Do you need some COLD TURKEY in your life?

On September 17, 2006 at Dewey’s Pizza in Kirkwood, my sister gave me crap for “cutting back” on drinking the sweet tastiness of Coca-Cola.  I was addicted to Coke. I didn’t drink it all the time but when I went out to eat, I would have 1 or 2 refills and didn’t realize how much I was drinking the goodness of the Lord in liquid form. 

So I told her right then and there, that I am not drinking another Coke, I had to stop by using the COLD TURKEY method, NO MORE COCA-COLA, starting RIGHT NOW.  There it was, I made the decision. 

It wasn’t easy… headaches for about a week and making new decisions when ordering drinks at a restaurant, water became my new friend again. 

Here’s what I am getting at:

Are there things in your life that you need to cold turkey? 

Things that you have known that you don’t want in your life that you have let linger and go on?  It can be deep or really simple, it’s up to you.  Stop eating or drinking this, stop watching so much television, get off the electronics, stop watching those type of movies or going to those websites, there are endless things that are in your life.

These can be positive too… You need to stop making excuses and “just do it” (thanks Nike). Cold turkey excuses, you have wanted to read the Bible more, START doing it NOW. You have wanted to exercise, get out there NOW.  

COLD TURKEY is a DRASTIC CHANGE that you WANT TO OCCUR. 

Have friends to support you, it is difficult to do on your own, if not impossible. Also, I think God wants to be a part of this change in you life. When I was quiting Coke, I prayed a lot that the thought or craving would be removed. Talk to Him.

Where do you need to have some cold turkey in your life right now?

You can do it, stop talking about it and actually do what you have really wanted to do. 

From your former Coke-aholic (6.5 years clean!),

– Your boy KitchNasty

Lance’s “Ripple Effects” and YOU

Give Lance Armstrong credit, he finally owned up to using performance enhancing drugs to be successful in the cycling world. He lied for years and that must not have been fun at all. He must feel relieved that the truth is finally out.

But think of the “ripple effects” of his decision for doping:
– name and legacy tarnished
– Olympic bronze medal stripped
– 7 Tour de France titles stripped
– Livestrong Foundation donations could drop significantly for cancer research

This just in:
OUR ACTIONS HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS

Armstrong’s admittance effects the cycling world, professional athletes everywhere, his family, jobs at Livestrong, etc. Innocent people that had nothing to do with PED’s, are dealing with the effects of his admittance.

We can easily point the finger at Lance Armstrong, but are you one step from making some ripples in your own life?

When you make a decision, it has a ripple effect, that’s a fact.

Now the good thing is that ripples can be positive!

Examples could be as easy as volunteering or giving donations or opening up your home… People see your generosity and are attracted to the heart behind it, then it becomes a vision for someone’s future… A positive ripple from an event.

And then of course we can make poor decisions that hurt others around us. We know these way too well. Similar to Lance we can make a selfish decision that can really hurt ourselves, but also others.

I have made both kind of ripples in my life; I have seen God use some decisions in my life to really better others! And I have had to endure tears and heartaches and have sincerely apologized for the ripple effects that I have caused to those close to me. It sucks.

What kind of ripples are you making in your life and who is being affected by your “splash?”

Your boy KitchNasty is out.

New Year’s Resolutions…

It’s January 1st, 2013 and one “hot topic” this time of year is regarding New Year’s Resolutions…

You’ve heard them all and might want them for yourself this year:
– eat healthier
– get more sleep
– lose weight
– exercise more
– spend more time with my spouse/kids/family/friends
– don’t watch as much television or spend as much time online (which if you are reading this, you have already broken your resolution, sorry)

The term “New Year’s Resolutions” is more like a “SELF HELP” mantra… what do I want to change or begin doing as I think about a new year.

Have you ever thought about a Spiritual New Year’s Resolution?

You should. We think so much about changes we want to make in life but so many times we can leave our spiritual life stuck in last year. What do you want to do different in 2013 to help you grow in your walk with the Lord? What can you do to go deeper in your faith?

Here are a few ideas by your boy KitchNasty as you think ahead to this year spiritually:

– set a goal of reading Scripture per week
– set up a Bible Reading Plan using the YouVersion app
– initiate spiritual conversations with older influences in your life who are walking with God
– keep a prayer journal to see how God answers the prayers of your heart
– set up a regular time to spend with God – to pray, listen, just give Him priority in your life
– get rid of cable television– cut yourself off at a certain time at night of electronics
– sign up for a Mission Trip or other act of service in your community
– commit to a Bible Study with others/Small Group though Church
– Proverbs Challenge – read the chapter in Proverbs that corilates with the date of every month (so read Proverbs 22 on the 22nd of every month, ex. – great wisdom that is worth reading every month)
– memorize scripture

My wife Katie recently recieved this book from a friend that we are using this year to help us memorize some of the most powerful verses in Scripture… there is nothing like having God’s truths and promises on our hearts at all times

The book is called “100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart” by Robert J. Morgan.

So what are you going to do THIS YEAR that is going take you from HERE… to THERE in your faith? Come up with your own ideas and share them with a friend, ask them to walk with you in this as you desire your faith to be truly deeper.

You can have GOOD INTENTIONS for 2013… but that’s all they remain, good intentions. Step out in faith and let God take your good intentions and turn them to a life-changing experience!

Happy New Year!

– Your boy KitchNasty