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It’s easy to get bogged down with the urgent things in life, the things that are screaming for our attention. Although many of those urgent things in life are important many of them are not, they’re just immediate. If I’m not careful I will sometimes neglect the important for the urgent because I don’t take the time to distinguish between the two. Don’t get me wrong the urgent things have to be done, but not at the expense of the important. Here are some practical things that help me to make sure that the important things are getting done.

1. Know my priorities.
Sounds simple, but before I can focus on what is important I must know what’s important. What’s important to God, my family, my job, or to making progress in a particular area?

2. Block out time.
While urgent things demand my time I have to make time for what’s important. I put the important things on my calendar and make sure they get my attention.

3. Just say no.
Because something is demanding my attention doesn’t necessarily mean it requires my attention. I ask myself, “Does this really need my involvement or can I have someone else give this the needed attention it requires?”

What are some ways that you make sure the important things are getting attention?

Tonight my wife and I are opening up our home to about 25 volunteer leaders from our church. We are looking forward to hanging out with them and getting to know them as we spend time together. This morning I read a passage of scripture that talks about having dinner with God. Could you imagine? In Psalm chapter fifteen David talks about what it takes to get on the guest list and how to avoid the blacklist. Listen to how the Message Bible describes it:

“God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? Walk straight, act right, tell the truth. Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor; despise the despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. You’ll never get blacklisted if you live like this.”

These are some pretty challenging prerequisites, some are more challenging than others for me personally. Could you imagine the impact our lives would have if we lived everyday like we are going to have dinner with God?

My wife and I are joining with our church in a 21 day fast from January 10th - 31st. During this time I am chooseing to do the Daniel Fast and periodically fast entire meals for extended times of prayer and Bible reading.

“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2, 3

I am expecting God to do great things in our lives over the next three weeks. I have set my expectations extremely high. I know that during these 21 days I will be making some significant sacrifices because I highly enjoy good food. It has been said that sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love even more. If you know me you know that I “love” food, but I believe that what God wants to do over the next 21 days is greater than any meal or indulgence I would ever experience.

I encourage you to consider joining with me in fasting, even if it’s a single meal or activity. If you do, I believe God will exceed your expectations and satisfy a hunger that only He can satisfy.

I look forward to what God is going to do over the next 21 days.

Just a friendly reminder that life is busy and moves by fast, so be sure and enjoy the little things.

1. A good cup of coffee.
2. The company of friends.
3. Spending time with family.
4. A good book.
5. Going for a walk.

These are some “little things” I enjoy and that help keep me sane when things get crazy.

Something we probably already know, but rarely apply is the fact that consistency is the key. It is the key to growth, increase, progress, and desired results - both personally and corporately.

1. Consistent exercise = noticeable strength
2. Consistent study = noticeable knowledge
3. Consistent investment = noticeable dividends
4. Consistent spiritual discipline = noticeable spiritual growth

Don’t just give it a try, put it into practice. Create routines, schedules and systems in your life and organization to bring consistent wanted results.

*Please note: This works negatively also. (Consistent overeating = noticeable health issues)

Life is full of busyness and noise. I love technology, but it can also be very distracting. Here are some practical ways to turn down the noise:

1. Limit your TV to just a few hours a week or cut it all together.
2. Plan strategic times to turn your phone off or on silent.
3. Limit the time you spend on the internet, specifically social networking. Also, it is good to take breaks from social networking on a regular basis.
4. Plan times of solitude. What works best for me is getting up early when the house is quiet (more about this in a later post).

Have you ever felt that something was the plan of God for your life, only to find out that it’s not really what God wants for your life after all? Well, that happened to King David. David had a desire to build a temple for God, but God instructed that Solomon would build the temple and not David. God said “no” to the desire of David’s heart. It wasn’t that building the temple was wrong and from what we can tell it appears that David had pure motives, it simply wasn’t God’s plan for David to be the one to build the temple. I’m sure it was tough for David to lay down this dream. I don’t believe this will happen to all of us, but I think that God desires for us to put ourselves in a position of submission to His will. Our lives are not about fulfilling our desires, but about fulfilling God’s will. The good news is that God has a plan for our lives, even if it doesn’t play out the way we hoped. When the answer is “yes”, God is good. When the answer is “no”, God is still good. God’s answers, while surprising, are never wrong.

The success of your personal life is more important than the success of your professional life.

Be more concerned about who you are and who are becoming than by where you are at and where you are going.

Today we started a new series entitled “HUSH” at People’s Church. Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent”. Our words are very important. So to keep in theme with our current series I thought I would share seven sayings that remind us that sometimes the smartest thing we can say is nothing. 

1. “Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.” - Robert Frost
2. “Among my most prized possessions are words that I have never spoken.” - Orson Rega Card
3. “By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.” - Winston Churchill
4. “Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” - Ambrose Bierce
5. “If you wouldn’t write it and sign it, don’t say it.” - Earl Wilson
6. “The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?” - King Solomon
7. “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” – Will Rogers