I wanted to share a saying I read the other day about character.   I thought it was really good:

Watch your thoughts, They become your words.

Watch your words,  They become your actions.

Watch your actions, They become your habits.

Watch your habits,  They become your character.

Watch your character,  It becomes your destiny.

What do you think about this?

My life is too fast.  I seem to rush around from one task to the next.  Or from one appointment to the next appointment.  When I'm in the car and sitting at a stop light, I constantly check my phone for various email updates, social media updates, etc.  Life is just going by too fast.  I try to live my life as intentional as possible, but there never seems to be enough time.

I can't believe it's already December 1.   30 more days and the year is over.   It's been said the older you get the faster the time goes by.   I'm "only" 37 and time seems to be flying for me.   Many others I talk with feel the same way.   Perhaps the technology that is supposed to help our lives and make us more productive actually restricts us and makes the time go by faster?

If you examine the life of Jesus, I think you would conclude that He was a very busy guy.  Healing people, teaching, eating, traveling and casting out demons makes for a busy life back then!   Consider the crowds that followed Him and the constant pressure He must have been under.  I bet He didn't feel like life was going too fast.  I think he thought it was perfectly timed.

As you examine the life that Jesus lived, there's one thing that really stands out that He did.  Jesus frequently got alone to pray.   Why is it so hard for us in our busy culture to do this as well?

Let's try for the next 30 days to take more time for solitude and prayer and see if that helps slow us down.  Make it another step along the journey for a more intentional life.  Any takers?

[UPDATE]

Vortex Ministry has launched a 30 Day Slow Down Challenge to any and all interested.   Click here for more information.

[image by sunside]

Yesterday my wife saw a little naked man running around our back yard.   Call the cops you say?  Nah, it was just our 3 year old Caleb.   You see, he likes to be naked.  Plain and simple.  He hasn't quite learned the social etiquette that you can't just run around naked outside. (we're trying).  Caleb was outside playing with his brother Camden and they decided to get in the sandbox and throw sand at each other.  Typical boy stuff.   Well, after getting covered in sand, the next logical step, if you're Caleb, is to get naked.  Enter Holli: to find him running around naked.  Caleb got in trouble and had to get dressed bringing the naked romp to an end.

So, Holli tries to call me to talk about her day and what do you think I do?  "I'm busy, can I call you back?".   Umm, let me tell you, might not be the best response to your wife, guys.  But that's what I did.   And then I didn't call her back for another 3 hours.  Hey, just trying to keep it real here; who can relate?  I definitely get the "unsupportive husband" award yesterday.

What are two things a husband can learn from a little naked man? 

1. Be a little more free spirited.    No, don't run around outside naked, that's just creepy.  But when it comes to leading your family, take some risks and make sure to enjoy the time.

2. Actions have consequences.   If there's something you're doing or not doing that can get you in trouble, stop.   Like taking a phone call from your wife or at least calling her back promptly.

Do you have any great "3 year old" stories you can share?

[image by chrisandjenni]

What are you going to do today?   Do you have a task list, day planner, outlook calendar synchronized with your phone?  I bet it's full appointments, things to do, places to go and people to see.   I know mine is full and there's nothing wrong with that.  However, in the busyness of life, we need to remain focused on two simple things:

1. Love God

2. Love Others

Matthew 22: 36-40 says: 

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

How do you love God and others?  Start by praising God.   Tell him how you feel, verbalize it.  Get into God's word, read the Bible.   Then apply it to your life.   It does no good sitting on a shelf or to just read and not act.    Once you read it, take action and make some life changes.   Serve others.  Put them above yourself.  Humble yourself.

Start today and try to live more intentional around these two things.   Such seemingly small things, but so important to remember in our lives.

[image by Great Beyond]

How often do you think about the purpose of your life?   Is it often or infrequent?   I have to admit that I think about it a lot.  Many days I wonder if I’m fulfilling all of the plans that God has for me.   Sometimes I get depressed because I don’t think I’m pursuing His call on my life.   What is the call?   I don’t know for sure, hence the round and around struggle.  I have some ideas, but it is still getting revealed to me.

Many times I wonder if we’re making our “purpose” out to be more complex than it has to be.   I was reading in the book of Isaiah and one thing that jumps out to me is that God didn’t “Call” Isaiah.   Isaiah responded to God’s question.

Isaiah 6:8 says:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"  And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

God was searching for someone that could go out and fulfill things that God was interested in.  Isaiah simply responded.   He stood up and said “Send Me!”    And God did.

Is there a situation in your life that you feel like God is searching for someone to step up and say “Send Me”?  Perhaps today you could take that intentional step and tell God “Send Me”.     If you do that, make sure to have an open heart and be ready to listen for what God asks you to do.   Talk about a life of adventure if we could live that way every day. 

How can God use you today?

[image by amboo213]

Do you consider yourself a leader?  Or, do you have aspirations of leading?   I consider myself to have leadership traits and characteristics.  I enjoy leading teams and helping to motivate and encourage people.   As leaders, we need to push people.  We need to help them become more accountable and keep them on target. 

I find myself being a good leader at work, on volunteer committees, at church, but what about at home?   Husbands, what type of leader are you at home?   For me, my wife has asked that I help push her towards goals she has shared with me.  She has asked, and she expects it.   She has specifically said “I need you to Push Me.”  Many days I fail at this.  I get too busy with my own agenda.   Today I had to apologize to my wife for not leading at home like she needs.  

Guys, if your wife hasn’t yet specifically asked you to help keep her accountable in some area, today would be a good day to ask her how you can help.    Even if she says there is nothing, the act of asking her will speak volumes into her life.

[image by stevendepolo]

Am I living my life with passion?   Something I've been thinking about recently.  It's easy to go through the motions and let the days pass by, but it actually takes determination and work to live with passion.  It's definitely worth it, but you have to plan for it and proactively think about it.   For some people out there living a passionate life probably comes quite easy.  You live whimsically, care free, fun loving.   But for others (like me), you take life a little too serious, you're responsible, you're always thinking about the next project, commitment, or the next task.

Just for today, try something out of the ordinary.   Take a chance.  Do something fun.  Break your daily habit of the mundane and do something special.   Heck, that might just mean leaving work for an hour to go sit at Starbucks with a mocha to just dream.  Whatever it looks like for you, do it.  Today.

Post your comment about what you did, I'm curious to hear.

[image by antoine hubert]

Some of my friends know that I'm a big Tony Evans fan.   I really enjoy listening to his messages.  He gets so passionate as he delivers a message that you can't help but get fired up for God.

I received an email this week with his weekly devotional.  I thought I'd share part it here:

Most of us know what it means to be locked in spiritual warfare. There are times when even the strongest believer will be tempted to give up in the battle. That’s why we need to pray for one another. Prayer defeats the enemy right where he stands. Prayer also encourages the hearts of those in the heat of battle.

I do believe there is power in prayer.   If you're struggling with anything that you want to share, please post it below in the comments section.   You don't need to post your real name or a real email or anything.   Just share your struggles.  You will be prayed for by myself and others.

Be Strong.

[image by dtcchc]

This post comes from Dave Boehi of FamilyLife as part of FamilyLife's Marriage Memos.  You can read more Marriage Memos here.

If you could only describe yourself with two words, what would they be?   I’ve thought a lot about this and the two words I think of for myself would be “Hope Giver”.    At times this is a challenge for me because I get very focused on myself, but being a Hope Giver implies that I must be externally focused on other people and their needs.

There are a lot of people that you cross paths with that need some hope.   Perhaps they’re dealing with a broken marriage, or financial troubles, or infertility troubles, or self esteem issues.   You never know until you intentionally get past yourself and focus on the other person.

How can you become a Hope Giver?

Listen.   That’s pretty easy.   Just listen more than you speak.

Encourage.   You don’t need to preach someone a long sermon or even have any answers.  Just say a few words of encouragement to help lift up their day.

Duplicate.   Start teaching others how easy it is to be a Hope Giver and pass it on.

What two words would you use to describe yourself?   How can you be a Hope Giver today?   Share your thoughts.

[image by niznoz]