for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

(NIV, Philippians 2:13)

There are multiple things that can be ascertained by studying a cross section of a tree. One, age. As is well known, you can determine the age of the tree by counting the dark rings, starting from the middle of the cross-section. Each dark ring represents one year of growth. Two, weather. Large spaces between rings indicate there was lots of sun and rain during those years. So, the tree experienced more growth than years when the space was narrow. Narrow rings indicate dry years. Three, burns. Black scars between rings surrounded by normal wood indicate a forest fire or lightning that burnt the outside of the tree. Over time, new growth occurred around the scar, but it remained within the trunk.

Tomorrow will be a new year, 2024. As you reflect over 2023, how much have you grown and were there experiences which scarred you for life? By December 31, 2024, how much growth do you anticipate you would make?

Let us go into 2024 with intention! We may get scorched during the year, but we will not let it define us or stunt our growth. At the end of the year, we would have grown no matter how little. But let us charge into 2024 intending to make it our best year ever!

If you set goals and go after them will all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you.

Les Brown

Last week I passed dozens of coffee shops, ten just within three miles of my home, to get to one that was 22 miles away. It was not necessarily for the coffee, but for the journey to a new cafe – to enjoy the drive.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

(NKJV, Proverbs 4:7)

The pace of the world is faster than it ever was. We fly across the world in hours versus days, we surf the web with broadband speed instead of dial-up, and we can heat our food within seconds versus minutes. I will be the first to say, I love technology, when it works. But at times we become so intent on getting to the destination that we miss key moments, scenery, and the hair-blowing breeze of the drive. We make blunders along life’s journey and tend to not learn the lesson. When we become none the wiser, we get to repeat the lesson, even multiple times. Inevitably it costs us unnecessary time, money, and energy. We even take others for granted assuming they will be with us tomorrow. We overlook the joy they bring into our lives or the admirable strengths they exhibit.

With improved awareness, we can make changes in our behaviors and habits. We may not be aware that we are missing fascinating elements of the journey. So here is a call, if not a reminder, to improve our awareness.

During my 22-mile ride to the cafe there was not much traffic, so it was low stress. I noticed new establishments and construction along the way. I observed elaborate Christmas decorations and enjoyed Christmas music. Last year around this season it did not feel like Christmas for me, so this time has been an improvement. I thought about how I would extend a merry Christmas to family and friends. My first visit to this coffee shop was pleasant and icing on the cake for the delightful journey to it. By the time I returned home about three hours later, I felt like I’d gone on my own little refreshing retreat.

I bet you would appreciate, and even love more things along your journey to your goal or destination if you noticed them.

Enjoy the drive…

With the unrest in the housing economy and dismal predictions for 2024, it could be easy to become uneasy. But because our ultimate trust is in our heavenly father, we can remain stable.

When there is a hurricane, some birds that dwell at sea will keep flying in the eye of the storm where it is calm. Then when the storm moves inland, they seek refuge on land. They find a way to find peace in the middle of the storm. How do they arrive at this strategy? From God’s direction, not by panicking.

Similarly, God is always willing and ready to vector us correctly when there are distracting stormy noises whether they are from the economy, our personal or business lives. We can still find peace in the middle of the chaos.

We will continue to seek His guidance and trust that He is leading when we choose our next move. Even if it turns out to not be ideal, He has the power to doctor it into a benefit or blessing.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

(NASB, Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we focus incorrectly, be it deliberately or because of distractions, we sink or miss the mark.

Matthew 14 tells the story of Peter who lacked self-confidence and asked for help from Jesus who knew he and the other disciples on the boat were afraid. Jesus encouraged them to be courageous and to not be afraid. But Peter wanted confirmation that the person advancing toward them was really Jesus. So, he asked Jesus to call him. Jesus provided what Peter needed by telling him to “Come.”

Here is the cool part. Peter started walking on the water toward Jesus because he remained focused on him, even though he was nervous, and the terrain was unfamiliar. However, when Peter lost focus on Jesus by allowing himself to be distracted by elements in his environment, like the wind, he began to sink. Interestingly, he didn’t plunge into the water immediately. There was still time for Jesus to save him because he was not too far gone.

Again, Peter asked for help, “Lord save me,” and again Jesus knew what he need – not a response like “Come on Peter, eyes on me!” But Jesus stretched out his hand and pulled him up. Jesus then told Peter that he started to sink because he doubted. He needed to exhibit more faith.

You probably have the same thought I did. How could Peter have not doubted himself about walking on water, which he hadn’t done before and when there were strong windy distractions? I submit had he maintained focus in the right place, on Jesus, he would have remembered there was no reason to doubt.  Then the elements around him would not have mattered.

Let us remember to maintain focus in the right place – on Jesus. That looks like remembering to consult him regularly before taking bold steps. When we do so, we will successfully maneuver into new territory without being distracted. Even when we doubt and have missteps, Jesus still has the heart and time to restore us.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

(NIV, Ephesians 3:20)

When our bodies have adapted to depend on a substance and we stop using it, we experience withdrawal symptoms. Our being seems to rebel when we decide to step into a new path as the old man or woman protests to leaving what was familiar. But the old person has gotten us to this point in our development, be it physical, emotional, social, intellectual, financial, or spiritual. Yet we need an upgrade in our mentality to progress.

Stepping into new territory is like being born into a new person. First, our confidence is shaky, we seem disoriented, our skills are awkward, and we have little to no accomplishment. The new and unknown territory seems scary. Sometimes we feel it is safer to slip back into the old self. But a year, three or five years from now, who would we rather be?

If we have goals we must adapt, grow, be born into an improved version of ourselves. We will not run away from facing and going through the transition point. And the sooner we relinquish the older version of ourselves, the sooner we get to embrace the new version of ourselves.

Take Dominique Dawes. She was the first female African American gymnast to win Olympic gold. To become champion, she said she woke up at 5 am, trained from 6 am to 8 am, went to school from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm then went back to gymnastics practice from 3 pm to 8 pm. She trained so hard because she wanted to reach her full potential. Post Olympics she became an advocates living an active lifestyle as well as taking care of your body, mind, and soul. Dominique went on to be selected to be on the President’s Council for fitness, sports, and nutrition.

You may not have such grandiose ambitions, but to reach any big goal requires transformation. You have gotten here. Now it is time to get there.

Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.

(NIV, Job 8:7)