Woe. Woe. Woe.

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you having a great day on this glorious Saturday morning in my Sweet Home Alabama!

I am reading a great book by Pastor Craig Groeschel titled, “The Benefit of Doubt: How Confronting Your Deepest Questions Can Lead To A Richer Faith.” Earlier this week I was reading Chapter 6, Why Believe in Jesus When His Followers Are Such Hypocrites? and I just knew I had to share some excerpts with you. I want to strongly encourage you to add this book to your reading list – powerful.

Here are the excerpts that I thought you might find thought-provoking and useful:

“Instead of being known for love, as Jesus commanded, his followers can be known for what they hate and what they are against, and for being exclusive, hypercritical, and antagonistic.

1.      Jesus commanded us to our enemies (Matt. 5:44), but today people claiming to be his followers relentlessly attack their enemies on social media.

2.     Jesus taught that we are to be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9), but Christians today scream hate-filled words at their protests and rallies.

3.     Jesus said only those without sin can cast a stone, leading the people who wanted to punish a guilty woman to drop their weapons (John 8:1-11), but today Christians quickly and easily pick up “stones” and throw them at the guilty, and sometimes the innocent.”

“Turns out Jesus didn’t like it when people claimed one thing and lived another.”

“Jesus called them hypocrites. You’ll find the word hypocrite seventeen times in the Gospels. Every time, it was Jesus who spoke the word. And every time, he used it to describe people who “do not practice what they preach…everything they do is do for people to see” (Matt. 23:3).”

“Before Jesus used it, the word hypocrite had been used exclusively for actors, who, back then, would wear masks onstage because the same actor would plan several different parts. For each character, a different mask was worn. So hypocrite means, “one who wears a mask.”

Jesus was the first person to ever use the word outside the theater context. By applying it to the Pharisees, he accused them of wearing masks, pretending to be something they weren’t.

And what did Jesus say to them?

Woe. Woe. Woe. Woe. Woe. Woe. Woe.

Whoa! Jesus had a zero-tolerance policy for hypocrites.

Jesus was calling them out on their show. He already knew that, just like every other human, they were sinners. The problem he was addressing was their constant attempts to cover it up. They presented a false exterior, manipulating the impressions of others. To Jesus, their deception was what made the Pharisees hypocrites.”

“They’re described this way in Titus 1:6: “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.”

Just to clarify:

·       Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. Following Jesus does.

·       Attending a Bible study doesn’t make you a Christian. Following Jesus does.

·       Believing in God doesn’t make you a Christian. Following Jesus does.

·       Getting baptized doesn’t make you a Christian. Following Jesus does.”

“Jesus was accused of hanging out with “sinners” who also didn’t know any better yet. He met people right where they were at the time. And he still does.”

“While salvation is a one-time event, transformation is a lifelong journey. The Holy Spirit may come to us in a download, but, through him, change happens day by day. that means every Christian is at a unique place in his or her walk of faith.”

“We are all imperfect, in-process Christians.”

“No matter how mature you are, you’re still vulnerable. And if you think you’re not, you are even more vulnerable. Pride often comes before a fall (Prov. 16:18).”

“That is a cognitive bias we all have called the fundamental attribution error, which means this:

·       When we fall short, we blame our circumstances.

·       When other people fall short, we blame their character.

·       When I sin, I might say, “I didn’t mean to, I was just tired and under a lot of pressure. And, really, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Besides, you know my heart. I’m not that kind of person.”

·       When someone else commits the same sin, we say, “That person’s so bad. I doubt he’s even a Christian. What a hypocrite!””

“We are quick to point fingers and accuse others of hypocrisy. But when we blame our circumstances while shaming someone else’s character, isn’t that hypocrisy? Doesn’t it make us hypocrites too?”

“God-fearing”doesn’t necessarily mean Jesus following.”

“If you’ve been hurt by people and it led you to lose your faith in Jesus, is it possible your faith was in people when it should have been in Jesus?”

Pretty powerful, thought-provoking stuff, isn’t it? I hope and pray that you and I will take off the masks and live the authentic lives we 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 family, and please stay well!

Kev

Living a Life of Integrity

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Friday morning in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

How is your integrity?

 

Merriam-Webster defines integrity as follows:

Integrity

1: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility

2: an unimpaired condition : soundness

3: the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness

 

Most of the time when we speak of integrity, we are speaking of the first definition – I love the “incorruptibility” at the end! We think of things like doing what you say you are going to do, doing the right things, etc. And these are critically important; however, I would offer that these are the disciplines and fruits of integrity, not the root of it.

 

This morning, when I asked about your integrity, I was referring to the 3rd and 2nd definitions, in that order. Are you complete? Are you undivided? Is there complete alignment between your purpose, your priorities, and the life you live? This is the integrity I speak of this morning.

 

Unfortunately, many don’t know their purpose or priorities. Perhaps more tragic, some know their purpose and/or priorities; however, they are not honoring them. In both cases, we are not complete or sound. Ever feel that way? I know I do.

 

If you are not complete this morning, I want to encourage you to take some time to get clarity about your purpose and priorities and then live your life in alignment with them. If you are complete, I am cheering for you! Please continue to run your race with intentionality and perseverance.

 

For all of us, I want to offer two warnings:

1.  Whether we acknowledge them and choose to live our lives in alignment with them or not, our purposes and priorities will continue to call out to us. Two things happen when we fail to honor our purpose and priorities – the work we were created to do goes undone, and the needs of the people we are called to serve remain unmet.

2. We must reaffirm and recommit to our purposes and priorities every day. Cares, concerns, and challenges of this world are constantly hammering away at our foundation. If we fail to live in alignment with our purpose and priorities, if things get out of order, our lives, our families, and our peace are at risk. When we are not complete and sound, we feel it, and it impacts every aspect of our lives. Please Friend, be intentional about your commitment to your purpose and priorities, and make sure the life you are living is in alignment with them.

 

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 family, and please stay well!

 

Kev

Every Day Has the Potential

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this beautiful Friday evening in my Sweet Home Alabama!

Last Saturday was one of the best days of my life. For the first time in months, our entire family was together. I could end there, and that would be enough to qualify as one of the best days of my life. However, there was more, much more!

·       My Beautiful Bride made us all biscuits and gravy for breakfast.

·       My 3 Tender Warriors and I then went and ran errands, bringing Starbucks back for everyone who wanted one.

·       Lunch was a Shrimp Boil.

·       Then there was an afternoon family football game. There were so many funny moments,  many of which will be told around the dinner table for years.

·       Dinner was my Beautiful Brides amazing Pork Nachos.

·       We all then stayed up until past 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, watching UFC 316

The thing is, I was fully aware that this was special while it was happening. As the boys and I were running errands, I thought back to how long it had been since we had done something like this together. We were all talking, enjoying each other's company…no cell phones, no fighting.

All of the meals, in addition to being great food (the Haslams eat well!!!), were really all about talking about life – what we have been doing, hopes, goals, dreams, struggles, challenges, and concerns. There was understanding, compassion, and love — so much love.

That football game was something else! Yes, there were a couple of arguments – they are still brothers after all! However, there was good, healthy competition, and did I mention some absolutely hilarious moments?!

Other than having to stop a couple of wrestling matches before they started, the time spent watching UFC was about sitting around together, visiting, and, of course, enjoying snacks!

So here is my question: Was the day great, or did we make it that way? Or, is it simply my perception that it was a great day? You see, just like you and every other family, there are problems, challenges, and struggles. There were tears and deep, heartfelt conversations. I cherish those most! I could easily flip the script and, instead of bullet-pointing six things that have blessed my life deeply, I could list six problems, challenges, and struggles I currently face. You get to choose well. And whatever choice we make, whatever we want to focus on, will influence the way we think, talk, and act. I choose joy, gratitude, and faith! You?

“Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life.”

 - Mark Twain 

“Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life.”

- Lin-Manuel Miranda

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 family, and please stay well!

Kev

Don't Waste the Struggle

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Friday afternoon!

 

This afternoon, I want to encourage us all not to waste the struggle. We all face struggles, challenges that we create and those that are thrust upon us, as we are on this beautiful journey called life. Within them are seeds of wisdom, courage, and strength. The thing is, we cannot gain these tools if we do not go through and embrace the struggle. It would truly be no different than putting a seed in the ground one day and taking it out the next – nobody would ever expect that seed to grow and become all that it was created to become. The same is true of you and me, Friend.

 

Over the years, working with college-aged individuals, I have seen families make great sacrifices to support their students in attending school. I have also seen students leave their families to pursue a degree and a better life. Most recently, I have had two sons go to pursue their callings. I recently wrote something to one of my sons who was dealing with homesickness, something like, “It is a struggle and a sacrifice for all of us – don’t waste the struggle.” My point to him, and for all of us on this Friday, is to make the sacrifice worth it by becoming all that you were created to become. There are challenges to overcome, lessons to be learned, and wisdom, courage, and strength to be gained! Lean into every day, every moment, and drain the potential out of each one. While it is sad to see people be alive for a lifetime without actually living, it is equally unfortunate to see people half-heartedly attempt to do something and waste the struggle.

 

I have seen my share of struggles in life, and I completely understand that when we're in one, we just want it to be over. As I reflect back on the ones that I attacked as I encouraged my son to do, I see where I learned, grew, and became stronger. And yes, there are those struggles that I look back on where I took the easy way out or gave less than my best…those are the ones I look back on with regret. While the pain of struggle is unquestionably real, so is the pain of regret. Let’s commit to lives without regret. Let’s choose to be fully alive every day. Whether we choose a path that requires us to struggle or a challenge is thrust upon us, let’s lean in and gain everything we can from it.

 

I want to close by sharing two quotes from Kevin DeShazo that I read this week.

 

“You can pursue your comfort or your potential. It’s up to you.”

 

“Struggle isn’t bad. Failure isn’t bad. Being uncomfortable isn’t bad. Feeling disappointed isn’t bad. These are the moments that refine you. The journey isn’t supposed to be easy or feel good every day. Stop running from the hard moments. Embrace them.”

 

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 family, and please stay well!

 

Kev

What Did You Say?

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 share a portion of Joel Osteen’s message titled, “Your Words Become Your Reality.” You can search the title to listen to the full message or you can listen to it on the Joel Osteen Daily Podcast. The transcript is copied from Sermons.love. You can find the full transcript at https://sermons.love.

I want to talk to you today about how your words become your reality. You are where you are today in part because of what you've been saying about yourself. Words are like seeds. When you speak something out, you give life to what you're saying. If you continue to say it, eventually that can become a reality. Whether you realize it or not, you are prophesying your future.

This is great when we're saying things like, I'm blessed. I'm strong. I will accomplish my dreams. I'm coming out of debt. That's not just being positive, you are prophesying victory, prophesying success, prophesying new levels. Your life will move in the direction of your words. But too many people go around prophesying just the opposite. "I never get any good breaks". "I'll never get back in shape". "Business is slow: I'll probably get laid off". "Flu season is here. I always get it". They don't realize they are prophesying defeat. It's just like they're calling in bad breaks, mediocrity, lack.

The scripture says "We will eat the fruit of our words". You are planting seed when you talk. At some point, you're going to eat that fruit. My challenge is make sure you're planting the right kind of seeds. If you want apples, you have to sow apple seeds. If you want oranges, you can't plant cactus seeds, poison ivy seeds, mushroom seeds. You're going to reap fruit from the exact seeds that you've been sowing.

In other words, you can't talk negative and expect to live a positive life. You can't talk defeat and expect to have victory. You can't talk lack, not enough, can't afford it, never get ahead; and expect to have abundance. If you have a poor mouth, you're going to have a poor life. If you don't like what you're seeing, start sowing some different seeds. Instead of saying, "I'll never get well, Joel, this sickness has been in my family for three generations". No, let me give you the right seeds. "God is restoring health back unto me. This sickness didn't come to stay, it came to pass. I'm getting better and better every day".

You keep sowing those seeds and eventually you'll eat that fruit. Health, wholeness, victory. Instead of saying, "I'll never get out of debt. I'll never rise any higher". No, "I will lend and not borrow. Whatever I touch prospers and succeeds. I'm coming into overflow, into more than enough". Start sowing seeds of increase, seeds of abundance. No more "I'll never accomplish my dreams". No, "I have the favor of God. Blessings are chasing me down. The right people are searching me out. New opportunities, new levels are in my future". If you'll keep talking like that, you'll reap a harvest of good things. James said in the scripture, "With our tongue we can bless our life or we can curse our life".

Many people don't realize with their words they're cursing their future. Every time you say, "I never get any good breaks", you just cursed your life. "I'll never be able to afford that nice house". "I'll never break this addiction". "I'll never meet the right person". No, stop cursing your future. Sometimes the enemy doesn't have to defeat us, we defeat ourselves. Pay attention to what you're saying. Are you blessing your life? Or are you cursing it?

Pretty powerful, isn’t it? I want to challenge us; for one week, let’s speak nothing but blessings over our life and the lives of others. If we slip up, correct it. Let’s really commit to it and see what happens…I am confident we will not regret it!

I also want to share a quick thought with you all this morning. During his sermon on Sunday, May 18^th, Pastor Adam made the statement, “Jesus is interruptible.” He went on to point out how people were constantly interrupting Jesus, asking Him to do something for them, and He always stopped what He was doing to love, care for, and serve others. Think about it; where in the Bible do you read that someone went to Jesus for help and He said, “I am sorry, I don’t have time. I have to get to a meeting?” He never did. So, as I took my notes, I wrote, “Jesus is interruptible,” and then I wrote, “Are you?” I punched myself right in the gut! While I wish I could tell you I am always interruptible and always take the time, the reality is that I am not, and I do not, far too often. How about you, Friend, are you interruptible? We will leave that one right 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 family, and please stay well!

 

Kev

We Have Today

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 day is going to be a great one – I believe and declare.

I carry a notebook with me that has the following printed on it:

“This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good.”

- Unknown

I don’t know who is responsible for the adaptation that I have on my notebook; however, I do know that Heartsill Wilson is responsible for the original poem, The Beginning of A New Day. Here is his original poem:

“This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving something in its place I have traded for it. I want it to be a gain, not a loss – good not evil. Success, not failure, in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.”

- Heartsill Wilson

Friends, this is the beginning of a new day. What are you going to do with it?

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 family, and please stay well!

Kev

Waiting at the Gate

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!

You are all in for a treat this week! I am blessed to work with so many amazing people! One of them, Diana Taylor, made a comment to me earlier this week about how having a small child has helped her grow spiritually. She then told me what she will share this week in the message. When she got done telling me the story, I asked, “Where are you preaching this weekend?” Her message is great, and I trust it will bless and challenge you as much as it has me.

Last week, I picked up my son from school. When he saw me, he was happy and excited, but I could also tell he had been crying. I asked his teacher what was wrong, and she told me what happened in the moments prior.

She said a white SUV had driven by, and my son was so sure it was me. He got so excited and ran to the gate, saying, “Mama! Mama!” - but it wasn’t me. Then a silver F-150 passed by, and he was so sure it was his dad. He shouted, “Da-da! Da-da!”- but it wasn’t his dad and the truck kept driving by. And that’s when he started to cry.

The thing is, I was coming. I was always coming.

It hit me a little while later – how often do we do this in our walk with God? We get our hopes up over things we think are meant for us. They look right, they feel right- and when they pass us by, it’s disappointing, even heartbreaking. But that doesn’t mean we’ve been forgotten. It just means that wasn’t our ride.

I knew I was on my way, even though my son couldn’t see me yet. And if he had gone home with one of those other cars or families, he would’ve missed out on the one that was truly for him.

It’s the same with God. Sometimes doors close, opportunities slip by, and we’re left feeling confused and discouraged. My husband and I have been there - he’s lost coaching and teaching roles that felt like the perfect fit for our family. In the moment, it was so painful. To have to say goodbye to the relationships we put blood, sweat, and tears into forming. But every time, in hindsight, we’ve seen that God had something better in mind.

Just because we can’t see what’s coming doesn’t mean it isn’t on its way. And just because something looks like the right thing doesn’t mean it is.

So, if you’re standing at the gate today, wondering why someone or something passed you by, please remember: it might not have been meant for you. But that doesn’t mean you’ve been forgotten. God is still coming. His plans are still unfolding. And they are always worth the wait.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

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 family, and please stay well!

Kev

A Story, A Poem, and A Devotional

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 week, I want to share three things with you: a story, a poem, and a devotional. They speak for themselves, so I won’t add much more. I will share them, let you think about and process them, and then you can do what you want with them.

The Story

Last week I was visiting with a colleague. He was telling me about a 90+-year-old woman he had the honor of working with. She was mentally sharp and spunky. He asked her what she did, what she would attribute her vitality to. She told him that she gets up every morning, gets cleaned up, puts on make-up, gets dressed and then fulfills her purpose. She stated that she can no longer get out like she could when she was younger so she sits and writes notes of encouragement to her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She stated, “That’s my purpose now.”

We can learn a whole lot from this short story! It inspires me! I fully intend to be doing everything in my power to encourage, empower, and equip others until the day I meet Jesus face to face.

The Poem

A fellow Rotarian quoted this poem by memory on Monday. It was the first time I had heard it and I immediately knew I had to share it with all of you.

Equipment

By Edgar A. Guest

Figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You've all that the greatest of men have had,

Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes,

And a brain to use if you would be wise.

With this equipment they all began,

So start for the top and say "I can."

Look them over, the wise and great,

They take their food from a common plate

And similar knives and forks they use,

With similar laces they tie their shoes,

The world considers them brave and smart.

But you've all they had when they made their start.

You can triumph and come to skill,

You can be great if only you will,

You're well equipped for what fight you choose,

You have legs and arms and a brain to use,

And the man who has risen, great deeds to do

Began his life with no more than you.

You are the handicap you must face,

You are the one who must choose your place,

You must say where you want to go.

How much you will study the truth to know,

God has equipped you for life, But He

Lets you decide what you want to be.

Courage must come from the soul within,

The man must furnish the will to win,

So figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You were born with all that the great have had,

With your equipment they all began.

Get hold of yourself, and say: "I can."

The Devotional

I am doing a Bible Study on the YouVersion Bible App. The study is titled Faithful Fatherhood. Legacy Minded Men wrote this plan. You can learn more about Legacy Minded Men at https://www.legacymindedministries.org. While it is titled and written for men, I promise this study has great information for moms and dads. I am sharing what I read yesterday morning, Day 4 of the plan.

Parenting in Faith: A Devotional for Fathers

Fatherhood is a journey filled with joys, challenges, and fears. Many of us worry about whether our kids will turn out right. Will they make wise decisions? Will they follow the Lord? These fears can sometimes shape our parenting in ways we don’t intend. But as I’ve learned, parenting in fear creates fear in our children. Parenting in faith, however, inspires faith.

Fear vs. Faith in Parenting

When my children were young, I often parented from a place of fear. My constant corrections—even with good intentions—communicated to my daughters that they could never meet my standards. While I aimed to teach them excellence, I unintentionally eroded their confidence and created distance in our relationship.

But then I discovered a transformative principle in Hebrews 3:13: “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” The Bible calls us to encourage, to put courage into others. This principle applies powerfully to fatherhood.

Consistent encouragement tells our children who they are, inspiring them to live up to their God-given potential. Correction, while necessary, tells them who they are not. Both have their place, but encouragement fosters confidence and a stronger relationship.

The Power of Encouragement

Encouragement means speaking life into our kids. It’s telling them, “I’m proud of your effort,” or, “I’m so glad God put you in our family.” These affirmations help our children see themselves as God sees them—loved, valued, and capable. Over time, I shifted from constant correction to intentional encouragement, and the results were profound. My children began to listen more, grow in confidence, and strive for excellence on their own.

I’ll never forget a conversation with my high school daughter, Madeline. I had been practicing encouragement for years when she said, “Dad, years ago, I felt like I couldn’t do anything right in your eyes. Now, I feel like I can’t do anything wrong.” Her words affirmed the power of encouragement in shaping our kids’ confidence and faith.

Practical Steps to Parent in Faith

1. Speak Life Daily: Use affirming statements like “That’s impressive,” “I’m proud of you,” or “God gave you such a great gift.” Let your words reflect how God sees them.

2. Focus on Who They Are: Instead of pointing out mistakes, emphasize their strengths and potential. This builds their identity and inspires growth.

3. Pray for Them: Cover your children in prayer, asking God to guide their hearts, protect their paths, and use their lives for His glory.

4. Trust God’s Plan: 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Trust that God is at work in your children’s lives and has a good plan for their future.

A Call to Action

Fatherhood isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present and intentional. When we parent in faith rather than fear, we inspire our kids to become confident, faith-filled individuals. Begin today by speaking life into your children. Tell them who they are in God’s eyes, and watch as they grow in confidence and faith.

What kind of dad do you want to be? Let’s choose to parent in faith, creating a legacy of encouragement, love, and trust in 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, please cherish your precious family, and please stay well!

Kev 

You Earn It

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! How in the world is it already May?!

 

My Beautiful Bride and I talked last weekend; many say we want to be the best at something, attain a particular position, be a champion, etc. However, how many of us are willing to do what it takes to accomplish what we say we want? I had a former boss who used to say, “You haven’t earned the right to sit in my chair?” She was saying the same thing. There were years of hard work, sacrifice, and struggle that, according to her, had earned her the right to sit in the chair.

 

I believe the same is true of relationships. Most of us would say we want to have good relationships with our spouse, children, etc. However, are we willing to do what it takes to have the good relationships we want?

 

Because we say we want something, it doesn’t mean we will get it, and it certainly doesn’t mean we deserve it. Just because I want or would like to have things doesn’t mean I am willing to do what it takes to accomplish them.

 

I believe that every person has a purpose, and we have dreams and passions that we long to accomplish. Just because it is hard and will take a lot of time doesn’t mean you shouldn't do it. We would be wise, however, to count the cost before beginning. It will take longer, require more sacrifice, and push you to the limits of your capacity to accomplish it - at least if it is a goal or dream worth having…

 

The next time you find yourself thinking “I want to have their job” or “I wish I had a marriage like that,” I want to encourage you to pause and do two things. First, genuinely appreciate the person you are referring to. While we see the outcome, we do not know the time, commitment, and sacrifices they made to achieve what we now admire. Second, thoughtfully consider what we are saying we want. If this is something we genuinely want to pursue, then commit to doing whatever it takes to accomplish it. I will tell you, it is a commitment that will have to be made over and over again. However, I can assure you that it will be worth it.

 

“Some people want everything to be perfect before they're willing to commit... But commitment always precedes achievement.” - John C. Maxwell

 

“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses - only results.” - Ken Blanchard

 

“I believe life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve. This level of resolve can move mountains, but it must be constant and consistent. As simplistic as this may sound, it is still the common denominator separating those who live their dreams from those who live in regret.” - Tony Robbins

 

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 family, and please stay well!

 

Kev

As Far As It Depends On You

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! Today will surely be a great day, I believe and declare!

I have thought a lot about this scripture this week:

Romans 12:18

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

The “as far as it depends on you” is the key part. Neither you nor I can control how someone treats us, responds to us, acts towards us, etc. We, however, always have a choice. We can choose to be kind, nice, polite, empathetic, and understanding regardless of who the other person is or what they are doing. We can choose not to respond, not be offended, and not retaliate if someone says or does something mean, rude, or inappropriate. I am not proposing that it is easy; it is a choice.

I also want to remind us of the words found in Mark 12:30-31:

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”

While I absolutely want to encourage you to love the Lord with all your soul, mind, and strength, it is the second part that I am most interested in this morning. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” I have beaten this drum before and will beat it again this morning; there is a period at the end of the sentence, not a comma. Who is your neighbor? Everyone. That includes the worthy and the unworthy, regardless of how we define those terms.

I want to share a few quotes, and then I will end with our challenge.

“When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.” - Wayne Dyer 

“The way we treat people we strongly disagree with is a report card on what we’ve learned about love, compassion, and kindness.” - Marc Ian Barasch 

“Set an example. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are.” - Jonathan Lockwood Huie 

So Friends, my challenge for us this week, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

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

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious family, and please stay well!

 

Kev

We All Have Something

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! Today and this weekend are going to be amazing! While I realize this is not Friday, I wanted to share my message today so I can be fully present and enjoy the time with my family these next few days.

This morning, I will not share anything that you don’t know or haven't heard before; however, it has been on my heart most of the week. I also want to share a couple of pieces of encouragement.

Almost everyone is dealing with a problem, challenge, or issue. It could be something that occurred just that day or something that has been going on for weeks, months, or even years. The range of issues is so vast that I won’t even attempt to list them. The point is that almost everyone is dealing with something. Nothing new, right?

Here is where I want to offer some encouragement.

First, if you are going through a difficult time, whatever that might be or however you might define it, please know that you are not alone. One of the horrible outcomes of this “perfect,” social media-driven world is that we tend to think we are alone in our struggles. The reality is we are not alone. Many people have the same, or similar, struggles, issues, and problems. However, because so many of us are wearing masks, pretending everything is great while in reality we are falling apart, we are hesitant to say anything. I want to encourage you to say something. It is not a sign of weakness but rather a characteristic of great strength…and the quickest way to help and healing. Please don’t remain silent, don’t withdraw from others, and please don’t believe the lie that nobody cares. I assure you, there are a lot of people who care. I know I do!

What would this world look like if we extended grace and compassion instead of looking to be offended? For most of you reading this, I know you have challenges, issues, and/or concerns, and I also know you aren’t always kind, encouraging, and gracious. How do I know? Because I am just like you! In fact, as much as we want to try to separate ourselves, we are all much more alike than we are dissimilar. So, please, Friends, the next time you see someone who is rude, insensitive, or does something you don’t like, perhaps instead of jumping up to put them in their place, we look at them through the lens of grace and compassion. Instead of getting mad at them, I wonder what would happen if we prayed for them. Instead of “putting them in their place,” I wonder what would happen if we asked them if they are o.k. or if there is something we could do to help them. I don’t know the answer for you; I pray that I have eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart to care, and hands and feet willing to be moved by Jesus to love, care for, and serve others. Besides, being offended is far too easy…everyone is doing it!

As I thought about this Happy Friday the story of “The Cross Room” came to my mind. It was profound to me years ago when I first read it; it is still profound to me today. I don’t know exactly how it fits into this message, I simply feel convicted to share it.

The Cross Room

“A young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out he dropped to his knees in prayer. "Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear."

The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then open that other door and pick out any cross you wish." 

The young man was filled with relief. "Thank you Lord," he sighed, and he did what he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many other crosses, some so large the tops weren't even visible. Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against the far wall. "I'd like that one Lord," he whispered. 

And the Lord replied, ‘My son, that is the cross you just brought in.’”

Source unknown

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 Easter, please cherish your precious family, and please stay well!

Kev