The most important thing that I’ve ever realized is that I control myself. What I mean by that is that it is nobody else’s fault when I find myself in a situation that isn’t necessarily ideal or to my liking. I made choices along the way to help me get to that point. Nobody else got me there. Blaming others is thrown out the window at this point. When you start taking responsibility for your own actions, your decisions begin to matter more. Your successes don’t become accidents; they become intentional.

this is that thing that is my weakness, but i guess it could also be a strength in many cases.
i always want the next thing.
as soon as i reach a goal, then i’m on to the next one.
i wish i wasn’t this way.
i want to be happy for my success and take time to celebrate.
this is just something i have to learn to do.

Lord, help me to be thankful for everything single thing you give to me. Make me step back and count my blessings. Thank you and Amen.

What is that thing you struggle with?

When I’ve fasted in the past, God really shows up. In 2008 I started the year off with a fast and I got clearer direction. I fasted at the beginning of 2009 and my life totally turned around. We were in Colorado by the end of the year. I fasted at the beginning of 2010 for clarity and came out feeling refreshed. The biggest part of the fasts weren’t necessarily food, even though that was pretty difficult. My favorite part was being intentional with my time, without being online at all for the time of fasting. In this day and age and with what I do, the internet helps with communicating what I need to say, whether it be through email or social media. I turned it all off for three weeks and came out with a better sense of what the right priorities were.

I recommend a fast for anyone needing direction in life, if that’s what you feel you need to do.

Have you ever fasted before?
What were your reasons for fasting?
What have been your experiences with fasting?

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
—Matthew 17:20

Most people know that verse. I’ve literally heard it a million times. And yeah, I know about that faith stuff. But, that’s probably one of the biggest things I struggle with in my Christian walk. I think I have faith at least the size of a mustard seed. But, sometimes I doubt that I have faith at all. I want to take everything in my hands. Even knowing that giving it up to God will be much easier.

I lack faith when I don’t see an end to a situation. I don’t really think that some people can actually be healed. I don’t know if I’ll have the outcome that I desire. I don’t know if I’ll be a good parent. I don’t know if God will provide.

Then when I stop and realize that He’s done all of this for us before, I am relieved and humbled. And I know He’ll do it for us again.

Take the time to think.
Take the time to pray.
Take the time to be still and know that He is God.

Let Go & Let God.

What is something that you have faith for or need faith for to happen?

“Nothing worth having ever came easy.”
So, for that job that you have that becomes so difficult you want to quit, remember that.
For that schooling that you think that you’ll never understand, remember that.
For that marriage that you actually have to work on, remember that.
For those friendship spats, remember that.
For that church you’re trying to plant, remember that.
For that person that you’re trying to get along with in your church, remember that.
For that project you’re working on…
Remember that.

Because there is beauty in all of this.

What is that one thing that you’ve put all your blood, sweat and tears into?

The Lord’s second coming has been talked about forever now. It blows my mind even more that it’s mentioned in the Bible that His coming would be soon. (Revelation 3:11 & 22:12,20-21)

I remember thinking when I was a kid that Jesus would definitely come back before 2010, and here it is about to be over with a new year just around the corner.

As a kid I wanted to do five things before going to heaven…

graduate from college
be a millionaire
get married
have sex
be a dad

Those third, fourth and fifth things all go together if you play your cards right.

I don’t know if anyone else has ever felt like it would never happen because it has been talked about for so long and nothing has happened, but I have.

I needed a reminder that this is a promise and not some fairy tale.

Some people are too tied up in things here on this earth.

I’m tired of waiting. He needs to come soon. This earth is cool and all, but I’d take Heaven any day.

we all come from different situations.

along the way we all have to give up stuff.

some of us know what we need to give up, but just can’t shake the habit.

some have given up smoking.
some have given up gossip.
some have given up drugs.
some have given up alcohol.
some have given up stealing.
some have given up lying.
some have given up a porn addiction.
some of us have given up time to the wrong things.

there’s also a lot of things that we don’t even realize that we need to give up.

for a long time that thing for me was having the wrong priorities.

the hardest thing was getting to that point where i actually wanted to change.

that was huge.

so, think about it…

what’s that one thing you’ve had to give up to get where you are today?

what’s something you need to give up to get where you want to be?

the first time i rode a bike i fell.
the first time i roller bladed i ran into the curb and flew into a neighbor’s yard.
the first time i spoke in from of a bunch of people i forgot everything i was supposed to say.
the first time i played drums i couldn’t get any of the patterns correct.
the first time i said “i love you” i was told that it was too soon.
the first time i drove a car i got in a fender bender.
the first time i climbed a big mountain i puked more than i walked.

trying something doesn’t necessarily mean you will be great at it. there’s a lot in just taking the risk.

finish this…

the first time i _________________.

I am a huge fan of many different life coaches out there. The main reason that I like their material is because I will be the first to admit I don’t know everything about managing the details of my life and these people seem to know their stuff. There I said it. I don’t know everything.

One of the assignments Tommy Newberry gives is to put your relationships into three different categories. They either get a “red”, “yellow” or “green” label. These relationships are pretty self explanatory.

The “red” relationships are those that aren’t beneficial to your life and that you most likely need to quit. The “yellow” relationships are those that you need to be cautious with and most likely need to spend less time with. And the green relationships are those that help you grow, help you achieve your goals and make you a better person.

Maybe it sounds a little harsh to you to weed out relationships with people that you have had long term relationships with, but it definitely has helped me get more from life by just surrounding myself with those that inspire me and push me to become better. Maybe there are some relationships you need to think about and reevaluate to see if they are beneficial to you, even if they have been long time friends.

Who is someone in your life that makes you a better person? What do they do to be such a great impact in your life?

Jealousy. It holds you back. It’s that stupid thing that creeps in. It’s that thing that leaves you always wanting and never satisfied. It’s that thing that will keep you pushing your own agenda without giving others a chance. It’s that thing that will make you miss out on opportunities. Great opportunities.

I could change every “you” to “me” or “I” in this post and it would work because I’ve felt that never ending, ugly thing.

I don’t want it, folks. This isn’t a competition.

So, here’s to truly being happy for others when they succeed.

For…
Me
I
& you.