Stand Out Uniquely

Well here I am, back this week, hoping to spread some encouragement your way. Hope you will bare with me, as I am starting to blog for the first time with this new blog site. My plan is to have a new post for you each week. Oh and be sure and comment if you would like, by clicking on the word comment at the bottom of the post. You can comment by clicking anonymous if you don't want to make a google account. (just be sure to sign your comment so I will know who you are)

Earlier today, as I was outside in my backyard enjoying the sunshine, three young boys rode by our house on bicycles. One of the boys was carrying another boy on the back of his bicycle. They stopped in front of a house and the boy that was the passenger jumped off and ran to get his bike from in front of the house. He proceded to get onto it in an unconventional manner by laying the bicycle down on its side, stepping onto the side of it with both feet, and somehow all in one motion, flipped the bicycle up on it's wheels as he jumped onto the seat and took off down the road. It was amazing to watch! The other boys looked at each other in amazement too and decided to forego their plan, get off thier upright bicycles and try the new method themselves. It took them a few trys, but eventually they were successful and off and away they went.

I giggled over this site at first, thinking what silly boys they were to give into that peer pressure and to make what they were doing so difficult. It only put them behind and made them look foolish to anyone watching them. But then I thought about how many times in my own life that I have changed what I had planned to do, after seeing someone else seemingly doing it better. Sometimes I've even given up doing it all together after playing the comparison game!
Many times God has put a great idea in my heart or in your heart and we've gotten so excited when making the plans to fulfill it. But then we take our eyes off of Him and what He wants us to do when we begin to think of how this other person has done it more successfully already, or they are smarter, or they are prettier, or they are _________, or.. or.... whatever the excuse may be.

"God never called you to fit in but to stand out through your own unique design & talents." Micca Campbell

You are uniquely created and designed by the Master Creator himself. You have no idea of how that special thing you bring to the table, by being uniquely you, will connect and help someone else. It doesn't matter how many other people have done it, or become it, or etc.. etc....

 This week, pull back out that thing you were going to do and didn't because of fear and comparison and go for it! Don't change it up unless it's true to who you are. Trust the Lord to be your guide and you will see AMAZING things happen!!!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  Psalm 139:14

Make An Impression That Lasts

I am writing this post very late tonight, so consider this your encouragement for tomorrow and next week.

They say we have only one chance to give a good first impression. Although this can be true, what really matters, is how we are impacting others that we meet everyday.

I like this quote:

"You can impress people from a distance, but you can only impact them up close."
Howard Hendricks

So this coming week remember how it felt when someone else impacted you in such a wonderful, life-changing way, and then you pass it on by impacting another person's life. But remember you may have to get out of your comfort zone and take a risk of being more real. Instead of saying a simple hi to that person you've been telling yourself you need to get to know, take the next step and invite them to meet you for coffee. So many times when I've finally taken that risk, I find that God has lead me to someone who is going through a trial that I have gone through in my own life. Someone I am meant to encourage and give hope to.

So go out there and IMPACT someone this next week. Pray and ask God to put someone on your heart and in your path. It will happen, and in encouraging someone else, you yourself will be encouraged too!

"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice, in the morning I lay
my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3