Every morning while I'm driving to work I like to listen to music or christian talk radio on 590 am. One of my favorite radio ministries is "Insight for Living" with Chuck Swindoll. Chuck pastors Stonebriar Community Church in Texas and the broadcasts are excerpts from his Sunday sermons. Today he was talking about the twelve disciples and how their lives were forever changed when they agreed to be a part of Jesus' ministry. It got me to thinking about the word yes. That word has the ability to transform lives, but it's also one of the most feared words in the human language.
Most of us lead a pretty average life and for the most part we're satisfied with that. We don't do anything that will take us out of our comfort zone. And if we're asked to do anything deemed extraordinary, we cringe and make up 101 excuses why we can't do it. But, the truth is we were all designed to do great things. When God created us he designed each of us with a unique purpose. Unfortunately, the fear of saying yes, keeps us from discovering what that unique purpose is.
So, here's my question - why are we so afraid to say yes? Well, saying yes requires two things: change and faith. Both of these things means stepping out of your comfort zone. When you're used to a certain routine you can count on things being the same each time. There's no surprises involved. But, when you change that routine...watch out. Now you have to expect the unexpected. There are no assurances that things are going to turn out the way you want them to. You just have to proceed and hope for the best - now, that's the faith part.
There are two types of individuals that have the most difficult time saying yes. They are the Analyzers and Controllers. Analyzers have difficulty because they want to weigh every possible outcome before they commit. They spend time and energy considering what could happen or what won't happen. Simply put, they think too much. Controllers have difficulty because...well, they're not in control of the outcome. Saying yes can start a domino effect in their life and dominoes are hard to control once they start falling. But, if you're not willing to change your routine or step out on faith, how will you ever know what else you're capable of achieving?
When the twelve disciples said yes they left everything that they knew including their jobs and families. They didn't know what was in store for them. They definitely had no idea that the man they were following was the son of God and would teach them things that eventually would touch and change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Their purpose was connected to them saying yes. I believe that our purpose is also connected to us saying yes.
So, when an opportunity is presented to you (one that is legal, sane, and unharmful), to come outside of your comfort zone, don't be so quick to count yourself out or expect the worse. A great journey may lie ahead of you, but the first step towards it is saying yes.
Be blessed
TAE
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Dirty Laundry
Isn't it amazing how there's millions of us walking on this earth, but when we go through a difficult time we feel like we're all alone. With so many people sharing this planet how could we possibly believe that no one understands our situation or has gone through what we're experiencing. I think the reason why we feel this way is because not enough people share their testimony.
Simply put, a testimony is an account of something you have experienced. That something can be a tangible item or a situation. We may read a testimony online when we're considering purchasing a product, or listen to testimonials on t.v. about a product someone has used and claims its changed their lives forever.
One of the most liberating things that I love to do is share my experiences with others. Giving someone hope is the greatest gift when they're facing a life challenge. The challenge doesn't necessarily have to be huge, it could be something as small as picking out a baby name or a new school for your child to attend. The point is we all have a testimony and we shouldn't be afraid to share it with others if it means that it's going to be beneficial to someone's life.
Now I know some people are extremely private and don't like to "air their dirty laundry". I totally understand. There are some things that have happened in my life that I wouldn't lunge at the mic to share. But honestly, if I believed that my "dirty laundry" could help someone else, then I would dump out my hamper and let them see and smell my stain covered, musty smelling clothes. It wouldn't be easy to do, but at that moment it wouldn't be about me. It's about them. It's about showing someone else that they're not alone during their difficult time. During my teen years whenever I was going through something, it seemed like no one was coming to my rescue or lending an empathetic ear. However, when I became an adult I found that more individuals were willing to share their stories with me. And it helped tremendously. I was able to stop singing that blues classic "Nobody Knows".
I'm no better than you because I'm willing to share my mistakes, misfortunes, or pain. Any one of us can do it if we want to. So, the next time when you go through a difficult life challenge and come out of it victoriously, be proud that you've overcome it, but never forget that victory can be much sweeter when it's shared with others.
Be blessed
TAE
Simply put, a testimony is an account of something you have experienced. That something can be a tangible item or a situation. We may read a testimony online when we're considering purchasing a product, or listen to testimonials on t.v. about a product someone has used and claims its changed their lives forever.
One of the most liberating things that I love to do is share my experiences with others. Giving someone hope is the greatest gift when they're facing a life challenge. The challenge doesn't necessarily have to be huge, it could be something as small as picking out a baby name or a new school for your child to attend. The point is we all have a testimony and we shouldn't be afraid to share it with others if it means that it's going to be beneficial to someone's life.
Now I know some people are extremely private and don't like to "air their dirty laundry". I totally understand. There are some things that have happened in my life that I wouldn't lunge at the mic to share. But honestly, if I believed that my "dirty laundry" could help someone else, then I would dump out my hamper and let them see and smell my stain covered, musty smelling clothes. It wouldn't be easy to do, but at that moment it wouldn't be about me. It's about them. It's about showing someone else that they're not alone during their difficult time. During my teen years whenever I was going through something, it seemed like no one was coming to my rescue or lending an empathetic ear. However, when I became an adult I found that more individuals were willing to share their stories with me. And it helped tremendously. I was able to stop singing that blues classic "Nobody Knows".
I'm no better than you because I'm willing to share my mistakes, misfortunes, or pain. Any one of us can do it if we want to. So, the next time when you go through a difficult life challenge and come out of it victoriously, be proud that you've overcome it, but never forget that victory can be much sweeter when it's shared with others.
Be blessed
TAE
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