Thanksgiving (Part 3)

As iron sharpens iron - so one man sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17

I was thinking of things I'm thankful for and I really feel like I need to acknowledge some friendships that I'm thankful for. I always talk about mentors and family - but haven't acknowledge my friends yet.

People always tell me as I grow up that if I have one or two really good friends - then I'm extremely blessed. As I grow older - I realize the truth that is in that statement. So here are some friendships I am thankful for this Thanksgiving:

Andrew Raisley - You're my roomie! I'm looking forward to sharpening each other on Saturday mornings. Thanks for always encouraging me to shoot for the highest and the best.

Ben Rath - It's been great getting to know you over the past two years. The life you live stretches me! Thank you so much for being a great friend and mentor. You encourage me to step out in faith!

C - Sweet Daddy C! As much as I rebuke Slicks prophecy... I do appreciate you. We've been friends since 2nd grade - so many good times! Love you bro!

David Faulk - Every time I talk to you a fire in me gets reignited for Jesus. Thanks for always being willing to listen and pour into my life.

David Riley - Riley . . . you're the man! I've had a blast hanging with you the past two years. Thanks for all of your encouragement and thanks for driving me crazy haha! I love ya!

Laura Steidel - You've never given up on me and always see the best in me and help draw it out. You believed in me when no one else did and for that I'll be forever grateful!

Scotty D - I've enjoyed getting to know you more intimately lately haha - God's got awesome things in store for you. Thanks for not letting me settle!

Sean Moore - You're one of my best friends bro! I'm so grateful we get to go through the journey of ministry together, have Words together, and help each other not settle for less than God's best.

Vanessa Phillips - We're best friends! haha... It's been a crazy journey! I'm thankful that we can always encourage each other and cheer each other up. Thanks for always being there for me!

Zack Blair - Thanks for always being there to listen to me and encourage me. Thanks for being obedient to God in every area of your life - I always look up to you and your example. I am so excited to watch you touch a generation of twenty somethings.

Obviously there are soooo many more - so if I didn't put you on here it DOES NOT mean I am not grateful for our friendship! All of you have added value to my life and if I interact with you at all - believe me - I'm grateful!

What friends are you grateful for in your life? Have you let them know?

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The Road to Chicago (Part 4)

The Power of a Partner

"A genuine friend encourages and challenges us to live out our best thoughts, honor our purest motives, and achieve our most significant dreams."

-Dan Reiland

Another one of the big lessons I learned throughout the whole marathon training process was the power of a partner. Pastor Larry has been my mentor since I graduated high school in 2003. Since then we've done so much together and now not only is he still one of my mentors, but he is also a great friend. We decided to run this marathon together in January and we've taken the journey together over the past 10 months. I've had so many great talks with PL over our 3-4 hour long runs on Saturday mornings and I could not have done everything we've done if he had not been by my side.

If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in Heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

-Matthew 18:19,20

Is there anything more important than who we take the journey of our lives with? From family, to friends, to who we marry. You will go no further in life than the people you surround yourself with. That is an absolute fact.

So ask yourself... do you have friends, family members, and a possible significant other that encourages and challenges you to live out your best thoughts, honor your purest motives, and to achieve your most significant dreams?

If not I suggest taking the advice of one professional speaker, "My friends told me I could never be a professional communicator. So I did something about it. I went out and got some new friends."

Who are you partnering with?

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Time Management (Part 3)

Those Who Start the Journey with you Seldom Finish with You

If you're anything like me you have an incredibly hard time telling people no or telling them something they do not want to hear. Because of this I often find myself "overbooking" my schedule to please people. In elementary school, middle school, high school, and even for some off college it seemed as if I had an infinite amount of time to spend with people, so I would hang out with as many people as I could as often as I could. As I continue in life's journey I am finding that the more you continue to grow in life the more important your time is and how you spend your time. You end up having to choose very intentionally who to spend time with and what you spend your time doing. Craig Groeschel had a great post on this.

i.e. Right now I am running a marathon, working 30 hours a week at church, I'm a full time college student, and go to Bible School. I have less time to spend with people now then I did when I was in high school and only had a 7 hour school day. When I get married, I'll need to spend a ton of time with my wife so my time will be even more limited...etc.

I often have people challenge me that I only spend time with "big dogs" or "people that can add value to me" and that bothered me incredibly. I would scream inside, "I only have so much time in a week, month, year, etc... and everyone wants my time and if I don't give it to them then I'm the bad guy... I CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY....AHHHHH."

I've discovered that it's a fact that:

• "You will go no further than the people you surround yourself with"
• "You show me your friends, and I'll show you your future"
• "You attract who you are, not who you want"
  

I guess what I am finding is this:

“People who have nothing to do usually want to spend their time with you!”

"Those Who Start the Journey with you Seldom Finish with You"

Friendships in life develop and are constantly changing as you go through seasons of life. I am convinced that "best friends" should be able to not see each other for years, and yet they'll get together and it will be like they've never left. Yet so many people make the assumption that it will always be like the "good old days" and they get upset when it's not. Unfortunately these people end up missing out on the journey because they refuse to go on and accept change. Even when you do give them time, they end up wasting it by complaining about how it isn't like the good old days (this drives me insane...Grow and Get a Life!)

I want to spend my time wisely with people who:

• Can constantly challenge me to dream, go after God, and change the world
• Are going somewhere in life and understand the value of time
• Are a blast to hang out with
  
• Don't spend 90% of their conversations complaining
• Will treat me the same even if they haven't seen me in years

If I spent time with everybody who wants my time... I'd burn out, would never have time alone, would never have devotions, and would never be effective in life. I love what Paul said:

"Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant."
-Galatians 1:10

If I am not intentional with how I spend my time and who I spend it with... I will miss out on so much of what God has for me...I'm here to please an audience of One!

Realize I am not talking about spending time with people who are hurting and need counseling and things of that nature... I am talking about my personal life.

What are your thoughts on this subject?

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Back When I Knew it All (Part 2)

You Show Me Your Friends and I'll Show You Your Future

One of the biggest barrier shattering truths I've learned is how important the people you surround yourself with are. If you've ever heard me tell my story, you've heard me talk about my "oompa lumpa" friend who changed my life with a quote about friends. He said to me:

"Bubba, friends love you the way you are, but real friends love you enough to not let you stay where you are."

At that moment, I evaluated my life and relationships and determined that I would become purposeful in choosing who I surround myself with. I want to surround myself with people who will bring out the best in me and challenge and encourage me to reach my maximum potential.

Here are some nuggets that have helped me in this area:

• If you're following nobody, you'll become nobody

• "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens another man!"

• Most people won't be in your inner circle because you want them to be, you have to ask them

• You will go no higher in life and in purpose than the immediate circle of those who surround you in daily life.

I will probably do a whole series sometime on the people you surround yourself with.

Who do you purposefully hang out with that will take you to a higher level? Challenge you? Help you reach your potential?

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