There is No Comparison

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

“The best man (or woman).”

“The best wife (or husband).”

“The best dad (or mom).”

“The best daughter (or son).”

“The best person.”

Have you ever heard any of these? Have you ever said any of these? Me too. The thing is, Friends, life isn't a competition. I have no idea whether my wife is “the best” wife; however, she is everything to me, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her. I have no desire to be “the best” husband or dad; I simply want to fulfill my potential and love, care for, and serve my wife and sons as best I can.

 

You see, Friends, being “the best” means I am being compared to someone else, and the way I see it, this life isn’t a competition between me and anyone; it is a competition between me and my potential. I used to talk about this with my players when I was coaching football. If we take our focus off of being the best we are capable of becoming and lower the standard (yes, you read that right…lower the standard!) to being better than someone else, I just have to be a little bit better than someone else, all the while my potential can go unmet. So, you are telling me that if you are having a bad day and I'm having a slightly better one, I should feel good about myself because I am better than you that day? What a joke! I couldn't care less whether anyone thinks I am “the best” man, husband, father, leader, or friend; I care deeply about becoming the man, husband, father, leader, and friend God created me to be. What about you?

 

I also want to point out a few things from Scripture.

1 Peter 4:10-11

 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Clearly, the emphasis is mine. It tells me to use the gifts I have received. I am not trying to use your gifts, and wisdom tells me you should not try to use mine.

 

Which leads me to the next scripture that comes to mind:

Hebrews 12:1-3

 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

More emphasis from me! The “us” refers to each of us individually. This tells me to run my race with perseverance, and you to do the same!

 

Before I share this one that probably should make us all uncomfortable, let me be clear: this is not about salvation. Jesus already made it explicitly clear that salvation comes through accepting Him as our Lord and Personal Savior. With that said, we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:9-11

 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Not about “the best,” but about stewardship of all He has given us – whether good or bad. What have we done with “whatever gift” we received, individually? How about the people that He has placed in our lives? Good or bad?

 

I get that I am taking this whole “the best” thing very literally; however, I want to urge caution and encouragement. Please be cautious, as are you really trying to say your (fill in the blank) is a better (fill in the blank) than all others? How would you even know? And I want to encourage us all to encourage others on their journey. I want to encourage my wife to fulfill her potential as a woman, wife, mom, leader, and friend. I want her to fulfill her God-ordained calling. Relentlessly chase her potential? Yes! Give a thought of comparison to another? Not for a moment! As with all of us, there is no comparison!

 

Please feel free to contact me at any time if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, please be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev 

A Few Nuggets

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

Last Saturday, I came across a scripture and a quote that were so profound to me! I just had to share with you all.

 

This made me want to share a few other tools to add to your toolbox this week. As with any tool, it is only effective if we use it. A hammer, unless we pick it up and use it as it was intended, builds nothing. Additionally, a hammer can build or destroy; who holds it, and how they choose to use it, determines whether it builds or tears down. Perhaps you're all tired of hearing it; however, I need continual reminders: knowledge without application is just knowledge. Knowledge with application is wisdom.

 

The Scripture:

Jeremiah 15:19 (NIV)

19 Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.

 

The Quote:

“If we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love, and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere; our embraces will be tight. We will never wallow in the agony of ‘I could have, I should have’. We can sleep in a storm. And when it's time, our goodbyes will be complete.” - Mitch Albom

 

A Few Other Thoughts

“Don’t look for opportunities to just lead. Look for places and people to serve.” – Unknown

 

“Sometimes the hardest thing God will ever ask you to do is nothing. To stand still while the battle rages and trust that He is moving on your behalf.” – Unknown

 

“You cannot wish for both a strong character and an easy life. The price of each is the other.” – Unknown

 

“A man who trusts God doesn’t need to know how it will all work out. He just does his part and leaves the rest to God.” – Unknown

 

“You do not have to react just because the insult arrived.” – Unknown

 

Please feel free to contact me anytime if there's anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

Kev

Do We Always Need to Say Something?

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Friday morning in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

Every Monday morning, I listen to Life.Church online and the message from the previous day. Pastor Craig Groeschel is currently in a series titled “Asking for a Friend.” He then answers tough, real-life questions with Bible truth.

 

This past Sunday’s message was titled, “Asking for a Friend, Part 4: Is There a Question God Can’t Handle?” One question he answered was, “Why don’t you talk more about politics and current events?” I thought several things Pastor Craig said were profound, and I want to share a few notes I took. I tried to quote him as directly as possible. I would strongly encourage you to search the sermon by name and go listen to it. What I am referring to begins at the 19:15 mark and is less than 5 minutes long.

 

Again, Pastor Craig is answering the question, “Why don’t you talk more about politics and current events?” Here is what he said:

 

·       He said that in accordance with 2 Timothy 4: 2 (2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.), my assignment is to preach the word.

 

·       “My calling is to preach God’s word, not to respond to every headline.”

 

o   “This does not mean I won’t address difficult issues.”

 

o   He went on to say that he wants to “teach a Biblical foundation before the next headline.”

 

·       “Silence isn’t always indifference; sometimes it is wisdom.”

 

o   “Some issues I don’t know enough about to speak on responsibly.”

 

o   “Sometimes I have spoken too early, before understanding all the facts, and I regretted it.”

 

o   He then cited Proverbs 18:13 which says, “13 To answer before listening—

that is folly and shame.

 

·       “I have the honor of speaking to people all over the world – different cultures, different experiences, and different political realities.”

 

o   “What looks obvious in one context often looks very different in another context.”

 

o   “I don’t want to give my opinion, but Biblical truth.”

 

o   “A lot of people don’t want my perspective; you just want my confirmation.

 

·       “I could lead a way that leans one way, but my goal is to reach all ways.”

 

·       “There is a big difference between making a difference and making a point.”

 

o   “You can make a point all day long.”

 

o   “Sometimes, if my goal is to make a difference, I will say things in a way you don’t like so people who disagree will actually still be willing to hear.”

 

·       He then references Galatians 1:10 (10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.) before emphatically stating that he is not trying to please people.

 

o   He concluded this section with, “My goal is to point people to Jesus and let Him do in the lives of people whatever He wants to do to bring healing, wholeness, truth, and life.”

 

Again, I strongly encourage you to listen to Pastor Craig’s message. He shared so much wisdom.

 

Please feel free to contact me at any time if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

 

Kev