Today you may face challenges and circumstances beyond your control.  In life there will always be problems you didn’t ask for, and trials you didn’t sign up for.  When such calamities strike, remember there are a few things you can control.

Today you can control your attitude.

Legendary coach John Wooden said, “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”  The way you respond to a situation oftentimes determines the outcome.  The world rarely sees the affliction you face, but they will always remember the attitude you displayed.  As someone anonymously …

“The worth of any journey,” said A.W. Tozer, “can always be measured by the difficulties along the way. The more difficult the journey, the more satisfying the destination.”  This sentiment rings true down in my heart.  My head even nods in agreement when I read such quotes.  However, the “journey” is more than a sentence written in a book, it is a reality recorded in the crucible of moments.  Hard-pressed, gut-wrenching, faith-tempting, storm-tossing moments.

The easiest thing to do is wax eloquent about adversity when you are not going through its waters.  But when you are hurled back and forth …

One small brick between two people rarely causes issues, but when a multitude of those bricks are gathered there is potential to build a great wall.  In many relationships that is what happens–we use our differences to build walls.  Brick by brick we become isolated and separated from one another.  Each brick may be different in its makeup- (you may have bricks of jealousy, anger, bitterness, insecurity, etc.), but the outcome is the same.  Before you know it years have passed, and one day you are staring at a cold, flat wall wondering what happened.

God does not want us …

“In the press of life, if there aren’t sufficient and appropriate escapes,” said Wayne Cordeiro, “we become susceptible to unsuitable ones.”  Here’s a word that gets little attention these days: rest.

In our over-accomplished, quick-paced society, we tend to devalue rest.  We suppose that rest is something that occurs later in the day, later in the season, later in life.  We work, play, entertain, and consistently push forward without proper down time.

Before you disregard this notion and write it off as an attempt to be lazy, allow me to remind you that God Himself rested.  (He established this precedent …

I am often asked the question, “How do you study the Bible?”  As a preacher, I approach the Word of God differently at different times.  For example, I read the Bible daily for my personal walk and development.  Then there are times I approach the text intentionally to prepare a sermon for the congregation.  Other times I read the Bible because my soul desperately needs an answer for a particular issue of life.  Sometimes I open the Bible as a pastor, other times as a father, and more times than I would like to confess, as a sinner.

No matter …