Good morning!
The one thing that I would like to remind you of today is: “Think trajectory.” What I mean by this is stay focused on the general direction of your life vs. allowing the “moment” to dominate.
This is especially important for high expectation people who put a lot of demands on themselves (and sometimes others).
Striving for excellence and seeking great results is a good thing and I do not minimize that. However, life is a journey – an eternal journey – and thus the direction of your life is more important than any particular moment on the way.
For example, there could be a great party going on three feet from Hell and people going in that direction could be having a great time just before dropping off into eternal darkness and three feet from Heaven could be the toughest three feet journey of your life…but oh the fourth step!
Bottom line, it’s the trajectory of your life that matters most, not the party or the tough patch.
I remember a number of years ago being so frustrated. I was trying to pull off a special event at the church and someone had “borrowed” tables that I was counting on and had taken them across the street to use in a Sunday School class. I was huffing and puffing and muttering under my breath about it all. But thankfully David Carico had gone with me to get the tables and he quietly made an observation that forever changed my life; he said, “Pastor, we have a saying at work that goes like this – ‘Perfection tomorrow; improvement today.’” That is classic “trajectory thinking.”
So work hard and give it your best today but win or lose, succeed or fail, don’t lose sight of the direction of your life.
By the way, the theological word for this is “sanctification”, and with the Cross behind you and Heaven before you – even through the dips and downs times – the trajectory is looking very good!
Have a great day!
dlkemp
Note about the picture: Rose Hill, NC is my mother’s home town. I took it while doing a “heritage tour” of my family roots.
Mom, you’ve come a long way!
The ONE THING 
Awesome blog Pastor! Great start to the day. Praying and hoping you have a great day today as well. Thanks again for the great words 😀
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Thanks Lisa…and thanks for using your gift of encouragement.
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Thanks for the positive and encouraging words.
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You da man! Have a great day. By the way, I told you the market would be up yesterday. 🙂 “Even a blind hog…”
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Good morning Pastor Kemp, this was just what I needed for the start of ny day. Lately my life has turned in a more difficult direction with my family moving away, I never know what lies ahead from day to day but I do know what and where my life in Jesus is taking me. Thank you for the inspiration to stay strongwhen life is trying very hard to weaken the ability to positivily
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Bless you Brian! It was good to hear from you. Let me encourage you to simply keep making “God-decisions” for in the long run they will compound into all you truly desire and even more. (See my April 12 blog for more on that thought).
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I had just gotten so frustrated with my Job and going to school and trying to get all my housework done, but I was thinking along these same lines today. You just summed it up so perfectly !! This was a blessing to me!! Thank you for allowing the Holy Spirit to use you to bless others!!
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Bless you Kimberly! Your response made my day. You hang in there – sounds like the trajectory of your life is going in the right direction and…longterm…that is what matters. (Read my April 12 blog for more on this.)
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Great words today, Pastor. I am glad your got all your email address’ back. I don’t know how you did it {well, yes I do }. Praise the Lord that you did.
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Thanks!
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