When I was playing college baseball I missed a good portion of my senior season due to an illness. When I could finally play I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well, but the more pressure I put on myself the worse I performed. Finally, I made a decision to simply have fun, and that simple mindset shift led to some of the best games of my college career. 

We have been talking lately about finding God's direction for our lives in this new year. Once we have found the direction we are supposed to be moving we must trust and find joy in the process. Any goal worth attaining is more than likely going to take a process or series of steps in order to walk it out, and it's important to trust the process and have fun along the way. Here are some keys to trust and find more joy in the process. 

Trusting the Process

We are not talking about trust in ourselves that we can figure it out. We are talking about trusting that God will guide us along the path, that he has a good plan for ...

Recently I learned that the 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day and run through January 5/6th. The last day being symbolic of the day when the wise men brought Jesus gifts. That last day is called the day of Epiphany. 

Inside of this 12 day period is another important day, the 8th day after Jesus was born. In the Jewish culture it was tradition for baby boys to be circumcised and given their name on the 8th day after being born. 

In Luke 2:21 it says: "And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb."

Circumcision was a reminder of God's covenant with Abraham. Eight days after Christmas therefore is a reminder of our new covenant with God that he is doing continually good for us

It just so happens that New Year's Day, is the 8th day after Christmas. 

Today is a day to remember our covenant with God and to give a name to this year of 2021. 

My favorite way to remember our covenant...

Christmas is celebrating the day light came into the world. It is a reminder to wake up every day like a kid on Christmas morning, with joy and expectation. When Jesus was born the main message of the angels was peace and joy. 

Peace and joy are very powerful individually but when combined they are truly amazing. Peace and joy combined together leads to miracles. 

Last week we talked about peace being our indicator that we truly believe. Whenever we are in true faith there is always a sense of peace that comes along. Peace therefore, is our indicator that we are in faith and single minded in our beliefs. 

Joy is our indicator that we are focused on God's presence with us during the day. In God's presence there is fullness of joy. When we are present we are not stuck in the past or worried about an uncertain future. God is in the present moment, so as we get more present we connect with him and it leads to fullness of joy. When we have peace and joy together we have created the env...

Last night was the 8th night of Hanukkah. It was a reminder that God can take the little we have and do the miraculous with it, creating a new beginning. God still does miracles today. 

If you need a miracle today here is a formula to follow. 

Believe + Show Up Consistently = Miracles 

Believe

Believing starts with a firm decision in our heart. To decide means to kill something off. No more wavering. Believe and do not doubt. The believing we are talking about is confidence that God's grace and power are available to help. Our beliefs frame our perspectives on life. When we truly believe our faith is put into motion and it changes the way we speak and the actions we take. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 

Show up consistently 

The other half of the formula is showing up consistently. Once faith is put into motion we must take action and show up regularly in whatever we know to do. The first key to consistency is starting small with a focus on ...

Last night was the start of Hanukkah, which is an 8 Day Feast known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication. The number 8 is symbolic of new beginnings. We are nearing the end of the year and we are in a season where some things may be coming to a close. But, keep in mind that what looks like the end of something is often just a new beginning. 

In the Hanukkah story the Jewish people took back control of the temple but they only had enough oil for one night. God did the miraculous and made the oil last for 8 nights. When we embark on a new beginning in our lives it can often seem like we don't have enough but God can take the little we have and do the miraculous.

In 1 Kings 17 is the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. She is down to her last little bit of food and she says that she and her son are about to eat the little they have and die. But, Elijah tells her to make him a small cake first and then they can eat. When she does this it says that she and her h...

Yearly Cycle Updates 

Hanukkah starts the evening of Thursday December 10th and lasts for 8 nights. 

Hanukkah, known as the feast of dedication and also the festival of lights, is a time when God wants to see us firm up our commitment to what he has called us to do. To commit means that we go all in and don’t look back. 

Hanukkah also reminds us to implement God's standard for our lives, which is grace. God's grace and power are available to set us free and empower us to do continually good, even when it looks impossible. But we must receive this from God and rest from our works, so that God does his work through us. When we rest it increases our presence, and we become aware of more ways to be a blessing to others. If we will implement God's standard of grace our light will shine brighter and God will set us free to higher and higher levels 

The miracle of Hanukkah is a reminder that when we dedicate our lives to what God has called us to do, it may look impossible. It may look ...

This is a time of year when many shifts and transitions happen. Every year God wants to move us to new levels. As shifts and transitions occur there may be the temptation to fall back into old patterns instead of embracing a new way of life. Choose to keep growing, expanding, and moving forward rather than going back to old habits. 

As a practical example, I recently noticed something in Esther 8:8. After a command was given by the king to destroy God's people the tables were turned and the king now tells God's people to write whatever they want in the king's name. Jesus also says that if we abide in him we can ask for whatever we want in his name. 

Prior to this I had been feeling that God wanted me to start writing out regularly what I wanted, or what I was asking/believing him for each day, week, month, and year. Then to pray over it and give it to him. 

From the moment I prayed and gave it to him I was to move into "Confident Expectation of Good." This phrase is the Amplified ...

Yearly Cycle Updates

We are in a transitional time of year where God often opens new doors to the next level. This can be a time when some bigger pivotal decisions are made. If you are faced with big decisions I want to encourage you to choose to keep growing and expanding even if it looks scary. When making decisions make sure to follow peace on the inside. 

During this time of the year it can often feel like God is stretching us. He knows the areas in our lives that are bound up and restricting his power from flowing. He must put us into the stretch for long enough to set us free. In our physical bodies when an area tight, restricted, and bound up it is hard for blood, oxygen, and nutrients to bring health to the area. Tight restricted areas can also lead to pain and limit the bodies ability to perform well. 

If you are getting stretched right now God may be working to set you free in some areas that have been struggling. 

The Family Blueprint

This week in the Abundant Life Bl...

Yearly Cycle Updates

This is a time of year for transitions. During November and December God often opens new doors and opportunities, but it takes courage to do something new. God designed every year to lead to breakthroughs, but we have a part to play in taking the steps of faith to keep growing and expanding. If new doors or opportunities are opening for you, then as you make decisions make sure to let peace be your umpire for decision making. Follow where you have peace, even if it looks scary. 

The Miracle Year Class

This Tuesday at 6pm EST will be week 2 of the Miracle Year Class,

To register for the class click here

This week's topic is the 8 Mindset Keys. We will be discussing 8 mindsets that can help you create balance, consistency, rhythm , and simplicity in everything you do while also handling pressure more effectively. These 8 mindsets can be applied into everything we do. 

The Financial Blueprint

This week in the Abundant Life Blueprint we are on our final week of ...