Stretching Yourself

I was having dinner a few weeks ago with a dear friend and he made an interesting comment  "If I told you three things that would make you more successful at your business you would implement them by 9am the next morning.  Yet when we tell others that developing a deeper relationship with the God of the Universe will be the ongoing answer to all our struggles and problems, it only causes a small "blip" in there commitment to spending more time with God"    It is said that the average Christian spends less than 10 minutes a day with the Creator of Time itself.   We seem to have bought into the enemies way of thinking...spend our time pursuing everything else but an intimate relationship with God.  Keep doing the same old things instead of changing...instead of stretching and reaching for more in our relationship with HIM.   The visual I have in my mind lately has been the image of me "stretching/reaching" in my walk with HIM (A outstretched hand) and because of that it allows God to pull me up to a new level in my walk with HIM because I was stretching myself.  Stretching myself allows me to quit settling for good in my walk with HIM and encounter excellence!!

"If excellence was a possibility, why would you settle for good?"

So are you stretching yourself in your walk or are you doing the same thing over and over expecting something different??

THE WORLD IS ENDING

This was written by my 23 yr. old son and I thought it would be good to share with all of you.


by Tyler Brown on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 10:40pm

I don’t blog, I don’t write notes, this is a first for me, but it’s one of those nights and I need to be around someone, but since it’s just me and the cat I guess writing will have to do.
So tomorrow the world is supposed to end, who knew? I have been looking at all the stuff that these people are saying about the world ending and I can’t help but laugh. Sure the world can whenever, it could end while I am writi……… Just kidding but seriously, tomorrow is not guaranteed, but what these people are saying, the reasons the world is going to end are crazy.
But let’s say that without doubt we knew tonight was our last night, the last night of Earth. What would we do? To be honest people’s answers upset me, especially as someone that knows truth. I hear so many times people say they would spend it with family, with the people they love and cherish. Then there is the majority, people who say they would do things they have never done before, things they only ever dreamed of. There are those that say they would spend the last hours hooking up with whomever, experiencing a little romance. And although all that sounds fun what should we be doing?
Up until very recently my answer would have been the same as those mentioned above, but God has allowed me to see things and feel things that I never have before. Because of that, what I would do in the last hours of Earth is the same thing I long to be doing in the constant present,something that I pray becomes true in my life. That is to share my Savior with those that do not know him. If we look at the stats of it all: 35% of the 6,919,718,894 people in this world proclaim to “know” Christ as savior. So if you believe in truth, in the truth that only those that know Christ will be accepted into eternal life with God (Romans 3:23) Then where does that leave the other 65% percent of the world, it leaves them in eternal suffering. So if the world ends tomorrow that leaves 4,497,817,281 people separated from a Holy God. That’s right I said 4,497,817,281, people you go to school with, people in your family, that guy you head nod walking down the street, lots and lots of “innocent” (Romans 1:18-23) but guilty people.
So where does that leave us? Leave me? How should my last hours on Earth be spent? Simple, sharing the Gospel with any that I have the privilege of being around. But I think its much more than that. Tomorrow is not promised so technically everyday is the last day, because of that we should be driven to do something with the hours that we are blessed with.
Sure tell that girl that you have always loved the truth, let her know that she has always been the one written on your heart (I will let you guess on who mine is) but do more than that. If you proclaim to know Christ, then proclaim him. Be willing and with that you will be used. I have made a lot of mistakes in the last couple years, I have burned lots of bridges and caused a lot of pain, but through that all God has truly blessed me. He gave me the breath of life today, a breath that should not be wasted on the desires of this world but on things that glorify Him, the one true King. Unfortunately my actions may have added to that 4,497,817,281; but hopefully my actions in the future will be used by my creator to reduce that number. My life is forfeit as long as His is glorified.

 So the world may very well end tomorrow (I hope it at least makes it to July 22 which is the premiere of the Captain America movie) So don’t waste it, everyday is a gift, use it to the fullest.

CEO

I was recently challenged by an article I read about a man who had decided to be the CEO of his family,workplace and church.  In the article he explained what he meant by the title CEO.  It stood for Chief Encouragement Officer.  He stated how much he had recognized the need for people to be encouraged and appreciated.  I have started to notice that same need in people. As a matter of fact I believe our society is starving for encouragement.  I looked up the word encourage and words like strengthen and support are used.  Romans 15:5 states..."now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be one of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus"  So apparently encouragement and perseverance are connected.  Could it be that when we encourage others that it helps them persevere? Could it be it strengthens them to deal with there circumstances?  Could it be that it brings about some hope when things seem hopeless?  Could it be that it reveals Jesus to them?
Jesus was constantly encouraging others.  People wanted to be around Him because they felt strengthened and hopeful.  HE was the ultimate CEO!  So do you think you could set aside time to send a note,type out an email/text and let a wife, a child,a friend , or a co -worker know how much you appreciate them and encourage them to keep pursuing HIM and HIS heart.  I think our homes,workplaces and churches need alot more CEO's!!

Public Enemy #1

It was announced last night that U.S troops finally caught up with Osama Bin Laden and killed him. Justice for his actions occured. Good triumphed over evil as it always does. A sense of closure for the families of the victims of  9/11 was brought about.  But as I watched the celebrating on all the television networks I saw newspaper headlines and signs that read..."Rot in Hell", "Public Enemy #1 is Dead"  and there were various others.  I want to admit that I am relieved and thankful that he is dead and I want to say God Bless the men and women who risk their lives to protect us and our freedom.  But with that said I can't overlook the fact that another man died without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior.  The headline that read "rot in hell" got my attention.  How many people do I encounter that will do just that?  Do I have a burden to make sure that doesn' happen?  Am I angiushed that another man died without knowing Jesus?  The other headline that read "Public Enemy #1 is Dead" made me realize that Satan wants us to believe that evil people are our main concern when in reality Satan is "Public Enemy #1" and he didn't die in that Pakistan compound. He is alive and "goes around like a roaring lion looking for somone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8)   My desire is that we will realize that the true number one enemy wants as many as possible to rot in hell.  Praise God that HE already knows that and has done HIS part to protect us from Public Enemy #1   HE is longing for me and you to let HIM work through us to bring as many as possible into HIS safety and victory!!