How many times do we miss opportunities in life?  Perhaps the better questions is, "How many times do we fail to see the opportunities in life?"  I remember a friend I use to work with who was dismissed from the organization.  Obviously an unexpected event.  Art had always been a passion in this individuals life, however it wasn't until a door was shut in her life that God opened up another door which launched them into a whole new dimension of living their passion and dream.  She is a tremendous artist whom I have had the privilege of studying under.  Some people believe that everything that happens in life is orchestrated by God.  I do not happen to be a proponent of this philosophy, however I do believe that everything that happens is an opportunity for greater things to happen.  You see when it comes to art, God is a master at taking the things in life that are meant to destroy us and turn them into something good.  How does he do it?  Well one thing is for sure he doesn't do it independently of us.  It takes us being willing to accept what is, and move forward with the attitude that if God is for us who can be against us.  I am convinced today that what appears as a failure is simply an opportunity to succeed.  Someone once said that problems are stepping stones to greater opportunities.  I, like you, have had my share of disappointments, but this one thing I know, I am not looking back.  I am pressing forward toward the tremendous opportunities that await me.  I am going through the door with faith and hope in a God who is able to take everything and make it work for good.  Seize the Moment!!!

The song titled “Healer” was invented by Pastor Michael Guglielmucci due to his battle against cancer. He testified that the doctor told him he had a cancer and only had 6 more months to live. He’s been living for 2 years now and he invented this song to proclaim his faith on God, our Healer. However recently he admitted that it was all a lie and he is currently seeking help.  As I was on the tread mill this morning I was listening to this song on my ipod.  Every time I listen to this song it lifts me.  I began to think about all the people in the Christian community who have fallen, made mistakes, blunders, flat out sinned and I couldn't help but think about my own imperfections, well at least that's what we like to call them. When I hear the story of Michael Guglielmucci it saddens me.  It saddens me because I can't imagine the feeling of living with the heaviness of such a lie.  Perhaps when he wrote the song it was coming out of a soul crushed under the weight of guilt and remorse and not the cancer.  I believe our soul's cancers need to be healed more than anything.  I pray for Michael and all those who have fallen and have been forgotten. I can only hope that somewhere in all of this that we as Christ followers come to understand what true forgiveness looks like.  We should, we have all experienced it from God.  I still believe that He's my Healer. 

WOW, well that was an offensive title considering you don't even know me.  Let me ask you a question, "Have you ever had so much anger in your heart toward someone that you were on the border line of hating them?"  I want you to be honest when you answer that question.  I know we like to live in our stain glass churches, hiding behind our pious attitudes thinking we have never hated anyone.  But the reality is when we refuse to love our brother, or hold anger in our heart toward them we live a lie.  Proverbs says, "the one who conceals hatred has lying lips..."  John said it this way, "How can you say you love God and hate your brother?" What I love about God is that He forces us to deal with the feelings in our heart that we hold against others.  I am not saying that people haven't hurt us, nor that people haven't treated us unfairly.  We all have justifiable cause to hold anger toward others, the problem is we are not the ultimate judge...God is.  What God has called us to do is lay aside the injustices of life, and forgive those who have wronged us.  When we put on our Christian face for others and hold anger in our hearts speaking negatively of our brothers and sisters we are liars.  Hey I have been a liar, but I'm willing to admit it.  How about you, are you dealing with your hatred, or are you just continuing to play the game? If you are, you're a liar.

Don't you hate it when someone says that to you?  Your mind goes crazy wondering what the meeting is going to be about.  I love the story of Nehemiah.  This guy was driven with a purpose to rebuild the walls of the temple.  I find myself in a season of rebuilding right now.  I have to admit at times its a little scary.  I have found that just like Nehemiah, when you are building something there are always those around you that are skeptical or jealous or something.  It's the people that want to have a meeting to discourage you from rebuilding or moving forward.  However it's not always people that call us to a meeting.  Many times its our own negative thoughts that influence or discourage us.  There are always voices that endeavor to pull us away from the plan of success.  The reality is there intent is to kill, steal, and destroy the dream.  Hey just because someone calls you to a meeting you do not have to attend.  Don't allow your fears, your doubts, and your emotions to hold you in a meeting.  Nehemiah said, "I don't have time."  I have found in this season of rebuilding I don't have the time to meet with the discouraging thoughts that attempt to lure me. Just because the enemy calls a meeting does not mean you have to attend.  Become attentive to the promise of God.  Incline your ear to the wisdom of God and realize that you don't have the time to meet with the negative conversations around you.  There are many things to be troubled about, but only one thing is needed.  There are many distractions, cares and anxiety's, but I am running to the strong one.  I really only have the time to devote to one meeting when it comes to my thoughts.  I am meeting with the wisdom of the one who has the whole world in his hands. 

I love the heart that my wife has always had for God.  You can't find a more genuine person.  She was sharing a story that happen when she was a little girl with us this morning on our way to church.  She was very young and sitting at the kitchen table with her grandmother shelling peas when one of the little peas popped out and started rolling across the table headed to the floor below.  Just before it reached the edge of the table it lost its momentum and stopped.  As a young child she blurted out, "thank you Jesus for not letting that pea roll off the table".  Another thing that amazes me about my wife is how much she remembers about her childhood.  Anyway back to my point, as she was sharing the story I couldn't help but think how many times Jesus has stopped this little "pea" from rolling off the table.  There have been so many times in my life that His faithfulness has prevailed. My life, like yours has had its share of ups and downs, but through it all God has always been there.  The bottom line is things happen in life that we will never understand this side of heaven, but God has us in the palm of His hand and His love for us is larger than we will ever comprehend. We can't be so obsessed with the "why" that we forget the "who".  Thank you Jesus for not letting this little pea roll off the table.   

No doubt these are tough times we are living in economically.  It is obvious when you take time to listen to people that they are discouraged.  Many people have lost their jobs and others have seen their retirement cut in half.  It is not the first time that America has been faced with economic down turn.  My heart goes out to those who have found themselves in circumstances that almost seem unbearable.  But what is the upside to all of this and where is the hope for our future?  It can only be found in the rest and peace that comes from knowing the true value of life, and that is living it.  It is the sole duty of Satan to discourage you from building what God has ordained and established for your life.  In Ezra God's people were set on rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.  The bibles says while they were building, "...the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build."  (Ezra 4:4) I know what it's like to feel the discouragement of the land in the midst of building a new business; to be gripped with the fear of the unknown.  In these economic times some might say it is the worst time to step out in a new endeavor.  Perhaps they are right.  But I believe following our hearts will catapult us into the wide open space of success.  My hands are stretched out to God, my grip is on Him and His strong grip is on me.  Don't listen to the people of the land and their predictions.  Stay clear of the negative.  Wherever you find yourself today know that the good favor of God supports you.  Stand on the level ground of faith and grip the promise of God.  He will never let go, and I'm not about to...

Integrity is doing the right thing, because it's the right thing.  How often do we make excuses?  Let's face it having integrity is not always the easy path and most of the time it has the potential to cost you something.  I personally see the lack of integrity in dealing with many companies today.  I believe it must remain at the top of the list for each us in dealing with people.  It is so important for creating a world that truly works for each person in it. Integrity means "the quality or state of being complete or undivided" and indicates firm adherence to our values. Our values are the things we hold dear, the things that are most important to us as we shape our lives. Living from them is integrity.  Something I learned in my years with Franklin Covey was when you do something that is in alignment with what you believe--what you say is important to you--there is an internal sense of peace and well-being...even if doing it is difficult! It just "feels" so right. When your behavior clashes with your values, the opposite is true. You all know what happens when you try to squeeze past your values by doing or saying something that is a little off. You know, deep in your hearts, that it does not feel right. Integrity is like pregnancy. You cannot be a little bit pregnant. You are or you are not. You are living in integrity or you are not. I believe that what goes around comes around.  If we continue to maintain a level of excellence and integrity, in the end we will win. I may write more on this subject in the days ahead, but for now let me leave you with this thought, "Do the Right Thing."