Enjoying the Journey
Personal Growth
7 Rules for Getting More Done
I am happy that in the early years of my life and ministry I was put in a position where there was more to get done than there was time. Hard work never hurt anyone and my pastor was right when he told me that most people never become what they could because no one was ever hard on them. God’s servant said it this way, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth” (Lamentations 3:27). Through the years I have had to learn how my own mind works and when I am most productive. Through observation, instruction, and plenty of trial and error I have had to discover how to make my time…
Read MoreThe Next Leg of the Race
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Each phase of the race is both distinct and essential to the whole. We have begun, in many respects, the next leg of our race. What will we do with this part of our race? In this race you must know how to push yourself. There is no good time to quit this race. God put you in it and it is not over until you cross the threshold of His throne room. That is where the crowns will be handed out. An aged Paul wrote, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). So must we. In this race you must…
Read MoreA Way To Escape
One of Satan’s lies is that the besetting sin in your life (you know the one) will always defeat you. “That’s just the way you are and it will never change.” Remember that the devil is a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). The God of truth says something quite different: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13). A way to escape. There it is – God makes a way to live…
Read More3 Things To Remember At The End of This Year
The end of the year is often a reflective time. Dr. Frank Sells, one of my favorite Bible teachers, used to warn us of becoming “morbidly introspective.” If our reflection concentrates on us it is likely to become pretty discouraging! Our failures. Our burdens. Our disappointments. The right reflection will cause us to look to the Lord, to consider His goodness and His faithfulness. A few days ago God directed my attention to a lesser known passage written by Moses. (There was a man who knew something by experience about transitions!) The children of Israel stood at the brink of a new season, on the verge of all God had for them, when he said, “But the land, whither ye…
Read MoreHow To Say “Thank You”
Several years ago I had the joy of speaking to a large group of children on the subject of thanksgiving. In preparation I learned how to say thank you in several languages. While I am quite sure that my pronunciation was not perfect, we had fun teaching the kids to say thanks in Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, German, French, and Russian. To this day it is the only word I know in most of those languages! Sometimes the hardest thing we have to do is learn to say thank you in our own language. As a small child I remember my parents giving me something and quickly asking, “What do you say?” The longer I live I am convinced…
Read MoreYou Can Learn a Lot About Life In a Garden
Grant decided he was going to plant a garden this year. His very own. He wanted to work it from scratch and use no plants, just seeds. The primitive, pioneer way. It has been fun to watch and instructive for us all. You can learn a lot about life in a garden! Here are a few of the thoughts I have had over the last few days… You can’t produce if you won’t prepare. Good seed matters. Planting is the easy part, tending is the challenge. Water is life. There is no fruit to enjoy if you don’t guard against invaders. You only get out of it what you put into it. If it does well it feeds many other…
Read More3 Lists You Should Make Today
We live by lists! Grocery lists, to do lists, lists to keep up with our lists. At this particular time in our world people are more reflective. God has providentially allowed us to have time to meditate and ponder what is truly important. The question is: will we remember what we are learning? Someone said that a short pencil is better than a long memory. It is so easy to forget what God is impressing on our minds. I learned as a student in college that if I intended to take action on something or share it with others then first I had to write it down. After our Lord’s miracle of feeding the five thousand He had the disciples…
Read MoreFighting The Enemy In Your Mind
The most dangerous battle ground on earth is the human mind. Each day is a war zone. Satanic attacks must be met with God’s help and every thought must be captured and yielded to Christ. The victory or defeat of your Christian life hinges on your thought life. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). We all face different “fiery darts” but we all…
Read MoreHow’s Your “Screen Time”?
Mobile devices and on-demand media have changed our world forever. More specifically, they have changed our families and our lives. Homes no longer revolve around a big screen in the living room, but around little screens in our hand. That is a greater danger now than ever. As we spend less time with people there is a tendency to spend more time engaged with technology. Perhaps you have noticed your “screen time” is up a little lately. Here are a few practical ideas for controlling your technology and your time: Refuse to reach for your device first in the morning. Speak to God and others before you allow your thoughts to be consumed by online interactions and information. Turn your…
Read MoreWhat Will Change In Your Life When This Is Over?
Did you know that the word “quarantine” actually comes from an Italian word that has biblical roots? It means 40 days – a reference to the 40 days of purification and the 40 day testings found throughout the Scriptures. While the immediate purpose is medical and physical in nature, I believe that God is using this quarantine to both test and purify His people. This extended period will prove to be a time of purging both for churches corporately and Christians personally. Some will fall away, but, God willing, many will draw nearer to Christ. What will this quarantine do for you? “Redeeming the time” is not a matter of busyness or activity – it is a matter of emphasis…
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