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The other day I whimsically posted on my Twitter page that my daily travels had taken me through the towns of Cool, Lotus and Rescue, CA. I had never heard of these towns and had no clue they existed. Yet all are within 45 minutes of where I live. These towns didn't have so much as a Starbucks or movie theater. They reminded me of towns I've passed through in the backroads of Arkansas or West Virginia. These towns are great because they're so close, but also a million miles away.
What surprised me most was that I have a number of friends on Facebook who saw this comment and noted not only that they had heard of these towns, but some had either lived there at one time, or are considering moving there in the near future. This served as an illustration to me that by this stage of my life, there is virtually no human experience that I can go through that someone I know hasn't already been through, or is there now. No single person has gone through all I've experienced, but as a collective whole, as a conglomeration, someone who has touched my life in some way has gone through things I had never experienced before.
I take great comfort in knowing that I have a Heavenly Father who is by my side no matter where I go (read Psalm 139). But I'm also thankful that He provides me human tour guides who know the terrain. They can advise me of the things to see and do. They can warn me of the things to avoid. They can help me navigate my way through these circumstances because they've been there.
No matter where you are, no matter what you face, you probably know someone who has been there and done that. God has blessed you with relationships. Surround yourself with people of wisdom and experience. On the other side of the same coin, make yourself available to those who could benefit from your experience. Be willing not just to say do this and don't do that, but be willing to walk along side them.
I've recently created a Crossing Paths group on Facebook. It's my hope that it will become a community for this very thing. That paths would cross between people who otherwise might never meet, but we can all benefit from the collective experiences. I know your experiences inspire and challenge me, and they comfort me in times when I wonder if anyone would understand. There is even a Discussion tab where you can start a discussion. Ask a question, post an opinion. Get the conversation rolling. You must might be surprised and blessed by the outcome.
If you're not already part of the community, consider this your personal invitation! Someone there may need you!
Up until a couple years ago, my life was in a pretty serious rut. It wasn't anything bad. It's just that each year was pretty much like the movie Ground Hog's Day. Each year pretty much was just like the one before it.
My prayer had been for years that I didn't want to be in the same place next year. Just like your parents did when you were little by marking your growth with pencil marks on the door jamb, I wanted to be able to mark my own personal development. But it seemed that there wasn't any discernible growth. I wasn't being challenged or stretched in any tangible way.
I was very comfortable in my environment. I had carved out a niche in my life, and pretty much walked in it daily. That's fine. Nothing wrong with that. But all I had done was refined the same old thing I had been doing for years.
Finally, God made me a proposition. He gave me the option to stay where I was, or to take a bold and blind step of faith. I could continue doing what I was doing, which wasn't bad stuff. Or, I could venture into a new frontier as far as my life was concerned. I see they've resurrected the game show I remember as a child, Let's Make A Deal. In a sense, this is where I was. I could take the prize that I could see very clearly. I knew exactly what I was getting. It was safe. It was familiar. Or I could take what was behind the curtain. I had no idea what was on the other side, except for the assurance that whatever it was, God was behind it.
I chose the curtain.
If you find yourself in a place where you simply can't see any new marks on your door jamb,
it's likely God wants to change things up for you. That doesn't necessarily mean God wants you to move to a new city. It definitely means He wants to move you into greater faith and reliance upon Him. When we get into a rut, we're not dependent upon Him. We've done it so many times and for so long, we practically go on auto pilot. We can do it in our sleep.
I can confidently report to you today that no matter where God's plan leads me in the future, the things that have happened in my life over the last 18 months have changed me and will be part of my life from here on. I see markings along my door jamb that show me I've made progress. The thing is, there's still lots of room for more growth.
I can't encourage you strongly enough. Don't get into a rut. It will suck the life right out of you. God wants to show you what you're capable of when you truly rely on Him for everything!
Get out that pencil!
I have a little buddy named Will. I think he's about 7 or so. Great kid. Will is in a local youth basketball league, so I do my best to catch his games when I can. Recently, I got a text message from one of Will's family members asking if I was going to be at his game that afternoon, but I was out of town. They told me they understood, Will was just asking if I was going to be there. It was then that I made up my mind that I wouldn't miss his next game the following week no matter what.
The next week came, and the morning of his 3 PM game, I received a text message from an unfamiliar number. Will identified himself in the message, and asked if I was going to be at his game that afternoon. Not only did I affirm to him that I'd be there, I went a step further by confirming that I knew the time and location of the game.
As the game started, Will had scored 6 points in the first half. With each of his three baskets, Will would look up into the stands to make sure we all saw it, and also to see the excitement we had in celebrating his achievement.
I had such a great feeling knowing Will wanted me at his game. So much so that he took time to borrow someone's phone hours before his game, and texted me to see if I'd be there. Then the great feeling it was to make eye contact with him as I was applauding his successes and gesturing my pride with a big thumbs up. Will is not my son. He has a great family. I have no children. Those of you with kids know this feeling. To me, it's a rare treat.
As I replayed these events in my head later in the day, I thought about how much greater it must be to God when we take time to pray and invite His presence into our activities. When we invite Him, He already knows where to be and when. He plans on being with us, but still, His heart swells when His children invite Him. Then, as we go about our day, we can look to Him in our successes and failures, and He is there applauding our successes, and comforting us in our disappointments.
I thank God that He gives me moments like these which give me a glimpse of His heart for me.
A fellow blogger friend of mine who lives in America's Hat, (aka Canada), has a new feature on his blog. It's called "Link Love Sunday". It's a great idea, so I'm not only participating, I'm also encouraging you to check out his blog.
Kevin is a pastor and hockey fan, so he's aces in my book. I think you'll find as you peruse his blog, Shooting The Breeze, he's got some great insight.
If you're a blogger and you'd like to participate in Link Love Sunday, simply click here.
Have a great day!
There have been many times in my life when I really didn't like who I was. It's not that I had some crippling habits or that I grew up in a horrible situation or anything. There have just been times when I wished I wasn't the way I was. Those times usually came when I was feeling like an outcast in social settings where I wish I could have fit in better. But then something happened. I found that there were some people in my life who loved and accepted me exactly for who I was. Suddenly, I began to appreciate the very qualities I had once despised.
We all have different facets to our personalities. Certain situations and people can bring out the extremes of who we are. I am a pretty laid back individual. I'm not a very demonstrative guy at all. But you get me on stage singing songs I love in front of hundreds or thousands of people, and something within me comes out that you won't see in your living room.
On the other hand, people and situations can sometimes bring out the negatives. We sometimes say and do things we normally wouldn't. We're just not perfect. Anyone can be sweet and loving when things are going well. But when times get tough, when stress happens, do we change? Does another side of our personality come raging out of us?
These situations don't change who we are. They reveal who we are.
If you find yourself around situations or people which bring out your dark side, you need to make some adjustments. I found that when I filled my life with people who embraced me for who I am, my confidence grew. My ministry grew. I built relationships with people I admire. As a result, I found that I relaxed and settled in to being exactly who I am. I didn't stress out about trying to be someone I'm not just to fit in. When I turned that corner in my life, I found that the situations which had previously tripped me up had now become inconsequential to me. My circumstances no longer changed my attitude. My attitude changed my circumstances.
God made me the way I am. I'm thankful for the gifts He has given me. Not a day goes by that I'm not challenged to take another step further in my personal development. I have people in my life who bring out my very best. I have people in my life who believe in me. I want to be the type of man who sees and brings out the very best in you.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
~Proverbs 27:17
I attended a bible study Monday night, and ever since then, I've been thinking a lot about Joshua in the bible. The speaker referenced Joshua chapter one, and I haven't been able to shake some of the truths found there and how they relate to me, and pretty much everyone I can think of.
Joshua was the heir apparent under Moses in leading God's people through extreme difficulties and to the Promised Land. On the eve of reaching their destination, Moses died. At this time, Joshua was promoted by God to be the one to lead His people into the Promised Land. In verses 2-5, God officially elevates Joshua to his new role, and gives him the list of benefits in taking the job.
In verses 6-9, God lays out Joshua's job description. Three times in these verses, God commands Joshua to be "strong and courageous". One of those times, God emphasizes to Joshua to be "very courageous". Here's the thing, to get to the land God promised, Joshua would have to cross the mighty Jordan river. This wasn't some brook that you could just stroll across while just getting your ankles wet. It was a formidable obstacle. But when it came time to cross, they had to take the first step into the water for God to intervene and take care of the rest. As He did with the Red Sea, the water parted, and everyone was able to stroll across the river which was normally at flood stage since it was harvest season.
This is harvest season for many of you. It is for me. It's when we're on the cusp of something huge that the waters between us and our dreams and goals are at their highest and most intimidating. But God repeats to you those plain and powerful words. Be strong and courageous. I'm telling you now, the river you have to cross isn't going to part for you without you taking the first step. You can't expect to reach the heights of God's promises before you plunge into the depths of your faith.
What river stands between you and your dreams? What obstacle is raging that seems too formidable for you to cross? Don't allow yourself to set up a permanent camp on the wrong side of the river. Don't get stuck looking across it to see where you could and should be.
My birthday was last week. I received many, many messages on Facebook, a couple nice meals, text messages, phone calls...you know. As wonderful as those messages were, and as much as they are appreciated, there is one written message I received that stands above them all.
As most any man will confirm, the greatest words we can ever hear can only come from a father. Those words are, "I'm proud of you." There is just something incredibly powerful about those words when they come from your dad. My dad is a wonderful man. He's my hero. Living up to his standards was pretty much an impossible dream. There were times he let me know it, and there were numerous other times when he didn't have to. I just knew it.
Out of respect for him and the precious personal gift of words he gave me, I won't share everything he wrote in my birthday card. Trust me, if I did, I probably wouldn't be able to complete this post. But I want to tell you that he finished what he said with those words I had never heard come from him in any form.
"I'm very proud of you."
It took 45 years to get those words from him. I have known for some time that he's been proud of the way I've turned out. I know I've disappointed him more times than can be counted. But I also know that despite my shortcomings and colossal failures, he sees in me a man in a desperate pursuit of God.
As I sat back and bathed in the wonderful feelings of those words from him, I'm so thankful that he put them in writing. These words are hand written by the man I admire most in this world. I can revisit those words every single day for the rest of my life, even if that is long after he's enjoying his eternal reward.
I consider the swell of confidence and validation in those words from my dad, and I think that as wonderful and powerful as they are, they pale in comparison to the words God has put in writing for me...and for you. The bible is loaded with love notes from His heart to us. There are simply too many to list here, but I'll list a few which have sustained me through difficult times in my life.
- Jeremiah 29:11-13 has been a very special passage to me for 25 years.
- Isaiah 40:28-31 I had never heard or read this verse until I heard it in a song many years ago. It has stuck with me ever since and reminded me of God's power that is available to me.
- All of Psalm 139 Back in bible college, I sang a song called You Are There which really introduced me to this chapter. God knows me intimately, and loves me anyway! He isn't with me everywhere I go to make me feel guilty or to condemn me, but because He loves me and wants to be with me! Amazing!
- All of Psalm 23. God surrounds me with such beauty, and walks with me through it all!
I could go on and on and on. The point is, God's love for me surrounds me. Even on the low days in my life, just like my dad's card to me, I can open up God's word and revisit the long list of verses which He put in writing to remind me of His love and devotion to me. Just like my dad's words, I'm simply overwhelmed.
What verses do you revisit when you just want to be reminded and overwhelmed by God's love for you?
