It seems like everyone wants to label you and me a consumer. Economists, politicians, and corporations seem to think our greatest contribution to society is our ability to consume.
The impression we’re left with is the only thing we have to offer the world is our purchasing power. In fact, there seems to be an expectation that our duty is to go out and spend $$ each weekend so our economy keeps humming along.
Last week I was blessed to take a trip of a lifetime to Israel with my wife. I had wanted to go for some time, but with scheduling (and budgeting) I couldn’t make it work.
Then last year I couldn’t shake the impression that God wanted me to go. I felt so strongly about it that we renewed my wife’s passport in preparation. I prayed about different trips with people I knew but none of them worked out. Then a friend reached out to me about joining a pastor’s trip to Israel. It was the perfect fit I had been praying for!
For the last 18 years I’ve had a goal that has eluded me. It just seemed too impossible, until last year. What was the goal? Reading a book a week.
Typically, I would read 2 books a month and on some better years 3 books a month, but the mythical book a week was always out of reach.
If you are a regular here you might remember my reading goal for the year was one book a week for 2018. In case you were wondering…I did it and with 3 days to spare!
Back in July I gave you my Top Reads so far and now it’s time to finish the list including my top 10 for 2018.
What if there was one thing you could do today that would change your entire Christmas for the better? What if this one thing could change every day next year for the better too? And not just next year but every year would be better.
I know it sounds like hype. But the moment you hear what it is you will know I’m right.
What are you looking forward to this Christmas? Christmas is a time of expectancy.
Children get this sense of expectancy better than anyone else. Every morning my kids ask me how many more days till Christmas. They can’t wait to find out what will be under the tree!
What was the last thing you did to grow? What was the last thing you did to help yourself get to the next level?
Was it a seminar you attended? Was it a special class your gym offered? Was it a book you read?
What is the thing you are most afraid of someone finding out? Maybe it’s a poor decision you made years ago. Maybe it’s a decision your child made. Maybe it’s an addiction you beat.
What if the thing you most want to forget about is the very thing that would most help others?
Have you ever felt like God just wasn’t answering your prayers? You were persistently praying, but nothing was happening. Or worse, it’s become painfully obvious the answer was “no.” The opportunity passed, the door closed, the job was filled, they married someone else.
What makes it hurt a little more is when your friend prays for the exact same thing and gets it immediately while you’ve been praying for years. You’re praying for a baby to love and your college roommate (Fertile Myrtle) just announced she is having her third (#blessed).
Have you ever found yourself asking, “How will God ever be able to fix this?” Your back is against the wall and there doesn’t seem to be a solution. You just can’t see a way forward.
“Impossible” is the word that comes to mind.
