April 3, 2013

Choose Wisely

Sometimes, in order to embrace the destiny God has in store, you have to be willing to make some changes in your life.

You have to be willing to examine where you are and what you need to move forward. This may mean that you need to change some friends that you’re spending time with. Maybe they were fine for a season in your life, but now you’ve outgrown them. This is a new season, and in order for you to rise higher, you have to break away from relationships that are limiting you. You have to develop some new relationships with people who are going to pull you up and inspire you to rise higher. And this doesn’t just mean separating yourself from people who are holding you back spiritually. I’ve found that if you’re the smartest one in your group, your group is too small. Find people who are smarter than you are, people who will challenge you to stretch to the next level and become everything God’s created you to be. Remember, he who walks with the wise becomes wise. Choose your friends wisely and don’t be deceived. Choose your friends wisely so you can walk and live in the destiny God has in store for you. Are your friends the friends God has chosen for you?

April 2, 2013

Let Go of It Blog/Podcast

It’s difficult to focus on your past mistakes and change in the now.

Click to listen to podcast

When we make mistakes in life, there are three main things that we need to do. Number one, ask for forgiveness. Number two, receive God’s mercy. And number three, move forward with your life. Let it go and press ahead. So many people today are still beating themselves down over something they did five years ago. They’ve asked God to forgive them a thousand times, but can’t let it go. They go around living depressed, defeated and feeling unworthy. If that’s you, realize today the price has already been paid. The first time you asked God to forgive you, He forgave you. Now you’ve got to receive God’s mercy and press ahead. That mistake did not change who you are to God. You may have made mistakes today, but still have God’s plan for your life intact. You are still the apple of God’s eye. You are still His most prized possession. God may not be pleased with every action, but He is pleased when you receive His forgiveness by faith. Are you still holding on to past mistakes rather than holding on to your destiny?

March 29, 2013

Personal Character

If we focus on personal character, we make the world a better place. If we do that our entire lives, we’ve done the best thing we can do.

In life, we all have ups and downs. There are seasons that are more difficult than others, seasons of testing, trials and temptation where our character is being developed and our faith in God is being strengthened. Sometimes it can feel like you are taking two steps forward and then three steps backward. But if we’re not careful, we’ll start thinking that life is always going to be this way. Even in the strong seasons, you’ll start looking for things to go wrong. God doesn’t want us to be living life like a roller coaster. He wants to bring us to a place of stability where we remain strong in Him. He’ll make you strong, He’ll keep you stable, and you’ll keep moving forward into the life of blessing He has prepared for you. Keep focus on your character development. Do your part to make the world a better place and you will see changes. Are you concentrating on your personal character today?

March 21, 2013

Inside Story

Continual growth and good results are the result of aligning the inside and the outside of our lives. Getting the inside right comes first.

God is always looking to take us to higher levels. He wants us to grow and increase in every area. Change is often a catalyst for growth in our lives, and it keeps up from getting stuck in a rut. To help keep us on our path toward our destiny, God will supernaturally open and close doors of opportunity. He will “stir us” out of comfortable situations and stretch us because He loves us too much to allow us to live in mediocrity. Do you know how an eaglet learns to fly? That mother eagle will take her eaglet to the very highest point—way out of its comfort zone—and then she just releases it. As the eaglet falls, the mother swoops down and picks it back up again. She does this over and over until the eaglet spreads its wings and soars through the air. That’s what God wants for you today. He wants you to soar in life! You might feel like that eaglet learning to fly, but know that God is right there with you! He is bringing you new times and seasons so that you will rise higher and embrace the very best He has in store for you. Are you ready for change and growth in your life today?

March 12, 2013

Focus Changes Blog/Podcast

Often it takes a bad experience for us to face the changes we need to make in our lives.

Click here for podcast

I know people who feel like they’ve wasted years of their lives because of poor choices. They spent years in a relationship that was toxic, years with an addiction, years at a job where they weren’t fulfilled. But you have to realize, nothing you have been through is ever wasted. Your past experiences, good and bad have deposited something on the inside of you. Those challenges have sharpened you to help make you who you are today. When the enemy brings hardship into your life, God has a way of taking that experience and turning it around for your advantage. You may think you’ve hit a dead end, but if you’ll stay in faith, you will see God begin to open up a new route. He’ll put the right people in your path, the right opportunities, the right circumstances to move you forward toward your God-given destiny. Today, don’t focus on what’s happened in your past, focus on what God will do in your future. He wants to restore your soul and revive your dreams. Keep believing, keep expecting, keep hoping because God has a new route for your future. Are you focusing on the changes to make in your life today?

March 6, 2013

Pruning Season

I have always encouraged people to recognize times of being “between opportunities.” It is pruning season.

In life, we all go through a pruning process. God will prune our lives so that we can be fruitful. To “prune” means something is cut away, something is removed. In other words, maybe a good friend that you counted on moved to another city. Maybe a business shut down that you were connected to, or a relationship went a different direction. God knows what you need in your life in order to grow and flourish. Sometimes when things happen that we don’t understand, we have to just trust that He is working behind the scenes preparing you for increase, preparing you to go to another level. Don’t put a question mark where God has placed a period. When you’re going through transition, don’t get bitter. Don’t get down and think it’s the end. Don’t start thinking that you’re a failure. Have the attitude, “God, I let this go knowing that it was only temporary, and what You have in my future will be greater than what I’m letting go of.” If you will accept the change and stay in faith, God will open new doors. He will bring new opportunities, new friendships, and take you to another level of your destiny. Are you embracing the pruning season in your life?

December 21, 2012

Change Embracer

When you live the change you want to see and don’t grow tired from it, then follow through. Then inspiration will manifest itself.

Rather than waiting for and trying to make others change; be the change you want to see. The one thing that remains constant in the world is change. I don’t know anyone who really likes change, but when you live a lifestyle of change then it does become much easier. Not easy but definitely easier. Learn to embrace change and not dread it. Be the change you want to see. Once you become accustomed to change and being the change then you will get the inspiration you need to continue. Its not as difficult as it sounds. Living a change type of lifestyle is exciting. Just know that change is going to happen whether you like it or not, but it’s much better if you like it. Be a change embracer and see your life change for the better. Are you seeing some changes coming you need to embrace?

November 24, 2012

Change Inspires Change

If you keep doing the same thing and hanging around the same crowd you’ll get the same results. Change inspires change be great today.

I often tell people if you want to get different results in your life, then you have to change something you are doing. Making small changes each day, each week, will add up to big changes. It may take changing something you are doing and/or the people you are hanging out with each day. You will take on the characteristics of the people you are with on a consistent basis. Take a good look at your daily routine. See where you can make some adjustments to it. Maybe getting up earlier and having some study time. Could be you need to make some dietary changes. The thing is, when you make a change, then you make another; it gets easier. Not easy, but easier. Change will build on change. Look at your inner circle of friends. Are those people making you better? Are they challenging you each day to be better? If not then it’s time to make a new inner circle of friends. You will either get better each day or you get worse each day; there is no staying the same. Is there something you need to change today?

October 27, 2012

Change Coming

Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown.

God is always looking to take us to higher levels. He wants us to grow and increase in every area. Change is often a catalyst for growth in our lives, and it keeps up from getting stuck in a rut. To help keep us on our path toward our destiny, God will supernaturally open and close doors of opportunity. He will “stir us” out of comfortable situations and stretch us because He loves us too much to allow us to live in mediocrity. Do you know how an eaglet learns to fly? That mother eagle will take her eaglet to the very highest point—way out of its comfort zone—and then she just releases it. As the eaglet falls, the mother swoops down and picks it back up again. She does this over and over until the eaglet spreads its wings and soars through the air. That’s what God wants for you today. He wants you to soar in life! You might feel like that eaglet learning to fly, but know that God is right there with you! He is bringing you new times and seasons so that you will rise higher and embrace the very best He has in store for you. Are you ready for change and growth in your life? Ready for new levels of blessing that come with that?

July 14, 2012

Change Up

Do you change the oil in your car? If not, you better start! Just as you change the oil in your car, you need to change the oil in your life.

A body of water that doesn’t get fresh water, it will grow stagnate. You are the same. If you don’t change the oil in your car your engine will lock up. The same goes for your spirit, soul and body. You have to have fresh water and consistent oil changes. The key is to keep yourself fresh and new. Never think that you will be able to make it on what you did last year, last week, or even yesterday in some cases. When you stop changing and growing you stop living. You will become dry and stale. Continue to learn, keep on doing a new thing. God is in new things too. It may not be new to Him, but it is new to us. Be refreshed and refilled each day. Go ahead and take that class, read that book, apply for that job. There are so many things that you can do to keep yourself fresh and new. Don’t let fear stop you from reaching out and taking advantage of what is around you today. Is there a new project you want to start? Is there an area of your life that needs freshness?