Nothing to Say

Well nothing really to say...But felt like it’s been too long...So, here goes "nothing"...

With all that comes with the holidays shopping...spending...long lines...frustration...too many places to be at once...too many people to buy for...etc... - do yourself & those in your life a favor - SLOWDOWN...

Of all that we have made Christmas to be - most of it comes to nothing - other than bills that will take until May to pay off (that's how long they say it takes the typically person to pay for Christmas!). For when it's all said & done - nothing but what we have done with those that matter most & what we have done with the Christ child matters.

Take in the experiences of the holidays that make it fun...Enjoy the real moments with others...Consider your relationship with Christ...

All else, comes to nothing...

Doing What You Can't

Often, in life, we look at all the things we "can't do". Our perception - which is our reality - then becomes a limiting factor in the area of inability. So...how do we get past that? How do we do what we can't?

It's simple - by doing what we can...

For example - when we go to the gym - we don't go in focused on all that we can't do...No, we set goals of accomplishing what we can't currently do & we reach them by doing what we can. If I can't lift a certain amount of weight - then the way I become able to is by lifting weights that I can...Eventually I am able to do what I once wasn't able to do. If I want to run a distance that I can't currently...I run the distance I can & then eventually I am able to do what I once couldn’t...Easy enough...

In life, we must apply the same rules...Rather than focusing on what we can't do - set an obtainable goal & then do what you can so that eventually you will be able to do what you currently can't...

It's the idea - how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time...

Spiritually - the same thing...Once you see where you would like to get to - set it as the goal then do what you can...So that one day - you will find that you have done what you once couldn't...

Philippians 3:12 - 14

I Want a New Field

Rome wasn't built in a day - that's how the saying goes...Meaning, things change – typically over time – whether for better or worse...

Often in life, we come to these moments - where we want something different than what we are currently getting...The problem though is that - like a happy meal - we want it NOW. However, whatever we are getting - didn't just start today - it has taken time for us to get "sick & tired". Therefore, we have to give it time - one of the very things we are usually not willing to give...

The Bible says it like this - "You reap what you sow". In other words - the seed you have been planting - has now become a crop. So, to change it - you have to start by planting a new seed type. Then as you consistently plant the new seed - eventually the new crop will sprout & grow...Somewhere along the line - the old crop will be overtaken by the new...Then IF you keep planting the new – the old will fade away…But ONLY over time...

What I've seen - over & over again - is that we throw a few seeds of new & expect it to - kill the old crop & its consequences & become some miraculous harvest...ALL because we are "ready" for some change...It's not going to happen...

Realize, the crop you are now living in - is the seed you have been planting for a some time...To change it - begin consistently planting new seed...Then one day – if you stay at it - you will have a new field...

Galatians 6:7-10

"Unplanned"

I was thinking the other day about our third child - Taylor. On our part she was unplanned…

It's that "on our part" thing that really got me...Though we weren’t planning on having any more children than our two (Kyndall & Ashton) - God wasn't done sending them to us...

My thought - though she was unplanned & we had taken some measures to prevent pregnancy - God found a way to get around all that...

My point - God must have quite a plan for Taylor’s life...That He would actually have to work around our preventions to get her here. Though we already know how much of a blessing she is in our life & home - she must be even more special than we realize…

So...I'm sure there are others walking this earth - that they too were – unplanned… Yet, God - the author of ALL life - decided they needed to be here...How special those surprises must be in His sight...

So, in our eyes - though there may be "unplanned life" walking around - in God’s Eyes - there is no such thing...Perhaps, some of the unplanned - come with greater plans & purpose than the planned...

I'm excited to see why Taylor is on this earth – for God must have something very special for her to accomplish...

Jeremiah 29:11

Death Has Plucked My Ear

"Death has plucked my ear & said 'Live for I am truly coming'”. That is one of my favorite life quotes…

As another year comes to an end – for me it’s time to reflect on both the year & life itself…What did I plan on having accomplished…What stones are left unturned…What goals are unmet…What plans are unfinished…etc…

Perhaps more importantly – asking myself what dreams are fading away…what big ticket items are getting further from the realm of possibility…is the vision still clear…am I still on the path that leads to finishing well…

For me – there seems to be this constant tension between what is & what can be…Everyday I have to rise above the path of comfort & ease & walk the path less traveled…For it’s there that I find the greatest satisfactions…feelings of accomplishment…insights of God…Destiny of my life…

As I walk this life out – I must remember that one day – for one reason or another - I won’t be able to accomplish some of those things – so what I am to do I must do quickly – for death is surely coming…

John 10:10