Hope for the 4th Quarter

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Welcome to the 4th Quarter of 2017! I don’t know about you, but I have spent a good portion of this year being shocked by its pace. At the beginning of each month, I have found myself stating,Is it [insert month] already?!” Only to discover the same definitive answer each time,  “Yes it is“!   I can’t count the number of conversations I have had with loved ones, friends, coworkers, and others in passing,  who have not only confirmed by sentiments about the pace of this year, but who have also shared in my anxiety laced fear that,  THERE’S JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME!!!!!.

But, What if I told you that  there IS enough time?  Will you accept that? What if I told you that the culprit of your anxiety is something you and I have full control over?  Will you, for the sake of this discussion, entertain the notion that the deficit has not been in seconds, minutes, hours, and days, but instead, that the true deficit, has been in your FOCUS?  Does that encourage or discourage you? Continue reading

Don’t Focus on Your Haters, Pray For Them…

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If you know me personally,  you’d be surprised that I am even entertaining the topic of “Haters.”  I am known by my friends for despising this entire discussion.  I think people have a lot less haters than they think, and I also think people cheat themselves out of meaningful relationships because they are fearful of , or assume people are “hating.” 1491443229931Yet, as I read and wrote tonight’s Scripture passage, found in Luke 23: 33-38, I was inspired to dedicate this one discussion to the “Haters”,   after all,  they do exist, and I’ve never argued that.

In the text, we find Jesus being Crucified.  In the midst of being tortured and mocked,  He isn’t feeling sorry for Himself,  and He is not angry at the people who are responsible for His Crucifixion . Instead,  He concerns Himself with their well-being.  And instead of cursing them,  He prays,

Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).

Continue reading

God is IN the Details…

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I don’t know about you, but sometimes I can be a little abrupt and disorganized. Don’t get me wrong, I have the capacity to be extremely organized and strategic, but it’s definitely in doses.  The thing is,  I am  just not naturally “wired” that way. If I want to be well-organized, I have to really put in the effort because my organization and meticulous skills come and go in phases. Since this is something that I am actively working on, I was truly enlightened and inspired by Jesus’ attention to detail in today’s passage, found in  1491263408617Matthew 21: 1-11. Continue reading

Do You Believe?…

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Today’s Scripture Writing comes from John 11:25-26, Jesus is providing a new perspective on death.   Because He is , “The Resurrection and Life” He promises Eternal Life to all those who will BELIEVE. This means, Believers “will live, even after dying. ” – v. 25 .

When this passage picks up, Jesus is talking to Martha.  After He shares this “Good News” with her about the eternal life of the Believer, He asks her , “Do you Believe?”   Continue reading

Comparison = Joylessness + Neglect 

 

 

img_4460By now most of us have heard the popular saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and many of us can testify that there is truth to those words. But, Did you know that comparison is a choice? Did you know that we can choose to admire, congratulate, cheer on, and even be inspired by others, WITHOUT comparing? Continue reading