Inspired

Happy Friday Friends!

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

I am fired up! I have read, heard of, and thought of some things that have called out to the greatness that is within me to be drawn out. So this morning I am going to share excerpts from 3 different sources, regarding different topics. Basically, I am studying and I am inviting you to sit beside me and learn and grow as your spirit convicts you to do so. :)

The first thing I want to talk about is change, trying new things, and relentlessly pursuing the greatness that is within us. My work family and I have been talking about this a lot. As we have talked, I have often thought about some of the words from John O'Leary in his book, On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life. The excerpts I am going to share come from Chapter 5 which he titled, Can You Say Yes? Comfort is popular, but courage changes lives.

"...when we try to stay safe, when we strive to stay comfortable, we miss the great opportunities of life.

We all face moments when we would rather stay where we are. Whether we are too injured, or it's too late, or it's too scary, those excuses rise because we have been trained to keep our eyes down, on the rocky soil in front of us, trying to make sure we don't trip. We've got to stay safe, we think. Looking down is just practical. Don't want to look stupid. Don't want to fall.

But when we are staring down at where we are, we can't look ahead to where we want to go. We miss the beauty of what's possible. And we certainly can't see the path to get there."

"...stretching is never easy. It's unwanted. It's painful. It's hard on all parties involved and in all facets of life. It's not pleasant to be stretched and it's not pleasurable to stretch others. Yet the pain of today unveils the possibility of tomorrow.

Stretching leads to growth.

Growth is frequently painful.

But 'growth is the only evidence of life.'"

"Growth is the only evidence of life.

The opposite is true, too. Stagnation is the first step to your grave."

"The fifth choice that you must make to live a radically inspired life is this: refuse to become stagnant by purposefully growing and intentionally stretching in every area of life."

"...in choosing not to grow, we choose to die"

"Things that come easy are seldom worthy."

"Real growth is often unwanted, extremely painful, and ultimately completely worth it."

"When you say and live yes, greater possibilities open each day than you could have imagined."

"I've learned again and again in life that you can show courage or you can be comfortable. But you can't do both at the same time. While comfort might be popular, courage changes lives."

"Vision is worthless without the courage to risk and take action."

"Isn't it time to risk it all in order to build something, inspire another, and become someone great?

Isn't it time to stretch courageously toward the limitless possibility of your life?

Isn't it time to get moving, start dreaming, and begin growing?

Growth is the only evidence of life.

Choose growth."

The 2nd excerpt comes from the transcript of the Focus On The Family radio podcast that aired this past Wednesday, October 28, 2020. The guest was Dave Willis and the topic was Teaching Boys to Respect Women. There is a point where Dave talks about the standards the Bible gives men. The cry of my heart is that every boy and man, that I, would read, and live, these standards every day the rest of our lives. 

"...the Bible gives us some really good standards. No. 1 is to have the courage to fight for what's right, that we, as men - we've got to be willing to enter into the fight. It's not always a fight with our fists, but it's a fight with our hearts. It's a fight of selflessness, of being willing to do what's right. I love that verse where Nehemiah challenged people. Guys, fight for your families today. Fight for what's right. Um, No. 2 is seek responsibility instead of running from it. I think that our world celebrates, uh, a lot of boys and men in culture that tend to just run away from the responsibility of marriage and family and [not] thinking of anyone outside themselves. And we've got to be willing to say, "No. A true man of God is on that's going to seek responsibility to care for others and not - not just think of himself." And kind of one of those - big themes that linked to that is we, as husbands, have such a responsibility in modeling that by how we love our wives. And so, we can teach all the right lessons with our words, men, but listen. The most important lesson you can give your sons on how to respect women is in how you treat your wife. And my wife Ashley and I do marriage ministry. We talk about this all the time on our "Making Marriage" podcast. And every chance we get, we say, "Men, love your life well because by your example, you're teaching your sons how to treat women and you're teaching your daughters what they should expect from men. And by your example, you're either giving your kids a big head start with blessing or you're giving them some baggage that they're gonna have to overcome in years to come."

"Work hard. I think you've got to work hard at whatever you do. Uh, and I elaborate a lot more in the book on these, but just to kind of get through them quickly, work hard - No. 3. Show patience and restraint is No. 4. I think that sometimes, we celebrate guys who will fly off the handle and just lose their temper, but the Proverbs say it's better to control your temper than to take a city. You know, the true warriors of faith are the guys that - that have the ability to show restraint in the right moments instead of just letting their emotions rule them. And then the next one is - is respect your wife. Again, I just kind of touched on that a lot. We've gotta lead the way by that example in how we respect. No. 6 is keep your word and honor your commitments. The Bible says, "Keep your word even when it hurts," you know? Keep your commitments. And the final one is to trust God. We can't do this in our own strength, and we're always going to fall short. But if we can let our kids see that we're trusting in God's strength to guide the way, then we're always going to be headed in the right direction."

Finally, I want to share an excerpt from How To Win Friends & Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success by Dale Carnegie. I read this yesterday morning and it really caused me to pause and think. The excerpt comes from Chapter 8 which is titled A Formula That Will Work Wonders for You.

"REMEMBER THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE TOTALLY WRONG. But they don't think so. Don't condemn them. Any fool can do that. Try to understand them. Only wise, tolerant, exceptional people even try to do that.

There is a reason why the other man thinks and acts as he does. Ferret out that reason - and you have the key to his actions, perhaps to his personality.

Try honestly to put yourself in his place.

If you say to yourself, "How would I feel, how would I react if I were in his shoes?" you will save yourself time and irritation, for "by becoming interested in the cause, we are less likely to dislike the effect." And, in addition, you will sharply increase your skill in human relationships.

"Stop a minute," says Kenneth M. Goode in his book How to Turn People Into Gold, "stop a minute to contrast your keen interest in your own affairs with your mild concern about anything else. Realize then, that everybody else in the world feels exactly the same way! Then, along with Lincoln and Roosevelt, you will have grasped the only solid foundation for interpersonal relationships; namely, that success in dealing with people depends on a sympathetic grasp of the other person's viewpoint."

It is my sincere hope that something in this message speaks to your heart. Most importantly, I hope that something inspires you to live the life you were created to live.

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, please cherish your precious families, and please, stay well.

Kev

Why?

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! This one is going to be a good one...you can feel the opportunity in this new day! :)

Earlier this week I read this quote:

"Some wake up to an alarm clock. Some wake up to a calling." - Unknown

What do you and I wake up to?

I have thought about that quote soooooo many times this week! It was a sweet, gentle reminder that this is not all about our vocations but rather about our purposes. Our vocations are simply what we do, our purposes are who we are. Our vocations are simply another opportunity to live out our calling. One day we may retire from our jobs, we will never retire from our calling. At your job you have a boss...with your calling, God is your boss - think about that one! :)

There are so many things I want to say, so many things that I want to share! Ultimately, at the end of the day, my sole hope is that you and I will pursue the calling that we have on our lives. That we will make the decision to 1) learn and understand what the purpose of our lives are if we don't already know and, 2) that we will give ourselves tirelessly to our calling until the moment we breathe our last breath.

Let me share some thoughts, scriptures and quotes...I will let God and the great gift He has for us, the Holy Spirit, work the rest out! :)

First, I want to share Romans 12: 6 - 8.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

See, here is the deal; I know you have gifts and that they are to be used to fulfill a purpose, your calling. How do I know? The Bible tells me that each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, created on purpose for a great purpose for which God has already prepared. You are more than enough to fulfill your purpose...you are perfect. You and I simply have to choose to pursue it! It is not a question of whether or not you have gifts; it is simply a question of whether or not you and I will choose to nurture them, do everything we can to reach the full potential of all that we were created to be and use these gifts to serve others. Simple as that...

And let me go back to this whole thing about vocation vs. calling for a moment. I know that I was placed on this earth to encourage, empower and equip others to become all they are capable of becoming. It doesn't matter what job I have, the calling is the same. Heck, it doesn't matter if I am even "working"...if I am walking down the street and I encounter another living soul, I am called to encourage, empower and equip them. I am never "off." It is my calling! It is so much bigger than me. It is about God and what He wants to do through me!

O.K., Kev's all fired up this morning! :) Let's get back to it. I want to share a few excerpts from an article titled, "Are You Living Out Your Calling?" It was written by Cindi McMenamin on January 8, 2013. The full article can be found at crosswalk.com.

"1) God calls us to obey Him...and obedience leads to joy.

When we follow Christ, we aren't promised continual blue skies or unlimited happiness. Jesus did say that to follow Him involves denying ourselves and picking up a cross. At times that will mean suffering. And it will mean experiencing situations that cause us to depend on Him all the more. But there is deep-seated joy that comes from the peace and satisfaction of knowing we are in God's will."

"So, if you are honoring and obeying God in all that you do, you might not necessarily be happy all the time, but you will experience the deep joy and peace that comes from remaining in His presence."

"2) God calls us to glorify Him...and glorifying Him brings joy.

God often lays something on our hearts that He wants us to accomplish for His glory. And there is no greater joy than glorifying God with all that we are and all that we have."

"3) God calls us to a life of faith...and that leads to our dream.

If God called us to live safe, manageable lives, then we wouldn't really need Him, apart from saving our souls and letting us sit it out until we are called home to heaven. Yet God wants to do through you what is beyond you. He wants to put you on display to the world of what He is able to do through a life of faith."

"So what is the dream of your heart? To quit your drudgery job and start that ministry, fulltime? To write that book God has laid on your heart? To trust Him with that move across the country? To expand your business by incorporating biblical principles? If it is His call you are obeying and His glory you are seeking, then He is the one who will equip and empower you to do what is beyond you."

Gotta draw out two things that are just screaming at me from this excerpt...

"If God called us to live safe, manageable live, then we wouldn't really need Him..."

"If it is His call you are obeying and His glory you are seeking, then He is the one who will equip and empower you to do what is beyond you."

Wow! Just Wow... :)

O.K., I want to share a few more scriptures with you...

Ephesians 4: 1 - 3

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Romans 11:29

"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

Wow, right?!?! And now we know why there is that nagging pull of our spirit to use our gifts and honor our calling. We can try to ignore them, heap loads of dirt to cover them however the gifts and calling are irrevocable...we will either honor them or they will chase after us all our lives. At least we have been warned! :)

2 Peter 1:10

"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall."

I also want to share a few quotes...

"I believe there's a calling for all of us. I know that every human being has value and purpose. The real work of our lives is to become aware. And awakened. To answer the call." - Oprah Winfrey

"But beware of this about callings: they may not lead us where we intended to go or even where we want to go. If we choose to follow, we may have to be willing to let go of the life we already planned and accept whatever is waiting for us. And if the calling is true, though we may not have gone where we intended, we will surely end up where we need to be." - Steve Goodier

"If God gives you something to do, why in God's name wouldn't you do it?" - Stephen King

Are we waking up to an alarm or are we waking up to a calling? How we feel when we wake up, our attitudes, and how we approach each day may answer that question for us. I am going to close with this excerpt from Jon Gordon's Weekly Newsletter he wrote on July 10, 2017. It is titled, KNOW YOUR WHY: WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

"We don't get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it."

Having a vision for your life an knowing where you are going is powerful but it's even more powerful when you know why you are going there. Purpose is the ultimate fuel that moves you towards your vision. Living life without purpose is like driving from New York to California on one tank of gas. You'll be running on empty before you know it. But knowing your Why and having a purpose is like having gas stations along your route where you can recharge and refuel to keep moving towards your destination. You will face adversity, but when your purpose is greater than your challenges and you know why you are moving towards your North Star, you become an unstoppable purpose driven force of positivity. When you know your why and know that way, you will find a way and won't let obstacles get in your way."

Please Friends, let's commit to living a life of purpose, to waking up to our calling every day, the rest of our lives.

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, please cherish your precious families, and please stay well! :)

Kev

Learnin' & Growin'

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! :)

Earlier this week I had a meeting that went nothing like I thought it would go. Oh, I thought I knew exactly what the meeting was going to be about and I prepared for what I thought I knew. And my mind was blown by what it was actually about. And as soon as it was over I heard this whisper deep in my heart reminding me, "Seek first to understand than to be understood."

Now, there is a couple of things I want to share before putting some tools in our toolboxes as we learn, grow and become all we are capable of becoming.

1. This wasn't one of those meetings where things go sideways, everyone mad at everyone - Praise the Lord! I am so grateful. No, this was just a conviction in the spirit, a gentle reminder that I need to slow down and seek first to understand.

2. If you are in a place like that, or if you have ever been there, I want to encourage you to be kind to yourself. This is coming from a guy who will beat himself up pretty good over the slightest of mistakes, perceived or real. I am a part of a Bible study and we are studying the Book of James. As our Pastor points out every time we meet, do you know what the entire point of the Book of James is? It is about growing and maturing. How do we do that? By living...and making mistakes. Doh!!! You see, my error is nothing to beat myself up over but rather something to learn from. And, if I spend all my time filling my mind with negative self-talk then I miss the opportunity to learn and grow. I don't want to miss that opportunity and I don't want you to either! :)

O.K., let's get to some learning! :) I looked up some things on seeking first to understand and I want to share a couple of excerpts with you.

The first excerpt comes from an article titled Seek First to Understand and it was written by Joanne Lang on December 6, 2017. You can find the entire article at huffpost.com.

"Part of Dr. Covey's message (addressed in Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood) is that people form opinions based on their own experiences. Unless they work hard to understand the other person's perspective, two people can see the same thing and form completely different viewpoints because they are understanding "autobiographically."

'If you're like most people, you probably seek first to be understood; you want to get your point across. And in doing so, you may ignore the other person completely, pretend that you're listening, selectively hear only certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. So why does this happen? Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. You listen to yourself as you prepare in your mind what you are going to say, the questions you are going to ask, etc. You filter everything you hear through your life experiences, your frame of reference. You check what you hear against your autobiography and see how it measures up. And consequently, you decide prematurely what the other person means before he/she finishes communicating.'

According to Dr. Covey, learning to communicate effectively is the most important life skill. In my experience, this skill is critical to good decision-making, whether you're a CEO, investor, mentor, partner, or an employee."

"To be a good CEO, manager, advisor, investor, or even a good parent, you need to listen so that you can understand. It's important to get the facts from everyone involved, and (this sounds obvious, but you'd be amazed how many people fail to do this) never make big decisions based on one half of a story - no matter who is telling it."

The second excerpt I want to share is from an article titled, Seek to Understand, and it was written by Vince Lombardo on August 1, 2018. You can find the entire article at heartlandpaymentsystems.com.

"Here are 3 simple steps in Seeking to Understand:

1. Ask - Inquire about the other person's viewpoint, perspective, opinion, context. Be inquisitive. Using words such as Why, How and What are helpful in ascertaining the root of their perspective.

2. Listen - This one is difficult for some of us. Don't ask a question just to ask. Really listen to their response. Stay engaged and you will likely learn something that will help you digest their response more fully.

3. Digest - Take a moment to consider their position. Don't respond immediately. Sometimes, really digesting the response someone gives allows you to see something you may not otherwise see.

Relationships are the fuel of everything we know. We all desire authentic relationships with people who care about us. We want to be respected and also liked. If we all took the time to seek to understand one another's positions, in everyday moments and those filled with tension, the world would be a better place."

Switching gears on y'all quickly here, I also want to share a few excerpts from Lee Strobel's presentation on Focus on the Family titled, Praying for Unsaved Loved Ones. Now, this has nothing to do with seeking to understand however I found these things profound and just wanted to share them with you! :) You can find his entire talk at focusonthefamily.com.

"Second reason we pray for others is because it is a pure expression of love, a pure expression of love. Richard Foster said this - this is an incredible quote - he said, 'If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them and this will lead us to prayer.'"

"Friends, love does not give up on people. Love perseveres. Love is patient. Love does not write people off..."

Pretty powerful stuff, huh? Please, don't give up on people. We are not called to judge, make, change, etc. We are called to love, plain and simple. We all need someone to love us, to believe in us, to hold us up sometimes, and to see the greatness within us that we cannot see. Please Friends, let's be that someone in someone else's 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, please cherish your precious families and please stay healthy and well! :)

Kev 

Some Things to Think About...

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! :)

This morning I want to simply share a few things for you to think, and perhaps pray, about.

Last week I was doing a devotional that contained two questions. It was one of those deals that when I read them, my Spirit moved and I knew I needed to spend some time really thinking about them. I share them with you this morning...

What type of person do I want to be?

How will I be known?

Perhaps not real profound however I think wisdom says we pause regularly to reflect on what our lives are preaching. And there are a couple of real key points here...

1. It is our actions, not our words, that determine - perhaps I should say reveal - what type of person we are. Most of us know the "right" things to say however our actions reveal what we truly believe, who we truly are.

2. It is our consistent actions that create/determine who/what we are. We would be wise to regularly check our daily habits and see if they are leading us where we really want to go. If not, we will find ourselves a long way from anywhere we thought we would ever be, or where we wanted to go.

I am sure I had heard this prayer before however when I heard it earlier this week, it hit different. Here it is...

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen

I think I just got great clarity on the type of person I want to be!!! :)

Finally, I want to share a brief excerpt from The Seven Laws of Love: Essential Principles For Building Stronger Relationships by Dave Willis.

"Here's the truth: More stuff will never make you happy. It's a myth. It's an empty pursuit. Contentment isn't a result of having more; its a result of wanting less. Don't spend your life running in a circle in pursuit of more money, more prestige, or more comfort. Until you're content with what you've already got, you won't be content no matter how much you get."

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, please cherish your precious families and please stay healthy and well.

Kev

Opportunity

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! :)

Opportunity...Merriam-Webster defines it as "1: a favorable juncture of circumstances" and "2: a good chance for advancement or progress." I really like that 2nd one "chance for advancement or progress." Do you notice however that opportunity itself is neither good nor bad, it is simply "favorable" and a "chance."

A whole lot of morning when I post a quote or saying on Facebook I will start of with something like, "A glorious new opportunity is here!" I recognize that the day before me, and you, is a blank canvas. The time of day I write the message, my day is just beginning. Yes, the day before may have been challenging however it is very rare that the current day is. Oh sure, I could be dragging yesterday into today in my mind however that is my fault, not the current days! The current day, THIS day, well, it is just another opportunity that I can do anything with...just like you! :)

So, Sweet Friends, I simply want to challenge each one of us with this; what are we going to do with this opportunity? We can do whatever we want to do with it. Nobody can make you or me do anything...we all own our actions and the consequences of those actions. It's favorable and there is a chance however each one of us will choose how to live it.

Today you and I have the opportunity to be:

- Intentional or unintentional, unplanned

- Positive or negative

- Encouraging or discouraging

- Peaceful or agitated

- Uplifting or tearing down

- Empowering or disapproving

Just to name a few... :)

The thing is, Friends, this day is ours! We will make a choice about how we live it. Many, instead of seeking to take a stand one way or the other, simply take the middle road. We just stumble through our days, blown back and forth by the current situation and circumstances, striving simply to fit in rather than to be all that we were created to be. This is not the life we were created to live! This is not what God had in mind when He created you and I! We were created - every single one of us! - on purpose for a purpose. And each and every one of us has the opportunity to choose to pursue that greatness!

The opportunity is here! I pray we will all seize it! I pray we will choose to make this day a masterpiece! The canvas is blank, each one of us has a the brush and the paint in our hands. It is favorable and their is a chance... :)

I want to share a couple of quotes and the lyrics from a song with you before seizing my day! :)

"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - Jane Goodall

"Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail." - Og Mandino

And now for the lyrics from How They Remember You by Rascal Flatts.

Sprayed my name on a water tower
Carved it in an old cottonwood tree
Signed a bunch of high school yearbooks
So they wouldn't forget about me

It wasn't 'til I saw my daddy's name in stone I knew
It ain't a question of if they will
It's how they remember you

Did you stand or did you fall?
Build a bridge or build a wall?
Hide your love or give it all?
What did you do? What did you do?
Did you make 'em laugh or make 'em cry?
Did you quit or did you try?
Live your dreams or let 'em die?
What did you choose? What did you choose?
When it all comes down
It ain't if, it's how they remember you

When you're down to your last dollar
Will you give or will you take?
When the stiff wind blows the hardest
Will you bend or will you break? (Will you break?)

You're gonna leave a legacy, no matter what you do
It ain't a question of if they will
It's how they remember you

Did you stand or did you fall?
Build a bridge or build a wall?
Hide your love or give it all?
What did you do? What did you do?
Did you make 'em laugh or make 'em cry?
Did you quit or did you try?
Live your dreams or let 'em die?
What did you choose? What did you choose?
When it all comes down
It ain't if, it's how they remember you

Did you make 'em laugh or make 'em cry?
Did you quit or did you try?
Live your dreams or let 'em die?
What did you choose? (Did you choose?)
Oh, when it all comes down
It ain't if, it's how they remember you

how they remember
(How they, how they remember you)
(How they, how they remember you) whoa
(How they, how they remember you)
(How they, how they remember you) how they remember
(How they, how they remember you) how they remember you

It is a new day! A glorious new opportunity is here! :)

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, please cherish your precious families and please stay well!

Kev