How to Ensure That You’re Never Stretched or Challenged

Want to live an easy life that involves sitting behind a desk or at home and doing absolutely nothing that makes any kind of real difference in the grand scheme of life or eternity?

Here’s the secret…

Do nothing and be around people that do nothing.

It’s really that easy. If you don’t want to be stretched, don’t ever try anything new…

• You can have ideas, but never act on those ideas to try to make them a reality.
• Have dreams, but never share them with anyone else that might push you to shoot for them.
• Be around people that are just like you, not people that challenge your thinking.

Now, I know that you or I never one would really take this seriously,
we’d never admit that we didn’t want to do anything significant,
but I sure live like it some time.

I have great ideas, but I’m too lazy to follow them to completion.
Sometimes, I dream dreams, but I’m scared of the consequences of going for them.
I like people that are like me and that only build me up.

But that’s not what I’m called to do.
That’s not being a good follower of Christ.
That’s not being a good steward of ability.
That’s not being a good leader of self or other people.

Don’t be afraid of stepping out and trying what’s new.
Don’t fear what ‘might’ happen, anticipate what COULD happen.

Don’t be afraid to make an impact.
Don’t be afraid of being stretched.

What keeps you from stepping out? Fear? Comfortablity? What is it?

[For more about getting out of your comfort zone, read my post here.]

Paint Your Canvas

When an artist stands in front of a blank canvas for the first time, the possibilities are endless. The artist can paint absolutely anything they want inside the parameters of the canvas and the paint that sits in front of them. They determine what goes on to the canvas, the mood of the painting, and what others will see when they look at the finished art.

Each day, you and I sit in front of an empty canvas that is our life. As we go through our day, it’s painted with the places we go, the people we interact with, the way we effect those people, the way we react to circumstances, and the purposes we achieve for that day.

My challenge to us today…

Paint your canvas.

Dont let someone else come in and steal it from you.
Don’t let tough times rob the joy from it.
Don’t let the enemy convince you that your canvas is void of potential because of its painter.

Paint your canvas.

Your life is a canvas too. At the end of it, something will appear.
What will it be? What will people see as they look at it? What will they remember as they see your canvas in full?

Paint your canvas.
Let God determine the picture.

Is your canvas not what you want it to be?

You’re in luck…

Today brings a completely blank one…
Your life’s canvas can be changed for good. No matter what you’ve been painting, it’s not too late to get a new canvas.

Use today’s canvas for what you talked about doing yesterday.
Use today’s canvas to do what you’ve been wanting to do for months.
Use today’s canvas to make that right but tough decision.
Use today’s canvas to help someone you know needs it.
Use today’s canvas to encourage the person beside you.

Paint your canvas.

What are you wanting to paint today?

[Free Stuff - Click the image above to view it full size and save it to your iphone or mobile device. Set it as your homepage wallpaper. The text falls directly below the last row of apps and above the dock. (of course, RT's appreciated #PaintYourCanvas)]

Chores Are Opportunities

I don’t know about you, but there are some things that I have to do on occasion that I just don’t wanna do. Sometimes it’s something that I agreed to do beforehand and sometimes it’s just something that I notice needs to be done and am convicted to do.

It’s not that I want to do it or that I’m necessarily good at,
it’s just one of those chores that I have to do.

As I was muddling through another one of these chores the other day, it hit me…

Some chores are hidden opportunities.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the show on the Food Network called “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”, but the basic idea is that they find the best little hole in the wall restaurants and spotlight them on the show. It’s those places that look kinda bad on the outside but offer great food on the inside.

I think sometimes our chores are like those diners and dives.

The seems so nasty and unappealing thinking about them and doing them time and time again, but they can sometimes be hidden gems.

If we’re faithful with them, sometimes they lead to a blessing.
If we give them our best, sometimes they provide a bigger end.
It we make them a priority, they can really make a difference.

I don’t know what ‘chores’ you have to do today or any other day,
but don’t just suffer through them.

See them as opportunities.

Colossians 3:23 Whatever your work is, do it gladly. Do it as you would do it unto the Lord and not for people.

What chores do you have that may be opportunities?