It's Been A While...

...but I am making a commitment to pick back up the blogging for My Everyday Faith. There are so many great and inspiring things to talk about and no better place to do it than on the blog. So, let's do some catching up and talk about our everyday lives and our Everyday Faith!

Ministry for Men

Jerry Hancock was a local radio personality for years here in Charlotte. Take a look at what he has been up to since "retiring".

It is really great when someone makes it okay for men to talk their religious beliefs.

Passing along a Good Word

I had the honor of working at Duke Power (now Duke Energy) in the early part of my career. I call it an honor because I not only learned a great deal from the experience but I also met a number of really wonderful people. People that give of themselves everyday to "keep the lights on" in our homes and businesses. One of those people was Sharon Decker. We were never particularly close but I have always been proud to say that I know her and worked with her at Duke.

As time has passed, careers, families, childern take us all to various places and that was the case with me. I left Duke for a career in market research. God has truly blessed us and while work for Duke was a blessing, moving on has been an equally abundant blessing. But I have always tried to keep up with my former colleagues from my "power company" days.

Earlier today, a fromer colleague sent over a link about a book Sharon has written. Of course, I will have to read it. Not just because Sharon wrote it but because since her departure from Duke, she too has grown in her faith and has even launched her own ministry. Part of her ministry includes a group of women who produce a media product called The Satisfied Life. In this media product (sorry, I can't think of a better way to describe it), Sharon, Pam Stone (from the TV series Coach), and Ramona Halloway (local radio personality) discuss living a satisfited life. One section of their website is a blog. Today, I read a posting that I felt spoke to me. It isn't overtly religous but it just seemed like something I needed to hear.

I've pasted a link to the blog so you can enjoy it and perhaps, contemplate the blessings we have in our own works. Thanks Sharon!

Living in Faith

Not long ago, I wrote about being faithful. What I was discussing was the idea of holding onto your faith and keeping it active in your daily life. Today, I am thinking more about living in faith, which I think is a little bit different. To me, living in faith also takes some effort and we all approach it a little differently.

Personally, I have what I consider a strong faith. What I mean by that is that no matter what happens in my life and what circumstances I am dealing with, I always believe that at the end of the day God is in control and will bring me out in a place where he wants me to be. I live in faith. Yes, I have to navigate life, just like everyone else. And there are times when things don't go my way but I firmly believe that when it is my time to go be with The Lord, I will have arrived at the spot God intended for me, when He intended for me to be there. I don't feel as if I have to be in control every step of the way. As a matter of fact, it is really liberating to not feel like you have to make all of the right decisions. You really only have to make one right decision and that is to have faith in The Lord.

Isn't that nice, I have this all figured out in one paragraph on a blog post. Of course, it isn't that simple but the foundation of that philosophy is exactly that simple. Yes, there are times when I take too much control. Yes, I have made bad decisions by not following God. But I have no doubt that God has a plan for me (faith). I know that God is lining up everything I need (faith). And I know that I will make mistakes and wander off the path from time to time but that I can always turn to my personal GPS (God Pointing System) and get back on track.

Yes, there are times when I find myself in a place or circumstance that is all wrong for me but I don't fret about it and certainly don't blame anyone, especially God for those mistakes. I simply take a deep breath and give it to God and let him reposition me on the right path. I go on living in faith.

At least that is how I think of living in faith. How do you live in faith?

Being Faithful

How do you stay faithful? I'm not talking about staying in faith, which to me is believing and recognizing all of the goodness God gives. No, what I am talking about is giving thanks every morning, thinking about all of the great things God has done, saying my prayers at night, basically exercising your faith throughout the day. Being faithful and really experiencing your faith takes work. I am here to tell you, it is hard for me.

It's not that I don't ever pray or give thanks. I do. What I struggle with is doing the best in my prayers and thankfulness. You see, I often feel that I haven't gone into my prayers prepared. I find a moment here and there, I even put a reminder in my online calendar to remind me to do my morning and evening prayers. But as those reminders pop up, I am no more prepared to pray than when I just pray somewhere on the fly. I know that praying is individual. I also know that my prayers still go to God, even when they are quick and fleeting. What I want to do better and what I believe will give me a greater and stronger relationship with God is learning and executing thoughtful, more heartfelt, and meaningful prayers.

Again, I realize that my insecurities with prayer are mine and mine alone. But I do think that working on my faith skills and continually learning new faith skills, I will keep growing in the love that is what God has in store for all of us. That is my goal and one of the many things I want to achieve in my walk with God.

Having What No One Else Has!

Okay, I'm not sure that is the best way to say it but the message is you have something that can never belong to anyone else. Actually, you have several things that will only ever be yours. What I mean is that God made you the way you are for a reason and no one will ever be like you or have everything you have and that is totally okay and absolutely great.

I admire the singing voice of George Strait, the tall frame of my good friend Kieran, the calm demeanor of my friend Emanuel, and the wit of comedian Craig Ferguson but I cannot remotely envy them. The reason is it isn't in my DNA, literally! You see, I have something that none of them have, the unique gifts, talents, intellect, looks, etc. that God wanted me to have. Other people bring me joy, my friends mean a more to me than many of them know, my wife and family help complete the person I am and the person I will become. But in the end, I am special, I am one-of-a-kind, I am unique in ways that will never be replicated and I have God to thank.

So, what does that mean for you? Exactly the same thing. Sitting around thinking what if you were taller, better looking, smarter, more popular will get you no where. No, you have to realize you are who you are because God knew what you needed and who you needed to be. If He had intended for you to have certain gifts, talents, or skills, believe me, you'd have them. You are perfect the way you are and once you realize that, it is like unlocking something deep down inside, a feeling of purpose and excitement about what you can do.

What a great feeling to know you have something that no one in the world has. Something that the most wealthy and powerful people in the world can never own. Something so special only one was ever made. God is truly great and we are all so very blessed for these wonderful gifts he has given us.

Being the Gift God Intended

Often times, we receive God's gifts. That is certainly what we think of most when we talk about God's gifts. But aren't there times we are God's gift? So today, when I saw this story, it made me think that this is a time when we are the gift. No one will ever know why the tragedy of the Haiti earthquake had to happen. However, amidst the horror, there are gifts from God. People found alive 7, 8, 10, and now 12 days after the quake. Now, we are the gift as we our faith families prepare to send aid and support to the area.

Yes, we think so often about the gifts we receive but this is a reminder that at times, we are the gift.