Sometimes life gets to be really tough.  I was spending some time just talking with God, well actually it was probably more like whining to God.  I was telling Him how hard life could sometimes be, how I needed His help and how I am not sure that I can take a whole lot more of the tough stuff.

I should have known better, because whenever I go to God with this kind of “Woe is me” attitude, He almost immediately begins to work an attitude adjustment into my life.  This is basically what God taught me and it might be useful to you as you face some of the tough curves that life will throw your way!

As we live our lives there are all kinds of different attitudes we can possess and that can possess us.  It is true that attitude makes all the difference!  While they are many different attitudes, I have found that there are at least three that seem to have a reoccurring role in my life.  They are:  “I want to!”, ” I have to!” and “I get to!”  Each one seems to have an element of right, but only one will work to pull us through the really tough stuff to that place of blessing, growth and impact!  Let’s take a moment to think about each one as we seek to make sure that we have a right attitude that is pleasing to God and a blessing to others!

I Want To!  At first this seems like a pretty good attitude.  My wanting to is a good thing, but it is not the right motivation.  Just because I want to, does not mean it is right!  I want to do a lot of things that I don’t need to do and a few things that I shouldn’t do.  We convince ourselves – if it feels right, then go for it.  But haven’t we all lived life long enough to discover how this attitude can get us into trouble by taking us ultimately to a place that we don’t want to be, costing us more than we want to spend and keeping us longer than we want to stay.  Wanting to does not make it right, it just sometimes makes it easy and easy is not always best!

I Have To!  This one really sounds right when we say it to self and others:  “I don’t really have any other choice – I have to.”  You always have another choice and they’re a lot of things that we call have tos that we don’t do.  Doing something because you have to is not the best choice, because if you are doing something because you have to, it is very possible that you are not doing it with the best or right attitude.  You could be doing what you are doing just because you have to, and if you are doing it just because you have to, then are you really doing it right, with the right spirit, with all that you’ve got and then some?

I Get To!  This is that magical attitude that gets us through the tough, so that we become stronger, better and more effective.  This is that attitude that makes the sweet even sweeter.  I may want to or I may not want to, but when I look at it (whatever it is) as an “I get to”, then it changes everything.  (Perspective really does make a huge difference!)  The truth is:  I don’t deserve anything good and I deserve most anything bad that comes my way, but my Creator loves me and He wants to bless me with good as He protects and grows me for His glory from the bad.  Whatever it is that I am supposed to be doing at this time may not be a want to, it may be a have to, but I don’t have to get stuck there.  I can move beyond the limits of a “have to”, to the limitless and miraculous “I get to!”  It is at this place that God begins to do an amazing work to me and through me!

Take some time today to think about what God has you doing.  As you doing it ask yourself:  Am I doing this because I want to, have to or get to???

When I first began to understand that God was calling me into the ministry, I thought that it was going to be about helping people to get closer to God, have a better understanding of His will,  while providing opportunities for meaningful life service and ministry to others.  I never thought that preaching would be about popularity and that pastoring would be about politics, but it seems that is a lot of what we have made it now a days!

I have been serving the Lord in ministry for the past 25 years and I have to tell you that it is more challenging than it has ever been.  I have always loved the church.  The church was a place of encouragement, comfort, purpose and guidance the whole time that I was growing up.  I was fortunate to have ministers that taught me how to have a personal, meaningful and active relationship with my Savor by investing time in prayer and God’s Word.  This personal relationship sustains me and gets me through the roughest of times.

Church has changed a lot through the years and I am not talking about the change that most people are fussing about.  I am not talking about music, dress or any of the little side issues that the devil has learned to use as big distractions for most of us.  I am talking about heart attitudes, mean spirits and an overall selfishness that seems to convince us that it is all about me, while telling myself that it is about others.

The church is not about me and it’s not about you!  It’s about Jesus and reaching out into a lost, hurt and dying world with the amazing grace that changed our lives so that we can live for His glory.  I am not so sure where we messed this thing up, but if we are all honest, we must admit that we have messed it up.

The question now is this:  What are we going to do about it?  Might I suggest a few steps?

1.)  Stop talking to everybody else about what you like and don’t like and start talking to God about what He likes and doesn’t like!  I mean really – whose opinion really matters here?  If we would talk to God, then we would here from God and if we heard from God, it would have to change our lives!

2.)  Remember:  You are part of the problem or part of the solution and only one of these options allows you to bring glory to God!  (More on this later this week!)

3.)  Get involved, not so that you can share your two cents worth, but so that you can give it your all, because God is worthy and we are needy!  Don’t talk about doing and stop pretending that you are doing it!  Do it – really do it – whatever it that God has called, gifted and equipped you to do.

Hope this helps you in your journey and if you will take the time to take it seriously, you will be amazed at what God can and will do through you!

As weeks go, this has been one big roller coaster ride with ups and downs.  Last weekend was rough, with the devil giving me a pretty good beating.  He knows where it hurts and does not hesitate to hit there.  I thought we might be coming up to the last round, because he just kept pounding relentlessly all week-long!  Several of you that know me, noticed that I was not myself – the spiritual warfare and fight against getting stuck in a rut of depression is the main reason and I found myself leaning on the ropes a few times!

It’s not that there were not a lot of good things that happened this past week.  There were plenty of good things.  Worship was great and I was super blessed to add a good friend to the membership of our church on Sunday.

VBS began and I think we have some of the most amazing ministry volunteers that I have ever seen – they really worked hard to make sure that everything was just perfect for the sharing of the Gospel in a fun, creative and inspirational environment.

God continues to amaze me as He unfolds the mission ministry of Northwood called Gace Place out into our community.  And the faithfulness of the every week and sometimes daily volunteers does more for my spirit than words can say.  We were also extra blessed to have a mission team of 29 teenagers and youth leaders from churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virgina to help us with a major organization project that is going to be a huge blessing to our volunteers and shoppers!

I also personally witnessed other random acts of ministry being performed by the Northwood family – several of our men making sure the grass gets cut and looks good for Sunday.  Men and ladies working to make sure that the building is picked up, cleaned and comfortable.  All ages doing little things that make a big difference in other people’s lives.

Right now, I am sitting in my back yard, listening to the crickets.  I have just watched as the sun went down and the night-time begins to fall around me and as rough as parts of this week have been, I can’t help but to focus on how great this week has been.  You will notice, I did not mention any of the negative things that the devil used to punch on me with, because those things don’t really matter.

Even when the devil is attacking, especially when the devil is attacking, you can count on the fact that God is present, working and performing miracles that will use the attacks of the devil to grow us for God’s glory and man’s blessing!

Well, I guess I better go inside, my girls are calling – they say my Father’s Day present is ready.  It must be something good, if I am getting it a day early – see it just gets sweeter and sweeter and one day it’s going to turn to sugar!

I hope I get to see or hear from you during this next week and I pray that something I do or say will motivate and encourage you into a closer walk with the One Who loves you more than you could dream or imagine!  God Bless & Press On!  MJH ><>