Category: Daily Post

Categories
Daily Post

He’s Back…

Yesterday, I was in a conference call in the morning that got a little tense.  It was really no big deal in the scheme of things, and for the most part was just a misunderstanding of who was going to do what part of this project that we are all working together on.  I felt good about the meeting, and I knew that this topic would come up.  During the first minutes of the meeting I proclaimed to a coworker via instant message  that I was going “to take a new tact”.

Then it got tense, and there we some mild disagreements and debates and I felt him coming back.  Who do you ask?  Me!  The selfish, short tempered, brash me.  And I could sense that others where seeing, or I guess in this case hearing him as well.  ARGH!  Now, I had a platform to stand on that was well positioned.  More than likely I may have even been in the “right”.  But really, it’s not about me, and the tone that was coming across the phone was changing the tone of the meeting in the negative in a hurry. ARGH!

Later in the day I watch a video clip about how we live lives behind veneers.  The talk presented two views the human view and the God view.  Interestingly enough the human view was about well, the human itself, and the God view was about all the other humans on this earth.  It all ended with a fantastic summation and a challenge – are we exposing the human like veneer or the God like veneer?  Is it about me, or is it about everyone else.

It seems to me that life actually works out better when we take the God like approach and focus on others.  Somehow in some way, that way always seems to have some way of making it better in the end for us!  Yet, we still want to put ourselves in the lead.  It’s quite a paradox!

Well, I hope I was able to push myself back into the background as the meeting went on.  What I do know is that the rest of the day, I felt like a black cloud of frustration was hanging over my head, since I know I let him back!  The great thing is that I have a new day to start over and let God shine in my interactions.

How about you?  Are you choosing the human like thing or the God like thing?

 

 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

 5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:1-5 New International Version (NIV)
Categories
Daily Post

Seeking Good

It’s a really popular thing these days to do good.  I think 5 times this week I have been presented with efforts to deliver water to third world countries.  Really, my own post, a email newsletter, a ‘white’ mail newsletter from HHI, a TV advertisement about conferencing software and one other place – probably a web advertisement. ( maybe someone somewhere is telling me something???)

Anyway, it seems like the cool thing is to do good, and to help right social injustice.  I think it’s cool, especially becaue we have the freedom to do whatever in the world we want.

23 “I have the right to do anything,” I Cor 10:23

But, I don’t want to jump on the do good bandwagon only because it’s cool and trendy.  I want to do it because I care about other people. ( but of course, lots of times I don’t!!)  And that’s how Paul finishes up the chapter I mentioned above,

For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

He tells use don’t just do good for ourselves, but that we should use our freedoms to seek good because we care about people, and we are doing good for them!  As a matter of fact he says it twice!

24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Do good for Others today!  I don’t think that it will be a disappointment!

 

Categories
Daily Post

Wind Watching

Lately, I have been thinking a whole lot about taking risks and getting out on my comfort zone and all of that.  One thing that I seem to struggle with around this risk is making it a priority and just doing it.  You see it’s been my observation in life that for the most part you do what you want to do.  Obviously there are times where other events dictate your decisions, but for hte most part, we do the things that we want to do.  You attend the events you want to attend and don’t attend the ones you don’t want to. 

Except when it comes to stepping out and changing.  Then we sit and find excuses as to why we can’t do the thing we want – and we are pretty good at that.  So today, just a little challenge, and encouragement to continue to break down those excuses.  For instance look at this wisdom from Ecclesiates.

 4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
   whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. (Ecclesiastes 11:4, New International Version)

Stop watching the wind and the clouds, and break out of your ruts.  Challenge yourself today to make one small change you have been wanting to make.  I’m starting by getting all this junk off my desk at work – one small change.. How about you?

Categories
Daily Post

A Story about Water

This weekend I heard of a remarkable story that I thought I would share with you.   You may have seen this on the news already, but it’s still worth considering, and it quite inspiring.

There was a nine year old girl named Rachel who for her birthday this summer, decided to forgo presents to raise money for clean water projects in developing nations.  She wanted to raise $300 and raised just a little over $200.  That’s pretty cool!

But here is the rest of the story.  A few weeks after her birthday, Rachel was traveling in her family vehicle on the interstate.  Unfortunately, there was a fourteen car pileup that her family vehicle was caught up in and she was killed.  That part really stinks.

Well, here is the real rest of the story.  The word of this little girl’s birthday wish has traveled across the country and this weekend her birthday wish has raised over $1 Million dollars for water projects!  That’s correct $1 Million!

I was watching the counter all weekend and have watched it increase $40K from Saturday morning to Monday.  It’s quite an amazing outreach from people all over the country.  It also teaches us that we don’t always understand the plans that are out there, nor what one little risky thing can do.

There are several lessons from this story I guess, I found this how situation inspiring and motivating on multiple fronts, I hope you do as well.

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:8 NIV

 

Oh and be thankful for that running water that you will use today!

Categories
Daily Post

Here’s an Example

My mind is swirling with some many ideas this morning, but my enemy this morning is the ever spinning hands of the clock, so my post will be a little short.  But I have a cool story to share.  As you know, I have been writing a lot of change, transformation and surrender over the last years.  Well, last Sunday I was given a very small window to talk about something that my small group is about to do, something call Sparks – which I will be writing about a lot more in the next few weeks.

Anyway, I was able to talk just a moment about how this group I lead is going to be working on a concentrated effort at taking risks and steps out on faith.  On Tuesday, I received a call from one of the guys who heard my mini-spiel on Sunday.  He said that he had a few coworkers that he was struggling with, but decided that he would take the risk and take them out to breakfast.  That small effort was like “giving them $100”.  Problem solved.  What a great example of taking a step out on faith and impacting others that are around you.

You can do it to, we all can.  How about today.  Take a small look at the forgiveness and blessings you are basting in and reach out to those around you!

 

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.\Romans 12:6-8New International Version (NIV)