We all want our lives to count for something. But a lot of people, you may be among them, think it’s beyond their grasp -they don’t think they have enough to offer. Don’t underestimate yourself. You do have something to offer and making a difference is easier than you think. Let me give you a couple of examples that will get you thinking.

I flunked speech in my freshmen year in high school, a combination of lack of confidence and a teacher who should have picked another profession. But the next year I signed up for another speech course, this time taught by an incredible teacher who loved teaching and cared about students. Jack Gilbert saw potential in me and took time to develop it. I made an “A” in speech that year and was the MC for the school assemblies. It also led to dramatic arts and communications studies in college, as well as my public ministry. Jack Gilbert’s simple act of caring helped set the course for my life.

The second example is an organization called CASA (Court Appointed Special advocates) of which I’m a board member. CASA has 200 well-trained volunteers who represent 500 abused and neglected children in the court system. It’s not easy working in a complex, rigid court system with kids who are emotionally scarred, scared and angry. But imagine the positive influence these volunteers can have in the lives of children who desperately need someone who genuinely cares, standing beside them. A good percentage of the volunteers are retiree’s who want add meaning to their retirement years.

In both examples, making a difference began with a simple act of caring enough to reach out and touch a life. And that’s something we all can do. So why not find your place and jump right in. You’ll be amazed at how meaningful your life can become.

Thanks for joining me and whatever you do, keep showing up.

I don’t think God is that impressed with what we Christians call success today, because much of it is based on a secular concept rather than a biblical one.

There’s a good example of this in the life of Moses. The Israelites were in the wilderness with no water and ready to stone Moses. So Moses asked God what he should do and God told him to speak to a certain rock at Mt. Sinai. By doing so, water would pour forth.

But speaking in front of all those people was a frightening thought to Moses because he had a speech problem. It was an impediment so bad that his brother Aaron spoke on his behalf. However, Moses had witnessed incredible miracles with the shepherd’s staff God had given him. So much so, it seems he had become more confident in the gift (the staff) than the giver (God).

It’s possible God wanted Moses to trust Him with his weakness on this occasion, but the pressure was on Moses to produce water and rather than speak to the rock as God instructed, he struck it with the staff. Amazingly, water poured out and the people were ecstatic and Moses was once again the hometown hero.

God was not ecstatic. Moses was disobedient and no matter how successful he looked in the eyes of the people, he had failed in God’s eyes and God forbade him to enter into the Promised Land.

There are Christians today, including Christian leaders, who may look very successful in the eyes of people, but may not be successful in God’s eyes. It may be wrong motives, personal ambition, moral failure or any number of other spiritual issues.

God has a place for every one of us and true spiritual success is when we are obedient to His calling on our lives and when we are living in right relationship with Him. Our responsibility is obedience and what happens after that is God’s responsibility.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 sums it up. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.”

Thanks for joining me and whatever you do, keep showing up.