Tag: faith

Categories
family growth

She Speaks, Ends, and Begins Today

Photo of Paula Spear holding a cup of coffee

This morning, my bride speaks before our church. It’s her last day as a children’s pastor and first day as a speaker. It has been amazing to see her growth in the last couple of years.

It will be most interesting seeing her on the stage as she closes her time at Salem Church of God. It has been the most amazing place for us. The people have been fantastic. Paula has had great support. As she will say in her sermon, her departure doesn’t make much sense except that she is making a step by faith.

I have seen amazing growth in her since she began in children’s ministry seventeen years ago. As recent as last year, she would not have thought of speaking to the entire congregation. Yet, I have seen natural talent in her and a passion to speak and get her message out. We believe her next step involves speaking into women’s lives. It’s been a thrill to witness her transformation in the last year.

For a few weeks, I’ve been talking about change, and worry. Here is the culmination of it. We don’t know what her next step is. We do know that change is coming and starts today.

I’ve tried to behave myself the last couple of weeks so I did not become subject of a sermon illustration. We’ll see how that goes this morning! My tendency to worry and be snarky probably did not help me with this goal.

I am quite proud of my wife. She is walking and speaking by faith this morning. You can bet there will be a sketch note on her sermon. Ready or not, here we go!

Categories
motivation

If Life is a Marathon, Why do we Coast?

Cartoon of two racers. One of them is wearing motor racing gear. The other says, "I get the feeling one of us is wearing the wrong racing gear."

One of the many lessons I learned from running a marathon is that training matters. If you want to finish the race, blowing off long runs and failing to put the mileage in will cost you pain and the likelihood you won’t finish what you came to do.

If life is a marathon, then why do we coast? Why do we get comfortable and lazy? Keep pushing yourself! Do the work to stay competitive in the race of life.

  • Learn something new every day
  • Keep your eyes open to new opportunities
  • Take some risks that might not work but could pay off generously
    • Do something that requires faith
  • Keep your head in the game
    • Be positive
    • Be encouraging
    • Ask what if to possibilities, not what if to past regrets and mistakes
    • Look at every challenge as an opportunity
    • Embrace change

No one has ever fully arrived until they take their last breath. And if you are a person of faith, like me, the race is only beginning at that point as well.

Categories
motivation

Another Reason Why my Wife Inspires and Motivates me

Yesterday, my wife wrote a post about her journey over the last year.

A Step of Faith by Paula Kay Spear

Over the last several years, I have seen her grow spiritually in major ways. She has chosen to leave what is comfortable, successful and a wonderful environment to pursue what she feels God is calling her to do next.

Whether you are a religious person or not, any potential move from the ordinary requires faith. That is especially true when you aren’t necessarily miserable or otherwise forced to make a change.

I am proud of her beccause she has inspired me and others to listen and move. I know she has done great things where she’s been and will continue to do so because of her faith to step out of the boat.

In case you didn’t know, my wife is my hero and she continues to inspire and motivate me.

Categories
creativity motivation

Why it is so Important to Shake Things up

Illustration of a happy girl with a tea cup, sunflower hat, bathing suit and swim flippers

We get complacent too easily. At a certain point, and at a certain age, it can be tempting to just go with the flow. You wouldn’t want to rock the boat anyway, would you? No need to draw attention to yourself. Why let things lie? After all, you’ve been successful. Sure! You can always improve, but why not just coast along life?

About four years ago, my wife and I were faced with a decision. We could stay in a town we love with a church that supported and appreciated her and a workplace I valued. I had just received a promotion. Our youngest child was about to graduate from high school. Why not just kick back and coast?

Instead, we felt called to a church out west. We sold our house. I resigned from my job. We left everything cherished and familiar to try something new. Why shake things up like that? Why make such a change?

  • Because faith without taking a risk with works is dead
  • Because creativity isn’t doing the same old thing
  • Because to stay young, you need to act young once in a while
  • Because it’s better to try and fail than wonder if you ever would have made it

Creativity comes from shaking things up a bit and trying something new. It has a lot in common with walking by faith.

Categories
Attitude Running

Keep on Running!

Cartoon of a runner shouting, "Just keep running!"
Copyright ©2017 Kevin Spear

This morning, I am going to be running the To Do My Best Half-Marathon in Troy, Ohio. I am looking forward to it because I haven’t run one in well over two years. I know. It’s a sickness. But I gladly embrace my malady.

Continue reading “Keep on Running!”