham.  He believed that the land given and the family that will out number the grains of sand will be brought about. Abraham had to believe that where God would lead him would be the destination.  Hebrews 11 illustrates many stories of faith that resulted in a partial blessing because God has so much more planned for us.  Jeremiah speaks of plans to prosper us and not harm us.

What do you speak into existence?  We hear that you are what you eat.  We also hear that if you say something long enough to yourself that you will start to believe it.  We know this to be true from how statistics demonstrate children who have been mentally abused.  It takes a long road to undo the damage of a mentally restrained person and bring them into a more normal lifestyle.  Remember you mother saying, "if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all!"  This statement holds true for yourself also.  Again, what do you speak into existence?

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.......

Ever think deeply? Remember Arcenio Hall and things that you go hmmm? What bout SNL's Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey? Why is it that there are always times where simple phrases make us just take it in. Why don't we ever think for ourselves? Why don't we utilize the power that God has placed in us to go deeper than surface information? That is why the Titanic sunk because they thought that the berg was smaller than it was but most of it was below the surface. If there were more problems below the surface with icebergs, then why are we asking for understanding of the surface information that we receive anywhere? The Proverbs give you the depths of information needed but it requires you to go deeper and think for yourself. The good news, it can be revealed with God's help. Don't be just hearers of the word but doers James 1:22. Always jury the information received. Never let surface information to cause you to be a sponge. Sponges soak all things around it until it is full. Don't be a sponge, be selective and determine for yourself the things that you need through the filter of the word of God. Go deeper, think and remember that there should be more things that make you go hmmmmmm.........

Ever said hind sight is 20/20?

Have you ever said that hind sight is 20/20? The things we do in life make us look back and wonder why we had to take this road. Robert Frost wrote a poem called The Road Not Taken. We all have decisions that are made and that decision takes us on a journey. There are also times when you are not sure if you are dreaming or awake. You might be laying in bed imagining things are happening and the vivid images make you believe that you actually experiencing these times. Hind sight is 20/20 just means that there are times when the choices made we might not have all the information. We might not have made that decision if we knew thenp what we know now. Remember that all of these experiences involve YOUR CHOICE. You get to decide what path you want to take or not take. It is up to you. Below is the poem by Robert Frost. After reading the poem please watch the video from Katy Perry "Wide Awake." http://youtu.be/k0BWlvnBmIE Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

Mindful power

I was reading sermons online the other day preparing to speak in Fuel Youth service. I had planned on speaking about emptying your garbage but felt another direction. I found where our minds were compared to computers and I had a topic already written down in that same direction about how our minds are powerful. I started to develop the topic and this is what I came up with. When you think of Steve Jobs what do you think of? Probably an iPod, ipad, itouch, iphone, apple. He created a base of doing things. He was not the creator of great things, but had great people around him. He knew where he wanted to go. A computer genius. A computer has lots of different components like RAM, ROM, HDD, SDD, Raid. Your mind also has a lot of different components. Your mind has a lot of power. Look at the Tower Babel. At The tower of Babel God saw that there was nothing they could not do. Read Gen 11:1-9. Windows allows you to access several things at once. There are always pros & cons of access. If you can access it then it can access you too. Read Luke 11:33-36 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. (Luke 11:33-35 NIV84). Your eyes are a window to your soul. You can be made unclean only from the inside     Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ” (Mark 7:21-23 NIV84). What you see and here will be entered into your brain. What will it do once it gets inside? Do you like your computer to be sluggish, slow and freezing up all the time? What are you putting into your mind. Junk in junk out. Education will develop more of your power. Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). A doctor can look at cancer growing on your skin and know it is cancer. I look at I and think it looks like a freckle. What's the difference, we are looking at the same thing? He is educated and I am not. The power of positive thinking. Solomon asked for wisdom in I Kings and God gave him wealth and power and wisdom. Read Romans 12:2.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV84). If you ask why are on this earth then you need to renew your mind. Lastly, 2 Peter 1:3 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:7-9 KJV). Notice we have these things IN the knowledge of Chrst.                             What will your mind do for God?

Empty garbage

When the garbage is taken to the curb do you worry about someone stealing it? Typically when the "stuff" ends up on the curb it is an indication you have no value in it. What has caused the stuff to lose value? Is it broken? Is it not useful? Have you ever heard one man's garbage is another man's treasure? There is a house in my neighborhood that has matresses, Christmas decorations, furniture and other garbage sitting on the curb. There have been many cars that stop and dig through it hoping to find a treasure item. There is a commercial that asks, "what's in your wallet" and I want to ask what's in your garbage? I can tell what has worked and what has not, just by looking at your garbage. Why do we hold onto all these items that we never use? Weaknesses in our personality, clothing that doesn't fit, items that are never used? Why is it that we feel that we need to hold onto something just in case it might be used. Things in your life that is "just in case" are holding you back. Think about the person planning to climb Mt. Everest and looking at what will be packed can assist you in your life planning. Are there extra items packed for that trip that would be considered "just in case?" Of course not. What are you throwing out? Is it broken? Is something broken in your life that only God can repair? Don't be a hoarder. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in your life to utilize what is valuable and powerful. It will open new avenues that will turn your garbage into treasure. For where your treasure is your heart will be also.

Being something else

When you see someone out of the norm what do you think? Has there been a time when you felt like you had to act a certain way to be accepted in a group or at a place? There are times when we feel to be silent and there are times when we feel to be loud. We have been in different scenarios where we must adhere to cultural norms. When you think about King Solomon and the wisdom he projects we should remember Ecclesiastes. The book of Ecclesiastes is one of timing. A time to be born a time to die. Everything that man does this book says is meaningless. Having to be a certain way to be accepted is meaningless. Sometimes you will hear people say that they want to be different. I say don't be different, be you. God created you for who you are. The bible says in Romans, "do not conform to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." What does that mean? Have you ever seen a blacksmith that melts metals and purifies them for use? When you read the rest of that chapter in Romans about not conforming you find that there is a test. The renewing your mind is purifying yourself to the point of exercising the test that God meant for use to show His perfect and pleasing will. We are to be a culture within a culture so we may be impactful with our renewing of our minds so our influence can help bring the test to this world. The black smith will burn away all the chaff and bring out the purest form of the precious metal for display. Let the fire begin and consume us all.

an epiphany

The other day my wife had a revelation. We saw a sign that stated do not to feed the animals as it can be hazardous to their health but also change their behavior which can lead to being hazardous to their health. An interesting idea someone had to not feed animals as it can lead to being bad for them. So, what happens when we feed ourselves things that will led to being bad for us? Another decision on the long line of lifestyle decisions that can and will be a life changing event. We have introduced so much of what was not intended for our bodies into our diets that we now have kids with multiple allergies, illnesses, sicknesses and many other things that we should not be experiencing. What if we all ate and lived within the confines God gave us? Would we lead happier, healthier lives? Go on a journey into your DNA to discover what is good, what is not and what your options are to help you make better decisions about your LIFE, not just your diet. Your blood type can give you much insight into what may be better for you. Look at the diets from long ago, like Noah's time or shortly after. God created a culture and lifestyle that would be acceptable and pleasing to Him. Look at what thoughts you have had lately to cause you to go, hmmm! Do not feed the animals as it may change their behavior and be detrimental to their health.

Winning

Competition in life is good. Competition helps you develop as a person. Have you ever ran against someone faster than you to make yourself push harder? Have you taken time to understand your competition so you have a better chance of winning? Have you cheated just so you could possibly win? Have you cheated and still lost? What have you backed down from due to competition? Is there too much hesitation? Second place is just 1st place loser. When was the last time you had stiff competition which caused you to keep playing until you won? Have you repeated a game over and over until you perfected the process of winning the maximum? These are signs that you are human. Being human means we have faults, imperfections, pride and many other faults. Yes, winning is good for morale. The competition is what teaches us hard work, excellence, going further and longer than our opponent. What are you trying to win? Make it a great competition!

What is your excuse?

Because we are meant to live for so much more, what is your excuse? Think about your life. Are you playing to your strengths? Are you utilizing the talents that you were born with? Even Christ asked God "if this cup should pass from me?" we can't leave that statement hanging, "not my will but your will be done!" Christ was born for a purpose. The difference is that He knew His purpose. A hammer will not meet its potential until it is used as a hammer. Christ did not meet His full potential until He rose again. Look at he comparison. A hammer was designed as a hammer. The creator made it what it is. As it sits in the tool box it is still a hammer. As it is held and swung, it is a hammer. When it taps a nail, destroys another object, pulls out nails and many other uses it is still a hammer. It does not reach is full potential until it has driven a nail through something or into something. Christ grew in miracle after miracle. He knew who he was even when His mother asked Him to turn water into wine before His time. Before He died He hadn't reached His potential. In His death He didn't reach His full potential. Now do you understand that you were created with a purpose. Do you see how you have reached your full potential. Do you know where your full potential is? Why do we settle for mediocrity? What do we waste time enjoying just a taste of our purpose without the main course of our full potential? We may feel trapped in our career. We feel that we cannot reach it until we get our children out on their own. Our location may be limiting to us. Our income might be a factor. Who we know or don't know. Our education, the timing, the details or choices. Again, what is your excuse. A hammer will always be a hammer, even in a fire, under water, buried in the dirt or lost. Just because it is not where it should be doesn't change the fact that it is a hammer. The usefulness is still with the hammer even if its owner has lost it. It will always be a hammer. Go be who you were meant to be. Use your usefulness.

Meant to live

Dreams - Abraham, David, Joseph,  Ever wake up and want to go back to sleep just to finish the dream? Everybody has a dream! What is your dream? Look at where you are.  Do you dream about what or where you will be? What do you dream about?   Now imagine your dreams, these ideas are limited by you.  Even our dreams are limited by our own experiences.  Do you want to be better at something?                       Winning the lottery or a large sum of money is a jump start to realize a dream.  Statistics say that winners will be broke again in a few years. It doesn't last. Money is not the answer. Are there times that you feel you can't accomplish your dream?  What is holding you back from stepping out in faith?                           In the bible there are different tribes.  These tribes are broken down by family lines.  These lines show the benjaminites the smallest in number and are not recognized by the other tribes to be in a leadership role.  Yet King David and Jesus came from this blood line.  King David was the smallest and the least of all his family, yet God chose him.  Gideon was the smallest of the family from the smallest family of his tribe, yet he was chosen as a leader to bring judgement on the enemies of God's people.  Prophesy - foretelling, divination the act of telling the future. Jeremiah was a prophet.  Joel was a prophet. What is the difference between a prophet and a disciple? Disciples are students of someone's doctrines.  A prophet is someone who tells the future. Have you discovered your talent that god has placed in you? Have you seen the avengers?  Their jobs are all uniquely different but join together for one goal and purpose. When they work together the job got accomplished.  While we are all off doing our own thing there is no cohesion to bring to job together. Each one is a hero, but together they have different view points which assists the others in the attack. You need to dream, act and realize what God has placed in you.  We all are meant for so much more.  We do not reach our full potential because of fear.  If we only use 10% of our brain then imagine how much less we use of our talents to God's glory. We don't believe that God could do that through us.  How do these verse encourage us to push forward with our dreams? Jer 29:11 a plan to prosper. Exiles of Judah & Isreal Joel 2:28 dream dreams  in end days Acts 2:17 ".           ". Day of Pentecost 1 Tim 4:9-16 don't any one look down on you because you're young Matt 6:19-21 store treasures in heaven Phil 4:10-13 I can do all things through Christ What dreams have you been running from?

New adventure!

Ever feel scared? Have you been on the edge knowing you HAVE to jump but you just can't. Watching dream chasers run into ditch after ditch. No plan, no attack just action! Wondering if each chaser is you? Am I looking at myself taking step after step walking on thin ice? Looking through the ice it seems thin and has cracks throughout it. Then you realize that the ice is not what's cracking, it's your joints trying to bare the weight of reality. God has placed your dream in your heart which is the ice and it is not thin. There massive trucks on this ice to help you with transportation of you goods sold. The ice is your dream. It is strong. It is wide. It is deep. Scared to the point not to take a step is not from God. What was Adam's dream? What was Abram's dream? What was Joseph's dream? What was David's dream? All through the lineage and the stories in the bible people had dreams. What makes them different from you? Is your dream that much out of touch that it may feel impossible? Those that run into a ditch at least RAN into something. Those who tried and failed at least tried. When people fail their dream doesn't end. They are haunted by the failure to get up and try again. No dream is perfect, but it is a dream. You can control your dream. You can grow your dream. You can see your dream and touch it. God is the One who makes it happen. Find Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:13. Take the leap. Enjoy the fall. Find the courage to stand up and do it all over again. Just like the first time you rode the scariest ride or sky diving or something that was the most terrifying experience you thought you could ever do. Remember it because after you did it, ou wanted to do it again because it really wasn't that bad. Where is our new adventure, live it.

Traits

Ever take a personality test? These tests help illustrate where your strengths and weaknesses are. It will demonstrate what talents you can be using or should be using. Learning more about about yourself can and will make you a stronger person. Do you lead people? Have ever started leading a group of people then found that no one is following you? I guess you just wanted to go on a long lonely walk. Leading means people will follow. Leadership is only as good as the quality of the leader. Everyone is a leader. Who are you leading and where are you leading them to? Your experiences and personality traits are influencing others around you. Your circle of friends will impact you, but you too will leave a little something with them. When playing games with friends would you accidentally keep extra cards that benefit you to win? Ever take credit for something that you didn't do? There are times when your personality is obvious of who you are? There are other times when all you are doing is trying to "Con" yourself. When you have an opportunity to exaggerate or inflate the truth will you overstate it? What kind of quality do have to illustrate your personality? Does your character stand up, for itself. Are you in a position that your character is above reproach or above being questioned? Remember that pride comes before a fall. Where is your character? What does your character exemplify as you carry it around? Does your character lead others to God? Does your character only lead you to a fall? Your personality trait can help develop others or destroy others. Where are your traits and what are you doing with them? What are your strengths, use them.

Is there a fight?

In grade school we would see many people running a certain direction and you would just know that there must be a fight going on. You look around the corner and see nothing but people trying to see what is happening. All it takes is one passionate person about their beliefs and convictions about being right. As you grow from grade school it goes from a passionate person to someone who may just be looking for trouble. Many times the person who started the fight when adults are concerned, are just ignorant about priorities and what is important. Is it possible that fights within us have slowly lost the passion that we were testing out. Our experiences is what has brought us to today. It has also made us who we are or are not. The past cannot be changed. Your future is open. Do you have any fight left? What is your passion, priority, goal, LIFE plan? Where is the chase? The push? The desire. Interesting how bumper stickers have some rare intuitive statements. "Life Happens." When there is no plan, there will be life happening. Where there is a plan, life doesn't happen. In every planned fight there will be a designed strategy of attack. When you are not looking for a fight, the lion is searching for whom he can devour. Again, where is your passion. Where is your fight. What will you fight for?

Responsibility

What would happen when you were blamed for something as a child? Would you make an excuse of how it wasn't your fault, or did you own up to it and accept the blame? There are times in life that we are challenged for our morales and ethics that no one will ever know so what do we do? It is not just about no one ever knowing. It is all about who we are when no one is looking. What happens when speed everywhere we go, but it is not fast enough to be pulled over for and it is above the posted limit. Obviously it is called speeding. Do you feel you were doing something illegal if you don't get caught? What if you do, do you make excuses, or worse lie about it that you didn't know, in hopes they are lenient and get away with it? Do you do things just to see if you get caught? Is that your excitement? Now I want you to realize that everything you are, have, and do is not yours. Let that sink in. I just said that your house, job, car, spouse, family, income, retirement, furniture, body, talents, everything.......is not yours. There is a famous talk show host that states the talent is on loan from God. This means we are merely stewards of it all. Are being a good steward when you are not being responsible for your actions? Are you being a good steward when your lifestyle leads someone astray from Gods word? Let's get personal, are you a good steward when you give just 10% of your income back to God, or when you don't treat your spouse with care and respect, or the BIG ONE, we don't maintain a healthy body? Where is the responsibility when we as a servant of God, not do what the Master would like us to do? Whos fault is it when our own bad habits cause undue harm to another? Who takes the responsibility for our obese body and unhealthy lifestyle? What about our witness from our lifestyle? Where is your blame game taking you?

Value

When shopping we tend to look for the best deal. We shop with coupons, compare products, look for the Biggest bang for the Buck. What can I get for my money? Especially today, we are very value conscience because we need our dollars to go further. What about your time? Do you track every minute? Do you check the mileage for driving? Do you try to do too much in the time you have? What about your talents? Do you only attempt things within your talent pool? Are you extending your time into another area where you do not have an expertise in? Why is it always said that it is very difficult to be a missionary in his hometown? Do we as a community not value the talents that others posess and discount it for what it is not. Why is it that when we do not give up something that we don't respect it as much as if we do sacrifice for it. For example, when you buy your first car with your own money you treat it better than someone who was given a car. Another example, when a true man/woman of God is from our own church we discount it but when a caisson army from across the world calls we listen. What about when we have a revival at our own church we get touched but if we drive out of state and across the country we get BLESSED! These are all expectations we have place on ourselves or decisions we have made about others. God has given you exactly what you need. The talent is there, you must tap into it. We need to discerne by listening to the Holy Spirit about what others may be speaking, but don't automatically discount it. Use your time more wisely. Apply your talents wherever you may go because it is your lifestyle. God wants to get His biggest bang out of you that he can. Remember the faith as big as a grain of mustard seed! Where is your value?

Disconnect

Trying to get something to download and there is no connection. The frustration of knowing that this needs to be completed before you can get some sleep but there is no connection. The connection is lost, or there are no wireless signals available. This connection is so imperative to the success of the delivery that it doesn't matter that the project is ready or that it is the best blog ever created. No one will see it, or know about it because there is no connection. How important is that connection now? Think back to when you ordered that capability to be used. Did you have enough foresight to know that you would desperately need to have this item uploaded? Now look at your life, is there a lost connection? What about disconnecting on purpose to refocus? I did that this week. We disconnected from tv, Internet, iPods and pads along with any other electronic devices. We came together as a family to reconnect to one another. We played games, talked about what is going on in our lives and planned for our future vacation. It is not important to connect to the Internet. It is very important, however, to have a connection with people directly. we have so many different ways of connecting to others that we have forgotten the most important connection which is face to face. We have neglected playing outside until the mosquitos chase you in, or wanting so bad to show our friends the tricks we learned on our bicycles or new toys we got for our birthday. The lack of human interaction has deprived our children from understanding the importance of relationship. Now all we have to do is say we are in a relationship online and we don't know how to talk with this person. DISCONNECT from all devices and find that important relationship that yearns for cultivation. We must make the important connections that keep us in tune with life, not the Internet.

Already included

I remember a commercial about pizza sauce or maybe it was just plain old spaghetti sauce that had all different kinds of ingredients. The person would ask is this in there? The woman cooking would answer, "it's in there!" There would be an old Italian lady taking a taste of the sauce, she wold confirm, "it's in there." Prego pasta sauce was that funny commercial. What does it take to create a great recipe? What does it take for an artist to make an incredible painting? Where do we start when be begin something? What happens when we get to the middle and something is missing. If an ingredient or a paint brush is not available, will the creation be the same? Look in the mirror. Do you see missing attributes? Do you see missing talent, wisdom, money, help, team, tools, materials or any other items that you might need to complete the task. Have you ever heard that you do all things through Christ who gives you the strength? Think about that verse. Do you think that God in His infinite wisdom, which created us in His image would leave out important things you will need in life? Do you think that verse says that you are missing things? Now imagine God walks over your crib after you were born and says, "it's in there." There is a plan and purpose for your life that has all you need. Tap into your talents to be used on purpose in your life. Look around, is something missing? It's in there! What kind of abilities do think you need that are missing? What talents is required to finish strong? Just remember that God created you in His image and he says, "It's in there!"

Puzzled

I started puting puzzles together lately to help relax my mind. We each have something to numb ourselves from life. It could be listening to the radio, or watching tv, or reading what is happening in other's life on Facebook. Whatever it is that numbs us is not a good thing. Being numb means that our guard is down, our senses are not active and we are not making a positive impact. These puzzles I have been trying to complete are all more than 1000 pieces(I haven't counted them to verify but it seems like it). The last puzzle we completed as always with the border first then the most recognizable identifiers that can be pieced together. As we (my family likes to help find pieces also) found piece by piece to reveal the completed picture it became more and more difficult. There were flowers that were almost impossible to get right and mountains that were all the same color. As we blazed ahead with every piece we discovered that it might be possible that pieces are missing. Ever try to finish a puzzle that has missing pieces? Instead of pushing ahead to find the piece that could go in the empty spot we check it off as a missing piece. Slowly but surely we started giving up on finding the correct pieces for each spot. Why is it that if there is an excuse in life we will use it? We might not even be built that way but we become it due to circumstances. Is life so difficult that we want relax our minds and give in to the easy road? There is an old kids song that helps me to remind myself that I'm not done! Done like being cooked, being built, being educated, being lead, being BETTER! Is your whole life put together where the full picture is seen? Do you have all your missing parts to deliver the calling on your life? Are you enjoying not being used and being numb through life? BORING! What some excitement? Be diligent in being pieced together. Allow the Master to find the missing pieces to bring your picture TO LIFE! Where is your puzzle?

No matter what

When you hear, "no matter what" it sounds like it would be at all costs. Have you ever put your ALL into something and been criticized for giving your best? We hide our talent because we don't want to be hurt. We don't take a chance that it will work out. Do some research to see how well the home run champions fair on striking out. Look to Babe Ruth to see that in the same year of him being a home run champion he also had the record for striking out. How do you know if your best will strike out or if it will be a home run? Look to the parable of the talents to see where the servant who was afraid lost his talent to the servant who doubled his talent. He was afraid and buried it out of fear that he would strike out. Look at the statement above again, no matter what, and tell me what you see or hear. Is it at all costs or is it that other's opinions are not as important. We should measure our success by looking at the stewardship of the event or the impact that it has created in another's life. What would The Master say to you about your handeling of the talents invested? Now look at no matter what statement again. There plenty of ways to invest your talents so that you will reap what you have sown. Look to every avenue and resource for the potential of returns that can be harvested from your investment. There is no need to take just one path. When investing your talents the word gives many examples that streaming is the way to live. No matter what, brings an all new level of understanding of how we should be living. Remember, always use no matter what for your answer.

Things that bother you

Ever notice that there are times when you have things that bother you. You worry about them, you take them with you everywhere you go. Why do we like to carry our baggage? When you go to the theme parks or water parks do you enjoy carrying extra baggage just for the day. These are items that we feel we will need, or that it will make the day enjoyable. Ever notice how free some people seem walking around with no kids, no bags in the middle of these crowds of other people that have strollers, back packs, kids on leashes and other things slowing them down? Now go back and look at the same people we originally thought were free, don't they look lost or out of place? There many things in life that will cause you great distress IF you allow it to bother you. Most of these things that bother us is out of our control but we feel that we should direct it, change it, remove it or hold onto it because it's ours. We hold onto so many things that is not even ours to worry about but we carry it like it is our badge of honor. Why let these things way you down. God says His yoke is easy and His burden is lite. What are you willing to carry so that your life can be more effective. Better yet, what are you willing to let go so your life can have a bigger impact? What's bothering you, let it go, you can't control it anyway.

Free your mind

We live in a world where there are laws, boundaries and safe zones in which we must abide. Within theses constructs we have the ability of building a massive place for our thoughts and ingenuity can develop our livelihood. At the same time of understanding how this works you should have an idea from the movie called The Matrix. There is a computer that has all the humans connected to a system mainframe to be used as batteries and there is a rebellion against the machines that is trying to rise up to control there own destinies. Within this mainframe a person named Neo is given the choice to unplug or stay connected. In this scenario you can see the resemblance of what Christ has done for us. He has given us the choice to be free yet we choose to be connected to the world and live with whatever it wants to offer. The poem by Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_Not_Taken_(poem) This poem is one I learned in middle school and I still remember it to quote it. So what decisions do you make in life? Do you choose to be connected to the world or take the road that looks to have not been as travelled? We contemplate our past more than we look to our future. We have not looked at any road that is BEFORE us to think which one is best for us. God has given us a choice and we do get to choose. We have the freedom to choose but we do not exercise our freedoms in life. We live like we are bound and gagged and have no other option but this one road. You may live in a controlled place where you don't enjoy freedoms, but your mind is never captured unless you allow it to be. Again, it's your choice, FREE YOUR MIND.........

Decision makers

When we hear of the middle east what is it that we think about? When your are told of the day the sun stood still, what is it that causes you to think? Do you consider the Proverbs to be helpful in guidance? What about the Psalms? Are those the only two books of the bible that causes great contemplation? I know it is not for those who believe, but those who don't where do you get you source of wisdom? We know that knowledge comes from the experiences you have learned from first hand. What is wisdom then? Is it simply learning from someone else's experiences? If it is, then why not enjoy the wisdom of the bible? Have you read Joshua lately? Have you taken the time to understand the struggles in the middle east and tried to draw a correlation to something else? The decisions made in the bible and the lives those decisions impacted are enormous. Think of Adam and Eve? Did they not change the world forever? Think of Abraham, and how he helped save his family from Sodom and Gamora? Think of how Joseph that was sold into slavery saved his family and an entire country? Understand how Joshua asked God to hold the sun still for a whole extra day changed our calendar today. Some decisions had consultations with God, others were not. Joshua's decision to make peace with kings from a "supposed long way off" caused him to leave neighbors near him who were NOT suppose to live. After making peace with them God helped him route the entire area of kingdoms for inhabitation of the land for His people. Decisions in life are not too great or too small to seek council. When was the last time you seeked council on your life decisions. Ae you a decision maker?

Diligence

Fine tuning a hot rod takes patience from what I hear. Raising children is focused work. Target marketing is just that, pointing to the exact market you are wanting to reach. Spraying a hornets nest is precision. All the above mentioned topics take specific attention to detail to complete the task. If is not just about checking a box and saying the job is done. Some of them are life long while others could be short lived. Each one takes it's own special care require instructions. Realize that what you do in each one is of the utmost importance. For example, if you don't properly spray the hornets nest you can let stung. You must dowse the nest to prevent any additional hornets from coming back. It is not like you have unlimited resources to complete the job. Raising children is hard work and demands full time attention with never ending judgement calls to right wrongs and set straight the crooked. Any of this work ties diligence. What is diligence? It is the persistent exertion of body or mind (or both). Persistently, meaning continuously completing the task. It sounds like never ending. Always on call! We have so not been diligent in our culture. We have become more and more lazy with every generation. Technology is great, but it should be the one size fits all tasks. Yes we can work smarter, and we should not eliminate our persistent exertion of body or mind. Be mindful of your diligence!

Friends like these

Noone can be a missionary to his own town. Look at those people who are always around you, do they encourage you or tear you down. If you are always around people you know and know you, what will be your ability to help them change? If we look at the people who don't like you for who you are, they will always feel the way they do because you are built the way you were planned. Similarly, politicians and any other leaders that are voted into their positions have polls that will be construed as negative. As much as we see the numbers is a negative light, and those who cast that vote against or for the statement will continue the same vote. They will always be against or for it. No matter how much you twist the report, the report is just that, a report. The positive people will always be positive. Those who love you will be with you, almost blindly always. Trying to find a true critic will not happen in your circle. Fresh ideas, and genuine thoughts for or against will only be found outside your circle. Why is it that there are case studies? Every person and group will be different because of different personalities being influenced by different external factors. When we look at our circle, the constant is OUR circle. We may have the same paradigm, or experiences that have brought us to the same conclusion. Change the factors but keep the constant and the results will be universal. Keep the factors but change the constant and the results will be different among all. Friends like these are why we can depend on them. Friends like these might not be the best sounding board. Even into a strange town or city, Jesus kept his constant so to have the workers, but changed the focused group to achieve different results. Friends like these.......

Goals

Throughout life you should have goals. Having goals gives you a target to shoot at. Zig Ziggler says if you aim at nothing you might hit it. Going through day by day with no targets is a waste of time. I am not suggesting that you pack your days full of targets, but you should have items on the list that helps you on your way. Imagine you are a runner. You practice by running long distances, short sprints, intermediate lengths and circuit training. All the practice gives you a well rounded style of running. However, if your goal is only the 100 yard dash, long distances might not be the best practice for your goal. Short sprints are significantly different than running marathons. If your goal is to finish a marathon in a certain time then you will gradually increase your distances, practice your timing, change your diet and many other routines in your daily activities. All of these things will not happen over night. You should look at you life and dream. DREAM BIG. Take these dreams and write them down. Then draw a road map of how you plan on achieving your goals. The road map will demonstrate where you need to be by a certain time. You will notice that these place are little goals leading you to your end result. Don't get anxious about you goals or upset if you miss them. Did you know that if you never swing a baseball bat then you will never hit the ball. If you never hit the ball, how would you know if you can hit home runs? If you want to be the best home run hitter, then you must swing your bat and practice. You will play how you practice, or you will run how you practice. I have heard that goals not written down is just a wish. Turn your dreams into reality, now go do it.

Favors

Why is it that children's parties require to give a gift to every attendee. Has anyone ever asked you for a favor? Has there been a time when you have worked hard and felt that you achieved you goal from the time put in? Did you know that the work you produce can be blessed. It is like you are one of the kids showing up at Jesus' birthday party. It is work to plan and prepare for someone else. You can work hard everyday and anticipate good results. Jesus tells a parable of talents where there are three different servants (key word servant). These servants each received according to their capabilities. One had 5, another had 2 and the lat received 1. All doubled the amount of their talent except the one with 1. He took the talent buried it to hope that he wouldn't lose it. So the 1 talent was given to the one with 10. Yes, it is work. It it is also a favor where you can double your talents due to what capabilities He has placed in you. Something that my Pastor has preached that favor over labor is a better choice. You must work in order to find favor but your work will go further. How far will your work go? Do you want favor?

What motivates

There is medication to help things move. There is exercise to make your body more limber. There are stretches that allow your body a fuller range of motion. There are books that encourage your to deeper thoughts. Gasoline helps engines move. Oil lubricates to allow motion to be easier. On earth there is gravity that makes things heavier than in space. There is friction that slows the motion. In life there are hindrances and restrictive properties that prevent you from achieving the full potential of your talent. So the question is what motivates you? Your passion will propel further. Your excitement will drive you deeper. What keeps you up at night will build the enthusiasm that delivers you to your destination. Take the opportunity to broadcast your interests and ideas to the world. Use your talents to upgrade the world. You have been given a special gift, how will you share it? A great song, a eye catching movie, a panoramic picture, a fast car, a custom home, and the list goes on for what will get you focused. What are your priorities? Use what is imposing in your life to motivate you forward into your calling. So what motivates you?

Questioning reality

My Pastor today helped me to see that people where questioning Jesus if he was the true Messiah. If you are Jesus then you can turn the stones into bread or the thief, if your the messiah save yourself and us. Notice the word "IF." It's not an affirmation that I believe you are who you say you are. Or better than that, your miracles have not proven to me that you are. Just like doubting Thomas not sure He was raised from the dead. Have you ever been questioned about something that truly happened and you might have been the only person who experienced it? Have you ever experienced something that you yourself question if you really witnessed it? Sometimes when bad things happen, have you ever felt it to seem like a dream? Maybe your dreams seem so real that it couldn't have happened in a dream it must be real. Let me help you understand your faith. Faith is the evidence of things NOT seen and things hoped for. Many times in life you must have the simplest faith then share it with someone else to bring it to reality. Remember that our words are life and death. You can share the reality through faith, which will bring the story to life for someone else. Just like a liar who speaks a lie so much that they begin to believe it, you too can speak a truth into someone else's reality. If it is try for you your testimony will be true for them also. Things brings your faith into action. Because faith without works is dead. You must bring it to life for others. How else will they know? Unless you tell them, they will it know or understand it as it pertains to your life. The bridge will not be built. The children of Isreal saw the miracles and yet still sinned. You must make the truth real to bring your testimony to life. What reality are you questioning?

Movies with messages

As a child there were good movies that have an underlining messageto learn from. I don't remember seeing movies that would encourage me to be better or do better. Now as an adult I see movies and cry because of the message, or relationship in it. Did your mom ever buy your favorite cereal but you had to share it with your siblings? Ever thought about hiding it so you could hoard it to yourself? Why is it that our human nature is so self centered? We have spoke about sewing and reaping along with many other topics that deal with our centered personality. Have you considered the reality of your actions? In life there is NO unlimited resources. Even your negativity or self centeredness will NOT last forever. Just like a tree without sun and water cannot grow, so is a person who does not invest in others. Growth is the key factor for our lives. Meet the Robinsons says just keep moving forward. The Lorax says you cannot reap what you do not sew. Horton hears a who shows that everyone is important. Yes, these are all cartoons. Where do you find messages? Do you have a devotion time? Do you spend time talking with the Creator? Not just in movies, but in life there are messages. Don't just enjoy a movie but find a way to apply to your life. As you learn new and important personality traits how are you applying them? It it's not good enough to know the facts but how does the facts change your lifestyle? Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the RENEWING of your mind. Money will run out. Energy will run out. Time definitely runs out. Endurance is limited. Thoughts quit coming. Creativity dies away. Metal rusts out. Clothes wear out. Businesses get bought out. Signals fade away. Children out grow it. God will always be there. He will never leave you or forsake you. What message are you renewing?

People pleaser

Are your choices dictatated by someone else? There is a book by Dr Henry Cloud titled Boundries. We all have at one point or another made decisions based on other peoples feelings. We don't want to purposely hurt feelings so we follow along with what they would want us to do. If it is in your job, your church, your relationships or anywhere your are sacrificing what your strengths are to please someone else you need to find your focus. It is good to please others sometimes but should not be a life style. If a relationship is built on one person trying to please the other, the relationship is built on give, give, give. There should be some giving and some receiving. It is like a bank account, if you always withdraw, you will be overdrawn sooner rather than later. You cannot please everyone all the time. When you find yourself trying to complete other's tasks that is when you need to create healthy boundaries. A boundaries is not an always "no." It is a healthy way of prioritizing where YOU WANT to say yes and help others while being able to control your time management. Boundaries is the ability of saying yes where you want and no where you don't want. When you have created healthy boundaries then others will recognize where where your line is. When you purchase a property do you just kind of know where the property lines are or do you have it surveyed to distinguish exactly where it is? Imagine creating your boundaries where everyone around you know what that line is and where it is. You will find that you are more excited about helping people, have more energy, more focused attention and more.......(you fill I the blank). It's not bad to be a people pleaser as long as you are within your created boundaries that is healthy for all around you. If others are dependent on you doing their work, how is that healthy for them or you? Be a people pleaser that is healthy!

Trapped

There are times when we have made decisions in life that catch us in places that we are unable to maneuver out of. Are there times when you get to a great place and want to be trapped? Think deeply about where you are today. Is this where you believe that you should be? Your job, you house, the city, the car, the literal road you are on. What percentage of your brain do you use? Truthfully, what percentage? Why does God give us a brain in which we do not unlock its full potential. Our bodies have so much more abilities and capabilities than we can imagine. Doesn't the word of God state that we are made in His image? Feel trapped in your own body. You should now. Why not look to God to ask for the key to yourself. Now imagine that you are limitless in your capacity. Where are you? What are you doing? Who is around you? Did you catch that? Look at what you are doing. Pay attention to the details. Find your excitement, tap into the juices that flow from that, deliver all your energy into this and offer up your skills. See what happens! Get tapped in and trapped in a life that YOU were built for. God built you. Just like Legos fit together perfectly and create something uniquely from the creator, YOU have been put in this place for a specific reason. What is your reason. TRAPPED to your destiny. Find it, apply it, move with it.

Stand up

It is not just a respect thing. Standing up shows your strength. It shows your determination. Standing up shows that there is more to you than just a head and shoulders. You were created for much more than what you are currently living. Stand up, let your voice be heard. Have you ever stood for something that is different or against the norm. The norm today is everybody trying to be different. We want to tattoo ourselves, we want to pierce ourselves. Yes these things make you unique, but have you ever stood up for something you believe in? All the things we do illustrate where our alliances are held. The things that you do to make yourself different brings you right back into a crowded room full of people doing the same thing you are doing. I am just a plain, pasty, bald, over weight dude that fits right into many crowds. There is nothing unique about what you can see on the outside. What I do, say, dress, go, live, listen to doesn't make me who I am. It won't make you who you are. On this earth you can be identified by your "unique" markings, when you are dead. My mole will be used, if they can find it, to say that this body is definitely him. The only difference that will be known about you is how you lived your life. It won't be said that you were the fat, bald pasty dude or that you had some really cool tattoos with great art work. It won't be said that you were the only one with this kind of piercing. What will your dash stand for after you are gone. You know the dash I'm talking about. The dash from the date of your birth until the date of your death on your tombstone. Do you not know that this world is simply a spiritual war where flesh and blood make no difference. Yet we proclaim something and think that it changes the world. I know that the right thing said to the right person at the right time, will change the world for that person. Just like a man running on a beach full of star fish drying out on the beach and throwing them back into the ocean, one at a time. He is making a difference to that one, and that one, and that one. What are you standing for. STAND UP!

Blame game

I love playing games that I can win. Do you like playing games that you lose at? The blame game is just that, a game you cannot win. Nobody likes to hear excuse after excuse about why something didn't go the way it should have. It's not my fault. So and so did this and made me do it. Why do we relinquish our decisions to some one else? That's the whole point, you haven't. You simply chose to go the route more travelled. The road is wide and vibrant with appealing colors. It invites you to be whatever all the time. Nothing is never my fault. Whatever happens it is always somebody who made me do it. Responsibility brings respect. Respect is a honorable persona to carry. What do you expect to get from blaming what happens in life on another. Do you think that you can take responsibility for the good, but the bad is somebody else's. Short, sweet and to the point. Step up to the plate, take ownership and learn from form the mistakes YOUhave made. Then you can truly enjoy the success that you have earned. Where do you place blame?

Phenomenal

The next time someone asks you, "How are you doing?" You should answer phenomenal. Use any extraordinary word that is not used as often. This will completely change the routine of the same old boring greeting conversation and will allow you to elaborate on why you are phenomenal! Have you ever heard that you are what you eat? Physically that can happen. You eat junk, your body will turn into junk. The same think goes with, you are what you think and speak. If someone calls a child stupid and degrades them their whole life while growing up, they will be what they were called. The only way out of this vicious cycle is God and His miraculous healing capabilities. That can start with a simple change of your mind. If you constantly say, "I can do all things in Christ who gives me the strength," then you will. Not because of you but because of Him. Why not start by speaking life over yourself. The tongue is as sharp as any two edge sword. It can cut to kill and it can cut to defend. It gives life and death! Now back to you being phenomenal, when was the last time you were encouraged by your own thoughts? As you consider who you are, that is who you will become. My dad would say no stinkin thinkin! You need to motivate yourself to get up and move. As someone asks you how are you, you get to choose how you feel. The circumstances in life will always be at your door, in your room and in your bed,BUT you don't have to stay with it. You choose to leave that mess right where it is at. I am not saying that you let someone else clean it up. I am saying that you don't have to carry it around with you just because it's yours. Clean it up and move on. There is a thing called a dirty clothes hamper, or the locker room, or the garage. That mess doesn't have to follow you. Yes it migt be baggage but baggage can be sent to the yard sale. Ever heard that one man's junk is another man's treasure? Get rid of it. Don't worry God has always helped me clean it up. I had to do all the work but He showed me how. Now today is a phenomenal day. Go make it one!

Integrity

Have you ever heard all is fair in love and war? How does integrity fit in that statement? Integrity is a personality trait. It can also be a way of stating that something has remained in whole, not in parts. The integrity of an old rusted out car that is not running has been diminished. Now think about integrity as a personality trait. What is diminished there if the integrity is missing? Integrity is such an interesting word to understand how it implies something about another. An adjective of people or things. It is very descriptive and carries with it a weight about that person or thing. If you can keep something whole, the integrity will remain. Sometimes we may understand it better if it is of a sound or perfect condition. I know of a person who is missing a limb. We may not say that this person is impaired. We don't even think of this person as being different. Yet integrity implies that this person is not of a sound condition or perfect. And yet I will argue that they are of a sound condition. God has created each one of us uniquely in His image. Yet integrity is much more than the state of being whole. It is a moral trait. It is descriptive to the point that if someone does not have integrity, then no one will do business with that person. Another way of looking at integrity is an adherence to ethical and moral principals. What are principals? Are they rules or guidelines? I believe these principals are that person's priorities for their life. Now look at someone who has no integrity and you will find compromise throughout their life. Is integrity important? Is integrity limited within a rule book? Where is your integrity?

Party?

Ever have a party that took a lot of planning, preparations and set up? Today I celebrated my daughter's 9th birthday? For the past few months a plan for this party has been coordinated by the master planner. Taking the time to think about the details, the in's and out's of what the day will look like and be like. Taking into consideration what likes would need to happen in order to be a definate success. Who should come? What should happen? What type of food? What theme? Give out the gift wish list. Planning a party will not be life or death. What planning a party does is illustrate the importance in life of proper goal setting. Detailed thought out plans and dreams will give insight to a path that is required for accomplishments. Looking at all aspects of possibilities that could be the outcome or a minor change to redirect the results is all part of planning. What planning have you been completing lately? Have you been planning other people's goals for them? Have you been puting your goals on the back burner to assist someone else to achieve theirs? That is all part of planning. If you plan to do that then that was your goal too. Put as much effort in that goal as if it were your own. Remember God's word says that we should not store up up treasures here on earth. Investing in other people is a worth while investment and is very valuable. When you help someone else achieve their goal, you will feel accomplished as well. Do not always place your goals last because God wants your calling to shine also. Sometimes helping someone achieve their goal will give you experience in finishing your plan. Always look at the bigger picture so the puzzle can be completed properly and the pieces are all in the right place. What party are you planning?

Compliance

There is compliance in everything that involves life. What do you comply with? Compliance in growing up is your parents. Compliance as a student is the teachers and administration. Compliance as a driver is the signs and law enforcement officers. Compliance as young adult is employers, police officers, roommates or your new spouse. Compliance as a parent is the government. When you get old your compliance will be your kids. What happens if you avoid compliance? Why do we need to comply with every aspect of life? When we see something different or someone different why is it that we require them to comply with us? When we ask God to forgive us there is no list we must comply with. He doesn't say get cleaned up, then come back. Compliance comes in many forms with licenses, certifications, continuing education, homeowner's associations, land lords and the list goes on and on. Let's start a revolution. It's not a rebellion, it is a simple way of demonstrating our commitment to a higher power. We live like Christ does, no compliance. Do not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. See, it's all in our heads. We can decide to live righteously. We can decide that we will comply or we won't. We can decide to do what is right or what is expected. We can follow God's word, or we follow what the world has for us. We still have be in this world but not of it. We are simply strangers or foreigners to this world. We must spread His gospel while we are here. Show me rules and I can show you opportunities to comply God's way. Compliance is only a temporary reqirement. Your mission is forever.

Tell me sumping

Do you think often? I mean really deep, planning, plotting thought. What causes you to have provoking thoughts about your life? Do you daydream where you may be tomorrow? Have you decided what to eat for dinner. Simple things that all of us will plan for. Have you planned where you will be next year? Do you just let things happen? Are a go with the flow kind of person? There are reports that people will only think twice a year. Have we become that dependent on other people to direct us? Shouldn't you plan and control youn own destiny. Ever heard of God's plan to prosper you? How do you think you will become prosperous? Will it just fall into your lap? You will find in life that things will happen? Do you want to allow life to just happen or do you want to happen to life? Have your ever done something where you feel you were so far ahead of the curve that you caught life off guard? Imagine if you planned that well for every day of your life. Instead of letting life happen to you you planned how you would happen to life. You make a concerted effort to impact life and everyone involved in your life. Instead of life taking you on a journey, you take it on a journey. The adventure begins now. Start planning your day. Be on purpose with your life, otherwise you will wonder where it went?

Say what......

Thinking about the old saying, "say what you mean and mean what you say." Consider times when you were being polite. Consider times when you were being respectful, courteous, nice and all the other adjectives for political correctness. You do also remember when your mother would remind you as a child to not say anything if you can't say something nice. "Bambi" the Disney movie reminds us of that through Thumper. Isn't it true that out of the mouths of babes we hear truth? Why is it that out of the mouths of babes do we hear it. Because babies have not been corrupted by political correctness. Babies have only been taught right and wrong from their parents perspectives. Now picture a baby raised by not just one set of parents but all truthful people. Will that mean the baby will be a lie detector? Now you are wondering what really is truth? Let's go back to meaning what we say? If we say whatwe mean and not just what we think people want us to say then we are already on the right leg to start with. After saying what we mean, now we must walk out what we said. How often have you seen people I leadership actually walk out what they say. We as parents cannot say to our kids, "do as I say and not as I do." we as Americans have been so weak that we don' want to live as an example. Say what you mean and mean what you say! Jesus did!

Moved mountains?

When was the last time that your faith took you to new heights? We use faith every day without thinking about it. When you go to sleep, you have faith you will wake up. When you wake up, you have faith that you will get up and walk. When you flip the switch, you have faith that the light will come on. When you flush the toilet you have faith it won't get clogged. You have faith you can breathe, or the brakes work in your car, or you get to where you are going on time, or you have a job to make money to buy the things you need, or that you will simply have a good day. When was the last time you thought how impossible it was but you believed that it would still happen? Have you ever let your faith do the walking and talking? Have you ever experienced healing, or impossible become possible, the nevers to be always? If your answer is no, why not? Do you think that those things never happen anymore? Do you think that you are not worth the possibilities? Maybe you don't think that you're good enough or you don't deserve it. As humans, who does deserve it? We are all short of being worthy. We are all short of becoming what we were made to be. Our faith is so watered down that it has not produced any hope in our life. Do you have hope? Do ou believe that there is something better than what you currently have or where you are. Life can be so much more. Life can offer so much more. Where is your faith? How big is a mustard seed? Have as much faith as that and see what happens!

Are you human?

Aldus Huxley the author of Brave New World is creating a world where we are the gods and we can do what we think feels good. Today we do this a lot.  We look at the Bible and apply only what fits in our life or what feels good.  "I know I'm doing good because I follow the bible," one may say.  What exactly are they following.  Does their life bare fruit to illustrate how good they are?  Many times we can look other people, judge who they are by what they are doing, who they are with and what they say.  Are we really suppose to be judging?  The Bible says we can witness a person's faith by the fruit of their personality.  As humans we are weak, imperfect, religious, back stabbers, liers, worldly and sometimes flat out demonic.  We allow ourselves to be caught up in what feels good to us and not what is RIGHT.  When do you step away from what feels good and toward what should be done.  Look at some of these shows that look at people in real life stepping in where it is right and then watching news where people look the other way.  Every year it seems there is a person ran over by a car and noone steps up to help but sits back to watch so they don't get involved. Where is your faith, your belief, your true personality.  I believe that your true personality is lazy.  I believe your faith is fake.  Who are you?  Step up, step in, get involved, do the right thing and apply your true belief system to the world around you.  Are you human?

Are you a problem solver?

I know my dad has many Pancakeisms. He discovers great things from other people. One liners that make so much sense and are applicable in every day life. He shared one with me tonight. There are so many different opportunities in life that some may call problems, set backs, delays, concerns and other names that we may call them. Do you constantly have problem, after problem that cause you to loose your mind? These problems have been named politically correct as opportunities. These opportunities have overcome our minds and keeps us busy from work, family life and every day activities. Why do we allow these things to pre-occupy us from the things that are most important. Interestingly, if we are not focused to help solve these problems, then have you considered that you are causing the problem. Use your mind that God has given you. Don't allow negative thoughts or people to influence how you live your life. Use every opportunity to grow your problem solving capability and step out to solve not just your problem but all around you. Find ways to get involved in ways that bring you to the top and become THE problem solver. People will come to you as the answer giver only because you made a conscience decision to allow yourself to be used. Only God can give you the freedom that enables you to rise to the top. Enjoy your next task, the problem solver.

Easy?

If you find something to be easy, you are not applying yourself. When you discover a task that presses you down and causes you to wonder if you are in the right place you must try harder. What have you sacrificed? Giving until it hurts. Have you applied this principle in you life? You will reap what you have sown. Think deeply about your life. You don't have anything to complain about. Why you ask? You have experienced hardship, trouble, pain, difficulty and you feel like you deserve to have this moment. Look more closely. What has been invested in your life? What have you sown? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things will be added to you. Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you. Take up His yoke and His burden is light. Look at what has been planted. You can't get an apple from a grape vine, or oranges from a cherry tree. Plant your seeds. Sometimes your seed may fall on rocky soil, or in weeds, or on a path way. The more seeds you plant the greater the possibility one may find the fertile soil. Sown generously, and you will reap generously. But whatever you plant is what you will get. Remember you have to push yourself. You have to strive for your best. You have must run to the hard things and not run from them. Being a farmer is not going to be easy. Doing things the right way, God's way, will de difficult. He will never leave you. Push yourself through. Determination will only get you so far, but if you consistently push beyond each plateau you will find blessing upon blessing. Look at your life, what are you planting?

Your best?

Have you given your best? When you accept a request to complete a task do you just check the box? Do you enjoy the work that you do. I have been told by several people in my life that you should find something you enjoy doing, do it well enough to get paid to do it. What about doing something well enough that people WANT to pay you to do it. Apply that to every aspect of you life. That doesn't mean you say no to all the requests for help. What this means is that when you a job, do it to the best of your ability. The bible says that we do it FOR the glory of God. When was the last time you felt really good about a task you completed and gave God all the glory? Now look at people who you have asked to help you with a task. Are they doing their best? Is there a break down? Good to Great says would you hire them again after all you have been through? If you say NO, then let them help someone else. Why do something that will not bring satisfaction, pride and more importantly, glory to God? Now DO YOUR BEST!

Valuable!

I was watching a Tyler Perry movie and a sermon was being taught. It is interesting how applicable the word of God is to today. Have you ever thought about some aspects in your life that you feel have no meaning? Search your personality and your attitude. Consider all the nooks and cranies in your life. The responses you make to other people's comments, to how you think about things. Sometimes do you feel that some of those personality traits are not valuable? Remember the parable in Luke where Jesus is speaking to the Christian leaders about going after the one lost sheep and how the shepherd will rejoice when he finds it. This parable is compared to a lost soul that has not accepted Jesus as Lord but when he does there is a celebration in heaven. Let's think about this more deeply than the surface of someone receiving Christ. Go deeper. Yes, there will always be an excitement there when that decision is made. When we look at this, the shepherd saw that there was one missing. He knew how many sheep he had. Remember the parable right after this one about the woman with 10 silver pieces? It has the same outcome. A piece was missing and she knew it. She knew how many she had and how many was missing. She knew that the piece still had value even though it may have been lost. She lit a candle and swept her house until she found it. Although the piece was lost it still had value. It's usefulness was gone when it was lost. The person or traits of that person can not help anyone when it is lost. You have to care enough about the missing person to light a candle in that dark place and sweep the house clean to find them. You are worth it. You are valuable. You have something we need. Your value is there but when you are lost, your usefulness is gone. You are valuable. Find what is missing and celebrate it when you have found it.

iwhat?

Everything today is self focused. iPod, ihome, iPad...... Why is "I" the beginning of all the toys we want? Remember the bumper sticker that says, "the one with the most toys wins." American "I"dol? Notice the emphasis, why is I the beginning of idol? Doesn't the bible talk about having no other gods before you. Idols can be many different things. I need, I want, I have, I was, I said, I did, I can, I will, and the list goes on and on. Look at people around you. Look at the needs of others. Look at what you already have, not what you don't. Now go back to the old testament see what God said to Moses. Moses asked God, "who do I say that sent me?". God said, 'I am that I am.' Before you can look inward, you should look upward. Discover who the 'I am' is before you look the "I" in any situation. Look outward before inward. You will find your need is merely a want. The outside maybe dark, the 'I am' can make a difference. If the "I" continues to be the focus in your life, the 'I am" can't make a change in your life. You ask why, because you have a free will and He will not usurp your choices. Find the 'I am' so the the "i" doesn't get in the way of life.

Who are your surroundings

When a team is preparing for a competition, there are several aspects of the potential game that is viewed as opportunity for improvement. The match-ups, the defense, offense, strengths, weaknesses and the overall battle. Every heard you are only as strong as your weakest link. What about you are only motivated by the people who speak into you life. The people who surround you will make you strive or die. The motivation you find can be negative but it can be positive. Jesus brought new converts around Him. Ever see a new convert? They are so ready to confront and convert the world. If you want to open a business, bring around you people who have done it before or believe that you can. If there is a task that needs to be resolved, don't look at it as an impossible mission, but an opportunity for improvement. Again I ask, WHO are your surroundings?

Know it all

Have you considered your experiences to be exceptional? Have you ever thought about your view point and that NO one has experienced life like you have? Let's say you have spent every moment possible with your best friend. Did you share the same view point? Do you have the same ideas? You might be able to finish each others sentences. You might see something and know what the other person may be thinking but you can never have the exact, same experience. Your secondary thought is to try to match the experience to what you believe to be their thought. What you see, hear, feel and taste will trigger certain processes in your mind that cause you to think the way you do. The good, the bad and everything in between is uniquely your experience. People may be able to sympathize with you but could never be able to empathize as your experience was only meant for you. Just like ink blots or clouds in the sky, we all will see different things. Now can you see how unique your calling is for you and only you. No one can do it just like you would. No one could have the impact as God intended for you to have. Great or small, vast or narrow, your work is for you alone. The adjustments that are made to manufacture a fit is just that, MANufactured. We try to fit everything into our world when sometimes it is not a good match. Ever been called a know it all? Believe me when I say YOU are not. There is only One and there will only ever be One. Where do you know it all?

Are you effective?

There have been many times when I have pushed my car to its limits with no gas. When we go on vacation, do we not plan out the route? Don't we fill up the car make sure everything is packed and all the distractions we feel we need to help the ride seem shorter. Imagine that you will be driving across a few states to do your dream. You must get to your destination by next week. You need to decide what things you want with you and who will be there. Think deeply about all the plans and details of making this trip a successful one. Where will you be stopping on the way to get gas and snacks. What will be your dining plans? Will you pack your meals so you will not need to stop as often? Now think about if you found out your dream was across the state. Would you simply jump into your car and start driving? How will you make it to your destination if you don't have enough gas? How will you be able to work your dream if you don't have all the neccasary tools to complete the mission. Now realize that everyday of your life, your are on a mission. How are you doing in your mission. Every moment of every hour is a purpose filled moment. Are you on purpose? Are you re-fueling before or after the light comes on? That is a good way to see if you really are on purpose. Now get to work on your dream and fill up with God.

Job!

What happens when we take pride in our work. What happens when we say yes to things that distract us from what we are excellent at? What happens when we are able to focus on what our true calling in life is and develop ourselves to our limitless potential. I was speaking with a friend today about how a culture that is all about the free handouts and unwilling to work. Interestingly it is his culture he is talking about. There is so much potential that we allow others rob us of this wonderful ability or abilities! Our American culture is slowly being led astray from reaching our highest height. Whether it is the government, your job, friends, family or your own lazy self. Remember that everything we do should be for the glory of God, because it is He who gave us the talent or ability. When was the last time you took great consideration in your work that you wanted to ensure it was the best so that you could give Him the glory? What about the last time you did something just for a paycheck or temporary satisfaction? Are you settling for temporary satisfaction? Think about this, if you say, "No," to things that are not within your scope of talents then that will give you more time to focus and improve your talents. If you are already in a place where you are not talented then you do the absolute best you can and remember that everything is done for His glory. Your talent, your work, your ministry, your relationships, your diets, your exercise, everything is for His glory. Those of you who don't have faith or believe in God, then you should see how well you can do in everything. The better you become at it you will discover you are limited. The limitless power only can come from a super natural being. Sorry, but you are not it. Tap into good pride, the pride of making your father happy and excited that you have found your calling. Now you can say JOB!

What?

When we go outside our home what do we look like? What do we sound like? What do we act like? What are we representing? How do we carry ourselves? What presentation are we giving? What words do we express? What emotions do we share? Where are we when things happen? Who are we with? Better yet ask the same questions of yourself INSIDE your home. Do we have compromise in our minds and hearts. Do not be of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Now review the above questions and renew your mind then apply.

Our history

History has a way of demonstrating our wrong answers in life. It creates a log of direction that was chosen along with the outcome from that decision. Ever heard the saying "hind site is 20/20?" why is it that we cannot take the information given to make a better decision for now. Did you know that trial and error is only applied when the outcome is unknown. How many times has history repeated itself? How many times do inventors attempt their invention before patenting their product? As a Christian we may fail, but we should never give up after failing. There are so many other people who give up so easily that they miss the response from trying one more time. If you don't push through the failures, you will never discover the success of the invention. Many times the answer is not neccesarily wrong, it just is not the best. We can earn from every decision. If you can learn from correct answers, then you can better yourself by improving on that decision for the next time. Where can you improve? Where can you go from good to great like the book says? Excellence is all that God asks us to offer. Everything that we do we do for the glory of God. Do all you can as great as you can and that includes failing. Fail hard so you will learn to succeed hard! That's how we will learn.

Wounded?

It is interesting how God created us. When we are injured the body knows what it needs to do to heal itself. If you have an open sore and you keep scratching at it, it will never close up and heal. Being wounded is not fun. The idea of keeping it clean, and letting it breathe is all part of the healing process. There are time times in our lives when we think that we can move on, press through with all these hurts. When I was a kid, I fell several times and split my head open. In order for my brains not to fall out All over the ground, I needed to go to the hospital to get stitched back up. This happened so often that I got to know the doctors on a first name basis. Imagine if you don't take time to clean your wound and allow it to heal before you continue. What do you think you would look like if you never let yourself heal. Now imagine what your relationships would look like if you don't let them heal. How are you living? It is very impotant to pay attention to things that affect the overall health or well being of that relationship or person. Why put off what needs your attention today. Get better! Don't allow yourself to stay wounded.

Want more work?

I know today there are many people looking for work and wanting an income to assist them in their lifestyles. Sometimes we find ourselves working for a diversion. How much time do we spend with our co-workers? The people we don't always want to spend a lot of time with are the ones we have to spend the most time. Why is it that we spend so much time with them? There are reasons why we want to bury ourselves in work. Sometimes we may be hiding from someone or something. Most of the time it is purely for the joy of the career. Why do some of us bury ourselves in work? We don't want to face the reality within our lifestyle. Whatever it might be, we look to other things to distract us from the most important and pressing decisions in our life. We are unwilling to pull the trigger on the right decisions. What things are you hiding from? Where do you hide from them? It is time to stand up, face the noise and move forward. There is car commercial that states if you're not moving forward, you must be moving backwards. Your life has purpose, but wandering AIMlessly through it will create a false sense of accomplishment. Have you found what you're looking for, maybe you should keep looking or re-focus.

Why wait.........

Have you seen the movie called Bucket List with Jack Nicholson. It is an interesting story of two grown men with terminal illnesses doing the tings they have always wanted to do. There are so many things that I plan on doing, but what if I never get to do them? When I was younger I thought about how it didn't matter to me how long I'd live. Now that I'm a parent I'd like to see my kids grow up. I'd like to see my grand kids. I'd even like to see what my retirement will be like with my wonderful wife. Why when I was a kid did I lived for the moment? I was very sporadic, spontaneous, energetic and unpredictable. I'm sure that my bet friend or my wife could probably add a few more adjectives in that line. In Jeremiah, we get a promise from God about a plan to prosper. We also get A word in Matthew about do not worry about tomorrow. Why should we put off things tomorrow for what we could do today? Why is it that we feel there are things that cannot be completed today or enjoyed today. Why do we want suffer through what we don't enjoy first or we keep it for last? Why do we have to delay our bucket list until we are decrepit and unable to enjoy them? If you can enjoy them now image what a REAL bucket lit could look like. When was the last time you dreamt BIG? I have read Maxwell say that most people only think about twice a year. Make it a goal to start thinking more often, puting the information down on paper writing out the plan on how to accomplish it then DO IT! What have you been dreaming lately?

Short cuts?

The typical stereotype is the man heading to a destination not sure he is in the right place all the while his wife is in the passenger seat just saying, "Stop and ask someone." Have you ever been headed somewhere and not sure you are in the correct location? The decision to continue down a path without proper directions will lead you to a new place. It reminds me of a recent commercial that uses a directional technology that tells you to turn here then look around it will be there somewhere. How good is a device that gives directions but will not get you to your destination? While you are headed in the right direction, places may seem familiar. It may appear to be the place you are headed but our eyes and our mind will play tricks on us. We can be deceived very easily. We must pay attention to people that God has placed in our lives to assist us in where we are going. Sometimes stopping to check if we are on track is not a bad decision. It may delay you from arriving on time. At least you will make it to your destination. Isn't life the same way? There are places that you are trying reach and all it takes is to listen for the directions. Short cuts in life will not pay us dividends. Typically the short cuts are what get us LOST. A lost person will start to have their heart beat rise, the adrenaline will start confusing our senses to where we don't recognize that we are just around the corner from where we need to be. Doesn't it feel good to arrive instead of wandering around hoping it is at the next light. Life won't be that easy, that you can wander into your blessing. These places take specific direction. God will lead you if you allow Him.

Newness

Thats a fun word to say. Say it with me, NEWNESS. Now say it out loud. Newness! There are times in our lives where we count. Your child is not listening to you, so you count. Someone is making you very angry, so you count before you bite their head off. We teach our children to count at a very early age. We count how many days until the next birthday. Count down until the next vacation. Count movies, music downloads, app downloads, phone signal, text messages, things we are involved in at church, the number of deals made, houses bought or sold, animals we have, acres of land, toys we have, income and any other way of MEASURING. We constantly are measuring. Measure the number of breathes you have, steps taken, lives interacted with, contacts made, blessing accepted, blessings given. The list should be endless, but we don't normally look at the positive. We are always so concerned about the glass being half empty. "You got more than me." Remember the master came back to take an account of his talents he left with his servants. Did he find the glass half empty. Newness, every day. You can take newness at every breathe. Faith without works is dead. That means you can believe your whole life for newness but if you never act on what God has called you to do, it will never come. Outloud one more time NEWNESS today!

Take it!

When gifts are given to you do freely accept them? Do you politely reject gifts from strangers? What about a co-worker that randomly gives you a gift because they saw it and thought of you? It is kinda funny to think that as kids we don't care where the gift comes from we are just excited we got one. Also, as kids, we are not always grateful when we get a gift. Gifts are interesting topics, because the giver feels obligated to get it for you or they simply love you enough to see your face light up. Remember how you felt when you would get exactly what you asked for and wanted to use/play with it right away? Think about how you feel as you give a gift to someone that you put some thought into. Did you know exactly what to get them? When you knew you were going to that person a gift you knew exactly where to find the right item that would fill them excitement. Ever realize that what you are giving isn't exactly right but you didn't know it until after it was purchased and wrapped? Have you considered taking back the gift when the receiver wasn't exactly thrilled about it? Life is like this a lot of times because people are people. People don't or won't change. The only thing you can do is change how you respond. Remember when the children of Isreal are in the desert, the just left Egypt, God tells Moises to send spy's into the promised land and they came back with a bad report. I was listening to my Daily Audio Bible with Author, artist Brian Harden and he talking about this very point. God gave a gift that the Elders of Isreal rejected. How often do you reject a gift God gives because it might have a little work to claim it, or you feel overwhelmed by the odds that might go against your plan? Take it!

What next?

Sorry! This blog was accidentally erased. I will attempt to replace it. You get home from work and you have a head ache so you take two Tylenol and try to relax. Hours go by and now you're ready to go to sleep but you still have a head ache so you read the label to discover that you could take one or two more. Remember the commercials "Calgone take me away?" No matter what you do you can't take the edge off. What about your sink is full of dirty dishes but the dish washer is still full of clean dishes? Your closet is empty but the clothes hamper if full. You get a phone call that family/friends are coming over and the floor needs to be vacuumed while a light dusting is required but there is no time. Work required a project to be completed by tomorrow but you haven't started it yet. The invitations are written but the party is this weekend and they haven't been mailed yet. The music minister calls to see how your practicing is going on your special for this Sunday which hasn't been started. You are suppose to teach at church this week and don't have a topic. Dont allow these distractions to take your focus. God has placed within you all that you need. I have the answer. I know where your release is. Yes, you will take care of these things and God will give you more. Matt 6. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=6&v=1&t=NIV#1. I hope that is close.

Count the cost

Have you ever thought about how much those groceries cost that you put on a credit card? When the card carries a balance and you have an interest rate of 10% you are paying too much for those cookies. What about putting off studying until later then having to stay up too late to get it in. Ever think that you should spend more time with your family, loved ones or someone special only to find something else that prevents you from that time. Oh yeah, how about the diet that you were on but now you're enjoying a Little Debbie Snack Cake thinking how much more a second snack may be MORE enjoyable. Puting anything off until tomorrow is never a wise decision. The pain that is caused by not starting or finishing what was planned is a costly decision. You will have plenty of decisions that will impact your life, some small and others large. Have you prioritized your life? Many of the factors that are used in making decisions become selfish desires that are temporary in nature. Did you know that a $1 invested in 1975 in a good growth portfolio could potentially be worth $88.50 by 2005 (plan $30 a month at an average return of 11% over 36 years $151,913). As simple as puting aside a small sacrifice every day could be a life changer today! Apply that to spending time with loved ones, planning your finances (budgeting), studying, dieting, exercising, work or even better, your relationship with God. What are you willing spend?

Prescriptions?

Amazing how you feel after a good work out or run! Taking time to invest in the well being of other people is a great way to start a deposit account into what you can receive. What that means is when you place time and energy into someone else you will reap a harvest into your own life. When you invest in someone else you have created an account in which you have the ability of receiving from the growth of that investment. That is a good prescription. Have you ever wondered how any doctor knows everything about the different prescriptions that could fix your ailment. It takes teams and teams of pharmaceutical company representatives to bring by new information about the next exciting pill in medicine. All of those people have different paradigms that they reference when illustrating what works. These representatives travel all over the country, states, counties and cities to bring new information about the drugs. Please remember that prescriptions don't have to be drugs. Although we correlate prescription with drugs, prescription can be a life style change. I could prescribe to you to swim more often for exercise or eat less cookies and milk to not look like Santa Clause. What if you take a look at your own life, write down your dreams and prescribe steps to accomplish your dreams. What about your health, you don't need an education in sports medicine to prescribe a fun exercise, wear a brace to strengthen joints or eat healthy foods. Did you know that information is at your fingertips? Isn't it the bible that states laughter does good like medicine. What will you prescribe?

Are we lazy?

Ever see your neighbor take down his Christmas lights? There are some that take great care in bringing down the Christmas lights to ensure another year of use. Then there are others that may take them down with a rake, or they may just leave them up year round so that they don't need to hang them back up! Yes, I wish I was the latter. We as Americans have become lazy in our lifestyles. What about things that cause us pain? How about budgeting to save money so you can purchase the items with cash. NO, we whine and cry then buy it with our credit card. I'd rather pay interest than wait to buy it when i have cash. What about our health? Our cars get better service than our bodies. Let me take a pill that has all kinds of side effects to fix one minor thing that could've been resolved with diet or exercise. How many of us say I'll wait to see the doctor if it gets worse. When we go we get served medication to bandage a symptom. How many people dig to the root of our problem to fix it? Hardly any. We are too busy? Our lives have so many juggling acts that all the flaming knives can't stay in the air forever. No, my option is we do not prioritize the main problems. We rather bandage it and keep moving until we have time to deal with the HEART of the problem. God doesn't look at the outward appearance but He looks t the heart. What is your symptom and what is your side effect?

Interesting idea

News papers that have no ink on your fingers after reading it. I think that is why the news paper companies are having a hard time surviving financially because people read it for free online and don't get ink on their fingers. I think having the information at the tip of your fingers is great and it offers the ability of being cleaner. Now if we could only read the information we want without being bombarded by banners, ads and other forms of marketing that complete takes our focus from the main goal.

Speaking of losing our focus..... What kind of world do we live in that we accept everything as status quo and "freely" give up our rights of freedom? We think that we send our military over seas to fight for our freedom when our fight is right here at home. Ever heard of giving kids an inch and they will take a mile? I believe we have given and given and given so much that we forgot what we had to begin with. We have been distracted by all the other things going on year after year that we cannot freely do much of anything. Yes I may be over generalizing something and it is for a good point. Please do not lose focus on why we live the way we do and what has brought us to this point. We have freedom because God sent His son and that is worth fighting for and telling the good news.

Ever wonder.....

Sometimes there are things like Arcenio Hall would say, "things that make you go hum." why do they call where you park your car at your house a drive way and the highway where you drive a parkway. I guess because where there is a parkway there is too much traffic and you will be parking on your way to your destination. Have you ever heard on traffic reports about a disabled moving vans? Isn't that an oxymoron? What about a fine mess? Any schedule that is ridiculous to keep up with should not be called a schedule (airlines, trains, parents). Off road vehicles with turn signals? Rounded corners? Higher education that still gives out "f's." simply marvelous? Please add to the list is you so choose. When you understand that God already knows what you will choose before you make that decision, does it change your decision? Because you get to decide your life after it is already planned out does it mean that those decisions where already made for you? Why would Eve choose something other than what God knew would already be the outcome? Why would Jesus have to come save me before I was even born? In life you will always have decisions to make. God will never take that away from you because he wants you to choose Him. We can ask "what if" questions forever, but until you know who He is and what He has planned for you, you will never be satisfied with what you are offering yourself. We as humans are very limited in our knowledge, understanding and comprehension that we will always miss the BIG picture. Wonder why hind sight is always 20/20? You now know at least one of the outcomes from a choice you made, how many others could you have improved?