So much depends on whether we are obedient in all things, focus on the fundamentals, and whether or not are ready in season and out to serve God. Being ready no matter what, like Paul exhorts Timothy…
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
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When Life Throws You a Curveball
Today was not my typical day. Obstacles, both personal and professional, put me so far behind that my desired scheduled was out of whack. But I didn’t give up.
I am not perfect. I don’t have six-pack abs. I don’t go to bed and wake up when I’m “supposed to.” Sometimes I drink a little too much caffeine, or more caffeine than what people say I should.
I enjoy snacks; I’m not gluten-free. Sometimes I miss my kids’ practices, whether it is basketball or cheerleading. Sometimes I raise my voice at my wife or get mad at my children. It should be obvious to everyone that I’m not perfect, nor am I trying to be.
What I am trying to be, however, is be faithful and obedient to the call that God has on my life; which is nothing more than doing my best for His glory – My Utmost for His Highest as Oswald Chambers used to say. And today helped me see how important it is to be obedient in all things, focus on the fundamentals and to be ready in season and out to serve our God.
Let’s Be Real…
I am a father of four (soon to be five). I have an unbelievable amount of work on my plate right now. I have said, “No,” to projects that could have been very prosperous because I hit my max.
I am currently:
- Writing my third book with a major publisher
- Running a thriving online business
- Managing a social media community
- Helping hundreds of thousands of people experience the abundant life by embracing Biblical health
- Teaching even more people how to use essential oils safely and effectively
You can look at my photo-shopped headshot and you can look at my wife (beautiful) and my children (adorable) and think that I have it all together. But I don’t.
I am real, I am vulnerable and I am in the trenches with you.
Today is a perfect example. I went to the gym much later than I normally do. In fact, I almost didn’t even go, which would have robbed me a huge blessing that I’ll tell you about shortly. After putting in a 12-hour day yesterday, I woke up this morning exhausted because I have a baby that is still waking up in the middle of the night. Then my 3-year-old awoke crying because his ears were aching. I used some essential oils, made him my immune-boosting shot, and got his siblings off to school. But that morning hiccup threw off my entire day.
I got into this rut today and things started backing up, three to four hours behind my normal daily routine. By late afternoon, I was in a mental cloud – a brain fog. My body was aching. I literally had to put my word down, force myself to drive to the gym and I am glad that I did.
Being Faithful to the Call
Toward the end of my workout, I ran into a woman that I hadn’t seen in two years. I was still going through the motions and felt much better physically and some of the mental cloud had lifted. Although, the real blessing wasn’t the exercise or the benefit that it had on my body, but the encouraging boost I received in my spirit during that conversation.
When we met, she was in her fifties and she was losing control of her health. I was teaching an essential oils class and she was desperate for help. Suffering from adrenal fatigue, her eyes were sunken in and had circles around them. Her hair was thin, she looked lifeless, her hormones were unbalanced and she was pouring out her heart to me about life struggles. I gave her a few tips on what essential oils she needed and how and where to apply them. But more than giving her an essential oils protocol to follow, I prayed with her. I actually laid hands on her and I prayed that God would heal her and would enlighten her to see what she needed to do to get through this stage in her life.
When I saw her again today, I could barely believe my eyes. She had a sparkle in her eyes, looked more energetic, smiled, and was no longer depressed. She was a totally new person.
She told me my prayer that day lifted the burdens she had been carrying for some time. It lifted the negativity, lifted the fog that was surrounding her and allowed her to breathe again. Spiritually, emotionally, physically, even financially.
Seeing her today, after struggling through a pretty rough day, put things into perspective for me.
It was actually a breathe of fresh air and I appreciate God for helping me see that what we do in the trenches can certainly make a difference in someone’s life — essentially fortifying in my spirit that I need to be faithful to God’s call on my life regardless of how my day goes. To be ready, like Paul told Timothy, “in season or out.”
Training, Discipline and Balance
By the time dinner rolled around, I had a clear head, checked a few things off my to-do list and made an important deadline, finishing the day off strong.
I’m convinced that what Christ said in John 10:10 that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. “I came”, Jesus said “so that you may live more abundantly”, means more far more than just experiencing heaven or eternal salvation. It’s about living in balance, in abundance; spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, occupationally and socially
Not every day is going to play out exactly how we want it to be. And that is fine. Wha is critically important to understand if we are going to enjoy the abundant life.
Over the course of the past 14 years, I have trained and disciplined my mind and my body and my emotions. When things don’t go as planned or when I get off track, I have a good foundation. We need to build a good foundation to be ready in any season and hopefully this story helps us all realize that no matter how far off course we have wondered, we can always get back on track.
