Rooted in the Dark

I read an interesting article the other day about flower bulbs that are being rooted now, so that they will bloom during the winter months.  The fascinating part of the article was that these bulbs are purposefully placed in dark places.  It seems that the dark places enables these bulbs to strike their roots so that they can bloom later on.  As I read the article, I could see many similarities to life, and our walk of faith.

Sometimes in life we feel that we have been tucked away in dark places–a job that we do not like, a marriage that we are struggling with, health issues that do not go away, disappointments that have left us confused or shattered.  When we are living in those dark places of life we can easily become discouraged and lose heart.  We may feel that life is passing us by and we are just ”spinning our wheels”.  We need to remember that when we surrender our life to God, He is always at work in us.  Our confidence in life comes from the belief that God is in control, and can use all things for our good and His glory.  It may be that God is using those dark places in our lives to strike our roots deeper into Him and His strength. 

The apostle Paul once said, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will bring it completion in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 1:6)”  We may be in a dark place right now, but that dark place may be preparing our roots to go deeper into Christ, so that we might bloom and give off a lovely fragrance for Him!  Friend, don’t lose hope!  Keep your eyes on Jesus!  He will be at work in your life, if you let Him.  He can take those frustrating things, those discouraging things, those disheartening things, and work them for GOOD.  Stay surrendered to Him.  Don’t try to figure it all out, or work it all out in your own wisdom.  Let go, and let God!  Let this dark place draw you closer to God.  Let this dark place become a blessing, not a curse.  Let this dark place become the promise of something greater for the future!

Friend, God is preparing many beautiful blooms to come forth from your life!

Thinking Outside the Box

I was watching the life story of Bill Gates on the Biography Channel this morning.  Actually, I was surfing through the channels on the TV when I came across this program and stayed with it for forty-five minutes.  Bill was quite a brilliant young man, with a great intellect, and an amazing amount of creativity.  In one segment of the show, they were interviewing a friend who grew up with Bill and went to school with him and he described Bill as someone who was always thinking outside the box.  That comment jumped out at me when I heard it. 

We all know Bill Gates as the young man  who helped create Microsoft Windows and made the use of personal computers easy and useable for millions of persons.  As I heard the comment of one of his best friends growing up, I realized one of the keys to Bill’s great success.  Bill was a young man who thought outside the box!  Bill was a creative, innovative individual who was not locked in to doing things “the same old way” all the time!  He was always thinking outside the box and imagining things as they could be.

When you look at the lives of successful people, people who have accomplished great things, and have seen unbelievable dreams come to pass, you will find individuals who were constantly thinking outside the box and letting their creative juices flow.  Thinking outside the box allows us to think with freshness and approach problem-solving in new ways.  Those who think outside the box are people who are willing to risk!  They are not comfortable with “the way things have always been done”, they are pioneers who have a vision for a new future!

I challenge you today to become a person who is thinking outside the box in your field of work.  Don’t let old ways, old patterns of behavior, or old mindsets hinder you from becoming an incredible person who is achieving great things!  Stretch yourself!  Believe in yourself!  Trust in the gifts that God has placed in your life.  Use them for His glory.  Contine to grow as a person and learn all  you can.  Spend time with creative people….listen to them, hear their heart, feel their passion.  Don’t sell yourself short!  Think outside the box!  Dream dreams of what can be!

Wearing Many Hats

The other day when the Olympic basketball team was playing one of the commentators was talking about  Coach K and made the observation that he was amazed at how well Coach K was juggling all of the things going on his life.  Here he is coaching the Olympic basketball team, taking time out of his busy responsibilities at Duke University to travel to China, working hard to keep the basketball team in tip-top shape, and trying to stay in touch with his new recruits that are coming to Duke this Fall.  The commentator said, “Coach K is wearing many different hats right now.”

Leaders often have to wear many hats.  Giving leadership isn’t always just doing one thing.  Many times there are multi-tasks that need to be done, and leaders find themselves needing to “wear many different hats” in order to see everything accomplished, and their strategic goals met.  Leaders must be flexible people, willing to do what needs to be done.  If it becomes necessary for you to “wear many hats” in your job, do so with grace and fortitude.  Don’t try to wear the same hat for every job, different jobs require different hats!  Good leaders know how to “wear different hats” in order to accomplish many different tasks, yet remain the same in character and personality!

If you’re in a job that requires you to “wear many different hats” don’t let it get the best of you.  Leadership often requires it.  Good leaders lead!  And, many times that leadership comes through example!

Planting Seeds of Greatness

This would be a big day for little Robert.  Robert grew up on a farm in Iowa.  He had never met an uncle of his who had been living in China.  Today, however, this uncle was coming to Iowa to visit the family.  Little Robert was playing in the front yard when he noticed a trail of dust flying high into the sky.  It was his uncle!  It wasn’t long before the car pulled up in front of the house and Robert’s uncle climbed out.  Little Robert ran to meet his uncle who immediately grabbed him up off the ground and began to swing him in the air.  Robert was thrilled at the attention that his uncle was giving him.  As his uncle let Robert’s feet touch the ground, he put his arms around Robert and said, “Robert some day you are going to be a minister.  Yes, you are going to be a minister and a very good one at that.  In fact, I believe that someday you will be influencing thousands of people for God.”  The thing that made these words so special was the fact that there had never been a minister in Robert’s family.

That night as little Robert lay in his bed he prayed, “Dear God, let my uncle’s words come true.”  Now, seventy-eight years later we can say that God did answer that prayer, for we all know Robert Schuller as one of America’s great ministers! 

I believe that this uncle planted seeds of greatness in little Robert’s heart.  As Robert grew up he remembered those words of his uncle and they became a picture and a vision, of what he wanted his life to become.  If you were to interview people who have risen to the top in their careers and achieved great things with their lives, I am convinced that you would hear testimony after testimony of how people spoke words of encouragement, blessing, and greatness into their lives.  Words are powerful!  Young people are hungry for a compliment, a word of praise, a word that tells them they can accomplish their dreams, a word that paints a vision of what their life can become.  

Are you planting seeds of greatness in the lives of those around you?  Are you planting seeds of faith, kindness, courage, generosity, joy, gentleness, and self-control?  You never know the lives that will be eternally impacted by your words and your influence!  Every day we have the opportunity to plant seeds in the hearts of the children in our lives.  What are your children learning from you?  What are they learning about themselves as they listen to you?  What dreams are you planting in their hearts? 

This week we have all been enjoying the Olympic games in Beijing.  I wonder how many of these premeier  athletes are competing on the world stage because some parent, or friend, or coach planted seeds of greatness in their hearts?  I want to believe that the greatest revival among young people for Jesus Christ has not even been seen yet!  It is my firm conviction that seeds are still being planted….those seeds are being watered….and SOON those seeds are going to bear fruit in an extraordinary way!   

Make it a goal of yours to plant seeds of greatness in the lives of those around you every day!

Lifting Up People

I want to challenge you today to be the kind of person that lifts others up!  You never know how much it means to someone else to give them a smile, a positive word, a pat on the back, a listening ear, a word of encouragement.  And, not only will it make someone else feel good, it will make you feel good too!  I believe there is purpose to the people that are in our life.  You may not be aware of it, but there may be someone within your sphere of influence that in some way is tied to your destiny.  By you lending a hand, lifting them up, helping share a burden, or bringing encouragement to their life, you may in some way be helping yourself achieve your purpose in life.        

There’s no art to putting people down!  We see that happening nearly every day.  There are no special skills needed to make people around you feel bad, or demeaned, or devalued.  How sad it is to become a person that is given over to a lifestyle of knocking people down, instead of lifting people up.  Do you realize how powerful your words and actions are?  What you say, and how you treat others, can be one of the best ways of influencing and shaping the lives of others around you!  I’m sure that there are many people around us every day who are struggling with the issues of life–family, career, relationships, finances, health–whose lives might find great strength because God placed you into their life to be encourager, and an inspiration.

Is there someone that has come to your mind as you have been reading this blog?  Maybe there’s someone that you have noticed that needs a word of encouragement, or a smile, or a helping hand.  Why not be that person!  God may want to use you to be the one to lift up their spirits, and to bring hope to their lives.  What a great calling in life–lifting up the people around you!  Remember, with the measure of love and kindness that you give to others, will be the measure that you receive back in your life!

Enter the “No Whining Zone”

Do you want to get ahead in your work?  Do you want to make a difference in other people’s lives?  Do you want to go to the next level in your professional and personal growth?  Then, you must make a determined effort to live in the “No Whining Zone”.  There are many people who never achieve their dreams, who never succeed in their work, and who are forever stalled and stagnant in their personal lives.  Why?  They become people who are always “whining” about everything–others get all the breaks, the boss never appreciates what I do, my faults are the result of my parents, people never treat me right, on and on they go!  

I have to admit that I have often fallen prey to such attitudes and I have to fight against letting them take hold of my spirit.  You will never get ahead in life, or achieve the things that you want to, if you let negative, critical, pessimistic feelings rob you of your joy and confidence.  People who play the “blame game” never get ahead in life.  People who are always making excuses for the reasons why they cannot succeed, will never take personal responsibility for taking a good look within their soul and determining to change and mature in ways that will enhance who they are.  One of the best ways that we can mature in our personal lives is to develop and cultivate positive attitudes.  Your attitudes determine how you approach your work, how you treat others, and how you see yourself fulfilling your purpose in life.

I don’t know what you are going through today.  It may be tough, it may be painful, it may be very discouraging.  Maybe people have hurt you, or maybe you’ve failed at something that you put your whole heart and soul into, or maybe you’ve encountered some circumstances that you’ve had no control over.  Wherever you’re at–determine that you will stay in the “No Whine Zone”.  Determine that you will give up the ”blame game” and take personal responsibility for the future direction of your life.  Determine that you will not get caught in a rut of “making excuses” for everything in your life.  In the Bible, Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I CAN DO all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  Begin each day letting Jesus have total control of your life, your work, the people in your life, and your future.  Let Him renew your mind and fill your mind with confidence, courage, self-worth, love and a positive outlook on life.  

I believe when we allow Jesus to be the CEO of our life, we can live “In the Zone” of optimism!

Put Your Life in God’s Hands

I never knew the old, brown violin,
That was so long in some dark corner thrust,
Its strings broken or loose, its pegs run down,
Could ever be of use again. The dust
Of years lay on its shabby case, until
One day a Master took the intrument,
And with caressing fingers touched the wood,
Adjusted pegs and strings; his mind intent
On making music as he drew his bow.
Then from the violin, long silent, sprang
Once more arpeggios, runs, trills. The wood
Quivered, leapt into life, and joyous song.

I now believe that any broken life,
Jangling with discords, unadjusted, tossed
In some far corner, wasted, thrown aside,
Can yet be of some use; need not be lost
From Heaven’s orchestra. A Master’s Hand
Scarred from old wounds, can mend the broken thing
If yielded to Him wholly; and can make
The dumb life speak again, and joyous sing
In praise of One who gave His life that none
Need perish. And this message, glad, most blest,
I now believe; for placing in His Hand
My life, I find my world is now at rest.

                                                                     Dorothy M. Barter

Live Today to the Fullest!

You know, we only have today!  Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come, but we do have today!  The Bible says that our life is “like a vapor”…here today, gone tomorrow.  Sometimes life is short.  We just knew a young man, 29 years old, who passed away two weeks ago with some kind of heart problem.  One day he was doing just great and looked like a picture of health, and the next morning he was in eternity.  We never know what a day may bring.  That’s why I say, “Live TODAY to the fullest.”

We all have problems that we have to work through…discouragements that we wrestle with…dreams that have been shattered…BUT we must never lose sight of the gift of today and the value of enjoying what is before us and living life to the fullest.  As the old expression goes, “This too shall pass.”  And that’s so true.  There’s so much of life that is beautiful and meaningful.  George Bailey learned that lesson, in the classic film, It’s A Wonderful Life, when he was given the opportunity to see what life was like without the influence of his life.  When he was given his real life back, he was so thankful at the opportunity to enjoy life once again, he “kissed the knob on the stairwell” as he ran up to grab his kids and give them a hug!

Are you going through tough times?  Hang in there!  Keep faith!  Laugh!  Smile!  Be a blessing to someone!  And especially….enjoy the day…and live life to the fullest!  TODAY is God’s gift to you!

 

obstacles in the road of life that we have to hurdle.