Day 32 - Loyalty

"In the Word today I read the story of David saving the city of Keilah. It is interesting that the one who saves the city from the Philistines would have been handed over to Saul so soon after the victory. Is it selfishness of saving themselves, loyalty to their current king, or ingratitude? It is reminiscent of Jesus coming into Jerusalem to the shouts of “Hosanna” and in a week leaving to the shouts of “Crucify Him!” How soon we can turn."

Our hearts can be so fickle that we can turn on our convictions and betray our loyalty. One moment we stand like a rock and the next we run scared. 

God is in to loyalty. He looks for loyal hearts. He Himself is the one who gives us loyal covenant love. Only as we strive to be like Him will we swear to our own hurt, go to Him outside the gate and stay loyal like He is. 

How important is loyalty? How can you build it in your life?

Day 31 - The Last of the Fast

"Last day of our fast and wouldn't you know that Ruth was there pushing Girl Scout cookies when I came in to the office. I happened to have four dollars in my wallet so I bought some to break the fast with."

First off I must say that it was miraculous that I had cash. Second I am now craving the toasted coconut caramel and chocolate Girl Scout cookies. (What kind do you like? Thin Mints? Lemonade? All of the above?)

This year we went to Cheesecake Factory and bought a Lemon Meringue Cheesecake slice to break the fast with. Is anyone hungry? Hopefully you aren't fasting right now. At our Men's Breakfast I asked if anyone was fasting meat and was angry about it. Two hands shot up. 

Pastor Deborah Cobrae, my mother in law who is an extremely wise woman of God and a world class preacher, was speaking to the church pastoral staff a few years ago. She was discussing prayer and fasting. She said fasting silences what is loudest in our lives so that we can hear the voice of God. 

Our appetites are often screaming at us to satisfy them. When you fast they seem to intensify and then as you seek the Lord and deny the flesh they get less and less. By the end of the fast what once controlled you often is now under your control or is nonexistent. That is why I could buy cookies and cheesecake and wait to eat them until we break the fast. 

Have you had any breakthroughs while fasting? What is the hardest part of fasting? 

Day 30 - Stop and Listen

"God's Word is so simple, 'be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.'"

On this day in a meeting we had a lot of talk and passion shared over words and definitions of what we were talking about. We wasted a lot of time and emotion over something that wasn't the real issue. It was that meeting that caused me to write what God says about how we should handle ourselves. 

We need to be quick to listen. I find myself at times waiting to say my piece instead of taking in what others are saying. 

We need to be slow to speak. There are times when I react instead of respond. The Bible says even a fool is thought to be wise if he can hold his tongue. 

We need to be slow to anger. Don't get this one wrong. Jesus got angry at times and the Bible tells us to be angry and do not sin. What makes the difference is that we are to be slow to anger. Listen to the whole story, try to hear the voice of God through what is being said and respond accordingly. 

I believe that we will have better meetings, better relationships and less stress if we hold to this simple instruction from God's word. 

Are you quick or slow to speak? How do you slow the process of anger? 

Day 29 - Faith

"I preached faith tonight." 

I am amazed at how closely this year mirrors last year. I preached the Wednesday service this week as well. 

I look at that statement and really there is no other way to preach. It is a simple gospel that must be believed and received. 

I love what Peter Bohler said to a discouraged John Wesley, "Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, preach faith." There is no other way to please God than by living a life of faith. If that is true then we need more simple faith preaching! 

What stirs your faith? Do you have a go to scripture for faith? 

Day 28 - Bad News

Today's thoughts come without a direct quote.

Let me set the stage for you. We are driving to a school field trip for our daughter and son and brought along our other son who isn't in school yet. On the ride there we get news...bad news. Pastor Bayless Conley, a great man of God and family friend, had been in a boating accident along with some other pastors. We didn't know what happened or what condition they were in. All we knew was it was bad. We went to prayer and then I reached out to the family to let them know we were praying and would be there in a heartbeat if they needed anything. Even though we pushed through for our children we had Pastor Bayless on our hearts the whole day.

Days like this show me how real the body of Christ is. It makes scriptures come alive when you experience the pain of someone else and bear there burdens.

Thankfully after some months of recovery we also were able to rejoice with the Conley family as Pastor Bayless healed and returned home and eventually back to the pulpit. We continue to thank God a year later for his healing.

Pastor Bayless' son Harrison (also a pastor and great man of God) wrote a blog about what he learned 8 weeks after the accident. You can find it here:
https://harrisonconley.wordpress.com/2014/03/16/8-things-i-have-learned-in-the-last-8-weeks-2/

Have you experienced something that showed you how connected the body of Christ is? How did it change your view of the scriptures and the church?

Day 27 - The Proven Warrior

"In the Word tonight I read a passage I have read for nineteen years and never really read what was being said. In David's flight from Saul his family was affected. While David was hiding in the stronghold his brothers came to him. And later he hid his parents in Moab until the prophet spoke to him to return to Judah. It is interesting to note his brothers. Here were soldiers in Saul's army. The oldest one angry at David the last time we see him. Now they come to him. Why the change of heart? Go out New Christian and changed man and have some battles. Even though you may be mocked and scorned by those closest to you when the battles are fierce and you have won and proved your faith then when times are tough and the need is great you won't have to send for them, they will come to you."

Family can often be our harshest critics. Many times when we change and try to express what has happened to us the most skeptical are the ones closest to us. That is ok. All you have to do to change their mind is live the change. As they see the consistent action of your life they will come around. Eventually they will be your greatest supporters (Though they may joke with you about your past). 

Have you seen family or close friends come around after they have seen the change in you? What sort of things can you do to help people see the change in a practical way? 

Day 26 - 'Un' rest

"I had a beautiful nap this afternoon which I woke from and barked at everyone to let me be. How could such chaos come out of such peace in the same man?!"

We call this waking the bear. I guess the root of all this is selfishness. I wouldn't be yelling at the kids for being kids if I wasn't valuing my personal comfort more than being with people who love me enough to want to be with me. 

Lots of fights have started, friendships, relationships and even marriages have been seperated, all because of selfishness. There is no rest for the selfish. 

I constantly have to crucify the flesh. Every day I commit myself to the service of the Lord and declare that I love Him enough to lay down my life, take up my cross and follow Him. I also commit to love those He loves and give of myself for the good of others. 

Have you had any moments like these that we're humorous because of what you did? How do you crucify the flesh? 

Day 25 - Bible Literacy

"I had a fifteen year old boy ask me a Bible question. I realize the task we have to get our people Biblically literate when I encounter questions like his. It was so simple but the one verse without the context made no sense. Bible programs are wonderful but I wonder if they will hinder people from truly knowing their Bible because memorization and knowing the Word comes second to ease of access and abundant supply for many."

Reading this a year later I see that for someone else to get a picture of what I am saying they may need the context of my experience. I was walking out in our church foyer and a young man approached me with a question about a verse in the Bible. He showed me the verse on his cell phone but his phone did not display the chapter surrounding the verse. His question was very easily answered when you read the verses surrounding the one in question but he had searched his Bible program and got one verse out of context and it was leading him to the wrong conclusion. 

More and more I find that people are looking to technology, websites, and the Internet in general for answers about God, the Bible and Christianily. I personally think it is great on the one hand because of ease of access to information. Testimonies abound of good things God is doing. Accountability and reminders for church and Christian activities have increased. On the other hand I find it disturbing that people are trusting the first thing that pops up on a search. Anyone can say whatever they want with no credibility. People have also become lazy and don't want to put in the time to study the Word and get to know their Bible and their God. 

Reading your Bible, praying, attending church, fellowshipping with other believers; that has got to be too simple...right? And yet the simple things are what's being neglected. If we will dive in to the Word and get acquainted with it then we will hear God in prayer and in church because we will know His voice and His character. And when we use technology it will only help us to go deeper with God, feed us more of His Word and connect us better to His church. 

How do you use technology to encourage your Christian study/life? How can we get more Biblically literate? 

Day 24 - Like That

"Friendships like that are worth it."

I wrote this simple little line after some friends came home from a trip and shared a moment with me. They went for their ten year anniversary to Bora Bora. A place so nice you have to say it twice. It was the trip of a lifetime for them.

While they were there they took lots of photos. I love photography so I was happy to see the places they went. It was breathtaking and exotic all in one. They had beautiful pictures of crystal clear waters, white sands, tropical fish, over water bungalows and the list goes on.

While they were showing me the pictures we came to one of a island with a few palm trees and an old boat on the beach. They proudly told me that when they saw that old boat they said to one another "Dan would love that. If he were here he would take a picture of that old boat on the beach." So they made a point of taking a picture of it and showed it to me when they got back.

What struck me is that two people, on their tenth wedding anniversary trip of a lifetime, in paradise, thought of me. Yes, friendships like that are worth it. Worth the fight to stay connected. Worth the highs and lows. Worth the investment and the love. Worth my prayers and future.

Do you have a 'like that' in your friendships? Has anyone blown you away with their thoughtfulness?

Day 23 - Louder Than Words

"I have to watch attitudes more than words."

As a leader a meeting can turn south faster than you realize. One snide remark or condescending attitude can turn a conversation into a confrontation. The hardest part about this as a leader is that you have to take control of the direction it goes. Sometimes that takes saying hard things or stepping outside of your personality and being more aggressive than what you are comfortable with. 

It is no different with family, while sharing the gospel, on the job. We can control our words more easily than we can control our attitudes. We also can respond to the attitudes of others or lead them where they need to go. Amidst anger and chaos you can lead someone to Christ, to forgiveness and to peace. 

Have you ever been in a conversation where the attitudes spoke louder than words? How did you lead them to what is good and right?

Day 22 - Saying No

"It seems to me that there are people who will tell you what they did and then want you to finish the job."

Maybe it is my position or my personality but it seems this happens to me a lot. Someone tells me how they started some noble work and how needed it is and then they expect me to finish the job. I am not sure what that is other than the fact that I am one of those guys who has a hard time saying no. 

Don't get me wrong, saying yes has opened doors for me and taken me places I have never thought possible. There is power in the right 'yes' at the right time. But on the other hand 'no' is a perfectly good response as well to certain things. 

The world would be a better place if we learned the value of a good 'no'. In the book of Titus (Whom my son is named after, it means 'strength') it says that the grace of God has appeared to us and it teaches us to say no to ungodliness and to deny the lusts of the flesh. We would be better of if we shouted 'no!' at anything that doesn't please God. Additionally we also would be less stressed, more focused and better off if we said yes to our call and assignment and no to non-essentials and peripheral things that would distract us. 

Do you have a hard time saying yes or no? What was the best no you ever said? 

Day 21 - Filling Holes

"Pretty lazy day today. Not much to report. Kids off to school. Made some returns at the store and filled holes in the travertine. Meals were eaten and life was lived. Not every day is a chasing dolphin kind of day. Sometimes it is a filling the holes in the tiles kind of day. Both are much needed."

I honestly wouldn't remember this day had it not been for my journal. With all that life has for us we don't look forward to these kinds of days but they are no less necessary. We may be just thinking of them as filling in time (much like filling in the holes in my travertine tiles) but they are important parts of our year. If we don't take the time to rebuild, rest, refresh and restore things will fall apart. We may find ourselves with broken fences, weakened wills and drab appearances. 

How do you feel about days like this? How important is rest and refreshing?

Day 20 - Arguments

Reading back through my journal entry from last year on this day I remember it was a great day. We went with some friends on a boat in the ocean and spotted two whales, a pod of dolphins and passed a bunch of sleeping seals on a buoy.

What struck me from this day was not the good that we had but a little line that said my wife and I had a disagreement that morning about our future plans. I find that most couples fight about three things; finances, the future, and intimacy (which often means two different things to men and women). This was our day to fight about the future.

As big as any argument can get all it takes to make it small is to look at God. He is bigger than any problem and bigger than any need. After being on the ocean that day the proof of what I just wrote is confirmed by the last sentence of my journal entry:

"Earlier today we had some intense fellowship over the future and what we both had in our hearts. After being on the water and seeing the beauty of God's creation it made it seem so insignificant."

Have you ever had a problem that seemed huge but turned out to be small? How does your view of God effect your view of life?

Day 19 - Communication

"Communication is so vital to unity and a simple question can calm the storm!"

I remember this day. The devil went to work on a comment that was made and twisted the intent. It could have turned sour but the person who was questioning the intent was mature enough to reach out and ask what was meant by the comment. I answered the question and an offense was avoided. 

The devil will bring confusion and lies in the void of communication. But we can avoid offenses and division by confronting issues in love and believing the best. Too many people have left churches, seperated from healthy relationships and lost sight of what is important in the absence of simple communication. Don't let the devil win. Go and ask, quickly forgive and move forward together!

Have you ever had this happen to you? How did it turn out?

Day 18 - God Speaks

"What a great day in church. Mostly the message. It was powerful to see the progression as well as all the ways that God communicates His will and ways to us. It started in creation, then in our conscience, to tablets of stone, and ultimately God has written it on our hearts. Beautiful."

This message blew my mind. It was so simple and yet profound. The very fact that God would even want to talk to us is a mind blowing concept but then you see his Divine plan and progression. He doesn't complicate it. God speaks to us. He wants to talk. He listens and responds. He speaks and waits for our response. Like the Psalmist said "This knowledge is too great for me". 

Have you ever been moved when you saw the handiwork of God in creation? How is your prayer life? Are you communicating with God? 

Day 17 - Blessings

"I went for a walk by myself after lunch to look around our campus and the sun was warm on my back. What a blessing to live in California. I don't care what anyone says I live in paradise. Even in the Inland Empire it is better than the winters I have spent in Tulsa and the summers in the desert."

Too often I overlook how blessed I am. To live in California, the U.S.A., with the family that I was raised with and now the family that I am raising...I am super blessed. 

In my early twenties I wrote a song called "It could be worse". Sounds like a Billboard top 40 right? I could just hear Ryan Seacrest saying "And now coming in at number 38 "it could be worse"! The premise of the song was that no matter how bad we think we have it we don't encounter the things that people all over the world do every day. That is a blessing. 

I don't fear bombs going off outside my house, I don't have militant people shutting down our church services or throwing me in prison for my faith. I am blessed. 

We had a missions conference last year at the church and on the Friday night session they brought in Brother Yun. His story was amazing. I think it wrecked us all in the best way possible. Many of us shared the sentiment "Are we even saved?!" All that aside what was overwhelming about this man who had been imprisoned, tortured and shunned was his smile and simplicity of faith in a Jesus that loves us. He was blessed. I was blessed by him because I don't want to overlook or undervalue what God has given me. I am blessed to be a blessing. 

What blessings do you enjoy that maybe have gone overlooked? How can we show the value of our blessings? 

Day 16- What really matters

"I am busy but I am determined to be busy with what is important; people."

Today's thought from last year reminds me that I have to connect everything I do to people. My work is a service to the people. My home life is a service to my family and friends. My witness is to people who are lost in the world. I exist for God and others. 

Many times when I interact with people at church, even sometimes when they have made an appointment and meet me in the office, they say "I know you're busy so I'll be quick". My response is always the same, "I am here for you, this I what I do". Really without people there is no church. The building is just a building. People are the church. 

It is easy to get distracted from this simple concept. Self can easily step in and say the people are here for you. In reality it is the other way around. The devil would love us to buy the lie that what we do won't hurt anyone but ourselves. Not true! Sin hurts people beyond ourselves. Society would tell us to live our lives and that the times are such that business and finance, marketing and branding are more important than real connections and genuine interaction. Wrong again, loving God and loving people is the command. Loving one another as Jesus loved us is the new command. That is a sacrificial love for others who don't even deserve it. 

There is the motivation for the determination. There is the example of how. Now let's do it! 

How high are people on your priority scale? How can we do better at serving, loving, and investing in others? 

Day 15 - Pockets

"I am grateful for pockets of time I get amidst a busy day to be with God and my family. In a position like mine where literally any and every department has and wants access and answers from me it is difficult at best some days to do simple things like visit the restroom or be prepared for the next meeting. In the midst of a setting like that I have learned to pray without ceasing and to take advantage of pockets of time. Driving in the car is one of those pockets. The morning routine is a pocket. Family meals are a pocket.* This morning I woke earlier than normal because of my dog making noise, and then the kids and the highway behind our house. I finally threw my hands up and said 'if I can't beat 'em join 'em' and got out of bed. The advantage that I had on my day of an extra forty minutes was tremendous."

It is important to get times away. Jesus took pockets of time to rest, to pray and even to continue his ministry in a different way. Many of the stories we love from the life of Jesus happened 'on the way'. If we can follow that example of maximizing time and using it to our advantage we could produce a ton more fruit for the Kingdom!

How do you 'pray without ceasing'? What pockets of time do you value?

*In case you wonder why family meals are a pocket for me it is because during my work days I often have a split shift where I will do morning and then come back for a night church service or Bible College class. The pocket of time in between responsibilities is set aside for our family dinner where we connect for that day and enjoy each other. It is so important to me that I have driven home 15 minutes and spent a half an hour with my family at the table only to drive back 15 minutes.

Day 14 - Purpose

"I read the account of David and Goliath again today. Every time I read it there is a fresh revelation in there. This time was the fact the before David left to fight the giant he took his staff with him. A shepherd's staff no doubt. He had left the 'few sheep' of his father and was headed to an event that would promote him to public fame and prepare the people for him to become their favored king. He did not leave his staff behind. His staff represented who he was. David would be shepherd of his Father's sheep...Israel."

God uses who you are to shape who you will become. A prime example is Barnabas. He was named "The son of encouragement". No wonder God would use him to encourage a converted Saul of Tarsus early in ministry to become Paul the Apostle.

God has given you gifts, talents, abilities and a unique personality that he will use in your future for where He is calling you to. Don't despise it or leave it behind. You will be glad you did!

Have you seen any instances of God using your unique make up for a position or place He called you to?

Day 13 - Legacy

"I gave my son my Bible from when I was a kid. It was neat to see how my mom had dated it from 1985. Almost 30 years later here I am handing it to my son. He was so excited and wanted to have me read from it tonight. What a treasure to pass on the same Bible that I remember going through and looking at all the pictures placed throughout the pages. Maybe it was those pictures and stories that gave me such a love of the Bible early on. That and my parents prayers and example for sure."

It is so important as parents to connect with our children as much as we can. Often my children will ask me what my childhood was like. I realize that they want to relate with me. With as much responsibility as I have and the demands that come with life and ministry I try to get time every day to connect with my children and show them love. Some days it is quantity, all days I go for quality.

My brother-in-law recently preached about love. More specifically how we can show love. He made the statement that we can show love because we have received the love of God. It is so true. How could I show my children love if I had never been loved? My parents have been examples of godliness and have influenced me to be a better person and Christian. I know they pray for me. They have left a legacy that I am now giving to my children.

Even if you didn't have great parents or if you don't have children you can leave a legacy. People are always watching. You have influence! God made you for this time and placed you where you are for a purpose. Your Heavenly Father has loved you and given you everything you need to impact earth and eternity!

Do you have anything your parents gave you (physically or through example) that you want to pass on to your children? What kind of legacy are you building?

Day 12 - Hard Times

"What a rough start to the new year. We are not yet half way through the first month and the tough experiences keep rolling in. Once again I must not let the dark shadow of things that hurt and are painful drown out the light of the glorious goodness of God."

A year after I wrote this the weather today looked like I felt then. Today was cloudy and it rained most of the day. I never saw the sun today because the clouds never gave us a break to see it. Even though it was a cold and rainy day I had no problem driving and looking around outside. Even though I couldn't see the sun I still was able to see from its light.

Problems can bs a lot like that. They come with hurt and pain and seem to overshadow everything that is good in life. What we don't realize is that even on the most stormy circumstances God is lighting the way for us.

I smile when I think of all the experiences Jesus and his disciples had on stormy seas. Think about it; one time Jesus is asleep and they have to wake him up. Another time he walking by and about ready to pass them up while they are struggling. It seems like Jesus doesn't care about the disciples when you look at these two examples on the surface. I know this isn't the case because God loves us and cares deeply for us. What I see here is not a lack of care for the disciples but rather a lack of fear of the storm. How else could he sleep in the midst of a storm? Why else would he be walking by?

If you're in a storm look for the light. God is on your side, you're going to make it through the trial. I did and so will you.

Have you seen the light of God in the midst of a cloudy trial of life?

Day 11 - Reputation

"The description of David at such a young age is striking: 1 Samuel 16:18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” Even before David goes to fight Goliath he has the reputation of a man, a mighty man of valor, and a man of war. Yet when he shows up on the battle lines everyone puts him down. The greatest expression given about David is the last one saying that The Lord is with Him. Even without the rest of the description that line alone could slay the giant, deliver from the wicked predecessor, overtake every enemy, establish the kingdom and leave a legacy."

Everything we say and do produces our reputation. Even our perceived image produces our reputation. There was a key element in the passage I quoted; the reputation that the Lord was with him. David had a real heart for the Lord. He was loyal and passionate. When he messed up, big time, he was quick to repent. He didn't back off God and God didn't back off him. His reputation shows us that fact.

I have had a reputation of a nice guy, a rocker, preacher (even at a young age), and the list could go on. Of all the things that my reputation could be the greatest one is that God is with me.As a Christian God lives on the inside of me. Many Christians live as though God isn't with them but He is. Ready to back us. God is on our side. We need to get on His side! We need to stir ourselves and wake up to the reality that the Lord is with us. When we do we will be giant slayers, delivered from the evils that surround us, overtaking every enemy establishing God's kingdom and leaving a legacy.

How do you view David's reputation? How does God being with us change the game of life?

Day 10 - Definitions

"We have been fasting sweets this month and I noticed my taste buds have changed. I had a bowl of honey nut o's and they tasted way too sweet. Before the fast they seemed so bland but now that I am deprived of sugar they are overkill! How amazing to me that the same person with the same thing in a short period of time can have two totally different opinions of that thing. I guess the same could apply to words like rich, blessed, painful, happy, content, sick, beautiful, fair, etc."

I am amazed how at this time last year I was thinking about how we define things because today I wrote a sermon about how faith defines us. The only way we can define anything is by the Word of God. God alone is true, Jesus is the person of truth, the Holy Spirit is the revealer of truth. When we define things by our experience or circumstances we get off into things which are constantly changing. If that goes on long enough we become unstable. On the other hand, when we define everything by the truth of God's Word, no matter the circumstances, the definition remains the same.

What words could you add to my list from last year? How has defining life by truth rather than experience helped you?

Day 9 - Revelations

"There were two things in my study time today that stood out from Acts 20. First of all is verse 8. Such a random verse that I know I have read before but never took notice of. "There were many lights in the upper room where we were meeting." God could have excluded this detail and yet in Luke's mind as he writes the Holy Spirit reminds him of a third floor room with a large chamber where Paul was preaching for late long hours. So impressive was this well lit room that while the narration of a very important story is being told that he includes the visual magnitude of what he saw. Many lights. Why would God include this? There are many revelations, many people, many comforts, many witnesses; we should take notice and feel the warmth. Spend many hours listening and looking. Gazing and looking into the things of God and, like the angels, the things of salvation expressed in man. Second was the name Eutychus. This guy falls out of a third story window and dies because he fell asleep while the Apostle is preaching. Talk about a discouragement to the preacher! I would never want to speak again! But Paul embraces him and says that his life is still in him. After he concludes and leaves at daybreak they bring Eutychus in alive. His name means 'fortunate'. He was fortunate to be alive after that fall. How fortunate we are that no matter what happens to us in life that we have Jesus. Christ in us. He is the life that is still in us though our situation or circumstance may be dead. He is the one who raises us up even when we fall."

You won't get revelation from God without taking the time to spend with Him. When you do the many lights will be remembered. What revelation that the life inside us is Christ Himself!

What has God revealed to you last year or even about the year ahead? Do you remember the many lights He has given you?

Day 8 - Procrastination

"Sometimes...most of the time, if I don't write something down I will lose it. I don't know how many good ideas I've had, sermon notes, songs and thoughts that have been lost because I failed to write it down. Most of the reason I don't get more stuff done is because the simple work gets left undone. Laziness and procrastination are the two deceptively beautiful but really are ugly sisters that hang around and hinder progress. They are like the mythical sirens that call to you in a beautiful form but once they have you will eat you alive."

In my school years I estimated myself to be a professional procrastinator. I could whip out grade A material the night before a paper was due and glance at my notes before a test to get the right answers. As I have grown into the responsibility of the many hats I wear I simply cannot live like that anymore. Dad's and husbands that procrastinate miss out on their families. Business professionals who procrastinate miss out on promotion and wealth. A pastor who procrastinates may be able to whip together a decent message but won't have the wisdom of time spent with the Lord and may lack anointing.

There are a few ways I have found in my personal life that I can overcome procrastination. First of all taking initiative. Looking around and ahead and seeing what needs to be done, taking the bull by the horns and then making it happen. Also, I had to pray and ask God to help me get organized. Finally, just moving on things has helped me. Many times if I don't do it then it won't get done. So I made the decision to just get after things when I have it in mind.

How do you deal with procrastination? Are there systems or attitudes that help with this?

Day 7 - Courage

"I find that many times the obvious answers are right in front of us but we don't want to face them because they will change what we are comfortable with. I spoke with someone who was having terrible difficulty with a person they had volunteered to work with because it was affecting their friendship. My immediate thought was "Why not stop working with them so that you can stay friends and not have to think about the work situation?" The problem was that they liked the work and it made them feel important so they won't change that situation for the relationship because they think they can do both effectively. Sometimes we have to give up our comforts for a better outcome where it matters."

As I was thinking about this journal entry I asked myself the question "What would it take to make the change?" The answer is 'courage'. Courage to face ourselves soberly. Courage to make that hard choices. Courage to do the things we don't want to do.

Without it we cower. We run and hide behind excuses. We shift blame or get angry. The fingers point and our progress is stopped. Worse still is the devil laughs because we have played into his trap. When we fear there is no faith and we end up in sin.

Courage changes the story from a tragedy to an epic. Which ending do you want?

Day 6 - Obedience

"This morning in my time with God I read over the account of Saul's disobedience and how he heeded the voice of the people rather than be unpopular and heed the commandment of The Lord. It was interesting for me to note that anything that looked good to the people they kept but the despised and the stuff that was weak or wasn't good looking they rejected and destroyed. How many Christians think that they are walking in obedience to the commandment of The Lord but really are trying to keep the best of the world while justifying themselves by staying away from the really bad stuff. I know I can identify times that I wanted to keep watching a television show that the plot had turned south just because I liked the show at first. We have had to stop watching a lot of stuff because of that."

How convicting this post is. Lord, is there anything that I am holding on to that is unholy? Have I kept things in my life that weren't 'that bad' but got rid of what wouldn't look good thinking I would justify myself? No Lord! You are just and the justifier! I lay it all at your feet and cleanse myself of any pollution of this world. Even to my own hurt!

I would encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to reveal anything that you are holding on to in disobedience. Give it to the Lord and then do what you need to in the natural to be obedient. I remember one time my buddy and I were praying together and the Spirit of God entered the place where we were and in an act of obedience he ran to his car and started breaking CD's with explicit lyrics. Later we took the pieces of those CD's and made a mosaic of a cross on the wall in a church so the Youth group could see. Some of the youth were saying things like "Aw man! That is a good CD!" It opened the door for us to share about obedience and holiness.

Have you had any radical acts obedience? Was there a blessing that came as a result?

Day 5 - Unity

"It is always tough when people cannot agree. Yet we are called to unity by God. It is best to leave as much as you cannot change to God and what you can change (yourself) to the instruction of the Holy Spirit."

I love the statement in here that we should leave what we cannot change to God and submit ourselves to the instruction of the Holy Spirit. We can take others, circumstances, and anything else we cannot change to God in prayer. What we have control over is ourselves but even that can get messed up when we operate in the flesh. What makes the difference is submission to the Word of God and the instruction of the Spirit. I may not agree but I can submit to God. I may not like the direction it goes but if I have God's peace it doesn't matter.

What are some other ways to unite or get in agreement?

Day 4 - Community

"Jess said today as we were driving home how much community affects people. She noticed how when one of our neighbors took down their Christmas lights all of them did. Even the guy at the end of the street who still hadn't taken his down was not turning them on anymore. It is interesting how much we are governed by what the people around us do. Like speeding on the freeway because it is the flow of traffic. Or negative talk and gossip at work because that is the way people speak and it comes naturally to us. Thank God this also works in the positive because 'A companion of fools comes to ruin but he who walks with the wise will himself become wise.'"

Do you notice any habits or activities in your life that can only be explained by community? Is this workin in the positive or the negative?

Day 3 - Taking Down Christmas

"We took down Christmas tonight. It is amazing how long it takes to put it up but how quickly everything comes down. I guess it is as with most things in life. Things take time to build but can be torn down in an instant. Trust is built over a long period of time and faithfulness but one mistake can break it. Great wealth is earned over a lifetime but a stock market crash or real estate bubble can make it all fly away. It is the same with our interests in the season we are in. It takes us a long while to get into the spirit of Christmas and remember the birth of Christ but once the New Year comes we have lost the awe and wonder of the Christ child and are looking for vision and to better ourselves. Maybe what we need is to stay and linger at Christ and we will have vision and be better from His presence."

Have you noticed how quickly things crumble that it takes a long time to build? Even driving a long distance seems shorter coming home doesn't it?

*A fun side note: This was the day I had the idea for this blog.

Day 2 - Appetites

"It is amazing how our appetites are always speaking and it takes a fast to recognize it."

I wrote this thought on the second day of a fast that would last thirty days. We were ready then for the fast to be over when we had just started. Our appetites are constantly speaking to us. We don't always hear them or we ignore them while at the same time feeding them. Just like a mom whose children are asking her for soda and candy and while she talks on the phone quietly gives in to their desires opening cans and unwrapping lolypops that will eventually cause her children to be selfish and unhealthy. Today, one year later, I recognize that appetites not only speak but want to rule me. They come in many forms and have many voices. Some voices are physical, like my stomach, others are mental and come to the mind. We will either rule or be ruled. We will either submit to God or submit to the flesh. Fasting eventually silences that voice so we can hear the voice of God and obey His commands.

Day 1 - First thoughts

"I am listening for the voice of The Lord for this coming year. In my prayers I have been desiring to hear His voice and follow Him. I am also fasting this month to silence my appetites and hear Him more clearly."

We have been doing a fast in January for several years now. Every time we do the Lord speaks and reveals some of His plan or counsel. I remember one year I heard nothing for the whole month and right at the end of the fast God gave me a word of encouragement.

Looking at last year's thoughts I see how my situation hasn't changed but I have. There was a list of things that I was believing God for that today I still am in faith for. This could be a discouraging thought but since I know my God and since I am not the same man I was last year it doesn't bother me.

I can also see that there is a real difference between a want and a desire. I had some things listed that I wanted to do but didn't. There were desires that I committed to and I finished. That feels good. I would rather be strong enough to handle tough things than be weak and live a cushy, no problem, life.

When you look back on 2014 are you encouraged? Did your situation change or did you?