#250 - WHY BEING GREAT ONLY 7% OF THE TIME IS ENOUGH

Not every hit needs to be a home run.

This is some great advice.

Especially for people as ambitious as you and me.

Not every song…
Not every video…
Not every script…
Not every picture…
Not every sermon…
Not every blog post…
Not every creative idea…
Not every presentation…
Not every performance…

Not every___________________ (fill in the blank with what you do)…

needs to be a “home run.”

It doesn’t have to be a huge success.
It doesn’t have to be the talk of the town.
It doesn’t have to win the hearts of the masses.

How do I know this to be true?

Because the greatest home run hitters in baseball, of all-time, only hit home runs one time every fifteen at-bats yet they made/make millions of dollars!

A home run only 7% of the time means greatness!

Be encouraged.

Do what you do with heart.
Do what you do with passion.
Do what you do with excellence.
Do what you do with consistency.

If you can “hit a home run” just 7% of the time, there is no telling where your passions, art and creativity will take you!

#249 - GOD'S GREATEST CONCERN

God is more interested in me than He is in my dream.
– Rick Warren

This is a very important post. Please read it carefully.

Though attaining your goals is very valuable.
Though fulfilling your purpose is extremely necessary.
Though achieving your dreams is absolutely important.

There exists a greater concern.

Though the purpose of this website is to inspire you to passionately pursue the specific purposes for which you were created, I have to be very honest with you.

God has a greater concern.

God is concerned with more than just your dreams, goals and purposes.

God’s greatest concern is…You.

More than anything else,

Your Heavenly Father desires that you know Him.
Your Heavenly Father desires that you pursue Him.
Your Heavenly Father desires that you prioritize Him.

Your Heavenly Father desires that you have an intimate relationship with Him.

So it is with that in mind that I must communicate this very sobering truth:

If what you’re doing for God comes at the expense of your relationship with God…You. Have. Failed.

#248 - HOW TO ACHIEVE PERFECT PEACE

Worried about your finances?
Concerned about your family?
Apprehensive about your future?

You are not alone.

Over the last month, I too have found myself questioning how various areas of my life were going to work out. I have doubted whether certain outcomes would turn out for my good.

But it doesn’t have to be like this.

You and I don’t have to be so worried.
You and I don’t have to be so concerned.
You and I don’t have to be so apprehensive.

How do I know this to be true?

Because over 2,000 years ago, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah penned these very encouraging words…

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all those whose thoughts are fixed on you. – Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

Simply stated: As you develop perfect trust, you inherit perfect peace.

A perfect peace that eases your pain.
A perfect peace that calms your nerves.
A perfect peace that surpasses all understanding.

Perfect peace comes from perfect trust.

Therefore, on this day, put your complete trust in your Heavenly Father.

He loves you.
He cares for you.
He holds your life in the very palm of His hand.

Trust Him.

Perfect peace will be your prize.

#247 - WHY YOU NEED TO SAY WHAT YOU'VE BEEN NEGLECTING TO SAY

You’ve gotta’ stop holding back.

For quite some time now,

You’ve wanted to share an idea.
You’ve wanted to send a message.
You’ve wanted to start a conversation.

You want to say something.

But instead,

You’ve held back.
You’ve been fearful.
You’ve procrastinated.

This is not acceptable.

And here’s why…

Until you say what needs to be said,
your life won’t move ahead.

Until you express yourself,

You will be anxious.
You will be frustrated.
You will be discontent.

For how much longer do you want to be held captive by your own unspoken words?

Choose the medium that works best for you and…say it.

Have the talk.
Send the email.
Record the song.
Make the phone call.
Publish the blog post.

Do not let another day go by with your thoughts unspoken.

Believe that what you have to say will have an impact.
Trust that what you have to say will make a difference.
Have confidence that what you have to say will be worthwhile.

Say what needs to be said.

The value of your message will not be revealed until the words of your message have been spoken.

#246 - A CREATIVE CYCLE WORTH CONSIDERING

No great thing is created suddenly. – Epicetus

Whether you see yourself as a “creative” or not, I am convinced that to accomplish the unique purpose for which you were born, you will need to exercise the creative abilities you have been given.

With this in mind, here is the creative cycle I go through as a writer. In sharing this, it is my intent that you would have a process by which you can bring to life every creative idea within you!

1. Consume

Consume content. Consume culture. Consume life.

Creativity starts with consumption.

Question to consider: What am I consuming?

2. Contemplate

Contemplate lessons. Contemplate reactions. Contemplate feelings.

Creativity develops through contemplation.

Question to consider: Do I invest the time to contemplate?

3. Create

Create art. Create products. Create experiences.

Creativity comes alive through creation.

Question to consider: What am I creating?

4. Contribute

Contribute to family. Contribute to friends. Contribute to the world.

Creativity becomes beneficial through contribution.

Question to consider: What was the last thing that I created that I “shipped?”

5. Critique

Critique the work. Critique the results. Critique the process.

Creativity improves through critiquing.

Question to consider: Do I have a process for evaluating what I create?

6. Continue

Continue the cycle. Continue the process. Continue the commitment.

Creativity is sustained by continuing.

#245 - WITHOUT THIS YOUR ACHIEVED DREAMS ARE WORTHLESS

in

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. – Jesus of Nazareth

Though your dreams are important.
Though your purpose is key.
Real life can only be found
In the presence of He.

For apart from Christ’s love
No real fruit will you bear.
Of this timeless truth
I hope you’re aware.

#244 - WHAT GOD IS DOING WHILE YOU'RE WAITING

Waiting is not wasting when we are waiting on the Lord. God is always working while we wait. – Louie Giglio

Though there seems to be very little results.
Though there seems to be no evident progress.
Though there seems to be few significant victories.

God is working.

Maturing your faith.
Purifying your motives.
Refining your character.

God is working inside of you.

Building the team.
Making the connections.
Preparing the resources.

God is working on behalf of you.

Clearing the way.
Opening the doors.
Determining the steps.

God is working ahead of you.

The principle to remember is this…

While you’re waiting, God is working.

Now, I encourage you to live your life as if that statement were true.

Because it is.

#243 - THE DIET YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE ON

You’ve heard it said before that,

You are what you eat.

But that statement doesn’t only apply to the food you put in your mouth.

These days, you have a whole new appetite.

And it’s being fulfilled by your:

RSS feeds.
Twitter feeds.
Tumblr feeds.
Facebook feeds.
YouTube feeds.

And all the other social media feeds that you enjoy.

Everyday, you are being fed by…

Blogs and Vlogs.
Advice and Gossip.
News and Updates.
Pictures and Videos.

The list goes on and on.

At some point you must evaluate how these feeds are impacting your life.
At some point you must take inventory of the feeds you consume.
At some point, you must ask yourself,

Is what I am “feeding on” healthy?

#242 - THIS SOMEONE NEEDS YOU

There is someone.

Someone you can assist.
Someone you can support.
Someone you can encourage.

You’ve had this someone on your mind for quite some time now.

This someone has a need you can fill.
This someone has a gap you can bridge.
This someone has a problem you can solve.

And it’s time you responded to the call.

For a moment, please take your eyes off of yourself.

This someone provides you a unique opportunity.

You can love this someone.
You can serve this someone.
You can value this someone.

I don’t know who this someone is.

But you do.

And the only question is…

Will you respond?

#241 - THE ONE WAY YOU SHOULD BE MEASURING YOUR SUCCESS

Website hits. Blog comments. RSS subscribers.

Is this how your success is defined?

Tumblr re-blogs. Twitter followers. Facebook friends.

Is this how your self-worth is determined?

Purchases. Attendees. Customers.

Is this how your satisfaction is decided?

Though there is nothing wrong with keeping track of the various categories mentioned above, I am convinced of the following truth…

If you are not following Him, it does not matter who is following you. (1 Corinthians 11:1)

So what, then, is the most important way to measure your success?

By how closely you are following Him.

And who exactly is “Him?”

Your Creator.

#239 - THE REASON WHY YOU SHOULD EMBRACE YOUR CHALLENGES

No pressure, no diamonds. – Thomas Carlyle

Setbacks and Struggles.
Frustrations and Failures.
Delays and Disappointments.

You hate them.

You wish they never existed.
You wish they would disappear.
You wish they could be avoided.

But the reality is this…

The circumstances you despise are producing within you the character you desire.

Accept the pains.
Enjoy the obstacles.
Embrace the pressures.

Your true beauty within cannot be revealed without them.

#237 - QUITTER BY JON ACUFF

Quit perfect. It’s an unnecessary obstacle. Chase the idea of your dream being better finished at 90 percent than perfect and not pursued. – Jon Acuff

Quit perfect.

I love that phrase.

So many times…

Perfection prevents you from pursuing.
Perfection prevents you from producing.
Perfection prevents you from persisting.

Quit perfect.

I’m convinced…

Your desire to achieve perfection is typically your excuse to enjoy procrastination.

So what does quitting perfect look like?

Sharing your art before all the imperfections have been removed.
Talking about your ideas before all the details have been figured out. 
Pursuing your dreams before all the the plans have been put in place.

Quit perfect.

It’s an illusion you will never attain.

#236 - YOUR DREAM DESERVES THIS

If you’re not working with a team, you’re missing out.

Missing out on…

The joy of camaraderie.
The power of collaboration.
The benefits of a focused role.
The necessity of accountability.
The possibility of a group victory.

If you’re not working with a team, you are lacking one of the most necessary components of seeing a dream come to pass.

Realize…

Your ideas are not enough.
Your smarts are not enough.
Your abilities are not enough.

Therefore embrace the idea of a team.

Your dream deserves one.

#234 - A COUPLE THINGS ON MY MIND

Here are a couple things I’m thinking about today…

1. TIME FLIES.

It seemed like just yesterday when my little sister was my “little” sister. But the truth is, today she graduated from high school – she is not little anymore.

With that said, I have never been more aware of how quickly the days, weeks, months and years pass by. It forces me to ask myself the question…

Am I wasting my time or am I stewarding my days wisely?

2. BEING A CRITIC IS NOT ADMIRABLE.

It is so easy to criticize others – to point out deficiencies in their character, issues with their style, shortcomings in their theology and frustrations with their personality.

But critics are just no fun to be around.

And so with that in mind, to the best of my ability, I desire to rid myself of my critical nature. Especially as it relates to criticizing other people who are doing the best they can with what they know. The following question will keep my criticism levels in check…

What do I spend the majority of my day doing? Criticizing or encouraging?

#233 - A VERY BIG DAY

Tomorrow is an important day.

My kid sister is graduating from high school (Congratulations sis!), and I have been given the high honor of giving her commencement address.

Though I am very excited for her, if I’m being honest, I’m pretty nervous for myself.

Will I be inspiring?
Will I say the right things?
Will my talk even be remembered?

The answers to these questions I do not know, but I do know this…

I am going to do my very best.

To give a high school commencement address is a dream come true, but to do it for my one and only sister, whom I’m so proud of, is such a blessing!

I am very much looking forward to all that God has in store for her, me and the rest of her graduating class tomorrow!

Your prayers are appreciated!

#232 - A KEY ELEMENT OF GREATNESS

To be great is to be misunderstood. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Misunderstood ideas?
Misunderstood hopes?
Misunderstood dreams?
Misunderstood purposes?
Misunderstood intentions?

Do people not understand why you do the things you do?

It’s OK. I understand how you feel.

And my belief is,

If you continue to stand for that which many do not yet understand…

Greatness will be your reality.