Finding Strength and Confidence

From Dr. Charles Stanley's August letter (www.intouch.org), God is where to find strength and confidence when we face troubles:

'Romans 8:28 >> "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:38-39 >> "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Four simple truths >>

First, whenever you face difficulties, remember that God is in control of all your circumstances...Though He may not have initiated our trials, He allowed them. That means He can bring good out of them and teach us powerful lessons if we trust Him.

Second, remember that the Lord takes full responsibility for all your needs when you are following Him in obedience...Of course, this does not mean that God will give you everything you want. Sometimes the things you desire do not fulfill His purpose for your life. But you can be sure that whatever the Lord offers you - and even in what He withholds - He always has your best interest at heart.

Third, remember that if you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Lord is always with you. You are not alone. No matter where you go or what you go through, God will never forsake you...Though others may abandon you or leave you for some reason, the Lord won't. He can't because as a believer, you are sealed with His Holy Spirit. This means that you always have the most powerful Friend, Counselor, and Advocate with you to heal you, help you, and lead you when the road of life grows lonely and confusing.

Finally, remember that the Lord loves you with an eternal, irrevocable love. You cannot lose God's love. It is unconditional, sacrificial, and based on His unwavering character - not on your behavior. That does not mean He condones sin...Rather, it means His affection for you is not based on what you do. You don't have to earn it or work to keep it. When you fail, you do not forfeit it. And no one could ever convince Him to care for you less. His love is freely given and all you have to do is open your heart to receive it.'

Winners look to God no matter what their circumstances are.

Deliver the Bad News First

All of us in life have had to deliver, or been the recipient of, bad news. (seems especially common during these recession days!)

Here's another entry from Bill Hybels' book Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs:

'Always deliver the bad news first...what you leave with someone at the end of any given communique - whether written or verbal, whether in large groups or small - sets the tone for how they feel about the future of the organization or endeavor....Once the bad news is out, I'm freed up to shift to an upbeat posture.

I've seen too many leaders kick off a meeting by rattling off their best news first, and then, just before adjourning, they say, "Now before I let you go, we really need to talk about one issue in particular." They trudge through all the gory details of the team's failing and leave everyone dejected because all they can remember of the meeting is that "one issue" that was such a downer at the end.

The difference between great communication and not-so-great communication often comes down to where you place the bad news. Sure it has to be covered...Get it over with, and then get on with something that will leave your people in a much better place.'

Winners deliver the bad news first.

Encouragement

Humans are the vast untapped resource of the planet. Winners are those who mine that potential. They see what's good in others and bring it to the surface. They are always more concerned with what someone will be than with what he or she currently is.

Winners realize that by adding a cup of encouragement, they may reap gallons of achievement.

'Joshua 1:6a, 7a, 9 >> "Be strong and courageous...Be strong and very courageous...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."'

There are few things in the Bible where God repeats a statement three times; such an emphasis He puts on encouragement!

'Deuteronomy 31:6 >> "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified...for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."'

Winners acknowledge the potential of others.

Planning Your Life To Be a Winner - Part 2

Here's part 2 of the entry started yesterday:

'The right amount of polishing is needed so you can realize your potential. It is not necessarily what we see on the outside that makes anyone or anything beautiful. It is that glow from the inside. There is always work to be done, a need to keep on refining, polishing, and simplifying.

Every person has the opportunity to receive that inner glow, to be refined and polished. All we have to do is accept Jesus as our personal Savior. He provides the margin we need as we make our walk through life.

We owe it to ourselves to bring out the best of who we are - to use our talents for something beautiful - and worthy. That requires a staying power that comes only with vision and determination.

You need a plan to become what the Lord wants you to be.

Here are the essential steps:

• Have a vision/dream
• Get the facts, be aware of what is going on around you
• Analyze your strengths and weaknesses
• Make a few assumptions
• Set definite measurable objectives
• Be in a state of continual prayer (God will confirm, through the Holy Spirit, what is right for you)
• Develop a list of strategies for each objective
• Put the plan into action
• Review progress, and
• Reward yourself for accomplishment

Winners refine, polish, simplify; and incorporate God in bringing out their best in life.

Planning Your Life To Be a Winner - Part 1

Here's an entry from Dare to Succeed: A Treasury of Inspiration and Wisdom for Life & Career >>

'Planning Your Life To Be a Winner

The difference between winning and losing in our lives can be measured by the margin. Whenever the marginal play comes along, you will excel, and in the process, become all that you can be.

If you study a football game, you will find that five or six key plays make the difference in the game. If the coaches knew which plays these would be, they would practice all week on those particular plays to be sure they are executed with perfection. The problem is that out of the eighty to one hundred plays executed, one does not know which are the key plays. This forces players to execute with precision on all of the plays so that the six or seven are executed properly. The margin for winning boils down to a very few plays.'

Winners plan for and take advantage of life's margins.

Part 2 of this tomorrow.

Just Courage

Gary Haugen was a speaker at the 2008 Willow Creek Leadership Summit (www.willowcreek.com/summit). Some highlights of his talk:

' Charge into the Darkness

• When the task seems hopeless, lead by re-centering on the basis of your hope -- JESUS
• When the task seems scary, lead by reminding people that Jesus came to make us brave - not safe
• God wants you to follow beyond what you can control, and then you will experience HIM!
• When the task seems too hard, we must choose 4 things:

1) choose to not-be-safe - "leap of faith"

2) choose deep spiritual health

3) choose to pursue excellence - mediocrity is bad for the soul

4) choose to seize the joy - take time to laugh

• Ignite your passion! It's important to deeply, deeply believe in your passion!

Winners courageously charge into the darkness!

Inner Peace for Busy People

Inner Peace for Busy People is a book by Joan Borysenko. I read this book last year and found it to be not only insightful but fun to read. Sharing her top points here:

' The Absolute Basic Strategies for Life

• RELAX and be more productive >> you must learn to relax
• Remember that peace is already within you >> Holy Spirit
• Save your breath and keep your sanity >> breathing is the single most important skill for calming body & mind
• Build your brain power
• Live with passion!
• Practice patience'

I'll share more from this book in the coming weeks.

Finding the Will of God

From the January 13th Today God Is First devotional (www.TodayGodIsFirst.com):

'How would you describe the process by which you find and do God's will for life?

For some, finding God's will is like playing bumper cars. We keep going in one direction until we bump into an obstacle, turn, and go in another direction. It is a constant process of elimination, failure, or success. Is this the way God would have us find His will? No.

There is much more relationship between hearing God's voice and living within the mystery of His omnipotence in our lives. Perhaps this process is more like water in a streambed. The water is constantly flowing to a final destination. As it presses against the streambed, it gently points the water toward its final destination. There are no abrupt head-on collisions, simply slight modifications of direction.

Occasionally, we come to a sharp turn in the contours of our life. For those times, God allows us to stretch our normal response to change. A popular Bible study says that we cannot go with God and stay where we are. Finding and doing God's will always require change. What changes are necessary in your life to joing God in what He is already doing?

There is a direct connection between finding and doing God's will and having God's law in our heart. A friend once complained that he did not know what God wanted of him in his life. My immediate response was, "How much time do you spend with God in Bible study, prayer, and meditation on Scripture?" "Only a few minutes a day," he replied. How can we expect to hear and discern God's voice if we don't spend focused time with Him? If you have a spouse, how did you get to know him or her before you were married? You spent time together. You got to know everything about each other.

Our walk with God is no different. It isn't enough to have a desire to follow God; we must put our energy into getting to know Him. His will for us flows out of our relationship, it is not an end in itself.

Commit yourself to seeking Him more in your life by spending more time with Him.

"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" - Jeremiah 33:3'

Winners actively seek out the will of God.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Returning to the book called The Complete Book of Business Success by Byrd Baggett. It contained useful insights to winning in the business environment. Divided into three main sections - Taking Charge, Excellence, Satisfaction Guaranteed - I've shared some bullet points from the first two sections already (see July 2nd & July 13th blog entries).

Here now is section three:

'Satisfaction Guaranteed

• Offer your customers at least one service they cannot get anywhere else
• If you provide only 99% satisfaction, a million transactions mean 10,000 unhappy customers!
• The phrase "not my job" does not exist
• FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP
• Customers should "hear" your smile over the phone
• Never forget the basics
• The 3 C's of Customer Service Excellence >> Care / Concern / Compassion

Only scratching the surface here; the fun book contains lots more insights.

Winners guarantee satisfaction in everything they do.

Endurance

From the book Minute Motivators by Stan Toler:

'(Winners) know that they won't always get their own way. Plans will crumble. People will stumble. Sometimes the breaks will go the other way. That's life, and a (winner) learns to accept it and go on. They understand that the victor's crown is given only to those who endure to the end.

Endurance is a quality that causes some to make bright new discoveries in the wake of a disaster. For example, in the hands of the scientist, one person's trauma gives birth to technological advancements that give hope to many.

Let's face it, sometimes the walls come tumbling down. What happens next? Attitude will make the difference. (Winners) may become angry, but never irate. They may be discouraged and distracted, but they determine not to be wrathful due to their pain or disappointment.

They dig in, regroup, and focus on solutions. They come to grips with their adversity instead of succumbing to it. They keep on keeping on.

(Winners) understand that a level head comes from a strong heart.'

Have you worked on your endurance lately?

Make Bold Moves

Another great book that I recently read is called Axiom: Powerful Leadership Proverbs by Bill Hybels. Just sharing one of his many lifetime lessons:

'...you will never take big hills without making bold moves (courageous, high risk plans)....thinking fresh thoughts, pioneering cool new programs, and trusting God to accomplish significant...activity in their midst....

The alternative is incrementalism....Incrementalism and innovation make terrible bedfellows.'

Winners make bold moves.

Let the Holy Spirit Guide You

Sharing parts of today's In Touch devotional (www.intouch.org):

'A choice of enormous significance lies before every believer in Christ. God has given each one the responsibility of deciding who will rule his life. Christians are indwelt and sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation, but being filled with the Spirit - in other words, being controlled by Him - is optional.

From the moment we are saved, God's Spirit will never leave us (John 14:16). But by refusing to submit to His authority over every area of our lives, we limit His work in and through us. He will not override our wills but waits for us to choose Him.

The Lord wants you to have His power to overcome sin, to become the person He designed you to be, and to accomplish the work He has called you to do. The filling of the Spirit is His provision for this kind of supernatural living. Without it, the Christian life will be full of defeat and discouragement....

...The Holy Spirit promises to fill a believer who is willing to yield all aspects of life to Him. This isn't an instantaneous event, but a gradual peeling away of layers of self-rule. As the Lord reveals an area which you have kept under your own control, surrender it to Him, and let Him fill you with His Spirit.'

Winners surrender to the Holy Spirit of their own free will.

Knowing Our Limits

Today God Is First is a great daily e-devotional series, written by Os Hillman and presented as a service of Marketplace Leaders Ministries (www.TodayGodIsFirst.com). Here's part of today's Volume 1 entry:

' Proverbs 28:19 states - "He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty."

Webster's defines entrepreneur: "one who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk in a business venture." Entrepreneurs can smell an opportunity a mile away. However, what is often their greatest asset can become their greatest downfall. The road is littered with entrepreneurs who have been successful in one venture only to fail in countless others.

As an entrepreneur the greatest danger is engaging ourselves in activities in which God never intended us to be involved. This is poor stewardship of what God has entrusted to us.

How do you approach opportunities? Do you consider the merits of the opportunity only? Or do you inquire of God as to whether He desires you to pursue? It may be a wonderful opportunity, but it may not be God's will for you to be involved. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as you seek to use the skills He has given you.'

Winners seek out God's will in all their actions.

Winning Words

In his book Words That Win, author Don Gabor talks about the importance of sharpening your speaking style so as to make people pay attention and understand what you say.

He describes seven steps to a bigger and more effective vocabulary:

'1. Listen carefully to the words co-workers use

2. Study the trade journals

3. Learn the industry language

4. Look up words you don't know

5. Keep a word journal

6. Use vocabulary-building materials

7. Exercise your new vocabulary every day'

Mr. Gabor also talks about using body language to send confident and powerful nonverbal signals. Here's his fun acrostic for remembering:

' P = Position yourself
O = Open stance
I = Interact immediately
S = Shake hands
E = Eye contact'

A few additional tips:

' * Exude optimism; face critics/pessimists with a smile
* Infuse your stories with dramatic words; demonstrate your conviction
* Modulate your voice so it ranges from intimately soft to strong'

Volunteering to speak at a meeting or event can be great practice.

Winners use winning words!

Learning

A winner's education lasts throughout his or her life. Winners are always looking for ways to fill in the gaps in their understanding. They are constantly learning on two different levels: knowledge and skill.

Winners have a never-quenched thirst for knowledge. They read and ask questions. They study problems, watch others, and think. A winner understands that the mind is the most effective leadership tool, and he sharpens it constantly.

Also, winners are constantly in training. As skillful as they may be, they constantly tone and train. They seek a racer's edge in their field of endeavor. They practice with the discipline of an athlete. They read the manuals and do the roadwork. They seek the counsel of good coaches - coaches with keen insight who will look for the little, unnoticed flaws and will provide instruction to hone their skills without discouraging them.

Winners are learners.

Seeking True Wisdom

I seem to be spending a bit of time in the Book of James lately.

James 1:5-8 states:

'If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.'

My Life-Application Study Bible provides lots of insight and clarification on this:

'By wisdom, James is talking not only about knowledge, but about the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. Whenever we need wisdom, we can pray to God, and He will generously supply what we need. Christians don't have to grope around in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers. We can ask for God's wisdom to guide our choices.

Wisdom means practical discernment. It begins with respect for God, leads to right living, and results in increased ability to tell right from wrong. God is willing to give us His wisdom, but we will be unable to receive it if our goals are self-centered instead of God-centered. To learn God's will, we need to read His Word and ask Him to show us how to obey it. Then we must do what He tells us.

To "believe and not doubt" means not only believing in the existence of God, but also believing in His loving care. It includes relying on God and expecting that He will hear and answer when we pray.

A mind that wavers is not completely convinced that God's way is best. It treats God's Word like any human advice, and it retains the option to disobey. It vacillates between allegiance to subjective feelings, the world's ideas, and God's commands. If your faith is new, weak, or struggling, remember that you can trust God. Then be loyal to Him. To stabilize your wavering or doubtful mind, commit yourself wholeheartedly to God.

Doubt leaves a person as unsettled as the restless waves. If you want to stop being tossed about, rely on God to show you what is best for you. Then your decisions will be sure and solid.'

Winners know the source of, and plug in to, true wisdom.

Optimism

Winners know optimism is highly contagious.

The optimistic leader thrives in the pessimist's backyard. He or she knows that a better day is coming. The optimist emits a positive energy flow that is infused into the weary until they become strong.

It's been said - "Enthusiasm is contagious. It's difficult to remain neutral or indifferent in the presence of a positive thinker."

There will always be critics to point out what's wrong. It's the winner's job to see what's right.

Winners accentuate the positive.

Insist on Absolutes

Here's another entry from the fun and insightful book The Management Methods of Jesus by Bob Briner:

'...we hear that it is not politically correct to insist on absolutes. From truth to justice, all things are relative, they say. It's how you feel about it that counts....

Please don't try to run your business (or your life) by this nonsense. Jesus insisted that some things are true and others false, that some things are right and others wrong, that some things are good and others evil. He even insisted that there is only one way to be reconciled to God, and that one way is through faith in him. Talk about tough! Talk about dogmatic! Jesus never equivocated. Sincerity didn't count with him if what you believed was sincerely wrong.

A lack of absolutes can lead to all kinds of corporate problems, from petty thievery to major crimes. It leads to shoddy products and shoddy practices in the marketplace....

As a company and as a manager, teach the right way, insist on the right way, be an example of the right way to do business. Follow Jesus' example.'

Winners do things right; they insist on absolutes.

Excellence in Business Success

Returning to the book called The Complete Book of Business Success by Byrd Baggett. It contained useful insights to winning in the business environment. Divided into three main sections - Taking Charge, Excellence, Satisfaction Guaranteed - I've shared some bullet points from the first section already (see July 2nd blog entry). Here now is section two:

'Excellence

• Success at the expense of faith and family is really failure
• Customers will always get what they want; the question is - will they get it from you?
• Rely on your support staff; your time should be spent in front of the customer, not in the office
• Customers will find a way to buy from you if they like you
• Push yourself; only YOU can motivate you
• Have fun and celebrate your successes
• Always keep learning!
• A customer's opinion is formed within the first five minutes after you meet
• Underpromise and overperform [just like 'Scotty' in classic Star Trek]
• Timing is everything; let it happen naturally
• Don't be an underachiever; believe in yourself!
• If you can't find the time to do it right the first time, how will you find the time to do it over?

I'll share tips from the last section - Satisfaction Guaranteed - before the end of the month.

Tough Times Can Teach Us Perseverance

Looking at James 1:2-4 this morning:

'Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.'

Adds the Life Application Study Bible study notes:

'We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure....Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth.

Thank God for promising to be with you in rough times. Ask Him to help you solve your problems or to give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient.

God will not leave you alone with your problems; He will stay close and help you grow.'

Winners know that there is a reason for every trial and each tough time; and they persevere, trusting God.

Life-Cycle Consumption Smoothing

Taken from the July 13th&20th issue of Business Week:

'The big idea is that you should arrange your borrowing and saving so as to achieve the highest possible standard of living that you can maintain reliably and steadily over a lifetime.

You don't want to subsist on macaroni and cheese in your youth in order to live in luxury when you're old and can't enjoy it. But neither do you want to subsist in poverty in your final years because you blew all the money earlier.

The happiness you get from extravagance at any age will never compensate for the unhappiness of extreme poverty at a different age.'

Winners smooth out their consumption patterns across their entire life cycle.

Listening + Doing

James 1:22-25 states:

'Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets waht he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.'

My Life Application Study Bible adds further insight on this:

'It is important to listen to what God's Word says, but it is much more important to obey it, to DO what it says. We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes. Do you put into action what you have studied?'

I couldn't agree more with this. Winners understand the fine balance between listening and doing.

Do You Hear the Little Voice?

Sometimes we want something to succeed so much that we fail to listen to that little voice inside trying to warn us by directing us on a different path.

Os Hillman stated in his Today God Is First series:

'There are times when pushing harder, trying to manipulate the circumstance, or pressing those around you is not the response to have to the roadblock. God may be trying to have you reconsider your ways.

God may be doing one of four things when you are faced with an obstacle:

1. He's blocking it to protect you.
2. His timing to complete this stage is not the same as yours, and He may need you to go through a process of character refinement.
3. He may want other players to get in place, and the circumstances are not yet ready for them to enter.
4. He may be using the process to develop patience in you.

Relying on the Holy Spirit to know which one applies to your situation is the key to moving in God's timing.'

Winners make an extra effort at hearing the 'little voice.'

Happy 1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9 !!!

I'm a fan of fun, intelligent trivia:

Today there occurred twice (am and pm) 1*2*3*4*5*6*7*8*9 >>

12:34 & 56 seconds on July 8th, 2009!

This will not happen again for another 1,000 years. : )

Relaxation

Winners don't make slaves of themselves. They know that relaxation is not a luxury, it's a necessity. Too much focus and too little time for renewal creates a dangerous imbalance. Just as the body needs rest to revitalize its energy, the winner needs a pause for refreshment.

Winners watch over their physical, mental, and spiritual rebuilding times. They evaluate and protect their personal, social, and professional balance. They purposefully schedule activities to avoid overexertion and stress.

Winners take time for themselves - the serenity of a set of tennis, the balm of a day at the beach, or the blessing of a good book. These are not perks for the privileged; they are emotional and spiritual tools for self-maintenance.

Relaxation is a good remedy for taking life too seriously. A winner needs a timely 'time out.'

Winners take time for recreation and fun!

Imitating Winners

I'm watching the Michael Jackson memorial service on TV today. Even in the midst of all his controversy I think it is undisputed that he was a winner.

I'm reminded of the saying 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.' Think about all the hundreds of millions of people around the world who have imitated Michael Jackson's moves and dance steps (or at least tried to) - how he touched the lives of so many.

Winners impact positively so that they are imitated. Who's been imitating you lately?

Build on Your Strengths

At the 2007 Willow Creek Leadership Summit I heard Marcus Buckingham (consultant, speaker, and best-selling author) talk about a strengths-based approach to education, business, and life in general. Some take-away points:

'Build on your strengths and manage around your weaknesses.

You will not learn anything about excellence by studying mediocrity; you must study excellence to learn about excellence.

In a Gallup Poll (conducted in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, France, Japan, and China) only 12%(!) of people spend most of the day playing to their strengths. [Are you one of the 12% few?]

• Myth #1 > As you grow, your personality changes.

Truth >> As you grow, you become more of who you already are.

• Myth #2 > You grow the most in your areas of greatest weakness.

Truth >> You grow the most in your areas of greatest strength.

• Myth #3 > A great team member puts his strength aside and does whatever the team needs.

Truth >> A great team member volunteers his strengths to the team most of the time.

Take responsibility for putting your strengths to work for you!

Every week, figure out 2 ways to further develop your top 3 strengths. This will be very powerful.'

Much more insights may be found in Mr. Buckingham's book 'Go Put Your Strengths to Work.'

Speaking of the Leadership Summit, Willow Creek's annual event is coming up again at the beginning of August. Broadcast live via satellite in over 140 locations across North America this is an event I will be attending for the 4th time, and find value every time. This year's power speakers include Tony Blair, David Gergen, Bono, Carly Fiorina, Patrick Lencioni, Tim Keller, and Bill Hybels. I highly recommend it. More information is available at www.willowcreek.com/summit.

Winners build on their strengths!

How's Your Attitude?

From the July 2009 issue of In Touch magazine (www.intouch.org):

'Few things impact our ability to hear the Lord's voice more than our attitude. If we come to God as rebellious, proud, or self-sufficient, what should we expect to hear? The truth is, we're not going to hear much of anything.

Why? It is because our whole attitude is completely slanted away from God. We cannot expect to see Him if we are looking in the opposite direction. So we need to reexamine the way that we approach Him. Specifically, we should be aware of three crucial areas.

First, we must come to the Lord submissively, bowing before Him in humility and thanking Him for His accessibility. Pride is something that God absolutely hates (Proverbs 16:5). He will not allow us to enter His presence with arrogance in our hearts.

Second, we must trust God, knowing that He will guide us in the right direction and never steer us down a wrong path. Remembering His past faithfulness can grow our trust.

Third, we must be thankful in our speech and mindset, showing Him that we recognize and appreciate the innumerable blessings He has bestowed upon us. We should demonstrate, as the saying goes, "an attitude of gratitude."

If we come to the throne of God in submission, trust, and gratitude, then we are going to hear the truth from our caring Father. Otherwise, we may miss His message.'

Your attitude not only impacts your spiritual walk but also your daily life. It seems like so many people nowadays have a negative, 'chip-on-the-shoulder' attitude. Each one of us has a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

Chuck Swindoll has stated, "...life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it."
I couldn't agree more.

Winners take charge of their attitudes; they present attitudes characterized by submission, trust, and gratitude.

The 4th of July in America - Independence Day.

How many of us truly introspect about the significance of this date?

Here's the key paragraph in the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Interesting how the importance of the 'Creator' was so front and center in the minds of the founding fathers of the USA.

Interesting how what is stated in just that one paragraph is still so freshly applicable to places around the world today.

John Adams (one of the founding fathers of the USA, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and later to become the 2nd U.S. President) stated in a letter in early July 1776 to his wife Abigail about this date:

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Here's wishing everyone a great 4th of July
- rejoice, reflect, remind, reinvigorate!

Let Us Be Alert and Sober

From yesterday's In Touch devotional (www.intouch.org):

'Many people are snoozing through life. They tell themselves that the earth's troubles will eventually end: leaders will somehow bring harmony to war-torn lands, provide food for all, and create economic stability. However, true peace and safety aren't possible in a world ruled by Satan and inhabited by fallen man.

The church must stay alert and monitor world events through the lens of biblical prophecy. Jesus warned of widespread trouble preceding the tribulation and His second coming (Matthew 24:6-14). He offered signs rather than dates so His followers would be watchful and ready to go at any moment. But we're not to neglect our kingdom duties. We should continue building, serving, and giving, even while anticipating His return.

Nominal Christians run the risk of being unprepared for the troubling times ahead. These are people who come to church if the weather is good, read the Bible only when they're worried, or allow worldly pleasures to distract them from heavenly things. We're no better than drowsy watchmen if we adopt such attitudes. The wise believer is consumed by Christ - empty of his or her own wishes and pursuits and fully surrendered to the Lord's plans and desires. Only a servant completely focused upon God can be useful in His kingdom.'

Winners are alert and sober to world events and their own spiritual walk.

Taking Charge

I recently read a book called The Complete Book of Business Success by Byrd Baggett. It contained useful insights to winning in the business environment. Divided into three main sections - Taking Charge, Excellence, Satisfaction Guaranteed - I'll share some bullet points from the first section:

'Taking Charge

• First and foremost, a good leader serves others.
• Failure to take a risk is much worse than taking a risk that leads to failure.
• Be teachable. You don't know everything.
• Reserve 15 minutes a day for yourself for uninterrupted quiet time.
• "I Care About You." Say it, Mean it, Live it.
• Trust your gut feeling; it's usually right.
• Integrity and humility are the leader's two best friends.
• Real leaders are mentors.
• Time and energy spent worrying are wasted.
• Exercise regularly -- eat properly -- get good rest!
• "Silent" and "Listen" contain the same letters.
• T.E.A.M. >> Together Everyone Achieves More.'

I'll share wise points from the other two chapters in the future. It's a great read; I highly recommend the book.

Have a Plan

One of the books that I keep in my reference library is called The Management Methods of Jesus; Ancient Wisdom for Modern Business by Bob Briner.

This is a great book that I go back to often that contains winning, timeless insights on success not only in management but in general life. Sharing from its Introduction and first chapter:

'...The all-time greatest management entrepreneur is Jesus Christ. Just look at what he accomplished. By any measurement standard, the empirical evidence bears witness that the organization founded by Jesus is the most successful of all time. Longevity? Two thousand years and counting. Wealth? Beyond calculation. Numbers? Beyond counting. Loyalty of adherents? Many give their lives for it. Distribution? Worldwide, in every country. Diversification? Successfully integrated into all kinds of enterprises. Ergo, Jesus Christ reigns supreme as the greatest manager the world has ever known....

Have a Plan....It is amazing how few companies have a master plan by which they chart their course and measure their progress. Even fewer individuals have constructed a plan for their lives with short-term, intermediate, and long-range goals. This is a fundamental mistake.

Jesus had a plan and adhered to it unfailingly. This is a major reason for his success....

Without a plan, you have nowhere to go, nothing toward which to direct your energies. Without a plan, you can only react to circumstances. A plan puts you in charge of your energies and activities. You become proactive, not reactive.'

I'll share more from this fun book in the coming weeks & months.