The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.~Epictetus

Many of you may have heard about the 3 Ole Miss students who were tragically killed in a car wreck a few days ago. They were first-born sons of families that are very planted here at the church where I serve. What a sad event in the lives of those people. I could go on and on about God and his involvement in this situation, or how He could allow this, or what He is attempting to do in the world through incidents such as these. But in this short space, let me just say that God is real. I know He is real because I know it on my inside. But I also know it because the father of one of the young men stood up at the funeral and said so. And if he can see God in a time such as that in his life, then there is no question that He is real – and not only real, but active in our lives. . . to the degree that we allow Him. Beauty is only enjoyed if we take time to look at it. a new idea is only interesting to those who take time to contemplate it. And God’s peace, His love, His comfort, and His all-encompassing presence are only soaked up by those who demonstrate faith in Him. Let us all heed the advice of Hebrews: Seek Him while He may be found. Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow!

“It’s cool to be a tortoise!”

That is what my friend’s son said when asked by his father what he learned by reading The Compound Effect.

“That’s neat,” I replied. My friend quickly corrected me, “No, it goes beyond neat. Let me explain. Dillan is constantly seeking shortcuts. If he doesn’t see results almost immediately, he gets frustrated, bored and usually gives up. I believe The Compound Effect changed a critical and fundamental philosophy that will alter his future, in my opinion.”

I admitted, “You are right, that’s way more than ‘neat’!”

How many times have you been like Dillan… or the hare?

How many diet books, programs, creams, or pills have you bought that promised overnight results with little effort?

How many Internet riches, day-trading, get rich quick books have you bought?

Do you leap to a fast start but quickly get distracted and off track, if not even drop out of the race entirely?

The tortoise always wins. Why? Because he or she is relentlessly consistent. It’s not how fast you start; it’s how long you endure. Consistency is one of the core fundamentals of success.

Once a need is satisfied, it is no longer a motivator. Satisfaction does not increase motivation. Zig Ziglar

What gets you up in the morning? What gets your heart beating fast? What do you love to do so much that you’d do it for free?

I hope that you have found your purpose for living – your one sentence synopsis for why you are here and what you are to be doing every day. If not, go get “Purpose Drive Life” and read it today! (63 million people already have!)

Also, some of us perform better when we have short-term goals or milemarkers to motivate us. Kinda like Spider Man casting a web at each building on the way to the crime scene.

I encourage you to find something that will motivate you toward a life-changing goal for the few months. Maybe till Dec 31, or maybe your next birthday. Maybe it can be the next 10 lbs off, or the next time you see someone.

Find something that you consider a need, and make that your motivator. Then, do it again! You’ll be productive, satisfied, and fulfilled!

Many people go to church looking for something to agree with, instead of seeking to be taught by the Word that is shaper than any two-edged sword.

When you do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.

This is my favorite quote! I have it taped to my mirror in the bathroom, so that I see it every morning as I get started for the day. It goes very well with today’s FastBreak. I hope it lends value to your life!!

“This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day
to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. But what I do today is important
because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. So when tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever,
leaving in its place something I have traded for it. I want it to be gain and not loss; good and not evil; success and not failure, in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it.”

John C. Maxwell

I understand this is burning it’s way through Facebook, but I thought it was good enough to post anyway!

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossip, Mary was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sarah was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old and Lazarus was dead. Now….. what’s YOUR reason for thinking God won’t use you?

God CAN use you where you are…if you let him! 🙂

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards. -Soren Kierkegaard

The saddest words in the English language are “if only.” Zig Ziglar