#311 - PLEASE AVOID THIS TRAGEDY

Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. 1 Peter 2:11 (The Message)

Imagine this.

You achieve success.
You attain notoriety.
You accumulate wealth.

You reach every goal you set.

Seems ideal right?

Well, not if this is the case…

You acquire every temporary earthly comfort, only to find your life void of every permanent eternal gift.

What a tragedy that would be.

So don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.

Because your ego is temporary. And your soul is forever.

#310 - YOUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY

Those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of that trust. – 1 Corinthians 4:2 (Today’s English Version)

Your perspective is everything.

How you see your life will shape your life.
How you define your life will determine your life.
How you perceive your life will produce your life.

So what do you see?

Do you see it as a race?
Do you see it as a game?
Do you see it as a party?

Do you see it as a gift?
Do you see it as a challenge?
Do you see it as an opportunity?

How you see your life shapes your life.

And I encourage you to start seeing your life as a trust.

You have been entrusted with time.
You have been entrusted with abilities.
You have been entrusted with resources.

You have been entrusted with money.
You have been entrusted with knowledge.
You have been entrusted with relationships.

I dare you to start seeing your life as a trust.

Because if you do, you will start to ask yourself a very empowering question…

What am I doing with the life that I have been entrusted with?

#309 - YOU WERE MEANT TO LIVE FOREVER

God has…planted eternity in the human heart. – Ecclesiastes 3:11 (New Living Translation)

Though this life is important.
Though this life must be enjoyed.
Though this life should be taken advantage of.

This life is only the beginning.

So wake up.
Snap out of it.
Realize.

The 70-80 years you have on this earth are only…

A speck. A slice. A snippet.

Of all that you will one day see.
Of all that you will one day become.
Of all that you will one day experience.

The truth is:

You were created for eternity.

And God did this for a very specific reason.

He desires to express His unconditional love to you…

Forever.

#308 - THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PERFECT PEACE

You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. – Isaiah 26:3 (Today’s English Version)

Your current motivations will not do.

Your guilt. Your fears. Your anger.

Too unhealthy.

Your kids. Your parents. Your significant other.

Too fleeting.

Your goals. Your dreams. Your ambitions.

Too shallow.

It’s time to make you make an exchange.

An exchange for the purest motivation.
An exchange for the noblest motivation.
An exchange for the healthiest motivation.

God’s purpose for your life.

It won’t lead to perfect decisions.
It won’t bring you perfect circumstances.
It won’t result in you becoming a perfect person. 

But…

It will bring you perfect peace.

And isn’t that what you really want most? 

#307 - THE ONE THING YOU ARE NOT

I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.  Isaiah 44:2 (Contemporary English Version)

You are not an accident.

Your skills. Your talents. Your abilities.
Your ethnicity. Your background. Your birthplace.
Your disadvantages. Your handicaps. Your deficiencies.

None of it is an accident.

Though others may not appreciate them, your tendencies are not an accident.
Though you wished you look differently, your physical features are not an accident.
Though you despise them, or may not even know them, your parents are not an accident.

Everything about you was created, by God, on purpose for a purpose.

Just don’t make the mistake of neglecting to discover what your God-given purpose is.

Because that would be an accident.

#306 - LIFE BEGINS HERE

For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible…everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. Colossians 1:16 (The Message)

Believe it or not…

Your life is not about you.

It’s not about your fulfillment.
It’s not about your happiness.
It’s not about your goals.
It’s not about your ambitions.
It’s not about your purposes.

It’s about God.

Your life is about God’s purposes.
Your life is about God’s interests.
Your life is about God’s plans.
Your life is about God’s glory.
Your life is about God’s fame.

And the sooner you embrace this truth, the more significant your life will be. 

#305 - YOU MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THIS

Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it. Luke 10:24

Do you see it?

You are living in the most progressive time in history.
You are enjoying the most incredible luxuries in history.
You are experiencing the most innovative advancements in history.

You are blessed.

Do you understand it?

You can give more than ever before.
You can learn faster than ever before.
You can influence further than ever before.

You are blessed.

Do you realize it?

Millions of people wish they could have what you have.
Millions of people want the opportunities that you’ve been given.
Millions of people wait for the day when your comforts can become their own.

You are blessed.

Do you comprehend it?

You could have been born in another period in time. But you weren’t.
You could have grown up in another country. But you didn’t.
You could have missed out on all of this. But you haven’t.

You are blessed.

Don’t lose sight of any of this.

And here’s the reason why:

You can’t be grateful for what you take for granted.

#304 - A VERY COMPELLING REASON TO START WRITING AGAIN

I lived to write, and wrote to live. – Samuel Rodgers

Don’t you remember?

How motivated you were when a new concept to write about was birthed?
How invigorated you were when the words and phrases all started to “fit together?”
How accomplished you felt when you hit the “publish” button or sent in the manuscript?

The truth is, you miss it.

You miss the challenge of painting a picture with words.
You miss the satisfaction of penning a paragraph that inspires.
You miss the fulfillment of producing a piece that makes you smile.

You miss it.

You miss the erasing. You miss the drafting. You miss the re-writing.
You miss the struggle. You miss the frustration. You miss the “writer’s block.”
You miss writing the first line. You miss writing the best line. You miss writing the last line.

You miss it all.

And that is why you should start writing again…today.

But if that one reason isn’t enough to get you going,

Let me give you one more.

Not only do you miss your writing, but…

Your readers miss your writing too.

#303 - A PRAYER WORTH PRAYING

No one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins.
Luke 6:37-38

Make me new.

Rid me of my old, ineffective ways.
Free me of my old, destructive patterns.
Cleanse me of my old, unhealthy desires.

Make me new.

The old is tiring me.
The old is irritating me.
The old is restricting me.

Honestly, the old is destroying me.

Lord, make me new.

Give me a new love for my children.
Give me a new patience with my parents.
Give me a new appreciation for my spouse.

Make me new.

Bless me with a new, selfless interest in others.
Bless me with a new, fresh vision for my future.
Bless me with a new, passionate love for You.

Make me new.

My old character must be put to death
so that my new contribution can be brought to life.

But I can’t do that without You…

#302 - TWO WORDS YOU PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO HEAR

Patience is necessary, and one cannot reap immediately where one has sown. – Soren Kierkegaard

Your time will come.
Your moment will arrive.
Your opportunity will present itself.

Just not now.

Now is not the time to shine, now is the time to wait.
Now is not the time to display, now is the time to develop.
Now is not the time to be discovered, now is the time to be patient.

Be patient. Be patient. Be patient.

And though this might not be a message you want to hear,
if you can embrace this season in your life
and learn the lessons being taught,
when your time finally comes…

You’ll be ready.

#301 - A VERY NECESSARY MOTIVATION

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross…
Hebrews 12:2a

In whatever endeavor you are pursuing…

There is a joy that is set before you.

A reward. A pleasure. A satisfaction.

As a writer, it may be the joy of being read.
As a leader, it may be the joy of growing people.
As a mentor, it may be the joy of inspiring change.

As a student, it may be the joy of finishing a class.
As an athlete, it may be the joy of celebrating a victory.
As an artist, it may be the joy of creating a masterpiece.

As a teacher, it may be the joy of seeing students “get it.”
As a musician, it may be the joy of witnessing crowds smile.
As a parent, it may be the joy of raising responsible children.

Whatever the joy may be,

This joy can help you to overlook the criticism.
This joy can drive you to overtake the opposition.
This joy can motivate you to overcome the obstacles.

This joy can focus you to finish.
This joy can push you to persevere.
This joy can compel you to continue.

This joy is powerful.

Therefore a very important question must be asked…

What is the joy that is set before you?

Identify it.
Remember it.
Embrace it.

Then…

Continue.

#300 - I WISH MORE WRITERS WOULD DO THIS

Some writers confuse authenticity, which they ought always to aim at, with originality, which they should never bother about. – W.H. Auden

Be real.

Reveal a real hurt.
Explain a real struggle.
Share a real disappointment.

Be transparent.

Describe a real concern.
Illustrate a real emotion.
Express a real frustration.

Be vulnerable.

What do you really feel?
What are you really thinking?
What do you really want to say?

Please, write about that.

Don’t create content that you’re not excited to share.
Don’t fill up pages with words that don’t mean anything to you.
Don’t waste your time writing about something you’re not passionate about.

Instead, write something real.

Too much fake already exists.

#299 - WHY YOUR WORK MATTERS

Regardless of its’ present obscurity.
Regardless of its’ perceived validity.
Regardless of its’ temporary mediocrity.

Your work matters.

Though it has not reached the height of its’ impact.
Though it has not reached the depth of its’ influence.
Though it has not reached the width of its’ inspiration.

Your work still matters.

I know it’s not as well known as his work.
I know it’s not as appreciated as her work.
I know it’s not as respected as their work.

But your work still matters…a lot.

And how do I know this to be true?

Because though your work may not have the exposure or notoriety that you wish it had,
there is one person who is guaranteed to be forever changed by it…

You.

Your work matters because doing it changes you.
Your work matters because pursuing it challenges you.
Your work matters because committing to it completes you.

So commit today to continue doing the work that you do…

Your growth is depending upon it.

#298 - ONE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING PHRASES EVER

Failure is not falling down but refusing to get back up.
– Chinese Proverb

It’s OK, just try again. 

It’s OK that you missed your deadline.
It’s OK that you failed your assignment.
It’s OK that you disappointed your spouse.

It’s OK, just try again. 

It’s OK that your team didn’t win.
It’s OK that your plan didn’t work out.
It’s OK that your commitment didn’t last.

It’s OK, just try again.

It’s OK that your idea wasn’t chosen.
It’s OK that your opinion wasn’t considered.
It’s OK that your contribution wasn’t appreciated.

It’s OK, just try again.

Everyone fails.
Everyone messes up.
Everyone makes mistakes.

You are not alone.

So get up. Dust yourself off. And try again.

Victory awaits.

#297 - AN URGENT MESSAGE FOR AMBITIOUS HUSBANDS ONLY

Let marriage be held in honor
(esteemed worthy, precious, of great price,
and especially dear) in all things.
Hebrews 13:4a (AMP)

If your wife resents you…
Who cares if you’re respected by thousands?

If your wife feels neglected…
Who cares if you’re helping hundreds of people?

If your wife hates your schedule…
Who cares if you’re working extremely effectively?

If your wife despises your work…
Who cares if you’re feeling so fulfilled by what you do?

If your wife wishes that you would quit…
Who cares if you’re experiencing unexplainable momentum?

The truth is…

If your wife regrets marrying a man who loves his work more than her…
You may have won a few battles, but you’ve lost the war.

#296 - YOU CAN'T

Not by might nor by power,
but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6b

You can’t.

You can’t fulfill every dream.
You can’t satisfy every desire.
You can’t please every person.
You can’t handle every request.
You can’t chase every ambition.
You can’t accomplish every goal.
You can’t meet every expectation.
You can’t develop every discipline.

You just can’t do it all.

But…

Though you may not be able to do everything you want to do,
by the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you…

You can do everything God created you to do.

And that’s plenty.

#295 - THE FULFILLMENT OF YOUR DESTINY DEPENDS ON THIS

Responsibility is the price of greatness. – Winston Churchill

Your leadership could save a life.
Your passion could solve a problem.
Your mission could start a movement.
Your creativity could support a community.

Your existence could make a positive impact in this world.

But a very important truth must first be understood.

Your “could’s” will never become a reality until your “should’s” become your priority.

If you know you should take the risk…
If you know you should start the project…
If you know you should ask the question…
If you know you should develop the habit…
If you know you should begin the process…
If you know you should forgive the person…
If you know you should have the conversation…

Then do it. Immediately.

All of your “could’s” depend on it.

#294 - WHY YOUR OPINION ISN'T ALWAYS NECESSARY

Do not speak unless you can improve the silence.
– Chinese Proverb

You don’t have to “weigh in” on everything.

Unless you can edify…
Unless you can educate…
Unless you can encourage…

Please don’t post another status update.

Unless you can add value…
Unless you can provide a solution…
Unless you can start a conversation…

Please don’t publish another blog entry.

Unless you can uncover lies…
Unless you can reveal truths…
Unless you can shift paradigms…

Please don’t promote another website.

Too many noises already prevent our ability to hear.
Too many messages already prevent our ability to focus.
Too many distractions already prevent our ability to create.

Let’s not add to the garbage.

Instead, let’s consider the fact that sometimes,

Silence……is the most sensible solution.

#293 - IF YOUR BLANK PAGE COULD TALK, THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD SAY

I’m waiting.

For your time.
For your effort.
For your attempt.

I’m anxious.

For your ideas.
For your passion.
For your creativity.

I’m prepared.

For mistakes to be made.
For concepts to be changed.
For rough drafts to be written.

(Don’t worry, I can handle being erased on!)

But most importantly, I’m expecting.

A convincing message to be delivered.
A creative masterpiece to be unveiled.
A compelling movement to be started.

So find me, sit down, and start writing.

Your contribution is necessary.

#292 - THIS IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOUR MESSAGE ISN'T SPREADING

Don’t raise your voice. Improve your argument. – Desmond Tutu

If you’re not enjoying the rewards…
If you’re not eliciting the responses…
If you’re not experiencing the results…

Don’t do this.

Don’t just try more.
Don’t just try louder.
Don’t just try harder.

And definitely don’t do this.

Don’t just get more people to do what you’re doing.
Don’t just use more “channels” to say what you’re saying.
Don’t just try more social media outlets to promote what you’re promoting.

Instead…GET BETTER.

Become a better artist.
Become a better writer.
Become a better parent.
Become a better spouse.
Become a better teacher.
Become a better speaker.
Become a better musician.

Get better.

Take a class. Follow a blog. Go to a conference.
Read a book. Find a mentor. Watch a YouTube video.
Study your craft. Practice your art. Adjust your approach.

Do whatever you have to do to get better.

The big idea is this:

When no one’s listening to what you say,
pursue a more effective way.

Your message is worth it.