Category: Morning Bible Reading…

THRIVE: Let’s do it!


After nearly 3 years between covid years where things were canceled in many cases, and modified in other cases, this year we get to do it! This year we get to be filled up and pour out our lives for the good of others and the glory of God! There are many who may try to manipulate through fear, worry, anxiety, and doubt but that’s not what or how God wants it! Today, let’s choose to live our lives in alignment with God’s plan to give us hope and a future! Let’s choose to live our lives in a way where we live life to the full! Let’s cast our care and anxieties on God because He cares for us! Let’s consider it pure joy when we face trials allowing perseverance to complete its work so that we can be complete and lacking nothing! Let’s live out today humbly trusting that God will lift us up in His due time! It’s time! Let’s do it!

Photo by Olya Kobruseva on Pexels.com

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ‘

1 Peter 5:7

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Be Faithful In The Little Things – Day 3

Be Faithful In The Little Things – Day 3

Are you ready? Is the foundation set? Is the support in place? Are you covering it all in prayer? Are you trusting God? Are you being faithful in the little things? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: It’s GO time!


Today the adventure begins of getting to provide and serve others. It’s time to go and help the team get ready and be set up! It’s time to go and make sure things are ready and set up for a weekend! It’s time to be rested, prayed up, and lean in on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through the scheduled activities! It’s time to come together to accomplish God’s plan and transform lives forever!

Where are you today? Are you ready to GO? Are you prepared to GO? Are you prayed up to GO? Are you rested up to GO? Are you filled up to GO? Are you willing to GO? Are you serving to GO? Are you able to GO?

It is GO time! So let’s get started…

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.’

Psalms 100:5

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Be Faithful In The Little Things – Day 2

Be Faithful In The Little Things – Day 2

Are you ready? Are you willing? Are you going? Invite Jesus into your situation! Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Time to finish strong early on purpose!


Lots going on and so today between getting to watch my daughter playing in the national championship tournament and looking to wrap up the work week strong, I am leaning in on God for wisdom and discernment along with health and protection to help me accomplish the good works He has prepared in advance for me to accomplish. There is always a lot that will pull at us for our time, our resources, and our finances. The key is to lean in on God and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us down the right path so that we can remain focused and live with purpose, on purpose, and for a purpose! So today as I get my day started, figuring out the things to get done and the things that can wait till next week, I turn to God for wisdom and direction so that in and through it all, He will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’ name.

Verse of the Day:

‘For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ‘

Matthew 7:8

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Be Faithful In The Little Things – Day 1

Be Faithful In The Little Things – Day 1

Are you being faithful? Are you trusting God? Are you putting Him first? Are you living with purpose, on purpose, and for a purpose? Are you ready to finish strong? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in being faithful with the little things so that God can work in and through your life for your good and His glory!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: The middle, the beginning, press towards the finish.


Well, it’s time again to decide how you will handle your midweek situation. Will it be a speed bump? Will it be a ramp to get you ahead? Will it be a blocker holding you back? The decision is up to you. Today is the beginning of ECNL Girls National Championship play with the opportunity for the local girls to win in their own state. So today be it at work, at home, in the office, or on the field, let’s choose to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us! Let’s choose to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and encourage us! Let’s choose to ask the Holy Spirit to be our advocate, our counselor, and our guide to help us live our lives to the full in order that we may thrive, living for the glory of God!

THRIVE LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. ‘

Proverbs 9:10

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 21

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 21

Where are you at today? What is your perspective? How will you choose to see things? How will you adjust your perspective? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your day!


Busy calendar? Is it because you have to be or because you let it be? Is it with the right people at the right time on the right topics? Invite God into your scheduling and allow Him to add/remove things from it based on His plans and purpose for your day! Invite the Holy Spirit to grant you wisdom and discernment about what meetings need to happen and which don’t. Invite the Holy Spirit into each meeting to give you the thoughts, the words, and the actions necessary to accomplish God’s will and for Him to receive the glory! Allow new things to be added when the Holy Spirit prompts. Allow existing things to be moved around when the Holy Spirit prompts. Focus on the good works God has prepared in advance for you to accomplish today!

Will you allow the Holy Spirit to clean up your heart, knowing that from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to fill up your heart with love, knowing that from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to heal and restore your heart, knowing that from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks? Will you guard your heart knowing that everything you do flows from it?

From the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks

So who is in control of your day? Are you rejecting God’s wisdom and discernment or accepting it? Are you rejecting God’s purposes and plans for your day or accepting them? Are you rejecting God’s prompting or accepting it? Are you trying to go it alone or are you willing to go it with God and with others? Let’s choose to go through today with God and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through it so that we can accomplish God’s will for His glory!

THRIVE LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ‘

Proverbs 4:23

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 20

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 20

Are you ready to talk with God in a direct way? Are you ready to avoid the fluffy stuff and start with straight-talking? Are you ready to speak with and listen to the Holy Spirit to help you get through today? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Allow Him to create a new heart in you and for you to be born again, becoming a new creation where the old stuff that was holding you back is gone and the new stuff that will help you finish the race called life strong!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Workweek starts in 3…2…1…


Yesterday was a fun day getting to get up on stage with an incredible team of people to be commissioned for camps this summer. Yesterday was a fun day getting to spend time with the family with a great meal and time together to celebrate father’s day. Yesterday was a great day too as I was able to get a great sleep in preparation for this new work week.

Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit to overflow? Are you filled with love to overflowing? Are you filled with compassion to overflowing? Are you filled with energy and excitement to overflow? Are you ready to thrive for the glory of God? Are you ready to accomplish the good works that God has prepared in advance for you to accomplish? Are you ready to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to adjust your calendar in order to accomplish all God has planned and prepared for you to accomplish?

This is the day that the Lord has made and so let us rejoice and be glad in it!

THRIVE LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. ‘

Psalms 113:3

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 19

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 19

Are you ready? Are you aware? Are you aligned? Are you prepared? Are you filled? Wherever you are right now, invite Jesus into your heart to help. Wherever you are right now, invite Jesus into your life to transform, lead, guide, direct, and to correct. Wherever you are right now, allow the Holy Spirit to be your comforter and your guide, your counselor, and advocate to help you move forward into all that God has planned and prepared for you!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Happy Father’s Day!


As the day begins and I consider all that today means there are so many things. Today is commissioning day where the team and I will be prayed for in preparation for the camps this summer. Today is a Sunday and so I will get to hear the preaching of the Word of God. Today is Father’s Day and I am blessed to have a great dad who has been a great role model for me. I reflect back to the moment when I had the aha moment about having a relationship with my Heavenly Father. To thrive requires relationship building! Be it building relationships through reconciliation! Be it building relationships through forgiveness! Be it building relationships through spending time together! All successful ministries come through relationships!

So today, let’s thrive and make the most of our day, accomplishing the good works God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish for our good and His glory!

Today’s verse of the day:

‘As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; ‘

Psalms 103:13

Are you needing compassion today? Are you needing to give it or receive it? Are you ready to accept it or offer it? Could today be the day to rekindle a relationship out of compassion? Could today be the day to strengthen or rebuild a relationship out of compassion? Could today be the day to start a relationship out of compassion?

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 18

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 18

Are you needing compassion? Are you needing reconciliation? Are you needing forgiveness? Let’s get it started today by inviting Jesus into our hearts and our lives! Let’s get it started by allowing the Holy Spirit to clean out the negativity and gunk of the past so that we can receive and give compassion! Let’s get it started by allowing the Holy Spirit to clean out the negativity and gunk of the past so that we can receive and give reconciliation! Let’s get it started by allowing the Holy Spirit to clean out the negativity and gunk of the past so that we can receive and give forgiveness!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Wrap it up and get ready for what is yet to come!


Are you ready? What have you been called to do? What are you supposed to get done? What is yet to come? Are you holding onto the reality that the best is yet to come? Are you holding onto the reality that Jesus is coming back? Are you aware that there is more to do? Are you ready to do the good works that God has prepared in advance for you to accomplish? Are you ready to take the time? Are you prepared to make the time? Are you ready to get it done? Let’s be ready to give an answer for the reason for the hope that is within us!

Let’s get read up! Let’s get trained up! Let’s get filled up! Let’s wrap it up!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, ‘

Psalm 103:2

Let’s remember the benefits! Let’s remember how He forgives all our iniquity! Let’s remember how He heals all our diseases! Let’s remember how He redeems our life from the pit! Let’s remember how He crowns us with steadfast love and mercy! Let’s remember how He satisfies us with good so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 17

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 17

Where are you today? Are you ready to wait upon the Lord and renew your strength? Are you ready to wait for God’s wisdom and direction? Are you ready to begin your journey today? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Do see it as a finish line or a transition line?


Can you believe it is already the end of the work week? With everything taking place and scheduled are you seeing today as a finish line or a transition line, like the passing of a baton in a relay race?

For me today will be the end of the graduation festivities that have been going on for about 3 weeks now. For me, it is a transition as we prepare for camps coming up and then a transition to college move in, and then transition to another camp.

How about you is today a finish line day or a transition day? The interesting thing is that either way we are still being called to finish strong! If you consider a 4×100 race each transition isn’t coasting but rather a strong finish so that the next leg of the race starts strong! So today, let’s choose to finish strong! If it is just the week, finish strong! If it is something else or something more, finish strong! Whatever it is for you choose to finish strong!

Let’s finish strong and thrive for the glory of God!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” ‘

Isaiah 12:2

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 16

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 16

Where are you today? Are you at a transition point to pass the baton or to receive it? Are you finishing strong or starting strong? Are you patiently awaiting the baton? Are you patiently trying to pass the baton? Why not invite Jesus into your heart and allow Him to lead and guide you? Why not invite Jesus into your life and allow Him to direct your steps and help build your patience? Why not invite the Holy Spirit who is here to be your comforter and guide you into the situation so that you can finish strong, start strong, and be patient in the midst of it all!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Pressing in and Pressing forward to accomplish what is most important!


So with tomorrow being Friday how are you going to live out your today? Are you over the hump of Wednesday and coasting? Are you flying because Wednesday was a ramp and you are pressing in and pressing forward towards the goal for the glory of God? Are you focused? Are you prioritizing things so that what is most important is getting done? Let’s pause and consider the prioritization quadrant for a moment.

Urgent vs Important

or another way to look at it would be

So, tomorrow is Friday so consider the things pulling for your time and let’s press in and press forward to accomplish what needs to be done now and plan for the things that will need to get done. Let’s choose to not be distracted by the things that aren’t important, especially those that aren’t important but are coming at you like they are in crisis.

As I reflect on things on my plate I see family things, like celebrating my daughter’s graduation including a party planned for tomorrow. I also see calling things like prepping the final details for camp to bless a bunch of teenage girls that are coming up soon. I also see a huge project for work with many tasks that need to get done. There are some things that are needing me to action today. There are some things that I need to plan out today. There are some things that I need to say no to and others that I will need to delegate.

How about you? What are you pressing in on? What are you pressing forward on? How are you prioritizing all the things pulling at your time?

Let’s choose to thrive for the glory of God!

THRIVE LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ‘

Galatians 5:24

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 15

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 15

So where are you at today? What is it that you are facing? What is it that you need to prioritize? What is it that you need to evaluate? What detour has entered the picture? What will you do? Where will you turn? How will you respond? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into the situation! Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment to help you decide and move forward for the glory of God!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Ramping things up…


Yep, it’s Wednesday or as some call it hump-day but I prefer to think of it as ramp day as it helps launch me forward as long as I choose to press in and press on, accelerating towards it. This week the high school graduation celebrations will be wrapping up too as my daughter has her grad party to close out the week. The wrapping-up also captures extended family heading back to their homes as my mother-in-law heads home today. So as I look to hit the ramp as we prepare to wrap up graduation celebrations, we know this isn’t the end but the beginning of a new chapter. So let’s choose to live today to the full, the way God prepared and planned for us to live it! Let’s choose to thrive for the glory of God by serving, preparing, being doers of the Word, and by being sensitive to and obedient to the Holy Spirit! Let’s choose to thrive for the glory of God in Jesus’s name!

THRIVE LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ‘

James 3:13

Today’s post from Be The Dads is
Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 14

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 14

How are you today? Are you ramping up? Are you wrapping up? Are you needing help and direction? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you, instruct and correct you so that you can be all that you were created and purposed to be!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Even with everything that’s taken place, until it is over there is still more to do.


If you are reading this then you are here and as such you have things to do and get done. This is the day that the Lord has made and so let’s rejoice and be glad in it! God has prepared in advance good works for us to accomplish today and it is up to get it done! So let’s be about the work of the Father and getting done those good works! Let’s focus on the things He has for us to get done today including making plans for what is next. Let’s not try to go it alone but instead choose to work on things together! We were never meant to go it alone and hence why God gave us one another! We were never meant to go it alone and hence why God sent the Holy Spirit! God cares too much to leave us on our own and promises to never leave us nor forsake/abandon us! So today let’s make sure we lean into God and cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us! Let’s choose to listen to the prompting and directing of the Holy Spirit in order to be able to accomplish all that God has planned for us! Let’s remember God’s plans for us are for good and not for evil, they are to give us hope and a future! Yes, in this world we will have troubles but we don’t have to worry or mope about it because we know that Jesus overcame the world! Yes in this world we will face trials too but don’t fret or worry about that because we know that we should consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because we know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. We know that when we let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. So today, let us choose to lean in on God and trust Him, pursuing His plans, His purposes, and His calling on our lives!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ‘

1 Chronicles 16:34

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 13

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 13

Are you ready for today? Do you have a to-do list? Do you know what you need to do? Invite Jesus into your heart and life today to lead and guide us in every good work!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: As the week begins and things are heading back towards normal…


Happy Monday! The weekend of celebration is wrapping up and another early morning trip to the airport to send loved ones home. The work week begins with excitement about getting to present. And nearly back to normal. Although, what is normal? Is it how things were 3 weeks ago? Is it how things were pre-covid? Is it how things will be later this week? Is it how things will be when we get into the end of summer? Change is constant and so defining normal may seem to change too.

The dictionary tells us this about normal:

nor·mal [ˈnôrməl] ADJECTIVE normal (adjective) conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected: "it's quite normal for puppies to bolt their food" · "normal working hours" synonyms: usual · standard · typical · stock · common · ordinary · customary · conventional · habitual · accustomed · expected · wonted · everyday · regular · routine · day-to-day · daily · established · settled · set · fixed · traditional · quotidian · prevailing · average · run-of-the-mill · middle-of-the-road · mainstream · unremarkable · unexceptional · plain · simple · homely · homespun · workaday · garden-variety antonyms: unusual · abnormal (of a person) physically and mentally healthy: "until her accident Louise had been a perfectly normal little girl" · "many previously normal people exhibit psychotic symptoms after a few nights without sleep" synonyms: sane · in one's right mind · right in the head · of sound mind · in possession of all one's faculties · able to think/reason clearly · lucid · rational · coherent · balanced · well balanced · compos mentis antonyms: insane · irrational technical (of a line, ray, or other linear feature) intersecting a given line or surface at right angles: "a single plane of symmetry with a diad axis normal to it" medicine (of a salt solution) containing the same salt concentration as the blood: "dilute the stock solution with sterile water or normal saline" chemistry dated (of a solution) containing one gram-equivalent of solute per liter. geology denoting a fault or faulting in which a relative downward movement occurred in the strata situated on the upper side of the fault plane. NOUN normal (noun) · normals (plural noun) the usual, average, or typical state or condition: "her temperature was above normal" · "the service will be back to normal next week" synonyms: standard · usual · typical · average · the rule · predictable · unexceptional · par for the course · what one would expect · expected · (only) to be expected antonyms: the exception informal a person who is conventional or healthy. technical a line at right angles to a given line or surface: "the view is along the normal to the surface" ORIGIN mid 17th century (in the sense ‘right-angled’): from Latin normalis, from norma ‘carpenter's square’ (see norm). Current senses date from the early 19th century. Nor·mal [ˈnôrməl] DEFINITION a town in central Illinois, home to Illinois State University (originally a normal, or teachers, school); population 52,056 (est. 2008). https://www.bing.com/search?q=define%20normal&qs=n&form=QBRE&=%25eManage%20Your%20Search%20History%25E&sp=-1&pq=define%20normal&sc=8-13&sk=&cvid=2A36ECDCAB0A44BBB2BF03199E27C49F

I’ve joked over the years that the only time people have called me normal is if they put ab in front of it! But are we supposed to be average? Nope, Jesus calls us to a higher standard and to raise the bar! The Holy Spirit is with us to lead us and guide us, instruct us and correct us! God is with us and in us when we have received the Holy Spirit through inviting Jesus into our hearts as our Lord and Savior! So rather than choosing to be normal, choose to raise the bar, to be unusual, to be above average, to be unpredictable, to be exceptional, to be above par! Let’s allow Jesus to set the standard rather than living according to the standards of this world! Let’s choose to thrive rather than just survive by living for the glory of God!

THRIVE - LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! ‘

Philippians 2:5-8

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 12

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 12

So where are you at? Are you ready to be more than normal? Are you ready to be more than average? Invite Jesus into your heart today! Invite Jesus into your life today! Allow the Holy Spirit to enter in and guide you through life today!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: It’s not over and yet there is a slow drip of departures.


With the Friday graduation that included the surprise addition of my oldest daughter on my younger daughter and this morning she is flying back early, tomorrow we’ll have my parents and then later in the week my mother-in-law. All with early morning departures and so will be getting up earlier than my normal early but I get to bring them to the airport and wish them a safe trip back to their respective homes. It’s been a fun time of celebration and getting to spend time with family.

So today I look forward to the message on the Holy Spirit at church and a day of rest and refreshing, spending time as a family as things continue related to the graduation for a little bit longer. Praying for God’s wisdom and strength to accomplish all He has for me this week as there are continued excitement and growth on the work front. With there being a slow drip it is even more important to have God’s infilling overflowing in my life. With there being a slow drip it is even more important to make sure your heart is filled and that you get rest so that you can stay focused and excited. So let’s choose today to invite Jesus into our hearts and minds to help us stay filled with love and hope from the fountain of living water as well as have our minds renewed to be able to focus and accomplish all He has prepared in advance for us to accomplish for His glory! Let’s choose to thrive for the glory of God!

THRIVE - FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ‘

Romans 12:10

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 11

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 11

So are you ready? Are you rested? Are you prepared? Will you invite Jesus in to fill you up? Will you invite Jesus in to help you out? Will you invite Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior? Will you invite Jesus into your life to lead and guide you?

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: With limited time left how will you use the time you have left?


Be it a child visiting for the weekend. Be it a child graduating from high school. Be it a child heading off to college in a couple months. Be it your parents leaving in a couple days. Whatever the case, we need to be good stewards of our time and make the most out of it.

Ever heard from people with terminal illnesses and how they start to live each day like it could be their last? Ever considered living every day like it will be your last in order to make the most of it? Do you think it would change your priorities? your schedule? your focus? your life? Realistically we all have a limited time left here on this planet, no matter if we are a baby or a senior, none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, and are called to make the most of our today!

So here we go, it’s Saturday morning! How will you choose to live out your today? What is a priority to you that you want and need to accomplish? What things are within your control and what things aren’t? What things would make it the best today ever? What would it take to make it a reality? What if you could do that every day?

Let’s make good choices today, being a good steward of the time we have, and choosing to thrive for the glory of God in and through it all!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. ‘

Isaiah 43:2

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 10

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 10

Where are you at today? How will you use the time you have left today? How will you choose to use the time you have? Are you ready to ask God for wisdom and direction? Are you ready to ask God for discernment and instruction? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Pursue Him and His will and His purpose for your life and decide to live life to the full!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Harness the excitement and the energy in order to finish strong and celebrate!


After waking up in the middle of the night to some huge excitement and then sleeping in from my usual wake-up time, today is going to be one that is filled with excitement and energy as my younger daughter’s graduation ceremony is tonight. So in preparation for that excitement on a personal level, I will use that energy and excitement to help me finish my workweek strong and get a bunch done in order to be able then to get to celebrate tonight and this weekend as my kids, my parents, my mother-in-law is all here with my wife and me to have a grand weekend celebration.

How about you? What can you use to have the energy to get what God has prepared in advance for you to do and get it done? What will you do to finish the week strong? How will you celebrate in order to thrive and glorify God?

THRIVE - LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. ‘

Ephesians 2:10

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 9

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 9

Today let’s choose to make a difference! Let’s choose to be salt and light! Let’s invite Jesus into our hearts! Let’s invite Jesus into our lives! Let’s allow Jesus to give us the wisdom and discernment, direction, and instruction!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Let the excitement energize you!


Happy Today everyone! So there is so much going on these past couple of weeks and it isn’t done yet. Many things extend days till late into the night. Many things are joyful and filled with celebrations. Now we need to harness these emotions and feelings to energize us to finish the good works God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish. Let’s harness these emotions to be able to press in and press on to thrive for the glory of God!

Ever get that feeling in your gut, some describe it as butterflies? It can happen when you are feeling excited and when you are feeling nervous. What I try to do is tell myself something exciting is about or is happening whenever I get that feeling so that my brain does cause me to freak out when that feeling happens. Making that choice allows the energy that is building up to be used for good rather than evil. How about you? Do you allow the feeling to energize you or paralyze you? Do you allow the feeling to help you move forward or hold you back? Why not choose to use that energy to strengthen, motivate, and encourage you to do something great for God!

Last week there was the honor of senior awards and then the senior baccalaureate, yesterday was the senior parade after the last day of school and tomorrow is graduation day. So with all this excitement, I try to use it to help me make progress at work, and at home with extra family here for the celebration. The most excitement this week would have to have been celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. The week’s not over yet and so I am going to choose to harness this energy to help me focus and get stuff done in order to thrive for the glory of God! Let’s allow our faith to overpower and overwhelm our fear! Let’s allow the truth to overwhelm the lies! Let’s make today count!

THRIVE - LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 8

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 8

Let’s decide to make today count! Let’s decide to learn through God’s Word! Let’s decide to live our lives in a way that allows God’s Word to speak in and through our words, actions, and thoughts! Let’s decide to live our lives in a way that will allow us to thrive for the glory of God! Invite Jesus into your life! Invite Jesus into your heart! Begin to live transformed lives!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: It’s that time of the week and the hump in the week is feeling steeper, so let’s dig deeper in order to use it as a ramp to get us farther!


Can you believe it is the middle of the week again? Where does the time go? Yesterday my son finished his first year of high school and today my younger daughter finishes her senior year of classes. Today is the first day of the second 25 years of marriage as we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary yesterday. And there is still so much to get done. So today the focus is on accelerating up the hill, over the hump in order to use it as a ramp for getting more done and landing further ahead. It’s time to make it happen, no excuses, no delays, just get it done! As Knight Rider would say “turbo boost K.I.T.T.”.

It’s time to get ahead and get it done so we can be prepared. So let’s make today count! Let’s grab hold of what the definition of thrive really is:

Definition of thrive intransitive verb 1: to grow vigorously : FLOURISH 2: to gain in wealth or possessions : PROSPER 3: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances -- often used with on // thrives on conflict

So today, let’s choose to thrive for the glory of God!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ‘

1 Peter 5:6

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 7

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 7

Let’s choose to live our lives humbly submitted to God! Let’s choose to live our lives with humility and allow God to lift us up at the right time rather than walking around with pride and arrogance and being brought down! Let’s ask Jesus into our hearts in order to receive a new heart and be able to live our lives in alignment and in relationship with God! Could today be your day for this new beginning? Could today be your day to live differently? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life and situation! Pursue Him with all you have and see God’s hand lead and guide you beyond anything you could ever ask or imagine!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Make today count!


Do you know why you should make today count? Do you realize there are many reasons? First of all, this is the day that the Lord has made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it! This is reason enough to make every today count! I have an extra special reason to make today count as 25 years ago I married the love of my life and she has made me the happiest man, husband, and father I could have imagined! 25 years ago God put into motion a relationship that would draw us closer to Him and strengthen our faith and our love for Him and for one another! For me, every day is Happy Today but today is extra special, and am so glad to get to share this with you and to spend forever with my wife. As I was getting ready this morning I noticed a shirt I hadn’t put out to wear today but it says “Married 25 years and looking forward to forever”. So I put it on and adjusted my planned wardrobe. With guests being here I have to pick my clothes the night before instead of in the morning in the dark and so I know what I was going to wear but an adjustment was needed in order to make today count! Fill it with hope! Fill it with joy! Fill it with faith! Most of all, fill it with love!

Wedding Day 1997

So make your today count! Not sure how or what to do? Invite God into the situation and ask Him to help you be a good steward of your time so that you can glorify Him and He can bless you! Have some cares or anxiety you’ve been carrying around and wondering how in such a situation you can make today count? God tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 that we are to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us! Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 to go to Him when we are feeling weak and burdened and He will give us rest. He tells us that He will make a swap with us by allowing us to take His yoke and learn from Him and find rest in our souls! So let’s grab hold of the reality of today and be transformed and led and guided and instructed by the Holy Spirit in order to make today count! THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

MAKE TODAY COUNT!

‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ‘

Ezekiel 36:26

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 6

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 6

Let’s be positive role models today! Let’s make today count in the words we use, the actions we take, and the thoughts we allow to take hold. Let’s consider and choose to consider it pure joy even when we face trials of many kinds! Let’s choose to make today count! Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Allow Him to lead and guide you!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: What are you doing? Why are you doing it?


As the week kicks off I reflect on a question/comment I made last night at my daughter’s baccalaureate when I said “God’s Word tells us to be ready in and out of season to give a reason” and was going to ask my daughter’s friend’s boyfriend a question. It didn’t happen but God’s Word is so true and so powerful and so right!

Are you ready to give an answer to the question someone could ask you? Are you ready to give an answer to why you have so much hope? Are you ready to give an answer for what you are doing? Are you ready to give an answer to why you are doing it? Are you ready to express that God is leading and guiding you into what you are to be doing? Are you ready to express that Jesus is the reason why you are doing it?

Let’s pause for a moment and consider what Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:2:

Let’s consider what we hear from Peter in 1 Peter 3:15-16:

So as we begin our week, let’s get prepared, let’s be prepared, and let’s live our lives to glorify God!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ‘

Acts 2:38

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 5

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 5

Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you faith-filled? Are you faithful? Invite Jesus into your life to help you! Invite Jesus into your heart to get a fresh start and a clean heart! Let’s be ready today! Let’s be prepared!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation "Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."