Tag: blessings

Join the #Identify3 Challenge

Needing a change of PERSPECTIVE this week…this month…this year?

Sometimes all we need is to modify our ATTENTION for our perspective to obtain clarity.

Try counting your blessings each morning. Like, REALLY counting them.

List them.

Acknowledge each blessing from God.

Challenge yourself to identify 3 ‘different’ blessings each day for a solid week. You will have a list of at least 21 unique, freely given blessings by day 7. Then, take time on the 8th day to give special thanks to Jesus for each of them.

And even if you’re not a follower of Jesus, that’s OK!  Simply recognizing the GOOD THINGS in our lives is something everyone should be able to do.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I’m going to do this myself!  Comment below if you’re going to accept the challenge too.  Also consider sharing this post wherever you are on social media.

Use the hashtag #Identify3 with your posts. 

To get you started well, enjoy this music video by Rend Collective! (they’re amazing)

 

Connect with me on Instagram. That’s where I spend most of my time.

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2 Things I Did Not Expect This Week At Orange Conference

And no, I’m not talking about things like hitting every green light on the way to work on a Monday.  (although those days are pretty epic)

My wife and I attend Orange Conference every year as volunteers, serving and assisting one of the regular speakers.  One of the things I have enjoyed most is the networking with other leaders.  Some are well-known and have significant platforms.  Others don’t necessarily have the same level of influence, but their contribution to Kingdom work is still very notable.  I learn from all of them!

So, here’s what I DIDN’T expect while at Orange Conference.

 

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Soulcare Praise – About a year ago, I had the privilege to speak at another Children’s Ministry conference in Kentucky. We ran into a young lady in a local coffee shop who was also attending the conference.  We were able to listen and pray with her about the challenges she was facing in her ministry position at the time.  Well, we just happened to cross paths again this week.  Among over 8,000 attendees, my wife spotted her across the lobby.  We learned that she had taken a couple of ‘nuggets’ of encouragement from one of my conference talks last year and really worked hard to implement them.  She shared with us that she is doing so much better as a leader now.  Amazing, and Jesus gets all the praise!

The Praying Caterers – I know what you are thinking.  The food service workers made it a practice during the conference to ‘Bless’ each person’s food before they sat down to eat.  While that would be quite cool, it wasn’t the case.  You see, my wife was getting dinner in the volunteer green room area and was simply asking about the menu over the next few days.  I’m having gall bladder surgery next week and she has been helping me be to be careful with my diet.  The caterers (all 6 of them) just happened to also be believers AND all attend the same church!  They gathered around Cailey and I and prayed over me and the surgery.  Can I just say…I really miss the Southern Hospitality in the South.

My takeaway?

“Jesus will often interrupt our journey of ministering to others so that OTHERS can minister to US.”

 

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Word Became Flesh |Wednesday

Check out my first post to find out what we’re doing with this #WordBecameFlesh challenge.

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Here’s what I thought about today.

It’s New Year’s Eve, and I was just looking back on the past year at all the ways the Lord has carried me and my family.   Here’s a few of the challenges we faced together.

  • I transitioned out of a Family Ministry staff position into a Campus Pastor position (something new for me).
  • My wife transitioned off staff at our church and starting working at Winn-Dixie.
  • We moved out of a home we loved in GA and into an apartment just over the river in AL.
  • My wife then accepted a huge job change AGAIN working in the executive office of the apartment network we live in.
  • Our first-born and only daughter moved out on her own….TWICE (very difficult).
  • We launched our first satellite church campus on September 7 (also very difficult).

Yet…

…through all of that, God kept us sane, married, and hopeful.  Trust me when I say that God’s hand was at work in so many of those challenges.  Too many to possibly list.

Now it’s your turn.  Feel free to write in your Bible or in a journal this week.  But if you’re like me and love social media, make a thoughtful post each day.  Be sure to use the hashtag #WordBecameFlesh with your post.  This way we can easily follow where others are noticing God at work.

Join the conversation, leave a comment below. 

Word Became Flesh | Tuesday

Check out the original post to find out what we’re doing with this #WordBecameFlesh challenge.

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Here’s what I noticed today.

  • Still no sickness spreading in the home (yay).
  • The Lord allowed me to stay focused in the office and get a TON of work done.
  • I was reminded once again that I totally do not deserve the woman I have for my wife.  I’m blessed.

Now it’s your turn.  Feel free to write in your Bible or in a journal this week, or use social media.  Be sure to use the hashtag #WordBecameFlesh with your post.  This way we can easily follow where others are noticing God at work.

Join the conversation, leave a comment below.