Remember, the impossible IS possible, so let’s continue. We are talking about components necessary to achieve and fulfill your God-given dreams. Helen Keller was once asked, “Is there anything worse than being blind?” “Oh yes,” she said. “It is to have your sight and yet have no vision.”
To one person the world is desolate, dull and empty, to another the same world looks rich, interesting and full of meaning. The difference? VISION. Eyes that look are common, but eyes that truly see are rare. How we see determines how we position ourself, and how we position ourself determines ultimately how we receive. You will never see the power of the sunrise if you get up and only look west. Life is the same way, many people never fully appreciate it’s indescribable beauty or it’s incredible oppurtunities, not because there not there but because they never see it.
One author defined what I’m talking about and referred to it as premeditated cognitive thought. It’s just a fancy way of saying YOU SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE. It’s kind of like how a twenty dollar bill can look so big when it goes to church and so small when it goes for groceries. (I know, that one stung a bit but it’s true.) Some people complain because roses have thorns instead of being thankful that thorns have roses. Any fact facing us is not nearly as important as our attitude towards it. Norman Vincent Peale once said, “You and I do not see things as THEY are, we see things as WE are.” Every person’s eyes are colored by the condition of their heart, our vision is shaped by our character.
Whenever you begin to develop the outlook that wherever you go there are wonderful ideas and oppurtunities waiting to be discovered, guess what you find? You find yourself surrounded by adventure. Why did Jesus constantly remind us that our faith was the foundation of miracles? Because faith sees things that others don’t see, it is a departure from the blinding facts that tell us why it cannot be and it is a leap to the belief that anything is possible with God. It expands our vision. Faith is expectation in overdrive. The trouble with the future for most people is that it arrives before they are ready for it. Vision allows you to dig a well BEFORE you are thirsty and plant a seed BEFORE you are hungry. Preparation is the result of vision, your view of tomorrow motivates you to make adjustments today.
So here’s my question, how’s your vision? Are you just looking or do you really see? What view of your future do you have that mandates adjustment today? I am convinced that our OUTLOOK will in many ways determine our OUTCOME. I hope these words are helping someone. I’m praying for you and your family and I look forward to next week. Until then, open the eyes of your heart you may be surprised at what you see.
All for Christ, J.Mark
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Impossible is Possible, Part 5
It seems like every single week we are adding new subscribers to our e-votional list. We have added several again this week who signed up online at the website, so for those who are just joining us we are in a series of e-votionals on the topic “THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE.” I have been sharing what I believe to be pivotal and indispensable components to success and living out the dreams that God has placed in your heart. This week I want to tackle an issue that is an enemy to your dreams, PROCRASTINATION. Procrastination is the fertilizer that makes difficulties grow.
I want you to ask yourself this question, “If I don’t take action now, what will it ultimately cost me?” I am learning an incredible secret in researching and observing people who do great things. Success comes to the man who does today what others were thinking of doing tomorrow. By the time a procrastinator finally makes up his mind, the opportunity has usually passed him by. I recently read a quote from Miguel De Cervantes who said, “ By the street of by and by, one arrives at the house of never.” What he is implying is that whenever we say we will get around to it “someday”, we never do. Ladies and gentleman, “someday” is not a day of the week. Procrastinators never have small problems simply because they always wait until their problems grow up.
Dealing with an issue immediately and while it is in its infancy insures it will never get out of control. But allow it to go unchecked and unsupervised and a monster can emerge. The cost of growth and action is always less than the cost of stagnation. We must strive to be like the apostles, these men were not known for their policies, procedures, theories or excuses but for their ACTS. Occasionally you may see someone who doesn’t do anything and yet appears to be successful in life. Don’t be deceived. Remember, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Most people who sit around waiting for their ship to come in often find it to be “hardship.” The hardest work in the world is usually that which should have been done yesterday. Edgar Guest summed it up like this, he said, “Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.” Now, I don’t know what vision you have or what dream lies dormant in your heart or what endeavor you wish could be, but whatever it is one thing is for sure, if you never move, it won’t either. If you never try, you will never know what miracles God has placed on the path to your destiny. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 28:2 “The blessings of the Lord shall overtake you,” that means it happens in flight, while your moving and striving for the goal. The Bible promises no loaves to the loafer but His favor always finds those working diligently toward his will. Let me leave you with this African Proverb, it says, “Every morning a gazelle wakes up and knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be eaten. And every morning a lion wakes up and knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It makes no difference whether you’re a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up you better be running.”
Until next week, Get up and run.
All for Christ, J.Mark
I want you to ask yourself this question, “If I don’t take action now, what will it ultimately cost me?” I am learning an incredible secret in researching and observing people who do great things. Success comes to the man who does today what others were thinking of doing tomorrow. By the time a procrastinator finally makes up his mind, the opportunity has usually passed him by. I recently read a quote from Miguel De Cervantes who said, “ By the street of by and by, one arrives at the house of never.” What he is implying is that whenever we say we will get around to it “someday”, we never do. Ladies and gentleman, “someday” is not a day of the week. Procrastinators never have small problems simply because they always wait until their problems grow up.
Dealing with an issue immediately and while it is in its infancy insures it will never get out of control. But allow it to go unchecked and unsupervised and a monster can emerge. The cost of growth and action is always less than the cost of stagnation. We must strive to be like the apostles, these men were not known for their policies, procedures, theories or excuses but for their ACTS. Occasionally you may see someone who doesn’t do anything and yet appears to be successful in life. Don’t be deceived. Remember, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Most people who sit around waiting for their ship to come in often find it to be “hardship.” The hardest work in the world is usually that which should have been done yesterday. Edgar Guest summed it up like this, he said, “Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.” Now, I don’t know what vision you have or what dream lies dormant in your heart or what endeavor you wish could be, but whatever it is one thing is for sure, if you never move, it won’t either. If you never try, you will never know what miracles God has placed on the path to your destiny. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 28:2 “The blessings of the Lord shall overtake you,” that means it happens in flight, while your moving and striving for the goal. The Bible promises no loaves to the loafer but His favor always finds those working diligently toward his will. Let me leave you with this African Proverb, it says, “Every morning a gazelle wakes up and knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be eaten. And every morning a lion wakes up and knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It makes no difference whether you’re a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up you better be running.”
Until next week, Get up and run.
All for Christ, J.Mark
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