What is invited in...

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."
"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.
"No", she replied. "He's out."
"Then we cannot come in", they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.
"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"
The woman went out and invited the men in.
"We do not go into a House together," they replied.
"Why is that?" she asked.
One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."
The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"
His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?" Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"
"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife.
"Go out and invite Love to be our guest."
The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."
Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"
The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success..."

The Giver's Big Hands

A young boy went to the local store with his mother. The shop owner, a kindly man, passed him a large jar of suckers and invited him to help himself to a handful. Uncharacteristically, the boy held back. So the shop owner pulled out a handful for him.
When outside, the boy's mother asked why he had suddenly been so shy and wouldn't take a handful of suckers when offered.
The boy replied, "Because his hand is much bigger than mine!"

What Cannot Be Done

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage-payer.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatreds.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could -- and should -- do for themselves.

- Abraham Lincoln

Refuse to be Discouraged

I refuse to be discouraged,
To be sad, or to cry;
I refuse to be downhearted,
And here's the reason why:

I have a God who's mighty-
Who's sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me,
And I am on His team.

He is all-wise and powerful-
Jehovah is His name;
Though everything is changeable,
My God remains the same.

My God knows all that's happening-
Beginning to the end;
His presence is my comfort;
He is my dearest Friend.

When sickness comes to weaken me-
To bring my head down low,
I call upon my mighty God;
Into His arms I go.

When circumstances threaten
To rob me of my peace,
He draws me close unto His breast
Where all my strivings cease.

When my heart melts within me,
And weakness takes control,
He gathers me into His arms-
He soothes my heart and soul.

The great "I AM" is with me-
My life is in His hand;
The "God of Jacob" is my hope;
It's in His strength I stand.

I refuse to be defeated-
My eyes are on my God;
He has promised to be with me
As through this life I trod.

I'm looking past all my circumstances
To Heaven's throne above;
My prayers have reached the heart of God-
I'm resting in His love.

I give God thanks in everything-
My eyes are on His face;
The battle's His, the vict'ry mine;
He'll help me win the race.

The 23rd Channel

The T V is my shepherd, I shall not want.
It makes me lie down on the sofa.
It leads me away from the faith.
It destroys my soul. It leads me in the
path of sex and violence for the sponsor's sake.
Yea, though I walk in the shadow of Christian
responsibilities, there will be no interruption
for the T V is with me.
Its cable and remote control, they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial
for me in the presence of my worldliness.
It anoints my head with humanism
and consumerism, my coveting runneth over;
Surely, laziness and ignorance shall follow me all
the days of my life and I shall dwell
in the house watching T V Forever..

God's Rainbow

The falling rain dissolves into mist
And the thunder begins to die
As the sporadic lightning fades
An arch of colours pours from the sky

Rainbow appears after mighty storms
When things look their worst
Just when the skies are darkest grey
Out of the heaven does the rainbow burst

God first sent the rainbow to Noah
As a sign that His word is true
The rainbow's eternal message
Still speaks to me and you

The rainbow is a sign of God's promise
That He will guide us through any storm
That He will ease all our troubles
No matter what their form

When you feel battered by life's storms
When you are filled with doubt and dismay
Just remember God's rainbow is coming
For its blessing your have only to pray.

Miracle

Sometimes we get discouraged
When thing don't turn out right,
We struggle so to work it out
With all of our fleshly might,
When we're backed up in a corner
And nothing's worked we've tried,
We know the only hope for us
Is a miracle from God
Friend, I don't know why it is
But this I surely know,
The miracle you need will come
When to Him you go
He'll work His will in perfect time
So that when you tell the story,
There'll be no doubt to all who hear
That the Lord gets all the glory

Darlen Blackmon

Heart Gifts

It's not the things that can be bought
that are life' richest treasure,
It's just the little "heart gifts"
that money cannot measure.

A cheerful smile, a friendly word,
a sympathetic nod
Are priceless little treasures
from the storehouse of our God...

They are the thing that cannot be bought with silver or with gold
For thoughtfulness and kindness
And love are never sold...

They are the pricelss thing in life for which no one can pay,
And the giver finds rich recompense in giving them away.

Helen Steiner Rice

What is Life?

Life is a challenge... Meet it.
Life is a gift... Accept it.
Life is an adventure... Dare it.
Life is a sorrow... Overcome it.
Life is a tragedy... Face it.
Life is a duty... Perform it.
Life is a game... Play it.
Life is a mystery... Unfold it.
Life is a song... Sing it.
Life is an opportunity... Take it.
Life is a journey... Complete it.
Life is a promise... Fulfill it.
Life is a beauty... Praise it.
Life is a struggle... Fight it.
Life is a goal... Achieve it.
Life is a puzzle... Solve it.
Life is a love... LOVE IT!

None Of These People Were Perfect and God Still Met Them Where They Were

Moses stuttered.
David's armour didn't fit.
John Mark was rejected by Paul.
Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
Amos' only training was in the School of fig-tree pruning...
Solomon was too rich.
Abraham was too old.
David was too young.
Timothy had ulcers.
Peter was afraid of death.
Lazarus was dead.
John was self-righteous.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a murderer,
So was Moses.
Jonah ran from God.
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah was burned out.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
Martha was a worry-wart.
Mary was lazy.
Samson had long hair.
Noah got drunk.
Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
so did Peter, Paul-
So hang in there...God still loves you… in fact He loves you so much He won't leave you the way you are.
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" - Philippians 1:6

Depends on the Hands

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19. A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million. It depends whose hands it's in
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6. A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million. It depends whose hands it's in
A tennis racket is useless in my hands. A tennis racket in Roger Federer's hands is a Wimbledon Championship. It depends whose hands it's in.
A rod in my hands will keep away a small, wild animal. A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea. It depends whose hands it's in.
A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy. A sling shot in David's hands is a mighty weapon. It depends whose hands it's in.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands. It depends whose hands they're in.
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse. Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world. It depends whose hands they're in
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because...
It depends whose hands they're in.

Seven Keys for Joyful Living

are some thoughts for finding and experiencing joy in your life.
Know your purpose. Nothing will bring you joy more than knowing what it is that you are about on this earth. Not knowing brings sadness, wondering, fear and lack of fulfillment. Above all, find out what your unique purpose is here on this earth - then fulfill it! As you do, you will experience joy!
Live purposefully. This is a follow up to number one. It is one thing to know your purpose, but then you need to live according to that purpose. This is a matter of priorities. Let your actions and schedule reflect your purpose. Don't react to circumstances and let them cause you to live without your purpose fully in sight. Living without your purpose will cause frustration. Living purposefully will bring you deep satisfaction and joy!
Stretch yourself. Don't settle into the status quo. That will leave you unfulfilled. Always look to stretch yourself. Whatever you are doing, stretch yourself to do more! Stretching yourself will break the limits you have set for yourself and will cause you to find joy in your expanded horizons!
Give more than you take. It brings happiness to accumulate. It brings joy to give away. Sure, getting the car you worked hard for will bring you a sense of satisfaction and even happiness. But it won't bring you joy. Giving something away to the less fortunate will bring you deep, abiding joy.
Surprise yourself, and others too. The words here are spontaneity and surprise! Every once in a while, do the unexpected. It will cause everybody to sit back and say, "Wow, where did that come from?" It will put a little joy in your life, and theirs.
Indulge yourself sometimes. Too much indulgence and you are caught in the happiness trap. Looking for the next purchase, celebration, etc. to bring you a little "happiness high." But if you will allow yourself an infrequent indulgence as a reward for a job well done and a life well lived, you will appreciate the indulgence and experience the joy of it.
Laugh a little - no, a lot! Most people are just too serious. We need to laugh a little - no, a lot! Learn to laugh daily, even if you have to learn to laugh in bad situations. This life is to be enjoyed! The next time you go to the movie rental store, get a comedy and let loose! Let yourself laugh!
Joy can be yours!

by Chris Widener

Love the Opportunity

Somebody said you have to love what you do, but that's not necessarily true. What is true is that you have to love the opportunity. The opportunity to build life, future, health, success and fortune. Knocking on someone's door may not be something you love to do, but you love the opportunity of what might be behind that door.
For example, a guy says, "I'm digging ditches. Should I love digging ditches?" The answer is, "No, you don't have to love digging ditches, but if it is your first entry onto the ladder of success, you say, 'I'm glad somebody gave me the opportunity to dig ditches and I'm going to do it so well, I won't be here long.'"
You can be inspired by having found something even though you are making mistakes in the beginning and even though it is a little distasteful taking on a new discipline that you haven't learned before. You don't have to love it, you just have to learn to appreciate America, appreciate opportunity and appreciate the person who brought you the good news; that found you.
Appreciate the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself, appreciate the person who said, "Hey, if I can do it, you can do it."
If you will embrace the disciplines associated with the new opportunity you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow, that you go from being a skeptic to being a believer. And soon when you go out person to person, talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world. Every person you meet - what could it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It's big time stuff. And sometimes in the beginning when we are just getting started we don't always see how big it is.
So, before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember all success is based on long term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude and a few stepping stones along the way. You might not like the stone you are on right now, but it's sure to be one of the stones that lead to great opportunities in the future.

by Jim Rohn

The Law of Correspondence

Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world; it corresponds with your dominant patterns of thinking.
This is an extraordinary principle. It explains most happiness and unhappiness, most success and failure, most greatness and meaninglessness in life. After years of study in this area, I still stand in awe before this powerful law, like standing and looking out over the vastness of the Grand Canyon.
Just think! Your outer world reflects your inner world in every way. Nothing can happen to or for you in the long term until and unless it corresponds to something inside of you. If you want to change or improve anything in your life, you must begin by changing the inner aspects of your mind.
Sometimes this is called the "mental equivalent." Your greatest responsibility in life is to create within yourself the mental equivalent of what you want to experience on the outside. The fact is that you cannot achieve it on the outside until you have first created it on the inside.
It is as though your life is a 360-degree mirror. Wherever you look, there you are. Your relationships for example, always reflect back to you the kind of person you are on the inside. Your attitude, your health and your material conditions are a reflection of the way you think most of the time.
This is hard for most people to accept. Most people think that the problems in their lives are caused by other people and circumstances. They are shocked and angered to be told that they are the primary architects of everything that happens to them. They want others to change. They want the world to change. But they do not want to change themselves.
The Law of Correspondence is a foundation principle of virtually all religions and schools of thought. It is really great news. It is the key to personal freedom and happiness. It is the high road to great success and fulfillment.
There is only one thing in the world that you can control, and that is the way you think. However, when you take complete control over your thinking, you take control over all the other aspects of your life. By thinking and talking only about what you want, and by refusing to think or talk about what you don't want, you become the architect of your own destiny.

by Brian Tracy

Distractions Kill Time

Distractions are the "little things" that undermine success. Like termites, most of them are small and unnoticed until, after a while, they have undone us.
Distractions "kill time." Common examples are unscheduled or poorly managed errands, watching TV to "relax," and crises that erupt because of poor planning or lack of preparation. Distractions are all the little frustrations, irritations and annoyances that rob us of joy and waste our time. They are the result of poor management, and like a poorly managed business, the cost mounts up over time.
High achievers to do not tolerate distractions! Most people believe, "That's how life is, there's nothing I can do about it." Highly successful people, however, know that an investment in getting organized, learning to say "NO!" to distractions, and setting clear boundaries in their lives, will pay rich dividends for years to come.
Time is your most valuable resource, and one that to a remarkable degree is yours to invest exactly as you choose. You don't need a broker, an agent, or a license to manage your days. All that is required are focus, discipline and desire! Someone has wisely said that, "How we spend our days, is how we spend our lives." Invest well, and reap the profits every day of your life!

by Phil Humbert

Today (edited)

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can grumble about my health ... or I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can whine because I have to go to work ... or I can rejoice that I have a job to go to.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy ... or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework ... or I can appreciate that I have a place to call home.
Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped ... and may God help me to shape it correctly.
Have a GREAT DAY ... unless you have other plans... and I hope you only have plans for a GREAT DAY!

- Author Unknown

He Had a Year To Do It In

He had a year to do it in,
So brushed the thought away:
A chap with half his energy
Might do it in a day.
A year...? ‘Twas too ridiculous,
As everyone should find;
However, he would get it done,
And have it off his mind.

But not today. A few months hence
Would suit him better still.
Meanwhile, a far less irksome job
Might occupy his skill.
He would not let the matter pass
Entirely from him ... no;
And doubtless he might take it up,
In...say...a month or so.

He had six months to do it in,
For six long months had flown,
Well, why should that alarm a chap
With vigour like his own?
The job, whence once embarked upon
Would soon be rattled through;
However, he would think of it
In ... say, a week or two.

He had three months to do it in:
“Oh bother,” was his cry,
“This thing hangs on me like a weight
Each day that passes by.
Let’s see ... three months ... ah. That’s enough,
But just to clear the doubt
I’ll make arrangements for a start,
Before the month is out.”

He had a week to do it in,
And care was in his glance:
“It’s hard,” he cried, “that flight of time
Won’t give a chap a chance!”
He still delayed; the swift week passed,
As weeks will ever run,
And though a year was given him,
The task was still undone!

- Anonymous

Our Debt

All of us are in debt...We are indebted to our parents because they were responsible for bringing us into the world. Next, we're indebted to the doctors, nurses, aides, orderlies, and other hospital personnel for the parts they played in making our arrival a safe and healthy one.
We're indebted to the educational structure where we learned reading, writing and arithmetic, which are critical to our lives...
We are in debt to all the pastors, priests and rabbis who taught us the essence of life by instructing us in the character qualities that are important to us, regardless of our chosen field of endeavor--athletics, medicine, education, business, or government.
We certainly owe a debt to people whose messages have been encouraging as well as informative and instructional. We are deeply in debt to public servants who commit their lives to service through appointed or elected offices...
The list is endless...We have a heavy debt, and one way to repay that debt is to regularly express thanks and gratitude to the men and women who make our lives worth living...Thank a lot of people, and you will accumulate many friends and enjoy life more.

by Zig Ziglar

The Ant Philosophy

Over the years I've been teaching kids about a simple but powerful concept - the ant philosophy. I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy, and here is the first part: ants never quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they'll look for another way. They'll climb over, they'll climb under, they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go.
Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important perspective. You can't be so naive as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering in their winter food in the middle of summer.
An ancient story says, "Don't build your house on the sand in the summer." Why do we need that advice? Because it is important to be realistic. In the summer, you've got to think storm. You've got to think rocks as you enjoy the sand and sun. Think ahead.
The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long; we'll soon be out of here." And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can't wait to get out. And here's the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All that he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-that-you-possibly-can" philosophy.
Wow, what a great seminar to attend - the ant seminar. Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.

by Jim Rohn

The Best Insurance Policy?

My friend, author and speaker Alan Proctor, says, "Many people insist on waiting for someone to do for them before they take a similar action for the benefit of the other person." Alan then teaches, "But wouldn't doing something for them first increase the chances of that goodwill being returned?"
Absolutely. In fact that's one of those immutable laws of life that successful people understand and embrace. And one of the most effective ways of working with this law is what I call the "Thank You In Advance." It may be the best insurance policy you can buy, and it doesn't cost even one cent to purchase.
Thank people "before" they do something for you.
"I really appreciate your taking the time to..." This is great insurance that they'll make the time to do whatever you want done. I learned years ago while listening to a tape by Zig Ziglar that a tip to a waitperson used to be paid "before" the meal was even served. The word "tip", t- i-p, actually meant "to insure promptness."
Insurance, right? Or extortion, depending upon how you look at it. :-). I prefer insurance.
An example of a proper time to thank someone is "before" they start on the assignment, task or whatever. "Thank you Mary - I know you're going to do your typically excellent job." Maybe, when talking to your prospect on the telephone, "before" you launch into your reason for calling. "Mr. Smith, thank you for taking a quick moment to speak with me - I realize you're very busy." Or, the hotel manager you need to inform about a particular challenge with the hotel: "Ms. Jackson, I appreciate your helping me with this unfortunate situation."
And, the mechanic who's about to work on your car: "Mr. Davis, thank you in advance for fixing this thing. Wow, do I depend on you to keep this car working right!"
Will thanking a person in advance ever not work? Of course, because people are people and not everyone will be responsive the first time. Then you might have to use some of the other WINNING WITHOUT INTIMIDATION principles and strategies we discuss every week. The fact is, though, it works much more often than not, and over time you'll find this to be both a very pleasant and very effective way of working effectively with others.
One very important point: This must be done with sincerity. Otherwise, it'll come off as manipulative or overbearing. Just reflect for a moment about what you're most grateful for with this person, go with that feeling, and say "thank you"...in advance.

by Bob Burg

The Weed Garden

Once there was a man who owned a small plot of ground. One day he said to himself what shall I do with this land, why let it stand idle? He decided I will plant a garden and I will be diligent and work hard and when harvest comes the land will yield a great portion of fruit. So he sowed some seed and watered and worked the piece of land.
Eventually one day it began to grow, the man was so excited. He was encouraged to work all the harder. Every day he went into the field planting, watering, pruning and chasing away the birds and animals that would devour his work.
As time went on sometimes he would be discouraged. He would look at his garden and think to himself "for all the labour I do the growth looks so sparse". Still he continued to do his job, because that's what you do with a garden. One day he looked in his garden and he saw a small healthy looking plant he had not seen before. It was a small weed. Soon the weed grew and multiplied. The man went to his garden and he was amazed at the growth and strength of this plant. It seemed to do all that you would want a plant to do and it required no help.
The man began to watch its growth every day with a new fever of enthusiasm. Every morning he would race to his field and see the progress. "Wow!" he thought, "Yesterday there was a few and now there are many." Day after day the garden looked fuller and fuller. He stopped worrying about the labour he used to do "I've worked long enough" he thought "Now it's time to see some real growth." Sometimes he would take a walk and see his neighbour’s gardens. "Ha, they look so small. If they had half the gardening sense I do they'd really have something going." Finally in time the big day came. It was time for harvest. The man went to his garden to gather his rewards. There it was a beautiful field of green. All those old weak plants he used to work with were long since gone. He thought "well let's get with it."
He went to his plants and began to examine each one closely. Hmm no fruit on the leaves, hmm no fruit on the stock. Let's pull one up and see what's there. He dug, and tugged and pulled. Out it came, he looked at the roots, nothing there either. He stopped and sat a minute. "What's happening" he thought. Then in shock he realized his plight, "They bear no fruit!" For all their growth, the weeds were worthless. He lamented "They looked so great, Oh how they grew and flourished all season".
The man sat and moaned, what could he now do, harvest was over.

Receive It?

My one and a half year old daughter has picked up a new phrase "I can't" which really means I won't. Often times in our lives we are called upon by the Lord to display a commitment that doesn't say I can't but how can I? I read this story in our local newspaper a few years ago. In the seaside town of Provincetown, MA, on Cape Cod a man and his wife were sitting on their porch over looking the ocean when the man noticed a disturbance in the water just a few feet from their house. At first he assumed it was a school of blues that had travelled to close to shore and were in a feeding frenzy. But upon closer examination he noticed it was actually one large fish, a shark perhaps, since they are not uncommon in these waters. But as he stared he made out the distinct shape of a large Tuna with it's characteristic forked tail. Knowing that these fish weigh hundreds of pounds and can fetch thousands of dollars, he wondered how he might catch it. He returned to his porch and found an old rope from a lobster pot. He fashioned the rope into a lasso and set out for the water. On his second attempt he was able to throw the lasso around the forked tail of the Tuna and drag it into shore. A few phone calls later and the fish was off to market. How diligently we seize the opportunities that God sends our way in large amount will determine what we accomplish while on this earth and what praise we will receive from His lips in heaven. (source unknown)

Discipline

We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically has disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not "disciplined"?

A.W. Tozer in Men Who Met God

Concentration

Lanny Bassham, Olympic gold-medalist in small-bore rifle competition, tells what concentration does for his marksmanship: "Our sport is controlled nonmovement. We are shooting from 50 metres - over half a football field - at a bull's eye three-quarters the size of a dime. If the angle of error at the point of the barrel is more than .005 of a millimeter (that is five one-thousandths), you drop into the next circle and lose a point. So we have to learn how to make everything stop. I stop my breathing. I stop my digestion by not eating for 12 hours before the competition. I train by running to keep my pulse around 60, so I have a full second between beats - I have gotten it lower, but found that the stroke-volume increased so much that each beat really jolted me. You do all of this and you have the technical control. But you have to have some years of experience in reading conditions: the wind, the mirage. Then you have the other 80% of the problems - the mind.

Sports Illustrated, August 2, 1976, pp. 31-35

Price of Undiscipline

Coleridge is the supreme example of tragedy of indiscipline. Never did so great a mind produce so little. He left Cambridge University to join the army; he left the army because he could not rub down a horse; he returned to Oxford and left without a degree. He began a paper called "The Watchman" which lived for ten numbers and then died. It has been said of him, "he lost himself in visions of work to be done, that always remained to be done. Coleridge had every poetic gift but one--the gift of sustained and concentrated effort." In his head and in his mind he had all kinds of books, as he said, "completed save for transcription." But the books were never composed outside of Coleridge's mind, because he would not face the discipline of sitting down to write them out. No one ever reached any eminence, and no one having reached it ever maintained it, without discipline.

Wm. Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, p. 280

No Loose Strings

We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically has disappeared.
What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not "disciplined"?

- A.W. Tozer in Men Who Met God

Practice

When Polish pianist Ignace Jan Paderewsky played before Queen Victoria, he won her enthusiastic approval. "Mr. Paderewsky," she exclaimed, "you are a genius."
Paderewsky shook his head. "Perhaps, Your Majesty, but before that I was a drudge," he replied, alluding to the number of hours he spent practicing every day.

Disciplines

If you aren't practicing, someone else is. In the 1880s a young man who was an earnest Christian found employment in a pawnshop. Although he disliked the work, he did it faithfully "as unto the Lord" until a more desirable opportunity opened for him. To prepare himself for a life of Christian service, he wrote on a scrap of paper the following resolutions: "I do promise God that I will rise early every morning to have a few minutes--not less than five--in private prayer. I will endeavor to conduct myself as a humble, meek, and zealous follower of Jesus, and by serious witness and warning I will try to lead others to think of the needs of their immortal souls. I hereby vow to read no less than four chapters in God's Word every day. I will cultivate a spirit of self-denial and will yield myself a prisoner of love to the Redeemer of the world." That young man was William Booth, who later led thousands to Christ and founded the Salvation Army.

The Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.
But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway. Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes."

Things We'll Never Understand

Did you ever wonder why? Some comedian has said:
You tell a man there's 400 billion stars and he'll believe you, but tell him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it? Why?
Why is it called a hamburger when it's made out of beef? Why do you put suits in garment bags and put garments in suitcases? Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle? Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
Why do they lock gas station bathrooms -- are they afraid someone is going to sneak in there and clean them?
If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes? Why are there five syllables in the word monosyllabic? When two airplanes almost collide, why do they call it a near miss -- it sounds like a near hit to me?
Why do banks charge you a non-sufficient funds fee on money they know you don't have? Why do you drive in a parkway and park in a driveway? Why are they called apartments when they're stuck together? Why are they called buildings when they are already finished? Shouldn't we call them builts? If the black box flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of that stuff?
Why? Probably the most asked and least-answered question in the English language.
At human birth the brain weighs, on average, 14 ounces. It usually reaches its maximum size at age 15 (proving the size of the brain has nothing to do with intelligence level). At its maximum size, the brain weighs an average of 46 ounces, slightly less than three pounds. In liquid measurement, that's about a big gulp from the soda machine at the local gas station. There is no way for medical professionals to prove this, but the old theory was that we only used about 10 percent of our brain capacity. If that were true and we only start out with a big gulp in the first place, we're down to about a quarter-pounder with cheese by the time we're done. And we think that with our quarter-pounder with cheese, we're going to comprehend the infinite, decipher the mysteries of the millenniums, we're going to answer all the questions? Right!
Isn't it logically impossible that we as finite creatures could ever fully understand the infinite?

Taking a Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken.
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
If you risk nothing and do nothing, you dull your spirit.
You may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But you cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, and live.
Chained by your attitude, you are a slave.
You have forfeited your freedom.
Only if you risk are you free.