What You Said

We all have certain phrases and words we commonly use. Sometimes it's a specific word we use to express our surprise or the way we react to circumstances. Most of us have even established patterns of speech we use to interact with people closest to us even if it isn't always the best.

There are some things I have purposely removed from my verbal repertoire once I realized it, but others have stayed over the years. Those that stay become words that define me, my thoughts, and even describe the people around me. I would like to say those are always healthy, but that isn't always the case.

Instead of just focusing on the specific words (although those carry a lot of weight) I might be better served to ask myself deeper questions. Am I speaking words of blessing or words of discouragement? Do people look forward to hearing me speak to them or look for ways to avoid me? Am I a bringer of life with my speech or do I take life away? These thoughts focus on the motivation for what I say instead of just correcting poor speech habits. Honestly answering these questions gives me an opportunity to make positive changes to benefit other people and become a better person.

Releasing Your Grip

There are people who are hoarders of possessions. They continue to stockpile things without being able to get rid of them until it overwhelms their home and family. It's not something I completely understand, but I offer no ridicule either. It is a true anxiety disorder which can be quite debilitating.

While we may not all suffer from this particular disorder, I do think we practice hoarding in other ways in our life. We may be hanging onto our talents and abilities and not finding ways to use them. We have positive words and encouragement we can speak to our family and friends and choose not to speak them. We have financial resources (even when limited) we can use to help others and cling tightly to them instead of releasing some to make a difference.

This type of hoarding is harder to classify and doesn't get the same consideration as the more widely recognized disorder. It can still cause unexpected anxiety while limiting our person growth and depriving others around us of a potential blessing. If it's within our power to make a positive difference, we should use whatever we have for that purpose.

Somewhere New

My wife and I ended up at a local professional wrestling event this past Friday night. We were there to support a friend from our life group and his return to pro wrestling. There was a long line into the building and a unique vibe once we entered and saw the ring in the middle of the room. We finally made our way to our seats through a full crowd and were ready for the night's entertainment. I leaned over to my wife as we waited for the opening bell and said to her, "I never thought I would be at pro wrestling on a Friday night." We had a great time even though we were somewhere we didn't think we'd ever be.

I've ended up in many different places in my life I wouldn't have predicted. I look back at my early life decisions and wonder how I survived my own choices to end up in a healthy marriage. I never imagined leaving my athletic training career for anything else and yet ended up in ministry. I had no plans to leave my hometown and yet now live in Milledgeville. My life history is full of those unanticipated surprises as I have been blessed to end up in places and situations I never planned. The fact they have been better than I expected speaks more to God's blessing and direction in my life than my own preparation.

Be a Blessing

Our church has a phrase that we use quite often: we are blessed to be a blessing. We believe that God has given us the resources we possess so that they can be shared with others. It's a reflection of our gratitude for God's generosity and a desire to make an impact in our community. This can be exhibited through financial means, physical energy, emotional support, and prayers. The key is in recognizing how much we've been given and being intentional about investing in others. It's not just a principle for the holiday season, but should be a year-round mentality.

That's What Friends Are For

I have been very fortunate to have good friends in my life. Some of them have been a vital part of my regular life for a season while others have been there for longer periods of time. All of them are important to me and have helped me to become the man that I currently am. Now and then, I am blessed with a chance to reconnect with old friends through social media, a random phone call, or a quick visit. Each interaction reminds me of the great value of those relationships. It's amazing how comfortable it is to slip back into conversation even when the lapse of closeness has been greater than either of us would like.

While I wish we could shorten that gap, I will content myself with the moments that God blesses me with.

Unexpected Generosity

I'm not an avid follower of NASCAR, but do read a bit more about it online during my hometown's Daytona 500. I was checking the web version of the newspaper this morning and ran across a story involving driver Kevin Harvick. He was flying into Daytona Beach and saw a fan on Twitter named Louise Groomer. While he doesn't normally engage fans via social media he chose to talk to her & her husband while traveling. By the time he landed he decided to treat the Groomers to an all expense paid trip to the 500. This include their flights, accommodations, and luxury suite tickets to the event today. Needless to say, it was an incredible act of unexpected generosity.

I can't match that level of giving and don't know that many people could do so on a whim. I also believe that we don't have to give thousands of dollars away to practice generosity either. We can do so in many simple ways whether it is anonymously paying for someones meal, donating to their mission trip, or paying for for the car behind you in the drive through. It just requires that we have an open attitude towards people, resources to share (no matter how small they might be), the willingness to take a risk, and the commitment to making it happen. 

Unexpected generosity has the opportunity to immediately change people--the one who receives as well as the giver.

Christmas Blessing

I love stories of generosity and being a blessing to other people-especially when I can be part of it. It feeds me spiritually to witness the deliberate kindness of others and to see the interaction of people genuinely caring for each other. The holidays (Thanksgiving & Christmas both) provide ample opportunities to be that kind of community blessing and we should adopt that philosophy as part of our lifestyle each year.

The video below is from WestJet Airlines and is a prime example of ridiculous generosity and over-the-top customer service. It is a reflection of a company that wants to care for people in a deep way and was able to pull it off as an unexpected and much appreciated blessing.

Who Am I?

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, LORD God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. 1 Chronicles 17:16-17

God had spoken great truth and blessing over David and his family--more than David could begin to comprehend. Imagine David's emotions and thought processes as he hears that while he has been actively pursuing God there has been a bigger plan ready to guide his family. In spite of all David's wrong actions & motivations God was working to bless him and his future generations. This is a scenario we wouldn't possibly believe if it was offered to us by anyone else, but it is a perfect picture of God's grace. 

I know I don't always make the right decisions for myself and my family. I can own up to a litany of poor decision making on my part that has resulted in difficult circumstances and rough years of healing. The one (imperfect) constant in the midst of that has been my desire to pursue God. I couldn't always define it, but I knew that I was chasing after something bigger than my own ambition. I desperately want to honor God through the way I follow Christ and lead my family even though it may not appear that way on the surface. Fortunately for my family (and David's) it's that passionate desire of the heart that God rewards. No matter how much I might get wrong (and that list grows daily) I know that I long to honor God with my life. I certainly wouldn't profess to a be a man of David's caliber, but I feel confident that God is ready to bless my family as well. It's my daily reminder of His abundant grace working in my life.

Each One

We have to learn to take advantage of every opportunity to have a positive impact in other's lives. We won't necessarily be able to do this in totality, but we can commit to taking advantage of each one that we are aware of. As we seize these moments and recognize the blessing we are to others (and the resulting benefit that we personally experience) we will miss less of them. It's a stair step effect brought on by noticing people (family, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, community) and eagerly seeking a way to impact their life through blessing. Before we realize it this will not be a chore, but an integral part of our lifestyle.