A few years ago I heard a quote at a leadership conference that changed me. It was something like this…

“If you were to die or retire and someone came into your organization to take over as the head leader, what would be the first things they would change?”

Wow. What a question! I’ve been part of a lot of organizations that roasted the key leader. Everyone had their opinion about what the guy or girl at the top did wrong. And if they would just do a few things differently, we’d be much better off!

In that conference I realized that the person who would be roasted at OneLife if I didn’t continually ask this question would be – *gulp* – me!

So routinely we look at where we are and ask a similar question. Currently, I’ve posed this question to our staff guys and key leaders:

“If we could start all over again, what would we do differently?”

And guess what. Whatever the answers to that question may be, that’s exactly what we’re going to do! Because if we find ourselves talking more about how great it USED to be back in the past rather than how great it WILL be going forward, we have lost our vision and will soon perish (Proverbs 29:18).

Then it hit me. The same is true in everyday life. If I died and my wife got a better husband, what would he be like? If my daughter got a better dad, what would change? If my employees had a better boss, how would he treat them? If our church got a better pastor, what would he do differently? If someone could come in and be a more devout Christ follower, what would they give to Jesus?

That thought process is a game changer, because reality about Jesus is this: HE is our chance to start all over! It’s not about what we do or how hard we try to be better or do more. So give it up to him. And ask HIM, if I could start all over, what would be different? Then don’t just sit there. Go do it. Go start all over.

Today’s Key Verses: Revelation 1:1 1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John. The word revelation is one that can mean one thing outside of a conversation about God and something completely different to some when talking about God and the Bible. What it literally means in this verse is that Jesus Christ revealed something to John through the use of an angel. And he did it so that we his servants would know what will take place as we inch closer to the day that Christ returns to earth. So what s the big deal about this verse? We can take away a big reminder from the subtleties that lay beneath the surface. Most especially is the reminder about Jesus Christ being the ultimate authority. It is He who gives John this vision. It is He who reveals, or lifts the curtain on the future, for John to see and therefore share with us what is to come. It is Christ who did this so that we would know what to expect as time ticks by. Not only does this remind us that Christ is the ultimate authority, but also that he cares deeply for you and for me. So much that he wanted us to have written down throughout the centuries exactly what will come to pass when the world as we know it ends and we are taken to heaven for eternity. It is not something to be feared, but to be thankful for. It is not something to dread, but to look forward to and lean on the authority of Christ who is in ultimately in control. Today s Prayer: Thinking about the end of the world can be scary and sound like something that just can t be true! Ask God to help you understand that He is in control, even when it may seem like something to fear or something you can t understand. Thank Jesus for caring enough about you that he would reveal these things and remind us that He is ultimately in control. Be in prayer, also, for this coming Sunday at OneLife. It’s going to be an awesome day. Don’t miss it!

Today’s Key Verse:

John 10:18

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Sometimes I forget that Jesus didn’t have to do what he did. He did it willingly. He did it for me.

I think this is easy to forget simply because we take salvation and a relationship with God for granted. The only analogy that probably does it any justice is that of a parent to a child.

Does the parent have to give their children the best of everything that they can provide? Of course not! All a parent must do is keep their child alive. Provide food and shelter – that’s it. But what parent wouldn’t want to do more? Instead, most parents strive for the best clothes, food, house, education, and recreation that their money can buy. Many parents will even sacrifice their own wants and needs to provide for their children.

What Jesus did for us is similar, but yet more. He didn’t have to die for you and me. He chose to! How amazing, is that?! When I stop and think about that, I realize even more how incredible it is that Jesus chose to have a relationship with me. He chose to give up perfection in heaven to enter this world of work, pain, and death. And in doing so, he chose me. He chose you.

Today’s Prayer:

Thank Jesus today for choosing to give up his life for yours. Thank him for being willing to leave his home in heaven to give us the chance to live with him there for eternity. Ask Him to help you remember that your salvation is a gift to be treasured and to continually be thankful for.

Today’s Key Verses:

1 Timothy 6:12

12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

The snow is setting in and, like most other East Tennesseans, we made our trip to the grocery store last night to get stocked up on all that we would need in case we are stuck in the house for a couple of days. When Harrison got it all put away and showed me the loot, I was most excited that she got instant pancakes. I love making pancakes but when I have to make them from scratch they never seem to turn out just right. So for these, Ill just have to add water and be done with it!

Thats how we like most things  just add water. Take the easy way out, cut a few corners, and youll get there eventually.

In todays verse, Paul is writing to the young preacher Timothy and tells him that some things just dont come easy. Specifically, salvation that results in eternal life is something that will require a good fight. Eternal life will have to be held on to tightly and be what life is all about.

That means when relationships fall apart, we fight for keeping Christ at the center. It means standing firm in the face of those who criticize and dont understand. It means aligning your life so that nothing can distract from your relationship with Christ.

It would be much easier if following Christ was like adding water to an instant mix. But Paul teaches us here that it must be fought for. And just as a heavyweight trains for a fight by working out, eating right, training, and practicing, we must also be in constant preparation to fight this good fight of the faith. Prayer, reading scripture, worship, and fellowship with other believers are among the many things we can do to prepare for this fight.

Take some time today to prepare yourself for the good fight of faith.

Todays Prayer:
Ask God to help you be ready when you must fight for your faith. Ask Him to help you get prepared by daily focusing of Him and doing what is necessary to take hold of the eternal life that he has so freely given. Commit to Christ that you will stay strong in your faith even when it doesnt seem that easy.

Enjoy the snow!

Today’s Key Verses:

Hebrews 11:1

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

If there was ever a word that was misunderstood, it would be faith. But as Christians it is extremely important that we understand exactly what it means.

In this verse, we are given a pretty clear definition. It is the launching pad to an entire chapter that is devoted to the topic of faith and men and women who displayed it in their lives.

In each example that is given throughout Hebrews 11, people gave their lives to something they couldn’t see. Their relationship with God drove every aspect of their existence. In some of the instances, their faith made absolutely no sense to anyone else. But in the end, it made perfect sense to all involved.

Billy Graham has often given the analogy of wind when talking about faith. Just as you cannot see the wind, you cannot see what it is you put your faith in as a Christian. But yet how do you know the wind is there? You can feel it, see the effects of it, and hear it as it blows around buildings and trees. The same is true of our God. We put our complete trust (aka faith) in Him because – while we cannot see him – we can see the effects of him.

As you look at your life, it is important to see if there are areas where you may not be seeing the effects of God in your life. Then it is important to ask the tough question of “Do I allow God to move in that area?” Just like you would know the wind isn’t blowing if you didn’t feel it on your skin or see it blowing tree branches, you will know God is not a part of your life if you do not see the results of his relationship with you.

Take some time today to examine how much faith you truly are putting into that which cannot be seen.

Today’s Prayer: Thank God for his presence in your life even though there are times that he may seem to be invisible. Ask Him to help you identify the areas of your life that need to be opened up so that he can move. Ask him to show you the effects of his presence in your life.

Hurry to the grocery store before the blizzard sets in!