Do You Feel the Zeal?

Zeal -- Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance. 

You can't change your past mistakes.  You don't have to keep living them over and over either.  Doing this prevents you from living your life to its fullest.  It takes away from the joy of today.  There's something in my gut that tells me, "This is your moment.  You are living at the right time and the right place -- you have everything you need at your fingertips to accomplish your destiny."  I don't know this, I feel this.  It's what zeal is all about.  My hope for you today is that this message strikes a chord.  If you're not feeling the zeal, I have some questions for you:

1. If you could change one thing in your life today that would ignite the flames inside you yearning to burn, what would it be?
2. What price are you willing to pay to make that change?
3. How much pain will you suffer if you choose not to ignite that flame?

I experienced one of those moments yesterday morning near the end of my writing session.  I was so deeply engrossed in my story that I completely lost track of time.  What seemed like minutes turned out to be hours.  I missed my self-imposed writing deadline by thirty minutes without even realizing it.  My readers expect these stories to appear every morning at 8:08 AM, Pacific Time.  I missed that target yesterday because I was feeling the zeal so strongly that time itself seemed to stop.  This passion carries over into every area of my life -- parenting, dating my wife, working, dreaming, etc.  I vow to live my life with zeal.  How about you?  Are you in?  Humor me and add a comment below that says, "I'm in."  Or, if you like to keep your name private, send me an email.  You don't have to give me your name.  Email me by clicking here and put "I'm in" in the subject line.  Have a great day!

Do You See Opportunity?

Opportunity wears many disguises.  You won't always find it in familiar places.  Here are ten places where opportunity may be lurking in your life:

1. Rejection.  This is painful.  I've experienced this many times.  The good news here is that rejection is the feedback necessary to identify areas of your life that need attention.  Rejection shines a light on your weak areas.  If you can see the light, you can get better.
2. Job loss.  For many, their job is their identity.  When a lay-off comes, they are lost.  Those who accept a job loss as part of a world that is rapidly changing and adapt find new opportunity.
3. Natural disasters.  Forced evacuations have a way of bringing people together.  I survived two wildfires during my time in Southern California.  Both evacuations lasted about a week.  During that time, I really got to know my neighbors.  I also witnessed the human heart.  There's nothing better than knowing there are people out there who care about you, especially when you're in the middle of a wildfire, tornado or other kind of natural disaster.
4. Loss of a loved one.  Some of the greatest caregivers on our planet are the ones who lost someone they loved.  They know the pain and the hurt and they use this pain to help others in similar situations.  Use your loss to help others and you will find comfort.
5. The end of the rope.  This is a scary place.  Maybe you find yourself hanging by a thread today.  The world keeps telling you, "hang on!"  I heard a different voice the day I found myself at the end of my rope.  The voice said, "let go."  The day I let go of the rope and put my faith in God I began to see all kinds of new opportunities in my life.
6. Dead ends.  If you are like me, you can't stand it when the road you've been on for many years turns out to be a dead end.  If you are willing to turn around and head in a different direction, you will find new roads filled with new opportunities.  
7. Defeat.  You may feel good when you are on a winning streak and everything is going well in your life, however, your opportunity for the greatest growth appears when you have been knocked down.  Ask any professional athlete how he or she made it to the top and they will tell you it comes from learning lessons in your losses.  Your opponent is keen on identifying your weaknesses.  They may never be exposed until you are defeated.  
8. When someone hurts you.  You can spend your lifetime thinking about all those sucker punches you got when your guard was down, or you can forgive the person(s) who hurt you.  Forgiveness is an opportunity to be an example instead of a victim.
9. When you feel like a misfit.  There is great opportunity for anyone willing to swim upstream when the rest of the world is going in the opposite direction.  Try it.  You will be ridiculed and you will be misunderstood.  It's worth it.
10. When others tell you that you are a failure or that what you are seeking is impossible.  This is one of my favorites.  I was a young kid when I bought my first condo.  The first lender I spoke with took one look at me and laughed.  The next lender found a way to help me.  The first broker I spoke with on a job interview in my early twenties told me he only hired experienced realtors.  By the time we were done speaking, he hired me.  After I shook hands with him, I told him, "I'll be ready to start as soon as I get my real estate license."  When I relocated to the Midwest over one year ago, I immediately started looking at property, even though I had no job and no money.  97 people out of 100 told me there was no hope.  The other three said, "let's talk."  My wife and I agreed to purchase the home on the top of our list.  We set up a rent to own program with the seller which was converted to a real estate contract once we both secured jobs.  These examples are only the tip of the iceberg.  I see opportunity every time someone says, "you can't do that" or "it's impossible."

Where are your opportunities?  Are you looking in the right places?  Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

7 Ways To Defeat Your Fears

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." ~ Matthew 14:27

It's been almost a year since we lost one of our team-mates at work.  Ryan and his girlfriend were in a tragic motorcycle accident that took his life and left his girlfriend in critical condition.  Her recovery is amazing.  And she just did something recently most of us would never dream of...she got a motorcycle license.  Someday she plans to buy the same bike her boyfriend was killed on.

Fear is something we all have.  Jesus talks about fear more than any other subject.  He knows how the Enemy uses fear to stop us in our tracks.  If you find yourself struggling with fear, here are seven tips to help you:

1. Fear lives in the shadows.  Turn the light on.  It helps to see what you're dealing with.
2. Understand where fear comes from.  It does not come from God.  It is a road block to God.
3. Love is stronger than fear.  The greater your love is, the weaker your fear becomes.
4. Fear comes from having trust issues.  Learn to trust and watch your fears dissipate.
5. Remember what the final score will be.  Your team wins.  Fear is the only weapon the Enemy has to try to confuse you and distract you.  Keep your eyes on the scoreboard and remind the Enemy the outcome has already been determined.
6. Fear can be converted into high octane gas;  it gives you all the fuel you need to move forward.  Use it to fill up your tank and charge ahead.
7. The greatest fear most of us have is about death.  Jesus conquered death.  It's no longer an issue.  Death is simply a doorway to eternal life.

I salute all the people in this world who found a way to defeat their fears.  I congratulate Ryan's girlfriend for deciding fear will not be a part of her life.  And I challenge you to defeat your fears.  These seven ideas are a starting point.  Please add your suggestions to the story in the comments section below.

Are You Ready For Judgement Day?

If you asked 100 people, "are you ready for judgement day?", how many do you think would answer affirmatively?  How would you answer?  What is the basis for your answer?  Remember, no one can answer this question for you.  And if you happen to be an atheist, this question is for you:  Have you ever considered the possibility that you're wrong about your opinion that there is no God?

Imagine this scenario:  You're dead.  In front of you is Jesus.  He doesn't say anything.  He pushes a button and a movie screen turns on.  You are the star of the movie.  The first scene is you as a baby.  Your entire life is played before your eyes.  Everything you did, right up until the moment you died is in the movie.  The way you treated others is replayed on the movie screen.  At the end of the movie, Jesus asks you, "would you mind evaluating your life?"

What kind of movie did you see?  Was it a love story?  How did you interact with everyone else?

If you saw a horror flick or if the movie you watched was lackluster, here's some good news for you -- you're not dead.  You may not win any Academy Awards for your performance in this world, however, if you believe in the Director and follow Him, when judgement day comes, He will introduce you to His Father, the One who wrote the original screen play for your life.  Today is a good day to get familiar with the script.  The other actors around you are here to help you.  It's a good idea to love them, even when they mistreat you or hurt you.  Your job is to give the performance of your life.  The only critic who counts is Jesus.

How Do You Know When the Time Is Right?

Are you having trouble making a decision because you're not sure about the timing?  If you find yourself struggling to find the right time, you may want to consider the fear factor.  Fear has a way of creeping into our lives.  It tempts us to delay important decisions.  Keep in mind that the perfect time to do something will never come.  Here are some ideas to ponder about the right time to act:

1. What do you want to accomplish with your life before you die?
2. How much time will your activities listed in #1 take?
3. Is there a point where your age will become a factor with regards to completing an activity?
4. What do you need today to begin working on an item listed in #1?
5. What price will you pay for waiting too long to make an important decision?
6. Do you have any clue about God's timing?
7. Do you know anyone who has been in a similar situation?  If so, what sort of timing sense did they have?
8. How would you rate your timing making important decisions in the past?
9. If you could remove fear from the decision-making process, would you be able to make a decision today?
10. Which has bigger consequences:  Never making a decision or making a decision that is less than perfect?

I made a decision long ago to stop making excuses about timing.  The person who raises a family, publishes books, pursues his or her passions, etc, is the person who discovers the best time to start is today, not tomorrow.  Tomorrow may never come.  Today is here now.  It comes with 1,440 minutes. Is 1,440 minutes enough time for you to make an important decision?  Please let me know if this story helps you to know when the time is right.  Your comments below are much appreciated.

Why Do You Do The Things You Do?

Does this photo remind you of anything?  The first question you may ask when you come home to a mess like this is, "What are you doing?"  That's not the right question.  The answer is obvious.  The real question is "Why are doing this?"

We adopted a second dog as a companion for our Sheltie when our children were young.  The first few times we left Lucky alone, our home looked like burglars invaded.  The corners of all our cushions were chewed up and our vertical blinds were broken into pieces.  Lucky was having trouble with some "why" questions, like:

 "Why are these strangers leaving me alone?" 

"Why don't I get to play outside?"

"Why is this other dog following me around?"

We went to some animal experts seeking help.  We were told our new pet was suffering from separation anxiety.  This explained why he wailed like a baby every time we headed out the door without him.  It explained why he pretended to be a running back busting through the defense every time he saw the end zone just past an open front door.

Once we understood why our new pet was behaving so strangely, we were able to help him overcome his anxiety issues.  The same thing is true with the people around you.  If you seek to understand why they do the things they do, or why you do the things you do, you can eventually modify behaviors.  Those children pictured above have a need to explore.  They will do well on camping trips.  When guided properly, they will become the next generation of inventors and leaders.  Children are experts at asking the "why" questions.  How about you?  Are you asking enough why questions?  Please add your comments below.

Do You Believe In God-incidences?

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ~ Matthew 7:7

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when something happened that appeared to be more than a coincidence?  I like to call these moments "God-incidences" because their timing is out of this world and they seem to be directed by some kind of higher authority.

The most recent "God-incidence" my family witnessed has to do with our youngest son's upcoming18th birthday.  Country singer, Miranda Lambert, decided to appear in concert in a neighboring town when another band had to drop out.  She happens to be one of our son's favorites.  She also happens to be performing for one night only... on our son's birthday.  And when my wife called to check on ticket availability, there were only ten tickets left!  We bought enough for our whole family.

One of the best God-incidences of all times has to do with my dad.  About a week before he passed away, our pastor visited him and he brought his Bible.  They had a private conversation.  When our pastor departed, he left his Bible behind.  My dad said, "son, you need to return this Bible right away.  It contains the keys to the gates of Heaven."  One week later, my dad used the keys.  He found them at the perfect time.

How is your timing?  Any God-incidences in your life?  Please share your story in the comments section below.