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#3 Know who you are

You are a royal son or daughter of God—loved by God, designed to make a difference, created to live forever, indestructible, undefeatable. That’s the real you. That’s the you that lives forever. The Bible tells you how the real you operates. What does a rock star do? He acts like a rock star. How does a Navy Seal operate? He operates according to his identity. You also are invited to act according to your identity. When you can’t, when you feel drawn to some other experience or behavior, it’s time to go back to God and say, “Something inside is broken. Could You please fix it for me?”

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

#4 You are at war whether you know it or not

Your enemy’s main line of attack is deception. He will tell you lies about who you are, who God is, what your world is really like. He doesn’t lie to you because he is your friend; but he will do everything in his power to make you believe that your friends are your enemies, and your enemies are your friends. Your enemy will try to corrupt all of your God-given desires and use them as a weapon against you, but God satisfies your desires with good things. (Psalm 103) Your best line of defense is to take every doubt, every temptation to Jesus and get from Him the truth that sets you free. (See John 8:32.)

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

#5 Dream big, and every day take a small step toward your dreams

You have a great big God inside you, and He has no small plans for you. You were designed to make a difference. You have the power to make an eternal difference for good in many lives; use your influence wisely. But don’t just daydream; take action. You don’t get from here to there without moving. It may be a small step, but after you take it, you’ll be closer to where you want to be. We crawl before we walk; we walk before we run. So take the small step today; take it now.

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

#6 In times of trouble, turn to God

Every challenge, every trial, every tragedy can be an opportunity for God, if you allow it to be. Yes, it hurts. Feel the pain, and hold it up to God. Keep doing that until He brings you through. Something good is waiting for you on the other side.

I don’t like pain, but I know it comes into our lives. For years I prayed, “God, give me maximum mileage out of my misery.” I don’t want to suffer any more than I have to. Trials can turn you sweet or bitter, and it all hinges on one thing: which direction you run.

Run to God.

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

#7 Learn to forgive

Forgive yourself. Forgive your family. Forgive others. This is non-optional. You absolutely need this to be right with God and whole inside.

See this post for practical steps on learning how to forgive others.

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

#8 Learn to listen

Teachable people get to their dreams ten times faster than unteachable people. Everyone can teach you something, if you are willing to humble yourself and listen. Wisdom is like an Easter Egg hunt; God hides it in unexpected places. Listen to people that the world shoves aside. Listen to people who disagree with you. Listen to people who are too old and too young, too rich and too poor, and, yes, too clueless. If you do, you will walk away a wiser person.

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

#9 Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care

Drink deep from the love of God so that you will have the power to see others through His eyes. You and I have great ideas that will make our world a better place. Those ideas get unleashed as we learn to care.

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

#10 Today, by your actions, you will demonstrate whether you are ready for a promotion in life or not

You may not be in the circumstances you want to be in, but the key to moving forward is to be faithful where you are. You may not like the task that has been given to you, but how you perform it reveals your character. Do you accept it as an opportunity to show your love for God?

From the Bible:
Whatever task you’ve been given, give it your best, because you’re not working for men; you’re working for God. Colossians 3:23 The Easy Bible

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

Some parents work to form a relationship with their children. They listen to them. They care about their feelings. They validate them. They understand that their children are also human beings who are learning to interpret their experiences and make responsible decisions. They gain their leadership role in a child’s life primarily from the relational investment.

Other parents want to control their children. The child’s feelings and experiences are irrelevant; what matters is the child’s attitude and behavior. They don’t want to “spoil” their child. They gravitate quickly to the “spare the rod and spoil the child” passages, but don’t imagine that the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, might have anything to do with parenting. Their authority in a child’s life comes from their power and their position as parents.

I’m oversimplifying here to make a point: For many years I didn’t understand that God is a relational Father. I just thought He was busy managing behavior; it didn’t occur to me that He might deeply care about how you and I feel and what we are experiencing. Once I began understanding that, then prayer stopped being a spiritual discipline and became an opportunity to hang out with Someone who loves me.

I have listened to Christian leaders who believe that our feelings are inconvenient nuisances that we should try to ignore as much as possible—especially our hurt feelings. I’m glad God doesn’t feel that way. He cares about you—and by receiving His care for us we will find a wellspring of love with which to care for others.

From the Bible:
…He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

Photo credit: Adapted from a photo by Randy Heinitz, Flickr, Creative Commons License

There’s something very comforting about having a home.

In the late 1970s, I worked as a parole officer for the state of Ohio. My job involved a great deal of driving as I served two or three rural counties. At the time, I was coming to terms with my own feelings of isolation born partly of being an Air Force brat and moving over 25 times by the time I was 25. I remember well the lonely feeling of wanting to drive and drive and drive, and then step out of my car and be home.

In 1992, we were homeless—staying here or there wherever someone would put us up for a few nights. One cold night, I remember driving down the highway and suddenly feeling overwhelmed and disoriented. Which exit was ours? My car passed under one green sign after another, but none of them pointed home.

To have a place in God’s heart, at His table, in His family—to know that Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place for you and for me—how can we put a value on gifts like these?

Thank You, God, that You have given us a home.

From the Bible:
…my destiny is to live in God’s home forever. Psalm 23:6 The Easy Bible

Remember, you are designed to make a difference!

Dwight

Photo credit: Adapted from a photo by Dale, Flickr, Creative Commons License