Help Us Journey . . .

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Eccl 4:12

There's no need for us to stand alone as we 60/60 together . . . .

I want to encourage you to go to ocjourney.org and share your journey - and be encouraged as you see how God has been working in others.

Specifically:

1) What's been the biggest struggle . . . Or,
2) Where have you seen God work in a new or exciting way . . . Or,
3) How have you seen other lives impacted when you've listened to God

Journey On!!!

Marathon Lessons . . . ONE ok, TWO better

Two ARE Better than One

The writer of Ecclesiastes talks about all these ways that two are better than one - to keep warm, to protect each other, to keep each other from falling . . .

I can tell you another one . . . to run a half-marathon. I was so blessed that my cousin decided to run with me instead of running the marathon. (This is a pic that Cindy snapped just before the finish line and that's him just inside me in the white).

I had done all my training by myself, but I don't know if I would have made it without him running alongside me - encouraging me and challenging me - but mostly just being beside me.

I have a pretty small family - 3 cousins total! And with the exception of one short season, we've never lived near each other or known each other well. So how cool it was that we got to spend over 3 hours together hanging out - just me and him. We hadn't done that in 20 years.

Life is a marathon. And how foolish when we try to it alone.

By ourselves, we will NOT reach our potential. It's just too big . . . and God designed us to need each other. . . He designed life to be done together.

AND not only that, but alone we will miss out on some huge blessings of great friendships.

What are you doing alone that you need to be doing with someone else?

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

I spent the day in San Antonio today with a friend and church leadership mentor, Jeff Harris. Jeff pastors Grace Point in SA and is a few years ahead of me in the church leadership journey. (You can check out his blog here.)

Sometimes I think I'm crazy driving 5 hours in one day just to spend 3 hours with a mentor. But I need it. Jeff asks the right questions that help keep me sharp and focused. He's a great outlet for those issues a pastor must plow through. Sometimes we talk about some hard things, but I would summarize by saying that when I leave my soul and my vision are both a little sharper.

Who sharpens your soul? Who helps your vision stay clear? Who are your 2, or 3, who help you stay focused on Jesus and His calling for your life?