BABY STEPS

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Those small steps will add up, and you'll be at your goals before you know it. 

MONEY MINDSET #FinanceFriday

Can you believe I looked forward to splitting another Chipotle bowl with Amanda? It's all about your mindset...

JESUS STYLE SUCCESS

For the first time in 44 years, the Purdue Boilermakers Men’s Basketball team will be playing in the Final 4 this weekend. Coach Matt Painter and 7’4” center Zach Edey have led the Boilers to a successful season. 

Success is unfortunately becoming viewed as a bad word by many in our culture. They reason if you are successful then you have hurt others or wronged them in order to get ahead in life. 

If we want to know what success in life truly is, we should look to Jesus’ example because Jesus redefines success. 

Jesus was both loved and hated. That tells us success does not necessarily mean popularity. As followers of Jesus, you will also be both loved and hated. 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus’ ministry is summarized by saying: 
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35-38 NIV) 

In word and action, Jesus brought the reality of God’s presence and Kingdom into the lives of those around Him. This is what Jesus style success look like and this is what you and I are called to imitate. To achieve success like Jesus, you need to model your life on Jesus and share His vision. 

Why? 

Because the need is urgent. 


Jesus saw that ‘they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’ (v.36). Today, we see so many people around us who don’t know Jesus and are spiritually lost. In addition to that, we see many who are in need of the basics of life. The need is urgent. We need to pursue Jesus style success. 

Why? 

Because of love. 


Jesus had compassion (v.36). His heart broke when He saw the condition of the people. Jesus loved them all. 

Jesus was not concerned with the people having worldly success or importance, but He knew true success is knowing God and being faithful to Him. This is why Jesus told His disciples to pray that God would raise up more people to follow Jesus’ example of success and bring in a huge harvest of people.  

Will you follow the success model of Jesus in your life?
Will you share in His mission and allow God to multiply yourself?
That’s true success. 

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

MARCH MADNESS begins this week! It's the most wonderful time of year for college basketball fans. Fans of all ages are looking forward to see if their team can win the NCAA championship. 

What are you looking forward to in your life? 

Luke chapter 2 tells us about a man named Simeon, who was also looking forward to something in the future. Of course, he wasn't looking forward to a basketball championship, he was looking forward to a Savior. And God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. So, when Joseph and Mary bring 8 day old Jesus to the temple, God's promise is kept to Simeon. What Simeon had been looking forward to actually happened. Simeon sees and holds the Savior of the world!

There are a lot of people looking for a Savior in this world. Some are hoping for a political savior in this 2024 election year. Others are looking for a spouse or someone significant in their life to bring them meaning and purpose. They long for their life to have peace and hope.  

I want to encourage you to be like Simeon and look forward to Jesus.  

Look to Jesus for PEACE. 

Simeon takes baby Jesus in his arms and says to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace." (Luke 2:29 NIV) 

Seeing Jesus gives Simeon peace. 

Look to Jesus to SEE WHAT GOD IS LIKE. 

In Luke 2:30-32 we read Simeon announce that Jesus is "a light for revelation" which means He is revealing to the world what God is like. 

I pray that you and I will have eyes like Simeon to look to Jesus and see God's salvation in the world today. May we see His grace and truth and wisdom for all of the decisions and encounters with people we will have today. Jesus is the way we can truly have something to look forward to in this life. 

5 MONEY DECISIONS YOU WILL NOT REGRET

If you want to be successful with your money, here are 5 things you can do TODAY that you will not regret: 

1 - Spend less than you earn.
I know this is a “Duh!” moment… but it’s so easy to over spend. I have been guilty of this in my life. I had to stop using credit cards for daily purchases because it was too tempting to go beyond my budget. Using the bank debit card or cash forces me to stay within my means. 

2 - Step up.
Take responsibility for your life and your finances. Do not let a “victim mentality” dominate your thoughts. (I am guilty of this at times.) God has blessed you with your abilities, so make the most of it! Step up and make the necessary changes so you can start winning with your life and your money.  

3 - Invest in yourself.
Learn what you need to learn about managing money. There are many resources available to help you navigate your finances. 

4 - Seek wise counsel.
You do not have to navigate this financial journey on your own! Find a Financial Coach like me or another trusted financial advisor to encourage you on this path.

5 - Seek God first.
I saved the best decision for last! The most important relationship in your life is your relationship with God. Ask God to help you be a wise and faithful manager of His money. After all, everything we have comes from Him! 

TROPHY LIFE

Growing up I had a trophy shelf in my bedroom. It was full of little league and basketball awards, and even my 3rd grade spelling bee champion trophy. I was very proud of these trophies. So proud that I would take time to dust them in order for them to shine brighter.

As I grew up and moved away, I left those trophies behind at my mom and dad’s house. But the idea of trophies never left me. 

My life and my Christian service became about the collection of trophies on my shelf. 

I was very proud of them. 

But God did not create me to be a trophy collector. God did not call me to shine so I would be noticed. God created me to shine His glory, so that people would notice Him. 

If I make being a consistent Christian my goal in order to accumulate more trophies, then I’m missing the point. My trophies do not make me more appealing to God. Anything that shines brighter than God in my life will actually cause me to be separate from God! 

I have to let go of past trophies (and failures) and focus on the true prize that Jesus has called me to win. 

I cannot follow Jesus into the future if I’m holding on to the past. 

"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 ‭NIV‬‬)

God did not create me to be a trophy on His shelf. He created me to be close to Him and reflect His glory so others would notice Him, not me. 

BIG UGLY BURGERS...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

I hope you had a wonderful time over the holidays.  I truly enjoyed myself... spending time with family and friends.  I'm very blessed. 

I have to tell you about my New Year's Eve experience.  For Christmas, my brother gave me a gift card to a little restaurant in Carmel, IN called "Bub's."  Bub's is the home of the "Big Ugly Burger."  The BUB is a 22 ounce cheeseburger that was featured on an episode of Man vs. Food.  It is HUGE!!! 


Before the grill.

 If you can eat the Big Ugly Burger, you get a 4x6 picture of yourself placed on the wall.  If you eat 2 Bub's, then you have an 8x10 photo on the wall.  If you eat 3 Bub's, a poster size picture is placed on the wall.  And if you eat 4 Bub's, a life size picture is made of you.  In the history of Bub's... only 3 people have eaten 3 Big Ugly Burgers.  No one has ever eaten 4. 

Being the competitive guy that I am, I went determined to eat the Bub.  I had watched the Man vs. Food episode featuring the Bub and knew that I had to at least get my picture on the wall. 

So my brother Chad, sister-in-law Megan, and my pretty friend Amanda went to Bub's on New Year's Eve.

Here we are before the meal.

Megan had a bread bowl of soup.  Way to go Megan!!  :-)

Here I am suffering from the "meat sweats."  =)

The last bite.

Celebrating my victory with some Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream!

Chad & Amanda also completed the challenge.  (Which was very impressive!) (Although Chad only finished because "Amanda made me do it." lol) 

In this round of man vs. food, the winner is... MAN.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!