Hello all.
The family and I just returned from a visit to North Carolina. This is where my family lives which includes my 93 year old grandmother who still goes to her garden and picks her own flowers. She truly is amazing.
It was a great visit and it never fails to amaze me the difference in culture from up here compared to the south. It is so nice to go to the local market and have almost everyone say hello or giving a warm smile or wave. It really reminds me of how nice it is to feel safe and comfortable where you live. We have that same ability to make a place like that no matter where we live. I know not all of us are able just to say hello to perfect strangers but we can certainly smile, we can certainly hold a door open for someone. Those random acts of kindness are so addictive and so easy to do. All we have to do is look for the opportunities and when they present themselves JUST DO IT!
God wants us to do things for others without being applauded for or publicly rewarded. He sees what we do, that is all that really matters. I would much rather be told of the opportunities I took advantage of by God then told of all the ones I MISSED by God. Just a thought. Leave me a comment on some experiences you may have when someone did something for you that you did not expect. These stories make such great testimonies and memories.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Have a great and blessed week.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Leadership...Does it really matter?
Hello all,
As we continue our Daniel fast we have started a study into leadership and have already addressed several areas that are needed to be effective and trusted leaders. Our leadership skills go far beyond our professional lives but dive into who we are as fathers, mothers, parents and people involved in our community. As we go ahead in this study I ask for your feedback concerning what we are learning. I will start a review of the topic or topics that we cover and include comments that were made by the class. I hope that this will become a tool of review and a resource you can use if you should miss a class.
I also wanted to update you on my New Years resolutions to date. I continue to be successful with my prayer life but have still had trouble with my time management but I am working on it.
Continue to pray everyday to strengthen your relationship with God and learn to be still and listen for His direction and encouragement.
Blessings.
As we continue our Daniel fast we have started a study into leadership and have already addressed several areas that are needed to be effective and trusted leaders. Our leadership skills go far beyond our professional lives but dive into who we are as fathers, mothers, parents and people involved in our community. As we go ahead in this study I ask for your feedback concerning what we are learning. I will start a review of the topic or topics that we cover and include comments that were made by the class. I hope that this will become a tool of review and a resource you can use if you should miss a class.
I also wanted to update you on my New Years resolutions to date. I continue to be successful with my prayer life but have still had trouble with my time management but I am working on it.
Continue to pray everyday to strengthen your relationship with God and learn to be still and listen for His direction and encouragement.
Blessings.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Week Two...
Well,
Here we are going into the 2nd full week of the Daniel fast. How have you been doing? I would love to hear how God is moving and what areas have been opened to you. It would also be fun to hear about your struggles and those "moments" like I had the other day when my kids wanted to go to Burger King!!! I forgot how good it was going to smell when I walked in and smelled and say the french fries, milkshakes and HAMBURGERS!!!!
I have to say it was kinda funny and then it got kinda tough. I was lucky to have my kids as my accountability partners and let me tell you, I think they really enjoyed it!!
God is moving in many ways in my life. My vision for where I want to go is slowly being shown to me but probably the biggest revelation is the increased prayer life my wife and I are experiencing while on this fast. My individual prayer life has increased as well and I am more aware of people I need to pray for. The time I am spending in prayer at this point is becoming the most intimate then I have ever imagined it could be. This is what I want for all of you, to get intimate with God and see how He can really change your out look and your entire life. Trust in Him, take a step out of your comfort zone and allow God to show you what He is all about.
Let me know your thoughts and experiences even if you are not doing the fast let me know what it going on in your lives.
Blessings to all and have a great week.
Here we are going into the 2nd full week of the Daniel fast. How have you been doing? I would love to hear how God is moving and what areas have been opened to you. It would also be fun to hear about your struggles and those "moments" like I had the other day when my kids wanted to go to Burger King!!! I forgot how good it was going to smell when I walked in and smelled and say the french fries, milkshakes and HAMBURGERS!!!!
I have to say it was kinda funny and then it got kinda tough. I was lucky to have my kids as my accountability partners and let me tell you, I think they really enjoyed it!!
God is moving in many ways in my life. My vision for where I want to go is slowly being shown to me but probably the biggest revelation is the increased prayer life my wife and I are experiencing while on this fast. My individual prayer life has increased as well and I am more aware of people I need to pray for. The time I am spending in prayer at this point is becoming the most intimate then I have ever imagined it could be. This is what I want for all of you, to get intimate with God and see how He can really change your out look and your entire life. Trust in Him, take a step out of your comfort zone and allow God to show you what He is all about.
Let me know your thoughts and experiences even if you are not doing the fast let me know what it going on in your lives.
Blessings to all and have a great week.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Its a NEW YEAR!!
Happy New Year!!!
It is now 2008!! WOW 2007 went so fast for me. As I look back I see so many areas that I would have liked to have done something different, made a different decision, spent more time doing a certain things, made more visits, ANSWERED E-MAILS FASTER:)
So many people use today to start something new or do something better... I am no different. That is why I am posting my New Year resolutions on my blogs so that I can't say I forgot and that those of you who wish to hold me accountable can. I am not sure if this is a good idea yet but if it back fires I only have a year to suffer through right?
Well here it is, my New Year resolutions;
1- I am going to commit myself to a new dedication to my personal prayer life. This will include a daily devotion WITH my wife! I am looking very forward to this. This resolution will also include a personal daily Bible study for me.
2- I have suffered in my follow up in my communications via voice mail and E-mails. I am going to commit myself that all messages are returned with an e-mail or phone call within 48 hours of my receipt of the message. This might not sound all that great to some of you but this is an area that is very busy for me. This includes all the prayer requests I receive online and the assignments I receive on Fellowship One.
3-As my school starts again, I have to commit myself to daily time to study and to complete papers and research assignments EARLY. This for me will relieve a lot of stress to try to complete these assignments in the lat minute. My school commitment this year will be my heaviest in a long time so I would appreciate prayer in this area. The rewards will be great but it will be a tough road to get there.
4- This is the most important area of all my resolutions. As you have read above there are a lot of areas that will take my time this upcoming year. With that in mind, I resolve to find time for my kids and my wife EVERYDAY that is not interfered with by my computer or the phone. This may be my most difficult resolution to date. Why? I am addicted to my computer, I use it for everything and I do allow it to take the place of other things and I have seen the results of this and it is not good. With that in mind I will commit to putting this box down and when it is down it STAYS down!!
Well that's it, it is only 4 but for me they will be enough to keep me focused for the next year. I will pray that all of you will set your own resolutions and I would love to hear them so please take a minute and let me know what your doing to improve your relationships, your prayer life and your commitment to areas of your life that you want to improve.
May God bless you and your family with great success, health and happiness for the upcoming year and may it be filled with experiences with God and the Holy Spirit that will forever change your life.
Happy New Year,
Mike
It is now 2008!! WOW 2007 went so fast for me. As I look back I see so many areas that I would have liked to have done something different, made a different decision, spent more time doing a certain things, made more visits, ANSWERED E-MAILS FASTER:)
So many people use today to start something new or do something better... I am no different. That is why I am posting my New Year resolutions on my blogs so that I can't say I forgot and that those of you who wish to hold me accountable can. I am not sure if this is a good idea yet but if it back fires I only have a year to suffer through right?
Well here it is, my New Year resolutions;
1- I am going to commit myself to a new dedication to my personal prayer life. This will include a daily devotion WITH my wife! I am looking very forward to this. This resolution will also include a personal daily Bible study for me.
2- I have suffered in my follow up in my communications via voice mail and E-mails. I am going to commit myself that all messages are returned with an e-mail or phone call within 48 hours of my receipt of the message. This might not sound all that great to some of you but this is an area that is very busy for me. This includes all the prayer requests I receive online and the assignments I receive on Fellowship One.
3-As my school starts again, I have to commit myself to daily time to study and to complete papers and research assignments EARLY. This for me will relieve a lot of stress to try to complete these assignments in the lat minute. My school commitment this year will be my heaviest in a long time so I would appreciate prayer in this area. The rewards will be great but it will be a tough road to get there.
4- This is the most important area of all my resolutions. As you have read above there are a lot of areas that will take my time this upcoming year. With that in mind, I resolve to find time for my kids and my wife EVERYDAY that is not interfered with by my computer or the phone. This may be my most difficult resolution to date. Why? I am addicted to my computer, I use it for everything and I do allow it to take the place of other things and I have seen the results of this and it is not good. With that in mind I will commit to putting this box down and when it is down it STAYS down!!
Well that's it, it is only 4 but for me they will be enough to keep me focused for the next year. I will pray that all of you will set your own resolutions and I would love to hear them so please take a minute and let me know what your doing to improve your relationships, your prayer life and your commitment to areas of your life that you want to improve.
May God bless you and your family with great success, health and happiness for the upcoming year and may it be filled with experiences with God and the Holy Spirit that will forever change your life.
Happy New Year,
Mike
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