Do You Have It All Figured Out?

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!

 

I serve as a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Last Sunday my Little and I were visiting before church started. I asked him if he was mentoring anyone in the program that he participates in. He shook his head sheepishly and said, “No, I have to get it all figured out first.” We then had the following conversation:

 

Me – Is going to church important?

Him – Yes.

Me – Why?

Him – Because we all need Jesus. And we need to learn and grow.

Me – Is being honest important?

Him – Yes.

Me – Why?

Him – Because people can’t trust you if you aren’t honest.

Me – And how can we have a relationship with someone without trust?

Him – You can’t.

Me – Is working hard important?

Him – Yes.

Me – Why?

Him – Because you have to work for what you want.

Me – Yes, and it’s kind of like we were talking about on the way to church; I want my truck clean, but it isn’t going to clean itself. I have to do the work if I want it done.

Me – Is being kind important?

Him – Yes.

Me – Why?

Him – Because you have to treat people the way you want to be treated.

Me – That’s good. And will everyone be kind to you?

Him – No.

Me – But we are still nice to them because that is a reflection of who we are, not a reflection of them.

Me – Let me ask you a question: Do you think you know some things others might need to learn?

Him – Yes, I guess I do.

Me – Look around.

He looks around the church.

Me – There is not one person you see who has it all figured out. Can you imagine if I said I can’t be a Big until I have it all figured out? I wouldn’t be a Big, and I never would have met you.

He smiles.

 

What about you, Friend? Do you have it all figured out? I know I don’t! Are you waiting to pour into the lives of others until you have it all figured out? I hope not.

 

I heard it said once that we all need a mentor, and we all need a mentee. While we all have things we need to learn, wisdom we need to gain, and experiences we need to have, we all have things we know, wisdom to share, and experiences we have had that would benefit the lives of those coming behind us. Let us not be too proud to learn & grow from others nor so self-absorbed that we aren’t willing to benefit those coming behind us with what we do have to offer.

 

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 in 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

Which World Do You Live In?

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!

 

Which world do you live in?

 

Patanjali once said, “When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world.”

 

Again, which world do you live in? Do you live in the world of the inspired or in the world of those who are living but not truly alive? Are you pursuing your purpose and/or striving daily to do something deeply meaningful or will today be just another day? My sincere hope and prayer for each one of us is that we will never again live just another day…

 

I truly believe to the depths of my soul that every life has value, meaning, and purpose. Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” You are a masterpiece, Friend, created for good work that God prepared beforehand, but we must choose to do the walking.

 

Whatever talent, gift, ability, passion, and/or purpose God placed in your heart; it matters. Please embrace who you are, what you were created to become, and work tirelessly to maximize the potential that is within you. Why? Because this world needs you to fulfill your purpose. To use your gifts to the best of your ability to love, care for, and serve others. Oh, we will be o.k. if you don’t. We will go on however we will not become all that we could become because something critically important will be missing – you!

 

This morning I implore you; if you don’t know your purpose, or perhaps you have buried it, do the hard work of discovering it or digging it up. I pray you will determine in your heart, mind, and spirit, that you will never again live just another day. You and your purpose are far too valuable to live just another day! There is a beautiful world awaiting all of us; the world of the inspired! Let’s choose to live in it by daily honoring the lives that God created us to live.

 

“The two most important days in life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain

 

“Life without a purpose is like a body without a soul.” – Unknown

 

“The greatest tragedy is not death but life without purpose.” – Rick Warren

 

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

Devoted or Divisive

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! I am so excited to live this day…I have never seen this one before!

 

Last Sunday our Executive Pastor, Adam Gooch, preached an absolutely phenomenal message. You can watch the entire sermon – and I would strongly encourage you to do so!!! – by clicking on this link https://www.igotofaith.com/sermons/frankenchurch-aysxg

 

Now, two things in full transparency:

1.      I am completely going to take Pastor Adam out of context. Our sermon series is about the church and how Jesus called us all to be one. I am not going to talk about the church – I am going to apply his incredible words to you, me, and how we live our lives daily.

2.     This is going to be a very short message!

 

Pastor Adam noted that we are either devoted, which he defined as love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause, or we are divisive. We can’t be both. We are either bringing together or pulling apart. Which will it be?

 

To close – told you it was going to be short! – I am going to share a scripture and a quote from Pastor Adam.

 

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

 

And then the quote that the moment I heard it I knew what Happy Friday was going to be:

 

“It’s hard to throw stones at someone you are praying for.” – Adam Gooch

 

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 contact me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

 

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

 

Kev

Shine Brightly!

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 sure to be a great day – I believe and declare!!!

Earlier this week I was listening to a podcast from Joel Osteen. It originally aired on December 25, 2024, and it was titled, “Shine Brightly.” Pastor Joel said two things that I want to make the focus of this week’s Happy Friday.

Pastor Joel said, “How you are living your life is sending a message to those around you.” We know this is true! The question, however, is are we living like it? And perhaps more importantly, is it the message we want to send? Our thoughts, intentions, and words don’t change a thing, only our actions do. Instead of trying to tell others what they should say or do, why don’t we live lives that are aligned with our values, beliefs, and priorities? If I value my family, believe every person has value, meaning, and purpose, and if it is a priority for me to love, care for, and serve others, the life I live should support these statements. In fact, I really shouldn’t have to tell you these things, you should see them lived out in my life.

Please take some time and do an assessment, Friends. What is your message? Is it the message you want to send?

The second thing Pastor Joel said that I want to touch on briefly is, “We complain about the darkness but that is our time to shine!” Let me say it this way; if we are around a bunch of people that are kind, our kindness does not stand out. If on the other hand, we are around a bunch of people who aren’t kind, our kindness sticks out. Instead of complaining about the darkness, shine! If we are around those who are unhelpful, be helpful. If we are around those who are rude, be polite. Instead of being upset that others are not what they think they should be, instead of complaining that we are around them, let us realize that perhaps we have been divinely appointed to that place for that purpose.

We are so blessed to be living the lives we are living, Friends. I pray that each one of us will live lives that send the message we want to send and that when we find ourselves in dark places, we will realize that we have been placed there to be a light. While we might not be able to change the whole world, we can certainly change our world. Shine brightly, Friends!      

I am going to close with a few quotes for you to thoughtfully consider.

“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” – Paulo Coelho

“What you are speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The more light you allow within you, the brighter the world you live in will be.” – Shakti Gawain

“As you live high standards publicly and privately, and even under great pressure adhere to them, you raise the vision of others.” – Richard G. Scott

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