Happy Friday Friends!
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day - full of hope, opportunity & promise - begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! :)
At our church, the Pastor is currently preaching a sermon series titled, Thin Skin. It is about offenses, about how we are so easily offended, the problems/challenges of being offended and/or offensive. Some of you need to hear this series! :) That was a joke...we ALL need to hear this series.
This morning I just want to share a few thoughts about what we have learned.
1. We should not be surprised about offenses...it is actually Biblical. Matthew 24, in explaining signs of the end times, says in verse 10, "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." Sound familiar?! Sadly, it is a pretty accurate description of our world today.
Offenses will come. We are all different, with different thoughts, ideas and perspectives. We are not all going to agree and sometimes the things people say and do offend our hearts, offend our spirits. But here is the thing, while we cannot control what others say, think or do, we do have a very powerful choice...we can always choose how we will respond. Yes Dear Friends, I know it is not easy. And if I am honest, I have failed at this one far more often than I have succeeded. This does not change the reality that ultimately, being offended is a choice I make. And My Sweet Friends, you have the same choice.
2. We are all offensive to someone at some point in time. Offended?! Not everyone is going to agree with all your thoughts, ideas, words and actions. And then, with this, they will make the same choices that we make - to be offended or not.
And many will say, "Well that is just who I am!" and that is their excuse for choosing to be offensive to another. The Bible talks about this too. It says in 1 Corinthians 8:9, in talking about food that was acceptable to eat but offended others when doing so, "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak." Did you catch that really key word, "rights." Oh how we love that word! "I have the right to [fill in the blank with whatever you want]. Yes Sweet Friends, we may have the "right" to do many things however it does not mean we should. If our "rights" heart the hurt of another, we would be wise not to exercise our rights. In this "me" world, that makes no sense. As a Christ follower, it makes perfect sense. It is not about me - it is about loving, caring for and serving others. All others...not just the one's who look, act, think and talk like me! I really gotta work on that one too!
3. And then Pastor Huskey spoke words that were like a 2 x 4 right between the eyes. He said we "have informed heads but illiterate hearts." Ouch! And he is so very right...
We know our rights. We are highly educated on many, many things. And then we all want to speak "our truth." But do we love?
The Bible tells us that we all have two purposes - to love God and to love people. We can be 100% right, 100% within our rights and if we don't have a heart of genuine love for others - all others! - we are 100% wrong.
What part of the Bible do you and I believe? We believe the parts we actually live. We don't want to hear about not being able to do the things we want to do, that we have the right to do. Oh, the horror of focusing on genuinely loving, caring for and serving others so much that we place their peace above our rights. Why would I sacrifice like that? Are you kidding me?! Don't you know we live in a me first, instant gratification world? Sweet Friends, let me tell you a brief story about a man who had no sin. He came to serve and not be served. Though he had done nothing wrong, though He didn't want to - stressed to the point of sweating drops of blood! - He died a painful death on the cross that you and I might have eternal life. And I must tell you, He rose again! He is a man who literally forfeited every right, to the point of death, for you and me. What part of the Bible do you believe?
I don't profess that any of this is easy. It is extremely difficult and, quite honestly, I know I am terribly inadequate to do this in my own wisdom, strength and courage. I do know, however, that with God, all things are possible. I will cling to this truth, seek Him daily and strive to be neither offended or offensive. I simply invite you to join me on this journey.
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
Friday, September 27, 2019
Friday, September 20, 2019
The Abundant Life
Happy Friday Friends!
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day!
Before diving into this Happy Friday, I would like to respectfully ask that you pray for those who have been impacted, are continuing to be impacted, by Tropical Depression Imelda. This one hits so close to home...it is impacting many people who mean so much to the Haslam family. We have done life together, weathered storms of nature and of life together and here they are again, in another storm. We love you, we miss you and we are praying for you!
This week I don't want to share some thought/idea, tell some story or attempt to impart some wisdom. This morning I am seeking to learn, to understand and I simply invite you to grab a cup of coffee or tea, pull up a chair and explore with me.
Earlier this week I read John 10:10 and it hit me in a way that it had not hit me before. It says:
"The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
I am reminded of the question, "What part of the Bible do you believe? The part you actually walk out." Just this morning I read a quote that said, "We may not always live what we say but we always live what we believe." For far to long I have lived a life of condemnation, not conviction and yet, the Bible tells us this is not how we are to live. Like far to many Christians, I have tried to live this life of self-martyrdom instead of a life of abundance. I freely accept that I am lost, broken, a sinner...I guess I know my thoughts and actions too well!!! :) But I have struggled when I am told that God wants to bless me, that He wants me to live life to the fullest. And then we wonder why non-Christians don't want to live the Christian life. When we are beating ourselves down, trying to make crosses to carry when God has already carried it for us, etc. it does not speak to a God of love, mercy & grace. What part of the Bible do I believe?
O.K., so the Bible tells me that the thief - Satan - comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus' purpose was to give me an abundant life. But what does that mean? I think this, the meaning, is where we get hung up and what we don't understand.
Some think that the Christian life means that we will not have trouble. We try to use God as some sort of rabbits foot or other good-luck charm. Yet John 16:33 tells us in part, "In this world you will have trouble." Some think that if we are Christian, are nice to people and try to do the right things, all of our weaknesses will be taken away. With this, we try to live these self-righteous lives. But 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." And finally, many believe that if good things happen in their lives they are living "right" and if bad things happen, they must be living "wrong" or have sinned...like they are being punished for what they did or did not do. Matthew 5:45 says in part, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
You feel my pain?!?! :) What does it mean to live abundantly? I don't know for sure though I think I am starting to get it. I have spent the better part of the week trying, and praying, to understand what this really means, what this look like to live life this way. Instead of trying to impart some wisdom I readily admit I do not have, I want to share excerpts I have found from 3 different articles as I searched for what living an abundant life looks like.
The first excerpt comes from an article titled, What Does It Mean to Have Abundant Life? It was written by Brenda Rodgers and was posted on iBelieve.com on February 26, 2018.
"Jesus gives us the fruit of the Spirit, and this is the abundant life. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Jesus wants us to have the best life possible in a world that is sometimes unbearable - a world full of cruelty, injustice, sadness, and pain. He knows that the only way that is possible is for us to take on His character of a life where inwardly we are satisfied because we know who we are through Him, who He is through God the Father, and where we are going - Heaven.
Our lives can be falling apart all around us, and we can still have an abundant life. The abundant life is a state of being from within, not a result of external circumstances. It is the result of the pruning God does to make us more like Him, and it is what we will take to Heaven with us (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). An abundant life is a life that keeps on giving."
The second excerpt comes from an article titled, What did Jesus mean when He promised an abundant life? It can be found at gotquestions.org.
"What is the abundant life? First, abundance is spiritual abundance, not material. In fact, God is not overly concerned with the physical circumstances of our lives. He assures us that we need not worry about what we will eat or wear (Matthew 6:25-32; Philippians 4:19). Physical blessings may or may not be a part of the God-centered life; neither our wealth nor our poverty is a sure indication of our standing with God. Solomon had all the material blessings available to a man yet found it all to be meaningless (Ecclesiastes 5: 10-15). Paul, on the other hand, was content in whatever physical circumstances he found himself (Philippians 4:11-12).
Second, eternal life, the life a Christian is truly concerned with, is not determined by duration but by a relationship with God. This is why, once we are converted and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are said to have eternal life already (1 John 5:11-13), though not, of course, in its fullness. Length of life on earth is not synonymous with abundant life.
Finally, a Christian's life revolves around "growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). This teaches us that the abundant life is a continual process of learning, practicing, and maturing, as well as failing, recovering, adjusting, enduring, and overcoming, because, in our present state, "we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror" (1 Corinthians 13:12). One day we will see God face to face, and we will know Him completely as we will be known completely (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will no longer struggle with sin and doubt. This will be the ultimately fulfilled abundant life."
And finally, I found this excerpt in an article titled, What Does it Mean to Have an Abundant Life? Some Thoughts on Prosperity. It was written by Ed Stetzer on March 18, 2015. You can find it at chritianitytoday.com.
"Abundant life is not about what we have. It's not about what we get. It's not about what we claim. Ultimately, abundant life is about what we receive as a gift from the Lord and to live knowing we are stewards of the blessings of God.
It's not a sin to be rich (though it might be missing the point if we die rich). Furthermore, stewardship is not measured by what we have received, but by what we have given.
At the end of the day, perhaps that is how we know we have the abundant life - when we have shared our life with others. When we have enough of the blessing of God (mercy, peace, love, grace, wisdom, etc.) to share with others, and then actually do it; that's when we truly have abundant life."
Take heart Sweet Friends, at least we aren't the only one's trying to figure out what the abundant life means and is all about!!! :) Look, I simply know that Jesus said He came so we can live life to the fullest. Even if I don't fully understand what that means, I accept this truth and will strive - through continually seeking God, prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit - to live it every day of my earthly life.
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
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day!
Before diving into this Happy Friday, I would like to respectfully ask that you pray for those who have been impacted, are continuing to be impacted, by Tropical Depression Imelda. This one hits so close to home...it is impacting many people who mean so much to the Haslam family. We have done life together, weathered storms of nature and of life together and here they are again, in another storm. We love you, we miss you and we are praying for you!
This week I don't want to share some thought/idea, tell some story or attempt to impart some wisdom. This morning I am seeking to learn, to understand and I simply invite you to grab a cup of coffee or tea, pull up a chair and explore with me.
Earlier this week I read John 10:10 and it hit me in a way that it had not hit me before. It says:
"The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
I am reminded of the question, "What part of the Bible do you believe? The part you actually walk out." Just this morning I read a quote that said, "We may not always live what we say but we always live what we believe." For far to long I have lived a life of condemnation, not conviction and yet, the Bible tells us this is not how we are to live. Like far to many Christians, I have tried to live this life of self-martyrdom instead of a life of abundance. I freely accept that I am lost, broken, a sinner...I guess I know my thoughts and actions too well!!! :) But I have struggled when I am told that God wants to bless me, that He wants me to live life to the fullest. And then we wonder why non-Christians don't want to live the Christian life. When we are beating ourselves down, trying to make crosses to carry when God has already carried it for us, etc. it does not speak to a God of love, mercy & grace. What part of the Bible do I believe?
O.K., so the Bible tells me that the thief - Satan - comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus' purpose was to give me an abundant life. But what does that mean? I think this, the meaning, is where we get hung up and what we don't understand.
Some think that the Christian life means that we will not have trouble. We try to use God as some sort of rabbits foot or other good-luck charm. Yet John 16:33 tells us in part, "In this world you will have trouble." Some think that if we are Christian, are nice to people and try to do the right things, all of our weaknesses will be taken away. With this, we try to live these self-righteous lives. But 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." And finally, many believe that if good things happen in their lives they are living "right" and if bad things happen, they must be living "wrong" or have sinned...like they are being punished for what they did or did not do. Matthew 5:45 says in part, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
You feel my pain?!?! :) What does it mean to live abundantly? I don't know for sure though I think I am starting to get it. I have spent the better part of the week trying, and praying, to understand what this really means, what this look like to live life this way. Instead of trying to impart some wisdom I readily admit I do not have, I want to share excerpts I have found from 3 different articles as I searched for what living an abundant life looks like.
The first excerpt comes from an article titled, What Does It Mean to Have Abundant Life? It was written by Brenda Rodgers and was posted on iBelieve.com on February 26, 2018.
"Jesus gives us the fruit of the Spirit, and this is the abundant life. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).
Jesus wants us to have the best life possible in a world that is sometimes unbearable - a world full of cruelty, injustice, sadness, and pain. He knows that the only way that is possible is for us to take on His character of a life where inwardly we are satisfied because we know who we are through Him, who He is through God the Father, and where we are going - Heaven.
Our lives can be falling apart all around us, and we can still have an abundant life. The abundant life is a state of being from within, not a result of external circumstances. It is the result of the pruning God does to make us more like Him, and it is what we will take to Heaven with us (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). An abundant life is a life that keeps on giving."
The second excerpt comes from an article titled, What did Jesus mean when He promised an abundant life? It can be found at gotquestions.org.
"What is the abundant life? First, abundance is spiritual abundance, not material. In fact, God is not overly concerned with the physical circumstances of our lives. He assures us that we need not worry about what we will eat or wear (Matthew 6:25-32; Philippians 4:19). Physical blessings may or may not be a part of the God-centered life; neither our wealth nor our poverty is a sure indication of our standing with God. Solomon had all the material blessings available to a man yet found it all to be meaningless (Ecclesiastes 5: 10-15). Paul, on the other hand, was content in whatever physical circumstances he found himself (Philippians 4:11-12).
Second, eternal life, the life a Christian is truly concerned with, is not determined by duration but by a relationship with God. This is why, once we are converted and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are said to have eternal life already (1 John 5:11-13), though not, of course, in its fullness. Length of life on earth is not synonymous with abundant life.
Finally, a Christian's life revolves around "growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). This teaches us that the abundant life is a continual process of learning, practicing, and maturing, as well as failing, recovering, adjusting, enduring, and overcoming, because, in our present state, "we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror" (1 Corinthians 13:12). One day we will see God face to face, and we will know Him completely as we will be known completely (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will no longer struggle with sin and doubt. This will be the ultimately fulfilled abundant life."
And finally, I found this excerpt in an article titled, What Does it Mean to Have an Abundant Life? Some Thoughts on Prosperity. It was written by Ed Stetzer on March 18, 2015. You can find it at chritianitytoday.com.
"Abundant life is not about what we have. It's not about what we get. It's not about what we claim. Ultimately, abundant life is about what we receive as a gift from the Lord and to live knowing we are stewards of the blessings of God.
It's not a sin to be rich (though it might be missing the point if we die rich). Furthermore, stewardship is not measured by what we have received, but by what we have given.
At the end of the day, perhaps that is how we know we have the abundant life - when we have shared our life with others. When we have enough of the blessing of God (mercy, peace, love, grace, wisdom, etc.) to share with others, and then actually do it; that's when we truly have abundant life."
Take heart Sweet Friends, at least we aren't the only one's trying to figure out what the abundant life means and is all about!!! :) Look, I simply know that Jesus said He came so we can live life to the fullest. Even if I don't fully understand what that means, I accept this truth and will strive - through continually seeking God, prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit - to live it every day of my earthly life.
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
Friday, September 13, 2019
Priorities
Happy Friday Friends!
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!
This week I want to share about priorities. The topic has come up a couple of different times in my life this past week. I love when this happens. It leads me to search - in both prayer and gaining knowledge - to better understand it, thoughtfully consider it and it challenges me to actually live out what I learn.
I came across a quote this morning that I think does a great job of determining how we prioritize things. The quote, by Dallin H. Oaks, says: "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions." A great look at how priorities are established and how they then dictate the lives we live. Before taking a quick look at priorities, personally & professionally, I have to tell you, that word at the beginning - "desires" - really struck me. We all have different desires, or perhaps you prefer the word passions. And in this, I think we find the beauty of life. We all have different desires, things that call out to us to pursue them from the depths of our souls. It is when we actually choose to answer the call, to act upon them, that we live lives of complete integrity, that we become all that we are created to become. Your desires are unique to you just as mine are unique to me. Yours aren't better than mine and mine aren't better than yours. Each of us, in fact all of us, have these desires to help us find our purpose, the perfectly equipped reason we have been called to walk this life journey! :)
O.K., I want to break this down two separate ways real quick.
1. Professionally. I had breakfast earlier this week with a friend and we spent a lot of time talking about priorities within the workplace. The key to success in determining and walking out our priorities in our vocation is to first determine what are the things that only we can do. We talked a lot about Stephen Covey's book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. If we can identify those things that only we can do - I also refer to this as the core responsibilities of our jobs - we can then set priorities accordingly. In doing so, we can then determine the things to do and not to do.
A former colleague, when I asked her "How are you today?", she replied, "I am effectively busy." I love that! All of us are busy...that doesn't mean we are being effective. There are countless "priorities" clamoring for our attention. It is when we identify the one's that are our real priorities that we can be effectively busy.
2. Personally. I have spent a ton of time thinking about this one this week. I have a sweet friend who is passionate about her family and she is passionate about her work. Because of many of the challenges she has faced in her life as a result of answering the call of these passions - among others - she also has a great heart to encourage, empower and equip other working Mom's. The struggles she has faced has led me to really study and pray about priorities. What does "priorities" really mean? How do we determine them? What does it look like when we walk them out? How come so many people feel the need to try to determine someone else's priorities? Why can't we all simply pursue the deepest passions of our souls without the nagging criticisms of others?
I came across a couple of quotes this morning that spoke to my heart.
"Jesus does not respond to our worry-filled way of living by saying that we should not be so busy with worldly affairs. He does not try to pull us away from the many events, activities, and people that make up our lives...He asks us to shift the point of gravity, to relocate the center of our attention, to change our priorities. Jesus does not speak about a change of activities, a change in contacts, or even a change of pace. He speaks about a change of heart." - Henri Nouwen
"It is a better thing to weigh and measure priorities in the illuminating light of your own mission that to have your activities formed by the impressions and expectations of others." - Mary Anne Radmacher
O.K. Friends, as the saying goes, "I think we are cookin with grease now!" :)
The heart. It is always about the heart - that one is Biblical! Why are we doing the things we are doing? What is the condition of the heart? It is not how much we do or don't do. It is not about the particular vocation. It is not about how many friends or events you have or don't have. It's about the heart. Why are you and I doing the things we are doing? Is whatever we are doing - professionally or personally - being done to serve ourselves or to serve others? Are we doing it to fill some hole in our heart, to create our identity, or are we doing it because of who we are, from an overflow of our hearts. That one right there was good Friends! :) It is not about work or family, family or work...it is about the condition of the heart in doing whatever we do. It is our why.
You were created on purpose for a purpose for which you are perfectly equipped, lacking nothing. It's your mission, not mine! Live it! I have no idea what God has placed on your heart, I just know that He has placed something there. Follow it... unapologetically! There are sure to be critics...there are always critics. They don't define you! What if we all simply walked our life journey to the very best of our ability, seeking God's leadership & guidance daily? What would this world look like then?
A couple of more thoughts as I wrap this up...
I think the younger Kev often got confused between priorities and recognizing needs. Is it possible to be a great [fill in the vocation] and also be a great husband and father? Absolutely! It is not an either or proposition...it's about the "and." It all comes back to the heart - why we do what we do - and fulfilling the tasks that only we can fulfill. My mind races back many years ago. I was a college football coach...a profession that chews up a lot of time. My Beautiful Bride used to lament from time to time that football was more important to me than my family. We were expecting our 2nd child. It was a night practice. I can still see the Rec Center that night. I am with the wide receivers at the far end of the Center. One of the trainers comes sprinting towards me. As he is still a ways off he yells, "Coach, your wife needs you!" I didn't turn and say a word to anyone. I sprinted out of the Rec Center, got into my car and drove home as quickly as I could. We had experienced the loss of our child, a miscarriage. You see, this wasn't about priorities. Kath, and our family, has always been my number one priority...this was the condition of my heart. But in that moment, though a football coach with players and coaches looking to me for leadership & guidance, the thing that only I could do, the greatest need, was to be with my wife. Let's be sure not to confuse priorities with needs.
Instead of criticizing others, judging them, telling them what they should or should not do, let's encourage, empower and equip them as they fulfill their life mission. Let's not throw up roadblocks and do things that make it difficult for them to pursue whatever is calling to them from the depths of their souls. You see, the call will never stop. If we don't help them we will soon find that we are no longer in a position to help or hurt them because, sooner or later, they will not allow us to be a part of their life.
Finally, I want to provide the gentle reminder that God is a God of conviction, not condemnation...there is a huge difference. Conviction inspires, encourages and leads us in a positive direction. Condemnation tears down, accuses, makes us feel guilty. If the spirit you feel is accusing you of failing, is telling you how inadequate you are, you can be assured that it is not the spirit of God.
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
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!
This week I want to share about priorities. The topic has come up a couple of different times in my life this past week. I love when this happens. It leads me to search - in both prayer and gaining knowledge - to better understand it, thoughtfully consider it and it challenges me to actually live out what I learn.
I came across a quote this morning that I think does a great job of determining how we prioritize things. The quote, by Dallin H. Oaks, says: "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions." A great look at how priorities are established and how they then dictate the lives we live. Before taking a quick look at priorities, personally & professionally, I have to tell you, that word at the beginning - "desires" - really struck me. We all have different desires, or perhaps you prefer the word passions. And in this, I think we find the beauty of life. We all have different desires, things that call out to us to pursue them from the depths of our souls. It is when we actually choose to answer the call, to act upon them, that we live lives of complete integrity, that we become all that we are created to become. Your desires are unique to you just as mine are unique to me. Yours aren't better than mine and mine aren't better than yours. Each of us, in fact all of us, have these desires to help us find our purpose, the perfectly equipped reason we have been called to walk this life journey! :)
O.K., I want to break this down two separate ways real quick.
1. Professionally. I had breakfast earlier this week with a friend and we spent a lot of time talking about priorities within the workplace. The key to success in determining and walking out our priorities in our vocation is to first determine what are the things that only we can do. We talked a lot about Stephen Covey's book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. If we can identify those things that only we can do - I also refer to this as the core responsibilities of our jobs - we can then set priorities accordingly. In doing so, we can then determine the things to do and not to do.
A former colleague, when I asked her "How are you today?", she replied, "I am effectively busy." I love that! All of us are busy...that doesn't mean we are being effective. There are countless "priorities" clamoring for our attention. It is when we identify the one's that are our real priorities that we can be effectively busy.
2. Personally. I have spent a ton of time thinking about this one this week. I have a sweet friend who is passionate about her family and she is passionate about her work. Because of many of the challenges she has faced in her life as a result of answering the call of these passions - among others - she also has a great heart to encourage, empower and equip other working Mom's. The struggles she has faced has led me to really study and pray about priorities. What does "priorities" really mean? How do we determine them? What does it look like when we walk them out? How come so many people feel the need to try to determine someone else's priorities? Why can't we all simply pursue the deepest passions of our souls without the nagging criticisms of others?
I came across a couple of quotes this morning that spoke to my heart.
"Jesus does not respond to our worry-filled way of living by saying that we should not be so busy with worldly affairs. He does not try to pull us away from the many events, activities, and people that make up our lives...He asks us to shift the point of gravity, to relocate the center of our attention, to change our priorities. Jesus does not speak about a change of activities, a change in contacts, or even a change of pace. He speaks about a change of heart." - Henri Nouwen
"It is a better thing to weigh and measure priorities in the illuminating light of your own mission that to have your activities formed by the impressions and expectations of others." - Mary Anne Radmacher
O.K. Friends, as the saying goes, "I think we are cookin with grease now!" :)
The heart. It is always about the heart - that one is Biblical! Why are we doing the things we are doing? What is the condition of the heart? It is not how much we do or don't do. It is not about the particular vocation. It is not about how many friends or events you have or don't have. It's about the heart. Why are you and I doing the things we are doing? Is whatever we are doing - professionally or personally - being done to serve ourselves or to serve others? Are we doing it to fill some hole in our heart, to create our identity, or are we doing it because of who we are, from an overflow of our hearts. That one right there was good Friends! :) It is not about work or family, family or work...it is about the condition of the heart in doing whatever we do. It is our why.
You were created on purpose for a purpose for which you are perfectly equipped, lacking nothing. It's your mission, not mine! Live it! I have no idea what God has placed on your heart, I just know that He has placed something there. Follow it... unapologetically! There are sure to be critics...there are always critics. They don't define you! What if we all simply walked our life journey to the very best of our ability, seeking God's leadership & guidance daily? What would this world look like then?
A couple of more thoughts as I wrap this up...
I think the younger Kev often got confused between priorities and recognizing needs. Is it possible to be a great [fill in the vocation] and also be a great husband and father? Absolutely! It is not an either or proposition...it's about the "and." It all comes back to the heart - why we do what we do - and fulfilling the tasks that only we can fulfill. My mind races back many years ago. I was a college football coach...a profession that chews up a lot of time. My Beautiful Bride used to lament from time to time that football was more important to me than my family. We were expecting our 2nd child. It was a night practice. I can still see the Rec Center that night. I am with the wide receivers at the far end of the Center. One of the trainers comes sprinting towards me. As he is still a ways off he yells, "Coach, your wife needs you!" I didn't turn and say a word to anyone. I sprinted out of the Rec Center, got into my car and drove home as quickly as I could. We had experienced the loss of our child, a miscarriage. You see, this wasn't about priorities. Kath, and our family, has always been my number one priority...this was the condition of my heart. But in that moment, though a football coach with players and coaches looking to me for leadership & guidance, the thing that only I could do, the greatest need, was to be with my wife. Let's be sure not to confuse priorities with needs.
Instead of criticizing others, judging them, telling them what they should or should not do, let's encourage, empower and equip them as they fulfill their life mission. Let's not throw up roadblocks and do things that make it difficult for them to pursue whatever is calling to them from the depths of their souls. You see, the call will never stop. If we don't help them we will soon find that we are no longer in a position to help or hurt them because, sooner or later, they will not allow us to be a part of their life.
Finally, I want to provide the gentle reminder that God is a God of conviction, not condemnation...there is a huge difference. Conviction inspires, encourages and leads us in a positive direction. Condemnation tears down, accuses, makes us feel guilty. If the spirit you feel is accusing you of failing, is telling you how inadequate you are, you can be assured that it is not the spirit of God.
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
Friday, September 6, 2019
Give What You Have
Happy Friday Friends!
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new opportunity begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! I also sincerely hope that you have had a great week - personally & professionally!
Before diving into this Happy Friday, I would respectfully like to ask you to pray for those who have been impacted, and continue to be impacted, by Hurricane Dorian. Thank you.
This week I want to share a scripture with you and the profound revelation that came to me from it. 1 Corinthians 8: 10 - 12 says:
"I want to suggest that you finish what you started to do a year ago, for you were not only the first to propose the idea, but the first to begin doing something about it. Having started the ball rolling so enthusiastically, you should carry this project through to completion just as gladly, giving whatever you can out of whatever you have. Let your enthusiastic idea at the start be equaled by your realistic action now. If you are really eager to give, then it isn't important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven't."
There are two parts of that scripture that hit me profoundly:
1. "...giving whatever you can out of whatever you have."
2. "If you are really eager to give, then it isn't important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven't."
Have you ever noticed how people, including us, will fight for our inadequacies? Instead of simply giving our very best to whatever it is we are doing, we will focus on whatever parts of it we feel are lacking. Instead of just being the best person we can be, we talk about the talents, gifts or abilities we do not have. Instead of just being the best Mom or Dad we can be, we tend to focus on the lack of time we have to spend with our kids, or the amount of money we have to provide the things we think they just have to have. And yet, the scriptures quite clearly tell us to give whatever it is we have to give.
So let's talk for a moment about the Big 3.
Time - While it is true that some of us - that includes all of us at some point or another! :) - need to get our priorities in order, to align our time with the things that truly mean the most to us, the simple fact is that if we will wholeheartedly give whatever time we have to whoever is in front of us, it is enough. Instead of saying something like, "I wish I had more time with [fill in the blank]" what if we were just fully present in the time we do have? Ever been there? I have been in situations where I knew I only had a set amount of time with someone and while I am with them, instead of simply living fully present in the moment, I spend time lamenting how I wish I had more time with them. Sounds crazy even typing it! :) When the scripture tells me that God wants me to give what I have, not what I haven't, it seems to me that what it is saying is that if I will give my time fully to whatever is in front of me, He will take care of the rest, it will be enough.
Talent - We see this one all the time. We live in a world that is so used to comparing and competing that we don't simply give our best to something and then have a deep peace about the effort we have given. Isn't it interesting that nowhere in the Bible does it say to be sure you are better than everyone else or you must perform flawlessly? No, it does say to do whatever you are doing as working for the Lord, not man and give what you have. So what if we really walked that out? What if, instead of worrying that our work is not good enough, we simply did the very best be can and used those talents to love, care for and serve others? The scripture above tells us that if we do that, it is enough. Give whatever talent you have, not what you have not...
Treasure - Again, a huge one! We love to play the comparison game. There should be no comparison and this is definitely not a game! Giving - whether time, talent or treasure - is all about the heart, the condition of the heart, and not how much or how good we think whatever we are giving is. If our hearts are convicted to give money to someone or some cause, we should give in accordance to what we feel convicted to give and then have a deep peace in our spirit knowing that whatever it is we have given will fulfill its purpose.
Sweet Friends, let's stop fighting for our perceived inadequacies. It is neither right nor Biblical. You are enough! Everything filtered through a pure heart, the time you can give is enough! You are talented enough! The treasure you give is enough! Please do not believe the lies - Satan is referred to as the the Deceiver for a reason! :) You are enough! Please stop questioning your ability as a person, as a spouse/partner, as a parent, as a leader! Whoever you are and wherever you are on this beautiful day, you have everything it takes to walk your life journey. You are a blessing! Please simply be the best version of you and give whatever you have to give to love, care for and serve others!
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
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new opportunity begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! I also sincerely hope that you have had a great week - personally & professionally!
Before diving into this Happy Friday, I would respectfully like to ask you to pray for those who have been impacted, and continue to be impacted, by Hurricane Dorian. Thank you.
This week I want to share a scripture with you and the profound revelation that came to me from it. 1 Corinthians 8: 10 - 12 says:
"I want to suggest that you finish what you started to do a year ago, for you were not only the first to propose the idea, but the first to begin doing something about it. Having started the ball rolling so enthusiastically, you should carry this project through to completion just as gladly, giving whatever you can out of whatever you have. Let your enthusiastic idea at the start be equaled by your realistic action now. If you are really eager to give, then it isn't important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven't."
There are two parts of that scripture that hit me profoundly:
1. "...giving whatever you can out of whatever you have."
2. "If you are really eager to give, then it isn't important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven't."
Have you ever noticed how people, including us, will fight for our inadequacies? Instead of simply giving our very best to whatever it is we are doing, we will focus on whatever parts of it we feel are lacking. Instead of just being the best person we can be, we talk about the talents, gifts or abilities we do not have. Instead of just being the best Mom or Dad we can be, we tend to focus on the lack of time we have to spend with our kids, or the amount of money we have to provide the things we think they just have to have. And yet, the scriptures quite clearly tell us to give whatever it is we have to give.
So let's talk for a moment about the Big 3.
Time - While it is true that some of us - that includes all of us at some point or another! :) - need to get our priorities in order, to align our time with the things that truly mean the most to us, the simple fact is that if we will wholeheartedly give whatever time we have to whoever is in front of us, it is enough. Instead of saying something like, "I wish I had more time with [fill in the blank]" what if we were just fully present in the time we do have? Ever been there? I have been in situations where I knew I only had a set amount of time with someone and while I am with them, instead of simply living fully present in the moment, I spend time lamenting how I wish I had more time with them. Sounds crazy even typing it! :) When the scripture tells me that God wants me to give what I have, not what I haven't, it seems to me that what it is saying is that if I will give my time fully to whatever is in front of me, He will take care of the rest, it will be enough.
Talent - We see this one all the time. We live in a world that is so used to comparing and competing that we don't simply give our best to something and then have a deep peace about the effort we have given. Isn't it interesting that nowhere in the Bible does it say to be sure you are better than everyone else or you must perform flawlessly? No, it does say to do whatever you are doing as working for the Lord, not man and give what you have. So what if we really walked that out? What if, instead of worrying that our work is not good enough, we simply did the very best be can and used those talents to love, care for and serve others? The scripture above tells us that if we do that, it is enough. Give whatever talent you have, not what you have not...
Treasure - Again, a huge one! We love to play the comparison game. There should be no comparison and this is definitely not a game! Giving - whether time, talent or treasure - is all about the heart, the condition of the heart, and not how much or how good we think whatever we are giving is. If our hearts are convicted to give money to someone or some cause, we should give in accordance to what we feel convicted to give and then have a deep peace in our spirit knowing that whatever it is we have given will fulfill its purpose.
Sweet Friends, let's stop fighting for our perceived inadequacies. It is neither right nor Biblical. You are enough! Everything filtered through a pure heart, the time you can give is enough! You are talented enough! The treasure you give is enough! Please do not believe the lies - Satan is referred to as the the Deceiver for a reason! :) You are enough! Please stop questioning your ability as a person, as a spouse/partner, as a parent, as a leader! Whoever you are and wherever you are on this beautiful day, you have everything it takes to walk your life journey. You are a blessing! Please simply be the best version of you and give whatever you have to give to love, care for and serve others!
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
Monday, September 2, 2019
Integrity
Happy Friday Friends!
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Labor Day!
Is this Happy Friday this weeks Happy Friday or last weeks? The thought, the conviction, for it started last week however due to the craziness of life I am not writing it until the beginning of a new week! The struggle is real my Friends! :)
This week I want to talk about integrity. Usually when we talk about integrity, we say things like "do what you say, say what you do" or "your words and deeds matching." Most of the time when you look up integrity it will say things like "honesty," "being true to your word" and the like. This morning I want to take a little bit deeper dive into integrity...I want to look at the root.
Earlier this week I came across a piece on integrity that I thought was absolutely beautiful. It said:
"When something has integrity, it means that thing is undivided. It is whole. Solid. Intact. Think of the concept of structural integrity in engineering. When a building has structural integrity, it means that it can sustain and support the load for which it was designed. In the technology world, data is said to have integrity when there is no corruption in it. For something to have integrity means that all is as it is intended to be." - Rick Burgess & Andy Blanks
THIS is what I want to talk about briefly this morning - "it can sustain and support the load for which it was designed" and "all is as it is intended to be." How about me and you? How do we measure up to those standards of integrity?
In doing research on customer service, I once came across a saying that said something like, "Everyone is worried about what they are going to "do." Instead, worry about what you are going to "be." This makes so much since to me. What if, instead of worrying about all the things we are going to do, we focused our attention instead on what we are going to be? Instead of focusing on the fruit, we focused on the root? If the root is good and right, the fruit will be as well. If the root is bad however, no matter how hard we try, it will never produce good fruit consistently.
Let's bring it home to the very level of who we are, who we really are, not what we pretend to be. Within each one of us is great passion and purpose for something. The "somethings" are as vast and diverse as the number of people walking the face of the earth. And yet, sadly, many are not walking out their passions and purposes, they are not walking in integrity. Instead, they are walking out whatever someone else, or society, told them they should be. And here is where the real problem comes in, those passions and purposes, though perhaps buried beneath years of hurt, rejection and the like, will continue to cry out from the depths of our souls. They will present themselves in the form of frustration, rudeness, anger or perhaps hostility. Just like a building that lacks integrity will eventually crumble and fall, so will the person who fails to walk in their integrity.
You and I were created on purpose, for a great purpose. We are perfectly equipped to fulfill that purpose, we lack nothing. We, however, are not perfectly equipped to fulfill purposes for which we were not created. And yet, so many of us try! Instead of embracing the people we were created to be, instead of relentlessly pursuing our great talents, gifts and abilities, we foolishly try to be someone we were never created to be. Just because what we were created to be is different than what someone else was created to be, it does not mean that we are less...it just means we are different and different is beautiful! Can you imagine what this world would be like if we all had the exact same talents, gifts and abilities? Not only would it be extremely boring, it would be terribly ineffective and inefficient!
My Sweet Friends, let's stop focusing on the things we are going to say and do. Let's focus on understanding who we were created to be and then spend the rest of our lives relentlessly pursuing our greatness in those areas and tirelessly using whatever talents, gifts and abilities we have to love, care for and serve each other. Then, and only then, will we walk in our integrity! Then, and only then, will the words and actions match!
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 Labor Day, and please cherish your precious families!
Kev
I hope & trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Labor Day!
Is this Happy Friday this weeks Happy Friday or last weeks? The thought, the conviction, for it started last week however due to the craziness of life I am not writing it until the beginning of a new week! The struggle is real my Friends! :)
This week I want to talk about integrity. Usually when we talk about integrity, we say things like "do what you say, say what you do" or "your words and deeds matching." Most of the time when you look up integrity it will say things like "honesty," "being true to your word" and the like. This morning I want to take a little bit deeper dive into integrity...I want to look at the root.
Earlier this week I came across a piece on integrity that I thought was absolutely beautiful. It said:
"When something has integrity, it means that thing is undivided. It is whole. Solid. Intact. Think of the concept of structural integrity in engineering. When a building has structural integrity, it means that it can sustain and support the load for which it was designed. In the technology world, data is said to have integrity when there is no corruption in it. For something to have integrity means that all is as it is intended to be." - Rick Burgess & Andy Blanks
THIS is what I want to talk about briefly this morning - "it can sustain and support the load for which it was designed" and "all is as it is intended to be." How about me and you? How do we measure up to those standards of integrity?
In doing research on customer service, I once came across a saying that said something like, "Everyone is worried about what they are going to "do." Instead, worry about what you are going to "be." This makes so much since to me. What if, instead of worrying about all the things we are going to do, we focused our attention instead on what we are going to be? Instead of focusing on the fruit, we focused on the root? If the root is good and right, the fruit will be as well. If the root is bad however, no matter how hard we try, it will never produce good fruit consistently.
Let's bring it home to the very level of who we are, who we really are, not what we pretend to be. Within each one of us is great passion and purpose for something. The "somethings" are as vast and diverse as the number of people walking the face of the earth. And yet, sadly, many are not walking out their passions and purposes, they are not walking in integrity. Instead, they are walking out whatever someone else, or society, told them they should be. And here is where the real problem comes in, those passions and purposes, though perhaps buried beneath years of hurt, rejection and the like, will continue to cry out from the depths of our souls. They will present themselves in the form of frustration, rudeness, anger or perhaps hostility. Just like a building that lacks integrity will eventually crumble and fall, so will the person who fails to walk in their integrity.
You and I were created on purpose, for a great purpose. We are perfectly equipped to fulfill that purpose, we lack nothing. We, however, are not perfectly equipped to fulfill purposes for which we were not created. And yet, so many of us try! Instead of embracing the people we were created to be, instead of relentlessly pursuing our great talents, gifts and abilities, we foolishly try to be someone we were never created to be. Just because what we were created to be is different than what someone else was created to be, it does not mean that we are less...it just means we are different and different is beautiful! Can you imagine what this world would be like if we all had the exact same talents, gifts and abilities? Not only would it be extremely boring, it would be terribly ineffective and inefficient!
My Sweet Friends, let's stop focusing on the things we are going to say and do. Let's focus on understanding who we were created to be and then spend the rest of our lives relentlessly pursuing our greatness in those areas and tirelessly using whatever talents, gifts and abilities we have to love, care for and serve each other. Then, and only then, will we walk in our integrity! Then, and only then, will the words and actions match!
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 Labor Day, and please cherish your precious families!
Kev
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