Pastor A

Do you enjoy your friends? If not, dump them. Seriously. I am not even going to write long about this thought. Why spend time with people that you do not enjoy? There are plenty of people in this world (over six billion in fact), so surely you can find a handful of people you can enjoy spending and investing your time. This is an area that you can control. Develop friendships with people who are “iron sharpening iron” kind of people. Surround yourself with people who are uplifting and encouraging and desire to make a difference in life! If after every conversation you wonder why did I talk to that person, I ask you, why did you talk to that person? If we would stop coddling those who are negative and complainers then we would take their “pulpit” away and either they will change or move on to someone else. Stop being an enabler to those who are miserable complainers in life!

Do you enjoy your house? If not, then move. Cannot afford to move? Paint the house. Cannot afford to paint it? Move the furniture around. Clean your house. Change your bedroom. 

Do you not like your car? Then why are you still driving it? Sell it or trade it. Cannot afford to? Then buy a bicycle or ride the bus!

Do you not like what you wear? Buy something different to wear. Cannot afford it? Go to the thrift store. The clothes are cheap, and even the stars shop there. One of my nicest suit jackets came from Goodwill and I’m not at all embarrassed to wear it. In fact, I wore it to church last night. My wife just purchased a beautiful Ann Taylor skirt from the thrift store for $3.25.

Do you not like your furniture? Garage sale time.

Do you not not enjoy the town you live in? Move. I know that sounds drastic. Sometimes it is. It is not easy to pick up and move. In 1988 my wife and I lived in San Pablo, California. I hated it. I hated it. I hated it. Do you get the picture? I hated living in San Pablo. I drove around 30 miles to work; yet, that 30 miles took 1 1/2 hours as I had to cross the Bay Bridge going to and from work every day. I worked a minimum 12 hours shift and had three hours of driving. I had no life; we had no life. I was either working, driving, or sleeping. That was it! I did this for one year and it was time for a change. I could continue being miserable, making a good salary for a 23 year old, or change. We decided to change.

That change meant that Shelli had to leave her family. She did. It wasn’t always easy on her; especially when the grandchildren were born. However, it saved our marriage and my sanity. We have now moved to Arizona and WE LOVE IT! We enjoy where we live (not necessarily the house) and the people we are privileged to serve. It is very, very enjoyable to live here in Tucson.

Do you enjoy or are you miserable! Don’t miss tomorrow!

Don’t try today; DO today!