You will know them by their fruits. -Matthew 7:16

I heard Keith Moore tell the story of A Little Pear Tree. It goes like this:

Once upon a time there was a little pear tree. The little pear tree was surrounded by large trees in a forest! The little pear trees looked up at all the trees and said, “I’m a pear tree!”

The other trees replied, “You’re not a pear tree, you’re a little shrub! You don’t have any pears! You’re just shrub!”

The little pear tree replied, “No, I’m telling you, I’m a pear tree!” They argued all fall and all winter. The little pear tree tried so hard to prove he was a pear tree.

When spring came, the little pear tree produced pears. The pine trees stopped arguing and the little pear tree no longer had to prove that he was a pear tree!

Does anyone other than me feel like the little pear tree? We’re trying so hard to prove to the world that we’re something. “I’m a pastor! I’m a leader! I’m successful! I’m an author! I’m a ____”

Then we have people and thoughts come our way and tell us that we’re none of those things and that we’ll never be successful.

The truth is that we are who God says we are. If God called us to pastor, we’re pastors. If God called us to lead, we’re leaders.

The Key: The outcome of our lives. If we’re pursuing God with all of our hearts and taking the right steps, our lives will show who and what we are.

We won’t have to prove anything to anyone. What critics say won’t matter any more. The outcome of our lives will do all the talking.

Hear from God. Follow Him. Do what He says. Step out in faith. Shut your mouth. Don’t listen to critics. Stop trying to prove to the world who you are. Watch God do an incredible work in your life.

Thoughts?

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. -James 4:14

A while back, Erwin McManus had the opportunity to interview Larry King. He asked him a profound question, “Larry, you’re the master of asking questions. What questions should we be asking you?” Larry responded, “You should be asking me how I am doing with my mortality.”

That’s my question to you. How are you doing with your mortality?

If you don’t believe in God, how are you doing know that one day, you’re going to pass away and have no clue what is going to happen?

If you believe in God, how are you doing knowing that life is short and you only get one chance to do something great for Him?

How are you prioritizing your life?

What do you want to accomplish in this short amount of time we have?

Do the people you love know by what you’re doing with your life that they’re the most important?

Are you becoming the person you want to be? Are you living life on and with purpose?

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” -Fred Allen

Just how are you doing with your mortality?

Thoughts?

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.  ~Plato

You’ll find the people God will use the most in your life are the people who encourage you to keep going, no matter what. When you find these people, cherish them, invest in them, thank them often, and encourage them!

You’ll also find that the times God uses you most is when you’re encouraging others to keep going. Encourage others often. Encourage them every chance you get to.

Who are the encouragers in your life? Do they know how much they’ve impacted your life through simply encouraging you? Make sure you let them know the difference they’ve made in your life.

Encouragement changes everything.

Who can you encourage today?