Dream Small

Happy Friday Friends!

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

This week the radio station I listen to in the morning had an artist on who is releasing a new song titled, "Dream Small." Now this is terrible, I don't know his name! I have listened to him twice, to his song - which has yet to be recorded - twice and searched the radio station webpage and Facebook page this morning and I still can't tell you who he is...Augh! Regardless, I want to share his powerful point this morning.

Now before we even get started let me make it explicitly clear; this is not a message about not having big goals, dreams & aspirations. The artist doesn't believe they are bad and neither do I. In fact, both of us would argue that the big dreams are God inspired and should be pursued, relentlessly.

The point of this message however is in the day to day living, the artist refers to it as the minutes, of our lives. It is the time now while you are preparing for the big dream. A lot of folks would perhaps refer to it as the process. In these times our true strength, perhaps significance, is found.

You and I are where we are today for a reason. Isn't it interesting that when really big things happen, goals are met, that we refer to them as "God ordained." However do we look at the smaller moments - being a Mom or Dad, going to work with the people we are going to work with today, the neighbors we live by - as God ordained as well? They are! :)

As the artist stated, "God does the extraordinary in the ordinary." Let that sink in for a moment Friends... Let's not get so caught up in chasing "the big dream" that we miss the countless ordinary moments that God can use for extraordinary outcomes. There are no wasted encounters, no wasted days, no unimportant people or duties. This is the point of dreaming small.

Today let us dream of doing the ordinary things we do extraordinary well! Let's love our spouses/partners, children & friends well! Let's be the best version of ourselves at all times, in all interactions! Let's take time today to notice the hurting & broken and show extraordinary compassion! Let's truly do whatever tasks we have today "as though we are working for the Lord, not for human masters!" Today let's not try to decide who or what is important and let's recognize that God has us here, now, for this moment and be fully present in the moment! Let's dare today to dream small!

Ephesians 2: 10 tells us, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Who you are, where you are today is not a mistake. You, the very workmanship of God, are who you are and where you are because God has prepared this time, these people and these situations that you may walk through them, doing good works. A perspective shift for sure, if we will allow ourselves to see it.

I also want to share a few quotes with you this morning:

"One...

One tree can start a forest:

One smile can begin a friendship:

One hand can life a soul:

One word can frame the goal:

One candle can wipe out darkness:

One laugh can conquer gloom:

One hope can raise your spirits:

One touch can show you care:

One life can make the difference.

be that one today." ~ Unknown

"What makes the biggest impression is not what we do in the good times - that's easy - but how we respond in the tough times." 

~ Joel Osteen

"We must make sure our lips and our lives are preaching the same message." 

~ Rashawn Copeland

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

You. Are. Awesome!

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you having a great day as a beautiful new day prepares to dawn on the Texas Gulf Coast.

This morning I want to share a couple of short thoughts, hopefully translated into actions, with you.

The radio station I listen to in the mornings as I drive my 45 minutes to work makes "Awesome Calls." People will call or write in and ask that the on air personalities call someone and exclaim "You. Are. Awesome!" They will then go on to tell the person why a family member or friend wanted them to call and tell this person they are awesome. It must be dust, allergies or somethin as my eyes always start leakin as I listen to the stories of the things these people do, and the expression of gratitude expressed by another. :) The funny thing is, these people aren't doing anything necessarily "heroic." They are showing up and doing life with another. They are there to meet a need. They do the very best they can every day. And the other person takes time to notice.

So I am going to go two ways with this today:
1. I wish I had the opportunity to observe every person who will read this message so I could take a minute and tell you how awesome you are. You see, I don't necessarily know you personally however I know you do awesome things. You are a husband, wife or partner who shows up and does the best you can for your significant other every day. Or perhaps your the parent who daily strives to love, value, cherish & adore the precious little soul who has been entrusted to you. Or maybe your the friend who simply offers the sweet smile to the friend who is going through a particularly difficult season of life. Or, you could be the person that smiles at a complete stranger, simply saying through that smile that, "I see you and you matter." Bottom line is, You. Are. Awesome!

Please don't fight for your faults, failures & weaknesses. Yes, they exist...they exist for us all. But so does your awesomeness! While it is good to continue to strive to become the best versions of ourselves daily, it does no good, for yourself or anyone else, for you to continually fight for your faults. Accept it Friend; "You. Are. Awesome!"

2. Please take a moment today and tell someone, "You. Are. Awesome!" It really is true that we find what we are looking for. Let's spend time today seeking the awesomeness in others and then tell them they are awesome and tell them why we think so. The last part is critical. In a world that has grown increasingly superficial, it is imperative that the person know that you are being authentic in your recognition of their awesomeness. So please don't just leave it with, "You. Are. Awesome!" Take the next step and say, "You. Are. Awesome! Every day you smile/your there/you help any way you can...." or whatever it may be. Neither one of you will regret it if you will actually take a moment to put yourself out there.

I am really fortunate. When I work out in the morning I get to listen to Focus on The Family. I tell my Beautiful Bride I must need a lot of help cause it's like I go to church 6 days a week, counting Sundays! :) Yesterday morning the guest was Dr. Meg Meeker, a pediatrician. She was talking about Dads and the importance of Dads. There was so many great things that were discussed however 1, no make that 2, things really stuck with me.

I have a heart for men, husbands, fathers...a desire to encourage, empower & equip them to become the best they are capable of becoming. I guess at the end of the day I really just want them to get in the game! So many families are completely broken because men refuse to rise up and be, well, men. We get caught up in having to be perfect or chasing...something other than our wives and children. I tell you this because I think this shapes why I was so struck by the two statements.

The first one had to do with the presence of Dad. We have heard the alarming statistics of the difference in the lives of children with the Dad in the home and those where the Dad is absent. If you haven't heard/seen these statistics, Google it. They are alarming. Here is the thing that Meg clarified yesterday; it isn't about the Dad being a good or bad Dad, it's about the Dad simply being there. Think about that for a second...Wow! By simply being present, physically, a Dad can completely alter the trajectory of their child's life. I truly don't know what else to say...

As a Dad who is well aware of my many faults & failures, the second statement was equally profound to me. She said, "Your kids want whatever you have to give." It wasn't a list of, "You need to do this or that." It was the recognition that we are all broken however what your children want, what they desperately need, is the very best that you can give them today...wherever you are in life. Please hear this Dads! You don't need to be perfect! There is not a to do list! Please just give your kids the very best you that you have to give today. Again, please stop fighting for your faults, failures & weaknesses...just love them the best you can love them today. That's what your kids want. That's what your kids desperately need. God, love, mercy & grace will take care of the rest.

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

Tools for Your Toolbox

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day on this absolutely glorious Friday morning! Took the day off to spend some quality time with my Beautiful Bride on this Mother's Day weekend. Looking forward to a great long with her and my Tender Warriors.

This morning I want to share a couple of things that I came across this week that I thought might speak to your heart as well.

1. This week was STAAR testing in our school district. The STAAR tests are the standardized tests that students must pass to go on through graduation. The radio station I listen to posted a letter that was sent home with the child of one of the on-air personalities. It is a truly beautiful letter written by the students' teachers. As I read it I couldn't help but think that not only does it apply to the STAAR tests, it also applies to the "tests" of life. I want to share a couple of excerpts and elaborate briefly.

"The scores you will get from these test will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything. These tests do not define you. There are many ways of being smart. YOU are smart! You are enough! You are the light that brightens our days and the reason We are happy to come to work each day. So, in the midst of all these tests, remember that there is no way to "test" all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU!

All we ask is that you do your personal best and do not give up."

The same that is true of these precious souls and their standardized tests is true of you & I and our tests of life. We might not score well on some tests however the test does not define you or I. We are smart and we are enough! We aren't amazing at everything but each and everyone of is us amazing at something! Please never forget this Friends and let it take root in the deepest recesses of your soul.

And this next part, well, this is something that is foundational within the Haslam family. All I ask, all anyone can ask, is that you do your very best and don't quit. The reality is sometimes you are gonna get knocked on your butt - literally & figuratively! There is nothing wrong with this as long as we are doing our very best and we don't quit! 

2. This next one I found as I was scrollin through Facebook. It was placed by "Always And Forever Love My Family." I don't know anything about them however I want to make sure I give proper credit. Anyways, I thought these were great principles and I wanted to share them with you. Please note, in their post they didn't actually list the scripture, just the reference. I have added this for you.

In Our Home

Always be honest

Proverbs 12:22 (The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.)

Forgive and forget

Micah 7:18 (Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.)

Be kind hearted

Ephesians 4:32 (Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.)

Keep your promises

Romans 4:21 (being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.)

Work hard

Colossians 3:23 (Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.)

Be thankful

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.)

Never give up

Philippians 4:13 (I can do all this through him who gives me strength.)

But most important

Love One Another

1 Peter 1:22 (Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.)

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

Potentially A Good Day

Happy Friday Friends!

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

This morning I want to talk about potential. I am not talking about your personal potential, though this is the soul of the potential I am talking about...the potential of this day. On a number of occasions in Happy Friday I have talked about your personal potential, the fact that you were created on purpose for a purpose, perfectly equipped, lacking nothing. It's in the Bible, you can look it up! :)

A different kind of potential, if you will, is found in this day. Right now, as the sun begins to rise, the birds begin to chirp and the cities across the nation begin to spring to life, there is hope, opportunity & promise that is found within the potential of this day. You & I must - we will! - decide what our influence will be in this day...

Perhaps you are waking up and you are not where you ultimately want to be in life. Congratulations! You are alive & human like the rest of us! :) Have you ever considered how much time we waste thinking about where we want to be, where we want to go and not focusing on where God has planted us in this moment? In this we fail to realize that the quality, depth and breadth of our lives is found in the journey, not our ultimate earthly goal or destination. You see, today you & I have the opportunity to make a difference where we are at. I may not be in the ultimate vocation I want to be in or I might not complete the ultimate project I am working on however I can choose to get every bit of good out of this day. When I string a whole lot of those days together in a row I will find that I have reached the ultimate destination, that I have completed the project. It's a matter of perspective. It's a matter of choice.

Hopes, goals & dreams are good Friends...I believe God has planted them within our souls. I would strongly encourage you to kindle the flames of those flames every single morning and then place them at the feet of God. And then go out and do the very best you can today. The quote, "Pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you" comes to mind. Please don't waste this day. Pursue the greatness that is within you today. Pour yourself out tirelessly into the people around you today. Do the very best you can with what you have today. And then, when this day is done, rest in sweet peace knowing that you did everything you could have done in this day...that you met the full potential of this day.

I also want to share a few quotes with you this morning. This first quote appeared on the K-Love Facebook page yesterday. I don't know who said it however it contains great wisdom.

"Life advice: Always be the best person you can be. Be kind even when you're tired. Be understanding even when you're angry. Do more than you're asked, and don't ask for anything in return. Don't silently expect anything either. Listen when someone talks, and really listen too, stop just thinking of how you'll reply. Tell people that you love them and that you appreciate them. Go out of your way to do things for people. Be the greatest person you can possibly be and when you mess up, make up for it in the next moment or minute or day. One thing you should never do? Never spend your time trying to prove to anybody that you're great, your actions will speak for themselves and we only have limited time on this earth, don't waste it. Like moths, good people are attracted to flame and to light, and they will come."

"Don't seek opportunity; seek God, and opportunity will see you." - Mark Batterson

"Ineffective people live day after day with unused potential." - Stephen R. Covey

"Successful people do no strive to fit in. They thrive to make a difference." - Gordana Biernat

"We are given the potential to excel, whether we do or not is entirely up to us." - Steven Redhead

"Today, you will have opportunities to lift people up or push them down. Which will you choose?" - Bruce Van Horn

"The problem isn't a shortage of opportunities; it's a lack of perspective." - Tim Fargo

"You are born to reach your full potential. The only limit is yourself." - Lailah Gifty Akita

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