How did you spend your day today? No, seriously. What did you do? Were you productive with your time? Did you encourage someone? Did you perform at an optimum level? Understand that these are not universal questions. But they are some things to think about. The reason being because we go through so many days during our lives that we get to the end and we think, "Wow, today just really flew by. What all did I do again?"
On its face, that does not always seem like such a bad thing. I, for one, have had plenty of days that I just wanted to end and to forget forever. But if you're working to live a better life and to use the days God has given you to the fullest, it is important to be responsible with how you spend those days.
Evaluating your day does not have to be some huge ordeal. It can be broken up into sections or focus areas to make it more manageable. For example, at the end of my work day during my walk to the car and my commute home, I like to look back on the day. I want to know how I spent my time, if I spent it responsibly, and if I achieved everything that I needed to get done for the day. This helps to keep me accountable to myself and, quite honestly, is pretty fun after a good day's work.
My wife and I do the same thing in the evenings. A constant topic of conversation for us is how our days have gone, what we need to do over the next few days, and how much fun we have been having. It is not a formal "evaluation" but the implications are the same. We know what we did, what we liked/didn't like, and what we need to do differently tomorrow.
My challenge to you is to take some time at the end of your day and see how you did. Focus specifically on the areas of goal advancement, time management, and personal engagement. These three are important because each one says so much about you as a unique individual.
Think about what you did to accomplish your goals. Did you work towards earning that promotion? Did you accomplish your daily tasks?
In accordance with your goals, think about how you managed your time. Was the majority of your day spent on mindless tasks like watching TV or browsing the internet? Were you doing something productive for yourself? Did you manage your employer's time wisely?
I also believe that it's incredibly important to personally engage others every day. Encourage someone. Tell a co-worker that they're doing a good job. Investing in others means investing in yourself as well. Not to mention, it is much easier to be motivated when the task is others-focused vs. self-focused. You can talk yourself out of personal benefits. But it is much harder to do that when you're working for someone else.
Keep in mind that these are not hard and fast rules. These questions are just what has worked for me in the past. Evaluating your day keeps you accountable and allows time to re-live the good times and fix those you would prefer to forget. Enjoy life as a whole and the days will follow in-line.
Stay classy,
Andrew
Friday, May 31, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
In Hot Pursuit
The Declaration of Independence guarantees all Americans certain rights to which they are entitled. Three, specifically, are referred to as "inalienable" which means they cannot be legally or justly transferred to another party. They are inherent within the American and, not just an entitlement, but a blessing. These rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But, as Benjamin Franklin once quipped, "The Declaration of Independence only promises the pursuit of happiness. You must catch up with it yourself."
The pursuit of goals and of the things in life you really want is something that I tend to preach a lot. Why? People were made to strive after something and to work hard. This is evidenced by the fact that (with sleeping as an exception) working is the only thing that people can do for eight hours each day.
While there are numerous qualities that are invaluable in life and in the pursuit of goals, three jump out to me as the foundation for goal-achievement.
1. Consistency
If you want to ride, don't wait until tomorrow to get back on. You are guaranteed to fail at some point in your pursuit. There will be times when that goal seems completely unattainable. There will be times when the results to be achieved simply do not look like they will be worth the effort. Keep in mind that the majority of goal-setting benefits come in the act of consistently chasing the goal. Yes, the benefits at the end are great. But you gain so much more through the struggle and the chase.
Keep going. The end is worth it. Keep making those daily resolutions and press on. Don't wait until tomorrow to try and reset if you mess up today. Your next minute of living is a new opportunity.
2. Self-Control
As long as excellence is being pursued, this will be a requirement. While this tends to go hand-in-hand with consistency, it needs to be separate because it focuses on your internal discipline. Consistency is attained through constantly getting back up on the horse. Self-control deals with staying on the horse. Lots of the same concepts can be applied. But the vantage point is different.
Reward yourself. Find your incentives and enjoy them. Surround yourself with people that hold you to a higher standard. Make sure they are like-minded and going in the same direction you are. That way, you are not spending your life lonely on your high horse because the people you're around are up their's too.
3. Motivation
I can't stress enough how important your motivation is. Consistency and self-control deal with decisions that are made. Your motivation is why you make those decisions in the first place. Most of the time, it isn't just for the sake of working for something. Motivations are different for everyone. Some are motivated by positive re-enforcement. Think motivational posters and encouraging words. Others are motivated by negativity. These people keep "before" pictures of themselves because they never want to look like that again. Still others use a combination of the two.
Whatever your motivation, find it and use it frequently. It will keep you going when nothing else will. All of that to say, work and strive hard after your goals. You have, within you, the right to pursue them. Develop these qualities and focus them on something specific and you will lead a better life as a result.
Stay classy,
Andrew
The pursuit of goals and of the things in life you really want is something that I tend to preach a lot. Why? People were made to strive after something and to work hard. This is evidenced by the fact that (with sleeping as an exception) working is the only thing that people can do for eight hours each day.
While there are numerous qualities that are invaluable in life and in the pursuit of goals, three jump out to me as the foundation for goal-achievement.
1. Consistency
If you want to ride, don't wait until tomorrow to get back on. You are guaranteed to fail at some point in your pursuit. There will be times when that goal seems completely unattainable. There will be times when the results to be achieved simply do not look like they will be worth the effort. Keep in mind that the majority of goal-setting benefits come in the act of consistently chasing the goal. Yes, the benefits at the end are great. But you gain so much more through the struggle and the chase.
Keep going. The end is worth it. Keep making those daily resolutions and press on. Don't wait until tomorrow to try and reset if you mess up today. Your next minute of living is a new opportunity.
2. Self-Control
As long as excellence is being pursued, this will be a requirement. While this tends to go hand-in-hand with consistency, it needs to be separate because it focuses on your internal discipline. Consistency is attained through constantly getting back up on the horse. Self-control deals with staying on the horse. Lots of the same concepts can be applied. But the vantage point is different.
Reward yourself. Find your incentives and enjoy them. Surround yourself with people that hold you to a higher standard. Make sure they are like-minded and going in the same direction you are. That way, you are not spending your life lonely on your high horse because the people you're around are up their's too.
3. Motivation
I can't stress enough how important your motivation is. Consistency and self-control deal with decisions that are made. Your motivation is why you make those decisions in the first place. Most of the time, it isn't just for the sake of working for something. Motivations are different for everyone. Some are motivated by positive re-enforcement. Think motivational posters and encouraging words. Others are motivated by negativity. These people keep "before" pictures of themselves because they never want to look like that again. Still others use a combination of the two.
Whatever your motivation, find it and use it frequently. It will keep you going when nothing else will. All of that to say, work and strive hard after your goals. You have, within you, the right to pursue them. Develop these qualities and focus them on something specific and you will lead a better life as a result.
Stay classy,
Andrew
Friday, May 17, 2013
Little Victories
"I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the year's." - Henry Moore
1. Measurability
As I've mentioned previously, it's important that your goals be measurable so that you know how you're doing. Maybe that goal of being a manager in your company one day starts with making a good to-do list and increasing your productivity. That goal of a beach body starts with a single workout and a healthy eating plan. Those are just a couple of examples of the little, measurable things that we do on the way to the prize.
Little victories are not what get us up in the morning, but they are what keeps us getting up in the morning. The thought of getting that promotion is what gets us up to work. However, the fact that we did so well at the job yesterday is what keeps us going back to try harder. That brings us into our second area of motivation.
2. Motivation
If you're ever going to reach your goals, you need to figure out what really motivates you. When getting up early is not really first on your mind while laying in your warm sheets, what is it that is going to make you get up anyway? That being said, figure out the little rewards you enjoy for your little victories that make them worth it. For example, a good relaxing walk with my wife over my lunch break is my reward for working hard in the morning. The rewards and victories don't have to be big. They just need to motivate you to keep trying.
3. Meaning
Let's make all of this a bit more practical. Think of your goal like a mountain. It will be a treacherous, long, hard climb to the top. But at it's peak, the view will be spectacular. Getting there will increase your confidence in your ability, teach you new skills, and show you the top of the next mountain in the distance. But as I stated earlier, looking at a mountain the entire climb can get pretty overwhelming. The good news is that every mountain is made up of molehills. They aren't very big or very difficult to climb; but they come together to make that glorious mountain. My challenge to you is this: Celebrate the molehills you step over to get up the mountain you're climbing.
Craig Ballantyne put it very well when he said this:
"Success comes in spurts." - Craig Ballantyne
Be happy and reward yourself for the spurts of success. It will make the goal seem much more attainable, continually motivate you, and give you a way to measure your progress. After several weeks of counting molehills, you find out that you're half-way up the mountain. So keep climbing. Just don't spend all of your time and energy focused on the distance. Keep your thoughts here and now on the day's resolutions. You'll get much higher more quickly as a result.
Stay classy,
Andrew
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Surrounded
I don't know how many of you have realized this; but you guys are in the minority. No, I'm not talking about close family and friends, specifically. I'm referring to people who dream of better tomorrows, those who are looking to grow and constantly better themselves. That's you.
The funny thing is that you're different than the majority of the people in the country at this point. The fact that you're reading this to begin with shows that you actually care. That's why it is vitally important that you pay special attention to those you allow in to your inner circle. These are the people that you hang with, allow influence from, and go to for advice.
Think about the people that you hang with on a regular basis. It's important to note here that you are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with. For me, since one of those five people is my wife, I feel like I'm in pretty good shape. Maybe it's the same way for you. If that's the case, we'll get to you in a minute.
Something that has always baffled me is the fact that there are young (and old) people with so much potential who spend the majority of their time with negative, rude, self-absorbed individuals. For example, I can't even count the times I've seen the sweetest girl end up with the worst possible guy. If you have goals to reach, if you're positive and ambitious, if you sincerely believe that you're on the road to success and that your best days are ahead of you, those kinds of people should not be the ones influencing you at all.
I'm not saying that you should just kick them to the curb. You have the power to be a positive influence on them. But the best way that you can start doing that is by stopping hanging out with them. See, it is much easier for you to be pulled down to their level than for you to pull them up to your's. The reason? That is a decision that each individual has to make for himself or herself. You cannot make that decision for them.
That being said, my challenge to you is to surround yourself with people who give a rip. Be with people who challenge you and make you better. During one particular stage of life, I made a 10-hour round trip drive in one day for supper with a group of my friends. These were people whose opinions I valued. They were the types of friends who asked tough questions, engaged in meaningful discussion, and presented thought-provoking views. Looking back on that trip now, I find myself asking if I would make the trip again for that group. Absolutely.
Pick your friends wisely. They will be some of your most powerful influences. Make sure that their views and goals are in alignment with yours so that you know which direction (up or down) they are pulling you.
If you already have a crew like that, make sure that you bless them and show appreciation on a regular basis. Friends like that really don't come every day. They should be cherished. Express gratitude often. John Calvin once said this:
The funny thing is that you're different than the majority of the people in the country at this point. The fact that you're reading this to begin with shows that you actually care. That's why it is vitally important that you pay special attention to those you allow in to your inner circle. These are the people that you hang with, allow influence from, and go to for advice.
Think about the people that you hang with on a regular basis. It's important to note here that you are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with. For me, since one of those five people is my wife, I feel like I'm in pretty good shape. Maybe it's the same way for you. If that's the case, we'll get to you in a minute.
Something that has always baffled me is the fact that there are young (and old) people with so much potential who spend the majority of their time with negative, rude, self-absorbed individuals. For example, I can't even count the times I've seen the sweetest girl end up with the worst possible guy. If you have goals to reach, if you're positive and ambitious, if you sincerely believe that you're on the road to success and that your best days are ahead of you, those kinds of people should not be the ones influencing you at all.
I'm not saying that you should just kick them to the curb. You have the power to be a positive influence on them. But the best way that you can start doing that is by stopping hanging out with them. See, it is much easier for you to be pulled down to their level than for you to pull them up to your's. The reason? That is a decision that each individual has to make for himself or herself. You cannot make that decision for them.
That being said, my challenge to you is to surround yourself with people who give a rip. Be with people who challenge you and make you better. During one particular stage of life, I made a 10-hour round trip drive in one day for supper with a group of my friends. These were people whose opinions I valued. They were the types of friends who asked tough questions, engaged in meaningful discussion, and presented thought-provoking views. Looking back on that trip now, I find myself asking if I would make the trip again for that group. Absolutely.
Pick your friends wisely. They will be some of your most powerful influences. Make sure that their views and goals are in alignment with yours so that you know which direction (up or down) they are pulling you.
If you already have a crew like that, make sure that you bless them and show appreciation on a regular basis. Friends like that really don't come every day. They should be cherished. Express gratitude often. John Calvin once said this:
"We are naturally lazy in the duties of love." - John Calvin
That's why it is so very important for you to cherish those around you. The ability to select your influences is an awesome blessing that we have been given by God. Make sure that yours are those that sharpen you and don't dull you.
"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." - Proverbs 27:17
Stay classy,
Andrew
Monday, May 13, 2013
Beauty in Simplicity
Keeping life simple is a difficult task when you consider the world we live in. Technology gives us access to unlimited amount of information that is located thousands of miles away. We have the ability to communicate with people across the world in mere seconds. To make simplification that much more difficult, many people can perform their jobs from anywhere in the country. Through the use of smartphones, all work-related tasks can be accomplished and the risk is run of never being able to escape.
Think about your life and how you live each day. Now take a minute and think about how much of that is stuff you really don't need. That's what simplicity is. Simplifying is not stupefying. Simplifying just means getting rid of all the junk that you don't need.
Think about a musical scale. There are only eight notes that are contained in a standard, major scale. In fact, if you change scales, the same notes are still used but in a different way. With less than ten notes, you would think that there would be a fairly limited amount of combinations. Beethoven, Chopin, and J.S. Bach all proved that theory wrong. Look/listen to the works of these three men and other classic composers and what they were able to do with those notes.
There are only five primary colors. Think about your favorite piece of artwork (You do have one, don't you?). Take a second to fathom what Picasso and Van Goethe were able to make out of those five colors.
Music and artwork are just a couple of examples of how far simplicity can really go. The greatest example that I know of is when Jesus summed up the entire Old Testament in a very short phrase.
Think about your life and how you live each day. Now take a minute and think about how much of that is stuff you really don't need. That's what simplicity is. Simplifying is not stupefying. Simplifying just means getting rid of all the junk that you don't need.
Think about a musical scale. There are only eight notes that are contained in a standard, major scale. In fact, if you change scales, the same notes are still used but in a different way. With less than ten notes, you would think that there would be a fairly limited amount of combinations. Beethoven, Chopin, and J.S. Bach all proved that theory wrong. Look/listen to the works of these three men and other classic composers and what they were able to do with those notes.
There are only five primary colors. Think about your favorite piece of artwork (You do have one, don't you?). Take a second to fathom what Picasso and Van Goethe were able to make out of those five colors.
Music and artwork are just a couple of examples of how far simplicity can really go. The greatest example that I know of is when Jesus summed up the entire Old Testament in a very short phrase.
"So in everything you do, do to others as you would have them do to you..." - Matthew 7:12
Simplification reduces clutter, it eliminates stress, and it enables you to reevaluate what is really important. Consider your life. Think about all the junk that you don't really need and simplify a little bit. You will be more effective in those things that really matter.
Stay classy,
Andrew
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Settling: 3 Areas You Can't
We settle for mediocrity far too often. Shortcuts to completing a job are often more valuable then doing the job right the first time. It's important to note that I am not talking about actually starting a task. In that case, getting started should be put above the perfect start. But in regards to the actual quality of work, quality is usually sacrificed due to laziness. While there are some areas in life that settling is permitted, there are at least 3 that you, as a professional, absolutely cannot settle for less than the best.
It is also important to note that what is "best" in each of these areas depends on where you see yourself in life. These are not areas that you can just take a measuring stick to and determine if you're doing it right. That being said, let's dive in.
1. Your Job
Where you work and what you actually do in your professional life are as much a part of your life as anything else. We do not like to think that it holds a great amount of influence but it really does. Your job affects your schedule, how you spend your time, and what you think about on a daily basis.
Your job should be something you actually enjoy doing. Too many people settle for jobs that they do not enjoy because of the paycheck, benefits, or simply because they do not feel like they can do anything else. But a job like that does not actually help you benefit in the long-run at all. Sacrifices are always involved when taking a pay cut and a great amount of work is involved in actually changing jobs. But the benefits enjoyed of being able to wake up every morning and like what you do while genuinely being good at it are beyond compare.
Don't go for a job just because it's an easy one to get and/or do. Find something that you love and that challenges you to grow in your professional life. That way, the old adage of never working a day in your life will actually ring true for once. But your life has to be in balance regarding professional and personal lives. Your job should never take a toll on your health. In the event that it does, you need a change. That actually leads us into the second area where settling is not an option.
2. Your Health
Our health is something that all of us have taken for granted at some point or another. The unfortunate thing is that sometimes it takes losing someone or some aspect of our health before we realize how valuable it really is. Think about it. How much money would you take for your eyesight? Your hearing? How much could someone pay you to make losing your legs worth it? Chances are pretty good that the amount for any of these things is invaluable.
Another aspect of our humanity that shows how much we take our health for granted is how much neglect we put our bodies through in a given time frame. The holidays are a prime example. Those several weeks around Christmas and Thanksgiving are brutal for our bodies because, with the exception of some power shopping on black Friday, we are fairly inactive. We also give our body straight junk for fuel and expect it to perform at a high level. Talk about not having the tools to succeed.
Taking control of your health forces you to take control of the rest of your life because you start to care. You find out that all of those areas that hinder your performance can actually be influenced by your actions after all. Your health is the area of your life over which you have the most control. I am not advocating that you have total control because no one does. But learning to take responsibility for that place your mind, soul, and spirit will live for their entire earthly existence will make you take responsibility everywhere else too. Taking control of your health spills over into taking control of the rest of your life. You can't afford to skimp on your health, this is the only body you will ever have. God has trusted you with it and expects you to be a good steward of what He has given you. This brings us to something else God has given us where we can't afford to settle for mediocrity.
3. Your Happiness
I am a firm believer that happiness is a choice. You wake up every morning and determine how good of a day you are going to have. Some people let some bad news or what they see on the news determine how the rest of their day goes. But God gave you a brain so that you could actually decide how you're feeling and set your performance level. That makes the question this: Why would anyone settle on how happy they could be?
Settling in the area of happiness is largely due to us not being able to see ourselves getting any closer to where we want to be. Picture your perfect life with the perfect you living inside of it. Have you achieved it yet? You shouldn't have. Why not? Because the beauty of this life we live is the ability to strive for something better. What are you doing to get yourself closer to your ideal person and ideal life? I'm not saying that you should not be content with what you have. I am saying most people stop short of what they really want because they cannot see themselves going any farther. But when you climb a mountain-of-a-goal, you can always see to the top of the next mountain. It will take some more climbing, for sure. But the climb is well worth the struggle and the fight it takes to get you there.
Be proud of yourself and your life. Live a life that you are unashamed of and one that allows you to live optimally. Don't settle for less that ideal when it comes to your employment, your health, and your happiness. Trust me; your are worth the investments necessary to make these areas the best that they can possibly be. When you sow the right things, you will reap even better things.
Stay classy,
Andrew
It is also important to note that what is "best" in each of these areas depends on where you see yourself in life. These are not areas that you can just take a measuring stick to and determine if you're doing it right. That being said, let's dive in.
1. Your Job
Where you work and what you actually do in your professional life are as much a part of your life as anything else. We do not like to think that it holds a great amount of influence but it really does. Your job affects your schedule, how you spend your time, and what you think about on a daily basis.
Your job should be something you actually enjoy doing. Too many people settle for jobs that they do not enjoy because of the paycheck, benefits, or simply because they do not feel like they can do anything else. But a job like that does not actually help you benefit in the long-run at all. Sacrifices are always involved when taking a pay cut and a great amount of work is involved in actually changing jobs. But the benefits enjoyed of being able to wake up every morning and like what you do while genuinely being good at it are beyond compare.
Don't go for a job just because it's an easy one to get and/or do. Find something that you love and that challenges you to grow in your professional life. That way, the old adage of never working a day in your life will actually ring true for once. But your life has to be in balance regarding professional and personal lives. Your job should never take a toll on your health. In the event that it does, you need a change. That actually leads us into the second area where settling is not an option.
2. Your Health
Our health is something that all of us have taken for granted at some point or another. The unfortunate thing is that sometimes it takes losing someone or some aspect of our health before we realize how valuable it really is. Think about it. How much money would you take for your eyesight? Your hearing? How much could someone pay you to make losing your legs worth it? Chances are pretty good that the amount for any of these things is invaluable.
Another aspect of our humanity that shows how much we take our health for granted is how much neglect we put our bodies through in a given time frame. The holidays are a prime example. Those several weeks around Christmas and Thanksgiving are brutal for our bodies because, with the exception of some power shopping on black Friday, we are fairly inactive. We also give our body straight junk for fuel and expect it to perform at a high level. Talk about not having the tools to succeed.
Taking control of your health forces you to take control of the rest of your life because you start to care. You find out that all of those areas that hinder your performance can actually be influenced by your actions after all. Your health is the area of your life over which you have the most control. I am not advocating that you have total control because no one does. But learning to take responsibility for that place your mind, soul, and spirit will live for their entire earthly existence will make you take responsibility everywhere else too. Taking control of your health spills over into taking control of the rest of your life. You can't afford to skimp on your health, this is the only body you will ever have. God has trusted you with it and expects you to be a good steward of what He has given you. This brings us to something else God has given us where we can't afford to settle for mediocrity.
3. Your Happiness
I am a firm believer that happiness is a choice. You wake up every morning and determine how good of a day you are going to have. Some people let some bad news or what they see on the news determine how the rest of their day goes. But God gave you a brain so that you could actually decide how you're feeling and set your performance level. That makes the question this: Why would anyone settle on how happy they could be?
Settling in the area of happiness is largely due to us not being able to see ourselves getting any closer to where we want to be. Picture your perfect life with the perfect you living inside of it. Have you achieved it yet? You shouldn't have. Why not? Because the beauty of this life we live is the ability to strive for something better. What are you doing to get yourself closer to your ideal person and ideal life? I'm not saying that you should not be content with what you have. I am saying most people stop short of what they really want because they cannot see themselves going any farther. But when you climb a mountain-of-a-goal, you can always see to the top of the next mountain. It will take some more climbing, for sure. But the climb is well worth the struggle and the fight it takes to get you there.
Be proud of yourself and your life. Live a life that you are unashamed of and one that allows you to live optimally. Don't settle for less that ideal when it comes to your employment, your health, and your happiness. Trust me; your are worth the investments necessary to make these areas the best that they can possibly be. When you sow the right things, you will reap even better things.
Stay classy,
Andrew
Monday, May 6, 2013
Honoring a Life of Peace
My posts have been fairly irregular as of late. I've honestly felt like I've been "off the grid" for the past week. This is due to the recent loss of my grandmother to cancer. Closure is a subject that has been discussed several times among my immediate family over the past few days. This is my version. This post is not because I need more people to cry with me or more food to be sent over to my house (although I would not object to either). No, this post is, quite frankly, because I was charged with the task of preaching her funeral. I sincerely believe this is a message that she would have wanted to reach as many people as possible. So hang on to your hats and bear with me as we honor a life of peace.
See, my grandmother has been fighting cancer for the better part of the past three years. We knew that her passing would come at some point in the future but not necessarily at this time. Her battle began with a bout with breast cancer. Once this was resolved, a brain tumor revealed its ugly head and, mentally, she hasn't really been the same since. This tumor resulted in a surgery without much recovery. The result was another tumor, a kidney stone, and a failing liver which ultimately resulted in her passing.
I give you that information not to gross you out or to make you feel sorry for her; but to tell you what's next. Cancer arises in the body and uses perfectly good cells to do its dirty work. Once cancer takes over a cell, that cell begins to produce cancerous cells which, in turn, take over other cells and the cycle continues. As far we medically know, there is only one type of cancer that people are actually born with. This cancer is one that takes over every cell in the human body almost instantaneously. It is a slow killer that consumes more victims than all other cancers combined. This cancer takes 100% of the victims infected with it and the dying does not cease after the victim passes from this life. The best name they have found for it is sin.
Sin is a problem that overtakes all humans when they first enter this world. It is a result of our natural state which is enmity with the God of the universe and our personal Creator. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 that the deserved payment for the way we are born is death. It seems a bit unfair, doesn't it? Why should I be punished for something that I can't help? It's unfair until you come to the realization that God created us to be perfect and to live up to His standard. Anyone that lives up to that standard is in great standing with God and the cancer of sin is never an issue.
Unfortunately, no one can live up to God's perfect standard. That means we all should die forever, right? Wrong. See, even though justice says that people infected with sin deserve death, mercy sent a replacement to take your punishment for you. Those little crosses that everyone and their mom wear around their necks actually hold more significance than most realize. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in our stead. He came to earth for the sole purpose of living a perfect life. That means His voluntary death as a perfect man is sufficient to pay the price for the sin of anyone and everyone. Now our job is simply to believe in Him to wash our sin away. The Bible says that the blood of Jesus can wash us as white as snow. At that moment, the cancer does not go away. But the enmity against God has been removed and the debt has been paid. Simple? Yes. Crazy? You bet.
My grandmother lived her life proclaiming that very message with her actions, her words, and her conduct. She went through her final days (and all the rest of her days, honestly) with a blessed assurance that she would not be in pain forever. She knew that her death was just a change of address because the cancer of sin had no victory over her. She would not die for eternity but would live forever in the arms of her Creator.
I know this post has not been the typical, review-her-life and memories kind of post. But I can sincerely say, from the bottom of my heart, that this is what she would have wanted you to hear above all else. Therefore, the greatest honor I can do in her memory is by sharing it with you. If you're still here, thank you for reading. If you want to know more/have questions/want to completely disagree and need someone to debate with you, comment or message me and we'll talk. I cherish every memory that I have of my grandmother and I appreciate you sharing in this time both with myself and my family.
See, my grandmother has been fighting cancer for the better part of the past three years. We knew that her passing would come at some point in the future but not necessarily at this time. Her battle began with a bout with breast cancer. Once this was resolved, a brain tumor revealed its ugly head and, mentally, she hasn't really been the same since. This tumor resulted in a surgery without much recovery. The result was another tumor, a kidney stone, and a failing liver which ultimately resulted in her passing.
I give you that information not to gross you out or to make you feel sorry for her; but to tell you what's next. Cancer arises in the body and uses perfectly good cells to do its dirty work. Once cancer takes over a cell, that cell begins to produce cancerous cells which, in turn, take over other cells and the cycle continues. As far we medically know, there is only one type of cancer that people are actually born with. This cancer is one that takes over every cell in the human body almost instantaneously. It is a slow killer that consumes more victims than all other cancers combined. This cancer takes 100% of the victims infected with it and the dying does not cease after the victim passes from this life. The best name they have found for it is sin.
Sin is a problem that overtakes all humans when they first enter this world. It is a result of our natural state which is enmity with the God of the universe and our personal Creator. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23 that the deserved payment for the way we are born is death. It seems a bit unfair, doesn't it? Why should I be punished for something that I can't help? It's unfair until you come to the realization that God created us to be perfect and to live up to His standard. Anyone that lives up to that standard is in great standing with God and the cancer of sin is never an issue.
Unfortunately, no one can live up to God's perfect standard. That means we all should die forever, right? Wrong. See, even though justice says that people infected with sin deserve death, mercy sent a replacement to take your punishment for you. Those little crosses that everyone and their mom wear around their necks actually hold more significance than most realize. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in our stead. He came to earth for the sole purpose of living a perfect life. That means His voluntary death as a perfect man is sufficient to pay the price for the sin of anyone and everyone. Now our job is simply to believe in Him to wash our sin away. The Bible says that the blood of Jesus can wash us as white as snow. At that moment, the cancer does not go away. But the enmity against God has been removed and the debt has been paid. Simple? Yes. Crazy? You bet.
My grandmother lived her life proclaiming that very message with her actions, her words, and her conduct. She went through her final days (and all the rest of her days, honestly) with a blessed assurance that she would not be in pain forever. She knew that her death was just a change of address because the cancer of sin had no victory over her. She would not die for eternity but would live forever in the arms of her Creator.
I know this post has not been the typical, review-her-life and memories kind of post. But I can sincerely say, from the bottom of my heart, that this is what she would have wanted you to hear above all else. Therefore, the greatest honor I can do in her memory is by sharing it with you. If you're still here, thank you for reading. If you want to know more/have questions/want to completely disagree and need someone to debate with you, comment or message me and we'll talk. I cherish every memory that I have of my grandmother and I appreciate you sharing in this time both with myself and my family.
"We are confident. Yes, well pleased, rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 5:8
Stay classy,
Andrew
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