90a – A Work in Progress
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Think a minute…Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player ever. His coach Phil Jackson said he knew he could not teach Jordan more on his playing skills; however, Coach Jackson could help Jordan improve his leadership skills. So, Jackson began teaching Jordan to lead and help his teammates become their best also. And it worked! Their team, the Chicago Bulls, became one of the most successful basketball teams in history.
Great artists become great because they spend years improving their abilities. Centuries ago, a young Greek artist named Timanthes studied under a master teacher. After several years of daily labor, young Timanthes painted a beautiful work of art. He was so pleased with his painting that he spent days looking at it.
One morning he arrived to find his prized work totally covered over with paint. Timanthes was shocked when his teacher admitted he had destroyed the painting. His teacher said: “I did it for your own good and future success. That painting was stopping your progress. You need to start a new painting and try to do better.” Fortunately, Timanthes took his teacher’s advice, and he went on to paint what is regarded as one of the greatest paintings from that era of history: the Sacrifice of Iphigenia.
Before today’s world-famous cellist Yo Yo Ma, there was the legendary musician Pablo Casals. He was celebrating his 95th birthday when a reporter asked him: “Mr. Casals, you are 95-years-old and the greatest cellist who ever lived. Why do you still practice 6 hours a day?” Casals answered, “Because I’m still improving.”
The most satisfying way to live and not become bored is to keep learning throughout your lifetime. You are always “a work in progress.” A wise man said: “No one can be truly happy and feel good about himself if he only does enough to survive. Animals, not human beings, are satisfied with simply surviving.” There is always room for improvement. But it is completely up to us whether or not we choose to continue improving our character, mind, marriage, parenting, family relationships, friendships, career, etc.
It is only with God in control that your possibilities are unlimited. If you will put your heart and life in His hands, Jesus can help you with His power each day to keep improving every area of your life, so you can become all that He created you to be. Just think a minute…
90b – Bouncing Back
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Think a minute…Early in life I learned that I do not always get what I want. It’s a fact of life that disappointing and bad things happen to all of us. But if we learn how to use painful experiences, they will make us stronger, wiser, and better prepared to move on to a life of true success and satisfaction. Here are some ways to help you bounce back from disappointment.
Number one, stay physically active. Take a 30-minute walk or run. Swim, bike, lift weights, play golf, tennis, or some other sport you enjoy.
Second, after your bad break, take a break. After a disappointment, be nice to yourself. Relax by doing what you most enjoy, whether it’s listening to music, watching movies, shopping, fishing, or even taking a short holiday.
Third, laugh. Laughing releases endorphins, which are our body’s natural pain killers. Spend time with fun people you enjoy. No doubt your friends have suffered setbacks too, so they can encourage you. At the very least, laugh together at your mistakes. Learn to see the humor in life and not take yourself too seriously.
Number four, do something new or creative. A professional counselor says: “Feelings are energy, and energy needs to be used for something, so use your energy to be creative.” Sing, play a musical instrument, plant a garden, do some kind of art and handcrafts, or learn to do something completely new. A new hobby and interest can give you fresh perspective, motivation, and confidence to move on with your life.
Fifth, help others. The fact that we receive more happiness from making others happy is a law of life that never fails. “When you get wrapped up in yourself, you become a small package.”Sobe part of something larger than yourself. No matter how discouraged and “down” you feel, there is always someone who feels “lower” who needs your help and encouragement.
Number six, keep a clear, accurate perspective. Don’t forget your strengths and past accomplishments. See each disappointment only as a single event, not a link in a long chain of failures. Do not let that one disappointment color your view of your entire life. Just because you may have failed at that one thing does not mean you are a failure at life!
Seven, look for the lesson to learn, so you do not repeat the same mistake. Now, you simply know better how to succeed. Finally, know that God is working even the unfair, bad things for your good…IF you put your life in His hands by living His way daily. Only He can make all your losses and disappointments work together for your life’s lasting satisfaction and true purpose. Just think a minute…
90c – Like Father Like Son Pt 1
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Think a minute…Not long ago I watched an amazing true story on television. A family was at the zoo when their little boy suddenly slipped and fell down 15 feet into the gorilla exhibit. He hit his head and landed in the middle of a group of huge gorillas. Everyone screamed, sure that these big, powerful animals would kill this small boy. But to everybody’s shock, a female gorilla quickly ran and stood over the little boy as if he was her own baby. She continued to protect him from the large male gorillas threatening to attack and kill him.
It is said that the instinct of a mother to protect her young is one of the most powerful instincts in nature. In fact, there is no more important and powerful job on earth than that of a mother. Mothers probably have the greatest influence on the world’s children who grow up to be the world’s leaders. To bring a person into the world, then love and train him or her to reach their full potential, is the most successful career anyone could dream of having.
Many of the world’s greatest leaders have said that it was their mother who taught and made them what they became. Even Napolean, the conquering leader from France, said: “The future greatness of the child is the work of the mother.” Another world leader said: “The mother is the strongest, most lasting teacher that children have.”
Children will continue to enjoy the benefits of a good mother for the rest of their lives. But in the same way, children whose mothers fail to give them the love, time, and example they need to follow will be somewhat crippled for life. Tragically, many of them struggle the rest of their lives to overcome the hurts and damage from their mothers’ neglect and failures. A mother always leaves her mark and influence on her child—for good or for bad.
So don’t ever think that being a mother is not a successful career. In fact, studies show that for the last 15-20 years, many working mothers have been leaving their professional careers to return to their important, satisfying career of raising their children to reach their full potential. This does not mean working mothers cannot be devoted, loving, and wise mothers, but simply that they have a much greater challenge in becoming the best mother they can be—since they have much less time to spend with their children.
Time magazine talked about this fact that more young professional mothers are choosing to stay at home. The article states: “In professional and managerial classes where higher incomes permit more choices…Today’s women executives are less willing to play the juggler’s game…and more willing to sacrifice paychecks and prestige for time with their family…often with every intention of returning. Their mantra: ‘You can have it all, just not all at the same time.’”
Remember, “You cannot do everything in every season of life.” Learn to enjoy and make the most of each season of your life. So, before you have children, build a strong, satisfying, and successful marriage relationship with your husband. Then you will be prepared and ready to love and teach your children with your example of a healthy, happy marriage.
Even if your mother did not love and teach you the way she should have, it is not too late to receive what you need. If you will sincerely ask Jesus to forgive you for your own wrongs, He will also begin healing your hurts and painful memories. Then, you can be free and empowered to become all He created you to be, and to help your children do the same. Just think a minute…
90d – Like Father Like Son Pt 2
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Think a minute…Early in life I learned that I do not always get what I want. It’s a fact of life that disappointing and bad things happen to all of us. But if we learn how to use painful experiences, they will make us stronger, wiser, and better prepared to move on to a life of true success and satisfaction. Here are some ways to help you bounce back from disappointment.
Number one, stay physically active. Take a 30-minute walk or run. Swim, bike, lift weights, play golf, tennis, or some other sport you enjoy.
Second, after your bad break, take a break. After a disappointment, be nice to yourself. Relax by doing what you most enjoy, whether it’s listening to music, watching movies, shopping, fishing, or even taking a short holiday.
Third, laugh. Laughing releases endorphins, which are our body’s natural pain killers. Spend time with fun people you enjoy. No doubt your friends have suffered setbacks too, so they can encourage you. At the very least, laugh together at your mistakes. Learn to see the humor in life and not take yourself too seriously.
Number four, do something new or creative. A professional counselor says: “Feelings are energy, and energy needs to be used for something, so use your energy to be creative.” Sing, play a musical instrument, plant a garden, do some kind of art and handcrafts, or learn to do something completely new. A new hobby and interest can give you fresh perspective, motivation, and confidence to move on with your life.
Fifth, help others. The fact that we receive more happiness from making others happy is a law of life that never fails. “When you get wrapped up in yourself, you become a small package.”Sobe part of something larger than yourself. No matter how discouraged and “down” you feel, there is always someone who feels “lower” who needs your help and encouragement.
Number six, keep a clear, accurate perspective. Don’t forget your strengths and past accomplishments. See each disappointment only as a single event, not a link in a long chain of failures. Do not let that one disappointment color your view of your entire life. Just because you may have failed at that one thing does not mean you are a failure at life!
Seven, look for the lesson to learn, so you do not repeat the same mistake. Now, you simply know better how to succeed.
Finally, know that God is working even the unfair, bad things for your good…IF you put your life in His hands by living His way daily. Only He can make all your losses and disappointments work together for your life’s lasting satisfaction and true purpose. Just think a minute…
90e – Read the Signs
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Think a minute…Years ago on the night of 14 April, the ship named Californian had come within 1500 miles of its destination of Boston Harbor in the U.S. It was midnight and Second Officer Herbert Stone reported for his watch. He found his apprentice looking through binoculars at another ship in the dark distance. He could see some lights, so Stone told the apprentice to try to communicate using the Morse Code light. But the other ship did not answer.
Then five more white flashes came from the other ship, followed by another four white flashes, so Stone called his captain. The captain ordered more light signals to be sent, but still no answer came. They noticed the other ship’s cabin lights were disappearing, so it appeared to be sailing away. At 1:40 AM Stone saw the eighth and last white flash in the night sky.
It was not until 4 AM that they learned the truth about the other ship. Second Officer Stone and his captain had not understood that the lights and flashes from the other ship were alarm signals. That night of 14 April, the Californian had stopped in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean since there was a dangerous field of ice in the water. It was while they were stopped and waiting that they saw the lights from the other ship in the distance.
The other ship had sent those light flares as distress signals, and the Californian that was only nine miles away would have rushed to help save it except for one thing. The other ship had been sending distress signals both by lights and by radio, but the Californian’s new young radio operator was sleeping. So that night, Second Officer Stone and his captain did not know the light flashes were desperate calls for help from the sinking…Titanic. The most famous shipwreck in modern history.
Jesus Himself said that by far the greatest tragedy is to watch yourself and the people you love sink into eternity, separated from God and lost forever in the worst suffering and aloneness there is. Those are the words and warnings from Jesus Himself. The most important question is: Will you read and follow the signs to safety? He has made them so clear and easy to understand that we have no excuse. Once and for all, you can ask Him to forgive you for your wrong heart and sinful living? Then ask Him to take full charge and start changing you and your daily way of life. Jesus said it is the only way you can have total security that if your ship goes down tonight, you are completely ready to face Him: your Creator, Savior, and Judge. Just think a minute…