Consumed by the Call

After our visit from the Church consultant Paul Nixon I was very excited. I hit the ground running. I changed the website and helped with a new sign design and I’ve got several other changes I’m personally working on for our congregation and my ministries. None of which are something I can complete anytime soon ( other than the website ). For those of you who know me, I like to get stuff done. I don’t like working on things I can’t see through completion. I’m stressed about approvals for signs and building modifications. All of these needed renovations to our church building are exciting and at times overwhelming. I can see the finished product, my only hesitation is that I also see our congregation resistant to change. I’m excited to move forward but I know from past experience that this will not be an easy road to travel. I’m teetering on the fence myself wondering if we have bitten off more than we can chew. I’m excited to prepare our facility for the future but I hate getting exci

Seasons come and go, whether we want them to do so or not. It is far better to adapt to colder temperatures with heavier clothing rather than to wish for summer and shiver. How often people resist the change of seasons and remember with longing the way things used to be! We can learn something from the birds. They know when it is time to migrate. They are called to the South and months later, they are called to the North. Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord. Jeremiah 8:7 In the same way, you may experience a change of season regarding your call that requires a migration and adaptation to the new demands. A migration for you may or may not be geographical, but a move to another mindset or function is necessary. Did God call you to your current job? To a particular ministry? Are you still called? I’ve wrestled with

http://m.youversion.com/bible/more/Rom.8.15 What next, Papa is taking on a new meaning for me this morning. I can't help but say it with a degree of sarcasm. I've been writhing in pain all night wondering what's going to happen next. Seems like I can't do anything without injuring myself. What's up with that God? Shine some light on this for me. I put on a strong face but physically and more importantly emotionally, I'm broken. By nature I have a tendency to be negative. I do my best to fight it but after the last 12 months my hope is fading and I feel myself slipping into a dark place. So God, please be working in me. I need this all to have a purpose even if it isn't obvious. I'm trusting something good will come from all this. I'll do my best to be patient but I'm needing your strength. I'm about out.

For the last few weeks the Holidays have been tempting me. I've had cookies and candies and all sorts of crazy food items that have no nutritional benefits. All they gave me was tighter clothes and a tired feeling all day. A few days ago I decided enough was enough. I had been planning to start doing thing right after the holidays but to be honest I've already done enough damage. I need to go back to my healthy habits. The confectionery coma I've been in has come to an end. I've decided to stop waiting for tomorrow and do something about it today. I know many of you have thrown in the towel on health and fitness until 2012. If you need to make a change why not today? Temptation will always be at your door, Christmas and New Years is just another "Excuse". I'm tired of making excuses for seeking my own will instead of God's will for my life. All too often people just don't understand the struggle I go through with food. No words can make them unders

I've been thinking about Health and Fitness the last week, as I ate large plates of Thanksgiving food and leftovers. I'm sure many of you are still working on the leftovers wondering if this cycle of over indulgence will ever end. I got on the scale today and I'm feeling like something has to give. All too often we find the treats and temptation so enticing. We get pulled  into the "delight and satisfaction" they bring, for a time. Those treats continue to call our name and for some of us we give in. I personally found myself looking at the Benefits and Consequences of my actions this week. My clothes are tighter, and that's not a benefit. The only benefit I could see from indulging was I didn't feel deprived. I enjoyed some great food with my family and we had a wonderful time together. But, as always I became tired and sluggish. I've skipped a few workouts and we haven't even hit Christmas yet. YIKES! I had a conversation with a good friend t

So many of you know I like to challenge myself. Before this year of back injuries and surgery I ran and had planned to compete in a triathlon. I've had to scale back on the workouts and to be honest this year hasn't been my best. What I know is I've pressed on and I continue to make efforts to push myself. Today's challenge will be interesting. I've been thinking about climbing all 50 stories of steps in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis for over a week now. It will be a workout and I'll do my best to complete this challenge. My prayer today is that God helps me go as high as this body will allow. As I challenge myself today I ask you to also press on and do something out of your box. I your at the gym push yourself and be proud of a new Accomplishment. Maybe today you will go that extra mile to talk with a friend or to restore a relationship. Whatever it is you're lead to do today know you're not alone. God is with you as you take new steps and reach high