#211 - THE MOST POWERFUL NUMBER

Do you underestimate the power of one?

One book read.
One class taken.
One song written.
One dollar donated.
One process started.
One blog entry posted.
One project completed.
One obstacle overcome.
One commitment fulfilled.
One word of encouragement given.
One homework assignment turned in.

There is power in one.

One represents beginning.
One represents persisting.
One represents completing.

There is power in one.

One represents risk.
One represents obedience.
One represents faithfulness.

Still not convinced?

Consider this…

Should we be entrusted with more, if we cannot be faithful with one?

Today, make the choice to focus on one.

There is no telling what will happen if you do.

#210 - THE BEAUTY OF A VOCATION

Vocation at its deepest level is, “This is something I can’t not do, for reasons I’m unable to explain to anyone else and don’t fully understand myself but that are nonetheless compelling.” – Parker J. Palmer

There exists, for you, a vocation.

It is your calling. It is your purpose. It is your assignment.

It was created for you. And you were created for it.

Your talents. Your passions. Your heart. They are all required.

Why?

Because your vocation is unique.
Because your vocation is specific.
Because your vocation is one-of-a-kind.

Your vocation will be the soil from which you harvest your life’s greatest joys.

For through your vocation…

Your faith will be increased.
Your gifts will be expressed.
Your desires will be satisfied.
Your character will be refined.
Your compassion will be enlarged.
Your love for God will be revealed.

It is through your vocation that your purpose on this earth will be fulfilled.

This is the beauty of a vocation.

So discover yours.

Life is not worth living without it.

#209 - YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW THIS

You are not crazy.

The vision that you so clearly see.
The dream that you so desperately desire.
The purpose that you so passionately pursue.

It can be accomplished.

Though no one else can see it.
Though no one else can believe it.
Though no one else can understand it.

It is possible.

And on this day, for whatever it’s worth, I just had to let you know…

I believe in you.

#208 - WHY HUMILITY IS A NECESSITY

I am because He did.

I can run because God gave me the ability to run.
I can read because God gave me the ability to read.
I can grow because God gave me the ability to grow.
I can write because God gave me the ability to write.

Humility is a necessity.

If I have taught effectively, it is because God has given me the capacity to speak.
If I have shown compassion, it is because God has given me the capacity to love.
If I have displayed creativity, it is because God has given me the capacity to think.
If I have accomplished a vision, it is because God has given me the capacity to lead.

I have done nothing on my own.

Everything of value that I have accomplished has been a result of the power of God at work in my life.

My work.
My influence.
My victories.

God makes it all possible.

May this be a truth that we never again forget.

#207 - SUN STAND STILL BY STEVEN FURTICK

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Who would have thought that seven words could be so encouraging:

When God speaks, he does not stutter.

If He said He’d provide for you, He will.
If He said He’d protect you, He will.
If He said He’d be there for you, He will.

God does not stutter.

If He said He loves you, He does.
If He said He forgives you, He has.
If He said He is enough, He is.

God does not stutter.

If He said you will accomplish great things, you will.
If He said you would make His name famous, you will.
If He said you are going to make the world a better place, you will. 

And because He’s doesn’t stutter, we shouldn’t stall.

If He said go, go.
If He said try, try.
If He said stop, stop.

God does not stutter.

If He said pursue, pursue.
If He said believe, believe.
If He said forgive, forgive.

Act on what you’ve heard.

God didn’t stutter.

#206 - A LEADER'S COMMITMENT

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The opportunity to lead is a gift.

Therefore, in an effort to make the most of this gift I have been given,

I commit to:

Love those I lead.
Serve those I lead.
Develop those I lead.
Motivate those I lead.
Encourage those I lead.

I commit to:

Listen to those I lead.
Believe in those I lead.
Celebrate with those I lead.
Persevere with those I lead.

I commit to:

Expect highly of those I lead.
Speak truthfully to those I lead.
Give generously to those I lead.

My ultimate commitment is to lead those I lead.

Why?

Because when my opportunity to lead has ended…

I will be held accountable.

#205 - WHY YOU'RE NOT SUCCEEDING

You need to fail faster.

Get rejected.
Get criticized.
Get humiliated.
Get made fun of.
Get embarrassed.

Fail faster.

Post a bad blog.
Write a bad song.
Shoot a bad video.
Take a bad picture.
Design a bad website.
Give a bad performance.

Fail faster.

Your hesitancy to try is holding you back.
Your fear of making mistakes is preventing your growth.
Your unwillingness to take a risk is stifling your progress.

You must fail faster.

This idea can best be summed up by Thomas J. Watson Sr., the founder of IBM,

So go ahead and make mistakes, make all you can. Because, remember that’s where you’ll find success – on the far side of failure.

Fail faster.

Success is waiting.

#204 - THE WAY YOU SHOULD LEAD

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There are many ways one can lead.

Not so popular ways like…

By force.
By power.
By manipulation.

More popular ways like…

By inspiring.
By motivating.
By encouraging.

But the truth is, one way trumps the others:

By example.

Lead by example.

Say the things you want your people to say.
Go the places you want your people to go.
Do the things you want your people to do.

Go first.

When it comes to risk. When it comes to trying. When it comes to innovating.

Overcome the fastest.

When it comes to setbacks. When it comes to obstacles. When it comes to difficulties.

Persevere the longest.

When it comes to the vision. When it comes to the goals. When it comes to the purpose.

Go.
Overcome.
Persevere.

These are the necessary traits of one who has decided to lead by example.

Commit to them.

#203 - THE GREATEST TRAGEDIES EVER

To have a family but no love to share.
To have a mind but no ideas to spread.
To have a body but no life worth living.
To have eyes but no vision for the future.
To have an idea but no courage to pursue it.
To have a heart but no compassion for others.
To have knowledge but no urgency to act on it.
To have hands but nowhere to put them to work.
To have a God but no personal relationship with Him.

To have a specific purpose for living but no clue of what it is.

These are the greatest tragedies ever.

How will you prevent yourself from becoming a victim?

#202 - THE GREAT DANGER OF PURSUING

Be careful.

As you pursue your dreams.
As you pursue your goals.
As you pursue your purposes.

There is a great danger in pursuing.

This great danger develops slowly.
This great danger comes discreetly.
And this great danger arrives surprisingly.

This great danger is:

Discontentment.

If you are not careful,

Your progress will never be enough.
Your successes will never be enough.
Your milestones will never be enough.
Your development will never be enough.
Your achievements will never be enough.

If you are not careful, nothing will ever satisfy you.

You will always desire more.

And as a result,

Discontent will describe your attitude.
Discontent will describe your character.
Discontent will describe your disposition.

And if you do not make the decision early to avoid this great danger of pursuing,

Discontent will ultimately describe…you.

#201 - A VERY EMPOWERING QUESTION

Today I was asked a question.

This question was asked sincerely.
This question was asked passionately.
And this question was asked by someone I was just getting to know.

The question was this:

How can I help you?

It has been quite some time since someone has asked me this question.

But when I was asked,

I felt loved.
I felt cared for.
I felt empowered.

Who knew that just five words could make someone feel so good?!

With that said, today, I would like to sincerely and passionately, ask you…

How can I help you?

If there is any way I can help you, especially as it relates to discovering, developing or displaying the dreams that are within you, please feel free to email me at edward@themovement.us!

I would love to encourage and support you in any way that I can.

Here’s to a BLESSED and PRODUCTIVE week!

#200 - WHERE MY POWER COMES FROM

I have power.

And where it comes from is actually quite simple to explain.

Over 2,000 years ago:

A man came for humanity.
A man loved humanity.
A man died for humanity.
And a man rose from the dead for humanity.

This man’s name was Jesus Christ.

And the very same power that rose Jesus Christ from the grave lives in me!

How do I know this to be true?

I know this to be true because of a very specific prayer that Paul prayed for the early church in Ephesus:

I also pray that you will be able to understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe in him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20 (New Living Translation)

Simply Stated: Faith in Christ produces power.

Because I have put my faith in Christ:

I have the power to suffer joyfully.
I have the power to wait patiently.
I have the power to lead fearlessly.
I have the power to give generously.
I have the power to love extravagantly.
I have the power to believe audaciously.
I have the power to pursue aggressively.
I have the power to forgive continuously.

Because of the power of Christ within me, I have the power to achieve greatly.

And if you believe, the same power is within you.

With that in mind, here are two questions for you to consider:

1. If you are a believer, what do you intend to do with the power of Christ within you?

2. If you are not a believer, from where does your power come?

#198 - HOW TO GET YOUR MOTIVATIONS RIGHT

Three questions.

Only three are necessary to uncover your true motivations.

I hope they can help you as much as they are helping me.

1. Why am I doing this…really?

Money?
Fame?
Approval?
Self-Worth?
Boredom?
Anxiousness?
Purpose?

2. Whose approval am I trying to obtain…really?

My parents?
My siblings?
My teachers?
My significant other?
My heroes?
God?

3. Are these motivations OK?

Will they sustain me? 
Are they “pure” enough for me?
Do they make me feel good about doing what I’m doing?

Three questions. Your true motives revealed.

Will you take the time think about your answers to them?

#197 - WHY WAITING SUCKS

It sucks to have to wait.

In lines.
For test results.
For acceptance letters.

But those are the smaller things.

It really sucks to have to wait for the bigger things.

Your opportunity to come.
Your character to develop.
Your potential to be realized.

But here’s what I’ve discovered:

Learning to wait precedes becoming great.

Waiting precedes great insight.
Waiting precedes great influence.
Waiting precedes great maturity.
Waiting precedes great authority.
Waiting precedes great wisdom.

There are many seasons of life where waiting is the most aggressive thing you can do to see your dreams come to pass.

And this is exactly why…

Waiting sucks.

Is this just me, or does anyone out there agree with me?!?

#196 - THE ONE KEY TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGING YOUR TIME

I’ve been wasting a lot of time lately.

I’ve been feeling a lot like my friend Jeff. 

And this is what I’ve come to realize:

My time has been wasted because my time has not been well planned out.

I’ve been reactive.

Responding to the urgent.
Being driven by the random.
Often times unaware of what should be done next.

There has been no rhythm to my days…at all.

But yesterday this all changed.

I was reminded of the best time management advice that I had ever been given:

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. – Stephen Covey

Genius.

With this brilliant piece of advice in mind, I put together an “ideal week.”

I determined what aspects of my life absolutely required my attention and I scheduled times throughout the week when I would attend to those priorities.

It was such a liberating exercise.

And if you have any interest in managing your time more effectively, I recommend that you do it too. 

It will give you clarity.
It will give you purpose.
It will empower you to do the things that are most important to you.

I encourage you to join me in more effectively managing our time.

The purposes for which we were created deserve our best effort in doing so.

#194 - TODAY I GO BACK

Today I go back.

Back to school that is.

For the first time in over 7 years, I am going back to college to complete my B.A.

By going back I will…

Accomplish an unfinished goal.
Equip myself to do the work that is ahead of me.
Gain a greater level of understanding of the subjects I am passionate about.

For those reasons and many more, I am excited about going back to school!

How about for you?

Are there areas in your life where you should consider “going back?”

A forgotten goal?
A past endeavor?
A left behind hobby?
A former friendship?
An unfinished project?

Consider going back.

Sometimes, it’s the very thing you need to do to move forward.

#193 - THE PERILS OF AVOIDING EXCELLENCE

Cutting corners.
Giving a minimal effort.
Putting forth less than your best.

We’ve all been guilty of this.

But there are perils to our avoidance of excellence:

#1 – You miss out on the joy of doing excellent work.

The excitement of starting. The energy from overcoming. The elation from completing.

There is much happiness you feel when doing excellent work. 

#2 – The world misses out on the pleasure of experiencing excellent work.

The smiles. The laughs. The inspiration.

There is much satisfaction the world enjoys when experiencing excellent work.

#3 – Your work misses out on being appreciated as excellent work.

Awards. Accolades. Recognition.

There is much honor your work receives when it is excellent work.

You.
The world.
Your work.

Each deserve your best effort.

Please don’t neglect giving it.

#192 - HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR STORY

Decisions.

It is very likely that you are facing some very important ones…right now.

What college will I attend?
What major will I choose?
Where will I work?
Should I continue to be in this relationship?
Should I continue to stay at this job? 
Should I commit to pursuing the dream that I desire to see come to pass?

These decisions are not easy ones to make.

But here’s a question you can ask yourself prior to making some of the bigger choices you will have to make in your lifetime:

What story do I want to tell?

In other words…

If you want to tell the story of how you took a risk…take one.
If you want to tell the story of how you played it safe…don’t.

If you want to tell the story of how you did what you wanted to do…follow your heart.
If you want to tell the story of how you did what your parents wanted you to do…follow your folks.

If you want to tell the story of how you were obedient to God…obey.
If you want to tell the story of how you were disobedient to God…disobey.

If you want to tell the story of how you overcame your obstacles…continue to fight.
If you want to tell the story of how you were defeated by your obstacles…quit.

I don’t know about you, but…

I want to tell a story about faith.
I want to tell a story about miracles.
I want to tell a story about obedience.
I want to tell a story about commitment.

I want to tell a story about my purposes being fulfilled.

This is my encouragement to you…

Make sure that the choices you are making line up with the story you want to tell.

Because one day…you’re gonna’ tell it.