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If we live our lives to the best of our abliities we should never end up saying "I wish I had a chance to do it over again." Remember what is important and maximize your time and energies to complete what is important.

Let us accomplish those things that have lasting value so that in the end there are "no regrets." I want to say to anyone who asks that I have chosen to do things in my life that make a difference to others. That is what is important to me.

What is important to you? Do whatever that is so you will not have any regrets.

We are taught at a very early age to be organized and to plan for the future. Our children are given planners at school as early as grade three to teach them to be organized and to plan for each day. In my walk of faith I am discovering more and more that many well laid out plans never seem to go the way it was planned. It does not mean the end result does not come about but what I am noticing is that how it comes about is not the way I would have planned it.

Good thing that God knows what is best for me and He has my best interest at heart. Planning ahead is a good thing but remember that part of planning ahead is to plan that the Lord's way is always the "best" way.

Expectations can be very good or they can be very harmful. It is always to good to have expectations for oneself and others. The danger is if these expectations are not realistic. Expectations can end up causing disappointment and heartache if we do not realize what they are doing to ourself or others.

We need to remember that expectations that arise from within ourself needs to be within our realm of achievement. We could easily place expectations on ourself that will bind us to failure and frustration for years to come.

The same can be done to others by us putting expectations on others that are not realistic or fair in terms of matching a person's personality and giftings.

Remember expectations can be a very positive experience. Prayerfully consider them before placing them on yourself or others.

It has probably happened to all of us at one time or another. We try to do our best in a certain situation and discover that we end up making it worse. I have learned over the years that we will not always be successful with everything we do but the key is to learn from everything we do.

We can at times try hard to do our best but it ends up not being enough. How do you feel? I know that I feel frustrated or even a failure at that moment. When I get my bearings I remind myself that it is not about trying or doing my best. It is about "being" who God has called me to be.

The thing that gives me peace and assurance is the knowing that with God it is not about trying or doing it is about "being" who God has called me to be.

Remember that no matter what is going on rest in the "One" who is not interested in your trying or doing but in who you are.

When we start something such as exercise do we push and do our best? What is the point of embarking on an exercise program and not doing our best? We need to be believe that what we are doing is going to be of benefit to ourselves and that we need to put our our best effort in order to maximize the outcome.

This is the same attitude we need to have when we pray. We ought to have the expectation that what we are asking God for will come to pass in accordance to His will for our lives. God wants the best for us. 

Let's challenge ourselves to pray with a greater level of expectation that our prayers will be answered. Let us remember that often times we do end up "getting what we expect."

What are you expecting?

How many of us wish we would have done things differently? Most of us would answer yes. There is nothing that can stop us from reaching our potential except ourselves. Perhaps I should title this "Who is stopping you?" rather than "What is stopping you?"

We cannot allow self doubt and past disappointments to keep us from moving forward. We all have an opportunity to make a difference in the world and we need to seize that opportunity to show ourselves that we can do it.

God desires the best for all His children. If you are one of His children then remember that He wants the best for you but most importantly He believes in you. 

Let nothing stop you!

I have met many people over the years and the one thing that I have noticed is that each person I have encountered is unique and special in their own way. Too often we do not recognize the fact that we all have gifts and abilities that no one else has. 

The bible describes the church like a human body. Many of us know someone who has lost a limb or digit or some part of their body due to an accident or disease. If you ask the person who has lost a limb if he would want it back he would of course say yes. Why? Without that limb he is not whole he is missing a part of himself. He is unable to "function" like he was created to "function."

The church is a living organism. When people leave or do not desire to be a part of it the church it ends up like someone who has lost a limb. The church desires to "function" as it has been created. 

Are you the missing part? God desires "all" to come to Him. God wants His church to function "normally."

Isn't it funny that as we get older things that used to be important to us don't seem to be anymore. Why is this the case?

I believe it is called maturity. As we mature we begin to realize what is really important in our lives. When we are young we see "things" as important. As we get older we begin to value people and experiences much more than "things."

So what is important to you? I hope you can say that relationships are important. I remember when I was in high school I came across a saying that went like this "you can do without people but you can't do without friends." I do not know who gets credit for the quote but I do know that I have never forgotten this saying.

I have learned to value relationshps that I have developed over the years. Please remember take a minute and reflect on the relationships that you have and I pray that they are important to you.

Remember that if we have made a comittment to God we need to make it "important" in our life.

It is easy to forget to be thankful. We are blessed by others everyday and we need to remember to be thankful Often we think it is our "given right" to have something or do something. This is not always the case.

Be thankful for what you have and be especially thankful for what the Lord has provided for you. Remember the Lord knows what we have need of and He will supply in accordance to what He "sees" our needs to be.

Thank you for taking the time to come to the website and taking the time to read this.

Blessings to you!

The only time we should stop learning is when we are dead!

We can never know everything. Some of you may say that you have no desire to know everything. True enough-but what I am addressing is an "attitude" of learning; the desire in ourselves to want to keep improving and growing, if not for ourselves than for others so we can keep being a blessing to those we care for.

Remember we are here on earth not to just have our needs met. We are here to be a blessing!

Keep learning!

Too many times I catch myself thinking, "What would others think of me?"  Should it really matter?  What really matters is what I think of myself.  Am I honest with myself about myself?  The great thing about my relationship with God is that He knows the way that I am and yet He still accepts me.  I am not fooling Him.  I need to be honest with myself about myself.

I am great at doing some things, good at doing some things, and lousy at doing some things.  I should not pretend to be great or good when I am not good at doing something.  God still accepts me when I am lousy at doing some things.  What I need to do is get help in the areas where I am lousy or not so good.

It is a relief knowing that I do not have to be perfect and a "know it all" in order for my relationship with God to be okay.  It is okay from the start.  I can "honestly" say that being honest with myself is one of the best decisions I can make for my well-being

This is the new blog of Vancouver City Church. Check back regularly for interesting and informative articles.