Year End Inventory

Good morning! I hope you had a great Christmas holiday and are looking forward to the New Year with great anticipation.

At this time of year business owners are closing out their financial books and taking year end inventory. During this time of inventory supply is accounted for and demand is evaluated. Based on this information the business owner will determine items that require greater or less inventory in the year to come. The business owner will also use this process to make decisions about those things that are profitable and those things which are not.

On this last day of 2007, I would encourage you to also take inventory:

Romans 12:3 (NLT)

As God’s messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.

People also need to evaluate the shelves of their lives. What unnecessary inventory is aging in your soul? Are there old hurts, doubts or fears that are hindering you in your daily life? Are there new habits or lifestyle changes that need to be added to improve your quality of life?

Take time today to evaluate the success, struggles and failures of 2007. Take note of the common threads that are seen and the gaps that are visible. From this information you can develop your plan and goals to make 2008 the best that it can be.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Nothing Better to Do

Yesterday I came down with a nasty case of the stomach flu, so today I sat around with soup, crackers and 7Up. Days like today leave me lots of time to accomplish worthwhile things like finding this video. You Journey fans out there will enjoy this one I'm sure.

Merry Christmas

Good morning!

We live in a time when political correctness has gone to the extreme. The celebration of Christ’s birth has now become “happy holidays.” Give me a break! I didn’t grow up celebrating “happy holidays.” Never did I bound down the stairs of my boyhood home to see what I had received on “happy holidays” morning. I don’t recall gathering with my parents around the family Bible to read the “happy holidays” story. Nor did I join friends and family at church on “happy holidays” eve.

I for one am proud to celebrate Christmas. I’m not ashamed of my faith in Jesus Christ…in fact it is central to who I am as a man. Why would I run from that? I believe that God sent His one and only Son to save my soul…it is the foundation of my life.

So today, I am going to keep it short, sweet and simple! I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. May the joy of Jesus be yours today.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Awesome rendition of Little Drummer Boy

I have always loved this White Heart version of the Little Drummer Boy. I found this video set to it and wanted to share....enjoy!!!

Taking the Journey

Good morning! I hope your weekend has been a refreshing one.

Over the weekend I was talking to a man in our church about the journey of faith he has taken over the past 6 months. His journey began when he made himself available to the Lord for what he thought would be a very temporary assignment. Over these last six months, the Lord has accomplished much greater things through him as he took each days step in trusting obedience.

A life of faith is a life of incomplete pictures:

Genesis 12:1 (NLT)
Then the Lord told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you.

Only today’s portion of the picture is revealed. Only after we have completed the step for today is tomorrow’s step revealed. In many ways this is done for our own protection. If the Lord revealed the whole picture at once we would be overwhelmed. I have said many times: “If I knew what I was going to encounter along the way, I would have never agreed to take the journey.” Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the journey for the world, but on the front end I would have said “impossible.”

With each day’s steps, God reveals His ability to the “impossible” in and through us. The only requirement is that we keep walking as He is leading.

Today you may find yourself on a journey with no clearly defined ending point. Don’t lose heart! The blessings of the journey await you, and the end result will be much more than you ever dreamed of.

Until next Monday, may God’s riches blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Greatest Gift

Good morning! I hope you recharged your batteries this weekend and are fully energized as you start off your day.

This week many of you, like myself are busily working to wrap up your Christmas shopping. You’ve already spent hours in the stores and online trying to find the perfect gift for the loved ones in your life.

The air is filled with the sounds of ringing bells and Christmas carols. The streets and sidewalks are busy with the buzz of holiday traffic. The colors of red and green dot the landscape while yet another “today only” sale is announced.

I am afraid that in all of this commotion and emotion we forget the things that really matter:

John 3:16 (NLT)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

The greatest gift the world has ever known has been given. God loved you…God loved me…God loved all of us so much that “he gave his only Son…”

In the midst of the carols, nativity scenes and gift wrap have you stopped to consider the fact that God gave his Son for you. Without Jesus there would be no hope. Without Jesus there would be no grace. Without Jesus there would be no forgiveness. Without Jesus there would be no intimacy with God.

Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)
All right then, the Lord himself will choose the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel—’God is with us.’

Jesus…God with us!!! This Christmas season take time out to celebrate the one who loved you so much that he gave his life for yours. Despite all that Madison Avenue tells you…Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Appreciating the Giftings of Others

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and that you are off and running this morning.

This weekend was a great time for me. I had the privilege of spending a good bit of time with the people from our church. Over the weekend we decorated our sanctuary for the Christmas season and last night we shared a meal together and kicked off our celebration of the Savior’s birth.

What made this time special for me was the opportunity of seeing others utilize their gifts, talents and abilities for common purposes. This is a real life demonstration of God’s divine makeup of our lives and the lives of those around us.

1 Corinthians 12:28 (NLT)
Here is a list of some of the members that God has placed in the body of Christ:

first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who can get others to work together,
those who speak in unknown languages.

On Saturday night, I watched as those with a gift for design and visual aesthetics guided those with a gift for serving and doing decorate a sanctuary, while those with a gift of hospitality made sure there were refreshments for everyone. On Sunday morning I watched a 10 year old girl share her singing abilities while those with a heart for missions encouraged us to be apart of international mission efforts. Last night we culminated with a mixture of another diverse group of people decorating, serving and sharing.

Whether it’s a church, a business or simply a family, we are at our best when we take note of the gifting of those around us and create an opportunity for those gifts to flourish.
This week I encourage you to observe the gifts, talents and abilities in those who God has placed around you. How can their unique abilities mesh with yours to make everything you undertake that much better?

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl