Next Steps…

Next steps can mean many things to many people. Next steps are not always bad, nor are they always good. Next steps can have a challenge or can be simple.

Everyone has to take the next step…

I'm better than you...

I love moving sidewalks, on many levels (I don’t mean escalators, when I say many levels - that is a different post with many other thoughts.). I think these crazy moving sidewalks are cool, a great time saver, fun to ride, a little scary, but mostly I love them, because I beat all those people walking on the regular carpeted area of the airport. Losers!

Stopping on Main street…

What’s the main thing you stop for?

I’m not talking about traffic, but life. What causes you to pause and pay attention for a moment? What makes you change direction in life? What decides the next step for you? What’s the main thing in your life?

This sign is likely in every small town in America, but when I saw it the other day, I stopped to take a picture and had a flood of thoughts come to me.

Signs you're in trouble...

Beware of the dog…

I saw this sign while out inviting people to our church with some of our teen boys. I’m only semi-afraid of dogs. They need to be big fanged dogs for me to truly get that tingly feeling of soon-I’m-going-to-be-mauled-and-die. Mostly, I don’t even notice the signs, except for this one…

I'm positive...too...

You've probably seen this picture before...I want to be the optimist. 

Some that know me, realize that I’m a half glass full to full glass kind of guy. I most always look at the positive side of life and realize that the bad side of life is for a purpose. Life is not fair and I don’t like it sometimes, but I really believe that there is a purpose for the tough times and bad things that occur in life, even if they are my fault.

I’ve had a lot of things running around in my head lately, so here are some things that I’m positive about…

Pure joy!

Joy, Joy, Joy...

There's a Christmas song that says "Joy, Joy, Joy!" I don't remember the name of the song, and I know that it is mostly referring to Christ's birth, but as I think about it, we should be repeating these words everyday.  We are often caught in the doldrums of what we do each day and we get caught up in the "disaster" or "business" of our day, forgetting to have joy!

Failure stinks…

Don't know where this picture came from, but it was a fail! 

Who loves to fail? 

No-one does. 

It’s not fun! It often hurts and often causes great challenges from the failure. If I truly had a choice, I would never fail again and be perfect in every way, but the reality is, we fail!

People fail at marriage, at parenting, in a job, in ministry, in friendship, at sports, in their finances, during pressure, etc…

Failure isn't something we look forward to, but it’s something that’s going to happen…

Jumpy leaders…

Have you ever had someone frighten you, as you walked by a doorway or empty room. They jump out or make a big noise and you stand there in terror with your tonsils in your hands. It’s a heart-racing event that my children love to do, and it’s highly uncomfortable. It’s not the position you expect to be in, nor do you want to be in it. 

It’s way out of your comfort zone…

3 lessons from a blade of grass...

You see that bit of grass (almost directly in the center of the picture). Little blades of grass and weeds grow anywhere.

I see this all the time. Mostly, I think it’s a nuisance, or about how in the world did grass grow in the middle of a street, parking lot or patio - it’s amazing that they get there.

Today is different - a friend of mine saw a blade of grass like this one and he said “Never give up!”

Let the scars come…

Really, I hate to get a cut. I’m a big wuss and have to show everyone in my family, that there is a gallon of blood flowing out of me, every second. Even a paper cut hurts, in fact, they may be worse that a broken leg - so glad I do everything electronically now - hard to get cut by my Mac keyboard. 

Well, there is a point to this one - sorry about the rabbit trail…Scars are very valuable…look at this old violin - it’s pretty beat up, but is still worth $325.

3 more lessons from Lego…

Lego is more than just a store experience, like I wrote about here. It’s a lifestyle impactor. 

I know that sounds a bit odd, but look at some things that I have learned from these little blocks…

Puddles and splashes...

The folks in this picture likely didn’t expect to have such a deep puddle to deal with, but they made it through, and it was cool for me to watch them roll within the deep waters.

Made me think about several things from this picture…

Leading by intimidation...

I once had a boss that couldn't lead. 

He would try, but he just wasn’t cut out for it.

No one respected him.

He would try harder, but he would fail worse.

He decided to lead by intimidation…

5 Things these old sunglasses taught me…

My oldest son was working with his Granddaddy, cleaning up yard debris and they found these old school sunglasses. They're not the fanciest of styles, and they're likely not really old, but they reminded me of some things that are important…

Happy Anniversary…to me...

Today is one year since I started blogging…

I’m amazed that I’ve kept this up, and amazed at how much I’ve enjoyed writing, and posted many different thoughts.

I’m also thankful to you that have read and commented over the year and the encouragement that many of you have given to me.

I’m now at a crossroads...you know, the point at which you decide which direction is the right direction and what’s the best use of your time, energy and influence. 

Should I keep blogging?

Should I say toodaloo?

What is the direction to go?

Am I actually helping people?

Is my blog influencing others?

Do I focus on another form of expression or help?

Does quitting make me a failure?

Is blogging a lifelong commitment?

What’s cool about this, is that we all have choices in life and we all come to crossroads.

Maybe about a job?

Maybe about ministry?

Maybe about a friend?

Who knows what crossroad you are dealing with right now, but I know we all come to them.

My simple thoughts are all to do with the concept of failure.

Make your choice. If it’s wrong, learn from it and make another choice. If that one’s wrong, make a new choice. Just keep doing something...doing nothing is a failure that can never help anyone else...

Thoughtful Thursday...#10re

"Instead of focusing on the things that cause you to complain, focus on the people that you can help!"

I came up with this thought this week, afer I heard a lot  of complaining from several different people, and I was reminded how people are hurting around us and need help. 

Don't complain - just help...

Tourist Tuesday...#9

Enjoy and have excellence...

Improve... 

Mondays…

M - Make it a great day! Don’t go in with a bad attitude - choose to make the day great.

O - Overachiever! Go beyond what your boss expects. Cause excellence in your office.

N - Never give up! Even if the day is tough, keep going. You can make it through a hard Monday.

D - Desire! Have the desire to do something different. Set an attainable goal to meet today.

A - Altitude! If your attitude is good, you may just increase your altitude. People notice good attitudes.

Y - Yell! If the day goes poorly, just get in your car and yell on the way home - not at your coworkers.

Lessons Learned: You can choose to make Mondays great.

Thoughts: What ways are you making Mondays great?

#failalot

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Failure Friday...

Why do I have this picture? Why did I take this picture?

Time to understand that the week is done and any failures that occurred are no longer an issue.

I know that you may be dealing with consequences of a failure, but the failure is over.

Pick up the pieces and move forward...

Seek forgiveness for the wrong done...

Work harder to make the failure a life improvement...

Take the failure and help others learn...

Look at the important lessons that you need to learn today, from the failure...

Fail again...

Fail better...

I'm tired...

Have you ever just felt tired and thought you needed a break?

Have you ever felt that the day wouldn't end?

Have you ever felt like hitting the snooze button...for the 11th time?

Have you ever felt that you couldn't keep going at the pace you are?

Have you ever given up on what you were doing?

Well, today is hump day - the middle of the week - the time when you know you can make it to the weekend. Don't give up now - keep going and keep giving your best. 

You will make it! 

Really, you will make it!

Think of all those that are counting on you...

Your family...

Your Boss...

Your schoolmates...

Your coworkers...

Your friends...

Your church family...

Lessons Learned: If you give up, you may impact someone the wrong way.

Thoughts: Have you ever felt this way?