Choose this day whom you will serve…

January 1st really is just a day, like any other day. But there’s something beautiful about a fresh start. Whether it’s the start of a new year, a new month, a new job, a day… or even a moment. The opportunity to start fresh is so appealing. But when we’re looking at our lives… how do we determine where to start? We start with what we value.

I want to tell you guys the story of Robert Smalls. And underdog that highlights that our God is God of all, even God of the underdog.

Robert Smalls was born to a house slave in Beaufort, North Carolina in 1839. At the beginning of the US civil war, he was assigned to work on a confederate supply ship. Robert paid careful attention to how the ship was operated and when he had it figured out, he and the rest of the slave crew took over the ship in the middle of the night and

There’s a battle waging for our minds and for the minds of the coming generation.  It’s a battle of truth vs. lies.  But the good news is that there is a way to choose and believe truth.

“Why don’t the stickers stay on her?”

The maker spoke softly.  “Because she has decided that what I think of her is more important than what they think.  The stickers only stick if you let them. – You Are Special, Max Lucado

Galatians 5 talks about the fruits of the spirit.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control.  Today, we’re talking about how to have self control.

We live in a time where we have SO much available to us.  There are endless things to occupy our time and our attention.  Also, endless things to distract us from the things in life that are better.  The things that are CALLED to.

First, we’ll define ‘what is self control.’  We’ll talk about the importance of self control, and how to have self control and grow in it.

You want to know how to escape the rat race.  This means you already know what the rat race is.  But let’s just make it really clear.  The ‘rat race’ is a race that no matter how fast or hard you run… you don’t get anywhere.  EXHAUSTING.

Here’s what I’ve learned: Apparently the life of rats can echo the life of people… but the rats are smarter.

This is a guest post from Shanda Fulbright.  Shanda was generous with her time and went live in my Facebook group to discuss this topic- Chasing Perfect.

We were on our way to church and my son wasn’t happy. He looked down at his resin
sculpture, a dog he created with a mold he made, and sighed in disgust.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him. He worked on this piece all day. He was so proud when it first
came out of the mold. He sanded it, cleaned and polished it. He even touched up the edges
and smoothed out the imperfections.

I want to help you to say ‘adios’ to the days that you feel like you’ve accomplished nothing. I hate that feeling, and I know that I can’t be alone in that.  When we learn how to be more productive in life, our joy increases, our health increases, and the amount that we can engage with our family and friends in a healthy manner increases.  So let’s talk productivity tips.

This is a letter to you.  A message to a mother, from a mother.

Who better to write a message to a mother, then someone who’s right there in the trenches with you?  I know what it is to love so much, and at the same time not want any human beings around me.

I know what it is to get angry and feel crushing guilt.