Category Archives: Growing

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Stoking The Creative Fires!

I have been participating once a week in a creative meeting!  I am really enjoying the sessions and here are a few things that I would like to pass on to encourage creativity in all of our lives!

1.) Write your ideas down! It does not matter how simple, silly or small the ideas may seem – write them down!  You may have just a seed, but seeds that are planted and nurtured – grow into big trees!  Keep a little notebook, moleskin, digital file or small recorder to record your ideas.  Don’t think that you will remember them – you won’t!  Record it and you will free your mind up for even more creative ideas!

2.) Brainstorm! Think out loud with other people and listen to their thinking out loud.  It is amazing the ideas that this will generate.  How many times have you found yourself in a conversation with someone and something they said sent your mind to thinking in a totally different direction than what they were talking about?  Find someone, if possible several “someones” and allow your brains to storm!

3.) People Watch! Observe what is going on around you.  We miss so much, because we are often so busy that we just live life in a blur!  Slow down, smell the roses and enjoy the ride by really seeing everybody and everything that God has put around you!

4.) Relocate! If you work at a desk all of the time, then move to a couch.  If you are inside all of the time, then get outside.  You get the picture – put yourself in a place to see things from a different perspective and you will be amazed at the creativity that will flow to and through your life!

5.) Get Spiritual! You were created by a very creative God.  If you don’t believe that, just look around you at all of the variety!  You were created in the image of your creative God, so you are creative too!  Talk to God and listen to God through prayer and take some time to read and look for understanding and challenge from His Word!

These are just a few of the ideas that we have been utilizing to stoke our creative fires!  It’s fun and it’s exciting and you really will be glad you did!

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5 Excuses To Ignore!

I was thinking this morning of all the different excuses that people use to try to stop themselves or others from accomplishing something that really matters in life.  As you journey through life listen carefully and make sure that you ignore these excuses!  (By The Way – This is a lot easier said than done!)

1.)  ”It Will Never Work!” We can’t discover what will work, without learning some of what won’t work!  Failure is just one more way that won’t work, which puts you one step closer to what will work!  Take a chance if it’s worth the risk!

2.)  ”We’ve Never Done It That Way Before!” And at some point in time, the way you are doing it now wasn’t being done, but someone said:  Let’s try it this way and “presto!” almost like magic a new way of doing it emerged!  There is always room for improvement and growth!

3.)  ”We Can’t Afford It!” And with that attitude, we probably never will be able to afford it.  If you can’t afford it, but it is necessary, then find a way to make it affordable!  Wherever God gives a vision, He also provides a path!

4.)  ”It’s Not My Responsibility!” How many blessings in life would have been missed if everyone lived with this attitude?  It may not be your responsibility, but if it needs to be done, then do it and know that it is going to make a difference in someone’s life!  If somebody is willing to do what nobody wants to do, then everybody is going to benefit!

5.)  ”We’re Just Not Ready!” If you wait until you are ready, the opportunity may just pass you by!  Jump in and get the job done – you will be glad you did when you see the difference that it makes in your life and in the lives of others!  If God allows your life to intersect with opportunity then consider it a personal invitation!

Blessings & G3!

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Being One & Having One! (My 500th Post!)

My Family!

I woke up this morning thinking about how blessed I am to have two amazing little girls!  They have taught me so much about life and everyday seems to bring a new lesson and some greater understanding!  If God has blessed you with children, then He has blessed you with a very good thing.  Be sure to not take the very special gift for granted!

I love my children more than I can come up with words to explain.  Even when they are challenging (and that is most days – they are just like their Daddy!), I still love them and I am thankful for them!  I was thinking this morning about how God loves and protects His children.  God through His Word promises divine protection for His children!  I believe that God has His Angels encamped all around us.  I believe that these Angels are all around us to protect and keep us from danger and harm!

As a child of God, I know that I have and will have to go through the fire, but I have not and will not be burned!  I know that, while I find myself in the flood waters, they cannot overtake me!  I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but I do not and will not fear any evil, because I know that God – my loving Heavenly Father is with me!  He has promised me, that no weapon formed against me shall prosper!

Today I am praying for my children, that God will be their refuge and strength.  I am asking God to deliver them from their enemies and the traps that their enemies may set!  I pray that God’s truth will be a continual shield of protection upon their lives.  May they never fall prey to the schemes and traps of the evil one.  May they everyday of their lives walk in wisdom and discernment by hearing and responding to the voice of our Creator.  I pray that they will discover, understand and fulfill the plans and purposes that God has for them as they make a difference in this world by living lives that bring God glory!

God loves me, I love them and may we all together love Him back!

(Realized after I posted that this is Blog Post #500.  I just want to thank each of you that read this blog everyday.  I hope it is a blessing and encouragement!)

Blessings!

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What I Learned About Waiting While Waiting!

My life up to this point has been one big rush!  It’s been a rush, because I hate to wait!  I can’t stand having to wait!  I am just not good at waiting!  Often, when I am in a hurry to get somewhere or to get something done; and I get stuck behind someone or something that causes me to have to wait, I can’t help but to get frustrated.  In my frustration I begin to think about why is this so frustrating?

I have started asking myself this question:  Why are you in such a hurry?  You are not running late, and you are not under a deadline, but you are getting irritated, frustrated and for what?  As I answer this question, I see that I am my own worst enemy!  I get in the way of myself!  My hate for “wait” actually gets in the way of my aligning my life with what is really important!  In my anxious frustration, I actually miss the good things of life.  They pass me by and I am totally unaware, because my focus is in the wrong place and on the wrong thing!

The next time you find yourself in a “waiting position”, make sure that you don’t waste or abuse your wait, instead get whatever it is that you are supposed to get from it!  Waiting does not have to be a bad thing, unless you choose to make it a bad thing!  You have the power!

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One Thing!

I am a big believer that small things have the ability to have a big impact in, on and through our lives.  On the days when I can get myself to focus on what really matters, I do the small things and my life is better for it!  If you think about it, then you have to know that it is true for your life as well.

You may be thinking:  ”Yes, but my problem is not the small things, but the big thing that I have to get done!”  Have you not realized that most big things are really a series of small things clumped together?  Figure out what those small things are and start taking them on one at a time and before you know it, you will be accomplishing the purpose for which you were created for!

Take a few moments today to make a “One Thing List!”  Put on this list as many of the “one things” that you can think of.  Seriously – Get a piece of paper and a pen and start making that list!  Now that you have your list, look at it and pick the top three things that need to be done and that you believe you can do today.  Got your top three?  Now go to work on #1, then #2 and finish with #3!  If these did not take you all day and they probably won’t, then make a new list of three and go for it!

A question that I will sometimes ask myself when looking at my list is this:  ”If I could only get one thing accomplished today off of this list – what one things is the most important and would make the most difference?  That is usually the thing I tackle and when I am finished, I find that I am motivated to take on even more!

Hope this helps you!  Go get your one thing!

P.S.  Comment, DM me on Twitter @mjharvell or inbox me on Facebook and let me know what your “One Thing!” is for today and I’ll say a prayer asking for God’s blessing on your success!

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What Does God Want Me To Do With My Life?

You Got Questions? He's Got Answers!

I Hear It All The Time! Being a pastor, this is one of the questions that I seem to get over and over and over again!  It seems to me that most people believe in God.  Most of the people who believe in God, believe that God has a plan and purpose for their life.  But most people have a really hard time figuring out what that plan is, so that they can live their lives accordingly.

What Does God Want Me To Do With My Life? Whenever I have a serious question, one of the first places that I go, is to the Word.  God has given us the Scriptures to guide, direct and grow our lives.  As we read the scriptures and begin to put into practice what they are teaching through obedient surrender, our lives almost automatically begin to live in the direction that God has mapped out for us.

Let’s Give It A Try: What does God want me to do with my life? “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy of offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

Ask And Answer! What do these two verses tell us to do?  The first thing it tells us to do is to worship God!  “Offer you body as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship!” It does not say “go to worship”, it says:  ”Worship by offering your body as a living sacrifice – holy and pleasing to God!  Now we’ve got our work cut out for us.  Is there any question about what we need to be doing?

What And How? I don’t think there is a question about “What?”, but maybe about “How?”  The second part of the verse helps to answer this question: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Stop living according to the direction of the world and start living according to the direction of God’s Word.  I know it’s easier said than done, but if God in His Word has told us to do it, then it is possible and the best way to get started is to try!  Give it a shot.  A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step!

The Promise! This scripture tells us that when we get headed in this right direction:  “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will!” If you want to know what God wants you to do with your life, you have to start traveling in that direction.  Enjoy the journey!

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What Does It Mean To You?

If we are going to be all that God made us to be and experience all the amazing things that God created us to experience, then we must take some time to answer the question:  “What does success mean to you?”  The definition of success is different for everybody and it changes as we grow and develop!  The people that experience the greatest success are the ones who have made the time to think about who they want to become and what they want to do.  Once we figure out the who, then we can work on the what!

Some view the Bible as a book full of rules and regulations!  I choose to see the words in the Bible as a guide that protects me from myself!  The Bible teaches me that there is great power in FOCUS!  It helps me to understand that there is great reward and blessing that flows out of my HARD WORK!  It encourages me to build STRONG RELATIONSHIPS that allow me to give and receive!  It helps me to know that I can PERSEVERE no matter what the situation or circumstance might be!  And the Bible promises me BLESSING from God as I live according to His plan and direction!

Figure out the direction that you life needs to be heading.  Let’s God’s Word help to guide you.  The unsuccessful of life that have chosen to live lives of mediocrity have settled to live without direction and the result is a life that goes whichever way the wind blows.  Don’t allow circumstances and excuses to get in the way of the amazing things that God has for you!

Figure it out!  Take some time to really answer the question:  Success – what does it mean to you?

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It Could Be Worse!

Do you ever have a bad day?  I mean one of those:  “I should not have got out of bed today” days?  We all wish that we never had to have those days, but if you live life long enough, you will have more than your share of those days!  I think that when you are working hard to live the right life of a Christ follower, that you might even have more of those days than most, because we can’t respond to the world and it’s challenges in just any ole way that we want to!

This morning I was reading in Isaiah 43:2 and it says:  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

Notice it does not say that we won’t get wet.  It does not say that we won’t face some pressure and current from life.  It does not say that we can avoid the fire of life.  In fact it implies that as we walk through life, we will have to walk through water, the current and the fire!  It does not say”if” you pass through, but “when” you pass through!  If we are living and breathing and walking through life, then we are going to have to walk through some though stuff!

It does say that we can pass through the waters, current and fire!  We don’t have to stay in the tough times.  You and I can choose to give up and set up camp in the frustrations and disappointments of life, or we can choose to walk on through these times to the something better that God has on the other side!

When the waters of frustration, disappointment and discouragement begin to rise in your life – remember that you are not alone!  God has promised that He is with you and He will never leave you, nor forsake you!  God does not give up on you, so please do not give up on yourself or Him!

When your frustrations, dissappointments and discouragements grow into a raging river – remember that God is in control and He will not allow it to overflow you!  When you can’t keep you head above water, God will be there to give you the helping hand that you need!  Just make sure that you are willing to reach up and take His hand of help!

There will be times of fire, when our lives and our motives are tested.  This is never any fun, but as we stay faithful to our Creator and keep on walking through by trusting in Him, He will not allow the fire to burn us or the flame from that fire to scorch us!  It’s pretty cool that we can walk through the fire with God and come out on the other side not even smelling like smoke!

There is no promise that life will always be easy and I am glad, because if it was easy, there would probably be no growth or real meaning.  And while it is never any fun going through the though stuff, I thank God that we don’t have to go through it by ourselves.  It could be worse, if God were not with us, but He is and that encourages me to keep on walking through whatever life might throw my way!

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What Are You Thinking About?

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise worthy – meditate on these things.     (Philippians 4:6-8)     

This was the Scripture from my devotional reading this morning.  It is a very familar passage that I decided to share with a family member and then thought that the blog world might enjoy being reminded of some of it’s very meaningful thoughts.  No matter where you are in your life journey, it is always good to be reminded!  Here are just a few of my thoughts:

1.)  God tells me to be anxious for nothing.  I can’t be anxious for nothing, so what’s the point of being anxious?  (There is not one!  So stop worrying already!)     

2.)  In everything and for everything (good & bad) I am to pray with an attitude of thankfulness!

     -If I am truly trusting God with my life, then whatever happens is a part of His plan and even though it may seem bad to me at the moment, ultimately God is going to use it for my good and blessing.  I need to make sure that I keep a thankful attitude and spirit!  (Easier said than done, but necessary!)

     -With that spirit, I can bring my request to Him and know that He hears me and He will respond according to His awesome plan!

3.)  When I get the thankful spirit right – I have the peace of God, which I can’t even begin to understand or explain!

     -This peace guards my heart and mind from the attack of the enemy and the opinions and attitudes of others!     

4.)  My mind guarded and kept safe by the peace of God should meditate (think on) things that build up!               

     -The things that build up are:

-Things that are true, not that we think might be true!

-Things that are noble, not things that tear up and tear down!

-Things that are just, not opinions, ideas and worldly trash!

-Things that are pure, not unholy and unspiritual = a little poop in the brownie mix spoils the whole batch!

-Things that are lovely, not things that corrupt love and the good life!

-Things that are of good report, not false!  (Focus on the positive and the negatives will be taken care of!)

-Things that are virtueous, not things that tear down, but things that build up!

-Things that are praise worthy, not things that take away from our blessing and God’s glory!

5.)  The Devil and the world want to fill my mind with things that will tear me down and apart!                                         

     -If it tears down, is not true, unjust, mean spirited, takes me away from God and His purpose, distorts, makes ugly, is negative, bad for me and bad for others, then I need to make sure that I don’t waste my energy on giving it any attention!

     -I will not let the devil or other negative people win!  They cannot have me, my mind, my heart my spirit or my life.

     -They lose, God wins and we are blessed!

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Give God Some Praise!

It’s time to step outside of ourselves and give God some praise!  I mean when you take just a minute to stop and think about it:  He deserves all the praise!  He created us, He sustains us and He blesses us with amazing and unbelievable blessings.  Everything that you and I enjoy flowed from the creative mind of our God who loves us and wants us to live blessed and fulfilled lives!

 We need to praise God – Because He did in our life, what we could not do for ourselves!  I cannot save myself – no matter how bad I want to!  I don’t have the power or the ability.  But God – out of His great love for me, sent His Son to come and show me the way and pay the price with His life that I could not afford to pay and still live!  If you are really looking for a motivational reason to praise God – how about because He forgives you, so that you can live in a relationship with Him.

The truth is:  If you are a Believer – praise is the natural response of your life to the goodness and grace of God!  Even when life throws you a curve ball and things are not going as good as you would like for them to, it is still God’s grace that gets you through those impossible situations that we all expereince!

Praise is not something that you have to make up or manufacture!  Praise is not something that you have to force!  We need to learn to open up our hearts and lives and just let it flow!  Stop holding back the praise – let it out – you’ll feel better!  Trust me on this one!