Perception is not reality

Though we often hear differently, others opinions are just that, opinions. They may hold a fraction of truth but that doesn’t make them the whole truth. We do need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water but the bath water still needs to be thrown out. So don’t let someone’s misguided judgment inhibit the truth the rest of us know about you, you’re amazing, God says so and we can see it.

Run

More often than not you’ll hear me suggesting we slow down. However there are times when haste is fitting such as when we find someone with all the answers.

Thank God

More from the wide world of sports: I came across an interesting article by sports writer Will Leitch. In the piece he addresses the issue of athletes thanking God for their efforts, in particular Los Angeles Angel Josh Hamilton. I especially appreciated this paragraph from Mr. Leitch:

“Christianity isn’t some peripheral notion of Hamilton’s life; it is his life. When you live a Christian life, everything you do, from showing up to church on Sunday, to going to the grocery store, to pumping gas, to hitting a home run, to striking out, is done for the glory of Christ. Hamilton isn’t thanking Jesus for helping him hit a homer; he is thanking Jesus for everything. From the homers to the strikeouts to the millions of dollars to all the boos.”

You can read the entire article here.

I Did It For…

Most of us can agree that if we do good, kind, loving things in order to please men, we’re missing something. But is it much different if we do those same things for the purpose of being personally rewarded in Heaven?

Love Never Fails

Love never fails. Love never fails. Love never fails!

Birthdays, Weddings and Funerals

If we would say kind things to and about each other and go out of our way to express how much we care and love those around us all the time, everyday would be special.

Offense / Defense

I hope you don’t mind if I get a bit sporty. There’s an adage that says, sometimes the best defense is a strong offense. This can be true in well defined games.

Regrettably this saying is frequently how we conduct our interactions with each other. We’re far too often quick to pick up an offense which causes us to get defensive and many times even offensive. To stave off getting wounded we wound, to avoid a no, we manipulate and to keep people from getting to close, we pretend.

What if we could love our offenders so much they couldn’t hurt us? What if we knew for certain how special we are to God that we never had to be on the defensive? What if we were so honest about our flaws to people that their love for us grew deep? I know this is possible for us, it sounds very much like Jesus. It also sounds a whole lot like the people I know that spend a bunch of time with Him.

Serious Business

Is Jesus all serious business; grave, solemn, somber, stern, grim, severe, staid and sober? I don’t think so. And don’t get me started on the business part.

Persevere

: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement. I like knuckle down.

This is worth the fight, if it wasn’t it wouldn’t hurt so much.

Way off in the distance

It may seem like the solution, the resolution, peace or even God Himself is way off in the distance. Heck it might even feel like there’s no hope at all. Don’t give up! He hasn’t gone anywhere and He’s for certain at work in your life. As you’re struggling include Him, cry out or even just cry. You are loved, prayed for and at some point in the hopefully near future you’ll be able to see how this time was used to make change for the better.