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...

Thank someone…

This is a reoccurring theme, but we get help and encouragement from lots of people throughout our lives, but we often for get to thank them for their influence on our lives.

They have taken time to sacrifice for us and we either didn’t realize it, or we simply forgot about what they have done for us.

People like…

The second grade teacher that told you that you drew a good picture…

The Youth Pastor who put his arm around you and told you you'd make it…

The friend who reminded you not to make that bad decision…

The coworker that helped you with a project that you wouldn't have finished…

The Pastor that taught you the important teaching from God’s Word…

The Aunt that encouraged you after a loved on died…

The Coach that helped you improve your swing, and grinned at you when you did well…

The Spouse who hugged you when you were discouraged…

The Sunday school teacher that gave the encouraging Sunday school lesson…

The Youth worker that made you laugh when you were hurt…

The list goes on, but have you taken time to thank people?

The thanking takes only a minute, but that minute will change someone else's life.

Lessons Learned: Many people have helped me become who I am today.

Thoughts: Who are you going to contact and thank today?

#failalot

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Labor day…

Some will have to labor today and work extra hard - I hope you are getting overtime pay and that you stay positive in what you have to do.

Others will spend he day alone, because of circumstances beyond your control - I hope you have a day that has some rest and peace in it.

Lots of you will have time with family and friends and will have a blast - I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to be with loved ones and cherish the special time today.

Whatever your lot today, be thankful for what you have.

What are you doing today?

Make it a great day!!!

Dress shirts and God’s provision…

Sometimes, I only look at God’s provision one way.

I look at the check in the mail, the money given directly to someone, or the bags of groceries someone brings by.

I have to be reminded, once in awhile, that the Lord provides in many ways…

Talk about thankful…

The sticker says "WAG MORE - BARK LESS"

I’m constantly overwhelmed at God’s goodness to me and the way He provides.

He is beyond good to me and my family.

I catch myself complaining and miss the blessings once in awhile…

When I start to complain or focus on my problems, I have to do a few things to get out of the rut…

1. Focus on others

This seems to be a challenge for everyone. Think about the person that just found out…

They have cancer…

They lost their job…

Their house when into foreclosure…

They lost a loved one…

They have a child that’s hurting…

How do you focus on “others” when you’re in the midst of a trial?

It has to be preplanned. You have to choose, in advance, to have others on your mind, before you get into your trial. You have to know that others are the priority and know that you want to help others.

It has to be a habit. You have to be encouraging others well before your trial occurs, so that when that big trial hits, you are already making a difference with others. This will cause others to be on your mind, even though you are having a very tough time yourself.

2. Focus on the good

Realize that there is good, in your life, and know that the bad is only one part. Even if the bad, is really bad, there are still good things going on. I can’t speak to your specific spot right now, but I know that the trials that hit me always have some good involved, and even when I can’t seem to see the good, I focus on things outside of the trial.

When I got downsized, I focused on the wonderful wife and children I have.

When we miscarried out first child, we both had to focus on how we could help others.

When I’ve had financial problems, I had to look at my daily needs and how they were provided.

3. Focus on the Lord

This is the highest priority. We all get down and we all have problems. We all hurt and we all forget to be grateful. When we’re down, discouraged, defeated (enough “D’s”) or we have a trial beyond our ability (all trials are beyond our ability), then we need to focus on the Lord. He is there to help, encourage, motivate, provide and direct us.

We tend to…

Seek our own solutions first.

Develop our own plans first.

Seek others for direction first.

We should just seek the Lord and His help and watch Him handle the need, he hurt, the frustration or whatever our issue is. He really does love us and He really does want to help us.

We have things to be thankful for here, here, here and here...

Lessons Learned: We need to change our focus, when we have a challenge.

Thoughts: What challenges have you seen turned around because of the Lord?

#failalot

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Winner’s Circle…

What a great name for a street, well circle!

I’ve seen streets named poorly before.

This one just gives you a bubbly feeling, when you say it. 

You’re street is better than the next guys. 

His street is 4th Ave, or Jones Court, or Palmer Lane - all of those are Loser’s Circle compared to where you live - Winner’s Circle!

You can walk around and hold up the loser sign at your forehead, as you pass by everyone else’s street - how awesome is that?

What a cool name to have on your business card…

God bless the USA!

Aren’t you amazed at where we get to live?

What an amazing Country!

What freedom we have.

We are blessed beyond measure.

Do a few things today…

Swift Saturday #2…

Saturday’s are busy, but I want you to think about this thought today…

I tweeted this out last week and I hope it impacts you today…

“Gratefulness destroys selfishness!” 

Really it does - get your mind off of you and thank someone today!

I have this reoccurring theme of being thankful on my blog here, here and here.

I have realized that life is not about me, and a lot of others have put time, energy, effort, money, prayer and words into my life.

I can’t miss thanking them, not just once, but over, and over, and over again.

Lessons Learned: Being thankful to others impacts you more than you realize.

Thoughts: Who needs to be thanked, by you, today?

#failalot

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I have a disease…

It’s a disease that a lot of people have.

It’s quite contagious.

It doesn’t just impact me, it impacts others around me negatively.

I’ve had it for quite some times and it’s very hard to treat.

It’s a disease of the eye…

Simple Saturday…

Today will be short and sweet - well, maybe not sweet, but short anyway.

I want to remind you of one simple thing…

Take time today to thank one person for how they impacted your life.

Better yet, make it three people.

Don’t just say a simple “Thanks.” 

Take a moment to write something down and send it to them, in the mail, or via email or social networks.

Make sure it has a specific point to it, so that you impact them. 

It needs to say how you were changed by them or what you do differently because of them.

Change someone's life today, because of a simple thanks.

Other posts about thanks...I mean it...Supportive...Small Coffee...

Lessons Learned: Gratefulness changes lives.

Thoughts: Who are you grateful for?

#failalot

BTW - look to the top right of my blog - follow me on Twitter. 

Also, share my blog for me, to spread the word.

I tweet on several topics daily, beyond my blog.

Thanks for reading and impacting me!

Impacts…

Today I will be writing in sevens.

“Impacts” always has seven letters in it. 

Now you may say “Duh” to that.

I think seven is a cool number. 

Seven doesn’t have seven letters in it.

Lets look at impacts as an acronym.

Impacts can be broken down into ideas…

Thank-a-post…

I’m still amazed that you come to my blog.

More than that, I’m grateful that you do.

I truly hope that what I share everyday, is a blessing, an encouragement, a motivation, or maybe a conviction to you.

I take a risk to put my thoughts out for all to view and I’m appreciative for the support that you have given me.

Some of my posts have likely been boring.

Some have likely drawn a yawn.

Some have you disinterested in the first line.

But…

Supportive Sunday…

I had to alliterate. I couldn't put…

Thankful Sunday

Appreciative Sunday 

Grateful Sunday

Obliged Sunday 

Indebted Sunday

They all work, but alliterating is so much cooler, and you know how cool I am. I’m the ultimate in cool. I’m the ice in your Mountain Dew. I’m the A5 chip in your MacBook Pro. I’m the batteries in your flashlight (wait, who uses a flashlight anymore - we have Apps?. I’m the “chool” in school. You get the picture - alliterating is cool and it obviously comes naturally to me...wow, did I go on about me...that’s not too supportive for this Sunday.

Look here for other thankful posts.

My goal today is not to fail in this important task…

What are you doing?

I love this license plate - DNTLQQK - Don't look...

What are you doing on my blog today?


I appreciate you coming here, but today, I want to ask you to do something different. 


I want you to...


Go spend time with your children.


Go spend time with your spouse.


Go spend time with a friend.


Go spend time with a person in need.


Go spend time with an elderly person.


Go spend time with another loved one that needs you.


Go spend time at your church helping with a task.


Let's make this Sunday a little different. If you cant do these in person, then...


Text,


Skype,


Email,


Call...


Again, I really appreciate you coming here to read, and if you can't do one of the above, or if you already did, then you can look at one of my posts from this past week, if you like...


Titanic... Do you think better of yourself than you should?

Quotes... Some great quotes that can help you.

Relevance...  Are you relevant? How?

Auto-renew... What are you renewing?

Centurion... My amazing dramatic skills...LOL.


Hope you have a great Sunday!

Stats of thanks…

I’m a stat guy - I like numbers and details and statistics have always fascinated me. They may or may not be important, but I see numbers everywhere. I’m not a psycho, like in the movies, but I think that numbers influence and, in my case they help me.

Here are some numbers I am thankful for today…

Pick from the past Saturday...

All of the posts below, were written when I first started blogging, and have only been viewed a few times. 


I think they may help you...


Pick one or two and enjoy...


Waiting and the patience curve...


Inbound the ball...


Failing big in Texas... (My very first post!)


Admit your mistakes...


Demand and supply...bad economics...


Have a great Saturday!


Which one was best? Or worst? Or was this a crazy idea?


Thanks for reading!

5 Smooth Stones…

We all have giants we face. 

What giants are you facing today? 

What’s holding you back from your dream, goal, plans or God’s direction for your life? 

What’s in your way right now?

David grabbed five smooth stones to use on Goliath and his brothers. 


What stones do you need to use to take down your giant?

Dad’s love…

I was watching the Winter X games snowboarding competition near the end of January and saw some crazy tricks and some very quick speeds. It’s quite amazing what can be done with a little board and some snow.

Be thankful - you've got a minute...

Are you grateful? Take the next one minute and list some things you are thankful for...Go!

First of all, I’m amazed that God would love me the way He has and does! Why would I possibly deserve His love and grace in my life. That the Creator of the universe would send His Son to die for me and that He put me in a home that allowed me to hear the Gospel is truly amazing. The other part of that amazing, is that God not only saves us, but wants to be a regular part of our lives. He actually cares about my every need and wants me to share those needs with Him. That’s truly AMAZING!!!

Thanks for failing with me...

It's quite enjoyable, for me, to write down thoughts in each of my blogs, and I sit in amazement that anyone would be interested in any of the thoughts that God gives me, as I write. I do know that it's important to take failure in stride and learn lessons each time you make that next mistake. It's encouraging to see that people are reading and following this blog and, my hope is, that the stories that I share are the same encouragement to each of you. 

Failing is cool - I didn’t say that by accident. It’s a privilege that we all (everyone of us) get regularly and we can either do it and grow from it, or we can bask in it and wallow in it without moving forward in life. I’m choosing to move forward and grow and change, so that I don’t repeat it, or if I do repeat, I do it better the second time. I’m not done failing and I will become the best failure I can be (rereading that last line, sure makes me sound like an idiot, but it’s true). I can only improve from my weaknesses, flaws and fails.

I hope you fail a lot in 2012 and that each failure hurts (if it doesn’t hurt, then you really don’t care about what you’re doing). If it doesn’t cause you pain as you fail, then you might want to try something different that you really like to do, and you truly respect. 2012 will either be the year that you take what you learn and move into something better, or you keep rolling down the same path you did before. It’s up to you.

Lessons Learned: Failing will make you better each time you do it, if you let it. You have something big in store this year, if you don’t give up.

Thoughts: How bad do you hurt when you fail?