I sometime gush with embarrassment when someone compliments me. I find myself not knowing what to say. I’ve learned over the years to simply say “Thank You” or “Thanks” because otherwise I’m stripping of the blessing of expressing gratitude. The problem is that I know me. I’m a flawed man. I make mistakes and I…
There are so many reasons to celebrate and be grateful. I love the holiday we’ve just celebrated formally known as Thanksgiving. I literally try to start each day by giving thanks to the Lord for the blessings in my life and more importantly, His Presence with me. With His Presence in me, I can navigate…
I was in student ministry for 20 years and I had some opportunities come my way that might have been perceived as a promotion. There are some promotions that give you a title and a “bump” in pay. There other promotions that give you more responsibilities with no increase in pay. In student ministry, the…
There are choices we make daily that sometimes have unintended consequences. It easy to become unaware of all the connected people. I live in a small town in Georgia and there are a lot of people who are relatives to one another. I have learned to work at being kind to everyone and then I…
I will occasionally have moments that happen that feel a bit ironic. The word “ironic” implies coincidental or accidental. As a Christ-follower, I see this as the Lord’s hand in my life. I trust Him. I have learned the importance of praying about EVERYTHING. I think it’s a bit unusual for a book in the…
These two words are vastly different and have much to do with the posture of my heart. If I’m boastful, I’m pointing to me. If I’m blessed, I’m aware that it’s not all about me. Boasting comes from pride while blessing comes from humility. As I journey through the book of Esther, I see a…
There is something special about being present in the moment. There are people who prepare their whole life to live and never actually live life and enjoy it. There are workaholics and lazy bums and everyone in between. Life is much like a balancing act. As I was reading the story of Esther, I was…
This is not a nice word. It is an ugly word that carries with it violent revenge. It is a disease of an unforgiving heart. If I sound like I know a thing or two about revenge, it’s because I have experienced vengeance as the giver and the receiver of it. I have been hurt…
When I decided to become a licensed real estate agent in Georgia 18 years ago, I had to retrieve a “criminal background check” on myself to make sure there were not issues with criminal behavior in my past. Other than a few speeding tickets, I knew that my background was fine. I began to wonder…
I often pick on people who are quick to show all the things they have or have accomplished. I call them a “bragger”. They seem to be saying: “Look at me and how great I am”. I think this a huge display of pride for sure. I have learned over the years that I am…