March 26, 2013

Load Lifter Blog/Podcast

Few things are better for cultivating character and developing humility than serving others. Putting others first shows we care.

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When we live in peace and unity, it pleases God. When we love and serve others, putting their needs above our own, we are honoring Him. When we carry each other’s load, we are fulfilling the Golden Rule, which is to love others. What does it mean to carry each other’s load? There are many ways to reach out to people and help shoulder their load of life. Just by giving an encouraging word or smile, you can help lighten the load for someone. When you pray for others in their day of difficulty, you are helping to carry their problems. Maybe there are other ways to help the people around you. Maybe you can pay for someone’s groceries or give someone cash at the gas pump. Anytime you help others and reach out to those in need, scripture says you are directly lending a hand to God Himself. Today, look for ways to lighten the load for the people around you. Be a load lifter. Remember, in what you sow, you shall reap. When you help others, God promises to repay you. He’ll pour out His victory and blessing upon you all the days of your life. Are you being a load lifter today?

January 12, 2012

Showing Honor

Everywhere we go, we should look for an opportunity to show honor to others in our conversations and the way we treat people.  Where there is honor, there is promotion.

If we would show more honor, we would not only have better relationships, but we would enjoy our life a whole lot more.  It’s the little acts of dishonor that bring strife and confusion in our lives.  At the root of most confusion and lack of blessing is dishonor.  Want to see change in your life? Show more respect and honor to those in your life.  Set out to honor someone–your spouse, a co-worker, a friend, your parents.  Develop a culture of honor everywhere you go no matter who you come across or where you are.  The amount of honor show will be directly related to the amount of God’s favor you will see.  If you will make it a priority to show honor wherever you go.  God promises all will be well with you.  Because you’re honorable, you will have honor in return and live a blessed, satisfied, prosperous life.

July 10, 2011

How We See Others

In today’s culture, we don’t often hear the word esteem used very much, but, the Bible tells us to esteem and delight in one another. One definition of esteem is to hold in high regard. That means we are to honor and value one another. Even if we don’t always agree with one another, even if they don’t necessarily act honorably, we are to honor and esteem others because they are valuable in the eyes of God.

Think of it this way: if you had a costly and valuable piece of jewelry, you wouldn’t just wear it to the gym or leave it on the kitchen sink. No, you would treat it carefully. You would put it in a safe place and protect it. Well, when we see others as valuable the way God sees them, we will treat them carefully as well. We should be careful in the way we talk to others. We should look for the good in them and honor them for who God made them to be. The Bible tells us that the way we treat others is like sowing seed, and it will come back to you. Choose to esteem and delight in one another. Sow good seeds, and you will see a harvest of blessing in your own life in return!

February 11, 2011

Braggin' Rights

02 11 11 Friday

I had a chance to visit with several high school coaches in south Alabama during the week.  One was one of my high school coaches back in the day. It was great getting to see him.

One thing about Coach Blackwell, he never gave up on me.  I gave him many, many reasons to, but he never did.  He has always told folk how proud he is of me and I can’t begin to tell him I appreciate him for that reason.  The lesson from this is, never give up on folk.  We have to see them for what they really can be. Look past their faults, mistakes, and quirks that drive us crazy.  When we see people for what they really can be, then we will see them in a whole new way.  See them the way God sees them.  Look through the eyes of forgiveness, love, mercy, grace and acceptance.  We all know we have needed folk to see us through those eyes.  I am learning from Coach Blackwell how to treat folk, how to see them for what they really can be.  We all have greatness in us that wants to shine.  He taught me many lessons in the classroom and on the field, but this one surpasses them all.  Treat folk with dignity, respect, and appreciation.  Praise them in public, but discipline them in private.  Take time today to brag on someone.  Look for someone that least expect it.  Be honest and sincere with your words.  Make someone’s day today.  You never know it could make a difference in their life.

December 30, 2010

Stir It Up

12 30 10 Thursday

It’s time to stir up that gift that is inside of you. I was thinking the other day about what is like when we are operating in our gift.  Not so much from our point of view but from God’s point of view.  He is the One who gave us our gift.

I was thinking what it must be like when we use our gift; whatever your gift may be.  What does God see? What must He think when we are using our gift with no agenda, no motive except to honor Him?  I don’t believe it is wrong to think that God has tough days, He is dealing us you know.  So when we are just giving back to Him what must He feel?  If it’s music, writing, art, teaching, care giving whatever your gift is, how proud of us is He?  When we are in that flow, in the zone and what we are doing just seems effortless, you know it has to be because He is listening and watching.  It’s not performing before God, but just enjoying God and He enjoying us.  I know as a dad I am proud of my little girl when she is operating in her gift, even as young as she is, how much more must He feel toward us.  It is beyond my concept, but I am beginning to get a sense of it.  All of this is to say, use your gift.  Stir up the gift that is inside you.  Use it without agenda or motive. Just do it! You are an awesome and gifted person, no matter what that gift may be.   As we lean into 2011, honor God with your gift.

December 17, 2010

Getting Right

12 17 10 Friday

I have said several times how excited I am about the new year.  There are things lining up and getting into place that are going to change your and my lives forever. I am pumped about it.

We all have been through situations in this past year that have prepared us for what is coming next in our destiny.  You may have cussed those times, but they have formed and molded you into the champion that you are right now.  Never despise the tough, hard and difficult times because out of them champions are developed.  The things you been through in the past year, most folk would have lost their mind, but you have prevailed and accepted the challenges.  You are a person of destiny.  You have courage, honor, humility and persistence in you.  You are going to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, the right way, with the right folk in 2011.  Stay focused, stay on course, stay in a destiny mindset.  It is coming and coming soon! Get ready for it.  2011 is going to be far above and beyond anything you have ever dreamed of or imagined.