Always Have a Quarter in Your Pocket

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!

One week until the college football season is here! Let's go!!!

What a treat and blessing! Earlier this week, my Beautiful Bride, Kathy, walked up to me and said, "I have this week's Happy Friday." There was only one appropriate response: "Yes ma'am." You all are going to enjoy this great message and the wisdom within it.

Always Have a Quarter in Your Pocket

When my boys were little, I felt so overwhelmed at times, and most of the time my answer was “no.” Then one day I had a strong conviction. We were at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, and there stood this gigantic bubblegum machine. As my youngest stood there, with his tender, big blue eyes dancing, he looked up to me, and of course, asked for a quarter. I had none, and at times I just said, "You don’t need one." His sweet face dropped, his smile faded, and he moved on to the next thing. At that moment, getting a piece of bubble gum was everything to him. Just like the things that are everything to me when my eyes would dance at new shoes, new clothes, new jewelry, etc. This is when I made a vow to always have a quarter for the bubble gum machine for any of my three boys. Even to this day, he is grown now, whenever we see a bubble gum machine, he looks at me and smiles. It has just become a great memory for both of us.

 

It is so easy, as moms, for “no” to become our default response instead of a thoughtful one. We carry the responsibility. At times, we say “no” for good reason: to protect, to guide, to teach. Or “no,” not now. No, that’s not good for you. At times, no’s are necessary, but don’t let them become a habit. Our children need joy, laughter, and reassurance, and to be seen and cherished, not just discipline and structure.

 

Sometimes the important things, the small things in life, are sometimes the biggest things in life. As a mom of young children, I sometimes found it easier to say no, but I want to encourage you to choose connection over convenience. To this day, my youngest and I are connected all because of a simple coin, a quarter.

 

Guess what? The requests for bubble gum are gone; my house is quiet; no more car rides. I do not remember every rule I enforced, but I sure do remember the times we laughed together, the lunch dates, getting bubble gum, and all the smiles it brought to his face. I miss those days.

 

There is something small about a quarter. It's just loose change, but in the eyes of a child, that quarter can feel like a treasure. It can mean a moment of joy as you look into a bubble gum machine at a bright blue piece of gum.

 

At times, I wish I had paused more while raising my boys and asked, “Is this a moment that really needs a no or a chance to say yes?”

 

A quarter for a piece of bubble gum isn’t about too much sugar or saying you don’t need that. It's about being present in the moment of what's important in your child's life. It shows us to slow down. It's about recognizing that my boy's childhood was made up of tiny, spontaneous moments. These moments may be insignificant to us as parents, but they become the stories our children carry with them for a lifetime.

 

Our Father in Heaven has the heart of a good, patient Father. He delights in giving His children good gifts. Not out of obligation, but out of love. As parents, we need to strive to reflect that same heart.

 

We get so busy raising our children, making sure homework is done, baths are taken, etc. I did this. God reminds me every day that love is often found in the small things, and the most meaningful lessons are wrapped in the simplest moments. Or a wrapped piece of bubble gum. A simple yes might just be the best yes, you can give to your child.

 

So, to wrap this up, always have a quarter ready. Not just in your pocket but in your heart. This taught me to have more patience, to have more grace, to take more time to know what's important to my child. Did I always get this right? Absolutely not. Choose the memory, not the no. It might just change your world.

 

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths that you take, but the moments that take your breath away.” – Maya Angelou

 

“It's not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln

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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

Kev

A Few Reminders

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 special; I can just feel it!

 

Only 2 more weeks until the college football season is here! Let’s go!!!

 

This week I simply want to share a few reminders. Nothing I will share will be new to you, nor do I think it will be overly thought-provoking. Appropriate and ironic; it is the little things, done with consistency, that lead to big things. And the most important word in the previous sentence was “done,” and the second most important word was “consistency.” Again, ironically, we like to focus on outcomes rather than the process that leads to them.

 

Reminder #1

I was reading something earlier this week that said a leader's first responsibility is to lead themselves. We know that. Here, however, is the question: what are you doing daily to lead yourself? What are the things you are listening to, reading, and watching? Who are the people you are allowing to speak into your life? And the really key question: is it producing the fruit that you want to produce? Bottom line: it is not mine or anyone else’s job to lead you to make sure that you become all that you are created to become. That responsibility, Friend, lies squarely on your shoulders. The same is true for each one of us.

 

Reminder #2

I was listening to a Jon Gordon podcast, and his guest was Chris Hodges, the founder of Church of the Highlands and current chancellor of Highlands College. During the interview, Chris said something like, “All of us are leaving a legacy, whether it is good or bad.” If you think about it, that is a true statement. Pick any person and think of them. What did you think? That is their legacy. So, and you knew this was coming, what legacy are you leaving? At home? At work? With your friends? At church? Some day when you are gone, what will you be remembered for? I remember Aeneas Williams' Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech several years ago, and his key point was, “begin with the end in mind.” I encourage us today, Friends, to think about what we want that end to be and then consistently do (those two words again!) the things that will lead to the legacy we want to leave.

 

Reminder #3

I had a situation this week that reminded me of Trey Smith's quote: “If your presence doesn't make an impact, your absence won't make a difference.” We aren’t here to be consumers or observers; we are here to be difference makers! Our lives have value, meaning, and a purpose. Let’s live each and every day as though that statement is true – to the depths of my soul I believe it is!!!

 

Finally, I want to share the lyrics to the song The Long Way by Natalie Layne. For the last few weeks, every time I hear this song, it is like it is the prayer of my Spirit. Hits me hard in a profoundly positive way. I thought you all might enjoy it. I would also encourage you to Google it and listen to it.

 

I'm the kind of heart that likes to know right where I'm going

I would take the highway over dirt roads any day

I would rather speed things up than learn to trust the process

Tell me yes or tell me no, just don't tell me to wait

 

But You see more than I can see

You've got good plans for me

So I'm surrendering

 

Take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

Take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

 

I have seen Your faithfulness in every mile so far

All that I have needed, You've provided from the start

Your voice is always gentle and Your love is evergreen

Leading me to a kindness that I never would have seen

 

So take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

Take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

If the long way leads to You

 

You see more than I can see

You've got good plans for me

They're better than I dreamed

So I'm Yours and I believe

 

You'll take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

You'll take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

If the long way leads to You

 

Please feel free 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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

Everybody Has a Story

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you having a great day as a glorious new dawn begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

Having been in higher education my entire career and speaking with thousands of men and women across generations, I have two deeply held beliefs.
1. Everybody has a story. All of us have had times of great joy and sadness; we all have great victories and heart-crushing defeats; and we all have hopes and dreams.
2. We can learn something from everyone.

Now, before diving into what I actually want to share with you briefly this morning, I want to make one key point: to know someone's story and learn from them, we have to listen to them. And when I say listen, I don’t mean hear. We can hear a voice and not listen to the person. To genuinely listen to someone is a great gift to them, and you will be blessed beyond measure yourself.

I was reminded of the importance of my first point this past week – everyone has a story. And they all matter, by the way! I serve at an institution that has existed since 1830, and the building where my office is located was a home that a family lived in during the Civil War. There was a little girl who lived in the house with her family during the Civil War, and she kept a diary. From that diary, we have learned so much about what was going on in our community and what was going on in and around the house I go to every day. It is incredible, cherished by our institution and her family alike. But here is the thing: as a 12-year-old girl living in this house and writing in her diary in the early 1860s, she did not think it would have historical significance, or that people would so deeply value and appreciate it 160+ years later.

I had a similar “ah ha” moment at a previous institution. This was an academic health center where I served. At that time, I met physicians who were the first to have specialties like pediatric cardiology – they literally developed the specialty. Please think about that for a moment. I remember speaking with one elderly physician, and I asked him about the early years when this idea of pediatric cardiology was born. You could still see the pain in his eyes of the precious souls lost in the early years that he stated could easily be saved today. These physicians, similar to a 12-year-old little girl, did not see the significance in their story, in their life journey. They were just living life, doing the very best they could, and trying to selflessly serve others.

It was at that same academic health center that I first learned of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The course I cherished most was what they called “My Story.” The concept is for everyone to write out their life story so it can be passed down to their children, grandchildren, friends, etc. Many of those who participated in the course actually had the books bound. The books were priceless; they were the life journey of the one who had written it.

So where am I going with all this? I guess there are two things I really want us all to take away this morning.
1. As boring, routine, tiresome, or whatever adjective you might like to use to describe your life, I want to tell you it matters. You are so valuable, so precious, and you are irreplaceable. Sure, others can do some of the things you do; perhaps they can perform your work or whatever; however, nobody ever has been or ever will again be you. While I am sure that you have things you want to improve, change, etc. – we all do! – I simply hope you will be grateful for the life you have…I am! And please give some serious thought to writing your story…it matters!
2. I want to encourage you to take the time; actually, I want to encourage you to intentionally make the time, to listen to people’s stories. I’m telling you, having sat and listened to literally thousands of them, it will inspire and bless your soul! And in the process of having your own life blessed, you are offering another one of the greatest gifts we can give them; we are letting them know they matter.

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

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

Kev

Why Not?

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 is it possible that this is the last day of July? Wasn’t it just Christmas?

 

This morning I want to share a couple of quick thoughts and a quote.

 

Earlier this week our church lost a giant – a great man who served as one of our Pastors. His sudden death reminded me once again of the brevity of life. I don’t mean that as a point of sadness but rather a moment of inspiration to genuinely value and appreciate each day and to live them, one at a time, to the fullest.

 

Also, this week, during my prayer time, I was thinking about the Serenity Prayer. Here is the prayer:

 

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen."

 

The part that convicted my spirit powerfully was “to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can.” Maybe it is just me; however, I tend to spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about things I cannot change, and I forfeit the power I do have by not changing the things I can. Is it just me? I really have to get better at that!

 

Finally, I want to share this great quote from Steve Maraboli with you. It is titled, “Why Not You?” and it absolutely makes my spirit soar!

 

“Why Not You?

 

Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?

 

Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. Why not you?

 

Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?

 

Today, for many the burden of self-doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. Why not you?

 

Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to live free of conditions and rules governing their own happiness. Why not you?

 

Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. Why not you?

 

Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. Why not you?

 

Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?

 

Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?

 

Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, and so much more. Why not you?

 

Today is a new day!

 

Many will seize this day.

 

Many will live it to the fullest.

 

Why not you?”

 

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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, please be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

What if?

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!

Last Sunday, at the start of his message, our Pastor, Steve Huskey, stated that as he was preparing his message, he thought, “What if thousands heard this message and really lived it?” I decided right then and there that I would do whatever I could to make sure the message got out. What if?!

We are in a sermon series we call God at the Box Office. The pastor will take the message from a movie and apply it to Biblical truth and principles. The first movie was The Mandalorian. Apparently, the key character in the movie is asked why he does different things, and he always responds with, “This is the way.” “The way” determines the way he lives his life.

Pastor Steve then beautifully and quite convincingly preached about The Way not being just what we believe, as disciples, but what we do. As he stated, “Believers believe, but disciples do.”

Now, before I go any further, let’s not get this twisted; as a Christian, I believe that you go to Heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. There is nothing to do but confess our sins, our need for Him, and to accept Him into our hearts. Jesus did all the doing to earn our way there.

Understanding salvation, how do we live? Pastor Steve made several great points:

• “Christianity is a way of living, and a way of loyalty to Jesus Christ as your Lord.”
• “Not just a list of things we believe, it is how we live.”
• “Believers don’t change families, lives, communities, etc., disciples do.”
• “How do you find any of The Way? Nobody can know what you think or believe. They can see how you live.”
• “I don’t care what you believe, I want to see how you live.”

Now there are two scriptures that I want to share with you – one Pastor Steve shared and one he did not.

The one he shared was Acts 9: 1 – 2 (NIV):
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Then he asked, “How would he know they belonged to the Way?” This is where the statement, “Nobody can know what you think or believe” just by looking at you; “they can see how you live.” A question worth asking: if someone simply watched the way you live your life, would you be convicted? Maybe more piercing to the soul; would you want to be? Just got real!!!

The other scripture that kept bouncing around in my mind during the whole sermon was one that has challenged me for years; James 2:18 – 19 (NIV) says,
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

It should be noted that this scripture comes from a section titled "Faith (belief) and Deeds." The fact that I believe in God does not make me any different than a demon…hits me every time!

Pastor Steve then shared several different codes for living as disciples. He pointed to the Sermon on the Mount, the 10 Commandments, Galatians 5, and The Didache. While I encourage all of us to be mindful of all these ways of living, I want to specifically highlight Galatians 5 and The Didache this morning.

Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

How are we doing? In viewing our lives, are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control present? If not, we may believe in Jesus; however, we are not following His example.

This is from THE DIDACHE: The Teaching of the Lord Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations, based on the Roberts-Donaldson translation. I am simply going to copy and paste Chapter 3.

Chapter 3.
Other Sins Forbidden.
My child, flee from every evil thing, and from every likeness of it. Be not prone to anger, for anger leads to murder. Be neither jealous, nor quarrelsome, nor of hot temper, for out of all these murders are engendered. My child, be not a lustful one, for lust leads to fornication. Be neither a filthy talker, nor of lofty eye, for out of all these adulteries are engendered. My child, be not superstitious, since it leads to idolatry. Be neither an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a purifier, nor be willing to look at these things, for out of all these idolatry is engendered. My child, be not a liar, since a lie leads to theft. Be neither money-loving, nor vainglorious, for out of all these thefts are engendered. My child, be not a murmurer, since it leads the way to blasphemy. Be neither self-willed nor evil-minded, for out of all these blasphemies are engendered.

So Friends, what if we really lived as disciples of Jesus, not just believers? How different would our lives, families, communities, etc. be? Counter-cultural? For sure! As I type that, Joshua 24:15 comes to mind:
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Two cute/quippy little things have been coming to mind as I have been typing this message.
1. “And they will know we are Christians by our love.” Not by being right, angry, busy, etc.
2. A Christian person was telling another the joy of knowing Jesus, as having him as your Lord and personal Savior. The person asked, “Has your heart ever told your face?” Have you noticed how many Christians look dour all the time? Doesn’t look very appealing and is not representative of Jesus, who came that we may “have life, and have it more abundantly.”

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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and please stay well!

Kev

A Bible Study

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 past week, I learned/became aware of a couple of things that I wanted to share with all of you.

 

First, I want to share my notes with you from our sermon at church last week. Pastor Austin Young delivered the message, which he titled "The Four Layers of Sin."

 

The First Layer = Gross Sins. These are the major or obvious sins.

·       The sin you deal with right when you give your life to Jesus.

·       A list of obvious sins is found in Galatians 5:19-21

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

·       These lead to great testimonies.

 

The Second Layer = Conscious Sins

·       Choose to do things we know are wrong.

·       Most of these are celebrated by culture.

·       He then gave the following examples: Pornography, speeding, dishonesty, paying employees less than we could.

·       We are held to a standard of obedience to God.

·       God will ask you to do something individually.

o   Personal convictions

 

With the first two, we are aware of them, they are behavior-based, and we can often correct them with self-discipline/will power.

 

The Third Layer = Unconscious Sins

·       Don’t do the things you know you should do.

·       Sins of Omission

o   James 4:17 says, 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

·       Sins of Motivation

o   Serving to look good or giving to look generous.

·       He noted that this type of sin is not about behavior, it is about our sin nature

·       We cannot correct them on our own – this is a spiritual battle.

 

The Fourth Layer = Attachments

·       What we need to be happy that are not God.

·       Without this thing or person, you can’t be happy.

·       He gave examples of family, reputation, and financial stability.

·       If you need these things more than you need go, you will be unhappy because they will always fail you.

·       Again, we cannot correct these on our own.

 

Pastor Austin then offered three steps to be freed from sin.

1.      Jesus

o   Psalm 51:17 says, 17 My sacrifice, O God, is[a] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

2.     Bring it to the light

o   Luke 8:17 says, 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

3.     Confess

o   James 5:16 says, 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 

I feel like I have talked about this second one in a previous Happy Friday. I was doing some Bible Study last week, read it, and it struck me as profound again.

 

Many of us know Philippians 4:6:

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

 

And we know Philippians 4:8:

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

However, when you add verses 7 and 9 and link them all together, it just hits different… at least for me!

 

Philippians 4:6-9

New International Version

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We are told not to be anxious in any situation, to take our requests to God, and then we are given this beautiful promise: when we do the first part, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.

 

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

It is so interesting that after we are told not to be anxious in any situation and to take our requests to God, we are told to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, anything that is excellent or praiseworthy. Perhaps it is just me; I totally get this! How often I have been anxious about something, I will take it to God in prayer, and then I will go right back to thinking about all the things around why I am anxious. The instruction here is clear: don’t be anxious, pray, and then think about anything that is excellent or praiseworthy.

 

Then the Apostle Paul encourages us to put into practice what we have learned, received, heard, or seen in him. He says if we do these things, the God of peace will be with us. To be honest, what struck me more than anything is what it would look like if people put into practice what they have learned, received, heard, or seen in me. Am I pointing them to God? If they did what I did, would the peace of God guard their hearts and minds, and would the God of peace be with them? Have you noticed how this seems to be what is missing more than anything else in our world today – peace? We have a whole lot of anxious, mad, and angry people. What if we actually lived out Philippians 4:6 –8 and lived our lives in such a way that we could confidently proclaim what Paul did in verse 9? Man, I aspire to that!

 

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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

Go To The Beach

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 was going to take my Beautiful Bride's advice and make this Happy Friday very short: “Go to the beach, spend time with your family, and ignore your cell phone.” Do you all know, I got in trouble twice this week for NOT being on my cell phone! How is that possible?! And I should note that I got in trouble with my family, not my boss!

 

I do have a couple of short things I want to share with you all this morning.

1.      I was listening to a Joel Osteen message titled Step Into the Unknown earlier this week. He used a great analogy that crystallized a point for me, and I thought you all might find it valuable as well. From the title, you know the message was about taking steps of faith. He was explaining how we want to know all the what’s, why’s, how’s, etc. He shared Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” He stated that as we pursue the Lord and stay close to Him, the path before us is lit, one step at a time. Then he said this, “When you are driving a car at night, you can see about 100 feet in front of you. You don’t not go on the trip because you can’t see the entire way!” That was an “Ah Ha” moment for me! My Spirit is also reminding me right now of John 15: 5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Let’s abide in Him (read the Bible, pray, sing worship songs, etc.), and take the next step!

2.     I came across this great quote from John Gordon:

“Every day we have a choice. We can choose to be positive or negative. We can choose to be grateful and see the good in all that we have or we can let anger, fear, doubt, and insecurities rob us of our joy and the life we’re meant to live. The choice is yours today.”

 

Having said that, I recommend you go to the beach, spend time with your family, and ignore your cell phone…even if you get in trouble for it!

 

Please feel free to contact me at any time 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, be kind, and stay well!

 

Kev