back to the gym

Gym memberships are up and so is attendance. Fewer people are going out for lunch or if they do, they do what happened with our staff last week when we all went to lunch: every gets a salad. More people are rising early and going to bed on time. More people are drinking water. More "Christians" are reading their Bible and attending church.

What's going on?

It's a New Year! We tend to do that when a new year comes along. We make all kinds of commitments, resolutions, and determinations about all kinds of habits, behaviors, and tendencies on our life. We want to get in shape, grow in our character, re-assess our priorities, and just generally be a better person.

So why is it that the manager of the gym will tell you that next month attendance will drop off dramatically? Why will we start eating out again? Why will we go back to burgers and fries? Why will our Bible get lost and gather dust again?

Maybe we just bite off more than we can chew. Maybe we need to take smaller bites as we attempt to get our life in order. I was talking with a friend of mine last week and he told me that is just what he has done. He only works on one thing a year. Only one area of his life in which he really wants to see positive change. Instead of becoming overwhelmed with so much to try and do, he focuses all of his energy on one thing in which he can successfully bring about the change he desires.

So that's my plan this year. I will focus on just one thing. One area of my life in which I want to see positive change so that I can become more of who God desires me to be. What area, you ask? I am going to become the servant God wants me to be. My focus this year is serving. Period. I am going to develop that area of my life so that it becomes my lifestyle and not just a part of my "ministry," my job, or my habits. I want it to be who I am.

I have jokingly told people that my name, Pruitt, means "servant" in the original Greek. My goal this year is to make my name synonymous with serving. When people think about me, I want them to think "servant." In my ministry, my leisure time, and even my home, Doug will serve. Not for my glory, but for God. I want to "show God's love in practical ways by serving others."

Happy New Year of Serving.

give outside the box

The response has been great! After teaching in our weekend services a few weeks ago about Giving Outside the Box, I have had emails, phone calls, and even people just coming to me telling me about how they have given outside the box and how they have been blessed by it. It never ceases to amaze me how God rewards our faithfulness and our obedience. Jesus Himself said that it is more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35) and more and more people are finding that to be true.

But the question remains: Will this be just another seasonal thing or will there be a change in our lifestyle? The real test is going to be December 26 when all of the gifts are given and all of the food is eaten (or at least most of it, there will always be leftovers) and all of the relatives have gone home. Will we still be as giving?

Will we still look for opportunities to serve? We will still be obedient as God provides us opportunities to show His love in practical ways? What can we do to make sure that the answer to these questions is "yes"?

I think we must provide ourselves with constant reminders that will encourage us to keep a serving attitude. What would be a good reminder for you? Will it be the tag you put on your keychain that reminds you to Give Outside the Box? Will it be a change holder with extra quarters for the people at the vending machine? Will it be a few connection cards in your pocket, purse, or wallet that you hand to the people behind you in line as you pay for their lunch? Maybe each week as you take the garbage to the street, you are reminded to take your neighbor's to the street, too. Or as you are washing your car, you go to that widow's or single parent's home and wash theirs, too. Maybe you just write the word "serve" across the top of your to do list or make it your screen saver. Only you know what will help you. But I encourage you to do whatever it takes because as we show God's love, lives will ever changed.

I hope you have an awesome holiday season and that your life will be filled with serving. And as you serve, be sure to give God all the credit. If you think about it, take some time to let me know your story about how God blessed you as you obeyed. Maybe we can share them with the rest of the world so that others will receive inspiration and encouragement too.