The "Otherness" of God

I'm reading the book Facedown by Matt Redman for the third time. It is a small devotional that is small enough to hold on the exercise bike or treadmill. I began starting reading Chapter 2 this morning and stopped about two pages in to reflect upon one of the statements Redman makes. "Otherness gives us a sense that God is so pure, matchless, and unique that no one else and nothing else even comes close". Isaiah 46:9 says "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is non like me". Strong and powerful words..."there is NONE like me". As you go about today, remember that whatever mountain you face or valley you are walking through, God is much bigger. This song by Chris Tomlin also reminds me that God is in control and because of that I have nothing to fear.

Two Questions to Consider

Last week, I read a great blog post by Dan Pink titled The Power of an Hourly Beep. In the crazy times of my day, considering these questions would probably change the way I handle particular situations. The two questions comes from the book, 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done written by Peter Bregman. Question 1: Am I doing what I most need to be doing right now? Question 2: Am I being who I most want to be right now? Making time to reflect every hour seems like a lot, but I feel like it could put me back on track if I'm straying. What if I took a few minutes an hour to reflect on God's Word? How would my life be transformed? It would be great to speak the words of the psalmist who wrote, "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."--Psalms 119:15-16

Distracted

Do you ever get distracted? It is so easy in today's world to become distracted by the things of this world. When we lose focus and get distracted work doesn't get accomplished. This distraction can be from people, the television, or even the cellphone. I often find myself distracted by the things of the world, so I fail to complete the work and mission God has given me. In Matthew 14, the wind distracted Peter and he lost his focus as he was walked on the water toward Jesus. This loss of focus led to Peter panicking and he began to sink. This lesson of Peter's distraction should encourage us. If we lose focus, refocus back on Jesus and he will direct us to finish the task.

Trying Something New

I just watched Matt Cutts' Ted Talk "Try Something New for 30 Days" so I'm going to do it. I have taken TOO MUCH time off from daily exercise and pumped way too much sugar and caffeine into my system, so I've decided to start something new this morning. I got up 40 minutes early so I could get a 30 minute walk in before getting ready for work. I am also going to drink more water (at least 3 bottles) and begin weening myself from caffeine. So, the plan is 30/3/30. 30 minutes walking/3 bottles of water/30 days. This change or new beginning reminds me of a verse from Paul's 2nd Letter to the church in Corinth. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2nd Corinthians 5:17.

Stay Hungry...Stay Foolish--RIP Steve Jobs

A great speech from Steve Jobs. What can we learn from it?

Comfort Zone

I read this quote by Joanne Wilson, entrepreneur and venture capitalist the other day. "People tend to gravitate toward areas that they know. Totally get outside your comfort zone. Put yourself in a position to learn things you don't know."Wow! This is a challenging quote. How many times have I heard in the last ten years...get out of your comfort zone. Matthew 8:19-20 says: "Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” How far are we willing to go? Are we willing to get out of our comfort zone and truly follow Christ?

Writers Conference

Welcome back...or should I say I'm back. It has been a nice few months relaxing my mind. In August, I began blogging about my classroom and activities for Scholastic Inc. I'm really enjoying writing and have been praying for an opportunity to write on a more consistent basis. Last week, I applied for a Cec Murphey Scholarship to attend the Florida Christian Writers Conference. Murphey is the author of 90 minutes in Heaven and other titles. I found out yesterday that I received the scholarship and will be attending the conference in March. I've got a few ideas for some articles and possibly a book. Right now, I’m praying for direction, which I’m a little confused about at the moment. Confusion is ok, as long as I’m seeking God’s plan through prayer and His word. I am trying to be faithful and dependent on God to use His words through my writing to impact and encourage others.