True Significance

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you having a great day as this glorious new day begins to dawn.

Ya know, no matter what your yesterday looked like, THIS is a new day. Within the newness of this day you & I, individually, have the choice of how this day will unfold. It begins with our attitude, continues with our thoughts and is lived out through our words & actions. Just so you know...

This week I want to talk about a couple of different things I heard over the course of the past week that I thought were really good, worthy of thought & reflection.

While listening to a program on Family Life Radio about cherishing our spouses, the guest told a story. He was working on a big, important project for work at home one evening. His wife interrupted him to tell him something that was trivial. Ever been there? I have...far to many times. You know, deadlines are pressing, I am working on this critically important project and at that moment my Beautiful Bride seems to think I need to see the cute puppy on Facebook or she wants me to know that there is some great sale for something I don't want or need at some store I never go to. Does she not understand? This is important! Blood boils, blood pressure rises... Maybe I am the only one who has ever been there... ;)

The guest then said something profound, "It's not about what the person is saying, it is about the person who is saying it." Doh! Cut to the heart! Complete perspective shift! 

What on this earth is more important than the Beautiful Bride or the three Tender Warriors who God has given to me as gifts to love, lead, protect, honor & respect? Nothing! Conviction, very strong conviction, is coming upon this man's spirit right now!

Look, the point of sharing this with you, for me to think about it, is not condemnation, to pretend that we are perfect or that every day is sunshine & roses. The point is, hopefully, we will be a little more mindful. The poorly timed, at least from our perspective, interruptions are going to come. As much as I would like to tell you that I will forever be mindful of what I have just written and that I will always handle this beautifully, I know that to do so would be a lie. However I will strive to be more mindful of it, I will thank God for the wisdom & strength when I handle it properly and I will learn & get better when I fail. 

Related to this is a sweet story that I saw on Facebook. I don't know if it is true or not but the point is dead on and it is directly related to what we are talking about this morning. It is a story of an elderly man who is at an appointment. He keeps on insisting that he needs to be out by a certain time. A person asks him why he is in such a hurry. He explains that his wife has Alzheimer's, that she doesn't remember him however he always has breakfast with her at 9:00 a.m. (or some time...it doesn't matter). The person says, "If she doesn't know who you are, why does it matter?" The elderly man responds, "Because I still know who she is." 

One other thing that is on my heart to share with you this morning. I came across a quote this week that said, "It's not about the building, it's about what the building produces." Perhaps on the surface this quote does not mean much to you. For me it was profound and I have caught myself thinking about it a lot. 

I think what gets me so much about this quote is how we can so narrowly look at the tasks before us that we miss the greater impact of what is really happening. While we might perceive what we are doing as menial, the true impact is really quite profound. In recognizing things in their true significance - a theme this morning -  we find great purpose, a greater purpose, in what we do.

So let me give you an example. I will first stay with the theme of a building. I serve others as a development officer and currently at my place of employment one of the things we are working to help fund is in fact a building. Now, if we just look at the "bricks & mortar" it might not be all that exciting. However if we peel back the layers and realize that it is not about the building but rather those who will train within that building the perspective changes. If I will focus on the people who, because of the features of this building, will receive excellent training, and thus be better equipped to serve others, purpose becomes clear. It is about the people who will reach their full potential in pursuing their purpose while training in this building. It's not about the building, it's about what the building produces.

So I want to encourage you, whatever your "building" is, really look & seek to understand what it produces. Are you a coach? Regardless of what society tries desperately to tell you, it is not about the wins & losses...it is about the men & women, husbands & wives, Dads & Moms of character who are developed through sports. What is the bigger vision, the bigger purpose? I get that we must have "wins", however those are defined in your endeavor, or we will quite likely be without a job. The "wins" however do not define you nor are they what the "sport" produces. They are a part of the process but not the final outcome to be achieved. Give it some thought, please. You will find great power & purpose once you clearly understand what you really do is all about.

Please don't hesitate to contact me 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, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.

Kev

Do You Remember?

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day!

So what do you do on a Thursday night when you can't fall asleep and you know you gotta get up early to write a Happy Friday?!?! Do any of you do this? I go to bed around 8:00 p.m. I figure I can get 7 - 7 1/2 hours of sleep. Toss turn, it's now 9:00 p.m. O.k., 6 - 6 1/2 hours of sleep. At 10:00 p.m. I think, o.k., 5 - 5 1/2...oh forget this!!! It is now 10:14 p.m. and I am going to write Happy Friday now! :)

I am currently reading The Warrior's Soul: 5 Powerful Principles To Make You A Stronger Man of God by Jerry Boykin & Stu Weber. This morning I read something that really struck me. I want to share a few excerpts with you and then give you a few reminders.

As for the excerpts:

"Those who forget will wallow in a miserably repetitive cycle." 

"The Bible is replete with directives reinforcing the absolute necessity that we remember." 

"Just before our God took Caleb and Israel into the Promised Land, He sat them down in the desert and gave them a straightforward lesson with a hard slap to the blackboard:

All the commandments that I am commanding you today you

shall be careful to do...You shall remember all the way which

the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness...Beware

that you do not forget the Lord your God...[or] your heart

will become proud...But you shall remember the Lord your

God...and if you ever forget...you will surely perish.

- Deuteronomy 8:1-2, 11, 14 18 - 19"

"In the Old Testament the Hebrew words translated 'memory,' 'remember,' or 'remembrance' are all related to a single root word: zakar. The word zakar refers to a multifaceted process: (1) mentally bringing something to mind, (2) the reflection inherent in that mindfulness, and (3) the corresponding behavioral act appropriate to that memory. In other words, to remember biblically is to recall-reflect-react."

"Virtually everything of spiritual consequence depends upon memory. In forgetting our souls shrink, our dreams wither, our hearts break, and Christ's kingdom suffers."

"So what can you personally do about all this? Choose to remember! Memory (yes, history!) is a great gift of God to enable us to learn from the past, to live well today, and to plan effectively for the future."

This all made so much sense to me! As I have shared in Happy Friday's in the past, I have noticed in my life that my greatest struggles come when I feel I have to control everything. It is only when I, yes Friends, remember that God is ultimately control that I am free to be the best that He has created me to be. 

With this in mind, I wanted to share a few reminders with y'all.

Do you remember Luke 12: 6 - 7?

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Do you remember Jeremiah 29: 11?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Do you remember John 3: 16 - 17?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Do you remember Romans 8: 28?

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Do you remember Ephesians 2: 10? 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Do you remember 2 Corinthians 5: 17?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Do you remember Isaiah 41: 10?

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Do you remember James 4: 10?

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Do you remember 2 Timothy 3: 16?

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Do you remember Proverbs 3: 5 - 6?

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Do you remember Philippians 4: 13?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Do you remember Matthew 22: 37 - 39? (Come on!!! We just talked about this last week!)

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Do you remember Proverbs 4: 23?

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Do you remember Ephesians 4: 29?

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

So what would our lives look like Friends if we truly remembered these things every day? Perhaps more importantly, what if we lived like we remembered these things every day? That is my hope, challenge and prayer for each of us this week...that we would live like we remember.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can contact me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.

Kev 

Above All Else

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a brand new day begins to dawn! If you are up earlier than most, it is the calm before the storm of this beautiful thing we call life, a time to prepare for all that this day will bring.

This morning I want to touch on a several different things.

The gym I go to doesn't open until 5:00 a.m. The timing works out just about right for me. I get up, do my reading, notes, etc. and then scramble to be out the door by 4:55 a.m. or so - on a good day! :) At 5:00 a.m. Focus on the Family comes on the radio station I listen to. I usually get to hear the first 5 - 10 minutes of the talk before getting to the gym. This gives me enough time to hear the point and then to ponder & reflect what I have learned during my prayer time while I work out.

Earlier this week they had a lady on - Sorry! I got out the door a little after 5:00 a.m. and thus, did not catch her name in the introduction - who was talking about a friend of hers who lives a different lifestyle than she does. She was talking about the struggles they had as friends and her friends shock when the guest told her that the choice(s) she makes in how to live her life in no way impacted her ability to love her, to be her friend. She then said something that I thought was beautiful & profound. She said, "of course love conquers all, God invented it."

Then a couple of days later, as I was driving to work, the radio personalities were talking about people, life & relationships. Then they shared the following scripture:

"Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for the others]."

- 1 Peter 4: 8 (AMP)

And another translation...

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

- 1 Peter 4: 8 (NIV)

A few quick points here:
1. "Above all (else)" is defined as "more so than anything else." Pretty clear!

2. It is amazing how hard we will fight for our rights, being offended, our selfish desires & ambitions. Above all...

3. "Covers a multitude of sins." Have you ever seen the saying, "Don't judge me because I sin differently than you"? You see Friends, we all sin in some way, shape or form. And this one beautiful verse points out that love covers them all. Wow!

4. So we choose, you & I. Each and every day. Each and every interaction. I want to share a quote, with a little addition, that I posted on Facebook this morning. It says, "Replacing rudeness and impatience with the Golden Rule [love] may not change the world, but it will change your world and your relationships." - Steve Shallenberger

I also wanted to share a few other things I came across this week that I thought you might like and find helpful.

"The most important gift that you will ever give to another human being is YOU being the fullest expression of who you were created to be." - Bruce Van Horn

I don't know who said or came up with this...

"Leadership C Words

1. Courage - Leadership is about Courage

2. Confidence - Be Confident in yourself & instill it

3. Collaboration - Collaboration is the key always

4. Compassion - Be Compassionate to others & firstly yourself

5. Care - Care for those around you; it matters most

6. Connection - Connection is at the heart of all leadership

7. Consistency - Lead yourself & others with Consistency

8. Change - Be open to & lead Change

9. Compelling - Lead others with a Compelling Vision

10. Character - The centre pole of leadership is Character & integrity"

It then ended with...

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." - Dalai Lama

And then finally I wanted to share this quote:

"If you want to make a difference, but are afraid to be different then you probably won't make a difference." - Orrin Woodward

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families & friends.

Kev

What Does Your Life Speak?

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as this beautiful new day begins to dawn!

This will quite possibly be he shortest Happy Friday I have ever written. This morning I simply want to share a quote that is the thought & challenge for this week. To me it is profound. The quote is from Trent Shelton and it comes from his video New Year New Me. You can watch the entire video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KFwZIo8Ayc The video is 2 minutes and 16 seconds long and the quote I am listing occurs at the 1:36 mark. I pray that each one of us will really think about this quote, pray, reflect on the lives we are living and then let the Holy Spirit lead, guide & direct our lives accordingly.

"If you couldn't say one word, what would your life speak?" - Trent Shelton

Please don't hesitate to contact me 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, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.

Kev