Don’t be afraid to correct others

How often on daily basis do you see someone you care about do things or say things that you know are wrong or that they shouldn’t be doing? How often do you want to encourage someone or help them and you just let it go?

I believe that too often we don’t give constructive criticism because we are scared of hurting others feelings. I know that I don’t do a good at this because I don’t want to make people mad. What I have realized though is that the times where I did correct someone or pushed them in the right direction, they always appreciated it and I always felt better about myself. 

I understand that this has a lot to do with personality. Some people are really good at this and others aren’t....but the fact of the matter is that sometimes the most difficult conversations turn out to be the most rewarding. 

There have been numerous times in my life where I have had co-workers, friends, parents, and coaches do this for me. Specially, I think about a lunch I had with one of my best friends back when I was in college. If he would have been too scared to hurt my feelings, my life could look completely different than it is today. Yeah, I remember it initially hurting when he first started talking to me, but I quickly realized the people in your life who are willing to have those extremely difficult conversations with you are the ones who typically care about you the most. 

One conversation can change the course of someone’s life. 

These, then, are the things you should teach encourage and rebuke with all authority. Don’t let anyone despise you. (Titus 2:15)

We must teach, encourage, and correct others when necessary. 

I encourage you to have that mindset this week. It doesn’t have to be a life-altering conversation. If you become aware of something in someone’s life that you care about that will improve their outlook, outcomes, or positivity, tell them! Don’t just be a spectator expecting them to make changes on their own. Obviously, there will be times where you can’t just barge in and correct someone. I would highly recommend praying about it before you do it in the first place. Pray for God’s strength and wisdom so that you have the right words to say. 

This week, let’s attack it with a mindset that we are all on the same team. Everybody loves everybody and everybody wants to see everybody succeed.  

700.

700.

This is the 700th blog pot that I have written. It honestly doesn't seem like it. It's become such a habit for me and writing has become such a great passion of mine. As I was reading my bible before I started writing this, I didn't realize that this morning was number 700.

Honestly, as of late I have questioned whether or not I want to continue to write. I love it...I really do. But oftentimes I struggle because my posts don't get as many views as they used to. 

Sometimes that gets me down. Why put in time, energy, and effort to not get the results or the views I would like? 

This morning while reading Titus it hit me.

I do this because it gets my mind focused on Christ on a daily basis. 

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. (Titus 1:15)

There are some people who see good all around them, while others see nothing but evil. What's the difference? Our souls because filters through which we perceive goodness or evil. 

Whatever you choose to fill your mind with will affect the way that you think and act. We need to turn our thoughts to God and his Word, and you will discover more and more goodness, even in this evil world.

A mind filled with good has little room for what is evil.

As I sit here and think, as much as I write these to encourage other people, this is just as much for me. I don't mean that in a self-conceded way either. I need this time on a daily basis to keep me true to who I am and that is trying to be the best man of God I can be. 

I've come to learn that by filling my mind with time in the word, journaling, and then writing, I am more conscience about the things I say, think, and do. I know I am not perfect, but I have just become more aware of what the right way of living looks like. (The God honoring way) The more disciplined that I am in my faith, the more it is easier for me to resist living in the ways of the world. 

With that being said, I encourage you to find something that really gets your mind focused on Christ on a daily basis. Whether it's praying for 5 minutes, journaling before bed, or reading your bible everyday. When you start to build those habits you will start to become more positive, happier, and healthier. 

Remember: a mind filled with good has little room for what is evil. 

Oftentimes I am asked about why I remain so calm...why am I laid back...why am I so relaxed...etc. It's simple. I've trained my mind and my heart to focus on what is good and the more that I have filled up my mind with good, the less room there has been for evil and negativity. 

Preparation is key

Have you ever shown up for something you were a part of and weren’t prepared at all? 

Have you ever been in a situation that came up where you know if you would’ve prepared better things would’ve gone smoother?

For me. I answer yes to both of those questions. I can think about one time in college, I wasn’t unprepared for a group presentation. I had completely forgot about it and I was so embarrassed. I also think about a few of the games that we lost when I played in college. There were a handful of games that we should’ve won, but sometimes we would have a poor week of practice leading up to those game. I know if we would’ve had a great week of preparation, the outcomes would’ve turned out differently. 

See - preparation is key to everything that we do. It’s pretty hard to get through life being completely unprepared for all situations that we ever face. 

Paul writes: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season. (2 Timothy 4:2)

In this context, Paul is instructing Timothy to be ready to preach at all times. Because there is going to be a time when nobody follows the sound doctrine anymore. 

I believe that message directly correlates to believers today. We have to be prepared at all times to share our faith and the work of Christ. We just can’t be ready to share our faith only on Sundays. We have to be ready every day of the week and from hear on out. 

My encouragement to you is to constantly prepare yourself. Read your bibles, pray, have quite time, etc. We can never be over prepared when it comes to our relationship with Christ. I believe that when we prepare ourselves when it come to our relationship with Christ we will start to become more prepared in all other areas of our lives as well. 

Seeking purpose

One of the things that I believe not only Christians need to attach to, but all people is seeking purpose behind everything that we do. As humans, there are many things that we do on a daily basis. I will use myself as an example. Everyday I wake up, I exercise, I have a lot of phone calls and video calls, I read, I write, I exercise some more, and I eat. 

Pretty basic things - I am not extremely unique. Pretty normal honestly. But everything that I do I attach a person behind it because I know that if I don’t have a purpose to the things I do on a daily basis, that they’re almost meaningless. 

If I workout just to say I workout, I am not going to feel healthy and active. 

If I make a lot of phone calls to fill my schedule just to be busy, I am just going to be busy. 

If I read just because I heard it’s good to read, I am not going to learn anything.

Do you get what I am trying to say here? I could do everything that I wanted to do everyday but without a purpose, I am just keeping busy. I am not growing...I am not living a healthy lifestyle, and I am not impacting others. 

By attaching a purpose to everything I do, I start to become who I want to become. 

Paul writes this in 2 Timothy chapter 3: “Always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7)

Here Paul is warning those who are wanting to become subject to the way that the world works. Yeah, it looks pretty stinking good for someone to always be learning...to always be busy...to seem super active in all areas of their lives. But again, what is a being a busy body going to get you? 

Ultimately it will lead you down an endless path where you’ll never feel completely fulfilled. 

Imagine having an understanding of the truth. The truth being that the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and love your neighbors as ourselves. Imagine making that your purpose in all that you do. 

I am active when it comes to working out because I want to honor God with good health. 

I make a lot of phone calls, I have a lot of meetings, and keep extremely busy with work because I love building relationships with people and having an impact. 

I actively read because there are things that I learn every time I open a book that I know I can use to encourage others. 

I write pretty consistently because I have a lot of things to say that I believe are encouraging to others.

I am passionate in my walk with Christ because I understand that without Christ I am nothing. 

My encouragement for you is to attach a purpose to everything that you do. Don’t just live a life where you learn a bunch of things and never understand the truth. Live a life that is impactful, and furthers the kingdom of heaven. 

Gentle instructions

There are a lot of ways out there to have a profound impact on someone’s life. I believe that one of the most important ways is through gentleness. Regardless of the type of person who are and how you are either motivated or encouraged, there is something about gentleness that triggers certain aspects of your heart. Across the board, a gentle spirt can go a long way.

Somewhere along the lines I think someone forgot about gentleness. Somewhere a misconception came to be. Violence and forcefulness is not how you have a profound impact. It just typically makes things worse. 

Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:25-26) 

Opponents must be gently instructed...when was the last time you gently instructed an opponent? Or did you lash out at them? Letting them know how wrong they were and how right you are. 

In a time full of many unknowns...my encouragement to you all is to have a gentle spirit about yourselves. There are going to be people who agree/believe the same things as you, and there will always be people who disagree with what you believe. The best way to settle these disputes is honestly a gentle and peaceful understanding of each other.

I know that nobody is perfect. Even the people I agree with and support. I also know that the people of whom I might disagree with aren’t perfect either. We are all sinners. We all have a chance to be saved through believing that Christ Jesus died for our sins. 

Let’s let our gentleness lead us all to a mutual understanding that we all need Jesus. 

We can’t neutralize God

It’s amazing how many times on a daily basis we neutralize God. It’s even more crazy because you probably don’t even realize when you do it. 

Every time we let someone intimidate us, or let the ways of this world play a crucial role, we neutralize God.

Why? 

It’s a good question that I really don’t have an answer to. My hope with this post is not to necessarily answer that question but to help make you aware.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but give us power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

The power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome our fears. 

I can’t tell you how many times I unintentionally let a part of my day intimidate me. Whether it’s a meeting I have, a phone call I have to make, or just looking at my calendar thinking about my day. Every time I do that I neutralize God. 

A good way to fix that wold be to be extremely thankful for all those things. Be thankful for the challenges  I face. Be thankful for the mess. Be thankful for people to have call. 

Thankfulness and faith in God allow us to not neutralize God but to utilize Him. 

You can’t put your hope in wealth

 When I think of wealth the first thing that comes to my mind is obviously money...

Here is how wealth is defined: an abundance of valuable possessions or money

Do you know what possessions and money have in common? They’re not eternal. We come to the earth with nothing and we can’t take anything with us. We can acquire valuable possessions while we are here but we can’t take any of it with us. 

I believe that we too often put our hope into things that won’t last forever. We live in a society where wealth is praised. If you have money you can do the things you want to with it. It doesn’t even have to relate to money to be completely honest. People who are not extremely wealthy can have things that are valuable and mean a lot to them to. Regardless of how much ‘wealth’ someone might have, it’s still something we can’t put all of our hope in.

What happens when you hope for things that are valuable? 

I know for me I am often disappointed. I remember as a kid wanting certain materialistic things for Christmas...things that all my friends would have...and sometimes I wouldn’t get them and I would always be so bummed out. (I am thankful I didn’t now that I look back)

But seriously though, it’s crazy how much we are mentally and psychologically triggered by wealth. It’s NOT everything. 

We need to start putting our hope in Christ.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17)

My encouragement for you is to live a life where not everything relies on your next paycheck...please stop relying on the things that you have or want to dictate how you feel and how you act around others. Start to put your hope in God, who will provide us with everything for our enjoyment. 

Also..really quick I want to be clear, I am not saying that nice things are bad. We should enjoy life! We just can’t rely on our possessions or our wealth to fulfill us.