For some time now I've been trying to make sense of several circumstances and situations people that I care a great deal about have gotten themselves into. Here's what God's been teaching me through those experiences.
Every sensible person knows the temptation. The desire that lies just below the surface to do what we know we shouldn’t exists in all of us.
Who wants to be responsible when the right thing is not the easy thing? The impulse to mismanage life, and ignore the consequences of wrong choices, is most urgent when we have to curb our will to do what's right.
We hate limits. We hate to be confined, we want what we want when we want it. And the disgust we feel when we encounter resistance makes us dangerous – to ourselves and others.
Often times we need clarity on God's purposes for His people. We need to be reminded that the scriptures show us how to do what is right.
The scriptures teach us responsibility, and as we work God's words into the fabric of our lives, the Lord empowers us to live it.
Again though…we hate limits, we hate to be confined. The problem is that we want what we want, as we want it. And we live in a society where we can do whatever we want, so who will do whatever is right?
Is there a way to live responsibly?
Maybe you’ve heard the old saying, "Where there's a will, there's a way." I don’t know who first coined that phrase but I bet the intent behind it was to encourage someone to not give up when the going got tough.
And…"Where there's a will, there's a way," sounds much nicer than, "Don't quit just because it's difficult, you little sissy."
It’s time that we learn to bend our will to desire what's right more than what's easy. Every sensible person knows the temptation to do what's easy, instead of doing what's right.
Choosing what’s right when we feel the tug of selfish desire, is our responsibility – yours and mine.
“If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.” - Luke 6:48-49
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Mark Driscoll On ABC News
A few years ago I got to hear Mark Driscoll speak at pastor's conference I attended. He talked about the power of the gospel. It was phenomenal.
ABC News covered him last night on NightLine - link to story:
Driscoll calls the mainstream church's portrayal of Jesus "a hippie-Christ. A neutered and limp-wristed popular sky fairy of popular culture that would never talk about sin or send anyone to hell."
According to Driscoll, Jesus was an outcast who didn't play by the rules.
"Jesus is typically portrayed as very effeminate guy, kind of long, flowing hair wearing a dress, always smiling, [making] pithy Zen statements that read like fortune cookies at a Chinese restaurant," he said. "And the truth is that he was a construction worker. He was very controversial and got murdered."
"I believe that Jesus is God, I believe the Bible is true, I believe people are really going to hell," he said. "Those things in our culture are seen as crazy."
"If you are not a Christian then you do not have eternal life."
Thanks for telling it like it is Mark.
ABC News covered him last night on NightLine - link to story:
Driscoll calls the mainstream church's portrayal of Jesus "a hippie-Christ. A neutered and limp-wristed popular sky fairy of popular culture that would never talk about sin or send anyone to hell."
According to Driscoll, Jesus was an outcast who didn't play by the rules.
"Jesus is typically portrayed as very effeminate guy, kind of long, flowing hair wearing a dress, always smiling, [making] pithy Zen statements that read like fortune cookies at a Chinese restaurant," he said. "And the truth is that he was a construction worker. He was very controversial and got murdered."
"I believe that Jesus is God, I believe the Bible is true, I believe people are really going to hell," he said. "Those things in our culture are seen as crazy."
"If you are not a Christian then you do not have eternal life."
Thanks for telling it like it is Mark.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Some Good Stuff
I saw this video clip from The Today show Saturday. If you follow me on twitter you may have seen me ReTweet the link. I watched it and I have to admit I cried like a baby.
The video itself is very moving. It is a video of Barbara and Jenna Bush reading the letter they wrote for the Obama girls.
Sometimes I worry about my son growing up in the church as a PK (preacher's kid). Will he be impacted by all the eyes watching him in the fishbowl? How bad will it hurt him when he hears harsh words of criticism about his dad from time to time?
When I first saw it I cried like a baby becuase I was reminded that I will not always be able to protect him from such things, but the most important thing I can do is ignore it and focus on being a great dad.
As I've watched it since I've been reminded that while it’s so easy to point fingers of blame at people who serve publicly, it's important we remember that they are in fact human. They may be presidents, actors, athletes, pastors, famous personalities, and politicians… but they are also human.
Fallible, broken, but striving to be better….human.
He is OUR father.
Not the sketch in the paper or a part of a skit on tv.
Many people will think that they know him.
But they will have no idea how he felt the day you were born.
The pride he felt on your first day of school.
Or how much you both love being his daughters.
Remember who your dad really is.
Now that my friends…is some good stuff.
The video itself is very moving. It is a video of Barbara and Jenna Bush reading the letter they wrote for the Obama girls.
Sometimes I worry about my son growing up in the church as a PK (preacher's kid). Will he be impacted by all the eyes watching him in the fishbowl? How bad will it hurt him when he hears harsh words of criticism about his dad from time to time?
When I first saw it I cried like a baby becuase I was reminded that I will not always be able to protect him from such things, but the most important thing I can do is ignore it and focus on being a great dad.
As I've watched it since I've been reminded that while it’s so easy to point fingers of blame at people who serve publicly, it's important we remember that they are in fact human. They may be presidents, actors, athletes, pastors, famous personalities, and politicians… but they are also human.
Fallible, broken, but striving to be better….human.
He is OUR father.
Not the sketch in the paper or a part of a skit on tv.
Many people will think that they know him.
But they will have no idea how he felt the day you were born.
The pride he felt on your first day of school.
Or how much you both love being his daughters.
Remember who your dad really is.
Now that my friends…is some good stuff.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
LifeTeams
LifeTeams are small groups of 10-20 people who meet together regularly for fellowship, Bible study and prayer. They were created in order to connect people to one another and to the life of NewLife Fellowship, while helping them apply basic biblical principles to their everyday life.
LifeTeams start meeting again tonight NewLife.
Have you ever heard someone say, "I've got your back?"
1 Corinthians 12:25 - The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part...
I'm just wondering...who's got YOUR back?
LifeTeams start meeting again tonight NewLife.
Have you ever heard someone say, "I've got your back?"
1 Corinthians 12:25 - The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part...
I'm just wondering...who's got YOUR back?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Financial Peace
I know that many people get funny when I talk about money.
Probably because one of the most “out of control” areas in our lives as Americans today is the way we handle our finances. (I know I've made my fair share of mistakes.)
Here at NewLife when it comes to personal finances we really have two desires for everyone…
#1 - To Put God First In Your Finances.
Jesus doesn’t just want some of us…He wants all of us. And one of the most direct things He ever said in regards to money is found in Matthew 6:21 where He covers the fact that if He doesn’t have our treasure then He doesn’t fully have our heart.
So based on that we challenge people to tithe. We want people to discover the incredible freedom and blessings that come from putting God first in your finances.
Our second goal…
#2 - For You To Get Out Of Debt.
Around 75% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. Many of us have credit card balances that are trapping us in serious debt.
Proverbs 22:7 speaks volumes about the borrower being a slave to the lender…and as followers of Christ we are not supposed to be enslaved by anyone.
When we don’t have debt there is a huge amount of freedom in our lives.
Knowing that, we want to help you get out of debt…to win with money so that you can do what God has called you to do rather than being enslaved in payments!
So beginning Janurary 28 on Wednesday nights at NewLife we will be teaching Financial Peace University…AND WE WANT YOU TO BE THERE. (YOU CAN GO HERE TO SIGN UP!)
We want you to stop stressing over money. To stop fighting over it. To stop letting it dominate your life.
Even in difficult economic times you don’t have to freak out when it comes to finances!
Get registered RIGHT NOW so you can learn how to be set free from the burden of debt!
Wednesdays: 7pm
Cost: $93 per family
Child care provided.
Probably because one of the most “out of control” areas in our lives as Americans today is the way we handle our finances. (I know I've made my fair share of mistakes.)
Here at NewLife when it comes to personal finances we really have two desires for everyone…
#1 - To Put God First In Your Finances.
Jesus doesn’t just want some of us…He wants all of us. And one of the most direct things He ever said in regards to money is found in Matthew 6:21 where He covers the fact that if He doesn’t have our treasure then He doesn’t fully have our heart.
So based on that we challenge people to tithe. We want people to discover the incredible freedom and blessings that come from putting God first in your finances.
Our second goal…
#2 - For You To Get Out Of Debt.
Around 75% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. Many of us have credit card balances that are trapping us in serious debt.
Proverbs 22:7 speaks volumes about the borrower being a slave to the lender…and as followers of Christ we are not supposed to be enslaved by anyone.
When we don’t have debt there is a huge amount of freedom in our lives.
Knowing that, we want to help you get out of debt…to win with money so that you can do what God has called you to do rather than being enslaved in payments!
So beginning Janurary 28 on Wednesday nights at NewLife we will be teaching Financial Peace University…AND WE WANT YOU TO BE THERE. (YOU CAN GO HERE TO SIGN UP!)
We want you to stop stressing over money. To stop fighting over it. To stop letting it dominate your life.
Even in difficult economic times you don’t have to freak out when it comes to finances!
Get registered RIGHT NOW so you can learn how to be set free from the burden of debt!
Wednesdays: 7pm Cost: $93 per family
Child care provided.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Letter From Max Lucado
The following is a letter that came to my email today from Pastor and Christian author Max Lucado.
Dear Friends,
I am a pastor, not a politician, so I can only speculate as to what awaits President-elect Barack Obama. The long-lasting benefits of good choices…the fearful consequences of poor ones…complicated social issues and relentless international problems.
He needs our prayers. And it’s our privilege to pray for him. The Bible says: Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God. (1 Timothy 2:2)
For that reason, I invite you to set aside a few minutes on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20, and ask God to bless Barack Obama and his family. Join me and urge as many people as possible to speak to God on behalf on our incoming president.
Good things happen when people pray.
A few years ago I attended a meeting in the White House. While standing in the State Dining Room, I noticed some words engraved on the fireplace: a message from John Adams to his wife Abigail. “I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”
Here’s hoping that same prayer is offered and answered again.
-Max Lucado
I'll be praying...will you?
Dear Friends,
I am a pastor, not a politician, so I can only speculate as to what awaits President-elect Barack Obama. The long-lasting benefits of good choices…the fearful consequences of poor ones…complicated social issues and relentless international problems.
He needs our prayers. And it’s our privilege to pray for him. The Bible says: Pray for rulers and for all who have authority so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives full of worship and respect for God. (1 Timothy 2:2)
For that reason, I invite you to set aside a few minutes on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20, and ask God to bless Barack Obama and his family. Join me and urge as many people as possible to speak to God on behalf on our incoming president.
Good things happen when people pray.
A few years ago I attended a meeting in the White House. While standing in the State Dining Room, I noticed some words engraved on the fireplace: a message from John Adams to his wife Abigail. “I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.”
Here’s hoping that same prayer is offered and answered again.
-Max Lucado
I'll be praying...will you?
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Exchange
I love change.
At NewLife we're in the midst of change.
We follow the unchanging God of change. Nothing is permanent except God Himself.
Change is part of the inherent journey of following Christ.
We all have things we want to change.
It's time to let go of our futile attempts to change.
Let go of the shame and the guilt. Let go of the fear and the doubt.
And grab onto Jesus.
Jesus I want to hold on to you for today. I know you'll give me enough power, enough grace to hold on today.
I am ready for the exchange.
My guilt for His grace. My failures for His forgiveness.
My pursuits for His plan. My sin for His righteousness.
Consume me from the inside out.
At NewLife we're in the midst of change.
We follow the unchanging God of change. Nothing is permanent except God Himself.
Change is part of the inherent journey of following Christ.
We all have things we want to change.
It's time to let go of our futile attempts to change.
Let go of the shame and the guilt. Let go of the fear and the doubt.
And grab onto Jesus.
Jesus I want to hold on to you for today. I know you'll give me enough power, enough grace to hold on today.
I am ready for the exchange.
My guilt for His grace. My failures for His forgiveness.
My pursuits for His plan. My sin for His righteousness.
Consume me from the inside out.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Fishbowl I Live In
Craig Groeschel pastor of Lifechurch.tv posted this on his blog today. It rang true in my heart. Just thought I'd share it...(I guess I'm feeling particularly vulnerable today.)
Those who are not in vocational ministry may not understand this week’s discussion. Right or wrong, when you’re a pastor, people’s expectations of you change.
Those who are not in vocational ministry may not understand this week’s discussion. Right or wrong, when you’re a pastor, people’s expectations of you change.
- Some believe you are holier than you could humanly achieve. Others are skeptical, secretly hoping you’ll fail.
- Some sincerely hope your family is materially blessed. Others think your family should barely be above the poverty line.
- Many will have very high expectations of your kids. Some will privately (or publicly) gloat when your kids fail.
- Some people will want to be close to you simply because you’re a pastor. Others will be too nervous to be themselves around you.
- Some will extend irrational love toward you and your family. Others will be easily offended (and dislike you) over something you would consider a minor misunderstanding.
- Some will almost worship you (even though you don’t want it). Many of those same people will leave your church before the end of this year.
- The joy of intimate Christian relationships for pastors couldn’t be greater. The pain and loss of broken relationships will haunt you throughout your ministry.
The life of a pastor isn’t better or worse than others. But it is different.
I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for this...doesn't necessarily mean it makes it any easier. Again...don't know why I am sharing this...but I feel led to.
Friday, January 9, 2009
GO FROGS!
The TCU football team is seventh in the final AP and USA Today polls, representing its highest season-ending ranking since 1959 and its second top-10 finish in the last four years.This would not have come about without total dedication and commitment of the coaching staff, the players and the University.
This is truly a great day in TCU sports.
GO FROGS!!
PS. Next season can't get here fast enough... =)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Be The Church
Pete Wilson is the pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Those of you who attend LifeTeams will recognize him as the pastor who was on last semester's DVD's.
Last weekend in his message he had a direct quote saying the following: “We need to stop playing church and start being the church.”
Today on his blog he felt the need to give further clarification to what that quote actually meant. I think what he wrote was dead on...but you can judge for yourself. Here it is:
"It means we need to stop arguing about style of worship and get concerned about the poor and hungry around the world.
It means we need to spend less time gossiping about others and more time allowing God to break our hearts over the people in our cities who are facing an eternity apart from Christ.
It means we need to stop whining about what programs our church has or doesn’t have and we need to learn what it means to abide in Jesus from one moment to the next.
Listen, it’s got to stop. We’ve got to stop showing up on Sunday mornings and playing church. The New testament never calls us to just go to church, but to be the church.
It seems far to often we’ve reduced church down to spiritual masturbation. We’ve made it all about us. We’ve turned it into something we do to stroke our ego-driven, self-centered, materialistic lives. It gives us momentary pleasure, but we’ve failed to give, serve, or sacrifice of ourselves. It leads to false intimacy with our creator God."
I could not agree more with what Pete has to say here.
When did we decide that chruch was all about us and what we wanted?
It's time to knock it off and be the church.
Last weekend in his message he had a direct quote saying the following: “We need to stop playing church and start being the church.”
Today on his blog he felt the need to give further clarification to what that quote actually meant. I think what he wrote was dead on...but you can judge for yourself. Here it is:
"It means we need to stop arguing about style of worship and get concerned about the poor and hungry around the world.
It means we need to spend less time gossiping about others and more time allowing God to break our hearts over the people in our cities who are facing an eternity apart from Christ.
It means we need to stop whining about what programs our church has or doesn’t have and we need to learn what it means to abide in Jesus from one moment to the next.
Listen, it’s got to stop. We’ve got to stop showing up on Sunday mornings and playing church. The New testament never calls us to just go to church, but to be the church.
It seems far to often we’ve reduced church down to spiritual masturbation. We’ve made it all about us. We’ve turned it into something we do to stroke our ego-driven, self-centered, materialistic lives. It gives us momentary pleasure, but we’ve failed to give, serve, or sacrifice of ourselves. It leads to false intimacy with our creator God."
I could not agree more with what Pete has to say here.
When did we decide that chruch was all about us and what we wanted?
It's time to knock it off and be the church.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Late Night Thoughts (No...it's not bad pizza.)
Wanted to send out a quick blog post before I head to bed...and back to work tomorrow.
- My time off was AWESOME! It's going to be hard to go back to work tomorrow after spending much of the last two weeks with Braden. It's been fun to hang out with him...I cherish these times. He still thinks his dad is "cool."
- I can honestly say I feel rested and refreshed. I REALLY took some time off and unplugged from alot of my regular routines. I took time to do things that I enjoy doing and feel extremely recharged and ready to get back to work.
- Thought Nathan did an incredible job this morning at NewLife. I thought his message was very challenging and I look forward to living out 2009 "full on." (I just wish my Australian accent was as good as his...I'll have to stick to singing for my illustrations.)
- I am extremely excited about some of the things that are coming up at NewLife. Our new series on change that begins next weekend, LifeTeams starting back up, and Financial Peace University(more info to follow).
- I started another yearly journey through the Bible NewYears day on youversion.com. You should come and join me. Their One-Year Reading Plan will take you through the entire Bible in 2009—just read the selections mapped out for you each day and you’ll cover the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice this year.
The coolest feature is that you can use your mobile phone to read the Bible no matter where you are. Find the YouVersion.com that works for you while you’re on the go:
Web-enabled mobile phones: (http://m.youversion.com/)
iPhone (http://www.youversion.com/iphone)
BlackBerry (http://www.youversion.com/bb)
- I am also excited about our community of NewLifers that is forming on Twitter. If you're not already on twitter I encourage you to come and join us. You can follow me here.
- Tomorrow night I'm going with Terica to see Celine Dion at the American Airlines Center. I am really looking forward to spending an evening with my beautiful bride doing something that she really enjoys. She's always doing things with me that I enjoy and so now it's her turn. (This is a pathetic effort to hide the fact that I will enjoy the concert too...just feel that I have to be macho and not admit it.)
Lastly, NewLifers....I love you! I can't wait to see what unfolds as we join together in 2009. I can't wait to share with you what God has been speaking to me and what He is laying on my heart for us to do.
I would definitely appreciate your prayers. I am not perfect, I may mess some things up…but the desire of my heart is to one day stand in front of God knowing that I did exactly what He wanted me to do!
I am going to do all I can to make sure we do exactly what God wants us to do. NewLife may not always be the church you want it to be…but by God’s grace and mercy we will always be the church HE wants us to be.
The best is yet to come!
- My time off was AWESOME! It's going to be hard to go back to work tomorrow after spending much of the last two weeks with Braden. It's been fun to hang out with him...I cherish these times. He still thinks his dad is "cool."
- I can honestly say I feel rested and refreshed. I REALLY took some time off and unplugged from alot of my regular routines. I took time to do things that I enjoy doing and feel extremely recharged and ready to get back to work.
- Thought Nathan did an incredible job this morning at NewLife. I thought his message was very challenging and I look forward to living out 2009 "full on." (I just wish my Australian accent was as good as his...I'll have to stick to singing for my illustrations.)
- I am extremely excited about some of the things that are coming up at NewLife. Our new series on change that begins next weekend, LifeTeams starting back up, and Financial Peace University(more info to follow).
- I started another yearly journey through the Bible NewYears day on youversion.com. You should come and join me. Their One-Year Reading Plan will take you through the entire Bible in 2009—just read the selections mapped out for you each day and you’ll cover the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice this year.
The coolest feature is that you can use your mobile phone to read the Bible no matter where you are. Find the YouVersion.com that works for you while you’re on the go:
Web-enabled mobile phones: (http://m.youversion.com/)
iPhone (http://www.youversion.com/iphone)
BlackBerry (http://www.youversion.com/bb)
- I am also excited about our community of NewLifers that is forming on Twitter. If you're not already on twitter I encourage you to come and join us. You can follow me here.
- Tomorrow night I'm going with Terica to see Celine Dion at the American Airlines Center. I am really looking forward to spending an evening with my beautiful bride doing something that she really enjoys. She's always doing things with me that I enjoy and so now it's her turn. (This is a pathetic effort to hide the fact that I will enjoy the concert too...just feel that I have to be macho and not admit it.)
Lastly, NewLifers....I love you! I can't wait to see what unfolds as we join together in 2009. I can't wait to share with you what God has been speaking to me and what He is laying on my heart for us to do.
I would definitely appreciate your prayers. I am not perfect, I may mess some things up…but the desire of my heart is to one day stand in front of God knowing that I did exactly what He wanted me to do!
I am going to do all I can to make sure we do exactly what God wants us to do. NewLife may not always be the church you want it to be…but by God’s grace and mercy we will always be the church HE wants us to be.
The best is yet to come!
Friday, January 2, 2009
What Are You Praying For?
I am beginning the NewYear very intently.
I’ve spent much time in prayer over the past week.
It made me wonder…
What do you pray every single day, year-in and year-out, month-after-month, day-by-day?
- I am praying for God to enlarge my vision, my courage, and my faith.
- I am praying God will help me to be devoted to marking the lives of my wife and son.
- I am praying that God will help me to live my life on purpose.
- I am praying that God will bring joy and success to those that I love the most.
That just a little insight into some of my prayers as we begin 2009.
For what do you pray?
"I pray for you every day, and many times during the long nights I beg my God to bless you richly." - 2 Timothy 1:3
I’ve spent much time in prayer over the past week.
It made me wonder…
What do you pray every single day, year-in and year-out, month-after-month, day-by-day?
- I am praying for God to enlarge my vision, my courage, and my faith.
- I am praying God will help me to be devoted to marking the lives of my wife and son.
- I am praying that God will help me to live my life on purpose.
- I am praying that God will bring joy and success to those that I love the most.
That just a little insight into some of my prayers as we begin 2009.
For what do you pray?
"I pray for you every day, and many times during the long nights I beg my God to bless you richly." - 2 Timothy 1:3
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Moving Into A New Year
My resolution that I want to establish throughout my life in this new year is inspired by the 30 Days To Live series that we did back in August. It was based on the following passage in Psalm 39.
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Show me, God, my life’s end. Show me the number of my days. Show me how fleeting my life is.
I want to live in 2009 with the awareness that LIFE GOES BY FAST and MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED
I can get caught up in trying to rush through life acquiring things, trying to attain security, and achieving meaningless goals that our culture deems worthy. But so many of the things I focus on and worry about are extremely unimportant.
- I waste time regretting things from the past I can’t change.
- I settle for mediocrity trying to avoid difficult decisions and conversations.
- I get consumed with trying to be loved instead of loving others.
- I squander precious moments trying to control things I can’t control.
I don’t want those things to define my life.
I don’t want that to be my vision…because that vision cannot sustain God’s design for something as great as He has planned for me. That is a vision born out of thinking I have an endless amount of time on this earth to make the impact God has designed me to make and nothing could be further from the truth.
So in 2009 I’m making a resolution (I really don't like that word...it's more of a commitment) to view my life (my marriage, my job, my friendships, my purpose) through the understanding that LIFE GOES BY FAST and MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED.
I pray doing so will help me love deeper, pray harder, focus more intently, and seek to make the greatest impact with my one and only life that I possibly can.
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Show me, God, my life’s end. Show me the number of my days. Show me how fleeting my life is.
I want to live in 2009 with the awareness that LIFE GOES BY FAST and MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED
I can get caught up in trying to rush through life acquiring things, trying to attain security, and achieving meaningless goals that our culture deems worthy. But so many of the things I focus on and worry about are extremely unimportant.
- I waste time regretting things from the past I can’t change.
- I settle for mediocrity trying to avoid difficult decisions and conversations.
- I get consumed with trying to be loved instead of loving others.
- I squander precious moments trying to control things I can’t control.
I don’t want those things to define my life.
I don’t want that to be my vision…because that vision cannot sustain God’s design for something as great as He has planned for me. That is a vision born out of thinking I have an endless amount of time on this earth to make the impact God has designed me to make and nothing could be further from the truth.
So in 2009 I’m making a resolution (I really don't like that word...it's more of a commitment) to view my life (my marriage, my job, my friendships, my purpose) through the understanding that LIFE GOES BY FAST and MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED.
I pray doing so will help me love deeper, pray harder, focus more intently, and seek to make the greatest impact with my one and only life that I possibly can.
