Are you living a life on mission? One of my favorite scenes in the Blues Brothers is when Jake and Elwood start getting the band back to together. When asked why, the answer is simple: "We're on a mission from God." What if more Christ-followers felt like they were on a mission from God? We tend to equate a "life on mission" with being a missionary -- more specifically, a person who uproots themselves and travels to a foreign land. In reality, every believer is a missionary. Every Christ-follower has a mission: to make Christ known. Wherever we go, we take Jesus with us. That means if you are an accountant, you are also a missionary to those in the cubicles around you. Be the best accountant you can be in order to bring honor and glory to God. Earn as…
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When John , who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor" (Matthew 11:2-5). John the Baptist is asking Jesus an important question: is Jesus the promised Messiah? Rather than respond by pointing to fulfilled prophecies, Jesus tells John to look around. There are people who once were blind who now can see. There are people paralyzed since birth who now can walk. Don't forgot the lepers and the deaf and the dead. Miracle after miracle points to Jesus being the Messiah. But we might…
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Gordon MacDonald once wrote about VDP's or Very Draining People. These are the people who drain our energy rather than refueling us. Into every life at least one VDP must wander. But we can choose to limit our exposure or interaction with them. We can also choose to surround ourselves with more positive people. I love to be around believers and dreamers. These are the people who provide a mental pick-me-up when I need it. Which are you?
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Staying motivated is easy when you love what you're doing. How do you stay motivated when you have to slog through the tedious parts of the day? Well, it depends on your perspective. In other words, how are you choosing to "see" what you're doing? Seeing something as tedious only makes it more tedious. As Victor Frankl wrote years ago, life and circumstances can take away every freedom but one: the freedom to choose your attitude.
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"Come, O come, Emmanuel ..." One of the earliest books (outside of the Bible) to influence my spiritual development was Max Lucado's "God Came Near." For me, it was God in technicolor. It captured beautifully the meaning of "Emmanuel" -- God with us. When Jesus arrived in Bethlehem, God was in the manger. He was not a pillar of fire; he was a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. His presence filled the barn. When Jesus interacted with the outcasts of society, God was with them. When Jesus gave sight to the blind, God was there. In our moments of uncertainty or loneliness or grief, we call out to a Savior who is Emmanuel still -- God with us. One word with so much significance. One word with so much hope.
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