SOME OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
AND RELATED THOUGHTS:
“…For God is not the author of confusion…” (1-Corinthians 14:33 KJV)
If you start any question you have about God or His will for you with this idea, then anything that runs contrary to this has got to go.
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)
When we understand this concept, we look at our lives, our difficulties, our circumstances, and even other people differently.
“Learn to say 'no' to the good so you can say 'yes' to the best. “ (John Maxwell)
This is the only way to truly accomplish your best!
“Responsibility is the ability to choose our response” (Stephen R Covey)
So, pause beforehand so you can choose the most appropriate response.
“Motion Changes Emotion” (Unknown)
If you want to change how you feel, change what you are doing, go for a walk, clean the kitchen, mow the lawn, do some pushups, just get it in gear.
“Don’t take life too seriously; it’s only a temporary situation” (Unknown)
This always helps me put conflict in perspective.
"I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.” (Aristotle)
You'll know you are more than a conqueror when you have been able to control your own tongue.
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." (Mark Twain)
Since we all can be blind or deaf at times, kindness is sometimes the only communication that gets through and quickly silences anger, fear, and doubt.
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“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them…”
(Steve Jobs)
This is why modeling the Christian life before others is so important!
"Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75" (Benjamin Franklin)
We are given only one life - live it to the fullest (however that is only possible when you have Jesus because he said ...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. - John 10:10)
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" (Albert Einstein)
We will face opposition in this world but remember Jesus said ...I have overcome the world (John 16:33), and if He is in us then we too are overcomers!
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" (Plato)
This reminds me of Paul's encouragement "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)
"It always seems impossible until it’s done" (Nelson Mandela)
I know when beginning a task, things can sometimes seem daunting or overwhelming but in order to get propulsion for starting we must remember "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). This will give us the motivation we need to know we are not alone that God will see us through what we are working on!
"Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later" (Og Mandino)
This reminds me of several related scriptural references:
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. (Job 4:8)
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12)
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2-Corinthians 9:11)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)
These references should motivate us to give generously of ourselves through our words, our time, our skills, and our resources because many times in life we will need the benefit of other's words, time, skills, and resources to feed us and encourage us along our journey.
"It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up." (Vince Lombardi)
I wonder just how spiritual Vince was because this is definitely a rewording of God's encouragement for us out of Proverbs 24:16 (For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.) Yes, we will all make mistakes and take blows in life (some deserved and some undeserved) but it's our response that will determine our spiritual make-up will we forgive (ourselves and others) and try again or will we let it taint us and cloud our decisions from then on. The choice is ours. Thanks, Vince, for the simple reminder simply put!
"The harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph." (Thomas Paine)
We will all fight battles some more difficult than others, but we shouldn't back away from the fight for it is in the battle itself that we are made stronger. The Bible tells us "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1-Peter 1:7) So, we can conclude that we increase our value by what we have gone through and the battles we have seen through. Therefore, never give up!
"In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can." (Nikos Kazantzakis)
I could agree more and that is why I remind myself of this by memorizing this scriptural gem: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13)
"I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed." (Robert H. Schuller)
Even God thinks this is great advice (although He came up with it first). Simply read the account of the wise and slothful servants in Matthew 25:14-30 and you will see for yourself. However here are a couple of quick insights: His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy lord.... His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicket and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:" Now you decide; what does God prefer we do?
"You’re always one decision away from a totally different life." (Unknown)
Our lives can change at any moment of any day simply by the decisions we make. Therefore, we must strive to make good choices in order to live a good life. However, I know we all at times have made bad ones and suffered the consequences but as long as we have breath, we can make one more choice and change things up again. As I have learned, there is one choice we must make daily as alluded to in scripture: "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." (Joel 3:14)
Our eternity hangs upon one choice - one decision - so we must not take it lightly.
"…Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart…." (Psalm 95:7-8)
"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." (John Wooden)
God did not design us to fail when we are in tune with Him. However, He did build within us the process to change (better known as growing) and when we decide to stop growing then that truly is a failure.
"Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others." (Confucius)
Jesus said, 'And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?' (Luke 6:41). Are you noticing a trend here? Self-examination is more important than other condemnation!
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"It is within limitations that mastery reveals itself." (Goethe)
I know this can seem counter-intuitive to think that to master something you have to work within a set of confined conditions; however, I can say that my experience as a songwriter that this statement is very true. When there are no limitations then the developer, designer, creator, writer, or whatever term you insert here can wander and stretch in directions that bring about no purpose, function or even meaning to the endeavor. However, within the limitations a focus develops that helps to refine and pinpoint the expected results and - voila - the skill executed results in mastery now revealed.
"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful." (John Wooden)
I don't think it can be stated any clearer - short and to the point!
