Sail Away

Hey all,

Are you awake? Obviously you are reading this so you are physically awake, but that is not what I mean? Do you know what is going on around you? Are you aware? Are you engaged?

Life is happening all around us every single moment. Whether we decide to engage in it or not, life continues on. It keeps going. There is no pause button. We might hit our own internal "pause"button" on occasion (vacation, tv, book, etc..) but life still goes on. Events are unfolding every moment of every day. All over the world. All around us.

Are you awake to it? Are you engaged in it?  Do you know what is going on? 

If you answered no, you are not alone. Many of us are not awake. Many of us are not engaged. Many of us are spectators. Many of us watch life unfold all around us and react to what it brings. We are like a sailboat that has no captain and no rudder. We are left to the winds and waves of the worldly sea. Blown about by each circumstance and each new problem. Never knowing what is going to happen next. We cannot seem to find calm waters and when we do.....it doesn't last long. Sound familiar?

We have all been there. But check this out.....there is hope. There is life. There is a bigger story going on that we are a supposed to be part of.  I don't think life is supposed to just be a series of "storms" for us to endure.  We are part of a great story that is being written and we have a role to play in it.  We are needed.  If we don't do it, no one will.  They can't.  It is uniquely written for us. 

But first, We first have to allow the real "Captain" to take over.  Let HIM grab the rudder and set the sail.  HE has set the course for  you and I long ago.  Our story.  Our life.  Our part of the HIS bigger story.  If we don't play our part, no one will.  No one can.  This was set out only for us.

All we have to do is let go and ask HIM to take over.  And HE will.  HE will sail us to calm waters and take us on the great adventure of life.  HE knows the way.

Sail away!

Strength and Honor,

-S

Compulsive Planning

Hey all,

Have you ever been so consumed with planning things in your life that you fail to live?  I read something this morning that really rocked my world,  Check this out.

"Walk with me in holy trust.  Responding to My initiatives rather than make things fit your plans. I died to set you free and that includes freedom from compulsive planning. When your mind spins with a multitude of thoughts, you cannot hear My voice. A mind preoccupied with planning pays homage to the idol of control. Turn from this idolatry and back to Me.  Listen to Me and live abundantly."

From "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.

Wow.....is that not dead on or what?  When we are so obsessed with our own plans, we cannot hear.  Our minds are "spinning" with all of the plans we feel that we have to make happen that we miss the very source of Life.  HIM!  In our efforts to plan out our life, we end up missing it.

Check out John 8:36, 10:27 and Proverbs 19:21 for some great wisdom on compulsive planning.

Compulsive planning?  Stop spinning and start listening. 

Abundanat Life.  Very cool.

Strength and Honor,

-S

Pursued

Hey all,

Are you being pursued?  Do you feeling like you are being chased by something?  Are you constantly running this race called life?  Are you tired?  Exhausted?

I was thinking about this today.  Life can chase us can't it?  

Just take work as an example.  Our jobs require us to be in constant motion.  We are always trying to stay ahead of "the work".  We work and work and work and yet.........we never seem to get ahead.  It still is there the next day.  Ready to start the chase again.  Ready to pursue.  We start over again.  Running and running and running.  But to no avail......it is an endless cycle.

Or maybe it's all the stuff at home.  Too many things to do.  Constant race.  Always being pursued.  Kids, home, sports, church, financial obligations, social activities............you know what I am talking about.  Running and running and running.  Trying to stay ahead.  The pursuit feels exhausting at times.

Have you ever though about that? 

But it doesn't have to be that way. Really.....it doesn't.

Life is meant to be pursued.........not to be "pursued" by it.  We are supposed to "live" life, not just be "living" in it.  Life is not supposed to be a game of tag.  Life should not be chasing us.   

We don't have to live that way.  Our time on this earth is given to us by the Lord to be the pursuer of it.  HE wants us to pursue life.  HE wants us to lead the way.  He wants us to make a difference.  HE wants us to be running, but NOT because we are being chased..............but because we are following HIM.  When we are following HIM.........we are "living: life.........not just "living" life.  We are leading by following.  We are meant to be conquerors of life through HIM.  Not to be conquered by life.  Wow......there is a big difference isn't there?

So ask yourself this week......Am I running because I am being pursued by life......or am I running because I am living life.  Maybe it's time to quit running and start leading.

By following.

Strength and Honor,

-S

Father and Masters,

Hey all,

There are certain things that happen in our lives that are truly memorable.  I had one of those yesterday. 

I had the blessing and privilege of spending the day with my Father at the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, GA.  My Dad is retired and works at a Golf course...........so obviously he loves golf.  While he is getting up there in years, he can still hit them pretty good too. He still beats me every time we play. 

Going to Augusta National to see the Masters was a very special day for him. A life long dream and "Bucket list" item.  It was special.  

It was even more special for me.  Besides just being at Augusta with all it's history and tradition............I was able to spend an entire day with my Dad.  We had a great time talking, hanging out, watching golf, and just enjoying the  beauty of Augusta and our day together. 

For those that have been to the Masters, you know that you cannot take in a camera or cell phone.  Your mental experience is all you can take with you.  Sure, you can buy stuff at the gift shop, but you have only your mind to take the memories with you.  It was great to be free for a day and not be distracted by the cell phone, email, text's.  We both relaxed and just enjoyed the day together.  Not distracted by anything but each other and the event. 

Too often we try and capture all of our "experiences" on camera, video, etc, then rush to post it on whatever social media we have. In our need to get it out to the public or capture it on photo or video.....we lose the memory of it completely.  We leave our mental memory card empty.  How often are you filling your mental memory card instead of using your camera phone?  If you are like me, not nearly enough.

After Friday with my Father at the Masters..........my mental memory card is full.    

And its not with golf.

Strength and Honor,

-S 

The Joy of Fishing

Hey all,

So I finally got out on my boat Saturday for a little bit of crappie fishing here in the great state of South Carolina.  I have not made time as of late for doing one of the things that makes me come alive so I was really looking forward to getting out on the water.  More importantly, I was really hoping I could finally catch some fish on this lake that I had yet to figure out.

After much aggravation and much longer than I was hoping it would take to get out on the water that morning......I finally made it out.  As I started my day...it quickly went from optimism to more of the same aggravation that I had experienced many times before.  Besides the wind and rain that was threatening......it had been 1-1/2 hours and I had yet to land one single fish.  Defeat was setting in and I was beginning to think I may never figure this place out. 

Then it changed.  But not how I thought it would. 

As I went to a new spot on the lake to try my luck, I had an encounter with two of the nicest men I believe I have ever met.  While floating into a cove, I came upon two older gentlemen who were fishing and absolutely having a blast.  They were laughing, joking, and ribbing each other (like fishermen do).  They each had a couple of poles in the water and catching fish.  Their attitude as infectious.  I was drawn to them.  As I floated nearby they promptly asked how I was doing?  "Not so well", I disclosed.  I told them I was hoping to catch a few but had not yet figured it out.  We exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes and as we did, they proceeded to catch several fish!  All of which from the area that I had just floated through and caught nothing.  They laughed and joked the entire time.  I could not help but feel their joy.  Even though I wasn't catching any, I started to feel better. 

While the man in the front of the boat was reeling yet another fish in, he began giving me pointers on what to do. 

"Go into the wind he said. That way.  Move slowly.  Fish about 10-15' deep.  You will get one.  Keep going along that line.  That's it.  There you go.  You'll get one.  Slowly now." 

And then....boom.  Fish on.  Then another. And another.  All the while, he is cheering me on.  "That a way, you are figuring it out now, way to go."  After fish number five and six, then the ribbing came.....like we were old friends...... "your starting to get something figured out over there aren't you?....maybe you need to tell me the secrets....are you holding out on me?"   It was so great.  We were bantering like old buddies, yet we had only met 20 minutes before. 

These two men not only had the joy of fishing, but they had joy in their hearts and it was real.  Real joy.  The kind that you can see, feel, and are drawn to.  We ended up fishing close to one another for the next hour and we had a blast.  Later, my other friends came by in their boat and the men gave them the same lessons as well.  Told them everything they knew and encouraged us all.    They would agree....it was really cool.

I cannot recall meeting men who were so nice.  So real.  So joyful. I want to be like that.

Don't you?

We never even had to tell each other our names.

Strength and Honor,

-S

A Meaningful Impact

Hey all,

What does it look like to have a "meaningful impact on someones life?" 

I think deep down, we all want to have an impact on others lives....but what really makes it "meaningful?"  Have you ever thought about that?  We all certainly have an ability to impact each other in some way, but are we trying to have an impact on them that is "meaningful"?   

Having a meaningful impact on others does take effort.  We have to be deliberate.  It has to be a goal.  If we just go about our day and take the interactions we have with others as just another part of our day.....then we are missing it.  We are just going through the motions.  Each relationship we have is just another transaction in our day.  Part of the routine of life.  We are completely missing the significance of our moments.  This can be at home, work, socially, etc..

But it doesn't have to be that way.  Check this out.

If we set out to have a "meaningful impact" on someone else's life, then we are more than just a participant in a transaction.  We are a catalyst.   We are aware of our moments, circumstances, relationships, etc..  In becoming aware, we become focused on others instead of ourselves.  We want to bring others our best each day.  We put our self behind and others first.  We engage.  We  become selfless.  The Lord loves it when we are selfless and we put others first.  We can do this by acting out of God's love for us.  When we act out of HIS love for us, HE can (and will) use us for HIS glory.  And guess what......others are impacted in a meaningful way.  Through us, not by us.  By HIM.  But we have to show up for that to happen.

When we make ourselves available and trust in God to put others ahead of our own agenda and desires.......then watch out.........God is gonna use us.  Big time!  HE will use us as a conduit to impact others.  To impact other people in a truly "meaningful way".  Again, we just have to allow HIM to love us, then "show up" and let HIM use us.

Challenge yourself this week when you are interacting with others by asking....."I am really available and bringing my best (what God has given me) to this person?"

I bet your day might become alot more meaningful to you and others.

Strength and Honor,

-S 

Frog in the Kettle

Hey all,

I read a story recently that describes the culture in America today.  It went like this. 

There was a frog that jumped into a kettle of cool water not knowing the heat had been turned on. Gradually, the heat began to build and the frog adjusted to the warmer temperature of the water. However, when the heat became very hot, the frog did not notice until it was too late. It was already cooked and it died.  It never saw if coming.

We are often like the frog in this story.  We have been dropped into the water (which represents the world and the culture) and it slowly is heated up. But we don't realize it is warming.  We adjust to the heat.  We settle into the temperature (routine).  It sometimes even feels good to us.  But then, we realize it is starting to boil.  It doesn't feel good anymore.  Too hot.  It feels wrong.  We want out.  But it is too late. We are already cooked.  We are dead.  We have no life.

This is what the world can do to us.  The culture in society (i.e. the World...which is ruled by the enemy) wants to pull us into the water (the matrix) and slowly warm us up to the point that we are numb. When we are numb, we have no life.  It is a very gradual process and if we are not alert, we may not even know it is happening. 

The good news is that we can get out of the kettle whenever we choose.  We just have to recognize that we are in it.  When we do, then we can come against it and replace it with the truth.  More life.

And we will get out of the kettle.

Strength and Honor.

-S