“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.”  John 15:9

Life is much easier when we find a bunch of substandard people to hang out with.  It helps us feel good about ourselves.  Nothing makes us appear to be great than to hang around people who aren't.  God sent Jesus to be the standard so that we don't fall into the trap of thinking we have already arrived and that we have nothing to strive for.

Lord, help me to love how YOU love and not simply better than those around me love.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”  Matthew 7:24-27

Sand is soft and warm and often on a beach with a beautiful view.  Rock is hard and often unseen and unnoticed and vastly underappreciated.  

Lord, help me to remember that when it "feels" good, it often isn't necessarily good, and when it seems hard, it is most likely valuable and meaningful.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”  1 John 3:1

One of life's biggest myths or misunderstandings is that Independence is the goal.  We are born fully dependent on parents.  A newborn can't do anything but poop and pee and they can't even do that if no one feeds them.  As we grow, parents attempt to give us increasing amounts of independence (because changing diapers on a teenager is worse than teaching a teenager to drive).  The move towards independence unfortunately leads us to believe that independence is the goal of life.  We are FREE, free to make choices and free to screw up, but no matter how much we may think we are or meant to be, we are not independent.  We are dependent on others.  Life is not meant to be lived alone.  Life is a TEAM sport.  We are also dependent on God.  We can not make it through this life without Him.  If that is your goal, how's that working out? (no need to reply, as I already know the answer ... from personal experience).

Lord, help me to seek You and Your assistance in my life.

“No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!”  Romans 8:37-39

The complete destruction of humanity will be linked backed to participation trophies.  However, in the competition that truly matters, God has already won and we are on His TEAM.

Lord, thank You for being a winner and allowing me to be a winner through my relationship with You.

“And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”  Mark 12:30

​We typically use the term "All In" when referring to our commitment to something that is important.  Are we truly "All In" or are we mostly in or conveniently in or in when we feel like it or in when it doesn't cost us too much?  

Lord, You aren't giving me a suggestion but rather a command so help me respond accordingly.

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."  I Timothy 4:8

“It takes persistent practice to be skillful in the act.”  Lailah Gifty Akita

Lord, help me to train for anything that I desire to have success in, especially my relationship with You!

“Love is…not irritable”  1 Corinthians 13:5

​Irritable is an underused description of a possible mental state or attitude.  We often use terms that are at the extreme.  Things like "pissed off" or similar are typical go-to terms.  But sometimes, we aren't to that degree.  We are simply "annoyed".  When we are irritated, our annoyance of something or someone often flies under our radar and doesn't require the attention that other feelings do.  And when we don't address our irritation, irritation becomes "pissed off" and then we definitely aren't in a loving attitude.  A typical sign of irritation is a lack of grace and patience.  We may not blow up on someone but we do find ourself annoyed with any sort of suggestion or unwanted correction that comes our direction.

Lord, forgive me for my language and also for my attitudes that go unaddressed and become unloving.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14

“Success is CHOICE, not CHANCE” Ben Burlinson

Lord, help me to not only make good choices, but sometimes I need help to simply make a choice and take you with me.

"Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." 1 Corinthians 1:26-27

A positive way to go through life is to look at our circumstances through "rose colored glasses".  An even better way to go through life is to look at our circumstances through "God colored glasses".  Life not only looks different but makes a lot more sense when we look at life from God's perspective. 

Lord, help me to see life the way You see it and the way You meant it to be seen.