I want to be a a “Cheerleader.”  That’s my life’s goal.  It’s what I want to be known for and spend my time doing.

I want to:

• Help people become their very best and all God intended for them.
• Encourage those around me, beginning first with my family.
• Help make people feel good about the gifts and abilities THEY have.

People need to hear:

“So be truly glad.”

Sounds good so far and most of us, probably all of us, would love to just end with that.  Hit the “like” button and move on.

But Peter (I Peter 1:6-7) goes on.  “Even though you have to endure many trials…”

Not “if”, or “maybe” but a for sure thing.  Hit the dislike button.  Trials, who wants them?

Actually, for the follower of Jesus, trials have a role in growing our faith and proving our faith strong.  They show that our faith is genuine.  Trials purify our faith.

We are truly glad for what trials produce in our lives.  That’s the joy ahead.

Embracing the trial:

• Remember you are not alone.
• Remember the value of what is being produced, growing faith
• Remember there is joy and it’s “ahead”

“When green is all there is to be it could make you wonder why; but why wonder, why wonder, I am green, and I’ll do fine, It’s beautiful, and I think its what I want to be.”

The words of a green frog named Kermit.  Maybe you remember it.  I have to admit, when I listened to it again I found myself getting a bit choked up.

I’m not so sure it’s the words of Kermit that did it as much as it was a reminder of a biblical truth….

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”   Psalm 139: 14-16

• Why do we sometimes struggle with who we are?
• Why is it so easy to look at others and begin to compare who we are?
• Why is it difficult to see our uniqueness as a “God thing?”

God made you who you are.

You are wonderfully complex.

His workmanship seen in you is unique and special.

You are a gift!

You are His beautiful workmanship.  I am who I am because God created me just so.  “It’s beautiful, and I think its what I want to be.”

Celebrate.

I love Twitter.  I love the new friends made through Twitter.  I love the “virtual living room” it creates and I love the opportunity to learn new things and thoughts.

I have been encouraged and hope I have encouraged in return. It’s amazing how a “tweet” can lift your day.

Some I have added to my favorite list:

“One of the best things leaders do is bring out the best in others.  “Be Intentional.”
Thank you Leadershipfreak

“Our Quest is not merely joy.  It is joy in God.”
Thank you desiringgod

“Don’t worry about skills you don’t have or covet strengths others have.  Just extract your uniqueness.”
Thank you MaxLucado

“Anyone can do your job, but only you can be your child’s parent”
Thank you DougFields

“Never give up, for that is just the place & time that the tide will turn.”
Thank you Harriet Beecher Stowe via CoachHarmen

“If you remain silent because what you say could be taken wrongly, you will never speak.”
Thank you John Piper

“Leaders don’t do what they WANT to do; they do whatever is necessary.”
Thank you Rick Warren

Thank you TwitterVerse!

Have a favorite “tweet?”  Why not share it here?

I love a good fishing story and one of the best is found in the Bible, John 21: 1-17.

After a long night of fishing and no success at all, Peter and his fishing buddies are told to “throw your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!”

Sure.

They did…. And they did.

Did catch fish that is.  So many the story records that they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

But it’s not about fish.  It’s not about “success.”  It’s not about being able to tell a great story.

It’s about what happens on the beach.

What happens on the beach is this fisherman, Peter, who seemed to fail in so many ways, re-discovers purpose.  Jesus restores his hope and purpose.

Jesus deals with our “today’s” and points us to “tomorrow.”

Blessed to be a blessing.

It’s not about fish.

It’s about purpose.

Have you discovered yours?

Guilty!

Yep, I’ve been caught NOT applying this wisdom from the Proverbs.

Perhaps many of us have been caught on this too.

“The first to speak in court sounds right – until the cross-examination begins.” Proverbs 18:17 NLT.

What do we learn?  It’s human nature to tell “our story” in a way that benefits us.  Most of us have been there; we’ve heard the story.

We listen, we counsel, and we are all ears.  But what we’ve heard is one side and it’s easy, at times, to begin to form an opinion based on the “evidence” of a one-sided account.

The wisdom of Proverbs says be careful.  There are always two sides.

• I need to remember that.
• Parents need to remember that.
• Leaders need to remember that
• We all need to remember that

As one author stated “we have two ears to hear both sides before we give judgment.”

Have you been there?

What lessons can we learn?

James exhorts us to be quick listeners. “…..You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak….” James 1:19 NLT.

The word used for “listen” or “hear” means to “pay attention to” or “receive news”.

We are to be “hearers.”  First to God and then to others.

It’s a discipline that doesn’t always come easy but one we are called to.  So the question is how well do we pay attention?  How quick are we to “hear?”

Let’s admit it.  For many of us there’s so much noise today it’s sometimes hard to stop and listen.  The noise of everyday normal living seems to crowd out opportunities to “listen.”

Those times when others can pour into your life or we can quiet our spirit before the Lord.

So, how do we shut out the noise?  How do we “receive news?”

Just a few tips….

• Set a consistent time during the day that’s outside the noise.  Once my day get’s going it’s difficult to find the time.  For me, early in the morning or evening hours is the best.

• Engage in an activity that takes you away from the noise.  For me, running, cycling, and photography allow for “quiet time.”

• Read to listen not complete.  Sometimes less is more.  I can find myself reading  a passage just to check it off and missing opportunities to quiet my spirit before the Lord.

Let’s be slow to speak and quick to listen.  As we do God will pour His wisdom into our lives.

How do you shut out the noise?

What provides “listening opportunities” for you?

Love Without Measure

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.Jeremiah 31:3

I once wrote something about how God loves us and how dear we are to Him. I was not sure I should put it down on paper—but God knows what I meant.

I wrote: “The only eccentricity that I can discover in the heart of God is the fact that a God such as He is should love sinners such as we are!”

On this earth a mother will love the son who has betrayed her and shamed her and is now on his way to a life in prison. That seems to be a natural thing for a mother. But there is nothing natural about this love of God. It is a divine thing. It is forced out by the inward pressure within the heart of the God of all grace. That is why He waits for us, puts up with us, desires to lead us on—He loves us!

My brethren, this should be our greatest encouragement in view of all that we know about ourselves: God loves us without measure, and He is so keenly interested in our spiritual growth and progress that He stands by in faithfulness to teach and instruct and discipline us as His own dear children!

Dear Lord, this morning I’m struck with the thought of how much You have put up with me—because of Your endless love. Lord, help me take another baby step toward spiritual maturity toda

Mornings with Tozer, by A. W. Tozer.

res ipsa loquitur.

A Latin phrase that literally means  “the thing speaks for itself” and more commonly used today by the legal world as “the act speaks for itself”.

Legally it’s used to assign responsibility in the absence of direct evidence.  That is, there can only be one explanation.

I’m reminded that it speaks of something far more important – Christ’s coming and the depth of his love for us.

The act speaks for itself.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

The act speaks for itself.

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us….” I John 3:16

The act speaks for itself.

Feel like no one cares?  Lonely?  “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:17

The act speaks for itself.

He came.  He loves.  He cares.

The act speaks for itself.

Yes it does.  Merry Christmas to all.  Happy New Year.