Never Settle

" Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
-Romans 12:2
 

Europe was amazing. God is amazing. If you ever get the chance to travel do it!. Even if it is four hour road trip to a flat cornfield... Well that doesn't actually sound too good... Sounds like Iowa...

Anyway, two months later and Rachel and I are back home in MN. All moved in to our new home together. We finally feel like a married couple, because we finally have our own place, and bed, and plates and bowls... Rather than sleeping on strangers couches and spare bedrooms, or in a car for a week straight... The point is it is fun to finally be able to start fresh and settle in to our new lives.

But that whole theory made me realize: We should never settle. Never be comfortable with where we are or what we are doing. I am not saying to abandon your home and move from place to place and job to job every six months. I am saying, however, that we should continue to grow and improve in all aspects of our lives. There is always room for improvement. Even Michael Jordan, arguably the best basketball player ever, practiced and practiced and continued to perfect his game.

My goal in this new stage of life of "settling in", is to never settle in, but to press in and look to God for growth and guidance. What is my purpose in life? I don't know, but I do know it is not punching in nine to five and living for the weekend and vacation days... We are on this earth for a reason, to chase that reason and "path" is our calling in life. To live short of our full potential is to live short of all God has called you to be!

So please, settle in nothing, but continue to seek God's plan for you and love everyone as Christ loves you. Share the love!

-Bryant

Life of Ruins

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 3:13b-14

Here we are and here we go. The Days of Difference Missions trip has finally begin. Our first stop: Athens.

Greek people are very friendly and take great pride in their Greek heritage. So much so that poorly designed half built (or less) statues, monuments, and buildings are now on display for the world to see, for a fee$$$. It was really cool to see all of the "ruins" but at the same time it makes you think: "Why not move on?"

I say that in a joking manner but it is so true and relevant in our daily lives. We get so caught up with how things used to be that we are scared to move on. 
"I was valedictorian, I deserve better."
"I was such a great athlete in high school, I will never be as good as I once was. I might as well not even try"

Why not?

Or maybe you are on the opposite side:
"I have been a nobody all my life, no sense trying now."
"I smell bad all the time anyway, I don't need a shower"--- Please shower...
"I don't know who my real Dad is and my mom works too much to ever even talk to me"

There is hope for all of us.

Like the ancient ruins in Greece, they were just that, ruins. The greek folk took what they did well and learned from what they did not so well and created a miraculous Country filled with sites galore. 
They did this because they did not let their "ruins" ruin them, rather they continued on day by day towards their goals. 

What do the Greek ruins have to do with your life today? Not a dang thing, but what is relevant is the fact that you can make today whatever day you want it to be. Make a good day or make it a bad day. You also have the choice to be who you want to be today. 

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."
-Isaiah 43:18

Are you going to dwell on the past and let it drag you back and not let you excel to the you God has in store? Or are you going to say "Today is a new day and I have the power to make it a good or bad day." Hopefully you choose good day, but make sure you know that today is not a result of what happened yesterday.

Today started when you woke up!