Many of you heard this as youngsters. ” Don’t do that it will leave a mark”…..
Usually from an older woman about the furniture, the carpet or the clothes you had on.

You are no longer a boy.

I tell you to leave a mark.

Leave your imprint on the world around you, not one to cause pain, but at least enough of one to bring about positive remembrance and influence.

Are you marking the lives of your children?

Yes you are. If not done to the positive, begin today to mark with positive uplifting and light – giving intentional influence.
Laziness and procrastination cause the wrong type of mark.
Attentive, intentional marking makes for obedient and compliant children. Over time those things lead to well balanced adults.
Spiritual intentionality leaves the mark of Christ on them.

Jesus left marks on people. He allowed Himself to be “marked” for you and me. With nails, thorns, a spear and severe scourging.

Be somewhat worth those marks on that sinless body.

You ARE leaving your mark on the lives you touch.
Be conscious of it and make the mark productive and positive.

Even if you have caused marks that cause or leave painful memories…..
The marks that are recent are the most tender.
Make those marks filled with the love of Christ .
Leave marks that lead to Christ.

Leave your mark.

Terry
September 30, 2014

The devotional for Monday so fits the things we have been talking about.

The recommendation is to stretch, to seek out relationships which better you. Realize the ones which do not…. and move away from them. You can still be an acquaintance without being a close friend to one who damages you.

Seek and Pursue those people who bring light and uplift you. Maybe challenge you.

Look to do the same to those around you.
I have said this before….
Who, outside the walls of your home, are you seeking to influence, or investing in their life??
Kirk discussed this Sunday and it has been our push since we started…invest yourself in other people, they need it and you will receive from it.

If you are not..,
Could you be afraid of what they will see in you?
Could you be too busy…?
This can be a rationale for fear, insecurity or out-of-balance priorities.

I can tell you the pursuit of relationships has greatly influenced and impacted my life to the positive.

Some people wait on others to make the move toward them.
That probably is not the way you got involved with your wife.

Go for it.

I can assure you, some other guy needs what you have…and you will realize benefits from the stretch.

Terry
September 29, 2014

Saw this….Good to remember

You can’t change what you have or haven’t done, but with God’s help you can be influential with what you will do…

So….or as the Word says many times…. “Therefore”

Be intentional to do those things which lift and leave positive effect.

Lay aside the past
Walk with a strong back and a straight step into your day and into your future.

This is not new…Yet each day represents new opportunity
for influence,
for effectiveness,
for your intentions to become actions.

Regardless of past shortcomings or failures,
It all begins today.

Pray for expansion.
Pray for exerted influence.
Pray your work and effort be as is referred to in
Colossians 3:23.

Today awaits a new script, write it well.

Terry
September 24, 2014

Saw a special on “the ol’ ball coach” this week.
Really good story about a man who excelled at a sport and now for many years teaches, coaches and leads younger guys to do the same. He achieved historical success as a player. And the most interesting and encouraging thing is he has achieved probably greater success coaching and leading…and watching him do it reveals the love he still possesses for it. He appears to me to still be playing…it’s just from the sideline rather than a yard line .

His motto is ” keep playing”.
No matter the time left, no matter the score – keep playing.

My takeaway is to do the same – keep playing.

You learn how to “play” from someone who knows. You play.
Then you keep playing by leading others in what you know about .

You cannot choose a coach when you learn and play. It’s not typically your choice. If you look back at your life there has been a Father who gave you initial lessons. Good or bad.
You then had teachers and coaches. Good or bad.
As you grow older you get to pick a mentor or leader…. Choose one who benefits you. No longer do you settle for good or bad teachers. Rid yourself of bad influences and leaders. Choose those who can lift you. Choose those who lead you toward Light.

The “keep playing” phrase is for all if us. There are guys in your life who are older and are still playing. There are several that aren’t.

As “the ol’ ball coach” has found…there is great pleasure in seeing those you are leading achieve what you did, and maybe more.

“Play” your whole life.
Be useful to one who has not learned to play or has yet to see success.
Play as “the ol’ ball coach ” still plays….with influence and excellence.

Keep playing.

Terry
September 23, 2014

As we grow more mature in life we should see that there is a balance to life and behavior.
Today we hear the young quarterback is an “in the moment ” kind of guy.
Phil Jackson encouraged his players to be ” in the moment” as they were playing.
In business, when you are in front of a client….yes, absolutely be in the moment.
If you are wiring a house with electrical outlets…you better be in the moment.
If you are on a date, not married, and the intimacy is rising….being in the moment…. Not considering the consequences of behavior and bad choices…can bring results you might not desire.
Being a leader with influence, and acting inappropriately… Because you are in the moment reveals a lack of maturity and wisdom.
Being so “In the moment ”
You neglect the consequences…
Is not balanced.
Be balanced.

Be aware that being
” in the moment” might generate momentum
toward consequences
that can alter life.

Balance. Perspective.Context.

Be wise.

Terry
September 19, 2014

A guy told me today that years ago in the middle of a hard time in his life he felt The Lord calling for him to follow.

Then he made a statement which changed the intensity of the story.

He said “And I felt if I did not answer that Call….He was not going to call again.”

The guy felt like he answered God’s final call on his life.

God does allow us to our own devices, when we continually refuse His Call.

My comment to you….If you have been pushing back on a Call from God … Stop.

Count the cost of refusing the pull, that drawing of your heart.
Count the cost of that.

It’s too much. It’s a price you don’t want to pay.

God calling … ???

Answer and ask how you might serve Him. Accept His Call.

If you believe He is Who He says He is…What is there to lose?

Never think God will always call you or will always make everything available

He can pull back from asking, from drawing you. Romans 1 says He does. Never push back and not take His call.

Like the guy I spoke to today….

He felt it was his final chance.

Terry
September 16, 2014

Be useful today….
to somebody.

Is there anyone outside the walls of your home or office who you and your gifts are assisting???

Get out of yourself and get into helping someone else make progress.
If you are young, find someone older who needs a strong back or energized legs.

If you are older….
Go reach out to a young guy, buy his lunch and ask questions to where your experience and knowledge and wisdom can come into the conversation and be of benefit to him.
He does not have that experience.
He needs it.

I encourage you guys who are over 50 ….
Go get involved in a younger guys life.
It will stretch you.
It will liven you up possibly.
It for sure will benefit any younger man you choose to invest in.

Elijah did it.
It brought about Elisha.
Paul did it.
It brought out Barnabas and Timothy.

Be a “Paul ” to someone.
Who might be your “Timothy” ???

If you are under 50….
Who might be a “Paul” to you???

Terry
September 12, 2014

Been a while.

Planes flew into buildings and our world stopped for about a week.
Ever present evil raised its head and the world was rocked .
It’s not gone.

Be alert and aware…as Peter wrote
“As a roaring lion he seeks whom he might devour”.

It roars and the works is rocked….he roars and our lives can be rocked.

But not undone.

We have an Advocate.
We have a Counselor.
We have knowledge of the end of the Battle.
We have access to the Creator.
We have Hope and Light and Victory in that.

Terry
September 10, 2014

Thanks to all of you who came to FIGHT CLUB.
Man Up.

Are you reading the devotional each day?

You have been challenged by your Pastor.
As in Romans 1….There is no excuse.
It’s in the free book at church for you to take. It’s on FACEBOOK, the church’s webpage.
The free access is there.

I encourage you all to be growing in spiritual awareness. The devotion calls it spiritual-mindedness.
It says ” regular communication with God sharpens your senses and fine-tunes your ability to distinguish His Voice from all the rest”.
You want to know Gods Will?
You want to know His Plan for you?
Spend time in Him and with Him.

That time spent is a deposit that you can withdraw STRENGTH from
when you need IT .

Consult and pursue God in and about the small things, as well as the large.
He is NOT a man that He would not tolerate small talk. He desires your pursuit in small things….
He can increase your awareness and sensitivity to Him …..so that you better decipher His Voice
and His Prompts in other areas .

Time with Him and IN His Word is the secret to wise living. It keeps you from turning back to the past, and increases your ability to refuse what your mind and memory try and pull you back to.

Reading His Word and Time spent with Him are the most important factors in spiritual growth.

Your eyes look forward,
Your ears are turned only to hear what is ahead of you.
Your feet are turned forward to walk forward….
Everything was created and aimed ahead and forward.
Do not turn back to the past….God has you to hear Him and move forward with Him into ALL He has for you.

Give Him some time and put your eyes on His Word.

Terry
September 9, 2014

From a devotional… Full of common sense, practicality and “slap your forehead” wisdom. You don’t determine your future, You determine today. Through that you determine your habits, and your habits determine your future. Do something today to move forward. II Corinthians 9:8 Terry September 3, 2014