This post may be a little confusing and you may have to read through it a couple of times before you get where I am going!  I was thinking about thinking about how I feel!  The first thing is this:  We all have feelings everyday!  (We know they are there we just fail to realize that we are paying attention the them, but we are because we allow our feelings to influence everything about us!  Now, if you stop to think about it for just a moment, most of us are experiencing more than one feeling at a time!  When I really think about my feelings, I realize that I am having multiple feelings at the same time!  I make a choice about what feeling I am going to give the focus of my time and energy!  You get to make the choice about what feeling you will give the most attention!  You make the decision about what feelings you will focus on!  This decision determines the direction of your life!

In this moment as I write this post, I feel tired and energetic!  I feel excited and frustrated!  I feel happy and sad!  I feel a wide mixture of a lot of things and what feeling I make the choice of focusing on influences what I will do and how I will do it.  Take some time today to think about your feelings and then make sure that you take some time to think about how you can use how you feel to accomplish some great things that will give you and those around you a better life!

What I love about the new year is the new opportunities that present themselves!  There are many things that I need to work on and the truth is:  It seems that many of the things that I will be working on in my personal life this year, are not new things, but things that I have been working on for years.  It would seem that I will experience a little success and then get comfortable and fall back into the same ole self defeating routines!   I want to change that this year!

My goal for 09 is to make progress and sustain and keep it!  I want to go to a whole new level spiritually!  I want to trust God more!  I want to abandon – walk away and leave  my will for His!  I want to get fit by exercising regular all year long, by eating healthy for fuel, not emotional support and I want to enjoy the special moments that God has given with family and friends!  I want to help – really help people succeed in all every area of their lives by starting with the spiritual and working inside/out!

I know that God has some big plans and the world has some big challenges for Michael Joe and I am looking forward to all that God is going to do with, to and through me!  I am also excited about what He is willing to do with, to and through you – it’s going to be an amazing journey!  Thanks for sharing with me!

We are in the final week and in just a few days – believe it or not and ready or not – Christmas will be here!  We have had a great month at church!  I hope that everyone has enjoyed the special guest and special services!  I also hope that everyone has started to really think about their very own “MY STORY!”  I’ll be sharing more about the “MY STORY!” stories during the first few weeks of the new year!

Just a little reminded today – take some time to slow down in all of your hustle and bustle and remember to be thankful for the very special gifts that God has given you!  He has given you life here on this earth!  He has given you life in Heaven for all eternity!  He has given you family and friends that you love and are loved by!  He has given you more blessings than you can even begin to count!

Remember:  Everyday is another gift from God and what you do with this day is your gift back to Him!

I thought you might enjoy a little Christmas music motorcycle style!  Turn your speakers up and watch the whole video!

You have heard of SANTA CLAUSE!  Have You Ever Heard Of BIKER CLASE?

During this time of year, it is very easy to get caught up in the hustle ad bustle of the holiday season!  This thing that we should enjoy, often jets right by us, without our being able to take the time to stop and enjoy the great gifts of God!  I just wanted to encourage all of us today to take a moment or two every day for the next several days to stop and think about all of the amazing gifts that God has already given us!

Have you ever noticed that the stuff that we allow to bother us – is stuff that really does not matter?  When you start to get upset or uptight about something in the next few days - ask yourself this question:  “What difference does this make in ETERNITY?”  Most of the stuff that we let wreck our day – is stuff that really does not make a big difference in the grand scheme of things!

So enjoy this time!  Today is a gift from God and what you do with today is your gift to God!  Make the most of it by enjoying the incredible gift!

Have you ever read in Luke where the Angels came to announce the birth of Christ?  They came and announced the birth of Christ, not to the whole world, but to a group of shepherds!  Why would God make the choice of spreading the amazing and wonderful news of a relationship with Him through such a rag/tag handful of those that would seem to be totally unqualified to share such momentous news!

But God did make the choice of sharing this news – first with the shepherds and then through the shepherds with the rest of the world!  And God still today shares the news of a life changing relationship with Him through individuals – many of us who seem to not be one bit qualified in sharing the news with others!

God sees value, worth and potential where others can’t even find a hint!  God knows your value, because He created you and knows the plan that He has for your life!  God knows your worth and that is why He was willing to give of Himself, so that you and I can have relationship with Him!  God knows your potential and wants to use you and your life today to make a difference in ETERNITY!

So take some time to read about the shepherds in Luke and think about how God is wanting and willing to use you and YOUR STORY to make a difference in other people’s lives!  And make sure that you are at Northwood Sunday – you will not want to miss our special guest!

Watch this video very carefully and don’t do anything crazy and remember – Nothing to clean with!

I don’t think that I have ever sit down to write a blog about nothing, but I thought that today would be a good day to try, so here goes!  I am writing about nothing, because I have been at the hospital all morning and I can not get my mind to shift into the “thinking gear” for writing something like I would normally write! 

When I went outside to get in the truck early this morning, it was not near as cold as I thought that it was going to be!  When I got to the hospital, I got the very first parking spot – right next to the stairs – I did say:  “Thank You Jesus!”  My visits went great!  I really enjoy spending time with people and getting to hear some of the stories of their lives!  (I am not near as messed up as I think I am or as crazy as some of you think I am!) 

On my way back from the hospital, I stopped to fill up on gas for $1.39 a gallon!  (I just think that is amazing – seems like just yesterday it was pushing $4 bucks!  I have not had anything to eat all day and it’s almost 1:00, so I am goig to see if I can find some food!  I hope you have a blessed day!

I look forward to every Sunday!  But I was really looking forward to this past Sunday, because I think that it is a place of new beginning that God is offering to this church family!  We began a new message series that encourages you to think about, write out and share “MY STORY!”  Everyone has a story to share and every story has the potential of changing lives!

It was great yesterday listening to Jesus tell His story and this is clearly the story that has changed so many of our stories!  I am glad that so many people enjoyed and were touched by it!  But more importantly, I hope that you were motivated to think about, write down and share your story!  Several of you have mentioned to me that your story is long or complicated.  Long, complicated, sort or sweet – whatever your story – it is important and it does matter.  You need to share your story – for your fulfillment, for others blessing and for God’s glory!

If you need some help – just give us a call or drop us an email!  We would really love to hear from every person in the church!  And if you are not a part of our church, but you have a story to share of how Jesus has changed your life, I would love to hear from you as well!  Looking forward to sharing our stories in the days ahead!

Remember:  You can email your stories to mystory@rightdirections.org and you can view upcoming stories at www.insideoutliving.org