John Harrell's Blog, page 53

Rest

Most people are stressed to the maximum. Family responsibilities, work responsibilities, the high cost of living and the state of world affairs keeps us on high alert. Thus, most people are not well rested.

Rest is necessary for us to perform at our optimum. The example for the need for rest comes from God himself. In Genesis, it says that “God rested on the seventh day.” Now, God didn’t take a day off. He doesn’t need rest, but this was put in there as an example for us. I believe we should follow it as best we can.

Take a little time for yourself every week. The stressors of the world will be waiting for you…

Daily Stuff to Do

Since you are reading this, it’s safe to assume that you woke up this morning! And if you are like most people, you are going to work, followed by some exercise, happy hour, or just relaxing. Much of life is routine.

But there’s more. Every day is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. Be proactive. Reach out. Make a phone call or send a card. Do something to lift others.

People will always remember how you made them feel. Impacting others in the right way is worth more than material wealth or possessions.

Do something. Do something today. Be a difference maker…

Afraid

Over the course of our lives we develop fears, things we are afraid of. When left unchecked these fears can become irrational and debilitating.

Growing up in a violent home, I used to become fearful and I would shut down when people raised their voice. It triggered me. Even as an adult, I knew no one could harm me physically anymore, but inside of me the visceral reaction was real. Through my time spent with an excellent psychotherapist I was able to heal from my past.

Therapy is a good thing when you find the right therapist. I’m fortunate that God led me to the perfect person to guide me. The brain is a remarkable creation, resilient and powerful. We do the work. The therapist is the guide.

You don’t need to jump out of a perfectly good airplane to conquer your fears. You do need to take a leap into the abyss, the unknown, and work on yourself.

It’s an inside job…

Faith Over Fear

Faith is a verb, an action word. Worry is a verb, too. Why do so many people spend time worrying about things that are out of their control? Worry is useless, and you are able to eliminate it from your life.

Faith requires action. The Red Sea parted when Moses stepped into the water. Moses was showing the people who were following him that he knew God would provide a way. When we move in faith, not knowing the immediate outcome but trusting that God is good, things happen. Our challenge is that we want assurances. God provides assurance, but only He knows what he’s going to do.

Take a leap of faith in your life. And if you’re not ready to leap, just take a step…

Obsess Over It

What drives you? What would you spend your time doing whether you were paid or not? The answer is the key to your true purpose in life.

It has been estimated that over 80% of people go to jobs they really don’t like. You cannot be effective when you aren’t fully engaged. This is something you can change if you are in this situation.

Change requires discomfort. When we are comfortable there is no reason to do anything different. Motivation comes when we become uncomfortable.

Take inventory of your strengths. Figure out what you love to do. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Just do it…

Headcount

At sporting events they announce how many are in attendance that day. I’m not sure why because the stadiums always look full to me.

I know pastors who are obsessed with headcount. But their effectiveness isn’t measured by how many people hear the message. The question is, how many people heard the word and then did something with it. Those were the ones who were moved.

Audience size doesn’t matter. Remember, God had the people there who were supposed to be there. That is the best measure of headcount…

Procrastination

Everyone procrastinates. Literally everyone. In her autobiography, Condoleezza Rice admitted to being a procrastinator. If the former Secretary of State does it, what exempts us?

Putting things off just makes them worse. You can change your attitude about procrastination with very little effort. Just make the decision.

Don’t wait! Do it today…

See What?

When you look at someone, do you see their outer appearance or do you look deeper? Looks are one thing, but there’s so much more.

I encourage you to see through to the heart of others. Everyone has a strong desire to be seen, heard and understood. Let them. Making things about yourself might cause you to miss some things. Some important things!

Take time to get to know people. See what makes them tick. When you let your guard down, you encourage others to do the same…

Rules Rules Rules

We are a society who has been told to “play by the rules.” Rules can sometimes be subjective, open to interpretation.

Games have rules. In football, you are allowed four plays to advance the ball ten yards. If you make it to the end zone you are awarded six points. There are many other rules, but you get my point. Teams have been caught cheating, breaking the rules to try and tilt the game in their favor. There are stiff penalties for cheating, and hopefully those who cheat get caught.

One of the best rules is called the golden rule. The golden rule says to treat others in the same way you want to be treated. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone followed it?

Remember the golden rule as you go through your life. Remember it even more when you encounter difficult people…

Interview With Darrell Scott

This Saturday we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Columbine massacre. From this unthinkable tragedy came an organization dedicated to creating safer, better connected schools: Rachel’s Challenge. Named for Rachel Joy Scott, the first child killed that day, Rachel’s story has started over 30 million chain reactions of kindness and compassion worldwide since her untimely death.
Catch my interview with Darrell Scott, Rachel’s father, and learn about this remarkable girl and how her story is saving the lives of our young people and reducing/eliminating bullying. #columbine #bullyingprevention #kindness #compassionsion