Friday, May 20, 2011

Do the right thing because it is the right thing

I have said this phrase MANY times over the past 5 or so years...mostly I say it about our church...we do the right thing-we take care of and love people in our community because it is the right thing to do. We have had people take advantage of the help that we give...but the bottom line is...our job is not to judge who "deserves" help and who doesn't...our job is to love and take care of people. Why? Our Savior did that for us..."even while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Even though we hurt him...reject him...deny him...he STILL loves us and gives us the opportunity to come to him.

SO...it is time to not hold back your love...SHARE IT...sure you will get hurt in the process...sure there will be people who are ungrateful...BUT...the reward you get...the "well done" you will received from your Master...THAT is worth every bit of it...Now get out there and serve someone else!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Been a while!

Been well over a week since a post...a few things have taken place in that time and honestly I haven't known what to say. SHOCKING isn't it...Boucher was a bit speechless!! I'm not a big writer, but I usually don't post something just to write...but for the first time since I starting blogging...I really didn't know what to communicate. Ever had those moments in life? Where you are going along...life is happening...and your just not sure what to say...what do you do in those moments?

For me...I prayed a lot...I OFTEN pray for wisdom and discernment...but over the past couple of weeks, I have been BEGGING GOD even more...I simply long to respond to people...speak to people in a way that honors God and shows people respect...a prayer has been to see people the way GOD sees them and to see the best in them. THAT IS QUITE HARD sometimes...but the alternative...just always speaking your mind and not thinking the best in others...that is a dark road...probably "fun" in the moment...but doesn't do you or anyone else any good.

I have also been reflecting a lot on how good God is...on how he just simply has a plan worked up...that when we pray...we need to focus our prayers on HIM...focusing on the fact that NO MATTER how he answers...he has OUR best interest in mind and he loves us more than we can EVER imagine!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Stop saying "I should..." and GO DO IT!

The South Bend Tribune published an article today about the keys to a healthy heart...OBVIOUSLY the article peaked my interest! Another reason it got my attention was I was at the doctor today. (STOP WORRYING MOM...it wasn't because I'm sick or feeling bad!) I realized when I was there that I haven't been to my family doctor in almost a year!! WHICH MEANS that I haven't been sick enough to go! (Very profound huh?!?!) I used to go to the doctor for colds and other junk at LEAST 2-3x's per year...

Here is the thing though...in the past year I have changed my diet. I have DRASTICALLY changed my diet...I still eat "fun" foods, just not NEARLY as often!! I have exercised more consistently in the last 14 months than EVER in my life...AND I have maintained my body weight for a year. (In the past I used to go waaaaaaaay up and then down...up and down...up and down) Isn't it interesting that when you start to eat the right stuff and take care of your body...you end up seeing the doc less!! THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE!!

SO...my point is this...and I cannot say it STRONG ENOUGH...PLEASE stop saying "I should start to take care of my body..." "I should really start to exercise..." and STOP JOKING about what you eat...cause frankly IT ISN'T FUNNY!! This message isn't just for those that are over-weight...there are some people (as I was) who just BURN UP CALORIES and don't look overweight...BUT YOU KNOW that you aren't taking care of your body and that you aren't healthy!!

When we aren't taking care of ourselves it is robbing God, your family, and yourself of the very best YOU!

I did that for many years and I have had to deal with the regret...I KNEW my family history and limitations...I KNEW that I had close family pass away at a young age due to heart disease...BUT I went around eating and living like I was invincible...like "it wouldn't happen to me..."

I encourage you to take responsibility for your own body...YOUR THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN and don'tnot wait until any longer...get to your doctor...talk to a trainer...do what needs to be done to honor God with your health...TRUST ME...you will be sooooooooo glad you did!!

Aim for a target!

14,975 people live within 1 mile...1 MILE of our church building...86,822 people within 3 miles...and 179,581 within 5miles...THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE! And frankly our church was drowning in the fact that we were attempting to touch EVERYONE in that area!

SO...at the beginning of 2011 we made the step to focus our influence on the 1 to 1.5 mile radius of our church...we wanted to make a maximum impact and to do it in the best way possible. NOW...this has come at some sacrifice...BUT...the benefits are amazing...

This is so fresh in my mind because of the opportunity I had to meet with Mrs. Martin today...she is the principal of McKinley Primary Center which is our neighborhood school...Mrs. Martin is PASSIONATE about the kids in her building...she LOVES them! She is giving up part of her summer so they can have a summer school experience. "NO ONE" around here gives up their summer! AND she is allowing us to have our Field Days Camp at the school!! WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US!! I am sooooo excited about the work that she is doing and how that allows us to influence our community!

I love how when we focus our attention...when we narrow our focus...clarify our direction...then God blows open opportunities for us!! VERY COOL!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Overwhelming!



We started a new series of messages at church...We are calling it Amp'd-a study on the book of Ephesians. I LOVE the book of Ephesians...probably my favorite book in the Bible...it has a DEPTH of our understanding of God and it is VERY practical...VERY! Real life stuff...

This week was about ENCOURAGEMENT for those that follow Jesus...THINK ABOUT THIS...God...before ALL CREATION knew who you were and picked you to be on his team! That is INCREDIBLE STUFF! Just INCREDIBLE...God didn't know the idea of me...HE KNEW MY NAME...AND he picked me to follow him. I think that is some REAL encouragement!!

WATCH IT! Some of you are going to jump on this one...your going to make this EXTREMELY complicated...I encourage you to not go there...simply rest in the fact of knowing...that you can KNOW FOR SURE that you will be in heaven one day...you can know because you simply believe in Jesus Christ and what he did in giving his life and rising again..AND you have made him LORD...he is in charge of your life...if you have done that then you are SEALED...you are going to be with Jesus...

NOW GO LIVE IN THAT TRUTH AND HOPE!!