Achuckallen

Instigating Better

Reviews

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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Week twenty of 2023 is almost in the books. Wowzer, it’s been crazy this week. I read this the other day and trust that you will be encouraged by it.
“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability —
and that it may take a very long time. And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually — let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.“
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

This Week’s 4forFRIDAY

A Cannot Miss Recipe for Summer: Slow-Cooker Corn on the Cob

A Short but AWESOME Article – Sabbath Moment

A Fast-Paced Thriller Show on Paramount+ with Kiefer Sutherland: RABBIT HOLE

A Powerful Article from INC. Magazine:
How Effective Leaders Have Courageous Conversations; Be a good communicator, even with conflict.

A Quote from Thomas Merton:

“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly
themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image.”

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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Week seventeen of 2023 is almost in the books, and it has been a busy but productive week. I trust that yours has been awesome and that YOUR WEEKEND AHEAD WILL BE AWESOME! I’d like to share a prayer for peace that might benefit you – God, it seems that every time I turn on the news, the world gets a little worse each day. I know sin has ravaged this planet, and the world will lack complete peace until you return. Nevertheless, I ask that you intervene in the world and grant us peace. Help us to find more ways to love our neighbors and show the world your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Four Lessons That I Learned This Week.

1. Choose peace each morning. It is a choice, not just an aspiration. Look in the mirror and chase after peace.

2. Live a life of service. Every person on earth was created to serve others. The person that serves is more often equally blessed than the recipient.

3. You are not your job. Recent research says that we Americans put far too much emphasis on our careers as a way of creating our identity. Big mistake. You are far more than what you do!

4. It’s okay to stop and think. Our desire to keep moving leaves little room for God to move as we wait on eagle wings. Progress and productivity are not the same as following the desire of God for your life. It is always a great idea to stop and hear from the Lord. His plans are worthy of waiting on!

This Week’s 4forFRIDAY – Four Great Articles

11 Ways to Protect Your Marriage from Adultery

Small Acts of Kindness Matter More Than You Think

Can I Trust Jesus?

Firefighters Mow Elderly Man’s Yard: When Identity Empowers Influence

A Quote from Henri Nouwen:

“Although it is important and even indispensable for the spiritual life to set apart time for God and God alone, prayer can eventually become unceasing prayer when all our thoughts, beautiful and ugly, high and low, prideful and shameful, sorrowful and joyful, can be thought in the presence of God.”

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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Week thirteen of 2023 is almost in the books,
and it has been a hectic, overextended, awesome week.
I trust that yours has been great and that
YOUR WEEKEND AHEAD WILL BE AWESOME!
May the Lord Bless You this Weekend with Peace.
May He comfort you with His Presence and His Power.

Here are your 4forFRIDAY Reviews for March 31, 2023.

Four Lessons That I Learned This Week.

  1. The ability to stop and assess your reality is a gift from God. Use it.
  2. When people criticize you, use it to strengthen your resolve to get better or move past it, depending on its efficacy.
  3. Change is an essential part of life. Embrace the uncertainty of change, and you’ll discover a more peace-filled journey.
  4. If you bank your life on humans, you will remain in a constant state of frustration. If you bank your life on the power of Christ, you’ll remain in a position of strength.

This Week’s 4forFRIDAY

A YouTube Video that Was Very Helpful:
The 10 BEST Knots in Life [For VISUAL Learners]

A NetFlix Show We Enjoyed:
The Night Agent

A Super Helpful Article from HubSpot:
C-Suite Secrets: Productivity Tips From Executive Assistants

A Really Solid Book:
The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles into Everyday Greatness

A Quote from Aaron Lauritsen:

“The struggles we endure today will be the ‘good old days’
we laugh about tomorrow.”

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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Week twelve of 2023 is almost in the books,
and it has been a challenging yet encouraging week.
I trust that yours has been great and that
YOUR WEEKEND AHEAD WILL BE AWESOME!
May the Lord Bless You this Weekend with Peace.
May He comfort you with His Presence and His Power.

Here are your 4forFRIDAY Reviews for March 24, 2023.

Four Lessons That I Learned This Week.

  1. While arguments happen, they typically solve nothing. Stop and collect your thoughts, then have an intelligent conversation.
  2. Needy people need someone to help meet their needs. Help them and watch God bless you.
  3. The inevitable challenge in relationships is to what degree you value the other person. It’s revealed in attitudes, actions, and communications.
  4. Slowing your life’s pace might actually make you far more productive at what really matters.

This Week’s 4forFRIDAY

A Travel Backpack that I Love:
ZINZ Slim & Expandable Laptop Backpack 15 15.6 16 Inch Sleeve with USB Port

A Really Good BLOG from Dwell Differently:
If We Aren’t Listening, How Can We Know We’re Doing God’s Will?

An Interesting Article from Fast Company:
How a Nonlinear Workday Might Help You Get More Done

A Really Solid Book:
Pursuing God’s Will Together by Ruth Haley Barton

A Quote from Seth Godin :

“If you can’t state your position in eight words,
you don’t have a position.”

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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February 3, 2023 | by AChuckAllen

Week five of 2023 is almost in the books, and it has been a great week.
Here are your 4forFRIDAY reviews for February 3, 2023.

Four Lessons That I Learned This Week.

  1. I learned that you could strengthen your “peace” by instilling spiritual disciplines as a form of exercise, just like you can increase your physical strength by instilling weight lifting as a form of exercise for your body – scientifically proven and biblically supported.
  2. Regardless of which party controls the House or Senate, we’ve become a country led by whiners.
  3. Never underestimate the power of being kind to someone you do not know. It can change their day!
  4. When you commit to making a small positive change over 30 days, you will exponentially improve your life over 12 months.

This Week’s 4forFRIDAY

A Powerful Article: 10 Ways to Sabotage Your Marriage (Without Realizing It)

A GREAT Album from Brandon Lake: House of Miracles, Especially “Gratitude”

A GREAT Article from Inc. Magazine: Emotionally Intelligent People Use 2 Simple Words to Build Confidence and Work Better (and Get Others to Work Better Too)

Another GREAT Article: Need Bedtime Peace? 10 Verses to Help You Sleep

A POWERFUL PODCAST from Brené Brown: Leadership is a Relationship

A Quote from the Positive Talk Podcast:

Our brains were created to reflect what we focus on and who we spend time with. This is why some people say, “Want to see who you’ll become in 5 years?” Look at the 5 people you spend the most time with.  

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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January 13, 2023

Week two of 2023 is almost in the books and it’s shaping up to be a great year. I trust your new year is off to a good start as well. Here is your 4forFRIDAY for January 13, 2023.

Four lessons that I learned this week.

1. I’m amazed at how we continue to elect men and women to to serve in our Congress that are still children. How in the world will we move forward with babies battling over toys forever?

2. New habits are tough to stick with, so break the habit into micro steps and see your progress. I use an app – STREAKS – to measure sustained progress.

3. Encouraging others somehow brings encouragement to you. Be an encourager.

4. If you are looking to discover greater degrees of happiness this year, follow these three steps, every single day. Pray, move more, serve others. It works every time.

This Week’s 4forFRIDAY

1. An article that I loved from Brian Dodd, “My Top Ten List of Priorities, and God is Not Number One”

2. A fun novel that I enjoyed from the Tom Clancy series, Jack Ryan; Red Winter. So many plots and so much suspense. If you enjoy a good spy novel, you’ll love this read.

3. A Breakfast that you will love, I promise! I’ve been a fan of El Taco Jalisco for years, but when I ate breakfast there earlier this week, well just yum! Be sure to order the “Huevos Mexicanos”

4. A Really Good Article from Bible Study Tools, “What Does the Bible Say About Overthinking “

A strong quote from Max Lucado, “Do this for someone. Ask someone to tell you his—or her—story. Resist the urge to interrupt or correct. Turn off the television. Log off from the internet. Close your laptop; silence your cell phone. Give the rarest of gifts: your full attention.”

Go in Peace, Chuck