Digital Nativity

This is a very creative way of using today's social media & technology to share the story of Jesus' birth. Share your thoughts on this video...and it's content.

How Do You Define ‘Joy’

How would you define Joy? According to Merriam-Webster Online…

Joy: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.

What about you? Do you have well-being this Christmas season? Are you enjoying much success & good fortune? How about this one. ..do you possess Joy simply by hoping for something you desire? Is this hope grounded in something, giving your Joy a leg to stand on? Take a look at this verse.

Titus 3:7 tells us…

“Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

The hope of living in Heaven with Jesus for eternity is HUGE for anyone who can even grasp a small portion of that promise. But for many during the holidays, even that hope can seem far-off and out of reach. We’ve all had those bad seasons in life. You know the ones…when absolutely everything seems to be screwed up. It can be difficult to have real Joy. Let’s take a look at one more piece of scripture.

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

So, here’s the thing. While we are living in this world we are going to go through bad stuff…and God knows what we are enduring. The second part of this verse, however, begins with a huge BUT! ‘Take heart,’ or have Joy…because I (Jesus) will walk with you through it all.

May you experience pure, authentic Joy this Christmas.

Peace on Earth

”Peace on Earth, good will towards men” is a familiar Christmas wish. It is also taken from the 2nd chapter of Luke. Peace on Earth is one thing, but what does Peace for you look like? What would it take for you to experience Peace this Christmas? Let me share a little encouragement with you on this topic.

Take a moment to read the account of Mary & Gabriel. This Angel appeared to Mary and told her something that had the potential to send her into a major anxiety attack. God knew this was going to be huge….and He wanted her to have Peace in the situation. He sent an Angel with a very specific message. In short, the message was this: “God has chosen you” & “God will enable you.”

Is there an area of your life that you could really use some Peace this holiday season? Maybe it’s finances, or workplace stress. It might even be family relationship issues. What about a health situation for you or a loved one? Whatever it is for you this Christmas, know that your God in Heaven desires for you to have Peace. He wants you to give your worries to Him to deal with. He gives of Himself for our wellbeing. This is the central theme of Christmas!

What do you HOPE for this Christmas?

One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Silent Night.” I was thinking of one of the lines in particular, and how it relates to the 1^st week of Advent…Hope! I believe it’s the 2^nd verse of the song were the proclamation ‘Christ the Savior is born’ occurs. Now…..THIS IS HOPE! Not only was the savior of all of mankind born on that wonderful day, but those who were familiar with the writings of the prophets knew that this infant was their Savior. They had HOPE.…and so do we.

You see, the hopeful aspect of Jesus’ birth doesn’t end with Christmas morning. Jesus chose to leave his comfortable, safe, powerful position in Heaven to become…for a short while…frail, vulnerable, and even hated by many. He needed to physically come and love on his creation. Give a personal greeting. Introduce himself. But most important, he wanted to make a substantial statement by offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. No more sacrificing our livestock in order to make our relationships right with God. Jesus paid it for the last time. Because of this, we can simply declare him as our own savior and king. This means living our lives to please him, because what he has planned for our lives is much bigger than anything that we can possibly imagine for ourselves.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior…..he becomes our Hope. We can live assured that he will return one day, and that he will take us to spend eternity with him in Heaven. This is where my Hope rests this holiday season…I pray it will be yours as well.

Random Thoughts

Thanksgiving is just two days away. As I began my morning with my laptop & coffee, random thankful thoughts started flooding my mind. And when I say ‘random’……well, you’ll get the point.

I am thankful…

- that I no longer have 3 broken teeth.

- for a working dishwasher.

- for great friends & family in at least 10 states.

- to be a proud Mac user.

- for Starbucks holiday drinks.

- that I can color the grey out of my goatee…and admit it.

- for 4 great kids & an incredible wife.

- for Spirit-minded church leadership.

- that Christ gave His life 4 me…and wants me to partner with Him…despite my many flaws!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever…Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.”

Psalm 107:1,8

What are you thankful for this week?

Church & Parents…can they partner together?

I recently had the opportunity to hear Reggie Joiner passionately talk about The State of the Church and Family (2010), a study done by the reThink Group and the Barna Group. They surveyed parents all over the U.S., both churched and unchurched. When asked if they thought that leaders in the church were a good source for help with developing a parenting plan, this is what they said:

57% - churched parents – VERY HELPFUL

19% - unchurched parents – VERY HELPFUL

These results give us immense insight that the church in America must address. First, less than a fifth of unchurched parents would think to go to the local church for help with their parenting efforts. Personally, I’m not overly shocked with that finding. It’s the 57% of churched parents that share the same feelings on that subject that…to me…is unacceptable & inexcusable! The Word of God contains valuable information on parenting, and I know that many churches teach those principles from the pulpit, in their adult elective classes, and in their small groups. Why then, are so many parents doubtful of the church’s ability to support families in this area? Do parents not think that anyone else knows what they are going through? Is the church not willing to openly discuss issues like physical discipline (spanking), sexual orientation, drugs & alcohol use at home, domestic violence, etc?

I’m sure the causes of these survey results are many & complex. But church…we cannot let this knowledge go unattended. The very backbone of our society is the family unit. If parents can’t/won’t look to God’s church for guidance, where will they turn? We must raise our hand and clearly say, “We can help.”

We aim to please!

Have you ever known someone who needed to gain approval from others? It might be an athlete to a coach…student to a professor…or worker to an employer. While this is not always completely wrong or unhealthy, there does come a point to which a re-focus must happen. A wide-receiver may desire mass recognition from his fans to gain fame. Likewise, an associate may push themselves to strenuous limits to be recognized by the higher-ups in order to get that promotion. Whatever the task…whatever the benefit…and whatever the reason, we must all regularly ask ourselves one gigantic question, “Who am I trying to please here?”

…we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you…

1Thessalonians 4:1 (NLT)

Gaining favor with people is fine, but I would argue that it shouldn’t be what drives our efforts. When our work is done to honor and please God, people see it and notice a difference in how we do things. Additionally, aiming to please Him greatly affects our drive…our work ethic. One final point would be this. We may get some fame or fortune from pleasing others, but Christ promises eternal riches, life, and happiness. May God be pleased with our lives this week.

God’s Shower Gel

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 1:7-8 (NLT)

Have you ever showered with one of those aromatherapy shower gels? I’ve seen scents that claim to relax you, make you more alert, and even increase your sensuality. Regardless of the benefit marked on the label, there is yet very noticeable evidence that you used THAT particular product. Anyone who comes anywhere near you can easily identify what you showered with. The aroma is strong, unique, and usually pleasant.

This is the picture I thought of when I read the verse above this morning. The top three ingredients in ‘God’s shower gel’ are kindness, wisdom, and understanding. When we have accepted His free gift of salvation & patterned our lives after His Son…His riches spill over onto us. I guess you could say that we get to use God’s shower gel……consequently smelling like Him. The end result would be that people we come in close contact with would enjoy our aroma…and that it would in turn remind them of God’s sweet Spirit in us!

Of all the things that we could potentially smell like this week, may you take on the aroma of the Creator.

Bringing ‘Light’ to your Life

I’ve got quite a task set before me this week. I’m taking the week to update my L.A.M.P. (Life And Ministry Plan). I wrote my first L.A.M.P. almost a year ago while we were still living in Washington State. I recently took a look at it and realized that much of it no longer applies to my life or ministry. It’s time for an update!

Proverbs 16:9 tells us that ‘We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.’ God honors planning ahead & being prepared. He also requires a certain level of flexibility of us with regards to those plans. So, I’ll be prayerfully planning for the next year, and then asking His Spirit to guide my steps to be in His will.

Whether you are in ministry or not, I would encourage you consider writing your own Life Plan. Put down on paper answers to questions like these…

- In what areas of my life do I want to grow?

- What improvements can I influence in my marriage/family?

- Are there financial adjustments that I need to make in my budget?

- How do I want my spiritual life to look a year from now?

After answering these, develop a plan of attack. Write it down and put a time-frame on each item. Then, simply revisit this document every couple of months to see how things are going. You might also want to ask someone whom you respect to be a mentor or accountability partner. Share your Life Plan with them, and ask them to help you stay on track.

When FAITH Is No Longer Required

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

I was reading more in ‘Seizing Your Devine Moment’ today. McManus made what I thought to be a very profound spiritual claim after referencing the passage above. He said, “Once something is a certainty, it no longer requires faith. Do not be surprised that what God asked of you yesterday is insufficient for your journey of faith today.” Now, I don’t know about you, but this has proven to be so true in my life. I can’t begin to tell you how many things in my past took immense steps of faith for me. And as I discovered this morning…the vast majority of those ‘leaps of faith’ would not be challenging for me today. I think it’s kind of like riding roller coasters. In general, you may enjoy them…but what if you had the chance to ride the largest & fastest roller coaster in the country? You may experience some nervousness, some anxiety as you approach the boarding area. In fact, the thought of saying, “forget this” might even come to mind more than once. The more you are exposed to enduring that particular roller coaster, however, the more familiar (certain) you become of the experience & the outcome.

Our willingness to walk with Jesus is quite similar in comparison. There will be times when He says, “Come on, get on this ride with me” and we reply with “Are you nuts?”

Today, ask yourself this question. Does my life today require faith…or am I just cruising in what is certain? If you are going to be certain of anything this week, be certain of this. God is a God of growth & challenge. Step out into where you have never been before. It will enrich your life, and God will bless others through you!

McManus, Erwin. Seizing Your Divine Moment. Nelson Books, 2002. 85-86

Closer to Perfect

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

Philippians 2:14-15

Ok, I’ll tell you right now that I was ‘complaining’ today…and I was NOT ‘shining like a bright light.’ Here’s the situation. We arose from bed this morning to find that the a/c was not working in our apartment. It was going to be hot again today, so I promptly called the office. After a couple of hours, I called again…and then a third time around 2:30 pm when the temp in our apartment had reached 85 degrees. Now, I was able to remain nice & calm with the staff…but between phone calls and in my home I found myself becoming more and more irritable. I’m not a small individual and I am not comfortable in really warm environments. My mood was quickly deteriorating, and all because we didn’t have working a/c.

What kinds of criteria usually need to be in place for your mood to be affected? What challenges your Christ-like character?

I would argue that it’s good for us to be tested like this once in a while. The hope is that we are able to do some self-inventory…and then grow from the experience. This is what I’m doing right now. Sitting in my living room with the a/c now running great, it’s easier to reflect.

This is a large part of what it means to be one of God’s children. We’re not created to be perfect on this side of Heaven, but we do strive to develop closer to perfect than we were yesterday.

People-Pleasing Predicament

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10

If you have ever wondered where Paul got his bold reputation, it’s partially from making statements like this. And if you’ve ever been in any form of leadership in the church, then you know the magnitude of Paul’s tone and position on the issue of ‘people-pleasing.’ Are there benefits to gaining favor with the people around you? Absolutely. This allows you to speak and have influence in the lives of those you come into contact with. It boils down to setting priorities.

Regarding this text in Galatians, I would suggest that there is one huge lesson embedded in Paul’s statement. It is not possible to fully serve Jesus & fully aim to please people. Striving for both will only lead to mediocre results for both. This came as Paul was addressing the issue of circumcision of Gentiles. Some religious leaders were teaching that this was necessary in order to be included in God’s family. They were holding on to the traditional law…not accepting that we can now obtain eternal life by simply having faith in Jesus Christ.

In this portion of scripture, the issue was circumcision that was keeping some from accepting the free & undeserving gift of grace and salvation. What might Paul be dealing with in today’s society regarding people thinking they need to earn the right to be included in God’s family? Regular church attendance…tithing…serving meals to the homeless…honoring the Sabbath? While Jesus instructs all believers to do all of these things, none of it will gain us eternal life without faith. As believers, may we never place what we do above who we are in Christ. May we be seen as Godly people…not merely shallow doers.

Dear Pastor Jones!

As we approach yet another somber anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on American soil, I felt compelled to address the internationally scrutinized intentions of a pastor in Florida to burn Korans on Saturday. On the surface, one might try to admire Pastor Terry Jones’ determination and enthusiasm for what he believes. But, to me, this is gravely overshadowed by his unfortunate ignorance in understanding the role of a pastor and the heart of God. I would like to ask Pastor Jones if he thinks that God loves Muslims. I would hope his answer would be, “Yes, of course.” God is Love….plain and simple. We are told that ‘Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good’ in Romans 12:9. Notice that ‘love’ and ‘things which are good’ sandwich the ‘evil’ part in this passage. By burning one or even a few Korans this Saturday, Pastor Jones will not be ridding the world of this book forever…nor is he communicating sincere love, Christ-like love, to anyone! So I ask…what’s the point?

Muslims are not to blame for the horrific attacks of 9/11. A group of hyper-religious, radical activists, full of hate and evil, are responsible. The fact that they were also Muslim does not give us sanction to condemn an entire nation of people…..people who Christ died for just as much as for you or I.

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27 (NLT)

Let us not be corrupted by the distractions of this world. And may we also stay focused on things that are pure, good, and acceptable in God’s sight. Pray for Pastor Jones’ safety this weekend…as well as for the safety of our country.

“Move it, lady!”

Let me begin this blog by sharing something that happened on the road just the other day. We were on our way home and there was a full-sized truck behind us. Cailey was driving the speed limit, yet the guy behind us was right up on her bumper. Then, in a no-passing lane, he guns it and passes her. What he did next was even more surprising. He slowed down to a ridiculous 25 mph right in front of us and maintained that pace for a good ¼ mile. When he turned off, he glared out his window at her with the most intense look of revenge.

I actually found this to be oddly humorous, and simply smiled and waved at him as we passed. Honestly, the most hilarious realization to me in this whole occurrence is that he was obviously in a huge rush to get somewhere fast…yet he was able to make time to drive even slower than my wife to make his point.

“Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.” Proverbs 14:29 (Msg)

Whether it’s in traffic, at the register, or even the bank lobby…Lord, help me to have the patience and understanding toward others (despite what I have going on) so that my ignorance doesn’t cause someone else to see an incorrect image of you.

Your Life is a Commercial

You know what I love about DVR…that I can skip over all the commercials. Once in a while, however, an Ad is produced that is very creative and absolutely hysterical. But the problem with many of these is that the product or service being sold is not clearly communicated. We’ve all witnessed these. You’re left laughing out loud, and moments after the commercial is done the thought “What were they trying to sell, anyway” comes to mind. From a marketing standpoint, that’s not a good thing!

This got me thinking this morning. As Christians, what are WE advertising? Granted, the Church is not Corporate America…but it’s equally important that what (in this case, Who) we are advertising is crystal clear! As we interact with people in our communities, in the work place, at the YMCA, or in traffic…what are we advertising? In a way, our journey with Christ is a commercial. There ARE people watching all the time. This week, may they not see our self-righteousness, accomplishments, church denomination, or political preferences. May they simply see Jesus, and want to know Him because of what they see in us.

Galatians 5:22-26 reads:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

VitaWord

At the beginning of this week my oldest son and I began exercising. Keep in mind this is the first time I have done any substantial physical exercise in about 6 months. After the first day or two I was noticing notable levels of discomfort…in parts of my body that haven’t hurt for a while. The muscles that did not ache, however, just happen to be the ones that I typically use all day long, every day to get through my daily routine. But I do know that most of the soreness will subside after a few more days of staying with this routine. My body simply needed to be re-conditioned.

There are similar times when our spirits need the same conditioning. I find that when I’ve been able to spend some daily quality time with God, in prayer and in the Word, it gets easier the more consistent I can be. When I do allow myself to fall out of that daily practice, however, it’s always tricky for me to get back into it. Take a look at the wisdom within this passage…

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Joshua 1:8 (NLT)

Thus, wisdom + consistency = achievement …simply stated! This week, may you remember to take your daily supplement of God's insight and love for your life...preferably after a meal.

Thanks, Captain Obvious!

Have you ever been in one of those chapters of life where you find yourself aggressively searching (harder that usual) for God’s blessings and answered prayers? You know what I mean…times when it’s difficult to see His loving involvement in our life. And things don’t even need to necessarily be terrible and falling apart. I would suggest that sometimes we tend to take these things for granted in a BIG way! Now, I’m not talking about things like health, finances, or even pets J What I am alluding to, however, is simply the stuff that is right under our noses.

Let me pose a question if I may. Why is it that when one small hair is out of place on our perfectly gelled head of hair we call life…we go running and screaming to Jesus as though our vary life was in eminent danger? Isn’t it interesting, confusing, maddening, or even convicting that we have no problem locating the flaws of life…no matter how great the magnitude? Then, along comes a high-end magnitude situation that shakes you so hard that everything around you crumbles. As the dust and particles settle and the destruction becomes visibly clear, you realize that you’re not the only one left standing. You see, God strategically places individuals in our lives to be His hands and voice of influence…to walk through these quakes of life with us.

“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.” James 1:17

This week, may you be encouraged by this. Might I encourage you to stop and experience a ‘Thanks, captain obvious’ moment for yourself. Take a step back, examine your life, and notice……notice that special person that God has placed in your life for this specific moment. For me, I was reminded that my wife is that person. After an entire day of being rather short-tempered and critical with her, we sat down and had a ‘talk.’ She had the Godly wisdom and insight to know I wasn’t having the best of days. We had a wonderful discussion, and I apologized for painting a target on her forehead. That is when it hit me! God is using her in my life MORE than I could notice on my own. Who is this person for you…wife, teacher, parent, brother/sister, pastor? Take time to thank God for them today.

Spiritual Heartbreak

The account recorded in Luke 18:18-23 is one that is probably familiar to all of us. Let me give you my paraphrase. Basically, a rich man asked Jesus a GIGANTIC question. “What should I do to inherit eternal life?” Initially, Jesus answered this man with what he knew he wanted to hear…’You must obey the commandments.’ But then Jesus said something that shook this man’s world so dramatically that it moved him to spiritual heartbreak. Jesus instructed him to sell all of his possessions, give all the profits to the poor, and follow him. Now, the obvious lesson in this is that the man cherished his wealth over helping others and learning from Christ. He couldn’t let go of his ‘stuff.’ But let me take this a step further…..one level deeper for a minute. As I read this passage in my own devotions this morning, I began thinking about the people in my own life who are (by my own definition) wealthy…financially blessed…well-off. I would think that most of their possessions would bless anyone less fortunate than them…a dependable car…nice clothes…a house to keep them warm…etc. So, as I read again Jesus’ instructions to this young man I was lead to question why…why did he not simply ask him to give his possessions directly to the poor? Then it hit me. I would suggest that the vast majority of his ‘wealth’ was valuable to him, but would be virtually worthless to those whom Jesus was referring to. Priceless works of art, ancient pottery, a dozen servants, etc. Here’s my very blunt, modern translation of what I believe Jesus was challenging this guy…’Quit worshipping all your meaningless crap and fully worship me by noticing the real needs of others around you.’

How many of us enjoy the amenities of our own meaningless crap in life? I am personally challenged as I write this blog on my Macbook…while enjoying my venti iced Americano…in the comfort of an air-conditioned Starbucks…and taking advantage of free Wi-Fi. I must constantly remind myself not to rely on these things more than my personal time with God.

I pray that this will be encouragement for you too this week. If it’s been a month…a week…or even a day, take some priceless time with Him today. Ask Him to reveal to you what you must do to truly follow Him.

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

The Best Thing

What is the ‘best’ thing about living the Christian life? Some might say that it’s eternal life, or the ability to connect with the creator of the universe via prayer. Still others would say having God’s blessings, or even a viable meaning to life. While I would agree that all of those are very true, a better ‘Best Thing’ exists…and it’s found in the passage below.

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:15-17 (NLT)

Jesus fed the hungry, forgave the oppressed, healed the blind and the crippled, brought the dead back to life, and ultimately gave himself for us. The ‘best’ thing about living the Christian life, I would argue, is simply being Christ to others. Everything about how we act and what we do must have more focus on others than ourselves. It’s a matter of priorities. Putting someone else’s needs above our own is not extremely common, nor does it come natural.

This week, may all of us who call ourselves believers intentionally be on the lookout for an opportunity to bless a total stranger in an unexpected, spirit-led manner. May God lead us, strengthen us, and give us the words to speak.

Cardiac Bankruptcy

“If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.”

1 Corinthians 13:3-7a (Message)

This section of scripture has fascinated me for several years. The Apostle Paul, boldly and unapologetically, elevates ‘love’ so far above any other aspect of Christianity that there is absolutely no comparison. Every time I read it I am reminded more and more that ‘love’ defines the drive, purpose, and soul of every believer’s faith journey. I could lead 10,000 lives to Christ, build 500 orphanages in South Africa, and feed the homeless in China…but if love is not behind it all, I am nothing! Would Heaven not still rejoice over those saved souls? Yes. Would those orphans not be in a better situation than before? Of course. And would those fed in China not be hungry any more? Definitely. So then, why the critical attention on ‘love’ behind it all? I’ll tell you why. If I throw money and resources at a cause, the people will be thankful to me. If they see Christ-like love behind my efforts, however, they will be thankful to God!

I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite authors. “A relationship with Christ doesn’t always change our circumstances, but it does change the way we see ourselves, see others, and see God. Why? Because we see with our souls. We become less self-conscious and more God-conscious.”[1] And it’s that ‘God-consciousness’ that enables love to fuel our actions.

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[1] “Primal” by Mark Batterson, p. 69

Hope Floats!

Romans 12:12 says this…

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines ‘hope’ in this way: desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.

What do you think of when you imagine what Heaven will be like? When I ponder the unimaginable mystery of this very real place, these are some of what comes to mind for me:

- Finally getting to physically see Jesus!

- Endless, unceasing happiness.

- Aside from praising God and remaining in His presence, nothing else will matter…nothing!

This verse tells us that we should be celebrating, having a party in our hope of eternity with our Savior. Our confidence of this comes from God. Its that confident hope that gives us the ability, despite our humanity, to patiently wade through our oceans of trials and remain praying to an untouchable God no matter what!

This week, try to identify those things that threaten to sink your hope. Next, pray against them. There is immense power in recognizing the enemy. Lastly, hold on to this hope of spending eternity with Jesus himself…don’t let go for anything…and encourage others to hold on with you!