Do you see corporate logos as the icons of the modern age? Companies take their symbols seriously and spend millions to promote and defend them. Do you see the cross as the ‘corporate logo’ of the church? This symbol is universally associated with the Christian faith. Does it seem like an odd choice that no one else would choose; an instrument of cruel death? Yet my call to everyone who would follow me is to lay down their life and pick up their cross. You see the symbol of the cross everywhere the gospel message is proclaimed. Do you see as much visible evidence of believers embracing it?

Do you come into frequent contact with bureaucrats or other people who serve in menial functional tasks? Has this ever been an unpleasant experience for you? Is it easy to criticize them or the system they are involved in? Don’t forget that they are first of all people, who are created in my image just as you are. This modern world has produced some jobs that are dehumanizing, but they are still performed by humans. Look beyond the functional exchange and learn to see these interactions as encounters.

It is so easy to focus on the imperfections in your spouse rather than the amazing God-given gifts which cause you as a team to be strong.  Whatever you gaze upon creates your reality. If I want an amazing marriage, I need to focus on the gifts in my spouse. So here are two questions you can ask the Lord:  Lord, would you show me all the gifts my spouse brings into my life so I can honor and appreciate and love my spouse properly? Lord, would you paint a picture of the full destruction my lack of gratitude for my spouse will bring to my life?

Have you been to college? Higher education is expensive, and not everyone can afford it. Yet everyone has experiences in life that can serve as learning opportunities. Everyone at some point makes bad choices. This has been called the ‘school of hard knocks’ and you don’t need a trust fund to be able to pay the tuition, but if you look at the costs of bad decisions you realize that this education comes at a very high price. Do you maximize the potential of these occasions as learning opportunities? They will come and you will pay the price whether you do or not.