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Archive for the ‘Motivational’ Category

In the Midst of a Monday

Posted in Formation, Hope, Motivational on March 12, 2012| Leave a Comment »

In the midst of a Monday . . .

I realize that for some people, Sunday is technically the first day of the new week.  But for the vast majority, Monday is when the week begins.  And Monday is seldom seen as a good day.  Have you ever noticed that people can’t stand Monday, but Friday is an entirely different mindset.

This will show my age and my taste in music, but back in the 80’s (the best rock era by the way) there was a popular group by the name of Loverboy.  They did a song that made the charts entitled, Working for the Weekend.  The idea is that Monday through Friday afternoon is just time we have to suffer through to get to the good stuff.

So if that is the mentality – that for the next five days we are biding time until the weekend – where is the motivation to make each day count?

I think we need an attitude adjustment.  We need to rethink how we approach this day we call Monday.

As believers, we are to strive to please God everyday, not just on Sunday.  Every day should be filled with possibility – not just the weekend.

So in the midst of this Monday, my challenge for you is to rethink what this day could mean – what it should mean.  Today is the day that God has made and we should be joyful about it.  It is teaming with possibility.

What will you do today to make it count?

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Come Awake

Posted in Hope, Motivational on March 7, 2012| Leave a Comment »

This morning, I watched the sun come up.  As it painted orange and pinks into the wisps of clouds on the horizon, I could see the outline of birds moving from tree to tree and roof top to high line.  Birds everywhere.

They flitted from place to place seemingly at random.  What appeared to me to be purposeless moving from one place to the next, was, I am sure, all part of their morning dance.  They were coming awake – making ready for a glorious day.

Join the dance today – come awake – it’s going to be a wonderful day!

Be blessed!

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How Open Are Your Eyes?

Posted in Formation, Motivational on December 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Sometimes I need to be reminded that all of God’s children are precious and each and every one fits into God’s plan.

I wonder if the eyes of my heart are as open to God’s glory as this young man?  Watch this Godtube video and be blessed today.

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My Plan B

Posted in Hope, Motivational on December 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I made mention of the fact that the snow really did a number on the plans of many people.  You can read that post here.

But I found it interesting that today – a day that is just as icy and plan altering as yesterday – I got to the office and began to go through email and ran across a blog post by @MichaelHyatt he titled, Embracing Plan B.  (You can read it in full here).

In his post, he made the same point that I made yesterday – that we can’t control the world and sometimes our plans get changed.  A simple reminder that as badly as we would like to think we are – we are not really in control.

But the statement that caused me to sit back in my chair was this – “Over the years, I have learned that my Plan B is often God’s Plan A.”

Have you ever found that to be true in your life?  After you live through something that did not fit your plan, have you ever reached the conclusion that everything worked out just as it should have?  I am reminded that regardless of how thoroughly I plan something, it might just be that what I allow as a back-up plan, might just be how God planned it all along.

So today, as your day progresses – just remember that God has a plan and it is Plan A.  There is no Plan B with God.

There is hope and rest to be found in knowing that even when my plans don’t come about just as I expect, it will be OK.

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Phil Keaggy and Friendship

Posted in Community, Motivational on November 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Isn’t it cool how God can use anything to connect people?

Last night at our church meal time, Mike approached me and said, “I noticed on your Facebook page that you are a fan of Phil Keaggy.”

I am sure my face lit up because it is not everyday that I run into people with common interests in music.  Actually, I am sure that there are many people out there who would like what they saw on my iPod (and probably a few who would be shocked) but it is not normally a conversation starter.

Mike has been extremely faithful to come to church and be a part of what we are doing but we had never really had a real conversation before.  But when he asked about my love of Phil Keaggy’s music and ministry, it gave us a common interest from which to have a 10 minute conversation.  I was blessed to stand there and talk with him.

Now, if you have never heard of Phil Keaggy, let me tell you a little something about him.  Since the invention of stringed instruments – going back to David sitting on a hillside watching sheep while he played his lyre – there has not been a more accomplished guitarist.  And his vocals aren’t too shabby either.  What Chuck Norris is in the hero world, Phil Keaggy is in the music world.  Maybe you get the picture that I’m a fan.  My dream in high school was that when I married, I wanted to get Phil Keaggy to play at my wedding.  Yeah, I guess I am a fan.

I made that statement to Mike last night and he said, “I did have Phil play at mine.”  My eyes got big and then he smiled and said, “We had one of his CD’s playing as ambient music.”  Why didn’t I think of that?

Here is the point I am trying to make – and it is not just to communicate that I am a huge Phil Keaggy fan.

God can use any part of us to make a connection with someone else.  I had seen Mike week after week and had exchanged the normal pleasantries, but we had never had a real conversation.  Until . . . we connected through music.

As I have mulled this over since last night, I have been reminded that God has given me a unique portfolio of interests, experiences and gifts.  My job is to figure out how to use those things to connect with others.

How about you?  Who is your Phil Keaggy?  If you don’t have one – might I suggest Phil Keaggy?  🙂

Seriously, what has God given you that can help you connect with those placed in your path today?   How will use those things to build a new relationship today?

Hey Mike – I say we find the next close Phil Keaggy concert and declare “Road Trip!!”

Be blessed today!

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The Shortest Distance Between Two Points

Posted in Hope, Motivational on September 19, 2011| 2 Comments »

One of my new found bands (new to me at least) that I enjoy to listen to is the Glitch Mob – not a Christian band – you can gasp now if you like.  Their music falls into the electronica / jazz genre.   At any rate, I like listening because most of their songs don’t have lyrics – just music.  It’s upbeat and fun.

But one of their songs does have some lyrics – a sort of love ballad in a way.  The title of the song is Between Two Points .  The chorus says, “The shortest distance between two points is a line – – between me and you.”  As I listened to the words this morning it got me to thinking about the distance between God and those we see.

Could it be that the closest distance between God and the person is front of me is a line between that person and myself?

You see, as followers in The Way, we are called to be Jesus to those with whom we come in contact on a daily basis.  We are to be the conduit by which God connects to the people around us.

So today, remember that the shortest distance between God and the people in your path this day is a line that runs right through the middle of you!

Be a blessing today!

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What Would You Do If . . .?

Posted in Motivational on September 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

What would you do today if . . .

What would you do today if you knew that tomorrow your job would come to an end?

What would you do today if you knew that tomorrow your child was going to move to the other side of the world?

What would you do today if you knew that the neighbor down the street – you know the one – the one you wave at each day but have never stopped to meet – what would you do today if you knew that neighbor was not going to wake up tomorrow?

What would you do today if you knew you were not going to be here tomorrow?

What would you do?

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Make It Count

Posted in Hope, Missions, Motivational on June 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It’s Monday and we have the whole week ahead of us!  What will you do with this week?  What will you do with this day?  Everyday is a blessing – a gift from God.  We are not guaranteed a tomorrow but as followers of the Way, we are guaranteed that God will always be with us.  We don’t know if there will be a tomorrow, but there is a now.  As believers we should strive to make the most of the time we have – not for our own satisfaction but for God’s glory.

So ask yourself this question today:  What would I do to make a difference in someone else’s life  if I knew God would be right beside me to help me, to guide me and make my efforts successful?  

Now, put your faith in the Father of all life and go do it!

Be a blessing today and make it count!

 

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Gas Pump Exchange

Posted in Community, Hope, Motivational on June 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I had to stop for gas when I got to town today.  As I pulled up next to the gas pump, I noticed a lady beginning to fill her car on the other side of the set of pumps I was about to use.  As I got out of the car, I could not see her, but I heard her say, “Good morning, how are you today?”  I looked around and there was no one else to receive her greeting so I knew she was talking to me.  So I responded, “I am good.  How about you?”

She replied, “I am blessed.  I guess I could complain but no one would listen.”

I told her, “I would listen – might not could do anything about it – but I would listen.”  She laughed and I laughed and that was about it for our exchange until she finished and I told her to have  a wonderful day and she told me to be blessed.

I finished putting gas in the car, retrieved my receipt and headed to the office.  But as I drove, I wondered, if she had not taken the first step to say “Hi,” would I have taken the initiative?  I had a multitude of things swimming around my head (and those of you who know me know that if it was more than two thoughts that things were getting pretty crowded in there).  Striking up a conversation with a stranger was not on my To Do list.

But I was reminded that it should be a standing item on that list.  My day was brightened because a stranger at a gas pump took the time and energy to say “good morning.”  Nothing fancy or elaborate.  It didn’t take any additional time – just additional effort.

As a Jesus follower, shouldn’t we make it a point to brighten someone else’s day – everyday?

Maybe that is an answer to my question yesterday – you can read that post here.

Be a blessing today!

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What If the World Really Was Coming To an End

Posted in Community, Motivational on May 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It is Monday – two days after the world was to end.  I am still here and if you are reading this – so are you.  I mentioned this at the beginning of my sermon yesterday and a little girl, about 7 years old, shouted out from the second row, “Nobody knows when the world will end – that is what Jesus said in the Bible!”

First off, I loved the enthusiasm.  I have told the congregation that I love interaction and to feel free to respond to questions.  So this little girl was just showing how comfortable she feels in our worship services and I think that is awesome!  Secondly, she was right on!  How cool to have a 7 year old remind us of what Jesus said!

But I have a question for you today.  What if you knew for sure that the world would end on Friday?  How would you live today?  Who would you make sure to call and talked to?  How would your actions be different?

My challenge to you is this:  do those things today – live as if your days were limited – because in reality, they are.

Be a blessing today.

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