If you quit when life gets tough, you will miss out on so many blessings. You can get stuck when you go through something hard. Read this week's devotion below, so when trials come you can be persistent and determined. Your reward will be blessings. Travel Rewards "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation” —James 1:12 A few years ago at the holidays we experienced obstacles I have rarely encountered in such a short period of time. It was truly a test of perseverance and endurance. The trip was demanding but we were rewarded. Our flight on Christmas Eve was cancelled. We would not spend Christmas morning with our grandkids. And we were told it would be three days before we could fly again. But on Christmas we learned we would get a flight the next morning. That flight was delayed and we ended up missing our connecting flight. But we got on another one and arrived later that day in California. Then we got news that our flight later in the week to New Mexico had been cancelled. But we were able to get a flight on an obscure airline to a different place in New Mexico. Unfortunately, by the time we got there the rental car office had closed. So, we got a hotel room and stayed overnight. In the morning we got a car and continued on our way. We had a great visit in Santa Fe and then made our way to Albuquerque. After our visit with his family in California our eldest son had flown to an Army base in Missouri to pick up his car and drive back to California. Then on New Year’s Eve he called to tell us his car was having mechanical problems. The only city for hundreds of miles was Albuquerque. He was able to make it there and take it to the car dealer for repairs. We picked him up and took him to the airport to fly back home since it would be several days before the car was fixed. When we were told our first flight was cancelled and it would be three days, we were tempted to quash the whole trip. Then when the second flight was cancelled, we were tempted to quit and just go back home. James 1:12 tells us, "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation." If we had quit on this trip, we would have missed out on so many blessings. We hadn’t seen our grandsons in a year, the time we spent with them was priceless. The beauty and weather of Southern California was a treat after the bitter cold of wintertime. Our time in New Mexico was magical. The experiences we had in the mountains were incredible. And being there for our son when he was traveling hundreds of miles and had car trouble was what any parent would want. When trials come, be persistent and determined. Your reward will be blessings.

Focus on what you already have— not what is missing. Focus on what you can control or influence today— not the whole situation. Focus on the moment and building your future— not on a past you cannot change.

"It's not too late to accomplish everything God has placed in my heart. I have not missed my window of opportunity. God has moments of favor in my future. He is releasing a special grace to help me accomplish that dream. This is my time. This is my moment. I receive it today!"

Sunday Scripture "The Lord is your protector and he won't go to sleep or let you stumble" - Psalm 121:3

In our social media saturated world, there may be no greater temptation than envy. In this new episode of the Point of Impact podcast I share how envy causes us unhappiness. And I provide specific ways to overcome it. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

The One Thing Even More Important Than A Great Start

When we hope for, pray for and work for a dream to become reality and it does not, it’s like a death. We are left with shock, pain and grief. All appears to be lost. It seems like our life has no purpose or meaning. Read this week's devotion below and see how God has a way of restoring what is lost and resurrecting what is dead. Death of a Dream “This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found. And they began to celebrate” —Luke 15:24 Melek Sert was five months pregnant when she went to the hospital with severe pain and bleeding. But then her bleeding stopped and she was discharged from the hospital and returned home. However, the next day she and her husband Hasan went back to the hospital with the same complaint. She was constantly monitored because of the risk of miscarriage. She ended up giving birth early but was told by the doctors her baby son was stillborn. She was given a death certificate and a small funeral bag by the Seyhan State Hospital in Turkey. Hasan took the baby to the Herekli Neighborhood Cemetery to bury him. As Hasan drove to the cemetery, he began to hear the baby cry. He stopped the car and unzipped the bag. He took off his jacket, wrapped it around the baby and turned the car heater all the way up. The ambulance came and the baby was taken to the Adana City Research Hospital and treated in intensive care. The baby was in critical condition with low blood pressure. But Melek saw that her baby was alive. His hands and feet were fidgeting, his heart was beating. The couple was in shock. Their infant son was born prematurely but alive not dead. They went from total despair to incredible joy. Their child is alive and now they pray he gets better. For his continued growth and complete health. Luke 15:24 says, "This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found. And they began to celebrate." In this story of the Prodigal Son, he was not actually dead, but it seemed like he was because he had left home. When he returned the father was overjoyed that his “dead” son had come back home. Hasan and Melek thought their infant son was dead, the father thought his prodigal son was dead and gone forever. We can experience the death of a dream and it can feel as real as any death. When we hope for, pray for and work for a dream to become reality and it does not, it’s like a death. We are left with shock, pain and grief. All appears to be lost. It seems like our life has no purpose or meaning. But God has a way of restoring what is lost, resurrecting what is dead. We may be ready to bury the dream when God moves in a way that is undeniable. Your dream is not dead—it’s very much alive.

Growth only comes from pushing past comfortable. Comfort is not safety. It is slow decline dressed as stability. Doing hard things causes your brain to register the demand and build capacity. What was hard becomes your base. You handle bigger pressure. You build a different life.

It's always better to fail doing something than excel at doing nothing. A flawed diamond is more valuable than a perfect brick. God never sees us as failures only learners. You can choose to turn your failure into a hitching post or a guidepost. The call is higher than the fall.

Sunday Scripture "Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to. Jesus put his hand on him and said, 'I want to! Now you are well'" - Luke 5:12-13

The "Seven Deadly Sins" have been portrayed in books, songs and movies. In this new episode of the Point of Impact podcast I begin with gluttony— a sin that is more obvious than others. I share why it is so challenging and what you can do to overcome it. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

You Can Make $29,000 a Year More: Here's How

Sometimes we go through painful experiences. We don’t understand why. We’re embarrassed and miserable. We can’t see how any of it can turn out for good. Read this week's devotion below and see how God can use a test to produce an incredible testimony. Rising From a Fall “We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him” —Romans 8:28 Bert Smith is a college basketball official who passed out during the men’s NCAA regional final between Gonzaga and Southern California. I was watching the game on television and thought he was dead. All of a sudden Smith was unable to run the court, he couldn’t catch his breath, he started feeling wobbly. And the next thing you knew he was looking up at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. At 6'3" and 195 pounds Smith is in good shape. Officials run at least four miles every game. He trains year-round on a treadmill or stationary bike. He will take the stairs when others use the escalator. Smith spent two hours getting treatment at the stadium. His vitals were normal – pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level. He was no longer wobbly and didn’t have blurry vision. But just to be safe he went to IU Health Methodist hospital. They determined he did not have a concussion. But Dr. Katie Trammel saw the fall and she wanted to know why he fell. She put Bert through a battery of tests and they found out what was wrong. Bert Smith had a blood clot in his lung. And who knows where the clot might have gone next? Smith was put on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. But what if he passed out while driving or sleeping? Instead, it happened in an arena where there were medical personnel. Smith hates that he passed out on national television. And that he missed officiating an Elite Eight game. But he knows how fortunate he is to have found out about the clot before it ended up potentially killing him. Romans 8:28 tells us, "We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him." It was embarrassing for Bert Smith to fall like a tree, his body prone and unmoving. But that night likely saved his life. Sometimes we go through painful experiences. We don’t understand why. We’re embarrassed and miserable. We can’t see how any of it can turn out for good. But God may be sparing us even greater suffering. He may be redirecting us to a much better place. God can use the test to produce an incredible testimony. He may ultimately save us so we can gain a better perspective. It may not look good right now. But God will work it out for your good.

Focus on what you already have— not what is missing. Focus on what you can control or influence— not the whole situation. Focus on the moment and building your future— not on the past you cannot change.

Start this week with enthusiasm. Being enthusiastic is a choice not a result. It is a decision that must be consciously made. Enthusiasm is not just a fleeting emotion, but a way of living and approaching the world. It’s finding excitement in whatever we do. Find it today!

Sunday Scripture "But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new" - Isaiah 43:18-19

I posted a video on Thursday sharing a plan for fitness. It's part of a focus I've had on my Point of Impact podcast the last 4 weeks. It's a component of my life mission to inspire people spiritually, mentally and physically. The focus will now shift but the mission remains.

There is lots of information about fat loss. But what is true and what is false? In this new episode of the Point of Impact podcast I share ten falsehoods about weight loss that helps clarify what you need to do for your health. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…