A One Way Journey Through Life

Life is a one way journey.  I have no desire to go back in time to revisit my younger days.  There are enough activities on my plate today to fill up each day as it comes.  No longer am I in a hurry to rush through the items on my calendar for the sake of checking them off the list.  My life is intentional.  Each day has its own purpose.

My window is wide open this morning.  A strong cool breeze ushers in 71º air from the outside. I'm listening to all the sounds of nature while penning this story.  There is so much to appreciate.  The birds do this instinctively with their sweet songs.  The trees are sprouting their Spring leaves in unison.  And the crickets contribute to the music.   Another storm is in the distance.  Like all the other storms before it, it will pass.   Perhaps its role is to remind me to appreciate the moment I'm in now, to savor it.

Wherever you are today, I hope you are enjoying your one way journey through your life.  May you find enough time in your day today to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of nature.  Have a great day.

A Joyful Flash Mob

Placa de Sant Roc, Sabadell, Spain. 

Have you ever seen a live flash mob?  I came across an amazing YouTube video yesterday, shot at the placa de Sant Roc in Sabadell, Spain.  The video begins with a lone street musician displaying a cello in a public square.   He is dressed in a tuxedo.  A young girl places a few coins in his top hat and steps back a few paces to watch him play.  Moments later, a second musician joins him.  The small crowd forms a circle around the musicians and soon an orchestra emerges before their eyes.  Children are dancing.  The audience is treated to one of the best flash mobs ever.  Tears of joy rolled down my face when I watched this video for the first time.

The joy we experience in life comes from sharing our gifts with others.  Each person in the video had something to contribute that made the experience so special.  May this video inspire you to pursue the gift(s) given to you at birth and share them with others.  You are an instrument in God's orchestra and he is calling you to join the flash mob...

Are You a Good Map Reader?

The next generation is so reliant on their cell phones for navigation that the art of map reading may become extinct.  Remember the Thomas Brothers?  You looked up a street and then searched for it on the grid.  In many ways, the Bible is like the Thomas Brothers...it's filled with all kinds of directions for finding your way if you take the time to use it properly.  Here are some ideas to consider about using the Bible as a map:

1. All of the quadrants are linked together.  The Old Testament points the way to the New Testament.  When taken as a whole, Jesus is revealed.  He is the way, the truth and the life.
2. The characters in the Bible are there to show examples of lost travelers who found their way.
3. The prophets were given the gift of GPS technology and they use it to predict the correct course for all map readers to follow.
4. Just because the Bible is the oldest map around, it doesn't mean it's outdated.
5. No matter how lost you may feel, you can always find your way to Jesus by following your map, even if you're off the grid.

There are some who claim the map contains errors.  They argue about which way is the right way.  Avoid these traps and always go to the source for guidance.  As long as you trust the source, you will always find your way.

Plans for Summer Snow Balls

There is a motto at my day job about how we are always a season ahead.  This is carrying over to my personal life in a big way.  My wife and I are working on a financial fitness strategy that will produce snow balls in the summer.  Here's how it works:

1. Cut out any and all unnecessary spending.
2. Focus all energy on the smallest outstanding bill.  This is your first snow ball.
3. Once the first bill is paid in full, add the next smallest bill to the snow ball.
4. Tell your friends and family you are building a snow ball and you won't be able to make any splurges until you are done.
5. Set up an emergency account with $1,000 to prevent your snow ball from melting when there is an unexpected expense.
6. Once your debt is eliminated and your snow ball is full size, find another area of your life that needs attention.  Follow the same steps for every area of your life until your front yard is full of snow balls.
7. Be thankful every day of your journey.  You can have fun building snow balls if you work together with the people you love.  You may inspire others to build snow balls in the summer when they see how much fun a project like this can be.

Are you making any plans for summer snow balls?  What area of your life needs the most attention right now?  I would love to hear from you.  Here's a picture of the first snowman I made in my new home state of Iowa...

Armor of God

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ~ Ephesians 6:10-17

The Bible verse above is one of my favorites.  It gives me confidence to stand up to anything and everything that attempts to block God's plans for my life.  Sometimes, the distractions appear harmless, like a television show that comes on in the middle of a writing session or an email that pops up while I'm researching something for a blog topic.

The Evil One has many weapons, including busyness.  If you are too busy to work on the important tasks God asks of you, you are losing.  If you fail to put on the belt of truth, you may begin to believe the lies.  That breastplate of righteousness is there to protect your heart.  The shield of faith is necessary when the Evil One tries to knock you to the ground.  Put on the helmet of salvation and be delivered from the consequences of sin.  Fight back with the sword of the Spirit and know that God is all powerful and all loving.  And at the end of the day, rejoice that you are still standing.  There is no force that can defeat you when you put on the armor of God.

Do You Have a Happy Dance?

Do you remember a time in your life when you had a "happy dance"?  Maybe it was the first time you hit a home run?  Perhaps it was the day school got out for summer?  Or your parents gave you a puppy for your birthday?  Do you remember how good it felt?  When was the last time you showed off your dance moves and didn't care what the world thought?

I'm dancing the happy dance today.  There is no one particular reason for my joyful outbursts.  I'm just plain grateful.  The only sad part about my life is seeing people around me who can't find a reason to dance.  They feel overburdened.  They carry around guilt and can't seem to let go of it.  Some simply forgot how to dance.  Their lives are without music.  If the only music you're hearing today is the blues, try these pointers:

1. Ask Passion -- that inner part of you who knows your hopes and dreams, to be your dance partner.  Passion already knows all the moves.  Passion knows what makes you tick.  Passion will make your heart race.
2. Find one thing in your life you are thankful for and celebrate with a happy dance.  Don't think about how funny you look when someone sees you dancing -- just do it.  
3. Don't be afraid of the dance floor.  You were created to dance in all circumstances.  Let go of all those excuses you have for avoiding the dance floor and get out there.

What is your favorite happy dance?  If you feel like sharing, please do so in the comments section below.   

Is Your Half Empty Half Full Glass Leaking?

We've all heard the half full vs. half empty glass question.  The reality is that the levels in the glass are always changing.  Debating how much liquid is present takes the focus away from something more important:  Is the glass leaking?

A leaking glass is similar to the frog in hot water who isn't aware the heat is being turned up -- one degree at a time.  Eventually, he boils to death.  If the leak in the glass is small enough, the fluids may escape without the glass debaters noticing.

Imagine that something you value is inside your glass, such as your hopes and dreams.  Half the people in the world believe in you and see your glass half full.  The other half see your glass half empty.  I ask you, "Do you see the leak?"

If you're having trouble identifying any leaks in your glass, ask yourself these questions:

1. How much fluid was in your glass last year?  Five years ago?  Ten years ago?  In your childhood?
2. What do you think is causing your glass to leak?
3. What solutions do you have for making glass repairs?

I don't trust my own senses well enough to answer question number 3.  Instead, I put my faith in the Holy Spirit.  I believe the Holy Spirit can repair any leaks, even the ones I can't see.  I also believe the Holy Spirit can restore any fluid that leaked from the glass.  The quality of the water the Holy Spirit adds to my glass is heavenly; when I drink it, I'm no longer thirsty..."but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ~ John 4:14