LEFTOVERS

left·o·ver

ˈleftˌōvər/

1. something, especially food, remaining after the rest has been used or consumed.

   synonyms:

   residue, survivor, vestige, legacy, throwback

One of my FAV-O-RITE weekends of each year is the 3 days following THANKSGIVING!

Besides the obvious buffet of football games, it's the food LEFTOVERS that I really enjoy!

The CHEERLEADER and I were in a conversation, recently, about LEFTOVERS.  Some don't like the idea of saving the food and going back in later that day or the next.  Others LOVE it!

The LEFTOVER meal I like the best....chili!  The CHEERLEADER makes THE BEST chili and it only gets better as the flavors have a chance to mingle for a couple of days!

Some LEFTOVERS in the fridge get forgotten and have to be tossed out.

What about people that we treat as LEFTOVERS?  I'm talking about the LEFTOVERS we forget about and not the ones we get all excited about.

You know what I'm talking about.  We have our "fill" and then put them away for another day.

Do you remember the Sunday School story of the Wayward or Prodigal Son?  Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of a son who wanted out and to go his own way.  Since the usual "receiving" of an inheritance doesn't happen unless someone dies, in essence, he tells his father, "I wish you were dead.....give me what's coming to me now." (Luke 15:12)

I won't go through the whole story (you can read it for yourself....VERY POWERFUL), but what happens is the son takes his inheritance and BLOWS it or, as the Bible says, "...wasted all his money in wild living." (New Living Translation).

LEFTOVERS.

After looking for and finding work, he has a moment of clarity as he's feeding pigs realizing that the pigs are eating better than he does.  So he sets off for home.  I'm sure the whole way home he's rehearsing his speech to his father....what he will say....what dad will say...and what his comeback will be.

Here's where it gets REALLY GOOD.  The dad has been waiting this whole time for his son to come home.  When he sees him from far away, he sprints out to meet him, kiss him and rejoice that he is back home.

LEFTOVERS.

That is a GREAT picture of us with a loving God....BUT...it is also a GREAT picture and illustration of how we should treat others!

So, as we continue our BEST YEAR YET journey, let's not forget that EVERYONE is welcome to the "party"....whether they are LEFTOVERS or not!


FINAL THOUGHT:
Check out the group (click the name) THE PEOPLE of THE SECOND CHANCE, and what they do and offer those who others might look to "throw out."  GREAT stuff!

DO MORE OF THAT

What lights you up inside?

Hobbies?
Church?
Volunteering?
Singing?
Writing?
Working with your hands?
Acting?
Being active outside?
The list could go on and on.

Again, what lights YOU up inside?

DO MORE OF THAT!

When talking with people that I coached, I would ask them them to "fill in the blank" to this statement:
"If I weren't so afraid, I would _________________."

Is there something that you have buried deep in you that you would love to "LET LOOSE" but you don't feel you can?  Or you are too scared to give it a try?

There is a good chance...no, a GREAT CHANCE, what you have inside of you is what you should pursue.

It doesn't have to be a career change...but it could mean that.

For some, it just might be to do the list we looked at above:

• Go buy a table saw
• Take singing lessons
• Start a blog 
• Try out for the community theatre
• Plan a trip to hike that "14er"
• Swim with the dolphins
• Rock babies at church
• Change careers and do that thing you have always wanted to do

Whatever it is that lights you up inside, DO MORE OF THAT!

Life is TOO short to just walk through it to arrive at death's door safely.

LIVE LIFE BY YOUR DESIGN AND NOT BY DEFAULT!

BEST YEAR YET?  DO MORE OF THAT!

I WENT FOR A RUN

[SPOILER ALERT]....Today, I WENT FOR A RUN!

I know, I know, that's not real surprising...especially if you know me or know about me.

It got me thinking about why I run.

Not what got me started....but what keeps me going.

So I thought I would share my story to encourage you with your story.

Here are a few reasons why I run:

It's not just the race, but the journey to get there.

• I actually like the training miles....most days!
• In every marathon training cycle I go through, it helps me to enjoy and understand this journey through life.

I like to think.

• What better way than to get out on a long run and let your mind go free.

I like to learn.

• Besides learning more about myself and my determination to get it done, I also like to listen to podcasts where I always come away with some type of learning experience.

For the challenge.

• I grew up playing competitive sports.  As I grew older, I didn't have that type of outlet.  Believe me, it can be unhealthy to always need to win at SkipBo or playing Trouble with your kids!
• My competitiveness is now against time.  Sometimes it's against myself.  

To inspire others.

• My story is not uncommon:
• I was athletic and competitive growing up.  
• Stopped being active.  
• Gained weight and got really out of shape.  
• Made a decision to reverse all of it.
• I have been inspired by others and hope that the little I do has a positive affect on someone else.

For my life.

• It's the best way that I have found to "feel alive" in a health/exercise way.
• I want to make the most of my time...so I want to keep this body healthy to do so.

I'm sure there are many other reasons...but I'll stop there.

What about you?  

Do you run?  

If so, why?

If you don't, why not?  

Maybe it's not running, but what is something you do or can do that helps you feel alive?

For me, today, I WENT FOR A RUN.

DREAM HARDER

"Here comes the dreamer!" Genesis 37:19

Why is it that those that have BIG DREAMS are meant to feel foolish?  I realize this isn't every time...with everyone...but I would say more times than not.

How many have quit because someone told them they CAN'T or they SHOULDN'T?

I know a guy who sensed that his life's path was to be a minister....but his wife didn't want to feel as if they were living in a "glass house" so he didn't pursue that DREAM.

Others have had an idea; a passion for a business; musical pursuits; athletic dreams; that for one reason or another, they didn't pursue them.

What keeps people...YOU and ME...from WORKING HARD AND DREAMING HARDER?

It's not enough to just DREAM...that's just part of it.  

Here are some steps to go after your DREAMS:

• WHAT DO YOU WANT?
• What is that "thing" you know you can do?  That position, passion, invention, whatever....identify it
• HAVE A PLAN
• Think about what it will take to get where you want to go
• What are the steps
• Maybe you don't know.  That's ok.  What is the first thing you can think of to do?  Whatever that is, do that first
• FIND A MENTOR
• Who has done what you are wanting to do?  Find out what all they did...good, bad and ugly, to get it done.
• Maybe you don't know someone personally, but you can be mentored by articles, books, podcasts, YouTube videos and whatever medium they have information on.
• One of my "mentors" is someone who I have never met in person, but I know him through his books and videos.
• Don't make an excuse that you don't "know" anyone to help.
• START
• I've said this here in the BEST YEAR YET blog, "The START is what stops most people."
• Once you have a well thought out plan and have all your information put together, get going!
• By starting, you'll see if you have gaps that need to be filled.  You'll see where you can make it better....but you will never know until you START.

Remember, you can have excuses or you can have results....you just can't have them both.

WORK HARD....DREAM HARDER.....NO REGRETS.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

Challenges.  

In our day to day lives, we don't necessarily look for challenges, they usually seem to find us.  

Even as we are on this journey in our BEST YEAR YET, we WILL have times that we are challenged....when everything is NOT awesome.

Let's look at 2 types of people that we can be.  What you believe...the choices you DO have will help when experiencing challenging times.  In Matthew 7: 24-27 Jesus said:

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock.  But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  When the rains and flood come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."

Here are a couple of things to take note of:

• Wise = Rock; Foolish = Sand
• The "rain" and "floods" came to both types, so no matter what you think about your life, you are not exempt from storms.  The key is what your foundation is built on.

Question of the day: How do you react in the middle of the "storm(s)" in your life?  

The CHEERLEADER and I have faced some seemingly small, "sprinkle" storms and some all out assault "torrents."  

Sometimes we have reacted carefree and other times, we reacted full of care.  

Let me tell you, the carefree approach is MUCH better.  

We don't have our heads in the sand or denying the existence of the "storm," but what we do is look to the ONE who is our BEDROCK...our FOUNDATION, and we know we'll make it through, STILL STANDING.

Life's situations are not always awesome, but what is AWESOME is knowing that in any storm that you are facing, you are becoming and being stronger.  

Remember this, as you are walking out your BEST YEAR YET, your past is not strong enough to shut down your future.

VISIONARY

September, is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Let's talk about VISION and specifically one VISIONARY, Danny Thomas.

Danny Thomas is the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN (to see a short video about the history of St. Judes, click HERE).

As the story goes, Danny was a struggling entertainer.  He prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes, and said, "Help me find my way in life and I will build you a shrine"

After Danny became a success, he kept his promise.  He didn't want to just erect a statue, but to do something that would have lasting impact.  Thus, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was born.

His VISION was that any child, from around the world, regardless of race, creed or economic status, would be able to receive the necessary medical help for life threatening diseases.  The kicker.....NO family would ever pay.

VISIONARY.

I'm sure many, when hearing of the VISION he had, came back with, "HOW are you going to do this?"  Probably fewer said, "WOW!"

But the WOW he started has continued for over 56 years.

When they first opened the doors of St. Jude in 1962, less that 1 in 5 survived childhood cancer.  Today, the survival rate has risen to 4 in 5 (80%)...but that's not good enough. They won't stop until NO child dies from cancer.

VISIONARY.

Personally, I haven't had a family member go through treatment at St. Jude, but I have close friends who have.  They have told me of how thankful they are for St. Jude and the care that their child received....all because of one VISIONARY!


FINAL NOTE:

This month (and any other for that matter), please consider partnering with St. Jude and donating what you can.  

Many of you know that since 2014, I have ran 5 different marathons as a St. Jude Hero, raising money and awareness for this great cause.  Most recently, in April, I ran the Boston Marathon as a St. Jude Hero, and currently I have been training for this year's St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, which I will run on December 1st.

Over the years, many of you have been so gracious in your support of St. Jude and my efforts as a St. Jude Hero. For Memphis, I'm not going to be the only Peterson running.  My wife, The CHEERLEADER, is doing the 5k and my oldest son, Josh, is taking on his first full marathon.  All of us are running and raising money as St. Jude Heroes.

Would you consider being a part of Danny Thomas's VISION, whether again or for the first time?    If you can only give once, give to Josh or the CHEERLEADER.  Here are the links to our donation sites:

The CHEERLEADER'S donation site
Josh's donation site
Tim's donation site

As Danny Thomas once said, "No child should die in the dawn of life."

UNDERDOG

"There's no need to fear...UNDERDOG is here!

un·der·dog

ˈəndərˌdôɡ/

1. a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest: long shot, dark horse

Have you ever felt like an "underdog?"  

Maybe a better question is, how often do feel like an "underdog?"

Do you feel stuck where you are?  Do you feel others look at you, because of what you do, like Shoeshine Boy (the true identity of the Superhero UNDERDOG!)?

I believe, inside all of us, there is a SUPERHERO....an UNDERDOG waiting to be revealed. 

So, hang in there.  Hold on.  It's just a matter of time before YOUR TIME is exposed to others, where you will be able to say.....

"HAVE NO FEAR....UNDERDOG IS HERE!"