So, let me fill you in on a little secret I don’t discuss with very many people. I’m dying.  I’ve known it for a while but I don’t like to think about it.  Toying with thoughts of mortality is depressing for most.  I’m no exception.  Let me fill you in on another secret.  You’re dying too. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us of that. Every day lived puts us one day closer to death.  Even in cases when someone is diagnosed with a fatal sickness, they don’t know when it will happen but know, eventually, it will happen.  If we really knew the exact time and day do you think it would change how we live our lives?  I’m going to go out on a limb and say, YES, it would affect every decision we make.  So, knowing we will all eventually die why do we live so haphazardly?  Many find momentary joy by living ‘in the moment.’  In my opinion, this seems like a waste.  Personally, I don’t want to reach the end of my life in fifty or more years knowing I didn’t live with God-led purpose.  Walking through life with no direction is bad stewardship of what He has entrusted to us.

I’m learning we need to plan for death like we plan for vacation. Seems a little awkward, huh?  Think about it.  When it’s time to plan for vacation we do so with an end destination in mind.  Over the next few weeks/months (even years, in some cases) we focus our lives in a way that gets us to our end goal.  Shouldn’t life be that way?  Rather than walking through life with no direction we should live each day with Godly purpose.  We know where the final destination is (at least I hope we do-if not, you and I need to have a conversation).  If we lived as each day was our last we would love more, appreciate what we have instead of worrying with what we don’t have, we would forgive and ask forgiveness sooner rather than later, we would let go of things (hurts, frustrations, etc.) that have no value, we would play with our kids more, we would enjoy life more…..we would live differently!  Each day we’re alive we are writing the eulogy for our funerals.  If we were to die today, what would be said?  I’m not referring to the nice stuff the minister is expected to say.  The truth!  What would your co-workers, wife, children, family, and those closest to you say?  Would there be anyone there to tell the story of how we led them to Christ, and how thankful they were for that?  Would there be anyone there to tell the story of how we loved them unconditionally regardless of how unworthy they were of such love?  What do you want your eulogy to say?  Seriously, take a few minutes and think about it.  Write it down.  Now—go live those words!  Be purposeful, resolute, and persistent in every action, word, and deed.  It’s possible your next breath could be your last.

Closing remarks and encouragement: We don’t like to think about death.  It’s uncomfortable and leaves us feeling helpless to the inevitable.  Are you frustrated with the way life is going?  Change it!  Live with purpose and Have no regrets!  The sky is the limit.  Go live!  More importantly, go make an impact for the kingdom!

Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV) —  ^“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”   

America is currently in a state of confusion. We’re looking for someone to rescue us—to make it all better by addressing the injustices of the moment.  When no viable leader emerges we tend to gravitate and/or settle for the second best thing, which leads to even more confusion and issues (i.e. our current presidential race).  What would have happened in history if certain biblical characters had decided to take a backseat when God presented them with Holy Spirit-ordained moments?  What if Moses flatly told God, “Sorry dude.  I stutter, lack confidence, and I’ve got a lot of baggage that prevents me from believing in myself…..I can’t lead your people out of Egypt.”  What if Noah told God, “I know you want this big boat contraption but I don’t have the supplies, a building permit, not to mention-what’s the rain stuff you keep talking about?…..you’ll just have to find someone else.”  What if Mary responded, “Look God, I’m flattered you want me to birth your son but I’m not ready to deal with all that gossip and drama others will shoot in my direction.”  History, as we know it, would be altered forever…and not necessarily in a good way.  [Please don’t take my musings as being sacrilegious.  They are not meant to be.]

When I was debating this subject matter David came to mind. You know, the sheep herder with an affinity for the harp.  Instructions from his father to carry cheese sandwiches to his brothers turned into something altogether different.  While there he experienced what he referred to as an uncircumcised Philistine [1 Sam. 17:26] disrespecting God’s army.  Until this point everyone was too afraid to attempt to take on this bully.  In that moment I envision a Holy Spirit-inspired boldness rose up in him.  He realized passivity wasn’t going to make this go away.  He could have left without doing anything yet he chose to step forward in spite of adversity.  The rest is history.  That moment was the stepping stone to the throne that had already been ordained/prophesied as his.  Truth be told, none those mentioned above were smart/talented/capable enough to accomplish those God-sized feats on their own.  Everything they accomplished was through guidance and assistance from God.  Here’s my point.  This blog is about stepping up to the plate.  When we experience injustice, we need to address it!  When we desire to see change, we need to get involved!  Sitting on the side lines in the ‘status quo’ section only makes us a part of the problem.  Being an agent of God-ordained change begins when we repond as Isaiah did, “…Here I am.  Send me!”  [Is. 6:8]  Just a few things to remember about becoming an agent of change—

~It’s about trusting our God-led instincts and acting when a moment presents itself.

~It’s about believing in God’s ability to see us through rather than focusing on our fear.

~It’s about stepping out into the unknown when others sit idly by spewing their ‘shoulda, coulda, woulda’s.’

~It’s about trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning on your own understanding.

No battle is ever easy. But it’s time for the people of God to put on their armor and fight for what is right.  Will we let those ‘moments’ pass us by, or will we follow God’s leading and fight for things that line up with His Word?

Closing remarks and encouragement: Leaders must step forward when everyone else is stepping back.  Some of us may not like calling ourselves a leader but, if we’re Christians, leading is in our DNA.  We step back because we don’t want the hassle or the responsibility.  How do we bring change?  That’s a personal conversation we must have with God.  But it’s time to get to work!  Being an agent of change is a choice.  What decision will you make?

Have you ever been watching television and heard something that caught your attention? A few days ago I was flipping through channels.  I landed on one channel just as a female character stated, “The fish rots from the head.”  I have a DVR so I pressed the rewind button to make sure I was hearing correctly.  I was intrigued by the line so I continued watching for a minute or two. She was speaking to a male character and went on to explain very pointedly the reason the male characters employees were ‘acting out’ was because they were following his lead.  In other words, his own bad behavior led his employees to believe their own bad behavior (a criminal act, from what I could gather in two minutes) was permissible.  Upon hearing the explanation of that line the wheels in my brain began spinning.  I knew there was something there so I went to the Bible.  I was positive this one-liner was bathed in a biblical principle.  The first thought that came to mind was about David and his sons, Absalom and Amnon.  I went to 2 Samuel 13 and refreshed myself on the story (I encourage you to do the same).  Both Absalom and Amnon were found repeating behaviors they witnessed their own father commit.  It seems their actions could be traced directly back to David’s sinful relationship with Bathsheba.  This one instance found David having a sexual relationship with someone else’s wife, having Bathsheba’s husband murdered to cover up the sin, and more.  Both sons were repeating their father’s bad behavior in one form or another.

Parenthoood is humbling, to say the least. I’m always amazed how I can feel like a successful parent and failure in the span of 60 seconds.  I have learned when I see my children portray bad behavior it’s necessary for me to begin a time of self-reflection before addressing the issue at hand.  7 out of 10 times my children can be found mirroring my bad behavior.  Then it turns into a session of humbling myself and apologizing for my own behavior (and changing it) before addressing and disciplining their actions.  The same can be said of most any setting or situation.  Don’t get me wrong, our choices are just that – our choices.  We have free will.  But there is no excuse for doing things we know are wrong or sinful.  What does the world look like around you?  Are you the boss and you see your employees constantly making bad decisions?  Are you a parent of a child who chooses to be rebellious or act out?  While I don’t blame the inconsistencies of others on whoever is in charge, I do want to challenge you inspect yourself today.  Are you living a blameless life?  “….be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish…” [2 Peter 3:14]

Closing remarks and encouragement: Looking in the mirror isn’t always easy.  When we do find something that needs attention it’s best to address it early.  Slapping a bandaid on something that requires surgery will always do more damage than good.

When I first rolled into this little Mayberry-esque town I was jobless, childless, frustrated, heartbroken, and morbidly obese-just to name a few things. I remember thinking, “Ummmm, God…..are you sure about this?  There’s nothing here.”  As far as my eye could see there was low income housing, closed or declining textile mills, hundreds of potholes, and quite a few shady characters hovering around.  It was just a rundown little town with, seemingly, nothing much to offer.  Fast forward over 11 years and, if I’m being honest, not a whole lot has changed in this city.  There is (some) new industry being attracted to the area but the potholes are still there, we still have our share of shady characters hanging around, and portions of the low income housing have been torn down because of unlivable conditions.  I was driving by an abandoned lot a few days ago.  I was scanning the trash beginning to accumulate and noticed something I hadn’t seen before.  Off to the side was one of the most beautiful trees covered with purple flower blooms.  My heart was so thankful for that tree and I expressed such to God.  In the midst of all that trash something beautiful had risen.  No doubt it had its struggles.  I’m not sure how it had ever grown as it sits shaded by the larger trees around it.  Somehow it had overcome many obstacles and was now a sizeable tree yielding beauty to all who dared look in the direction of that littered lot.

If I tried, I could find a million things wrong with this town like I did when arriving for the first time. But now I could find double the amount of good things in comparison.  If I had my way back then I would have lived elsewhere.  The issues I had all those years ago had nothing to do with the town and everything to do with my heart and mind.  Isaiah 61 reveals the well-known biblical revelation that God gives beauty for ashes, joyous blessing instead of mourning, etc.  The Prophet Isaiah had been called to prophesy to the Kingdom of Judah.  While experiencing times of rebellion there were still waves of revival cropping up in places.  (Sounds a little like today, huh?).  Judah had been threatened with destruction by Egypt and Assyria but was being spared because of God’s mercy.  Isaiah’s message on this day was one of repentance laced with a hopeful expectation of God’s deliverance in days ahead.  As I’ve aged I’m learning my outlook on the world around me is a choice.  I can choose to find joy in the midst of heartache.  Sometimes I have to look harder for it-but it’s there waiting to be found.  Ever wonder how to change this mindset?  Have you considered starting your day with a prayer from a man after God’s heart?  David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.  And renew a right spirit within me…..” [Ps 51:10]  You could literally stop right there.  Those two sentences were a mouth full.  If we could get our hearts and minds aligned with God purpose and will for our lives our fickle and selfish personal desires wouldn’t seem as important.

Closing remarks and encouragement: The discovery of joy sometimes requires a steadfast and resolute choice on our part.  The issues I had all those years ago were heart issues.  Some heart issues require surgery.  Good thing we know a Great Physician.

**This weeks blog is by Guest blogger, Jennifer Rhodes**

Have you ever waited for something so long you questioned if it would ever come? Did you give up hope?  Or did you hold tight to that promise [whatever it may be], assured God would fulfill it?  Luke 2:25 describes a man by the name of Simeon who was ‘just (some versions say ‘righteous’) and devout.’  This man was no ordinary, average Christian.  The Bible reveals he was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  Verse 26 describes a promise given to this visionary man.  The Holy Spirit had promised that he would not see death until he had seen Jesus with his own eyes.  No one really knows how much time elapsed between when he received the promise and when it came to fruition, though scholars suspect it was a prolonged period of time.  Scripture does tell us Simeon was intently watching and awaiting the fulfillment of the promise.  [Side note:  Eastern Orthodox Church traditions suggest he could have been over two hundred years old as he was rumored to be one of the 72 translators of the Septuagint.]  One can’t help but question if he had his weak moments like the rest of us.  Or possibly questioning if he really heard the voice of God.

We, like Simeon, await the fulfillment of promises. Simeon did not know that blissful morning when he “came by the Spirit” [v.27] into the temple that this would be the day that he would see the Promised One.  The Bible does not describe anyone informing Simeon the baby he saw that day was the Lord.  Rather he recognized the promise for himself when it walked in. (verse 28-32).  This day and this time was appointed by God.  Joseph and Mary thought they were bringing their baby to perform the custom of the law.  They had no knowledge they were agents to fulfill a promise that day.  As they watched Simeon’s vision unfold they marveled at the magnitude of the life they had been appointed to raise. (v. 33-35)  They received yet further confirmation this was the son of God.  We know God is a promise keeper.  But what are we doing during our waiting season?  We have two choices.  We can choose to, like Simeon, anticipate our miracle ‘walking through the door’ at any given moment.  Or we can sit and complain because it doesn’t appear in the time period or in the way we desire.  Isa. 40:31—“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Waiting isn’t easy, but it’s worth it!

I was driving around our town recently and encountered something unexpected. As I was stopped at a red light I noticed some commotion out of my peripheral vision.  I turned to the right and saw a man walking a dog.  Well, maybe he wasn’t walking the dog as much as the dog was walking him.  This dog, (that resembled a miniature horse and outweighed the man) was dragging this man for all he was worth.  The man would begin moving to the right and the dog would pull left.  The man would try to stop moving and the dog pulled him forward, almost to a run at times.  This dog had a mind of its own and was leading him in directions he had no intentions of going.  Cujo was so big the man had no other choice than allow it to take the lead-though he tried.  This gentleman had to throw (what I assume was) a snack of some sort in the back of the SUV.  When the dog realized it he jumped in and the man quickly slammed the door.  The light changed and I began driving again, laughing and amused at what I had just seen.

Then it hit me. Isn’t this how life is sometimes?  We are going about our merry way, assuming we are in complete control, and……BAM……something attaches itself to us.  It could be anything really— bitterness, envy, frustration, worry.  Or even worse, we attach ourselves to something; we take something on as a pet.  Maybe a bad habit of some sort such as drinking, glancing at pornography, developing an unhealthy relationship with someone……we begin flirting with sin.  Before we know it that harmless ‘thing’  has grown into a little monster.  We’re left questioning, “Who’s in charge here?”  Rarely will we ever encounter offers of blatant sin.  That’s too obvious.  The deception comes when we think we can continue flirting and everything will be okay.  We are reminded in Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  We can’t place our convictions on the sidelines for even a moment.  It only takes a short time of us letting our guard down for the devil to plant those seeds of deception.  That thing we once thought we had control over has managed to place us on a leash and is dragging us around, controlling our minds and movement.  Just like the dog owner, we have to outsmart that thing.  We have to turn to our only source of power and let Him help us fight  battles we’re not equipped to fight.  By walking in the Spirit we place our attention on Him rather than our own personal feelings/lusts.  What’s dragging you around today?  What are you doing to do about it?

Closing remarks and encouragement:  If something seems too good to be true, it is.  We never intend on allowing certain things to get out of hand but they do.  There’s no shame in admitting weakness.  Gaining control is as simple as asking for help.  Don’t feel guilty.  Just ask for help and move forward.  And we both know where our help comes from.

Psalm 121:1-8 (NKJV)

121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? ² My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. ³ He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵ The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷ The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. ⁸ The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. 

The dread was already flooding in–again.  I was going out of town and that meant: things I normally take care of at home would be left undone for the next four days and three nights, my wife would have extra responsibilities added to her (already) full plate, there were things screaming for my attention in my office that would also be left undone. Then something happened.  I became extremely frustrated.  I made a decision while sitting on that white van bound for Myrtle Beach.  I began talking to myself (in my mind, of course, because everyone else would have thought I was crazy).  I began telling myself, “You WILL stop worrying.  You will leave your family in God’s hands and NOT worry about everything that could happen while you’re gone.  You will ignore the things piling up on your desk.  You will focus on God and yourself for the next few days and be a kid again.”  Let me explain the “kid” reference.  If you will look closely in the picture above you will notice the profiles of my children.  They were taken during a beach trip at New Years.  One of my blogs titled “I’d rather lock my family in a protective bubble…” posted a few weeks ago revealed how miserable I was on that trip as (again) I was worrying about everything.  My wife bravely ventured out without me to the shoreline and snapped away as the kids played.  This particular picture has become my favorite as I could sense their joy and wonderment.  It allowed me to see the world through their eyes for this one moment in time.  It reminded me the importance of being a kid — worry free and simply living in the moment.

I’m not sure how you handle things that come in your direction but, as I’m sure you’ve figured out by now, I’m a worrier by nature. I even worry about things for other people.  I know I shouldn’t.  But I have to beat that part of my brain into submission almost every day.  In John 14:27 we find Jesus stating, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  When reading I noticed two things from this scripture that I hadn’t before.  1) When Jesus left this earth He didn’t leave just any run-of-the-mill kind of peace for believers. His wording expresses possession.  He says “MY peace I give to you.”  2) He is also expressing a legacy of peace He is leaving behind. Not as this world gives… in example things such as houses, land, or possessions.  We know His is a peace that passes all understanding [Phili 4:7] But here’s the most important part.  You can’t earn it.  You’ll never be worthy of it. It’s a gift!

Closing remarks and encouragement:  The Holy Spirit is not Tinker Bell waiting in the shadows to sprinkle a little ‘magical’ peace on you when you need it.  The Holy Spirit is the consummate Comforter.  I chose God’s peace during my trip and it made a world of difference.  I returned rested and spiritually rejuvenated……and the world didn’t fall apart while I was gone.  Peace is a choice.  You can choose to receive or reject it.  Will you insult the giver by not accepting such a priceless gift?

Have you ever noticed who God chooses to use to further His kingdom?  Just a few mentioned in the Bible are a murderer, an adulterer, a scheming tax collector, a man of “stammering lips”, a donkey, …then there’s you – made from dirt.  Yea, I’m talking about you; you come from dirt. It’s in the Bible.  Doesn’t seem to make sense, does it?  We’re made in the image of God, but we come from dirt. If He is the God Christians proclaim Him to be then He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He uses gold as gravel to pave the streets of heaven, and He fashions gates from pearl – just to name a few things.  He’s such a big God with riches unknown at His disposal….yet he chooses to make his creations from the second most-abundant matter on earth: dirt. Dirt, the unlikely candidate, resonates with how unlikely some of us can be, too.   The obvious choice for King would have been anyone other than a little shepherd boy with an affinity for a harp and a sling.  It seems like the mother of Jesus would have been someone other than Mary – maybe someone of a royal lineage.  Moreover, why would the Heavenly Father allow Sarah to become pregnant and have a child when she was in her 90’s?  Sometimes I don’t understand God.  My human mind has trouble comprehending why He does what He does.  I can’t fathom why He would choose someone like you or me.  But, then I think about God and his perspective.  He saw dirt as a canvas with which he could create man. He sees things differently than we do. And, I think I’m beginning to understand why.

God has better eyes than we do.  Yes, we’re made in His image, but we are not exact replicas. This fact is exhibited by our imperfectness and inabilities.  In that same way our human eyes are flawed.  In most settings or situations we see what is right in front of our eyes; nothing more, nothing less.  That fact alone leaves us at an instant handicap.  But God has an ability to look at something seemingly worthless and find its value.  He can look beyond our faults and see who we have the ability to become.  Before the moment of conception, His will for our lives existed.  We were created for a purpose.  We were created with a purpose.  Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  One version says we are God’s masterpiece.  Look around you.  Do you see that person who, to you, seems worthless because of their blatant laziness?  They have a God-given purpose – but apparently they haven’t discovered it.  Now look in the mirror.  I know, I know.  Looking in the mirror can be uncomfortable for us all sometimes.  You are God’s masterpiece!  You are an amazing and original work of art…..even if you don’t like what you see.  YOU HAVE PURPOSE!  YOU – just like dirt – are one of God’s unlikely candidates.  YOU have value.  Now, another question: have you discovered that purpose?  No?  What are you waiting for?  Have you reached out to that person you thought was worthless to remind them they have a God-given purpose as well?  What are you waiting for?  Start living your life like the masterpiece you were created to be.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  We are living in the last days, and living life in cruise-control isn’t an option any longer.  It’s my prayer we (I include myself) will begin seeing ourselves through God’s eyes and set about fulfilling His purpose for our lives.  I encourage you today (again, I include myself), rather than sit in judgment of and look down on those around us we view as worthless, lets point them in His direction.  If God can use a donkey, surely He can use you or me!

It was the fall of 1946. World War II was over and things were getting back to normal — if ‘normal’ exists after such a tragedy.  A middle-aged bride eagerly awaits the arrival of her husband from the battle field.  Hours turn into days, days into months, and…nothing.  Then, she receives a letter.  Expecting the worst she slowly opens the envelope prolonging the inevitable.  But it’s not from her husband.  Instead the letter was from a group of 21 men imprisoned in Nuremburg.  These men were awaiting trial for some of the most horrific crimes ever committed.  Men like Joachim von Ribbentrop, Walther Funk, Albert Speer, Fritz Sauckel; all high-ranking official in Hitler’s regime.  The letter acknowledged her desire to have her husband home but requested he stay a while longer.  Her husband, a chaplain, had become a spiritual advisor and support system to this group of, as the world referred to them, “monsters.”  Half of these men would hang by mid-October of that year following admissions of guilt for the crimes they were being charged.  In their own way, each man had a hand in the deaths of nearly 60 million Jewish lives taken.

Have you ever considered who you will be spending eternity with? Want to share heaven with a Nazi?  You will.  The work of one World War II chaplain has made that possible.  Your mansion may very well be right beside one of these men.  We like to think of heaven as a glorious and wonderful place full of beauty and perfection.  No doubt we all would rather our mansion be beside Paul’s (the writer of most of the New Testament), or David (the ‘man after God’s heart), or………WAIT!  At Paul’s hands (formally Saul) many lives were also taken.  David was a murderer too– and an adulterer.  Then there’s…..no…..Noah was an alcoholic.  Abraham was a liar.  Moses was a murder.   By today’s standards Samson was a sex-addict.  Rahab was a harlot.  Failures.  By the worlds perspective all were failures.  But they all had ONE thing in common–the redemptive power of Christ at work in their lives.  Mark 2:17 reminds us those who are well don’t have need of a physician, rather those who are sick (sinners).  One man’s actions led a group of unworthy murderers to Christ.  If that chaplain had chosen who to minister to based on whether someone deserved redemption, well, we know what the outcome would be.  Had someone chosen to minister to you or me based on whether we deserved it, I’m sure we would be on the fast track to hell.  We pass hundreds of people daily who are in need of a Savior.  None of us deserve Him, but we all need Him whether they realize it or not.  Ministering to the lost isn’t like going to a grocery store.  We should never pick or choose who is clean or worthy enough to be minister to.  “…the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few…”  Let’s get to work, my friends!

Closing remarks and encouragement:  People can change.  Don’t ever give up on yourself.  And never give up on the lost.  God never will.  There is ALWAYS hope in Christ.  Point the sick towards the Doctor today!!!

Sometimes you simply need to hurry up and slow down. Sounds confusing, huh? Read it again……..”hurry up and slow down.” Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron.  We live in such a fast-paced society. We have become programmed quality isn’t as important as quantity or a quick response. I actually overheard the manager of a restaurant recently tell his workers, “Let’s get em’ in, and get em’ out.” Never once did I hear him reference the quality of the food or service being given…..simply “Let’s get em’ in, and get em’ out..”  What happened to hospitality? What happened to quality? What happened to building relationships with customers to ensure their continued patronage?  I have found many products from thirty or so years ago are still running strong today.  Why?  I firmly believe products from earlier time periods were made with better materials and quality workmanship.  Today we find products being placed on store shelves that are poorly made by someone pressured to meet a quota.  The goal is making fast money.  These companies don’t care.  The sooner a product breaks the more quickly the consumer purchases a replacement under the “New & Improved” guise or the product is given a new name.  Weeks later we find the product falling apart again as the creator laughs all the way the bank.

This mindset is pervasive in our society and has began permeating the fabric of our churches.  Church is becoming less about building relationships, spending intimate moments with God, or showing genuine love and kindness to someone.  When was the last time you thought, “I sure wish I could talk to (you fill in the blank).  Maybe a loved one passed prematurely and things were left unsaid. We fail to tell that person how much they mean to us or how much we love them because some activity was more important.  Sometimes it is necessary to hurry up and slow down.  Let me guess–you don’t have enough hours in a day to get everything done.  Guess what?  None of us do!  Oddly enough, we always seem to find time to do the things we WANT to do.  I encourage you to purposefully slow down today and concentrate on the things that really matter.  Things like building meaningful relationships, showing love to the hurting, extending grace and forgiveness when those around you don’t deserve it.  I highly doubt I will be found on my death bed wishing I had worked more.  Some things cannot/should not be rushed.  My relationship with my wife doesn’t grow until we spend intimate moments together.  The same can be said of your relationship with God or those around you. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” [1 Cor 13:13]

Closing remarks and encouragement: Make it a point to spend purposeful moments with your Heavenly Father and those around you today.  Love is the greatest gift you can give and receive.  Give it freely and without reservation.  You’ll be glad you did.  Have a blessed week, my friends!