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As part of Bloom Without Borders, 108 Fine Art hosted a ceramic workshop led by artist Karen Thompson, offering participants the opportunity to explore portraiture through clay.
The session focused on making small busts, with participants working from observation. Subjects included one another, themselves, and people familiar to them.
Working in clay encouraged a direct and intuitive approach. Forms were built by hand, shaped gradually, and adjusted through touch. The process allowed each piece to develop with an emphasis on looking closely and responding to what was in front of them.
Throughout the workshop, participants also looked at portrait imagery for reference, including material drawn from books within the gallery, offering a wider context for thinking about form, structure and expression.
The workshop reflected Karen Thompson’s wider practice, where surface, form and observation come together through a careful and considered approach to making.
It was a pleasure to see a range of responses emerge over the course of the session, with each piece carrying a distinct character shaped by the individual making it.
We would like to thank Karen Thompson for leading the workshop, and all those who took part.
About the Exhibition
The workshop formed part of Bloom Without Borders, a group exhibition bringing together work by Karen Thompson, Anna King, Yukako Sakakura and Daisy Collingridge.
About Karen Thompson
Karen Thompson is a ceramic artist based in North Yorkshire, originally from South Shields.
Alongside her sculptural work, she has developed a series of portrait paintings in acrylic and watercolour, as seen in Bloom Without Borders. Across both disciplines, her practice combines historical and contemporary references, exploring social and political themes through form, surface and expression.
Visit the Gallery
Location: 108 Fine Art Gallery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Gallery Hours: Open 11am – 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Walk-ins welcome or by appointment.
The post Karen Thompson Ceramic Workshop appeared first on 108 Fine Art.
]]>108 Fine Art is pleased to present a two-week pop-up of paintings by artist Angel Cook, a young contemporary artist from Yorkshire.
Working primarily in portraiture, Cook’s paintings focus closely on the human face, creating a sense of immediacy and quiet intensity. Through a careful handling of light and shadow, her compositions create an intimate encounter with the subject. Angel Cook’s paintings centres on those closest to her, offering portraits that feel both personal and reflective.
Currently studying BA Fine Art at Newcastle University, this exhibition brings together a new group of portrait paintings shown at the gallery for the first time. It offers an early insight into Cook’s developing practice, as she begins to establish her artistic approach.
At 108 Fine Art, we continue to introduce and support artists at key moments in their careers. Over the years, this has included early exhibitions with painters such as Paul Reid, Yukako Sakakura and Anna King, whose practices have since developed internationally.
Angel Cook’s paintings will be on view for a limited time at the gallery. For those interested in the work, further information and availability can be provided on request.
Location: 108 Fine Art Gallery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Gallery Hours: Open 11am – 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Walk-ins welcome or by appointment.
All works will be available for purchase. For the price list and any enquiries, please contact the gallery at exhibitions@108fineart.com.
The post Angel Cook | Paintings at 108 Fine Art appeared first on 108 Fine Art.
]]>This April, 108 Fine Art warmly invites you to the opening of No Other Land: Hidden Treasures, a new Morgan van’t Hoff exhibition, featuring recent works by the emerging contemporary painter.
Following his first exhibition with the gallery in 2023 as part of The Andrew Stewart Award, this latest Morgan van’t Hoff exhibition marks his second solo presentation with 108 Fine Art. Morgan graduated Camberwell College of Arts (UAL), and has quickly developed a distinctive visual language. His work is recognised for layered surfaces, found materials and expressive mark-making.
About the Exhibition
In No Other Land: Hidden Treasures, Morgan van’t Hoff continues his exploration of memory, imagination and materiality through richly textured compositions that invite reflection and interpretation. His paintings reveal a balance between spontaneity and excavation, with surfaces built up, scraped back and reworked to create depth and discovery.
This new Morgan van’t Hoff exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to experience the artist’s evolving practice through a collection of works that expand his dreamlike visual world.
Gallery Hours: Open 11am – 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Walk-ins welcome or by appointment.
Location: 108 Fine Art Gallery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
All works will be available for purchase. For the price list and any enquiries, please contact the gallery at exhibitions@108fineart.com.
The post Morgan van’t Hoff | No Other Land: Hidden Treasures appeared first on 108 Fine Art.
]]>This March, 108 Fine Art warmly invites you to the opening of Bloom Without Borders, an exhibition celebrating four contemporary women artists in honour of Women’s History Month.
Opening on Saturday 7th March 2026, Bloom Without Borders brings together new and recent works by Karen Thompson, Anna King, Yukako Sakakura and Daisy Collingridge. Working across painting, ceramics and textile sculpture, each artist offers a distinct material language. Seen together, their works reflect the breadth, sensitivity and strength of women shaping contemporary art today.
Join us at the gallery in Harrogate from 2–4pm for drinks and conversation as we celebrate the opening of this special exhibition.
Exhibition Details
Opening Date: Saturday 7th March 2026
Closing Date: Saturday 11th April 2026
Location: 108 Fine Art Gallery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Gallery Hours: Open 11am–5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Walk-ins welcome or by appointment.
For further information, please contact: exhibitions@108fineart.com
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We have several options of Regatta Gear to choose from. Place your order before August 1st to be included in free shipping to the regatta venue.
The website is not easy to navigate, so here are the options:
- Long Sleeve Crew Neck (XS~4XL, White Only, Uni-sex)
- Short Sleeve Crew Neck (XS~4XL, White or Titanium, Uni-sex)
- Long Sleeve Hoodie (S~4XL, Titanium only, Uni-sex)
- Long Sleeve Quarter-zip (S~4XL, White only, Mens/Womens)
Many many thanks to Tim Zgraggen for the artwork on the shirt!
Registration is open and NOR POSTED on IYC Notice Page.
This page will be updated prior to the event. Please bookmark it.
The original NOR is posted here for archival reference.
Please note the Sunday through Thursday schedule due to tides. Racing will be Monday through Thursday. Inquiries can be submitted through the Contact Us page on this website.
All Skippers must be members of the 110 Class. It is encouraged that crew also join the class as Associate Members.
HOST: Inverness Yacht Club
Racing Schedule:
- Sunday – Regatta Registration and Anchor Out
- Monday~Thursday – Practice Race and Regatta
- Saturday August 15th – IYC Club Race
Social Schedule:
- Sunday – Welcome Beach BBQ Dinner
- Monday – Commodore’s Dinner
- Tuesday – Open
- Wednesday – IYC Hosted Dinner
- Thursday – Awards Dinner
If you’ve been watching the one-design racing scene and wondering where the action is this August, look no further than Tomales Bay. The 110 Class — whose iconic double-ended sloop holds the distinction of being the world’s first purpose-built sport-boat — will be hosting its National Regatta August 9-13 at the Inverness Yacht Club, home waters for local Fleet 56 and a venue that needs no hype from us.
Tomales Bay is the kind of place that makes visiting sailors forget to check the weather forecast. Sheltered by the rolling hills of Point Reyes National Seashore, the bay offers a near-perfect racing environment: steady afternoon breeze funneling through the coastal gap, glassy mornings giving way to crisp, pressurized sailing by the time the first warning gun fires. Calling it sailing in paradise isn’t hyperbole — it’s geography.
A Class in Motion
The 110 Class arrives at this year’s Nationals with some fresh energy from the revived Fleet 19 in Seattle, and following a pair of rule proposals that passed near-unanimously at a special membership vote on May 13th. The most talked-about change opens an experimental period allowing inboard jib leads with a smaller headsail: a #2 Genoa of approximately 140% overlap as an alternative to the class’s traditional massive, overlapping #1 Genoa.
The debate is one that any performance sailor can appreciate: old-school power and driving area versus modern efficiency and crew ergonomics. Traditionalists rightly point to the #1 Genoa’s proven upwind authority — that enormous overlap has been pulling 110s through chop for decades, and there’s a reason it became the standard. But proponents of the smaller sail argue that inboard sheeting geometry changes the equation significantly. With a tighter sheeting angle, they contend, the #2 can match the #1’s upwind output despite the reduction in canvas.
The practical advantages of the change are harder to argue with: easier trimming, faster tacking, cleaner sightlines for the helmsman, and perhaps most importantly for the class’s future, the ability to race competitively with a smaller crew. That last point matters. One of the persistent challenges facing established one-design classes is keeping the boats accessible to sailors across different stages of life and crew availability. A sail plan that demands less horsepower on the foredeck is a sail plan that invites more people into the cockpit.
The two-year experimental window means this debate will play out on the racecourse before any permanent decision is made. Expect animated conversations at the dock in August.
Come Sail With Us
Here’s the part where we speak directly to you, the Latitude reader who’s been eyeing your August calendar: Fleet 56 is rolling out the welcome mat for visiting sailors, and that includes boats available for charter during the regatta.
The 110 is a rewarding boat to race — athletic and responsive, the kind of sailing that keeps you sharp. The fixed keel means you can push hard without lying awake at night worrying about an unplanned swim, but make no mistake, this is performance one-design racing that will demand your full attention and a reasonable level of fitness. If that sounds like your kind of fun, Tomales Bay in August is where you want to be.
With visiting teams from the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest Fleet 56 has a tradition of providing charter boats. Depending on out of region attendance there may be an opportunity for a SF local team to join in the fun. To find out about charter availability and what it takes to get on the starting line, reach out to class president Milly Biller and the local Fleet 56 organization through the class website.
August 9-13. Inverness Yacht Club. Tomales Bay. Some things are worth rearranging your schedule for.
The 110 Class National Regatta runs August 9-13, 2026, hosted by Inverness Yacht Club on Tomales Bay. For charter inquiries and regatta information, contact 110 Class president Milly Biller through the class website at 110class.com.
]]>The second proposal allows an experimental period to explore inboard jib leads on a smaller headsail as an alternative to the iconic, old-school, massively overlapping genoa. The thought is that the inboard sheeting and narrower sheeting angle allows a #2 Genoa of about 140% overlap to match the upwind performance of the #1 Genoa despite the difference in sail area. Other significant advantages of the smaller headsail is easier sheeting, quicker tacking, greater visibility and gives the ability for a smaller crew on the team. Proposal 2 also passed general membership vote indicating strong alignment between class membership and the class Governing Committee.
Additional topics regarding fleet building and making the 110 more attractive to a wider range of sailors are being discussed and will be considered at the Annual General Membership meeting in August during the National Regatta hosted by the Inverness Yacht Club on the beautiful Tomales Bay. Local Fleet 56 is preparing for visiting teams from East Coast and Pacific Northwest Fleets, including the availability of boats for charter for the regatta. In past regattas we have had local teams outside of the class join in the fun, so if you are looking for something to do August 9th~13th that involves sailing in paradise you might just consider reaching out to esteemed class president Milly Biller to see if one of the charter boats might be available.
]]>June 27-28 — New Englands at Hull YC
July 11-12 — Districts at Hull YC
July 24-26 — Atlantic Coast Championship at Marblehead, MA for H/H Sailing World Regatta Series
Aug 9-13 — National Championship at Inverness YC, CA
Aug 29-30 — Boston Bay Challenge Cup at Hull YC
Sept 19 — Great Chase Race at Hull YC
Sept 26 — Fleet Racing at Hull YC ]]>
By Dieter Loibner
Please read the original article on the Soundings Online website.
Take a left on Hidden Cove, and then go left again at the totem pole. Such were the instructions to get to the Port Madison Yacht Club on Bainbridge Island, Washington, a tiny but tidy sailing institution on the north end. It was the venue for the first official International 110 regatta in this area in many years, reviving Fleet 19, which was based at Corinthian Yacht Club in Seattle before dispersing decades ago. …
A pdf of the article is here:
]]>June 28 – Districts at Hull YC
July 5 – Evening Fleet Racing at Hull YC
July 12-13 – Boston Bay Challenge Cup at Hull YC
July 25-27 – Atlantic Coast Championship at Marblehead NOOD
August 10 – Fleet Race at Hull YC
August 31 – Around the Island Race at Conanicut YC
September 13 – Great Chase Race at Hull YC ]]>
| Year | Venue/Host Fleet | Skipper | Crew | Boat | Home Fleet |
| 2024 | Hull YC, Hull, MA | Joe Berkeley | Linda Epstein | # 632 Retread | Hull # 14 |
| 2023 | Not Held | ||||
| 2022 | Inverness YC, Inverness, CA | Skip Allan | Sean Callagy | # 695 Smart Shoes | Inverness # 56 |
| 2021 | Hull YC, Hull MA | Joe Berkeley | Linda Epstein | # 632 Retread | Hull # 14 |
| 2020 | No Regatta Held (Covid19 Pandemic) | ||||
| 2019 | Inverness YC, Inverness, CA | Bill Barton | Chris Raney | # 695 Smart Shoes | Inverness # 56 |
| 2018 | Macatawa YC, Holland, MI | Joe Berkeley | Linda Epstein | # 632 Retread | Hull # 14 |
| 2017 | Sail Newport, Newport, RI | Joe Berkeley | Linda Epstein | # 632 Retread | Hull # 14 |
| 2016 | Inverness YC, Inverness, CA | Maggie Craig | Tom Craig | # 753 Pow Wow | Hull # 14 |
| 2015 | Macatawa YC, Holland, MI | Ben Craig | Tom Craig | # 753 Pow Wow | Hull # 14 |
| 2014 | Marblehead, MA | Joe Berkeley | Linda Epstein | # 632 Retread | Hull # 14 |
| 2013 | Inverness YC, Inverness, CA | Ross Weene | Eli Slater | # 608 Good Foot | Newport # 54 |
| 2012 | Gloucester, MA | John Huff | Mark Vanderberg | # 754 Glider | Chicago # 55 |
| 2011 | Macatawa YC, Holland, MI | John Huff | Mark VanderBerg | # 754 Glider | Chicago # 55 |
| 2010 | Macatawa YC, Holland, MI | John Huff | Mark Vanderberg | # 754 Glider | Chicago # 55 |
| 2009 | Kingston, ON | Mark Van Note | Josh Hill | # 239 Screaming Pelican | Newport # 54 |
| 2008 | Hull YC, Hull MA | Mark Van Note | Josh Hill | # 239 Screaming Pelican | Newport # 54 |
| 2007 | CORK, Kingston Ontario | Steve Clancy | John Murphy | # 4 Jolly Giant | Hull # 14 |
| 2006 | Newport, RI | Mark Van Note | Josh Hill | # 631 US Blues | Newport # 54 |
| 2005 | Macatawa Bay YC, Holland MI, #7 | Ann Craig | Tom Craig | # 753 Pow Wow | Hull # 14 |
| 2004 | CORK, Kingston Ontario | Ann Craig | Tom Craig | # 753 Pow Wow | Hull # 14 |
| 2003 | Chicago YC, Chicago IL, # 55 | Tim Botimer | # 300 Alter Ego | Bay City # 36 | |
| 2002 | Ft. Adams Sailing Ctr, Newport, RI # 54 | Anthony Katoun | Oakley Jones | # 714 Pigs | Newport # 54 |
| 2001 | Bay City YC, Bay City MI, # 36 | Rick Kraii | John Laundra | # 751 Kraii’s baby | Macatawa # 7 |
| 2000 | Falmouth YC, Falmouth, MA District 1 | Rick Kraii | J.D. Stone | # 751 Kraii’s Baby | Macatawa # 7 |
| 1999 | Cottage Park YC, Winthrop, MA District 1 | Rick Kraii | # 751 Kraii’s Baby | Macatawa # 7 | |
| 1998 | Macatawa Bay YC, Holland, MI # 7 | Rick Kraii | # 751 Kraii’s Baby | Macatawa # 7 | |
| 1997 | Ocean City YC, Ocean City, NJ # 10 | Mike Blanchard | John Murphy | # 239 Plan B | Hull # 14 |
| 1996 | Hingham YC, Hingham MA # 29 | Russell Robinson | Alan Robinson | # 543 Life Boat | Hingham # 29 |
| 1995 | Chicago YC, Chicago, IL, #55 | Russell Robinson | Alan Robinson | # 543 Life Boat | Hingham # 29 |
| 1994 | Hull YC, Hull MA, # 14 | Russell Robinson | Alan Robinson | # 543 Life Boat | Hingham # 29 |
| 1993 | Bay City YC, Bay City MI # 36 | Russell Robinson | Alan Robinson | # 543 Life Boat | Hingham # 29 |
| 1992 | Boston Harbor YC, Boston, MA # 17 | Joe Berkeley | Dave McGrath | # 632 Retread | Hull # 14 |
| 1991 | Ft. Adams Sailing Ctr, Newport, RI # 54 | Tom Craig | Wil Craig | # 271 Wild Thing | Hull # 14 |
| 1990 | Macatawa Bay YC, Holland, MI, # 7 | Al Bonzelaar | Larry Boer | # 695 Mind Bender | Macatawa # 7 |
| 1989 | Corinthian YC, Marblehead MA, # 1 | Dru Slattery | Jack Slattery | # 545 Flash | Marblehead # 1 |
| 1988 | Hingham YC, Hingham, MA # 29 & # 14 (Hull YC) | Bill Higgins | Bill Donald | # 720 Rachel | Boston Bay # 17 |
| 1987 | Macatawa Bay YC, Holland, MI, # 7 | Dru Slattery | Jack Slattery | # 545 I.T.Y.W.B.T. Stern | Marblehead # 1 |
| 1986 | Falmouth YC, Falmouth, MA, District 1 | Dru Sour | Jack Slattery | # 736 Smurfette | Marblehead # 1 |
| 1985 | Ft. Adams Sailing Ctr, Newport, RI # 54 | Brad White | Bob Slattery | # 245 Malihini | Marblehead # 1 |
| 1984 | Bay City YC, Bay City, MI # 36 | Steve Clancy | Jim Kilfoyle | # 4 Jolly Giant | Hull # 14 |
| 1983 | Hull YC, Hull MA # 14 | Rick Kraii | Shelly Swaney | # 266 Kraii’s Baby | Macatawa # 7 |
| 1982 | Macatawa Bay YC, Holland, MI, # 7 | Jack Slattery | Kurt Fleming | # 545 Jumpin’ Jack Flash | Hull # 14 |
| 1981 | Boston Harbor YC, Boston MA # 17 | Jack Slattery | Kurt Fleming | # 545 Jumpin’ Jack Flash | Hull # 14 |
| 1980 | Bay City YC, Bay City, MI # 36 | Jack Driscoll | Jim Kilfolyle | Cracker Jack # 740 | Boston Bay # 17 |
| 1979 | Pleon YC, Marblehead, MA # 1 | Mark O’Conner | Bob O’Connor | Dingo # 736 | Marblehead # 1 |
| 1978 | Not Held | ||||
| 1977 | Macatawa Bay YC, Holland, MI, # 7 | Platt Johnson | Dennis Dixon | # 240 Elendil | Edgartown # 34 |
| 1976 | Edgartown YC, Edgartown, M.V. MA # 34 | Jay Mosher | John Elliot | # 548 Cookie Monster | Narragansett Bay #23 |
| 1975 | Corinthian YC/Seattle YC, Seattle, WA # 19 | Chris Waddell | Scott Kindred | # 33 Get Lost | San Diego # 13 |
| 1974 | Ocean City YC, Ocean City, NJ # 10 | Mike Butler | Jim Frost | # 662 Nulani | San Diego # 13 |
| 1973 | Bay City YC, Bay City, MI # 36 | Platt Johnson | Dennis Dixon | # 240 Elendil | Edgartown # 34 |
| 1972 | Hull YC, Hull MA # 14 | Doug MacDonald | Russ Williams | # 679 Sorcerer | San Francisco # 18 |
| 1971 | Richmond YC, S.F Bay, CA # 26 | Nate Russell | Gordon Nash, Jr | # 675 Endeavor | San Francisco # 18 |
| 1970 | City Island YC/EastChester YC, EastChester, NY #43 | Mark O’Conner | Bob O’Connor | # 102 Dingo | Marblehead # 1 |
| 1969 | Macatawa Bay YC, Holland, MI, # 7 | Mike Cuddy | Len Upham, Jr | # 510 Colleen | Narragansett Bay #23 |
| 1968 | Bristol YC, Bristol, RI #23 | Dave Curtis | Ken Bassett | # 145 Yellow Submarine | Marblehead # 1 |
| 1967 | San Diego YC, San Diego, CA # 13 | Terry Ryan | Bob Eschwege | # 635 Snake Pit | San Diego # 13 |
| 1966 | Northport YC, Northport Bay, NY #47 | Chuck Rudinsky | # 175 Zephyr | Boston Bay # 17 | |
| 1965 | Sheridan Shores YC, Wilmette, IL # 4 | Ron Dougherty | John Nicols | # 446 Kanigo | San Diego # 13 |
| 1964 | New Bedford, YC, S.Dartmouth, MA # 39 | Dave Curtis | # 496 Black Magic | Marblehead # 1 | |
| 1963 | Corinthian YC, S.F. Bay, CA # 18,& 26 | Gordon Nash | # 331 Javelin | Richmond # 26 | |
| 1962 | Indian harbor YC, Greenwich, CT, # 37 | Al Frost, Jr | # 364 Lani | San Diego, # 13 | |
| 1961 | Bay City YC, Bay City, MI # 36 | Al Frost, Jr | # 364 Lani | San Diego # 13 | |
| 1960 | Corinthian YC, Marblehead MA, # 1 | Al Frost, Jr | # 364 Lani | San Diego # 13 | |
| 1959 | San Diego YC, San Diego, CA # 13 | Al Frost, Jr | # 364 Lani | San Diego # 13 | |
| 1958 | Larchmont YC, W.L.I.S. # 2 | Seth Corwin | # 512 Rosie | Hingham # 29 | |
| 1957 | Sheridan Shores YC, Wilmette, IL # 4 | Malcom MacNaught | # 600 Black Cow II | Hingham # 29 | |
| 1956 | Hingham YC, Hingham, MA # 29 & # 14 (Hull YC) | Malcom MacNaught | # 600 Black Cow II | Hingham # 29 | |
| 1955 | Ocean City YC, Ocean City, NJ # 10 | Glit Shields | # 249 Iris | W.L.I.S | |
| 1954 | Richmond YC, S.F Bay, CA # 26 | Stephen Chadwick, Jr | # 424 Wild Flag | Lake Washington | |
| 1953 | San Diego YC, San Diego, CA # 13 | Les Harlander | # 344 Hot Breath | San Francisco | |
| 1952 | Gull Lake YC, Richland, MI # 6 | Bob Mann | # 360 Robin Too | San Diego | |
| 1951 | Sue Island YC, Baltimore, MD, # 11 | Larry Conover, Jr | #503 Revenoc, Jr | W.L.I.S | |
| 1950 | Richmond YC, S.F Bay, CA # 26 | Les Harlander | Don Harlander | #334 Hot Breath | San Francisco |
| 1949 | American YC, Rye, NY # 2 | Warner Wilcox | #225 Interim | W.L.I.S | |
| 1948 | Sheridan Shores YC, Wilmette, IL # 4 | Donald W. Sholle | # 6 Ten to one | W.L.I.S | |
| 1947 | Eastern YC, Marblehead, MA # 1 | Roger Wilcox | #135 Morss | MIT | |
| 1946 | Larchmont YC, W.L.I.S. # 2 | Roger Wilcox | #135 Morss | MIT | |
| 1945 | Not held | ||||
| 1944 | Not Held | ||||
| 1943 | Not Held | ||||
| 1942 | Corinthian YC, Marblead, MA # 1 | Frank Scully | #106 Auk | Marblehead | |
| 1941 | Grosse Pointe YC, MI # 3 | George O’Day | # 10 Vincimus | Marblehead | |
| 1940 | |||||
| 1939 |
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I’ll admit, I have a few of ...]]>
I’ll admit, I have a few of these jerseys among my wardrobe. Wearing them makes you feel one with the player and the team. You’re showing your support by dressing as your sporting heroes. You’re displaying your respect and admiration for all they have accomplished. At times your allegiance may even transcend the sport. Maybe you are a fan of an athlete because of what they stand for off of the field as much as their play on the field.
What’s troubling is, I’m paying to wear the name of a person that I will never meet. They will never know me or even care that I admire them. In fact, if I met them in person and got to know them, I probably wouldn’t like them. That seems to go with celebrity, they are often unpleasant people.
This is equaled by any famous person not just athletes. Actors, politicians, and performers may have talents we admire. We wear their name and image and support their cause, but we have no relationship with them.
What if we approached fandom from a different perspective? What if you went down to your local t-shirt store (do they exist?? lets pretend they do) and ordered a slew of shirts with the last name of a person you know who is facing turmoil in their lives?
Imagine visiting the bedside of a friend waging war against cancer wearing a shirt emblazoned with their name on the back. You admire and respect an elder in your congregation for the advice and guidance he has given you over the years, so you splay his name across your back. Real people you know and have a relationship with that deserve your respect and admiration.
To carry it further, what if you plastered the name of your Savior across everything you wore? We are often proud to wear the colors of our favorite teams, but less comfortable wearing our faith on our back.
We don’t backdown when proudly sporting our team’s jersey at an unfriendly away game, but do we do the same in a world which is unfriendly turf to all who love God? Are we afraid to proudly show our true colors, who we are deep down, far beyond a sports fan… a Jesus fan?
I have no dispute with sports fans, I’m one myself. When I spend $75 to show my love for an athletic club I’m telling the world that my team is important to me. Isn’t it more important that I tell the world that Jesus is the most important thing to me? After all, He is someone I will meet one day and He knows the number of hairs on my head.
This is bigger that what I choose to wear. This is about who I am, what I talk about, and how I support those in need. When I live for Jesus, not sports, the world we see my true colors and I might just have a chance of recruiting some more players to His team.
How do you show your support for His team?
]]>You’re not alone. We all face periods of discouragement. Spans ...]]>
You’re not alone. We all face periods of discouragement. Spans of time when things just aren’t going right. Days when we wish we could go back to bed. Strife and turmoil ridden weeks when success seems desperately out of reach.
Navigating these turbulent waves appears impossible. Our boat is taking on water and there is no land in sight. The seas get rougher by the minute and the anxiety is crippling. A desperate scan of the horizon reveals no hope. Seemingly, it’s inevitable that we will go down with the ship and be left to drown at the bottom of the sea of life.
Life’s storms are turning points. The decisions we make when facing adversity will alter the course of our lives and the lives of those we love. These times that try our souls make or break us. But, real strength is only gained when muscles are pushed to their breaking point. Iron is sharpened not by a soft bed of moss, but by iron.
Perseverance must be our watchword. We must maintain emotional acuity if we hope to ever emerge victorious. In his masterpiece, “If” Rudyard Kipling wrote,
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
Life’s curve balls prove we can’t emerge victorious without help. Our will to “Hold on!” is provided from on high. Though we often try, we don’t have the strength to go it alone. If our life is centered on serving God in all that we do, then we have help. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Does this mean we will never fail? No. It means we can find the strength to face anything.
When you’re losing your grip on life, “Hold On” and gain strength with these four techniques.
- Pray. Strengthen your relationship with God. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. No matter what you are failing in, if it’s purpose is for God’s glory, He will strengthen you.
- Study. Strengthen your faith. Read of the battles the brave men and women of the Bible endured for God. Wonder at the perfect life of our Savior and all He bore for you.
- Encourage. Strengthen your relationships with others. Share what you are going through with someone. Listen to their struggles. Pray with them and gain new courage realizing others are standing with you on the front lines of life.
- Exercise. Strengthen your physical body. Taking care of yourself gives you the stamina physically and emotionally to soldier on for Christ. You will be healthier and better prepared for a long life in His service.
If you follow this simple workout plan, you will strengthen your grip and be able to hold on to God and His plan for your life no matter what you face.
How do you find the strength to hold on?
]]>
How would you respond in a similar situation? We would all quickly give all the money we have to save our lives. But, how do you respond to this demand in your daily life. When you are called upon to serve, do you respond with your money or your life?
The accounts of many charities and churches are overflowing. They have money to do great things. What they lack are enough people who are willing to devote their life in service.
Throwing money at a problem is the easy solution. We leave the answers to someone else. Money can be the salve to sooth our guilty souls. We rationalize that we have made a sacrifice by giving financially not realizing that cash is often secondary to the cause.
When asked the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
All of the Law hangs on one word… LOVE. Not money!
What does this love for God demand? Is it filling the church treasury? While financial support for the church may be part of it, what God wants is for us to be about His work, which demands our LIFE… our TIME. Is that putting money in the collection each week and then leaving the heavy lifting to someone else? That doesn’t sound like loving with all of your heart, soul, and mind. That’s avoiding responsibility with money. The same way a father may spoil his children to allay his guilty conscience for not giving them the time they need.
The second command is to love our neighbor… in the same way we love ourselves. How do we show love for ourselves? Buy spending time doing the things we enjoy. That’s what we are to give our neighbor… our time. It’s not just donating money when a member of our church is in need, but preparing a meal and going to their home and visiting with them. It’s not handing a struggling family $20 and quickly rushing by, but being a friend… talking and praying with them and helping them overcome the obstacles in their lives.
Money will always be a necessity, but when we value it more than relationships our perspective is skewed. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Giving up your life has nothing to do with money and everything to do with what you value most… your time. Share this time by showing love, friendship, and support and you will accomplish far more than a fortune ever could.
]]>Death is ushered into life through sociopaths, terrorists, and natural disasters. It makes some of us want to hole-up ...]]>
Death is ushered into life through sociopaths, terrorists, and natural disasters. It makes some of us want to hole-up in the safety of our homes, until we hear of the latest home invasion.
Our perspective becomes skewed. There is no safe room. Every place and every person are a threat to our lives. We become consumed with “what if” and reject “what is.”
If we allow our perspective and reality to battle “Mano-a-Mano”, who emerges the victor? Who lasts the 10 rounds and comes out on top? Usually… perspective.
Our inaccurate perspective becomes reality in our eyes. Every stranger is a killer, every foreigner a terrorist, and every storm cloud a tornado.
We shatter our rose-colored glasses and examine the world through a magnifying glass. We enlarge the bad and myopically overlook the good in people and nature, both blessings from God.
Think about it, why are mass-murders, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters so mind-numbing to us? Because they are rare. They don’t happen every day, but when they do, they are major news items. We become transfixed and must read and watch, in horror, every detail. In turn, we begin to believe that these tragedies await us around every corner.
We ignore reality. The innumerable days that have passed without incident. The kindness we have received from complete strangers, the lessons we have learned from people from far off lands, and the breathtaking handiwork that God has surrounded us with.
God be praised, most of us will never be the victim of a violent crime or natural disaster. Many of us, however, fear we will. 20% of Americans worry about being murdered. From their perspective, the chances of it happening are high, but reality is only 1 in 18,690 people will become victims. The odds of becoming a terrorist victim on an airline flight are 1 in 10,408,947 yet 36% of Americans fear themselves or a family member becoming a victim of terrorism.
Like an artist who is too close to his canvas and steps away to view the entire painting, aligning his perspective with reality, we need to take a step back and view life accurately. Do bad things happen every day? Yes! Does that mean they will happen to you? Absolutely not!
Does that mean we throw caution to the wind? No, but irrational fear, stress, and worry lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, and possibly early death.
When our perspective alters reality, we live irrational, unproductive lives. We fail to act even in the smallest ways. Our perspective is that we are just one person and there is very little we can do in our small corner of the world. We lose sight of the fact that it takes just one person to change the world, for good.
If we aren’t careful, our perspective of God can be skewed in the process. We see all of the bad in the world and begin to question Him and His creation. We must never do this, because there is nothing more real than God’s Love. This indisputable fact should align your perspective with reality. Despite the problems we face every day, God loves each and every one of us and will never stop.
So, when you begin to lose touch with reality through a skewed perspective, race back to the arms of God and the reality of His everlasting love.
How do you keep your perspective from altering your view of reality?
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The 4 valves of the heart control the flow of blood as it moves through the chambers of the heart. Since the heart is the distribution system of this vital substance to all parts of the body, it is essential that it is kept operating properly.
Like our physical heart valves, our emotional “heart valves” regulate the flow of our affections. If these valves begin to leak, the vital flow of compassion, service, patience, and joy are interrupted. Not only is our emotional heart damaged, those that are fed by this fundamental flow suffer as well.
Our heart valve leaks when we fail to channel our time, talent, and resources to where they are needed most, others. We may “leak” a dribble of ourselves to those that need us, but it isn’t enough to do them any good.
While this is occurring the health of our emotional heart suffers. It’s working overtime to serve one purpose, gratifying ourselves. This may seem rewarding, but this neglect actually engorges the heart so that it demands more and more.
We end up completely unhealthy. Our heart is swollen with our excesses while our other vital organs, humanity, suffer from the anemic concern they are given.
This condition demands immediate treatment. Similar to the way the medical condition is approached, the leak needs to be plugged and the flow of blood needs to be channeled in the right direction.
We can easily diagnose a leaky valve by simply listening to the sounds of our hearts. Place a stethoscope to your heart and listen carefully. If your conversation and time is dominated by your wants and desires, you’ve got a leaky valve.
The repair of the physical aortic regurgitation will result in improved physical health. Similarly, restoring our emotional hearts will advance our spiritual health.
Here are 3 Remedies for A Leaky Heart Valve:
- Medicine. The heart can be renewed by filling it with the restorative power of God’s word. When we meditate on the selfless love of our Lord and Savior our hearts can be healed. Open your heart and allow the restorative power of this drug to flow through it.
- Repair. Through diligent prayer and constant effort we can repair the leak in our heart. This is an invasive procedure which demands deep soul searching. For this remedy to be effective, you must be willing to alter your behavior and be prepared to reexamine its health daily.
- Replacement. This is the most extreme treatment, but may be necessary. Your heart valve may have become so unhealthy that it needs replacement. You just might need to tear yourself down so you can be built up again. Similar to the life of Jesus, his journey wasn’t completed until his physical life was destroyed and then begun anew.
When your heart is functioning properly it can effectively serve others far better than yourself. Monitor it daily to make sure there are no leaky valves.
How do you keep your heart healthy?
]]>I would guess, depending on where you live, this has never happened to you. You’ve not ...]]>
I would guess, depending on where you live, this has never happened to you. You’ve not had to choose between helping the victim of a violent crime and passing on the other side of the street.
Aiding a person in this situation is the perfect example of showing love to your neighbor. Taking the time and risk to help is true sacrifice and the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus’ admonition. It is love in action.
Society has evolved dramatically since Jesus first shared the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Most of us don’t journey on foot through wilderness and expose ourselves to bands of robbers. We travel in the safety of our locked cars, or in the company of hundreds of commuters on public transportation.
Even if there is a problem, help is usually nearby and we can leave the helpless in the hands of the police or some other form of public assistance. It seems, opportunities to love our neighbor are dwindling. Our Great Society has taken care of our problems. Is there anything an individual can do to aide his neighbor anymore?
Of course there is! In fact, it has never been easier. Even as relationships continue to fragment as we isolate ourselves from one another in the comfort of our homes, there are more opportunities for us to use modern technology to love our neighbors.
Here are 3 ways to use technology to expand your neighborhood and serve more.
1. Financial support – Fundraising websites have made it convenient and secure to help people financially across the world. The days of extended correspondence and writing checks and waiting for them to clear are fading in the rear view mirror. Almost instantaneously, a need can be shared and money can be raised. It may not even be someone we know directly, but we can become a member of their tribe through a common connection. We can help a neighbor we have never met and may never know.
2. Awareness – Social tools like email, Facebook, and Twitter have simplified communicating needs to multiple people at one time. Depending on the number of contacts or “friends” you have, you can share a need with hundreds of people with one click. This opens the door for others to serve in areas they would never know of otherwise. You can love your neighbor simply by informing people about a need.
3. Adoption – There have always been an abundance of orphans needing loving homes. In the United States, we are blessed with a system that ensures these children have a safe place to stay and plenty to eat. Although less than ideal, they are at least protected and off the streets. Most children across the world don’t enjoy this luxury. Many live in filthy conditions with little food and even less love. It has never been easier to reach an orphan in a third world country and make them a part of your home. Travel is now relatively easy to destinations that were once near impossible to reach. We can work through the safety of adoption service websites and view pictures of the children in need.
As Jesus concluded the parable of the Good Samaritan he asked the lawyer, “So which of these do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” He answered, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Today, there are so many ways to show mercy… so many ways to use technology to love our neighbors. Find one that fits you and get to work. Your community will grow and you will have neighbors all over the world.
What other ways can you use technology to show mercy on your neighbor?
]]>Man’s inclination is certainly not to be anyone’s servant. Much blood has been shed for ...]]>
Man’s inclination is certainly not to be anyone’s servant. Much blood has been shed for independence and liberty. Brother has killed brother over the very concept of slavery and its consequences. But God makes it clear that our time on His great blue marble is captivity.
We are each obligated to bondage, but the good news is, we can choose our master. We can select who we are bound to and who we serve. We are not forced into the relationship.
In fact we have been purchased by our true Master. A great price has been paid, but many run away from Him to serve another that makes empty promises of freedom, rights, and tolerance.
Our true Master has one simple promise, life everlasting. The other, a great liar, promises a temporary life of fulfillment, pleasure, and satisfaction, but his reward for your service is eternal death: permanent separation from your true Master and from His promises of eternity with Him.
Our true Master expects hard work, dedication, and our undying commitment. He is honest and tells us how difficult the work will be. The other promises a life of ease and riches. Not only can he not deliver what he promises, his service results in great dissatisfaction, depression, and misery.
Everyday we have the choice of who we will serve. No one binds us in chains and forces us to bow the knee in front of them, but our decision can bind us. It is our choice who we kneel before, but you better believe we submit to one or the other.
We either yield to the will of our true Master or abandon Him and run to the other. We bow before him as he promises all our heart desires. The wiles in his armory can even trick us into thinking we are serving the true Master by corrupting His message.
Like an evil advisor we listen to him telling us what God expects, wants, or offers, rather than going to the Source and finding out what He desires, deserves, and promises… all clever manipulation.
Our loyalty will be seen in our actions. Or service to our true Master will result in serving others. We will live to serve. Ministry to the other will result in living only to ourselves.
Jesus makes it clear there is no middle ground. “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
You must choose this day whom you will serve. Who will it be?
How do you find joy in your service to your true Master?
]]>It certainly has a negative connotation. Something is annoying us and we want it to cease and desist, ...]]>
It certainly has a negative connotation. Something is annoying us and we want it to cease and desist, immediately, so we share our opinion, often accompanied with yelling.
The please portion is not a requirement. In fact, it’s probably rarely used. It’s an additional word that prolongs the suffering, so we shorten it to just “STOP!” It may be impolite, but we get our point across in one simple word.
This curt phrase has positive applications as well. There’s tremendous suffering in our communities that we have within our power to quell. All it takes is for us to act.
Here’s a list of 7 kinds of suffering people you know are dealing with, along with an extra bonus of solutions to the problems.
Please, stop…
1. Hunger – In your community, there are thousands of people without the basic needs of life. You can fill several empty stomachs with a small donation. Better yet, you can fill those same hearts with the food that will never leave them hungry. Share the Good News of Jesus with those with famished souls.
2. Loneliness – Be a friend to the friendless. We all know people who have no one to talk with. Take time and show them you care. While you’re at it, introduce them to a friend who will never leave their side, Jesus.
3. Homelessness – Homelessness is not just for the outcasts of society any more. People in your neighborhood and those you sit next to at work are facing foreclosure. Open you home to them, provide them with a place to stay while they get back on their feet. Bring them into your church family. Give them a refuge from the perils of life.
4. Fear – Uncertainty in life can be paralyzing. When we know there’s hope for the future we sleep better at night. Give someone promise for tomorrow. Share your blessings. Relieve their fear by sharing the joy that comes from knowing the Lord.
5. Depression – One of the the great pandemics of society today is depression. The stress of life becomes overwhelming and many see no hope for the future. Help people navigate this storm by giving them perspective. Although they may be in the midst of a downpour, help them see the silver lining in the clouds. Give them hope for tomorrow in the promise of a glorious eternity with Jesus Christ.
6. Strife – We all have the friend to whom bad things always happen. It seems if something can go wrong it always happens to them. Their life is filled with turmoil and trouble. Provide a place of stability for them. Be a rock they can lean on and help them to stand by providing a firm foundation of friendship. Show them the peace that comes from the hand of Almighty God.
7. Doubt – Like fear, doubt, leaves people dreading tomorrow. They begin to ponder the meaning of life and if they serve any purpose. Suicide may even creep into their thoughts as they see no reason in living another day. Show them their value in your life and the lives of those around them. Help them understand life is most gratifying when we are serving others. Teach them that God knows them personally and how in Him each day has new meaning.
Look at the suffering around you and shout, “Please, Stop!” It’s within your power to change lives and change the world.
What else can you do to stop the pain in peoples’ lives?
]]>This is how my boys and I approach fishing. Every time we hit the pond we hope to ...]]>
This is how my boys and I approach fishing. Every time we hit the pond we hope to reel in a really big fish. Unfortunately, we haven’t hooked that trophy bass yet, so we are always looking for new techniques, baits, and locations to help us reel in larger fish. Still, most of our catches are pretty small.
Life is a lot like fishing. Whether we recognize it or not, we are always casting our line of relationship. Each person we encounter decides whether to take our bait or move on to something more tempting. We are always hoping to reel in a “big fish”, but they are few and far between.
These “big fish” are the friendships that we deem rewarding because of what they provide to us. They usually involve little work and lots of fun. We like our bonds to be pleasant, free of turmoil and trauma.
Often, unintentionally, we hook people we measure as “small fish.” A relationship begins to develop that we weren’t looking for. It’s takes up a lot of our time and is unpleasant. Maybe the person is too needy and we don’t want to take time to help with their problems. We relate briefly, but then seek to throw them back in the pond as quickly as we can.
We determine our time is better spent somewhere else: with the “big fish” we have already caught, or out seeking a better catch. We seek relationships where we can receive rather than give.
However, those “small fish” that grab hold of our lines have an acute need for strong, giving relationships. They have troubles in their lives they don’t know how to deal with. They are hoping desperately that we will help. Your bait was appealing and they have grabbed on and won’t let go.
Are you avoiding these “small fish” so you can focus on the “trophies” you already have on your wall? Are you releasing despondent people that need your companionship because the affiliation lacks a pleasant fragrance? Are you focusing on relationships that give rather than take?
Life’s not about what we need, it’s about who needs us… a life we can touch by casting in their direction. We need to reel in those fish that need us and grow the relationship into one we can proudly display.
When we focus on our needs, the needs of others go unmet. We can miss opportunities to change peoples lives and help them grow.
Keep the fish you catch, despite their size. Feed them. Nurture them. Help them grow into trophies. Then, teach them to fish. Show them mercy, so they can go out and do likewise.
How do you nurture the “small fish” you reel in?
]]>I rely on my primary hard drive for accessing and saving my daily ...]]>
I rely on my primary hard drive for accessing and saving my daily work. I trust that it will operate properly, but not completely, that’s why I have a backup.
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had a failure, but those were catastrophic times. I didn’t always have backups to save the day.
My backup is just that, a place to go in case of emergency. My first resort is my primary drive, if that fails, I access my back-up and life is rosy again. I’ve got a backup plan in place.
Is God your backup plan? Do you turn to Him only in case of emergency?
Too many of us rely on ourselves or other people rather than on God as a first line of defense in this world. We may not even consider God until things become dire and we need a backup to restore order to the lives we have crashed.
We turn to doctors to repair our broken bodies, counselors to mend our battered marriages, and self-help books to save our bankrupt spirits. Then, if these things don’t work, we turn to God.
That, my friends, makes God our back-up. If we can’t fix our problem or if we can’t find someone else who can, then we turn to God. We make Him the “In Case of Emergency” alarm on the wall. When our problems become too big, we pull the alarm hoping to have Him rush in to our rescue.
Don’t get me wrong, medical science can do wondrous things, counselors can provide great advice, and the experience of man is a great resource, but none of them trump God.
God should be our primary source for restoration, repair, and salvation. Long before and long after man and his solutions is God. As Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning, God…”
Bring this powerful statement into your life each day and gain reassurance in the existence and power of God as your first option. Dwell on these things:
1. In the Past, God… Meditate on what God has done. Look at how He has gotten you through the times your life has crashed.
2. In the Present, God… Consider what God is actively doing in your life now. The new day He has granted and the air with which your lungs continually swell.
3. In the future, God… Put tomorrow in God’s hands. Worry only begats more worry. The sooner we learn to trust God and His plan for our lives, our primary hard drive, the better off we will be.
Never relegate God to the roll of back-up in your life. Keep Him in the foreground and the troubles of life will fade into the background. They will become unimportant when compared to His power and love.
Let go and let God.
Fill in the blank, In 2012, God _____________.
]]>Now, that place was just across the hall, but it was a million miles away to me. I ...]]>
Now, that place was just across the hall, but it was a million miles away to me. I was heartbroken. What had I done? Why wouldn’t he want to go on living with me forever? The delusions of a younger brother, I know, but it was agonizing.
Now, I hadn’t done anything. My brother still loved me, as much as a pre-teen boy can love his adoring younger brother, but he wanted his own room.
One of the luxuries of our modern age is space. Not the far reaching universe explored by daring astronauts, “personal space”… what my brother wanted.
Just a couple of generations ago, families, even extended families, lived in homes composed of one large room. Everyone was very close, physically, there was very little privacy, and almost everything was shared… from clothes and shoes to chairs and beds. You always had someone next to you, invading your personal space.
This idea of “space” is a relatively new concept. It’s a product of our blessings. As we attain more, we spread out and want the independent area to do our own thing. In essence, the more we acquire, the further removed we become.
Most people I know dream of a day when they can have enough money to move out of the suburbs and get some land. They are tired of the zero-lot lined subdivisions or apartments in which so many of us live. They want to get away from the crowds, from the people, and be out on their own.
They don’t want isolation, they just want to be able to chose when to invite people into their world, their space, and when to keep them out. How many people do you know who buy a big house on a large tract of land so they can “entertain”, yet, they never do?
Being hospitable and interacting takes a lot of work, especially when you have a big house to prepare and clean afterward. It’s not like having the neighbors over for coffee, everything become a big production.
This reverse of this concept was recently a reality for me. My family attended a conference that required us to share a one-room hotel room and, worse yet, one bathroom. I was really dreading this. I just knew we would drive each other crazy, but it was actually wonderful.
We were together, in one small room, at the dawn and close of each day. We talked and laughed and no one was able to go to their room and close the door. There was no personal space, no isolation. We shared everything, a TV, a bathroom, and beds. We grew closer emotionally through the physical proximity.
These few days helped me realize this concept of having our own space is driving a wedge in our relationships. Our efforts to be by ourselves keeps us from intimately knowing those around us, from sharing the defeats and victories in our lives, and prevents us from serving one another.
How can we reach those that need us most, physically and spiritually, if we are separating ourselves? As we are blessed, we need to think of greater ways to serve others, bring us closer, rather that spreading out. This will mean less personal space and independence, but will reap greater personal rewards than an empty 50 room mansion ever will.
How do you balance personal space with building relationships?
]]>Depending on the day, depending on your mood, your answer may vary.
Each day we live, life presents new opportunities and challenges.
One day is filled with joy and celebration, while the next is beset with grief and mourning. That’s life… through and through.
We ...]]>
Depending on the day, depending on your mood, your answer may vary.
Each day we live, life presents new opportunities and challenges.
One day is filled with joy and celebration, while the next is beset with grief and mourning. That’s life… through and through.
We don’t control the assignments life hands us. We wake up in the morning and our inbox is full.
We can’t go through the paperwork and pull out the things we want to face and throw the others in the trash. We have to deal with the good and the bad.
It can often seem that the requirements of each day are insurmountable. Day after day, the burden becomes heavier until we are physically stooped under its weight.
Our attitude and outlook begins to tarnish. Sunny days are filled with rain. Dark clouds hover over us wherever we go. We grow negative, pessimistic, and angry toward life.
We are consumed with what is wrong, not what has gone right. We are like the Children of Israel after God had performed wondrous signs and freed them from their captivity.
We complain and obsess over the journey ahead forgetting who delivered us to this point in our life.
Our faith is evaporated. We refuse to look at what God has done and continues to do, we myopically focus on our current condition and say, “Why me?”
We may not have control over the lemons we are handed in life, but we determine what we do with them.
We can bite into life and pucker at it’s bitter taste or sweeten a sour situation with the proper outlook and make life more palatable.
Effective living is all about attitude, perspective, and most importantly faith.
If we wake up each morning with a heart of acceptance, understanding our purpose in life and God’s plan for us, we can better handle the challenges we face.
Start each day completing the sentence in a uplifting manner. There is a bumper sticker I like that states it pretty simply… Life is Good.
After all, life comes from God. We read in Genesis 1 that looking upon his creation he saw that it was VERY GOOD. Who are we to question Him and the works of His hand?
This needs to be the vision for our lives. Go out and make it good. It’s within your power, no matter your situation, to make life good. Prioritize your perspective and order your life properly.