Why Not Today?

Have you ever wondered why people often say something along the lines of, “I’ll do it one day, but not today” concerning important issues that need addressing? There are many reasons an individual may make that statement; it may be because of fear, lack of motivation, improper priorities, financial concerns, or a myriad of other possibilities. My purpose is not to address all of the possible reasons why you may put off until tomorrow what you should do today, my purpose is to inspire you to go ahead and do it today regardless of what reasons or excuses you have.

For most people, putting something off until tomorrow is just another way of saying “I am not going to do this.” There are some things in life that are inconsequential such as “should I purchase a new bedspread or should I keep the one I have?” You can probably put off that decision for a long time without facing any severe consequences. There are; however, other decisions that will forever affect our lives and the lives of those around us.

Are you being led to begin a new business? Are you being led to write a book? Are you being led to write a movie script? Are you being led to offer an apology? Are you being led to forgive someone? Are you being led to encourage someone? Are you being led to invent something? Are you being led to spend more time alone with God? Are you being led to participate on a mission trip? Are you being led to give a special offering to support a great ministry? Are you being led to spend more time with your spouse? Are you being led to spend more time with your children? Are you being led to write a letter to God?

These types of decisions are life altering – for you and those around you. Some may seem small compared to others, but each one can indeed impact us for years to come, if not for eternity. Why not do it today? As Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Step out of your comfort zone and do it today.

Wayne Gretzky, the incredible hockey player, said, “You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Get up! Stop procrastinating! Stop allowing fear to control you! Don’t worry about the things you can’t control, and don’t worry about the things you don’t have a clear direction on. But when it comes to something you know you should do, do it today!

Everyday Should Be Valentine’s Day

Once a year we celebrate Valentine’s Day. It is a day set aside to remember those we love with special tokens of our affection. Many people have been discouraged to see the complete commercialization of the day where even children are expected to send cards and gifts, often candy of some kind, to their friends and classmates. In office settings there is often a concern over who should receive a Valentine’s gift or if anyone should at all.

Here is a question to consider. Why can’t we let everyday be Valentine’s Day? I don’t mean a day where we have to send everyone we know a special gift out of a sense of obligation. I am speaking of using each day as an opportunity to demonstrate our affection and appreciation for those we love.

Start today! Let each day be your personal Valentine’s Day. Take the time to express your love to your spouse, your children, your parents, your siblings, your close friends, and if you are not married but have a special person in your life include them as well. You don’t have purchase a premade card, if you made a card yourself it would probably be appreciated more. You don’t even have to spend a lot of money. For most people it is not the amount you spend on the gift that is as important as the fact that you cared enough to think of them and express your love. Remember, the most valuable things in life cannot be purchased with money.

While you’re at it, why not spend time expressing your love to God as well. God loves you far more than you could ever imagine, and you should use each day you are given as an opportunity to let Him know how much you love Him. As you make the homemade cards for those you love, actually make a card or write a letter to God expressing to Him how much you love Him as well.

Don’t wait until Valentine’s Day, and don’t stop after Valentine’s Day. Let everyday be the day you share your love with those who mean the most to you.

Today Is Your Day!

You have been given an incredible gift today. This gift is something that you and only you can take responsibility for. The gift you received today is broken down into 86,400 separate units. What you have been given is worth far more than silver or gold. There is no amount of money that can compare to its worth. What will you do with your gift?

Many people will attempt to persuade you to use your gift the way they think you should use it. You must be strong; however, and use what you have been given in the manner you believe is best. The Giver of the gift will help guide you concerning how you should use it if you will simply listen to Him.

Refuse to be like so many who simply throw away their gift, or use it for something that is so frivolous they don’t even remember what it was used for when the day is gone. What is this incredible gift you have been given? It is the gift of today. 86,400 separate seconds make up today and you are responsible for choosing what you will do with each of them.

Use some of your day with your Creator, worshiping Him and listening to Him. Spend some of your time with family; do not fail to pour yourself into your spouse and children. With the other time you have today, spend some of it dreaming. Spend some of it setting goals. Spend some time taking action steps toward your goals. Spend some time helping someone else reach their goals. Do something for someone today who does not have the ability to do anything in return for you.

If you are going to experience the wonderful day you desire and accomplish something meaningful with the 86,400 seconds you have been given, you will have to eliminate insignificant items from your day. Make the choice to eliminate things that will add no real value to you or others and focus on those things that will make a difference. Today is your day, it is a gift from God and because of that it is called the present. Accept this gift, this present, and live every second of it to the fullest.

Encourage Others To Be The Best They Can Be

One of the great joys of life is being able to encourage and assist others in accomplishing their dreams. It has been a wonderful privilege of mine to walk alongside a good friend as he has accomplished one of his dreams. When Letters to God opens in theaters April 9, people all across the nation will be able to receive an incredible blessing as they watch the dream of Patrick Doughtie become a reality.

Following the death of his son Tyler, Patrick has lived with a passion to fulfill his dream of honoring his son and his God, while also bringing a clearer focus on the need for providing more funding for childhood cancer research and cures. He took screen writing classes, attended film festivals, and worked to hone his craft as a writer and prepare himself to be a director.

If you have any doubts about how successful he has been, just go see Letters to God on April 9, and I'm certain you'll be convinced. What a joy it is to see a friend accomplish something so fabulous.

Two questions:

1. What dreams do you have that you need to get busy fulfilling?

2. Who is in your life that you need to encourage and assist to fulfill their dreams?

Get up and get going. Fulfill your dreams and help others fulfill theirs. You will discover that both of these feats will radically change your life.

And when you go see Letters to God, remember, it all began as a dream!

Letters to God - A Story of Hope

If you haven't heard about Letters to God, you soon will. It is an incredible movie that is being released in theaters April 9, 2010. The movie was inspired by a little boy that I knew and loved dearly. His father, Patrick Doughtie, is a very good friend of mine and he wrote the screenplay and co-directed the movie that was directed and produced by David Nixon. Patrick even blessed me by allowing me to help him and serve as associate producer.

I want you to know that the message of this movie is very real. There really was a little boy named Tyler and his life of faith, hope, and love was really used of God to touch the lives of many people. As amazing as it sounds, Tyler is touching even more lives now from heaven.

If you need to be encouraged, you need to go see Letters to God. If you need your spirits lifted you need to go see Letters to God. If you need to develop more faith, you need to go see Letters to God. If you are looking for true hope, you need to go see Letters to God. If you need to be reminded what true love is, you need to go see Letters to God.

If you have anyone in your life that is special to you, you need to make sure they go see Letters to God. Rent out an entire screen and take all your friends. Get your church to rent out several screens or even an entire theater. Get your community organization to go see Letters to God together. God will revolutionize your life through this movie.

The Simple Things

I am sitting on the couch with my lovely wife. We are having a fabulous discussion about our children even as we watch three of them and a friend play football in the snow. We don't get a lot of snow here but when we get even a small amount the kids sure make the most of it.

Last night we had a great time as well. Sarah and I played a card game with several of our children while the rest of the kids played hide-n-seek out in the snow. We have experienced a lot of laughter the past twenty-four hours.

With six children there is always a lot going on around our house, but I have discovered it is the simple things in life that bring the most joy. Engaging your spouse in conversation, watching your kids play outside, and playing games with your kids are just three examples.

Begin enjoying the simple things in your life. Slow down a little bit and enjoy the journey we call life.

It's Mirror Time

This is the perfect time to take the time to evaluate where you are in life and begin to make any needed adjustments. This is mirror time. Look in the mirror and see where you are physically. Look in the mirror and see where you are spiritually. Look in the mirror and see where you are with your family. Look in the mirror and see where you are vocationally.
The first thing we need to do is to resist the temptation to refuse to look into the mirror. Sometimes we pretend that if we don’t see it, it isn’t real. Be mature enough to look into the mirror in every aspect of your life. As you begin looking into the mirror resist the additional temptation to simply notice a need for adjustment and then remain satisfied with the status quo. One thing is for certain, if you continue doing what you have been doing you will continue getting the same results you have been getting.
Small adjustments in life can bring gigantic positive results. Spending a little more time each day exercising can have phenomenal positive benefits on your body. Spending a little more time in prayer and Bible study with God each day will greatly change your life. Spending an extra few uninterrupted minutes with your spouse and children each day can dramatically strengthen your family. Spending a few more minutes each day seeking God concerning your vocational call and focusing on how to better fulfill that call can prove extremely beneficial both today and for the future.
What adjustments do you sense God is leading you to make in the different areas of your life. Write a few down. God, I believe You want me to make the following adjustments in my life:
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Look in the mirror and begin to experience the exciting life God has planned for you!