Feeling Pretty Grateful!

Last Sunday, we started a new message series at Inspire about the power of Gratitude to bring freedom to our lives. I've really enjoyed the brainstorming sessions with our Creative Team. I've enjoyed the research & studying for the messages. I enjoyed delivering the first message yesterday.

But, most of all, I've enjoyed living the message I've been sharing!

Today is a perfect example of why.

We've had a financial challenge for the last 3 years that has been extremely trying! Part of what's been so frustrating has been how long it's been drawn out.

But today, the answer came!

Not only did the answer come, but it came with some unexpected surprises... The REALLY-good kind!

It turns out that some of the frustrating challenges along the way ended up being the very reason we were pleasantly surprised in the end!

So, today... I am feeling pretty grateful!

Life's Little Pleasures Oughtta Be a BIG Deal!

The other day, I was driving home from the office through a residential part of town. I happened to be behind a big tractor trailer.

Up ahead and off to the right, I noticed a woman in one of those motorized scooters/wheelchairs that they give to people who can't physically get around on their own anymore.

My heart went out to her as I approached... The look on her face seemed to say that she wasn't really "living" anymore, but pretty much just "existing." She was alone and didn't seem to notice me--or much of anybody else, for that matter.

But something caught her attention.

The big rig.

As her eyes locked onto the truck, the lifeless look on her face evaporated and a mischievous little grin turned the corners of her mouth into the smile of a little girl.

Keeping her focus on the semi, she thrust her right hand straight up in the air, clenched her fist, and pumped it up and down in the "Honk your horn, Mr. Semi" gesture.

The semi driver must've noticed the lady, too, because as soon as she started pumping her fist, he let out a big, long blast on his horn! (God bless that guy!)

As soon as residential peace & tranquility had been successfully shattered, her little-girl smile turned into full-on grin! Her pumping fist was joined by her other hand in a triumphant, "We just won the Super Bowl!!!!!"-type celebration.

As I passed, I could read her lips as she threw her head to one side & declared with some attitude, "Yes, inDEED!"

I couldn't help myself... I just HAD to chuckle.

I was happy for her! Happy because she had seemed so UNhappy just a few moments before! And such a small little thing brought her so much joy.

And that's when it hit me: I'd be a LOT less stressed if life's little pleasures were a big deal to me, too.

They oughtta be!

From now on, they're gonna be!

And Now for Something COMPLETEly Different...

Yeah... The title of my post today is a little "shout out" to all of my fellow Monty Python fans.

It's not "just" that, though, because I have got to share something REALLY different... At least for me!

Last night, I had some spicy mustard.

Now... Let me give you some perspective: I LOVE (like, love-ity love!) spicy foods! I like to eat spoonfuls of Tobasco sauce. Does that help you to understand what I mean when I say, "I love spicy"?

So, as I  was saying.... I had some spicy mustard. And I mean, it was HOT!

Each bite was almost tear-provoking.

And I was LOVING it!

But...

This morning when I woke up, I had the weirdest sensation in my mouth!

My entire mouth--lips, gums, tongue--were numb!

When I drink anything carbonated, it stings!

When I eat anything even remotely spicy, it stings!

When I eat something (temperature) hot, it stings!

Sooooooooo...........

I'm just curious: is that normal?!

I don't remember this EVER happening to me before!

If it's ever happened to you, I'd LOVE to know what you did to make it better!

It's REALLY weird!

A BIG "What If"

Yesterday was Mother's Day.

Most of us took time to honor (or at least acknowledge) the women we call "Mom" in our lives.

I've noticed something--and I'm sure you've noticed this, too: Moms really appreciate being honored.

Here's something else I've (we've) noticed: everyone appreciates being honored!

I wonder what would would happen if we lived our lives honoring others every day.

Like, what if we honored Mom like it was Mother's Day EVERY day?

What if we honored Dad like it was Father's Day EVERY day?

What if we honored our bosses... EVERY day?

Our co-workers?

Our employees?

Neighbors?

Friends?

Kids?

The people that check us out at the grocery store?

Other drivers? (Doh! I went there!)

Our servers? (Even if he/she doesn't get everything perfect on our order.)

The people that don't necessarily deserve it?

Idunno... Call me crazy, but it just seems to me like our world would be significantly different if we lived this way.

I'm not so foolish as to think that it's easy to start doing. Nor am I so naive as to think that there won't be times when I don't want to honor someone, but to tell them off instead.

But I do know this: it's up to ME to make this change in my life. And it's nothing I can't learn to do if I make it a priority in my life.

And I also know THIS: everyone around me will be glad if I do!

All for One...

I am SO thankful that every single Sunday at Inspire, SOMEONE has responded to God's tug at their heart! In total, 42 people have responded in 11 weeks!

So, first of all... "Thank You, Father, for calling & drawing people to Yourself at Inspire!"

We believe that only God can draw someone to Jesus, and that the best thing we can do is partner with Him by getting rid of anything that might hinder that experience.

Obviously, there are tons of things we can't do anything about, but we're learning that there are lots of things we CAN do something about!

In fact, we're learning that there are more things we can have an impact on than we realized!

We haven't figured it all out--NO WAY! But we have worked really hard & every week, we are seeing the results!

We do it all for our guests, but it'd be worth it even if it was just...

All for One!

Two of My Heroes

Holy COW it's raining hard in New Olreans today!!

To give you an idea of just how hard... I just saw a parade of animals walking 2x2!!

No... I didn't really. In case you're wondering.

But anyway...

After church, I was in the foyer talking with our guests. During one conversation, we were talking about just how hard it was raining, when I noticed two of our Dream Teamers out in the rain loading up our equipment into the truck!!

I couldn't believe my eyes at first, but I walked out onto the covered front entryway, and--sure enough--it was them: Rene & Jessica!

And they were SOAKED!!!

Did they complain?

Nope.

Did they have a bad attitude?

Nope.

Were they having fun?

NOPE!

But it needed to be done... So they did it!

No one told them to.

No one ASKED them to.

No one needed to.

Yep... That's the kind of people we have on our Dream Team.

Rene & Jessica, you are amazing!

You both blew me away with your service to Jesus & Inspire today!

You are my heroes!!

Jumping Up & Down On My Spinal Chord

Today after church, Jennifer & I were watching House Hunters on HGTV. We like that show.

Usually.

But today, the couple the show spotlighted were from an area of the country where I used to live.

Having been in the military, I've lived in quite a few places. There were some things about each place that I really liked. And there were things about each place that I...

Didn't.

And--like the others--the area on this episode had some things about it that I really liked.

BUT...

One of the things that I did NOT like about this area was the accent people spoke with.

And I really didn't like it.

REALLY.

Holy cow... That accent!

I recognize it every time I hear it.

Some accents are awesome. Some are amusing. Some are just downright annoying.

Like... Jump-up-&-down-on-my-spinal-chord annoying.

This accent is one of those.

And after 30 minutes of spinal-shord disco, I can't tell you how glad I was to see the end-of-show credits!

Jennifer just laughed at me.

But she did thank me for moving away from there.