Would you like to do something that could have big results in your life, but only take a little effort on your part?  If you would be willing to take 10-15 minutes at least once a week and discipline yourself to participate in doing what I am talking about, then you could gain insight into many different areas of your life and start making progress at becoming better and stronger for God and His glory.

At least one morning a week, I schedule an appointment with around five to seven other people, who I have invited into my life to help me to be a better husband, father, friend, pastor/preacher, minister and person!  These people I meet with are located all around the globe and most are very busy with their own agendas and responsibilities, but we all still find and make the time to help make one another better, sharper and more effective!

The really funny thing is that I have never even met some of these people, but I know them and they know of me.  The discipline that we practice that helps to make our lives better, is the discipline of reading each other’s blog!  Think about it!  From the comfort of your home, while lounging in pajamas and sipping a warm cup of joe, you can get insight, wisdom and challenge just from taking a few moments to read what our Creator is doing and saying in and through others!

The really cool thing is how you can find just the right people to speak into the areas of your life that need it the most!  Right now I have mentors who challenge my leadership, help me to work on my physical and mental health, grow and deepen my spiritual life, encourage me to be a more devoted and loving husband and father, and keep me thinking about ministry and what I was created for!

It does not cost a lot of money and it does not have to take a lot of time.  Just the discipline of setting up a consistent appointment and taking the time to read, digest and put into practice whatever it is that you discover through the blogs of others that will make you better, stronger and more effective!  Go ahead and give this discipline a try – you will be glad you did!

I was looking over my notes from yesterday and here are a few thoughts that I think are worth thinking about:

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of God!”  Peace is not when everything is going your way, because the truth is, everything can be going your way and you can still have that uneasy feeling.  Peace is the presence of God, because when God is with you, you know that you can face whatever and be better for it!

“We are graced with His purpose, guided by His providence and guarded by His power!”  Real purpose is not something that we come up with, but something that God has given us.  His purpose in and upon our lives gives us more than meaning.  It is amazing that God is always guiding, even when we make a wrong turn in our lives, God is using it to get us to where we need to be.  This is absolutely amazing!  His power stands guard over my life and this is one of the reasons that I love Him and live my life for Him.  I don’t deserve His protection, but I sure am thankful that I’ve got it!

“God with me, means that I am never alone!”  There is not a place that I can go that I can ever escape His presence!  (Psalm 139)  The whole world may walk out on me, but God has promised that He will never leave me or forsake me!

“God provides – the birds have a song, because God takes care of them.  What are you singing about today?”  I got out of bed and walked to the bathroom.  I had warm water to take a shower and cold water to brush my teeth.  I put on comfortable clothes and a nice pair of boots.  I walked out in my yard to get into my truck so that I could drive across town to serve Him.  Every step I take – God has provided and it makes me want to sing praise to His name!

“When the devil points his finger at you, point your finger at the WORD!”  The devil is great at pointing out your failures.  When he works to point out your failure, remind him of the success of Jesus on the cross and over the grave!

“No condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!”  He is in me and I want to make sure that I stay in Him – no safer place in all of the world!

“I am not an ordinary conqueror!  God supersized my abilities with His strength and blessing!”  I am ordinary, but God in me – makes me extraordinary.  I am limited, but God in me – makes me unlimited.  I am going to make a difference for His glory today, because that is what He created and saved me to do!

“Living Convinced Is Very Convincing!”  When you are convinced, you don’t have to worry about trying to convince anyone else – it just happens!

Games are supposed to be for fun, so why do so many of us insist on playing them, so that they hurt others?  Most of us call ourselves Believers – Believers in what?  If we really believe in Jesus, then let’s stop game playing with people’s lives.

There is nothing wrong with playing a game, until someone get’s hurt and there is no reason for a child of God to hurt anyone else.  “Think before you speak and love before you think!” needs to be a way of life for the true child of God!

God created everyone, so everyone is valuable.  God has an amazing plan for each of our lives and I want to see everyone succeed and experience blessing.  If I have to step on someone else to get ahead, then I guess I will alway be behind, but I would rather be behind, than be a “behind”!

I’ve been guilty of game playing and I’ve been challenged by having games played on me.  I have asked God to forgive me and would ask anyone else that I might have messed with by being so careless to forgive me as well.  I also forgive anyone that has ever played me, because I would not dare ask for what I am not willing to give!

I will do my best from this day forward to not get caught up in playing games unless it happens to be something fun like Monopoly, Red Rover or a good video game!  Give God Glory, Enjoy The Blessing And If You Play A Game – Make Sure It’s A Good One!