Incremental Progress

I was 18 years old .... I was in many ways at a crossroad in my life. At 18 is when I started to see things, in a different light. I was becoming more mature, took people's emotions into account.

Five years later... I can safely say, I have grown. However, there is still a lot to learn. Yet, the progress was incremental.

Many of us need to change want to change. Yet, we allow fear and laziness to lurk. We see progress when we put work into it.

A lot of times, it maybe incremental and that is okay! Usually, progress is not meant to be conquered in one day. For example, a basketball players... they practice multiple hours, days, and even years. The progress is incremental, but it comes full circle its quite the sight.


Keep going....

Maxed Out

Is it possible, to have reached your fullest potential in one particular place? That it might be time to move on?


Often times, especially with college students I see discontent. They are not happy with what they are doing, they see no purpose. Perhaps, this the the common dilemma most college student encounter.

To be honest, I can relate I feel a purpose, yet I feel, that I'm ready to go. To leave what I know best, the comforts of familiarity and luxury. Is it weird to think, I can learn more elsewhere?

These are questions I ask and many others. Wanting a change of daily reality.

Rather, the question I ask ..... is have I maxed out? One season leads to the next.

My impatience has hit critical mass. However, the time will come.....

Just wishing it would happen sooner.

Just a thought.....

Just Pray

The other night my dad received a call from his sister who lives in Monterrey, Mexico. From the look on his face, he looked concerned. After the conversation I asked what happened? He told me, that one of my aunt's clients in front of her laundry mat was robbed at gun point. It was a member of the drug cartels in Mexico.

Recently, the border of Mexico has seen a spurt of killings from the cartel. This problem is not old, however, the cartel have gotten more sophisticated over time. It's not just the poor people, who are easy to exploit who are being targeted, but people of middle class status, not to mention wealthy people. This new turn of events has caused a stir within the entire nation of Mexico. People are canceling vacation plans to visit family. The resorts are seeing fewer people coming to vacation on the beaches. The Mexican government thus far, as shown that they are not capable of preventing this unrest and fear the drug cartel have instilled in all of Mexico and the border towns of the U.S.

The other day in the San Antonio Express News there was a story about a missionary who was shot driving back from Mexico. The Cartel wanted the nice looking truck.But her husband started to speed up, but the cartel started shooting and a bullet went through the head of his wife. Senseless, right? A couple pouring their lives into a region that is in great need.

I can't help, but think about what if that was my aunt. My family, my blood and that's a cold reality to this. I stood there trying to formulate thoughts on what next? My aunt could have been that woman, my aunt witnessed the whole thing.

What can I do? I want to do something, but what? Later that night, I began to pray for the nation of Mexico.

So that's, what I will do.... pray. Pray for the cartel, the government, the people of Mexico. This comes to my main point. Who are you praying for? There are a lot of needs around the globe. The reality is we can't be there to help with all of them.

But God can, He is our hope. The light of this very dark world. This lesson may seem cliche, but when tragedy strikes, who else do we turn too?

Pray..... It's the beginning of something powerful and special.

God Willing

I was once told... " You want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans." God is not in the business of comfort. He never intended us, to have life free of strife.

So, when we as Christians say... God willing I will....? There are some power to those words. Many times, its habitual for us to say God willing. We can choose to follow that will or not.

But the gravity of saying God willing is a heavy one. A lot of times we say it, without flinching. God's will will be done, no matter what. However, its on us to decide how we respond. To the will of God and trust Him no matter the circumstances. Easier said then done.

Bottom line. God's will for our lives is something that can be very evident to us, or completely mysterious.

Regardless, God never fails and neither does His will.

I pray we accept God's will for our lives.

Immersion

Immersion- submergence: sinking until covered completely with water.

Immersion...... How many of us immerse ourselves in our job, family, or friends etc? Yet, we neglect to immerse ourselves in things, that are very unfamiliar to us. I believe immersion is a great outlet to really understand what we are trying to do. Immersion takes a level of commitment and passion in what you are immersing yourself into.

Covered completely... how many of us have taken ourselves out of our comfort zone? And really engaged in immersing ourselves into something unfamiliar to us.

I see people really immerse themselves in many things. But the question I always struggle with is, for what? What will it lead to once your covered completely? Do you just stop?

The bottom line: do we immerse ourselves for the sake of doing something, or do we have a purpose behind our immersion????

Just a thought.

Sometimes

Sometimes. life, situations, or events push us to the edge. It requires that we dig deep and do what is needed.

At times, life requires us to push hard.

Sometimes.....

We have times when we must handle adversity in a whole different way. Some may learn, others may drown in pity. But I believe through any struggle there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I like to read Matthew 4 and I'm always reminded that Jesus was tempted as well. He never fell into temptation, but he was tempted by Satan himself. That Jesus wept, he was betrayed by Judas and even Peter. He was doubted by Thomas after his resurrection.

I love Philippians 2, especially verse 5-8. These verses express the humility involved when Jesus came in human likeness. It's humbling to think the Savior of the universe had adversity come his way, for our sake. He endured the cross for us!

So sometimes, we must push hard. Life is not an easy thing. But their is light, Jesus sealed this truth with his death on the cross. Life is brutal and can take a toll on us. But we do have something to look forward too...

When that sometimes comes..... Think Jesus knows what you are going through and will even walk by your side through the storm.

Humbling....

The Cycle Of Life

Recently, our family had a family friend lose her battle to cancer.

Death is inevitable.

Its the cycle of life.

With the new year just starting. I see a lot of people "committing" themselves to new year's resolutions. Every year people strive to use the new year as a marker for change. When in reality they can choose to change before that. That they do not need a new year to usher in new ideas on how they can better their lives.

I believe we all want to live a life that is full of purpose. But in order to have true purpose, change is imperative. Year after year people start new things for the new year. But never really follow through.

We all will die one day. You do not need to wait for the new year to change. Start now!

The cycle of life waits for no one.

Just a thought.