Category Archives: Faith

11/25/24  MondayMatters: Inertia

11/25/24 MondayMatters: Inertia

Momentum is a magnificent word. I believe more things are accomplished because of momentum or not accomplished because of a lack of momentum than anything else. If you desire to have a fantastic 2025 then creating momentum now is crucial. Here is a much too long description of, and invitation to, starting a great 2025 right now. 4 steps to finishing this year well and getting ready, already, for next year.

Here’s the video: https://youtu.be/LPjRLjIZpkw

And here’s the text.

Inertia: It is easier to direct an object in motion than an object at rest. Newton’s First Law of Motion
So what can we do NOW to make 2025 better?
  1. Make a rigorous ASSESSMENT.
                      What have I done well?
                        Where can I grow?
Seven Areas of Opportunity
  1. Spiritually
  2. Physically
  3. Financially
  4. Productively
  5. Relationally
  6. Intellectually
  7. Ministerially

 

2. Do an honest EVALUATION.
            What have I accomplished this year?
            What have I left undone?
            What can I still finish?
Finishing Well
  1. Keep on pushing.
  2. Stay focused.
  3. Create a plan.
  4. Use a check-list.
  5. Give yourself GRACE.
3. Write a current INVENTORY.
What circumstances have changed?
What relationships are different?
What resources have I added?
What vision has refocused?
What direction has God given me?
  1. Establish some year-end MOMENTUM.
          Start something new.
          End something not productive.
          Prepare your information.
          Postpone one big stumbling block.
          Just do it. Get going.
And here’s an INVITATION.
December 1 to January 19
50 Day, Momentum-Building, Spiritual Adventure
Join me for 50 days of being intentional about our walk with Christ. I will post something on this blog site each day for us to think about together. We will also commit to these things:
1. We will begin reading the Bible together each day. We will jump in on December 1st with Brian on the Daily Audio Bible. Go download that app now.
2. We will pray together at the Prayer Wall. Each week we will add a brick, until there are 7 bricks to our daily prayer wall.
3. We will learn to journal. Each day we will write a VERY brief thought about what God is saying to us. Get a little notebook now.
4. We will fast for 21 days during the middle of our 50 Day Adventure. Not a full fast but we will learn about it. Plan for it. And benefit from it.
5. We will read one book during this 50 days. I’ll recommend a couple or feel free to choose one yourself and tell us about it.
6. We will begin a simple exercise program, maybe walking 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week. (or more.) And tell is about it.
7. Finally, I invite you to 2 spiritual retreats in 50 days, one the last week of December and one in January. About  3-4 hours of online spiritual meditation, prayer, scripture reading, and growing.
If your interested, respond here, or on somewhere 🙂  and we will start building momentum.

To see more of this discussion in print I urge you to go to  Facebook  @cmichaelcourtney 

11/18/24 MondayMatters: When Helping Hurts

11/18/24 MondayMatters: When Helping Hurts

Have you ever been caught in one of those situations where your efforts to help were turned against you and everything was worse instead of better? What do you do when your best efforts are misunderstood, rejected, and used as a club to batter you with? It happens to the best of us. Here are… Continue Reading

The Importance of Being Tribal

The Importance of Being Tribal

A friend of mine passed away this week. I don’t know if friend is the right word. He was a few years older. We had not seen or even spoken to one another in at least ten years. We were not in the same circles at all, but he was a member of one of… Continue Reading

4/22/24 MondayMatters: Surprised By Shame

4/22/24 MondayMatters: Surprised By Shame

Have you ever been surprised, shocked or sandbagged by some negative thought, some moment of discouragement, depression, or fear that just nearly overwhelmed you? Maybe it was anxiety, maybe obsessive thoughts about hurt, maybe shame; those thoughts that the devil will use to defeat us. They come like a thief, to steal, kill, and destroy.… Continue Reading

Divide and Conquer

Divide and Conquer

Divide and Conquer (warning, may be my longest blog ever.)  2 Chronicles 20:15 — “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”  I had a conversation with a young mother on Easter Sunday morning. She was distraught. Her baby was very sick, but her… Continue Reading

3/13/24   Lent   Psalm 79   IFTTT

3/13/24 Lent Psalm 79 IFTTT

3/13/24 Lent Psalm 79 IFTTT  The history of the children of Israel has always been an “If this then that” relationship. God designed it that way, at least from His side. “If you keep my commandments, you will be blessed.” “If you call on my Name I will answer.” “If you bow down before Me,… Continue Reading

2/23/24   Lent  Psalm 60    No Pain, No Gain

2/23/24 Lent Psalm 60 No Pain, No Gain

2/23/24        Lent       Psalm 60  Remember this is Lent, a season that Christians have traditionally “tried” to identify with the passion and pain of Jesus as He made His way through the last weeks of His earthly, pre-resurrected ministry and life. We give something up. We fast. We take on an added spiritual discipline, in part,… Continue Reading

Black History Month: In The Beginning Was The Relationship

Black History Month: In The Beginning Was The Relationship

The creation story starts with the familiar words, “In the beginning, God.”  It goes on to include some physical phenomena, a move of the Spirit, and eventually, man and woman made in “our,” a plural God, image.  That verse could have as easily said, “In the beginning was the Relationship.” God is nothing if He… Continue Reading