Archive for the ‘Challenges’ Category

16 Nov

Day 10/365 – A Year of Encouragement

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Encouragement.

The Christian songwriter Don Moen wrote an essay about encouragement and I thought I’d share some of it with you today.  In Titus 2:6, Paul told Titus to encourage the young men to be self-controlled.  Encouragement persuades people to live godly lives and develop godly character.  We should continually encourage each other to live godly lives and develop godly character.  For instance we can:  Encourage people to resist evil when they are tempted.  Encourage people to aspire to godly character traits (i.e. loyalty, dependability, reverence, punctuality, etc.).  Encourage people to pursue holiness.

There was a man in the early church named Joseph, but the apostles gave him a nickname – Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.”  What a compliment!  Joseph’s life was so marked by his constant ministry of encouragement that it warranted a name change!  We have unlimited opportunities to encourage others.  How do we encourage others?  You know how:  speak affirming words, write encouraging notes, and make phone calls and emails.  As we dispense generous quantities of this particular “one another,” we will become more effective Christians.

15 Nov

Day 9/365 – A Year of Encouragement

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Daily Walk, Encouragement.

What’s your story?  Yes friend, we all have a story to tell.  One of the saddest things I experienced in the ministry is sitting with a widow or widower to talk with them about their spouse and they couldn’t tell me how or when their departed spouse came to faith in Christ.  Don’t let another day pass without you telling your spouse and children your story!  Remember, you are not guaranteed tomorrow so you best make good use of today!  You have so much history to share with your spouse and kids….they need to know where you came from, how you grew up and what life was like when you were a child.   Your kids need to know the story how you and your spouse met and fell in love. They need your story!  Proverbs 10:31 “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.”  As you share your life and faith story with your family you will extend wisdom to them.  Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!

14 Nov

Day 8/365 – A Year of Encouragement

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Daily Walk, Encouragement.

Yesterday is gone and there is no guarantee of tomorrow; all we have is today.  How much time do you waste regretting the missed opportunities of yesterday or thinking about the future?  Friend, you are not guaranteed a tomorrow; all you have is today!   Sure there may be an opportunity to make up for yesterday’s mess up or future opportunities for making money and doing business but I’m talking about the missed opportunities of touching someone’s life.  Think about all those times when you should have called a friend or family member and didn’t do it; you missed the blessing!  It’s those missed opportunities to make that call that we’ll never get back.  I learned a long time ago when those thoughts come into my mind to make that visit or call, to write a note of encouragement or send that special email or text message that the Holy Spirit was speaking to my spirit to get up and move!  You see, God knows when someone needs a special touch from you and He gives you the opportunity to exercise your faith and be obedient!  It’s a powerful thing when you contact someone and say “I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you.”  We must take advantage of every one of those opportunities.  My challenge to you today is to listen for the Holy Spirit because He will speak into your spirit when He wants you to reach out and make that contact.  Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!

12 Nov

Day 6/365 – A Year of Encouragement

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Daily Walk, Encouragement.

Some of you reading this are stuck in a rut.  These ruts can be significant challenges; here are a few.  The physical rut – “I can’t seem to lose this weight.”  “I sleep too much, and drink too much.”  “Every time I start an exercise program, something gets in the way and I quit.”  The emotional rut – “I can’t seem to get over my divorce.”  “I have a hard time getting close to someone.”  “Someone hurt me and I can’t forgive them.”  The vocational rut – “I can’t find a job!”   “I’ve been working at the same job for years and I’m stuck.”  “I can’t decide what to do after I graduate from college.”  The spiritual rut – “My prayers aren’t getting answered.”  “I’m in the middle of a spiritual desert.”  “I’m not sure what I believe anymore.”  The financial rut – “I’m getting deeper and deeper into debt.  My financial life is a mess.”  The relational – “My marriage is hurting.”  “My kids are a mess.”  “My sister won’t talk to me.”

It’s usually hard to get out of a rut all by yourself.  Ruts cause discouragement, fear and paralysis. You may be in a rut so deep that you are ready to give up and quit.  Let me give you a push, a foothold, a fresh idea. Let me come alongside and give you some help.  First thing, do not give up….don’t quit!  There are better times ahead.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:36-37 (NIV)

Listen close to Pastor Rick Warren as he gives some great advice in times of discouragement.  If you’re discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay. Ask him to transform your discouragement into patience.  You may be going through difficult times right now and feel like dropping off the planet. You’re discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair.   It may seem unbearable and inside you’re basically saying, “God, I can’t take it anymore.  I just can’t take it anymore!” But you can.  You can stay with it longer because God is with you. He’ll enable you to press on. Remember, you are never a failure until you quit.   Don’t quit. Resist discouragement and finish the race God has set before you.

Be encouraged today friends, for the Lord is near!

5 Sep

Bare Feet and Burned Lips

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Daily Living, Encouragement.

The Hall of Fame prophet Isaiah knew what it meant to have bare feet and burned lips.  He recorded a confrontation with the Lord’s angels in best seller, chapter 6.  “Then I said, “Woe is me for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away your sin is forgiven.”  Isaiah 6:5-7.

 So I’m thinking “Wow!,  if this great man of God was having some issues with personal holiness, then maybe I’m not so bad after all.”  Of course this is flawed thinking because all of us have holiness issues, right?  Just about the time I think I’m on the right track, I find myself face down with a mouthful of mud and grit.  So how do we do this holiness thing?  When the scriptures tell us to “be holy as God is holy,” who do we see about that?

 Here are a few things to ponder.

Realize what is making you unclean.  God sent his angel to put the burning coal on Isaiah’s lips.  Obviously the prophet had a problem with his tongue.  Maybe he would curse, speak untruths, or would use perverse speech.  Maybe Isaiah had an anger problem and he would lash out at the people around him.  You know where you need cleansing, so today, ask the Lord to bring on the coals!

 God initiates the cleansing.  Isaiah wasn’t looking for God when he had the vision of the Lord seating high on his throne.  This was God letting Isaiah get a little glimpse of heaven!  It was God who knew Isaiah needed cleansing to prepare him for the work ahead.  Only God is holy and only through Him can we find cleansing.

 We are cleansed for a mission.  Isaiah had a big job ahead of him.  In verses 8-12 of chapter 6 he gets his marching orders and realizes that without the cleansing of the Lord, then he would be ill-equipped for the mission.

 You only get clean when you get real close to God.  Isaiah’s personal space was invaded by an angel carrying a hot coal!  God will draw you to himself even if He has to take extreme measures to get you there!

 Many thanks to Jon Walker and his 2007 devotional on this subject.

Be encouraged today friends!

4 Jan

Tips for a Powerful New Year

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Daily Living, Encouragement, Life Lessons.

We’re going to spend a little time over the next few days and learn some tips on how to have a powerful new year….not a successful new year; not a good new year; not a happy new year, but a powerful new year!   I’ve had this list on my computer for 5 years and never shared it with anyone.  I don’t know who wrote this list, where I got it or who sent it to me, but the comments under each point are mine.  It’s my hope and prayer that something you read here will encourage you to work toward a powerful 2011.  So here we go with the first 5 of 40 Tips for a Powerful New Year.

Be encouraged today friends,

Randy

40.  Enjoy the ride.  You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride. When is the last time you stepped away from the day to day grind and sat and just pondered your life?  For many of you it’s been way too long or maybe never.  You must find the time to relax, unwind, and learn to enjoy this wonderful life we’ve been given.  Remember, yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not guaranteed.

39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed. Stress is a KILLER!  Your body is not designed to thrive under continued stress.  Everyone has it but you must find ways to relieve that stress.  Here are a few suggestions: Exercise, sleep, sing, dance, swim, walk, read, and the very best stress reliever for you married folks…..make love to your spouse!  Kiss deeper, love longer, laugh uncontrollably, and dance with abandon!

38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:   “I am thankful for (you fill in the blank.)” In 1897, the hymn writer Johnson Oatman, Jr. penned these words:  When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. 114 years later the message rings true friend….COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

37. Call your mom and dad. Need I say more?  I know, some of you can’t call your parents because they have passed away. The lesson here is to pick up the phone and make the call!  The reason is not important.  What’s important is that you make the contact!  Remember, tomorrow is NOT guaranteed.  Do this before it is too late!

36. Do the right thing! Peter F. Drucker wrote, “Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right thing!” Do you want to be efficient or effective?  I choose effective but I also think you can do both.  Effectiveness comes first; do the right thing every time!

MORE TO FOLLOW………..



18 Aug

The Purpose Driven Life – Day Four

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Daily Walk, Encouragement.

Made to Last Forever

Surely God would not have created such a being as man to exist only for a day!  No, no, man was made for immortality.  Abraham Lincoln

This life is not all there is.  I for one am really glad!  If this life is all there is, then what’s the point?   Think of all the hurt and pain all around us.  We are reminded daily that man is cruel and destructive.  We see images of what mankind is capable.  Yes friends, without the promise of eternity, this world would be a very depressing place.  But it’s not the end! 

This world is full of choices but when your earthly life is over, there are only two choices: heaven or hell.  Where you spend eternity depends solely on your relationship with the creator of eternity.  Pastor Rick puts it best when he writes, “if you learn to love and trust God’s Son, Jesus, you will be invited to spend the rest of eternity with him.  On the other hand, if you reject his love, forgiveness, and salvation, you will spend eternity apart from God forever.”  The creator makes it so simple, yet we try to mess it up.  We say it’s your good works that gets you to heaven.  We say it’s your faith plus baptism or your faith plus church membership that will get you to heaven.  I don’t know why we insist on changing God’s way but we sure have done a major mess up job of it.  God makes it so simple.  Trust Jesus and He will share His eternity with you!

God’s plan includes eternity but that certainly is not the only part of the plan!  God has great plans for your life.  He stands ready to reveal that plan and purpose for you when you are ready to embrace it!  When you live with eternity with God in your future, everything here starts to make sense.  Our purpose here is to bring as many people along with us to God’s eternity.  The problems, difficulties, pain and suffering we bear here makes us able to relate to those around us bearing the same.  Our testimony of God’s provision and protection in the storms of life can and will lead others to a saving faith.  There is purpose in the pain and God never wastes a hurt!

Compared to eternity, our time here is short.  The songwriter said is best, “this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.”  But in your passing through, make the best of the days God gives you to bring others along with you to your eternal home.

A point to ponder:  There more to life that just here and now.

A verse to remember:  “This world is fading away, along with everything it craves.  But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.” 1 John 2:17 (NLT)

A question to consider:  Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and the one thing I should start doing today?  For me, the one thing I should stop doing is looking at my situation with a negative eye.  I am extremely blessed but at times this life sure seems difficult.  Compared to 95% of the world, I am extremely rich and have a blessed life!  The one thing I should start doing is to act like this could be my last day.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow, only today, and we should take care of business like it is our last.

My questions to you are:  Is there a relationship you need to repair?  Is there a person you need to forgive?  Is there a hurt you need to heal?  Today is the day.  Pick up the phone or make a visit for tomorrow may be too late.  Get it done today!

Be encouraged today friends!  Randy

29 Jul

The Regret Game

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Daily Walk, Encouragement.

Do not call to mind the former things or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness; rivers in the desert.                                                           Isaiah 43:18-19 (NAS)

What is your favorite game?  Here are my four favorites; Monopoly, spades, football and baseball.  I’m 54 years old now, guess which two I can still play and not get hurt too badly?  You guessed right!  I love to play baseball and football but if I do, I stand a pretty good chance of coming home with some serious aches and pains. 

If you are like me, there is another game we play that can also give us some serious aches and pains; it’s called “The Regret Game.”  This is not a game at which you want to become a master; if you do, it will eventually become your master!

How often do you play and what are your favorite Regret Game cards?  Here’s a few…..Why did I say that?…..If only I had married,                    …..If I had not taken that first drink…..If only I had listened to               …..and my personal favorite, “If only I had kept that 1965 Mustang!”

The thing to remember is that no one is perfect.  We all have regrets; we’ve all made bad choices, said foolish things and hurt ourselves and others.

A few years ago, Pastor Rick Warren wrote about getting over the regrets in our lives.  The following points are his but I’ve added my own thoughts.

How do you release your regrets?  Here are several strategies we tend to use that simply do not work:

You try to bury your past. It’s a common tactic, but burying the past will never help you get past your regrets. We minimize, compromise and rationalize but you will not get past the regrets by just acting like you haven’t made any mistakes!  What’s done is done and no amount of forgetting about or burying your past will change things. We have to face our past then not make the same mistake again.  This is the core of the gospel; confession, repentance, and restoration.  You do not have to regret your mistakes!  Through confession and repentance, embrace your past mistakes and be restored to a right relationship with our Heavenly Father!

We blame others.  Here is a favorite of many…..blame someone else!  I can’t tell you how many students have been in front of me for a discipline conference and when asked what happened, they immediately come down with a major case of the “It’s Not My Fault Syndrome!”  Most adults are no different!  Our world is full of men and women who blame someone else.  You’ve heard it too…”My wife didn’t love me like she should”…..”I didn’t have a daddy to show me the way”….”My momma didn’t love me like she should have!”  Every one of us has something in our past that will facilitate current and future decision-making;  but at the same time, we DECIDE to make wrong decisions.  Blaming others will not make the regrets go away!   

We beat up on ourselves.  Depression, doubt, self-hate are all a result of spending our time beating up on ourselves for wrong decisions and actions.  In an ill-conceived effort to relieve the pain, we keep giving ourselves a good beating for making stupid decisions.  Here is the problem with beating up on ourselves; we don’t know when to stop!  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8:1 (NAS)

What does God want you to do with your regrets?

Admit your guilt.  Own up to your mistakes and quit making excuses. “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful.  But if he confesses them, he gets another chance.”  Proverbs 28:13 (LB).

Accept Christ’s forgiveness.  Do you really want to be free of all the regrets?  Then accept His forgiveness and live in the light of His righteousness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NAS)

Forgive yourself and focus on the future.  Regarding our past deeds, I have this philosophy, “It is what it is, just deal with it!”  If God has forgiven us, who are we to continue to live with condemnation and self-doubt?    “Do not call to mind the former things or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness; rivers in the desert.”  Isaiah 43:18-19 (NAS)

Friends, let’s live in the light of Christ’s love and forgiveness and free ourselves of this demon we call regret!

Be encouraged my friends,

Randy

5 Nov

Attitude is Everything!

Posted by Randy Carder in Challenges, Encouragement, Faith.

Good morning friends!  The following is not an original composition of mine; it was sent to me several years ago.  I’ve used it in presentations but have never been able to give credit to the author.  I bring it to you today for your encouragement.   

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!”

He was a natural motivator.  If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.   Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, “I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?”

He replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.  I choose to be in a good mood.”

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.  Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or… I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life. “Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,” I protested.
 “Yes, it is,” he said. “Life is all about choices.

When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.  You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line… It’s your choice how you live your life.”

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.  After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.  I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins…Wanna see my scars?”  

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place. “The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,” he replied. “Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or…I could choose to die. I chose to live.”
“Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” I asked.  He continued, “..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared.  In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man’. I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do?” I asked.

 “Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said John. “She asked if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes, I replied’   The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply.   I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Gravity’.”  Over their laughter, I told them, “I am choosing to live.  Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.”

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude… I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.  

Attitude, after all, is everything.  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34.

Randy’s words:  Today you may be facing the challenge of your life.  Is cancer present?   The child you raised to love God and others has gone his own way and your heart is breaking.  The job you have come to love and depend on will soon go away leaving you uncertain about your economic future.  Your spouse has deeply disappointed you; you are thinking about divorce.  Maybe one of the people you have loved most in this life has died, leaving you lonely and uncertain.  Have thoughts of suicide invaded your spirit?   What is your greatest battle today?  Friends, whatever the bettle, know that God is near.   “Behold the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; Neither is His ear so dull that is cannot hear.”   Here’s what I know:  If He carried the the weight of the world upon His shoulders, I know my brother that He will carry you.” (Scott Wesley Brown)

Be Encouraged Today!

Randy

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