The definition of Evaluate is to determine the significance, worth, or condition of usually by careful appraisal and study.
I felt God challenging me to evaluate my life. He said to ask yourself these questions.
Am I improving as a husband?
Am I improving as a father?
Am I improving as a believer?
Am I improving as a servant?
You need to always evaluate where you were and where you are, to determine where you will be. Look at your life one year ago and ask yourself based on today these questions, do you see any change? If not then what are some things you can do to make a difference in these areas.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God has plans for you and wants you to prosper.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
40 Week Renewal of Our Life Week 10
Week 10 December 13th
Spiritual— This week listen to 2 sermons during the week.
Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing the word of God.
Physical— Nehemiah 8:10 The joy of the Lord is your strength
• Diet- Continue to watch food and limit sugars this week. Limit caffeine intake this week
• Body-Continue the work out plan and try to get in 2 extra cardio workouts on top of the 6 days of p90x
Family- Titus 1:8 Be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
• Parenting- Continue family devotional time with kids. Continue their memory verses daily. Start preparing the kids to come up with 2010 goals. Have them write them down by the end of this year.
• Marriage- Date Night with Stacey on Wednesday
Financial- Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Ministry- 2 Corinthians 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Spiritual— This week listen to 2 sermons during the week.
Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing the word of God.
Physical— Nehemiah 8:10 The joy of the Lord is your strength
• Diet- Continue to watch food and limit sugars this week. Limit caffeine intake this week
• Body-Continue the work out plan and try to get in 2 extra cardio workouts on top of the 6 days of p90x
Family- Titus 1:8 Be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
• Parenting- Continue family devotional time with kids. Continue their memory verses daily. Start preparing the kids to come up with 2010 goals. Have them write them down by the end of this year.
• Marriage- Date Night with Stacey on Wednesday
Financial- Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Ministry- 2 Corinthians 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A Father's Struggle
(I got my son’s approval prior to sharing this)
I was recently reminded of a struggle I went through in the past as a father. My daughter was born first and then 2 years later I had a son. My daughter was one who always wanted to wear dresses, play barbies, and with dolls. She had no boy at all in her. She was a girly girl. My son came a long and completely looked up to her. Everything she did was awesome. He would play with her, wear dresses with her around the house, and do anything she did. My son would ask for barbies and dolls for Christmas rather than GI Joes or footballs. I struggled with that as a father. We would go places and people would always make comments about how pretty his Barbie was he was playing with. We would deal with all the sarcastic comments towards him, everyone telling him that he needed to be playing with action figures and not dolls. (He asked me also if I do write this, to ask those who make fun of him to stop; he still gets teased about this). It was and has been very hard on him as well. He even got that a lot from me and my wife. We thought it was a phase he would grow out of. We discouraged it and got nowhere.
As he grew older I had a sit down talk with him that it was time to get rid of all the dolls and barbies. I asked him to pray to God about if he should play with those toys or not. God told him to ask me to pray about it. So I did, I got alone with God and prayed. God clearly told me to accept him for who he is and not to make any more comments and to stand up for him even if he was playing with dolls. So I did just that, I stopped making the comments, stopped giving him the looks and accepted him for who he is.
Quickly after we accepted him playing with the dolls and barbies, he began to lack interest in them. He began to start liking to play with other toys and not the dolls. My relationship with him grew even stronger and stronger.
Sometimes we try to fit our kids in a box that society wants to have them in. Today I want to encourage those parents to accept your children for who they are. Affirm them with words, encourage them, tell them how you unconditionally love them and then show them with your actions, words and behaviors how you love them. Trust me you will gain a ton of ground in your continued relationship with them just like my son and I have.
I was recently reminded of a struggle I went through in the past as a father. My daughter was born first and then 2 years later I had a son. My daughter was one who always wanted to wear dresses, play barbies, and with dolls. She had no boy at all in her. She was a girly girl. My son came a long and completely looked up to her. Everything she did was awesome. He would play with her, wear dresses with her around the house, and do anything she did. My son would ask for barbies and dolls for Christmas rather than GI Joes or footballs. I struggled with that as a father. We would go places and people would always make comments about how pretty his Barbie was he was playing with. We would deal with all the sarcastic comments towards him, everyone telling him that he needed to be playing with action figures and not dolls. (He asked me also if I do write this, to ask those who make fun of him to stop; he still gets teased about this). It was and has been very hard on him as well. He even got that a lot from me and my wife. We thought it was a phase he would grow out of. We discouraged it and got nowhere.
As he grew older I had a sit down talk with him that it was time to get rid of all the dolls and barbies. I asked him to pray to God about if he should play with those toys or not. God told him to ask me to pray about it. So I did, I got alone with God and prayed. God clearly told me to accept him for who he is and not to make any more comments and to stand up for him even if he was playing with dolls. So I did just that, I stopped making the comments, stopped giving him the looks and accepted him for who he is.
Quickly after we accepted him playing with the dolls and barbies, he began to lack interest in them. He began to start liking to play with other toys and not the dolls. My relationship with him grew even stronger and stronger.
Sometimes we try to fit our kids in a box that society wants to have them in. Today I want to encourage those parents to accept your children for who they are. Affirm them with words, encourage them, tell them how you unconditionally love them and then show them with your actions, words and behaviors how you love them. Trust me you will gain a ton of ground in your continued relationship with them just like my son and I have.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Be Confident in Yourself
I was in the hallway of my kid’s school the other day and remembered myself in elementary school. Then I thought about growing up and then even being in high school where I started attempted drugs and drink alcohol and smoke. I wondered why I would ever do something like that? Why did I not have a relationship with God? Why did I do those things?
I came to a realization that I did those things because of my lack of confidence in myself. My lack of feeling like I fit in. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well”.
In going in to lunch with my son, I started to affirm him with words to build him up so he grows up confident in whom he is. I started saying that I was proud that he was my son; he is a wonderful kid, a great brother and just really encourage him and make sure that he hears those things so he does not struggle with confidence as he grows up like I did and start doing things I am not proud of.
Today be confident in who you are and if you have children, make sure to affirm them with words and start building them up so when they grow older they are confident in who they are.
I came to a realization that I did those things because of my lack of confidence in myself. My lack of feeling like I fit in. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well”.
In going in to lunch with my son, I started to affirm him with words to build him up so he grows up confident in whom he is. I started saying that I was proud that he was my son; he is a wonderful kid, a great brother and just really encourage him and make sure that he hears those things so he does not struggle with confidence as he grows up like I did and start doing things I am not proud of.
Today be confident in who you are and if you have children, make sure to affirm them with words and start building them up so when they grow older they are confident in who they are.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Week 9 Renewal of our Life
Week 9 December 6th
Spiritual— Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Physical— Philippians 4:8 Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.
• Diet- Continue to watch food and limit sugars this week.
• Body-Seriously after taking 2 weeks off the work out it is time to get back on it and stay on it, starting Monday.
Family— Titus 2:7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
• Parenting- Continue family devotional time with kids. Continue their memory verses daily. Spend some one on one time with Madylaine this week. Have lunch with Madylaine this week.
• Marriage- Date Night with Stacey on Wednesday
Financial- John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Ministry- Continue to be knowledgeable in all areas of you ministry/business.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
Spiritual— Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Physical— Philippians 4:8 Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.
• Diet- Continue to watch food and limit sugars this week.
• Body-Seriously after taking 2 weeks off the work out it is time to get back on it and stay on it, starting Monday.
Family— Titus 2:7-8 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
• Parenting- Continue family devotional time with kids. Continue their memory verses daily. Spend some one on one time with Madylaine this week. Have lunch with Madylaine this week.
• Marriage- Date Night with Stacey on Wednesday
Financial- John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Ministry- Continue to be knowledgeable in all areas of you ministry/business.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
Welcome Team VIP this Past Sunday
This is the story I shared with our Welcome Team this past Sunday at Turning Point Church.
So I have an issue with my tires on the Suburban and need to get them checked out, so I went to a place where I have been before to get my oil changed. I walked in and the guy sitting behind the computer did not even acknowledge me until after standing there for a few minutes. Then it was a “how can I help you” with no smile on his face or anything. I asked him a few questions and after a few small sarcastic answers I decided to leave and go to another place my friend had told me about. I did not have much time to get this done in.
I drove to the other place where there were a few other people ahead of me, but immediately the manager acknowledged me and said it would be just a minute. Once it was my turn I asked him the same questions and without belittling me or making me feel ignorant, he said let go check it out.
He immediately came out to help me, adjusted all the air in my tires, reset my electronic register of the tire pressure and did not charge me a penny. Now in a small town like McDonough, who do you think I am going to refer people to get new tires?? You guessed it the second place. Discount Tires in front of Wal mart off 20/81
Let’s remember that today when greeting people, directing them to their parking spots, checking in their kids, greeting/ushering them into the sanctuary. We want people to leave this place feeling like they want to recommend our church because of its welcome team to all their friends and family.
So I have an issue with my tires on the Suburban and need to get them checked out, so I went to a place where I have been before to get my oil changed. I walked in and the guy sitting behind the computer did not even acknowledge me until after standing there for a few minutes. Then it was a “how can I help you” with no smile on his face or anything. I asked him a few questions and after a few small sarcastic answers I decided to leave and go to another place my friend had told me about. I did not have much time to get this done in.
I drove to the other place where there were a few other people ahead of me, but immediately the manager acknowledged me and said it would be just a minute. Once it was my turn I asked him the same questions and without belittling me or making me feel ignorant, he said let go check it out.
He immediately came out to help me, adjusted all the air in my tires, reset my electronic register of the tire pressure and did not charge me a penny. Now in a small town like McDonough, who do you think I am going to refer people to get new tires?? You guessed it the second place. Discount Tires in front of Wal mart off 20/81
Let’s remember that today when greeting people, directing them to their parking spots, checking in their kids, greeting/ushering them into the sanctuary. We want people to leave this place feeling like they want to recommend our church because of its welcome team to all their friends and family.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Slow Down
In my time with God I felt Him telling me to "Slow Down," to listen, see and feel what He is doing in your life. I was feeling that too many times I try to rush through things without giving the proper attention to all the details. It is in the details where you can feel, hear and see God moving. If we rush through things we might not feel God working, and then we get too dependent on our skills and abilities to push God out...that is a whole nutha blog.
This can work in every area of you life. In a blink of an eye my oldest daughter is 11, my middle son is 9 and my youngest is 3...WOW. Time flies, right? How many times have you said that in your life?
So today I wanted to share with you not to get too rushed by the daily activities in life that can keep you from feeling, seeing and hearing God moving in your life.
Press On, Press In and Press UP!
This can work in every area of you life. In a blink of an eye my oldest daughter is 11, my middle son is 9 and my youngest is 3...WOW. Time flies, right? How many times have you said that in your life?
So today I wanted to share with you not to get too rushed by the daily activities in life that can keep you from feeling, seeing and hearing God moving in your life.
Press On, Press In and Press UP!
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