One morning recently I decided to walk by the pond in the back of our property (above picture). There, I observed a gray bird with skinny legs seemingly walking on water.

I was intrigued! Continue reading →

I was downtown recently when I heard the rumble of a train approaching. So I quickly got my android out and captured a sequence of photos. If you look carefully at the above picture and between the palm tree and the small metal station you’ll see the locomotive approaching. It was coming at a pretty good clip, too. Continue reading →

 
Ahhhh…RELIEF!

This morning was stressful. Have you had times like that? Times when whatever you had going on kept circling in your head riding heavy on your heart?

In a few moments you may feel like my source of stress was really nothing at all, but I just couldn’t help it. Continue reading →

Here in America there are a lot of people going for all the marbles.

Last night the Clemson Tigers won the NCAA College Football Championship by defeating and dethroning number 1 ranked Alabama. It was a thrilla’!

A few nights ago actors competed for their much coveted Golden Gloves Award. Then something happened, the actress receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award used her speech to get political. That made no sense whatsoever. She got an award she would only receive once in her life and she wasted her one and only speech on something inconsequential and not related to the joy of the award. Crazy! Continue reading →

Welcome 2017! How exciting. And to think that 17 years ago we were about to begin a new millennium, wow. How time flies.

A new year always raises the bar for all of us. As we evaluate where we are emotionally and physically we place new demands on ourselves. We whisper, “I’m done with what’s not working for me” and set a fresh new list of expectations and goals we want to reach in the days to come. We call these ‘resolutions.’

New Year resolutions are usually pretty tough to keep, though, they are generally broken between January 1st and January 7th… sad!

The usual top 5 New Year resolutions are: lose weight, exercise regularly, save more, spend less, and spend more time with the family. Had I made those I would already be in trouble.

In the first 3 days of this new year I’ve had a whopper meal, a ChickfilA meal (with large fries), a few doughnuts,  Starbucks coffees, wings with loaded fries (that means fries covered with cheese and bacon bits), and others. You may be reading this thinking, ‘Dude, you need to make a resolution to eat better.’ I hear you loud and clear! In my defense, though, I did have fish one night… ok so it was fried fish, but fish should count for something.

Regrettably, I’ve also lost my grip on the other usual top 4 resolutions. Since January 1st the only exercise I’ve done is mow my lawn. I haven’t saved anything yet but I’ve spent a bunch, and I’ve watched football and movies on tv more than I’ve had meaningful communications with those I love.

Now…before you judge me, love me! There might be some of you reading this that had to flush your resolutions down the ol’ toilette on your very first day of the year…shame on you!

Fortunately for me none of those usual top 5 resolutions made my New Year’s list. Actually, I don’t even have a list. I haven’t made one for years! I know me. I know how weak I can be.

So, I want to share with you 1 and only 1 simple New Year’s resolution you should make to yourself that will change your life. I use the following Bible verses as the foundation for it,

But he [God] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2Corinthians 12:9 (NIV, parenthesis mine)

And,

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

My goal for this year (and hopefully the rest of my life) is to depend on God to help me in everything I do.

Human effort can only take us so far. Potential is limitless only when it’s when backed up by God’s promises and power! (Tweet that)

So, whatever you attempt to do this year from dieting to feeling better about yourself to setting some serious business goals, remember to include God in all of it. Let Him be a part of what you do.

Talk to the Lord about your ideas, needs, and ventures and then leave the results up to Him, that way the pressure’s on Him to perform and not on you. Yes, do your best but trust God at the same time.

I’ve heard it said, ‘Work as if it all depends on you. Pray as if it all depends on God.’

That’s it, that’s my simple plan for 2017 and I’m sticking to it. I trust you do the same. Please feel free to leave me a comment.