In 2011 I’m going to be starting two new blogs. One on encouraging people in their Christian walks and the other one on fitness.They will not be personal blogs, although I will be writing for them. They are going to be community blogs. I want them to have multiple authors encouraging people in their walks with God and in their physical health.

So I’m looking for bloggers. Bloggers who are passionate about their walks with God and/or who are passionate about their physical fitness.

If you’re interested, please fill out this form and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours with details about what I’d like you to do:

¹⁷And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, Those who are strong and well have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick; I came not to call the righteous ones to repentance, but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).                                                  Mark 2:17

Something I’ve been dwelling on lately is this:

This is the only opportunity I have to reach the people that are in my life right now. I’ll never get to reach them again. As I look back at my high school year book I realize, my time to influence and reach those people have past. College – past. Previous jobs – past. I’ll never get the influence I had in those seasons with those people back.

Implications?

College Students: You’ll never get to Room with your roommates again, or sit next to that kid in your chem class – this is your only chance to reach them.

Pastors - People are coming to our ministries every week and it might be the only chance they’re giving to God, they’re coming one time. It’s our only chance to reach them.

High School Students - Even though you think you will, you won’t be friends with very many people from high school once you graduate – this is your only chance to reach them!

Parents - You get a limited window in which you can reach your kids – it’s your only chance.

You – You meet and interact with a ton of people everyday that you’ll never talk to again. You only have one chance to lift their lives and point them to God.

What are you doing to reach the people in your life right now? Time is short, the clock is ticking, and this really is your only chance.

Giving Away Experiences and Opportunities Will Produce Vision in Others

Tomorrow I’ll be leaving for vacation in North Carolina – so pumped! I’m going with a family that offered to take me for free. A free vacation… Such a blessing. It got me thinking though… This family is choosing to love me and allowing me to have an experience that I wouldn’t have been able to have on my own. Here is what I know about Experiences and Opportunities in my life:

• Because someone introduced me to Starbucks, I now enjoy the Starbucks experience

• Because people have taken me on vacation with them I’ve been to places I would have never gone in my life: NYC, Chicago, Bar Harbor, Maine, DC, etc.
  

• Because someone gave me an opportunity to speak and develop my gifting, I’m now able to speak to large audiences often.
  

• Because people modeled what an awesome Godly family looks like, I now have a vision of how I’ll raise my family.
  

• Because someone was willing to share Christ with me, I’m now able to experience God everyday.
  

These experiences and opportunities all expanded my vision for my life. My vision for what life could be like, what a relationship with God could be like, what wearing nice clothes would be like, what raising a Godly family would be like, what annual vacations with my family would be like,  the list goes on and on.Edit Post ‹ BubbaSmith.net — WordPress

What’s my point? Some people have never experienced a cup of coffee at Starbucks, have never been on vacation, have never owned a pair of nice clothes, have never got to use their gifting, have never seen what a healthy family looks like, or have ever experienced God in their lives.

All too often we take these things for granted, not recognizing that if we’d share our experiences with people or giving them an opportunity that they wouldn’t normally have, that we’d increase their vision for their life and ultimately, their quality of life.

Imagine someones life being changed forever cause you shared Christ with them or someone getting a vision for their future,  or career, or family, etc. because you shared your own experiences with them. Imagine someone changing the world with their gifting because you gave them a chance to use it. Is there any greater privilege?

What experiences are you sharing? What opportunities are you giving?