Excel Still More

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

This is a call to every believer. God has work for you to do. That work will be personal. It is a one-on-one connection with someone in your life who needs help. God is calling us all, as a part of sound doctrine, to become a mentor (and experienced and trusted adviser). Older people, especially, and certainly parents, are called to help and guide, to lead with an honest life and assist others in making their way through in faith.

The Citizen of Heaven podcast by Hal Hammons - I did an interview with Terry Francis recently on the topic of coaching, mentorship and helping develop the strength of the next generation. Part 1 released last week and Part 2 will be out tomorrow (Sept. 5th)

This all begins with you telling yourself: I need to do this. This episode explores the healthy habits in productive mentorships, beginning at home. We also explore a few questions you can answer to get yourself engaged right away. 

- What is a mentor and is that something the demands a degree or certificate?

- How has God challenged church members to advise and assist younger believers?

- Is parenting a mentorship program and what are the top two things that make that work?

- Can you determine where you have been successful and also someone who could use that?

- What are three names of people you will reach out to this week?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

I am an oversharer. I talk too much and listen too little. The issue with this is I read the reactions to that sharing and hang too much of my happiness on the response, the likes, the affirmations. There is certainly room in life to tell people things and read their feedback. But I am learning to "tell no one." I am learning that social media has programmed my brain to post and hang my joy on the reactions. 

But with the help of Captain America, Bradley Cooper, and Joe Burrow, I am learning to keep more to myself. I am learning to enjoy the event for its own sake. I am learning to enjoy the people who I am with and not tether my joy to how we I display it or the support it draws from onlookers.

In this episode, we dig in on some really cool quotes. The outcome is a deep sense of joy in the moment, and less social media dependency on the need for people to love it. This frees us up to stay in the moment and determine its value real time, without the need for an audience to validate.

- Why do many of us hang so much joy on how many people applaud or like our life?

- How has social media taken us out of the present moment and to how you will put it on display?

- What comes from telling no one? How does a moment with family change when it is just for you?

- What if you go on vacation and tell no one? How will it change your focus during the trip?

- Why did Jesus teach us to tell no one when we give, pray and fast? 

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Have you ever cried out "Abba Father" in prayer? It is found three times in Scripture. Jesus did it in Mark 14:36. Jesus seems to be doing it through us in Galatians 4:6. And we are all, having been adopted by God, to cry this out to the Lord in Romans 8:15.  There is this cool progression from Jesus, to Jesus in us, to us. Credit to Ryan Goodwin for sharing these great thoughts recently.

You can find his sermons on our church YouTube channel.

But what does it mean? How are we crying "abba" which represents a child-like adoration, but also "Father" which is a phrase uttered from understanding and respect. Let's explore the nature of child-like humility. But not just in prayer. Let's explore that Abba Father cry in terms of how we view the day in front of us. And let's cry these words as we offer to God our juvenile faith, in confidence that He accepts us and nurtures us forward and upward to better things.

Here are James Clear's quotes referenced in the episode:

"Children are joyful and treat each day as a miracle—in part because they are continually surprised. 

Each day, they hear a new word or listen to a new song or learn about a new animal. It's their first time visiting that restaurant or jumping in that pool or riding that rollercoaster. The world is continually unfolding before them. 

How can you introduce more surprise into your life as an adult? How can you renew your sense of childlike wonder?"


"In the beginning, your skills are raw, your knowledge is sparse, and you lack experience. At best, you will be able to produce work that is "just okay." And even then, you'll only manage to reach "just okay" by giving your best effort. 

Nobody wants to produce something that is "just okay." You'll feel like it's beneath your standards. You'll worry about what others think of you. You'll wonder whether you would be better off taking a different path. But it is impossible to reach that stage unless you are willing to work through your current stage. 

And so, one of the main obstacles between who you are and who you could be is courage. The courage to keep trying even if you're not yet as good as you hope. The courage to keep trying despite your fears of what others may think. The courage to keep trying without knowing how the future will unfold.

Your great work is on the other side of your early work. The only way to be exceptional later on is to have the courage to be "just okay" right now. This is how it is for everyone."

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Everybody knows that love is the most crucial spirit of God needed today. No one denies its's intense value. But kindness deserves some attention as well. In fact, you might categorize being kind as the way you express love in a transaction, interpersonal way. Kindness, from tiny little choices, to deep conversations, proves love. It shares love with others. Kindness is love. 

In that way, kindness is extremely powerful. It changes outcomes from a near fender bender to a 40 year marriage. Today's episode explores the definition of the word, the generic, everyday element of it, the methods for living it in your home, and five practical points to consider. I'll list those points below with the verse references.

- Give a Gift - Acts 9:36-39 - What can you present to someone as a random act of kindness?

- Make a Trip - Acts 10:30-33 - Who can you go visit simply to encourage and show love to them?

- Build a Fire - Acts 28:1-3 - What need can you fill in the life of someone God has put in your life?

- Be One Sided - Titus 3:4-5 - How can you go way above and beyond like God does with you?

- Create a Habit - Eph. 2:6-7 - What can you start doing regularly to imbed kindness anew?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Jesus has earned the right to be first in every single thing. He should be first in our hearts every morning, the first Person we consider, and the King we seek to follow and honor and love in all that we do. To the extent that we do that, our lives are infused with purpose and peace and steeped in His amazing promises.

But if you are like me, not every day is like that. We can go long stretches with Jesus on the side. Maybe we aren't praying much, reading much, or saying his name in the world in which we live. But it is His world. And we are His. These truths should lead the way every single day and in everything we say and do.

So how does that work? How do we start with Jesus? Let's dig in on how looking to Christ can help you overcome discouragement, bring peace to a busy life, renovate the way you pray, and bring Scripture to life. 

- Why should Jesus be the leader of every aspect of your life?

- What does that look like on a morning to morning basis?

- What if you life was patterned, first, after the cadence of Jesus' daily life?

- Have you read the Scriptures simply to find the Son of God?

- Do you know the confidence that is found in His strength instead of your own?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Okay, I'm not really sure what gossip is. I think that is true for most of us. We say things like "this isn't gossip" or "this might be gossip" right before we share information about  people who are not in the room. Most of us think if we don't mean any harm then there is no harm done. Of course, that is not always true.

Today we will dig in on what we know about gossip. But more practically, I want to share a few things that have helped me guard my tongue much more effectively. A simple statement can change a lot about how we talk and who we talk about. And a simple question at the end can make gossip have to work a lot harder to get seeded by us.

- What in the world is the sin of gossip?

- If I don't intend to cause issues, does that mean it is okay?

- Why does speaking too much and too often often contribute to the problem?

- How can I ask a simple question about helpfulness and filter my speech?

- Why is going to the person harder to do and yet almost always much, much wiser?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Today I want to ask you about the life you are living right now. Are you happy with where you are right now? When you look at your life, do you see God, hope and purpose? And if you look back at the major events that got you where you are, what is your emotion about those things?

Accepting where we are is crucial to making the most out of today and tomorrow. Sure, we all want to grow. We want to get better. But not because we are not good now. God is good and so are we if we live in Him. What we need is a full glass of gratitude that gets excited about using today to build a better tomorrow. 

 Maybe looking back can help. How you accept and process what has happened shaped your attitude about your life today. And... Lord willing today and this week and month and year will soon be a part of your past, shaping who you become. Are you ready to make that amazing?

- What is your attitude about where you are in your life right now?

- With what emotion do you look back at the road that led you to your current life?

- Where was God in all of that? Was He present and active? Then and now?

- How does gratitude now make a difference in what happens next?

- I shared a personal story today. Do you have a story like that? What does it tell you about God?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Have you ever watched two me bubblers have a conversation? It is funny to watch. One talks about themself. Then the other one talks about themself. The cycle just goes back and forth until someone loses interest. I'm not sure why we are like that, but I've been there. What if one of us shows interest in the other person and asks a follow up question? What if we gave entire attention to one when they needed it? What if I didn't feel the need to make it about me to make it worth while?

These questions mean a lot in my life. I know selfishness well. I've been there. But God has better plans. He has bigger plans. But first we must self evaluate. Am I a me-bubbler? What does that look and sound like in my life? And do I understand how self focus can damage others in a system?

Today we dig in on how to make life more about others and live a more fulfilled existence. I want to give you 4 personal tips that have made a big difference for me. Also we will look at a wonderful passage in the book of Jude that can transform your daily living. And if we can make some differences daily, and be consistent, we can change our lives and the lives of others!

- How do you define a "Me-Bubbler"?

- Why is it important to pop that bubble when you live within a system bigger than yourself?

- What can you do each and every day to flip the script on self-focus and be a better friend?

- How can focus on the Godhead be a day changer in terms of where your thoughts dwell?

- Are there people in your life who are doubting, faltering, or caught in ignorance? What would God have you and me do about that?

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Here are a few cool things coming up this month:

www.balancingthechristianlife.com

Check out this link to dig in on a tremendous lectureship that starts on July 28th. There are nearly 50 speakers on 5 different tracks, all devoted to helping you grow and carry out the Lord's work. I had the honor of doing the keynote address at the beginning of the series and I highly recommend you dig in on this and share with your friends and family.

I've also mentioned three places I'll be worshipping and preaching this month.

July 19-21 - North Kentucky Church, Florence, KY

July 22-24 - Walnut Street Church - Cary, NC

July 29-31 - Milwaukee Avenue Church - Lubbock, TX


Other than that, I just want you to read the lyrics of one of my favorite songs of all time.
So many times we hurt, we are confused, we are in need... run to Jesus. The Healer has Power!

Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn't come from the explained
Jesus please don't let this go in vain
You're all I have
All that remains

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I'll fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

Breathe
Sometimes I feel it's all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You
Lord take hold and pull me through

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I'll fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

It's the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all our scars are understood
When mercy takes its rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say it's over now

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I'll fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

What is your attitude about time? Do you understand growth is not about you doing complex, incredible things? True transformation is the result of simple, easy to do things, consistently done, and benefitted by the power of time. Time is a gift, an asset. It does things you cannot do. Your absolute best effort today cannot do what time can do with smaller, more consistent behavior. 

As I enjoy a deeper read into "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson, he doubles down on the power of time to bring about what you didn't think possible. The truth is, a lot of us have wasted our greatest gift. If you looked back 3 years and made some small changes back then, what would things look like today? If you can see that, then you are ready to start visualizing 3 years from now! Redeeming the time is an action of faith that can trigger the mercies of God to bless us with days and even years.

- When you think about future time, what emotion do you feel?

- If God gives you the rest of this year, what will that mean for your life and relationships?

- Can you do small, good things day after day if you knew it would bring about a great result?

- Are you ready to get emotional about a future version of yourself? Can you see it?

- When you pray, do you ask God for more life? For more time? Why? What will it mean?