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 is the 500th Happy Friday!!! So much has changed since I wrote my first Happy Friday on September 16, 2011. My mind is racing as I think back to some of the Happy Friday’s I have written – the day my Mom went to Heaven, as a hurricane raged outside my house, so many inspired by the beautiful things I have seen in my family, friends, complete strangers, and once, even a dog!😊 I have learned from them all and I have simply wanted to share with you in hope that it might somehow encourage, empower, and equip you as you walk your path. This morning I simply want to go back to the beginning, explain what this is and why, to never forget my purpose, to always remember who I am accountable to, and who I have the privilege of serving…😊
What Will Your Influence Be…?
What Will Your Influence Be…? was born out of a conversation I was having with God as I was driving from Phoenix to Tucson to meet with the baseball staff at the University of Arizona. As I was driving along, pouring out my heart to God about all of the challenges that coaches and student-athletes face, I got this deep conviction in my spirit – “what will your influence be, Kevin?” Are you going to simply complain about it or are you going to actually do something about it? Instead of running from this conviction, I chose to lean into it. I started studying influence, how it works, what it means, etc. And from all that, and a whole lot of prayer, was born What Will Your Influence Be…? The reason it is written as it is, with three dots and a question mark at the end, is it has two meanings:
- What Will Your Influence Be…in your life? What are the things that you are going to pour into your heart, mind, soul, and spirit? This is a critical choice each one of us will make as it will determine, in large part, the thoughts we have, the words we speak, the actions we take and, as a result, the lives we live. One of my favorite quotes and one of my favorite scriptures affirms this truth:
- “What’s in the well always comes up in the bucket.” – Pastor Ken Whitten
- “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23
- What Will Your Influence Be…in the life of others? You and I are literally influencing every single person we come into contact with every single day…go ahead, read that again! 😊 Research has shown that the most introverted person will influence more than 10,000 people in their lifetime and that the average person will influence more than 80,000. You and I are so powerful! So, the question is not whether we will or won’t, research proves we will. The real question is will it be positive or negative, intentional or left to chance, breathing life into or bringing about death and destruction.
My “Why?”
To the depths of my soul I believe that every person has value, meaning, and a purpose. And I have an equal conviction that I was created to encourage, empower, and equip others to become the best they are capable of becoming. That is it, this sums up the purpose of my life – to use my gifts, abilities, and resources, to encourage, empower, and equip others. I came across a quote just last week that inspires me greatly: “You will never look into the eyes of someone that God does not love.” 😊
Happy Friday and Quotes on Twitter and Facebook
A couple of things that will help frame up this
section:
- For pretty much as long as I can remember, quotes have really moved me. I can read some thought or idea and it really speaks to my heart. Accordingly, as with anything we find valuable, I have always wanted to share them with my family, friends, co-workers, etc. in case they may help them.
- Before I started a blog, I had actually started writing an email each Friday that I sent to a whole bunch of friends and I always titled the email, “Happy Friday!!!” As is the case to this day, it was always based on a thought, idea, something I had seen or heard, etc. that I found profound and thought might help someone else on their life journey.
So it was not long after that trip to Tucson that I
am sitting in Sun Devil Stadium with my Beautiful Bride and a dear friend
pouring out my heart about all of this stuff. I wanted to make a difference, to
do what I could to love, care for, and serve others. I made a vow to them that
the next morning I would begin doing several things:
- Create a website
- Create a twitter account and start putting at least one positive quote/thought/idea on it every day…while I can’t make people look at positive and encouraging messages, I can give them the opportunity to do so.
- Create a Facebook account and start purring at least one positive quote/thought/idea on it every day…see above! 😊
- Create a blog and instead of sending emails every Friday, I would start writing a blog that I would call Happy Friday.
And here we are!!! 😊
So a few things I want to say to you….
- Your life has great value, meaning, and purpose. When God created you, He created something very special! You matter, your life has meaning, and you have a great purpose!
- Please answer that call of your spirit, the conviction I referred to as I drove to Tucson. This world needs you to step up and be all that you were created to be! I don’t know what it is however I do know it is there. I promise you, if you will choose to pursue it you will become alive in a way that is impossible to describe!
- Please, intentionally choose what your influence will be, in your own life as well as in the lives of others, every day! Everything from the quality, depth, and breadth of your life, as well as the relationship you have with others, depends on it…please don’t leave it to chance!
- It doesn’t have to be perfect, you just have to move. Look, I know I am not some world class writer, I am not the best wood worker, I am not the best husband, Dad, leader, or friend, etc. I am flawed and broken…and I have found these to be blessings! Because of them, I know that I need God’s love, mercy, and grace. I know I need to pursue Him every day, in His word and prayer. I can pure-heartedly say that I give the very best I have to every thing I do and then I simply trust the One who called me to take care of the rest. The same is true for you, Sweet Friend. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to answer the call, give your very best, and trust Him with the rest.
Finally, I simply want to say thank you for taking the time to read “Happy Friday.” It truly is an honor and privilege for me to serve you each Friday with these messages! 😊
Here is to 500 more!!! 😊
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
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