Last year on Christmas, I got this little quote calendar that had one quote for every day of the year. I read every single one. And out of 365 quotes, I found 12 that I loved enough to put up on my wall as a reminder. I want to share those with you. A little disclaimer before I begin: just because I like the quotes doesn't mean I agree with the general stance of the author. I like these quotes for what they say not who said them.
"If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then you are an excellent leader." -Dolly Parton
"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile." -Vince Lombardi
"People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision" -John Maxwell
"Change is the law of the land. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future." -John F. Kennedy
"Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." -Jack Welch
"Example, whether good or bad, has a powerful influence" -George Washington
"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others." -Bill Gates
"Pessimism never won any battle." -Dwight Eisenhower
"We cannot be reluctant to lead, and you cannot lead from behind." -Condoleezza Rice
"Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground." -Theodore Roosevelt
"Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders." -Tom Peters
"I never dreamed about success, I worked for it." -Estee Lauder
I hope you guys have a great week! Never forget that no matter who you are or where you are in life, you are loved.
Monday, January 27, 2020
Monday, January 20, 2020
A Powerful Story
Betrayed.
Over and over again he was betrayed. How is it that he still became the most powerful man in the country?
Beyond the pain we can image this man experienced hurt from those around him. How did he still forgive everyone?
Loved.
With the same love you and I are. A love that none of us can escape. A love that transforms the evil in our lives. How could we ever doubt it?
This is the life of Joseph.
His story is well known. Reading it, how could we ever think that God had abandoned us? How could we believe we are alone? How could we question the power of His love for us? You’ve probably heard the story of Joseph told multiple times in different ways. But I encourage you to go read it again. This time when you read it, put yourself in his shoes. See his struggles like your own. Take everything your feeling, and imagine what his emotions are. This powerful story should change us and give us an example of a faithful Christian to model our life after.
It’s found in Genesis 37-46. There are so many things I love about this Bible story, and I want to take a moment to unpack some of them.
I have always wanted to be respected, so I always look at those who I respect and model my life after them. And Joseph is a perfect picture of integrity, of being so respected and trusted that he was given the reins of the country. That’s what I want my life to look like (don’t worry, I’m not aiming for world domination, I just want to live a respectable life). There are a few lessons to be learned here just regarding how we relate to others.
First, hard work is treasured. Everywhere Joseph went, he rose to the top because he worked hard. Look around you. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of people who are actually willing to work hard, especially when no one is watching. Hard work has always and will always stand out to people.
Second, patience pays off. Can you imagine how much patience Joseph had to have? He patiently worked his way up the ladder at Potiphar’s house, patiently stood against temptation, patiently waited for years in the dungeon, even after he helped interpret dreams. He waited. Don’t give up because you never know what is ahead. People will hold you in high regard if you can demonstrate patience.
Third, humility is huge. Some scholars suggest that Joseph was arrogant because he was the favored child, that’s why his siblings were jealous and sold him. If so, humility definitely would have helped him as a child. But later on, his humility kept him from being corrupted by the power he was handed. Lord Acton is famous for saying that, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Well, Joseph was handed basically absolute power, and he remained humble. You can’t let good favor get to your head, nobody likes an entitled person.
That’s just the things we can learn about becoming successful/respected. The integrity of this man was amazing. But his hope and faith in the darkest of times is even more inspiring to me. On an emotional level, this is a great story as well.
This story is tied together by a powerful theme: love. God’s never ending, deep, powerful love. God loved Joseph and never left him alone in all the trials. Joseph was completely in the dark. He had no clue that one day he would save Egypt. Life probably felt very hopeless at times. He persevered, but didn’t know where he was headed. Can you relate? Yeah, me too. But what people mean for evil, God works for our good. Because He loves us. And when we are in the dark, He is our light. Joseph knew that. When he stood face to face with his brothers again, it all clicked and he praised God for the outcome. But even when nothing made sense and Joseph couldn’t see the big picture, he praised God. Why? Because he knew that God was faithful, holy, loving, and had a plan.
God is doing something in your life. And I know it’s hard to see it sometimes, I know that life feels pretty hopeless, I know you have felt alone and unloved. But you are a child of the King. Look to people like Joseph and other Christian role models for hope. Then straighten your crown and start living like you are priceless. Because there has never been a day when your God has not loved you and been with you. Like Joseph, you too can persevere.
Blessed, favored, loved, he remained humble. Stuck in prison with no news about his fate, he stayed faithful. Faced with hardships and setbacks, he continued to work hard. When temptation hit hard, he kept his integrity. When those around him meant evil against him, he praised God for His love.
There are only a handful of people with this kind of character. They will be rewarded, here on earth and in heaven. Are you among them?
Over and over again he was betrayed. How is it that he still became the most powerful man in the country?
Hurt.
Beyond the pain we can image this man experienced hurt from those around him. How did he still forgive everyone?
Loved.
With the same love you and I are. A love that none of us can escape. A love that transforms the evil in our lives. How could we ever doubt it?
This is the life of Joseph.
His story is well known. Reading it, how could we ever think that God had abandoned us? How could we believe we are alone? How could we question the power of His love for us? You’ve probably heard the story of Joseph told multiple times in different ways. But I encourage you to go read it again. This time when you read it, put yourself in his shoes. See his struggles like your own. Take everything your feeling, and imagine what his emotions are. This powerful story should change us and give us an example of a faithful Christian to model our life after.
It’s found in Genesis 37-46. There are so many things I love about this Bible story, and I want to take a moment to unpack some of them.
I have always wanted to be respected, so I always look at those who I respect and model my life after them. And Joseph is a perfect picture of integrity, of being so respected and trusted that he was given the reins of the country. That’s what I want my life to look like (don’t worry, I’m not aiming for world domination, I just want to live a respectable life). There are a few lessons to be learned here just regarding how we relate to others.
First, hard work is treasured. Everywhere Joseph went, he rose to the top because he worked hard. Look around you. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of people who are actually willing to work hard, especially when no one is watching. Hard work has always and will always stand out to people.
Second, patience pays off. Can you imagine how much patience Joseph had to have? He patiently worked his way up the ladder at Potiphar’s house, patiently stood against temptation, patiently waited for years in the dungeon, even after he helped interpret dreams. He waited. Don’t give up because you never know what is ahead. People will hold you in high regard if you can demonstrate patience.
Third, humility is huge. Some scholars suggest that Joseph was arrogant because he was the favored child, that’s why his siblings were jealous and sold him. If so, humility definitely would have helped him as a child. But later on, his humility kept him from being corrupted by the power he was handed. Lord Acton is famous for saying that, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Well, Joseph was handed basically absolute power, and he remained humble. You can’t let good favor get to your head, nobody likes an entitled person.
That’s just the things we can learn about becoming successful/respected. The integrity of this man was amazing. But his hope and faith in the darkest of times is even more inspiring to me. On an emotional level, this is a great story as well.
I think to some extent, we have all experienced betrayal. Joseph went through it so many times. His siblings sold him, his boss put him in jail, his friend forgot to mention his name to Pharaoh for two years. He probably wondered who he could trust, felt like everyone had turned their back on him. People hold a lot of power in our lives. We care about what they think and say and do toward us. They can hurt us very easily and very deeply. Joseph experienced that. So have you. What is your response? Everyone around Joseph saw that he had favor in the Lord’s sight. I believe that means that Joseph praised God for what he was given and reflected Him through his life. He remained a man of God, and people saw that. So when you are faced with people problems or your friends have hurt you deeply, reflect Christ. Stand firm in Him. And you will find favor in His sight.
This story is tied together by a powerful theme: love. God’s never ending, deep, powerful love. God loved Joseph and never left him alone in all the trials. Joseph was completely in the dark. He had no clue that one day he would save Egypt. Life probably felt very hopeless at times. He persevered, but didn’t know where he was headed. Can you relate? Yeah, me too. But what people mean for evil, God works for our good. Because He loves us. And when we are in the dark, He is our light. Joseph knew that. When he stood face to face with his brothers again, it all clicked and he praised God for the outcome. But even when nothing made sense and Joseph couldn’t see the big picture, he praised God. Why? Because he knew that God was faithful, holy, loving, and had a plan.
God is doing something in your life. And I know it’s hard to see it sometimes, I know that life feels pretty hopeless, I know you have felt alone and unloved. But you are a child of the King. Look to people like Joseph and other Christian role models for hope. Then straighten your crown and start living like you are priceless. Because there has never been a day when your God has not loved you and been with you. Like Joseph, you too can persevere.
Blessed, favored, loved, he remained humble. Stuck in prison with no news about his fate, he stayed faithful. Faced with hardships and setbacks, he continued to work hard. When temptation hit hard, he kept his integrity. When those around him meant evil against him, he praised God for His love.
There are only a handful of people with this kind of character. They will be rewarded, here on earth and in heaven. Are you among them?
Monday, January 13, 2020
A new country
For the last week, I have been on my “senior trip” to Europe. A trip is very different than a vacation. Vacations are about relaxing and trips (especially homeschool trips to foreign countries) are about seeing the culture, learning the history, and walking around the city as much as possible. It’s a lot of fun and it provides a lot of new experiences. I thought I’d do something much different this week and just write about some things I’ve learned from travelling. I don’t travel a lot and rarely go out of the U.S., so I’m far from an expert. But I noticed a few things and found some tips to remember for travelling.
Seek to enjoy every moment. When you’ve just walked for thirty minutes in the freezing cold and gotten lost twice and haven’t eaten all day, it’s really hard to find joy. But I promise, if you look closely you can find it. This applies to everything in life. Trials will hit, it won’t always be a vacation with sunshine and rainbows. And when your feet hurt from moving forward, sometimes it’s easy to see all the negatives and feels impossible to take another step. So find a reason to smile. Think of what God has given you and find joy in that.
Plan ahead. This should go without saying, but unfortunately it doesn’t always. Research the place/country you’re going and decide what you want to do. Don’t procrastinate!!!! Book a place to stay, learn about the best restaurants, look into the benefits of renting a car or using taxis. Maybe even learn some of the language, because that’s helpful. Also, just fyi, not every country has wall outlets like America…..if you want to charge a phone you may have to bring your own adapter. I figured that out the hard way.
Always be confident. I’ve talked about confidence before, but it really gives you a lot of power. Confidence will help protect you from swindlers, communicate despite language barriers, and keep you from second guessing everything about your trip. Keep your chin held high and if you’ve made a decision that you believe is right and is the best for you, stick to it. A little confidence goes a long way, in life and in other countries.
Immerse yourself in the culture. Don’t go to Burger King if you’re in a foreign country, try new things, ask the locals questions and enjoy what their city has to offer. Try new stuff, branch out, and experience as much of the place as you can. While you’re there, you may as well enjoy as much of the culture as you can.
Never judge a book by its cover. Octopus doesn’t look good, neither does shark. But they both taste good! So don’t judge things or people based off what they look like, appearances aren’t everything. People in other places have their own lives and their own struggles, it’s easy to forget that. Since you don’t know what people are going through, never give up an opportunity to share a smile, lend a hand, or spread joy in some way. Bless people even when it looks like they don’t need it.
We went to Madrid, Burgos, and San Sebastian, Spain. It is a cool country with really nice people. Everything about this trip has reminded me of Proverbs 16:9 “the mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.” Things rarely go according to plan, we just have to learn to glorify God through all of it and find joy in every moment.
Monday, January 6, 2020
1 step forward....2 steps back
can you relate to that phrase?
striving, working, longing to move forward only to realize how far backward you've gone? putting all your effort into moving just to feel stuck in a negative cycle? it is frustrating. it is discouraging. and it can make life seem hopeless.
i've been there. i think at some point, we all have.
i'm told that God works all things for the good of those that love Him, but there are times i can't see that. i have too many questions. too many times i have asked "why God?" and waited for an answer that never came. how is this for my good? how does this glorify you? do i not love you enough?
and every time i think i find the answer, my life is shaken again and i'm back where i started. no, i'm further back than when i started.
in the grand scheme of things, maybe i'm moving forward, but when i look back i'm not seeing the progress. just a mess. if life is just this constant fight to move forward that results in this feeling of going backwards, what is my reason for continuing the battle? where do i look for that reason? right now i'm looking back and it's not giving me a reason to move forward. is another day really another victory? or just another opportunity to lose a battle? we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, and maybe we fear no evil but it is still a hard road. what keeps us going?
have you ever sought answers and just found more questions? questions that make you doubt everything? we know we aren’t supposed to know it all of make sense out of our world or struggles, we know answers wont fix the pain, but we still want to understand. sometimes, we are drowning in too many questions to see the ultimate answer that we already have. we want the big picture, we want to feel like we are moving forward, or at least not moving backwards. that helpless feeling of going nowhere leads to desperation and in desperation we will run to everything and anything for a solution. when God doesn’t give us the solution we want we fill out life with sin that we think will satisfy. then later, we look back at our life and realize that the feeling of moving backward led to actually moving backward. interesting, isn’t it? the mindset of moving backwards results in moving backwards. what if we just trusted? what if we just had faith that we were moving forward and kept trying?
instead of letting ourselves feel stuck, lets focus on moving forward and hope that we are making progress. now i’m not advocating for some crazy blind trust fall or insane leap of faith or an unfounded hope that you are ok even if you aren’t. if you are not pursuing Christ, there is a reason you feel like you are moving in the wrong direction. i ask that we use Gods word as a light for our path, that we keep walking the narrow road, trying to make it through the valley of the shadow of death. follow God’s commands even when it feels like you are only going in circles and being drowned with doubts. even the faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, so let that little faith you have left displace the doubts. keep walking. keep your mind on Christ. keep taking a step forward even when it feels hopeless.
Authors note: That was probably a mess. My apologies for that. My thoughts were scattered this week and it was very busy, I wanted to write though, so here you are. Thanks for sticking around! Love you!
striving, working, longing to move forward only to realize how far backward you've gone? putting all your effort into moving just to feel stuck in a negative cycle? it is frustrating. it is discouraging. and it can make life seem hopeless.
i've been there. i think at some point, we all have.
i'm told that God works all things for the good of those that love Him, but there are times i can't see that. i have too many questions. too many times i have asked "why God?" and waited for an answer that never came. how is this for my good? how does this glorify you? do i not love you enough?
and every time i think i find the answer, my life is shaken again and i'm back where i started. no, i'm further back than when i started.
in the grand scheme of things, maybe i'm moving forward, but when i look back i'm not seeing the progress. just a mess. if life is just this constant fight to move forward that results in this feeling of going backwards, what is my reason for continuing the battle? where do i look for that reason? right now i'm looking back and it's not giving me a reason to move forward. is another day really another victory? or just another opportunity to lose a battle? we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, and maybe we fear no evil but it is still a hard road. what keeps us going?
have you ever sought answers and just found more questions? questions that make you doubt everything? we know we aren’t supposed to know it all of make sense out of our world or struggles, we know answers wont fix the pain, but we still want to understand. sometimes, we are drowning in too many questions to see the ultimate answer that we already have. we want the big picture, we want to feel like we are moving forward, or at least not moving backwards. that helpless feeling of going nowhere leads to desperation and in desperation we will run to everything and anything for a solution. when God doesn’t give us the solution we want we fill out life with sin that we think will satisfy. then later, we look back at our life and realize that the feeling of moving backward led to actually moving backward. interesting, isn’t it? the mindset of moving backwards results in moving backwards. what if we just trusted? what if we just had faith that we were moving forward and kept trying?
so what keeps me going when every day just feels like another chance at defeat? what is our ultimate answer? God loves us. He has a plan for us. He promises to guide us and walk beside us. and when life seems impossible, we are told we can do all things through Christ.
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