"Are they coming after you?"

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A grandfather and his grandson, Billy, went camping. They reserved a cabin out in the woods near a lake. Billy thought they’d never get there and it was late at night when they arrived.

They decided to keep the lights off in the cabin while they unpacked the car. They wanted to keep from attracting pesky insects like mosquitoes into the cabin. A few fireflies followed then in anyway.

Seeing them before his grandfather did, Billy whispered, "It's no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."

Do you ever feel like you do the best you can in life to not attract pesky problems, but they find you anyway? They come after you in the dark…with flashlights?

I guess we all feel "they" are coming after us at some time in our lives. Well, the next time you feel that way, just remember that God is in the dark with you. And no matter who comes after you, and even if they’re packing flashlights, God is there with you to help you through it. Just listen to life and make a life, not just a living, and find God.

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"Do you really listen to life?"

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The idea of listening to life is really revolutionary. For instance, the next time you’re in a conversation with someone, pay attention to the way your mind runs while the other person talks. Typically, it runs to what you’re going to talk about next, rarely genuinely listening until the person finishes. And usually your next words have to do with you.

For instance, if I’m listening to someone talk about his daughter, I can’t wait to talk about one of my daughters. Or, if the other person is talking about a subject, I can hardly contain myself until he takes a breath so I can break in and show my expertise.

Of course, it isn’t always expertise I’m sharing. As someone once said, "Knowing nothing about a topic never keeps me from talking about it."

Today, when you’re in a conversation with someone, listen completely to what he’s saying. Follow up her comments with a question or comment about what she just said, not about yourself. Watch as these people enjoy your listening and begin listening to you better in return.

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"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

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A mom was tucking in her six-year-old son one night and asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. He wanted her to guess, so she did, naming all of his favorite places to go and things to do—the ice cream shop, the pizza place, the movie theater. He said "No" to all of them, but wanted her to continue guessing.

She did and asked if he wanted to be a financial advisor like his dad. Instead of saying "No" this time, he said, "Well, I was thinking of working there first, then retire and work with Grandfather in his business, then retire and be a teacher, then retire and be a doctor, then retire and be a basketball player, then retire and be a racecar driver, then retire and be a football player, and then retire and be a scientist."

Do you remember when the whole world of opportunity was before you and you were that passionate about that many things? How did you choose what you’re doing today? Ask God to show you your unique contribution to the world so you can do what you love and love what you do as you make a life today.

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"Do you knock?"

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What if you planned a trip to see a friend that you haven’t visited with in a long time? You take time off of work, buy your airline ticket, and arrange for someone to walk and feed your yellow Lab.

You arrive on-time for your flight and miraculously, it departs and arrives on time. The rental car company has just the vehicle you want and the hotel has your confirmed room waiting for you to check-in. So you register and unload your belongings in the room, then drive to your friend’s home.

The car’s GPS tells you to turn right, then left, and pretty soon you’re pulling into your friend’s driveway. You get out of the car, walk up the sidewalk to the door, and then you just…stand there.

You don’t knock. You don’t ring the doorbell. You just stand there, expecting your friend to know you’re there.

Today, when you’re facing a decision and are unsure about which door to choose, knock and see which one opens and who answers. Don’t just stand there. Knock, and get an answer from God as you make a life, not just a living.

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"Do you believe in angels?"

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I’m still learning more and more about angels today.

Matthew is nine years old and says, "It’s not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to heaven. Then there’s still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes."

Antonia, 9, believes, "All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn’t go for it."

Sarah is as mystified as I am about angels, and says, "What I don’t get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them."

Eight-year-old Molly says, "I hear angels all the time in my dreams. And I’m sticking with that no matter how many people tell me I’m crazy."

Vicki is also 8 and believes that "Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don’t make the animals get better, they help the kid get over it."

Whatever you believe about angels, sounds like they’re all around us, doesn’t it? Helping us listen to life and make a life, not just a living today.

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