by | Life Application
Most people don’t take the time to plan their lives, so it’s no surprise that so many people get to the end of their lives and experience regrets. They realize, often too late, they should have paid more attention to their goals, their dreams, taken more (smart) risks, spent more time investing in relationships and much less time focusing on their failures and tragedies.
Here’s an important fact: we only get one life to live; one story to tell, and if we don’t plan it well, we’re much more likely to waste this precious gift called life.
No matter what you’ve done in the past, your focus needs to be on the present and your future. Your family needs you. Your friends need you. Your coworkers need you. Your church needs you. You are needed.
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by | Life Application
My boss always says she’s the reactor and I’m the responder. If she only knew how hard Jesus and I have to work to not react. Not. Even. Kidding. And I certainly don’t get it right every single time. Just ask those closest to me. My friend Marcie didn’t nickname me Moses for nothing.
Lately, though, I’ve had to catch myself putting it into practice even more, since I’m actually teaching others in the prison system the importance of responding vs. reacting. Don’t you hate when you actually have to practice what you preach? Just me?? Ok..
As I sit with these men and women who are incarcerated for a number of different crimes and we start to unpack responding vs. reacting, it’s amazing to see the countenance on their faces change when they realize what a difference it makes. When they realize their whole life could’ve been different if they’d chose to respond to life instead of react.
But it’s even cooler to watch their countenance change when they realize it’s not too late to start. It’s not too late for them to learn new coping mechanisms for their future. I didn’t realize until these last few months just how powerful the words, “It’s not too late” really are.
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by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I was planning to end my life. I dropped some cards in the mail to friends and family to remind them I loved them. I didn’t say goodbye – just reminded each of them I was grateful for having them in my life. I left one more in the door of a friend before I left for Nashville. As I headed south I wasn’t sure I was coming back alive. I’d told God He had to meet me there. He had to show me He was still in this with me or I was done. He had to save me.
It was October 2017. I was in the midst of a darkness I could hardly have words for. Sometimes I still don’t. I’d reached burnout in ministry, people I trusted betrayed me with their words and actions, and I was experiencing a level of spiritual warfare I didn’t even know existed.
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by | Book Reviews, Books, Life Application
I have an addiction to reading. It’s pretty bad, actually. I would rather eat ramen noodles so I can buy books. (Okay, I’m not that desperate, but you get the point.)
I get made fun of all the time for saying, “You need to read this book. It’ll change your life.” It’s usually pretty much true. Every book you read will change your life in one way or another, whether for the right or wrong reasons. I can’t imagine my life without a book in my hand.
Harry S. Truman, 33rd President of the United States, once said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” It’s true. Though not everyone is called to a level of leadership like Truman, everyone is called to keep growing and learning. When you read, you grow. You can share that quote and give me credit. 🙂
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by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
I’m currently working on creating some curriculum I’ll be teaching for a brand new program the Missouri Department of Corrections is unrolling. I’m beyond excited! I literally get to be a part of watching Isaiah 61 unfold as I watch the release from darkness for the prisoners.
As I was focusing on the life-planning section of the curriculum, my heart was heavy and emotional thinking about two people whose lives both ended in very different ways. I decided to share the story with you, too.
I want to tell you a story about two men I knew, Sandy and Doug.
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by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
If I could pick a theme for 2018, I’m just not sure what it would be. Perhaps grace. Ya, Grace. That was, after all, my one word for 2018. To read my one word for 2019, check out this blog post.
• I started 2018 out leaving work in an ambulance.
• A close friend died.
• I watched man close a ministry God called me to.
• I cussed at God in anger, fear and heartbreak.
• I got on my knees and surrendered to Him again.
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