AN ENEMY

CALLED
AVERAGE

JOHN L. MASON
(UPDATED VERSION)

WARNING: TRUTHS IN THIS BOOK CAN BE

HAZARDOUS TO AREAS OF MEDIOCRITY IN
YOUR LIFE
INTRODUCTION:

Mediocrity is a region bound on the north by compromise

on the south by indecision, on the east by past thinking, and
on the west by a lack of vision.

One morning as I woke up, the first thought that came to

m y m ind before m y feet hit the floor w as the phrase “ an
enem y called average.” A t that m om ent, I knew that G od
had given me the title for the book that had been stirring
within me for so long.

The purpose of this book is to address areas in your life

that need improvement and to stir up the God-given gifts
and call within you. People have been endowed with
mixture of opportunities that makes them unique. No
mixture is insignificant. There is something that God has
place within each of us that causes us to cry out to be
above average and extraordinary.
In G enesis 3:9, G od asks A dam , “ W here are you?” H e is
still asking that question of each of us today. Where are we
in regard to G od‟s plan “for our lives? W here are w e
concerning the gifts and talents He has given us?

It is my prayer that as you read this book, you will allow

the H oly Spirit to reveal G od „s plan for you and to inform,
exhort and correct you so that you will bound past every
area of mediocrity and find total fulfillment in your life.
PART 1

LOOKING
INWARD
NUGGET #1

YOUR LEAST FOVOURITE COLOR SHOULD

BE BIEGE

Never try to defend your present position and situation. Choose to

be a person who is on the offensive, not the defensive. People who
live defensively never rise above being average. Instead take the
initiative. Lukewarm, indecisive people are never secure,
regardless of their wealth, education or position.

D o n ‟t ever let yo u r request for balance become an excuse for not

taking the unique, radical, invading move that God has directed
you to take. Many times the attempt to maintain balance in life is
really just an excuse for being lukewarm, In Joshua 1:6-7,9, the
L o rd sa ys th ree tim es to Jo sh u a , “ B e stro n g a n d co u ra g eo u s, “ I
believe that He is saying the same thing to all believers today.
When you choose to be on the offensive, the atmosphere of your
life will begin to chang e. S o if yo u d o n ‟t like th e a tm o sp h ere o f
your life, choose to take the offensive position. Taking the offensive
is not just an action outside a person: it is also a decision made
within.
When you do choose to be on the offensive, keep all your conflicts
impersonal. Fight the issue, not the person. Speak about what God
in you can do, not what others are incapable of doing. You will
find that when all of your reasons are offensive, you cause
almost never succeeds.

Being on the offensive and taking the initiative are master keys that
open the doors of opportunity in your life. Learn to create a habit
of taking the initiative, and d on ‟t ever sta rt your day in neutral.
Every morning when you feet hit the floor, you should be thinking
of the offensive, taking con tro l o f you r d a y a nd yo u r life. D o n ‟t
become like some people who lose an hour in the morning and
spend the rest of the day trying to recover it.
By pulling back and being defensive, you usually enhance the
problem. Intimidation always precedes defeat. If you are not sure
which way to go, pray and then move toward the situation if faith.

Be like the two fishermen who got trapped in a storm in the middle
o f a lake. O n e tu rn ed to th e o th er a n d a sked , “ S ho u ld we pray or
should w e ro w ? ” H is w ise co m p a n io n resp o n d ed , “ L et‟s d o b o th !”

T h a t‟s ta king th e offensive.

NUGGET #2

THE ONLY PLACE TO START IS WHERE

YOU ARE

Start with what you h a ve, n o t w h it w h a t yo u d o n ‟t h a ve.

Opportunity is always where you are never where you were. To
get anywhere you must launch out for somewhere, or you will get
n o w h ere. H a m ilto n M a b ie sa id , “ T h e qu estio n fo r ea ch m a n to
settle is not what he would do if he had the means, time, influence,
and education advantages, but what he will do with the things he
h a s..” G o d will always give us an ability to create what we need
from something that is already here.

Each person tends to either underrate or overrate that which they

d o n o t p o ssess. E d H o w e, “ P eo p le a re a lw a ys n eg lectin g
something they can do and trying to do someth in g th ey ca n ‟t do .” I
a g ree w ith T ed d y R o o sevelt w h en h e sa id , “ D o w h a t yo u ca n , w ith
w h a t yo u h a ve, w h ere yo u a re.” T h e o n ly w a y to lea rn a n yth in g
thoroughly is by starting at the bottom (except when learning how
to swim.) To be successful, do what you can.
K en K eys Jr. sa id , “ T o b e u p set o ver w h a t yo u d o n ‟t h a ve is to
w a ste w h a t yo u d o h a ve” . T h e tru th is tha t m a n y are successful
b eca u se th ey d id n ‟t h a ve th e a d van ta g es o th ers h a d . Successful
people accomplish more that others because they go ahead and to
it before they are ready.”

E p icu ru s sa id , “ D o n o t sp oil w h a t yo u h a ve b y desiring by what

you have not; but remember that what you now have was once
a m o n g th e th in g s on ly h op ed fo r.” H en ri A m iel ob served , “ A lm ost
everyth in g co m es from a lm ost n oth in g .”

No improvement is as certain as that which proceeds from the

right and timely use of what you already have. Mike Murdock said,
“ W h a tever G o d h a s a lrea d y g iven to yo u w ill crea te a n yth in g else.
H e h a s p ro m ised to yo u .” Everyone who has arrived had to begin
where they were.

T h e tru th is yo u ca n ‟t kn o w w ha t yo u can do un til yo u try. T h e

most important thing about reaching your dream is starting right
where you are. Edward Hail said,” I ca n no t do everything, but I
still can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will
n o t refu se to d o th e so m eth in g I ca n d o .”
“ N O L O N G E R , F O R W A R D N O R , B E H IN D
I LOOK IN HOPE OR FEAR;
BUT GRATEFUL, BUT TAKE THE GOOD I FIND,
T H E B E ST O F N O W A N D H E R E ”

(John Greenleaf Whittier)

NUGGET #3

GROWTH COMES FROM BUILDING ON

TALENTS, GIFTS, AND STRENGTHS NOT
BY SOLVING PROBLEMS

One of the most neglected areas in many lives is the gift that God
has placed within them. It is amazing how some people can devote
their entire life to a field of endeavor or a profession that has
nothing do with their inborn talents. In fact, many people spend
their lifetime trying to change how God has made them. They
ignore their God-given abilities while constantly seeking to change
their natural makeup. As children of God, we need to recognize
our innate fits, talents and strengths and do everything in our
power to build on them.

O n e g o o d th in g ab o u t G o d ‟s fits a n d ca llin g is th a t th ey a re
permanent and enduring. Romans 11:29 sa ys, “ T h e gifts and
calling of God are without repentance. The Greek word translated
repentance in this verse means irrevocable. God does not take
away His gifts and calling in your life. E ven if you ‟ve n ever d on e
anything with the, even if you „ve failed time and time again,
G od ‟s fits a n d ca llin g a re still resident within you. They are there
this day, and you can choose to do something with them, beginning
right now.

C ritics a n d ta len ts a re rea lly G o d ‟s d ep o sits in o u r p erso n a l

accounts, but we determine the interest on the. The greater the
amount of interest and attention we give to the, the greater their
value becomes. G od ‟s g ifts a re n ever loa n s; th ey a re a lw a ys
deposits. As such, they are never used up or depleted. In fact, the
more they are used, the greater, stronger, and more valuable they
become. When they are put to good use, they provide information,
insight, and revelation that cannot be received in any other way or
from any other source.

As Christians we need to make full use of all the gifts and talents
that God has bestowed upon us so that we do not abound in one
area while becoming bankrupt in another. There is a saying, “ If
the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to treat everything
like a na il.” D o n ‟t m ake th at mistake; use all of the gifts God has
given you. If you choose not to step out and make maximum use of
the gifts and talents in your life, you will spend your day on this
earth helping others reach their goals. Most people let others
co n tro l th eir d estin y. D o n ‟t a llo w an yo n e to take o ver th e d river‟s
seat in your life. Fulfill your own dreams and determine you own
life‟s co u rse.

Never underestimate the power of the fits that are within you. Gifts
and talents are given to us not only so that we can fulfill to the
fullest the call in our won lives, but also so that we can reach the
souls who are attached to those gifts. There are people whose
lives are waiting to be affected by what God has placed within you.
So evaluate yourself. Define and refine your fits, talents, and
strengths. Choose today to look for opportunities to exercise your
unique, God-endowed, God-ordained gifts and calling.
NUGGET #4

DO M O RE…

Do more that exist. Live.

Do more that hear. Listen.
Do more that agree. Cooperate.
Do more that talk. Communicate.
Do more that grow. Bloom.
Do more that spend. Invest.
Do more than think. Create.
Do more than work. Excel.
Do more than share. Give.
Do more than decide. Discern.
Do more than consider. Commit
Do more than forgive. Forget.
Do more than help. Serve.
Do more than coexist. Reconcile.
Do more than sing. Worship.
Do more than think. Plan.
Do more than dream. Do.
Do more than see. Perceive.
Do more than read. Apply.
D more than receive. Reciprocate.
Do more than choose. Focus.
Do more than wish. Believe.
Do more than advice. Help.
Do more than speak. Impart.
Do more than encourage. Inspire
Do more than add. Multiply.
Do more than change. Improve
Do more than ponder. Pray.
Do more than just live. Live for Jesus.
NUGGET #5

TODAY A READER, TOMORROW A

LEADER-(W. FUSSELMAN.)

Have you ever noticed there are people you know who are literally
at the same place today as they were five years ago? They still
have the same dream, the same problems; the same alibis, the
same opportunities, and the same way of thinking. They are
standing still in life. It‟s like th eir watch stopped five years ago,
a n d so did th ey. G o d ‟s w ill fo r u s is to g ro w , to co n tinu e to lea rn
and improve. The biggest room in our house is always the room for
self-improvement.

A fa m o u s sa yin g rea d s: “ It„s what you learn after you know it all
that co u nts.” . I m u st a d m it th a t I a m so m ew h a t o f a fa n atic a b ou t
this. I hate to have idle time in which I am not learning anything.
Those around me know what I must always have something to read
or write during any idle moment that might arise. In fact, I try to
learn from everyone. I learn what to do. Learn from the mistakes of
o th ers. Y o u w o n ‟t live lo n g en o u gh to m a ke a ll th e m ista kes
yourself. You can learn more from a wise man when he is wrong
that a fool who is right.

G o eth e sa id , “ E veryb o d y w a n ts to b e n o b o d y w a n ts g o g ro w . “ I
a g ree w ith V a n C ro u ch : “ Y o u w ill n ever ch a n g e yo u r a ctio n s u n til
yo u ch a n g e yo u r m ind .” A n im p o rta n t w a y to keep g ro w in g is to
never stop asking questions. The person who is afraid of asking is
ashamed of learning. Only hungry minds can grow.
We should learn as if we will live forever and live as if we are
g o in g to d ie to m o rro w . H a rvey U llm a n sa id , “ A n yo n e w h o sto p s
learning is old, whether this happens at twenty or eighty. Anyone
who keeps on learning not only remains young, but becomes
consistently more valuable regardless of physical capacity.”
T im o th y is in stru cted : “ S tu d y to sh o w th yself a p p ro ved u n to
G o d … ” (2 T im o th y 2 :1 5 ). It‟s fu n to keep lea rn in g . L ea rn in g
brings approval to your life.

Learn from others. Learn to see in the challenges of others the ills
you should avoid. Experience is a present instructor that keeps us
from repeating the past in the future. Life teaches us by giving us
new problems before we solve the old ones. Think education is
expensive or difficult? Listen to D erek B o k: “ If yo u th in k ed u ca tio n
is expensive- try ig n o ra n ce.”
NUGGET #6

A MAN WITH ONE WATCH KNOWS WHAT

TIME IT IS; A MAN WITH TWO IS NEVER
QUITE SURE. – (ANONYMOUS)

Indecision is deadly. Have you ever noticed that some of the most
miserable people you know are those who can never make a
decision? When the mind is in doubt, it is easily swayed by slight
impulses, opening the door to many wrong decisions. Many times
indecision causes things to go from bad to worse. The middle of
the road is the most dangerous place to be.

We believers should be the most decisive of all people. Christian

leaders should have wills not wishes. In James 1:8 the Bible says,
“ A d o u b le m in d ed m a n is u n stab le in a ll h is w a ys.” A n in d ecisive
person allows instability to creep into every area of life. If we
d o n ‟t d ecid e w h a t is im p o rta n t to o th ers. The greater degree of
wishful thinking, the greater degree of mediocrity. Being decisive,
being focused, and committing ourselves to the fulfillment of a
dream greatly increase our probability of success, while closing
the door to wrong options.

The challenge is to be decisive dreamers. Harry Truman once said,

“ S o m e q u estio n s ca n n o t b e a n sw ered , b u t th ey ca n b e d ecid ed .”
Even when we do not have all the facts available, we usually have
all the facts needed to make a decision. The Bible says to let the
peace of God rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). The Amplified
version tells us to let the peace that comes from Christ act as an
umpire in our hearts. His peace can literally sa y “ o u t” to th a t
rela tio n sh ip . H is p ea ce ca n sa y “ sa fe” to th a t b u sin ess id ea .

Of all matters, we should be most decisive in spiritual matters. If

w e‟re n eu tra l in spiritual m a tters, w e‟ll even tu a lly fin d o u rselves
operating against heaven. Thank God we serve a decisive Lord. He
has given us His peace and His Word so that we can make wise
decisions. We should not be the kind of people who claim that God
has told us one thing this week, and the very opposite next week
God does not change His direction that dramatically; nor does He
ever direct anyone to act contrary to the good sense and sound
judgment shown in His Word.
God wants us to be decisive. As His children, we would be like our
heavenly father, w ith w h o m th ere is “ n o va ria b len ess, n eith er
shadowing o f tu rn ing ” (Ja m es 1 :1 7 ). W sh o u ld b e p eo p le o f g rea t
wills. If the devil controls our will, he controls our destiny. But if
God controls our will, then He controls our destiny.

T h e ch o ice is o u rs. L et‟s b e d ecisive. L et‟s m a ke th e rig h t d ecisio n .

D o n ‟t b e a p erso n w h o sa ys, “ M y d ecisio n is m a y b e, a n d th a t‟s
fin a l” .
NUGGET #7

GET AHEAD OF YOURSELF

“ O u r b u sin ess in life is n o t to g et a h ea d o f o th ers, b u t to g et ah ea d

of ourselves – to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterdays
by to d a y, to d o o u r w o rk w ith m o re fo rce th a n ever b efo re”
(Stewart Johnson). If you would like to know who is responsible for
most of your troubles, take a look in the mirror. If you could kick
th e fello w resp o n sib le fo r m o st o f yo u r p ro b lem s, yo u w o u ldn ‟t b e
a b le to sit do w n fo r th ree w eeks. It‟s tim e fo r u s to sta y o u t o f o u r
own way.

Most of the stumbling blocks people complain about are under

their own hats. Louis XIV commented, “ T h ere is little th a t ca n
w ith sta n d a m a n w ho ca n co n q u er h im self.” T h e B ib le‟s w isd o m
co u n sels, “ H e th a t h a th n o ru le o ver h is o w n sp irit is like a city
that is broken down, and without walls (Proverbs 25:28)

Your future depends on many things, but mostly on you (Frank

Tyger). You many succeed if nobody else believes in you, but you
w ill n ever su cceed if yo u d o n ‟t b elieve in yo u r m in d , yo u m in d w ill
go to work to accomplish. When you change your pictures, you
automatically change your performance.” Whatever you attach
co n sisten tly to th e w o rd s “ I a m ,” yo u w ill b eco m e.

Ralph Waldo E m erso n sa id , “ It is impossible for man to be

ch ea ted b y a n yo n e b u t h im self.” G a in co n tro l o f you r m in d , o r it
will gain control of you. Your imagination dictates your openness
to p o sitive d irectio n . A s N o rm a n V in cen t P ea le rem a rked , “ D o n o t
build up obstacles in your imagination. Remind yourself that God
is w ith yo u a n d th a t n o th in g ca n d efea t H im .”

“ O u r b est frien d s a n d o u r w o rst enemies are the thoughts we have

a b o u t o u rselves” (D r. F ra n k C ra n e). S to p lo o king o n ly a t w h ere
you are, and start looking at what you can be. The Bible declares,
“ A s (a m a n ) th in keth in h is h ea rt (Proverbs 23:7). Be careful of
your thoughts. They may become words at nay moment and actions
very soon. Wrong thinking almost leads to misery.

No one can defeat you unless you first defeat yourself. Self-image
sets the boundaries and limits of each of our individual
a cco m p lish m en ts. C h a rles C o tto n sa id , “ W e a re su re to b e lo sers
w h en w e q u a rrel w ith o u rselves; it is civil w a r. “ If yo u d o u b t
yourself, listen to Alexander Dumas: “ A p erson who doubts
himself is like a man who enlists in the ranks of his enemy and
bears a rm s a g a in st h im self.” T im R ed m o n d o b served , “ D o n ‟t
commit treason against your own life and purpose.”

Your word first exists w ith in yo u . M a rria n e C ra w fo rd sa id , “ E very

man ca rries w ith h im th e w o rld in w h ich h e m u st live.” H a vin g
tro u b le h ea rin g “ fro m G o d? “ W h en G od sp ea ks, yo u r m in d w ill b e
yo u r b ig g est en em y” . (B o b H a rriso n ). F a cin g m a jo r o b sta cles in
life? Ja m es A llen a n sw ered , “ Y o u a re th e h a n d ica p yo u m u st fa ce.
You are the one who must choose yo u r p la ce.” R em em b er yo u a re
your own doctor when it comes to curing cold feet, a hot head, and
a stuffy attitude.
NUGGET #8

THE BEST TIME OF DAY IS NOW

Do you put off until tomorrow what you should have done
yesterday?

When you kill time, you kill those callings God has placed within
you. T h e livin g B ib le‟s versio n o f Ecclesiastes 1 1 :4 sa ys, “ If yo u
w a it fo r p erfect co n d itio n s, yo u w ill n ever g et a n yth in g d o n e.”

The first step to overcoming procrastination is to eliminate all the

reasons and excuses for not taking immediate action.

Everyone is on the move. People are moving forward backward,

and sometimes nowhere at all as though they are on a treadmill.
The mistake most people make is thinking that the main goal of life
is to stay busy. Such thinking is a trap. What is important is not
whether you are busy, but whether you are progressing. The
question is once of activity versus accomplishment.
A gentleman named John Henry Fabre conducted an experiment
with processionary caterpillars. They are so named because they
have a habit of blindly following each other no matter how they
are lined upon where they are going. In this experiment, Fabre
placed these tiny creatures in a circle. For twenty-four hours, the
caterpillars dutifully followed one another around and around and
around.

Then Fabre placed the caterpillars around a saucer full of pine

needles (their favorite food). For six days the mindless creatures
moved around and around the saucer, dying from starvation and
exhaustion even though an abundance of choice food was located
less than two inches away.

They confused activity with accomplishment.

Christians need to be known as those who accomplish great things

for God-not as those who simply talking about. Procrastinators are
g o o d a t ta lkin g , no t d o in g . M a rk T w a in sa id : “ N o ise p ro d u ces
nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as though
sh e h a s la id a n a stero id .”
We need to be like the apostles. They were not known for their
policies, procedures, theories, or excuses. They were known for
their acts. Many people say that they re waiting for God, but in
most cases God is waiting for the. Together with the psalmist, we
n eed to sa y,” L o rd , m y tim es a re in yo u r h a n d s” (P sa lm 3 1 :1 5
NIV). The cost of growth is always less than the cost of stagnation.
A s E d m u n d B u rke sa id , “ T h e o n ly th in g n ecessa ry fo r th e triu m p h
o f evil is fo r g o o d m en to d o n o th in g .”

T h e lon g er w e ta k e to a ct on G od ‟s d irection , th e less clea r it

becomes. Procrastination is a tool of the devil to hold us back and
to m a ke u s m iss G o d ‟s tim in g in o u r lives. “ T h e d esire o f th e
slo th fu l, killeth him ; fo r h is h a n d s refu se to la b o u r” (P ro verb s
21:25).

O cca sio n a lly yo u m a y see so m eo n e w h o d o esn ‟t d o a n yth in g yet

seems to be successful in life. D o n ‟t b e d eceived . R em em b er th e
o ld sa yin g , “ E ven a b roken clo ck is rig h t tw ice a d a y.” L et‟s m a ke
progress-not excuses.
NUGGET #9

SAFETY LAST!

F o r m a n y yea rs, a cco rd in g to H erb ert C a sso n , “ S afety first” h a s

b een th e m o tto o f th e h u m a n ra ce… b u t it has never been the motto
of leaders. A leader must face danger. He must take the risk and
th e b la m e a n d th e b ru n t o f th e sto rm .” If yo u w a n t to b e su ccessfu l,
yo u m u st eith er h a ve a ch a n ce o r ta ke o n e. Y o u ca n ‟t g et yo u r h ea d
above water if you never stick your neck out.

A dream that does not include risk is not really worthy of being
ca lled a d rea m . H a lifa x sa id , “ T h e m a n w h o lea ves n o th in g d o
chance will do, few things badly, but he will do few things.” If
yo u ‟ll n ever ta ke risks, yo u ‟ll n ever a cco m p lish great things.
Everybody dies, but not everyone has lived.

C .S . L ew is sa id , “ T h e sa fest ro a d to h ell is a g rad u a l o n e th e

gentle slope, soft under foot, without sudden turnings, without
m ilesto n es, w ith o u t sig n p o sts.” E liza b eth K en n y reflected . “ It is
b etter to b e a lio n fo r a d a y th a n a sh eep a ll, yo u r life.” If yo u d a re
for nothing, you need hope for nothing.
If you d on ‟t risk a n yth in g , you risk even m o re. John Newman
w ro te, “ C a lcu la tio n n ever m a d e a h ero .” E very p erso n h a s a
chance to improve himself, b u t so m e ju st d o n ‟t b elieve in ta kin g
ch a n ces. I a g ree w ith L o is P la tfo rd w h en sh e sa id , “ Y o u h a ve a ll
etern ity to b e ca u tio u s, a n d th en yo u ‟re d ea d .” B ein g d estin ed fo r
greatness requires you to take risks and confront great hazards.

Y o u ‟ll a lw a ys m iss 100 percent of the shots that yo u d o n ‟t take.

S tem m o n s o n ce sa id ,” W h en yo u r ch a n ces a re slim a n d n o n e… g o
w ith slim .” M o rris W est rem a rked , “ If yo u sp en d yo u r w h o le life
inside waiting for the storms, yo u ‟ll n ever en jo y th e su n sh in e.” N o
one reaches the top without daring.

L isten to C o n ra d H ilto n : “ I en co u ra g e b o ld n ess b eca u se th e

danger of seniority and pension plans tempt a young man to settle
in a rut named security ra th er th a n fin d h is w on ra in b o w .” C hu ck
Y ea g er a d vised , “ Y o u d o n ‟t co n cen tra te o n risk. You concentrate
on results. No risk is too great to prevent the necessary job from
g ettin g d o n e.”

Whenever you see a successful person, I guarantee that person

took risks and made courageous decision. Success favours the
bold. The world is a book in which those who do not take risks
read only one page. David Mahoney sa id , “ R efu se to join the
ca u tio u s cro w d th a t p la ys n o t to lo se. P la y to w in .”

Metasta sis o b served , “ E very n o b le a cq u isitio n is a tten d ed w ith its

risk; he who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain
th e o th er.” L isten to T o m m y B a rn ett: “ M a n y p eo p le b elieve th a t
you are really walking by faith when there is no risk, but the truth
is th e lo n g er yo u w a lk w ith G o d … th e g rea ter th e risk.” If yo u
have found throughout life never scared, embarrassed,
disappointed or hurt; it means you have never taken any chances.

D a vid V isco t w ro te, “ If yo u r life is ever g o in g to g et b etter, yo u ‟ll

have to take risks. There is simply no way you can grow without
ch a n ces.” Y o u h a ve a ch a n ce to im p ro ve yourself. Just believe in
taking chances.
NUGGET #10

D O N ’T A SK T IM E W H E R E IT ’S G O N E ; T E LL
IT WHERE TO GO

All great achievers, all successful people, are those who have been
able to control their time. All human beings have been created
equal in one respect: each person has twenty-four hours each day.
We must give our best time to our most challenging situation. It‟s
h o w m u ch w e d o th a t m a tters; it‟s h o w m u ch w e g et d o n e. I
rem em b er m y d a d a lw a ys tellin g m e.” D o n ‟t sp en d a d o lla r‟s
worth of time fo r ten cen t‟s w o rth o f resu lts. “ W e sh o u ld ch o o se to
watch our time, not our watch.
Make sure to take care of the vulnerable times in your day. These
vulnerable times are the first thing in the morning and the last
th in g a t n ig h t. I‟ve h ea rd a m in ister sa y that what a person is like
a lo n e a t m id n ig h t an d a lon e in th e m o rn in g revea ls th a t p erso n ‟s
true self. These are the most potent times of the day, when
productivity and idea generation are at their maximum.

If yo u a re sa yin g , “ I co u ld b e d o in g b ig th in g s if I w eren ‟t so b u sy
d o in g sm a ll th in g s,” th en yo u n eed to take co n tro l o f th e tim e. The
greater control you exercise over your time, the greater freedom
you will experience. T h e p sa lm ist p ra yed , “ So teach us to number
our days, that we may apply our hearts u n to w isd o m ” (P sa lm
90:12). The Bible teaches us that the devil comes to steal, to kill,
and to destroy (John 10:10), and this verse applies to time as well
as to people.
I o ften h ea r p eop le sa yin g ; “ I‟d g ive a n yth ing to b e ab le to … ” If
you have said th is, yo u sh o uld a d o pt th e” 6 × 1 = 6 ” lea d ersh ip
principle. If you want to write a book, learn to play a musical
instrument, become a better tennis player, or do anything else that
„s im p o rta n t, th en yo u sh o u ld d evo te o n e h o u r a d a y, six d a ys a
week, to the project. Sooner than you think it will, what you desire
will become reality. There are not many things that a person
cannot accomplish in 313 hours a year! Just a commitment of one
hour a day, six days a week, is all it takes.
We all have the same amount of time each day. The difference
between people is determined by what they do with the amount of
tim e a t th eir d isp o sa l. D o n ‟t b e like th e a irlin e pilot flying over the
P a cific O cea n w h o rep o rted to h is p a ssen g ers, “ W e‟re lost, but
w e‟re m a kin g g rea t tim e!” Remember that the future arrives an
hour at a time. Gain control of your time, and you will gain
control of your life.
NUGGET #11

THE NOSE OF THE BULLDOG IS SLANTED

BACKWARDS SO HE CAN CONTINUE TO
BREATHE WITHOUT LETTING GO-
(WINSTON CHURCHILL)

Persistent people begin with their success where most others quit.
We Christians need to be known as people of persistence and
endurance. One person with commitment, persistence, and
endurance will accomplish more than a thousand people with
interest alone. In Heb rew s 1 2 :1 (N IV ) w e rea d : “ T h erefo re, sin ce
we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw
off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and
let u s ru n w ith p ersevera n ce th e ra ce m a rked o u t fo r u s.” T h e
more diligently we work, the harder it is to quit. Persistence is a
habit-so is quitting.

Never worry about how much money, ability, or equipment you are
sta rtin g w ith ; ju st b eg in w ith a m illio n do lla r‟s w o rth o f
determination. Remember: It‟s n ot w h a t you have; it‟s w hat you
do with what you have that makes all the difference. Many people
eagerly b eg in “ th e g o o d fig h t o f fa ith ,” bu t th ey fo rg et to a dd
patience, persistence, and endurance to their enthusiasm. Josh
B illin g s sa id , “ C o n sid er th e p o sta g e stamp. Its usefulness consists
in its ability to stick to something u n til it g ets th ere. “ Y o u a n d I
sh o u ld b e kn o w n a s “ p o sta g e sta m p ” Christians.

In 1 Corinthians 15:58, the Apostle Paul writes, “ T h erefo re, my

beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord. For as much as ye know that your labour is
n o t in va in in th e L o rd .” P eter tells u s, “ Wherefore, beloved,
seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found
o f h im in p ea ce, w ith o u t spo t, an d b la m eless” (2 P eter 3:14). And
w ise S o lo m o n p o in ts ou t, “ S eest th o u a m a n d ilig en t in h is
b u sin ess? H e sh a ll sta n d b efo re K in g s” (P ro verb s 2 2 :2 9 )

In the Far East the people plant a tree called the Chinese bamboo.
During the first four years, they water and fertilize the plant with
seemingly little or no results. Then the fifth year, the again apply
water and fertilizer-and in five weeks time the tree grows ninety
feet in height! The obvious question is whether the Chinese
bamboo tree grew ninety feet in five weeks or five years? The
answer is that it grew ninety feet in five years. If at any time during
those five years the people had stopped watering and fertilizing the
tree, it would have died.

Many times; our dreams and plans appear not to be succeeding.

We are tempted to give up and quit trying. Instead, we need to
continue to water and fertilize those dreams, nurturing the seeds of
the vision God has placed within us; because we know that if we
do not quit, if we display perseverance and endurance, we will also
reap a harvest. Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, “ B y perseverance
th e sn a il rea ch ed th e a rk” W e n eed to b e like th a t sn a il
NUGGET #12

WE CAN GROW BY OUR QUESTIONS AS

WELL AS BY OUR ANSWERS.

Here are some important questions we should ask ourselves:

1. What one decision would I make if I knew that it would not
fail?
2. What one thing should I eliminate from my life because it
holds me back from reaching my full potential?
3. Am I on the path of something absolutely marvelous or
something absolutely mediocre?
4. If everyone in the United States of America were on my level
of spirituality, would there be a revival in the land?
5. Does the devil know who I am?
6. Am I running from something, or to something?
7. What can I do to make better use of my time?
8. Would I recognize Jesus if I met Him on the street?
9. Who do I need to forgive?
10. What is my favourite scripture for me, my family, and
my career?
11. What impossible thing am I believing and planning for?
12. What is my most prevailing thought?
13. What good thing have I committed to do that I have quit
doing?
14. How have the people I respect earned that respect?
15. What would a truly creative person do in my situation?
16. What outside influences are causing me to be better or
worse?
17. Can I lead anyone else to Christ?
18. In what areas do I need personal development?
19. What gifts, talents, or strengths do I have?
20. What is one thing that I can do for someone who has no
opportunity to repay me?
NUGGET #13

LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE WILL GET YOU

NOWHERE TWICE AS FAST

Character is something you either have or are. Some people try to

make something for themselves. Others try to make something of
themselves. Tryon Edwards said, “ T h o ug h ts lead on to purposes;
purposes go for in action; actions form habits; habits decide
ch a ra cter; a n d ch a ra cter fixes o u r d estin y.” The Bible asserts in
P ro verb s in 2 2 :1 , “ A g o o d n a m e is ra th er to b e ch o sen th a n g rea t
rich es.”

Character is the real foundation of all worthwhile success. A good

question to ask yourself is, “ W h a t kind of world would this world
be if everybody likes m e? ” You are simply a book telling the world
a b o u t its au th o r. Jo hn M o rely rem a rked , “ N o m a n ca n clim b ou t
b eyo n d th e lim ita tio n s o f h is o w n ch a ra cter.”

Never be ashamed of doing right. Marcus Aurelious exhorted.

“ N ever esteem a s o f a d va n tag e to th ee th a t w h ich shall make thee
break thy word or lose thy self-resp ect.” W .J. D a w so n co u n seled ,
“ Y o u need not choose evil; but only to fail to choose good, and you
drift fast enough towards evil. Y o u d o n o t n eed to sa y, „I w ill b e
b a d ‟ Y o u o n ly h a ve to sa y, „I will not ch o o se G o d ‟s ch o ice; a n d th e
ch o ice o f evil is a lrea d y settled .” T h ere is n o su ch th in g a s a
necessary evil. Philips B ro o ks sa id , “ A m a n w h o lives rig h t a n d is
right has more power in his silence than another has by his
w o rd s.”
M a n y a m a n ‟s rep u ta tio n w ou ld not recognize his character if they
met in the dark. To change your character, you must begin at the
control center- the heart. Spiritual bankruptcy is inevitable when a
man is no longer able to keep the interest paid on his moral
obligations.

Henry Ward Beecher said, “ N o man can tell whether he is rich or

poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich.
H e is rich a cco rd in g to w h a t h e is, n o t a cco rd in g to w h a t h e h a s.”
Live so that your friends can defend you, but never have to do so.
C o n sid er w h a t W o o d ro w W ilso n sa id : “ If yo u th in k a b o u t w ha t
you ought to do for people, your character will take care of itself.”
Excellence in character is shown by doing unwitnessed what we
would be doing with the whole world watching.
Let me pose this question for you: Would the boy you were be
proud of the man you are? Y o u ‟re ca lled to g ro w like a tree, n o t
like a m u sh ro o m . It‟s h a rd to clim b h igh w h en yo u r ch a ra cter is
low. The w o rld ‟s shortest sermon is preached by the traffic sign:
Keep Right.
NUGGET #14

OBEY THE NINTH COMMANDMENT

The Ninth Commandment can be summarized in one statement.

“ T h o u sh a ll n o t lie.” E a ch C h ristia n sh o u ld b e a p erso n o f
unquestionable integrity. Gray is never right; it must be either
black or white.

Hope built on a lie is always the beginning of loss. Never attempt

to build anything of a foundation of lies and half-truths. It will not
stand.

It has been said that it should be easy to make an honest living

because there is so little competition. Only a person with honesty
and integrity can be accurately motivated or directed. Lying will
a lw a ys d isto rt yo u r a b ility to see G o d ‟s g u id a n ce in yo u r life. It
will cause you to take steps that are not right for you: Lying will
cost you more in the long-term than you think it saves you in the
short-term.
Lying easily becomes a habit. A person who lies once will lie again
with less effort the next time. Lying is a trap. No one has good
enough memory to be successful liar.

T.L Osborn says, “ A lw a ys tell the truth, and you never have to
rem em b er w h a t yo u sa id .”

In P ro verb s 1 2 :2 2 w e rea d , “ L yin g lip s a re a b o m in a tio n to th e

L o rd : b u t th ey th a t d ea l tru ly a re h is d eligh t.” P ro verb s 1 9 :9
sa ys,” A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that
speaketh lies shall perish .” In C o lo ssia n s 3 :9 -10 the Apostle Paul
admonishes us:

Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with
his deeds: and have put on the new man, which is renewed in
knowledge after the image of Him that created him.

The Bible mentions seven results of lying. If you lie:

1. You will attract liars into your life (Proverbs 17:4)
2. You will lack understanding (Psalm 119:104)
3. You will never enjoy permanent results (Proverbs 12:19;
21:28)
4. You will end up in a bondage (Galatians 2:4)
 5. You will be punished (Proverbs 19:5)
6. You will become a fool (Proverbs 19:5)
7. Your lies will come back upon you (Psalm 7:14-16)

Little white lies grow to be big black lies. Determine to be free

from the bondage of breaking the Ninth Commandment; determine
to always tell the truth.
NUGGET #15

STATUS QUO (LATIN FOR “ T H E MESS

W E ’R E IN )

C h a n g e. I H o p e th is w o rd d o esn ‟t sca re yo u , b u t ra th er in sp ires

yo u . H erb ert S p en cer sa id , “ A livin g th in g is distinguished from a
dead thing by the multiplicity of the changes at any moment taking
p la ce in it.” C h a n g e is a n evid en ce o f life. It is im p o ssib le to g ro w
without change. Those who cannot change their minds cannot
change anything. The truth is, life is always at some turning
point.

What people want is progress, if they can have it without change.

Impossible! You must change and recognize that change is your
greatest ally. The person who never changes his opinion never
corrects his mistakes. The fact is the road to success is always
under construction.

Y esterd a y‟s formula for success is often to m o rro w ‟s recipe for

failure. Consider what Thomas Watson, the founder of the IBM
C o rp o ra tio n , sa id , “ T h ere is a w o rld m a rket fo r five co m p u ters.”
Where would IBM be today if Mr. Watson had not been willing to
change?

You cannot become what you are destined to be by remaining what

you are; Jo h n P a tterso n sa id , “ O n ly fo o ls a n d d ea d m en d on ‟t
ch a n g e th eir m in d s. F o o ls w o n ‟t. D ea d m en ca n ‟t.” If yo u d o n ‟t
respect the need for change, consider this: How many things have
you seen that have changed just in the past year? When you
change yourself, opportunities will change. The same kind of
thinking that has brought you to where you are will not necessarily
get you to where you want to go.

Do not fear change, for it is an unchangeable law of progress. The

m a n w h o u ses yesterd a y‟s m eth od s in tod a y‟s w orld w on ‟t b e in
business tomorrow. A traditionalist is simply a person whose mind
is always open to new ideas, provided they are the same old ones.
O d ell S h ep a rd o b served , “ T h ere a re p eo p le who not only strive to
remain static themselves, but strive to keep everythin g else so …
their position is almost laughably hopeless.

M ig n on M cL a ug h lin sa id , “ It‟s th e m o st u n ha p p y p eo ple w h o m o st

fear change.” W h en pa ttern s a n d tra d ition a re b rok en , n ew
opportunities come together. Defending your faults and errors
only proves that you have no intention of quitting them. All
progress is due to those who were not satisfied to let well enough
a lo n e. T h ey w eren ‟t a fra id to ch a n g e. C h a n g e is not your enemy –
it is your friend.
NUGGET #16

D O N ’T W A ST E YOUR T O M O RRO W S
WANDERING ON YOUR YESTERDAYS

G et rid o f a n y “ lo ser‟s lim p s” yo u „re still carrying from your

yesterd a ys. A s yo u d o , yo u ‟ll b rea k th e power of the past
domination of your present and its influence over your future.

In Luke 9:62, Jesus said, “ N o man, having put his hand to the
p lo u gh , a nd lo o kin g b a ck, is fit o f th e kin gd o m o f G o d .” If w e a re
not careful, we will allow the past to hold us. The more we look
backward, the less we are able to look forward. The past is not the
only determining factor of what God can do for us today.

That is the beauty of the Christian life. Even when we fail, we can
ask for forgiveness and be totally cleansed of and released from
our past actions. Whatever hold the past may have on us can be
broken; it is never God who holds us back. We hold ourselves back
by allowing the past to keep us from living to the fullest in the
present and future. Failure is waiting around the corner for those
who live off of yesterd a y‟s su ccesses a n d fa ilu res. We should
choose to be forward-focused, not past-possessed. We should
learn to profit from the past and to invest in the future.

In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul writes:

“ B reth ren , I co u n t n o t m yself to h a ve a p p rehended; but this one

thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

T h e key h ere is “ fo rg ettin g th o se th in g s w h ich a re b eh in d ” in

order to reach for “ th e h ig h ca llin g o f G o d in C h rist Jesu s.” T o
fulfill our calling in Christ, we must first forget that which lies
b eh in d u s. T h e m o st co m m o n stro n g h old in p eo p le‟s lives is
probably their past failures and mistakes. Today is the day to
shake off the shackles of the past and to move forward.

The past is past; it has no life.

NUGGET #17

N O A H D ID N ’T W A IT F O R H IS SH IP T O
COME IN- HE BUILT ONE

Seize th e m o m en t! O ra l R o b ert o n ce sa id , “ M ira cles a re co m in g

by you or to yo u everyd a y.” T o d a y w a s o n ce th e fu tu re fro m w h ich
you expected so much in the past. Horatio D resser sa id , “ T h e d ea l
n ever co m es. T o d a y is id ea l fo r h im w h o m a kes it so .” L ive fo r
today. D on ‟t let w h a t you h a ve w ith in you r g ra sp tod a y b e m issed
entirely because only the future intrigued you, and the past
disheartened you.

Doing the best at this moment puts you I the best place for the next
moment? When can you live if not now? All the flowers of
tomorrow are in the seeds of today. Seneca said, “ B eg in at once to
live.” E llen M etca lf rem a rked , “ T h ere a re m a n y p eo p le w h o a re a t
the right p la ce a t th e rig h t tim e b u t d on ‟t kno w it.” It is o ka y to
take time to play, but when the time of action has arrived, stop
thinking and go for it!
T h e B ib le sa ys, “ T ea ch u s to number our days, that we may apply
o u r h ea rts u nto w isd o m ” (P sa lm 9 0:12). Marie Edgeworth said,
“ T h ere is n o m o m en t like th e p resen t. T h e m a n w h o w ill n o t
execute his resolutions when they are fresh on him can have no
hope from them afterwards; for they will be dissipate, lost and
perished in the hurry and scurry of the world, or sunk in the slough
of indolence.

Jo h n B u rro ug h s sa id , “ T h e lesso n w hich life rep ea ts a nd

constantly reinforces is, Look under foot: You are always nearer
th a n you th in k… T h e great opportunity is where you are. Do not
despise yo u r o w n p la ce an d h o u r.” T h e m o st im p o rta n t th in g in
our lives is what we are doing now.

Know the real value of today. I agree with Jonathan Swift when he
sa id , “ M a y yo u r live a ll th e d a ys o f o u r life.” The future that you
long and dream for begins today. Ralph Waldo Emerson said,
“ W rite it o n yo u r h ea rt th a t everyd a y is th e b est d a y o f th e yea r.”

The regrets that most people experience in life come from failing
to act when they have an opportunity. Albert Dunning said,
“ G rea t o p p o rtu n ities co m e to a ll, b u t m a n y d o n o t kn o w th a t th ey
have met them. The only preparation to take advantage of them is
to w a tch ea ch d a y b rin g s.” H eed 2 C o rin th ia n s 6 :2 : “ N o w is th e
a ccep ted tim e.” I a g ree w ith M a rtia l w h en h e sa id , “ T o m o rro w life
is to o la te; live to d a y.” W a yn e D yer o b served , “ N o w is all we
have. Everything that has ever happened, anything that is ever
g o in g to ha p p en to yo u , is ju st a th o u g h t.” T o d a y, w ell lived w ill
prepare you for both the opportunities and the obstacles of
tomorrow.

Few know when to rise the occasion. Most only know when to sit
down. Many spend too much time dreaming of the future, never
realizing that a little of it arrives everyday. I agree with Ruth
Schabacker when sh e sa id , “ E veryd a y co m es bearing with its own
g ifts. U n tie th e rib b o n s.”
NUGGET #18

FEAR AND WORRY ARE INTEREST PAID IN

ADVANCE ON SOMETHING YOU MAN
NEVER OWN.

Fear is a poor chisel for carving out tomorrow. Today, if you are
viewing your future from a position of fear or worry. I want to let
you know that view is not accurate or correct. Instead, view your
future from a position of fa ith . T ha t‟s th e tru th . W o rry is sim p ly th e
triumph of fear over faith.

There is a story about a woman crying profusely and standing on a

street corner. A man came up to her and asked why she was
w eep in g . T h e la d y sh o o k h er h ea d a n d rep lied : “ I w a s ju st th in kin g
that may be someday I would get married. We would later have a
beautiful baby girl. Then one day this child and I would go for a
walk along this street, and my darling daughter would run into the
street, g et h it b y a ca r, a n d d ie.”
It sounds like a pretty ridiculous situation-weeping because of
something that will probably never happen. Yet we act this way
when we worry. We blow a situation out of proportion that might
not ever come to pass.

A n o ld S w ed ish p ro verb sa ys, “ W o rry g ives a sm a ll th in g a b ig

shadow.” W orry is sim p ly th e m isu se o f th e crea tive im a g in a tion
that God has placed within each of us. When fear rises in our
minds we should learn to expect the opposite in our lives. The
opposite of fear is faith.

The word worry is derived from an Anglo-Saxon term meaning to

strangle or to choke off. There is no question that worries and
fears to choke off the creative flow from God. The less you worry,
the more ideas, insight, and revelation you will have.

T h in g s a re seld o m a s th ey seem , “ S kim m ilk m a sq u era d es a s

crea m ,” sa id W .S . G ilb ert. A s w e d w ell o n a n d w o rry a b ou t
matters beyond our control, a negative effect begins to set in. Too
much analysis always leads to paralysis. Worry is a route that
leads from somewhere to nowhere. Never let it direct your life.
In P sa lm 5 5 :2 2 th e B ib le sa ys, “ C a st th y b u rd en u p o n th e L o rd ,
and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be
m o ved .” N ever resp o n d o u t o f fea r, a n d n ever fea r to resp o n d .
Action attacks fear; inaction reinforces it.

D o n ‟t w o rry a n d d o n ‟t fea r. In stea d , ta ke yo u r fea r a n d w o rry to

th e L o rd , “ ca stin g a ll yo u r ca re u p o n H im ; fo r h e ca res fo r yo u ”
(1 Peter 5:7)
NUGGET #19

OUR WORDS ARE SEEDS PLANTED IN

O T H E R P E O P LE ’S LIV E S

What we say is important. The Bible states that out of the

abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). We
need to change our vocabulary; we need to speak words of life and
light. Our talk should always line up with the Word of God.

Christians should be known as those who speak positively-those

who speak the Word of God into situations, those who speak forth
words of life. When we speak wrongly, it diminishes our ability to
see and hear the will of God.

We should not be like the man who joined a monastery in which

the monks were allowed to speak only two words every seven
years. After the first seven years had passed, the new initiate met
with the abbot, who asked h im , “ W ell, w h a t are your tw o w o rd s? ”

“ F o o d ‟s b a d ,” rep lied th e m a n , w h o th en w en t b a ck to h is silen ce.

S even yea rs la ter th e clerg ym a n a sked , “ W h a t a re yo u r tw o w o rd s
now?

“ B ed ‟s h a rd ,” th e m a n resp o n d ed

Seven years later-twenty-one years after his initial entry into the
monastery- the man met with the abbot for the third and final time.
“ A n d w h a t a re yo u r tw o w o rd s th is tim e? ” th e a b b o t a sked .

“ I q u it.”

“ Well, I‟m n o t su rp rised ,” th e cleric a n sw ered d isg u sted ly. “ A ll

yo u ‟ve d o n e sin ce yo u g o t here is complain!”

D o n ‟t b e like th e m a n ; d on ‟t b e known as a person whose only

words are negative.

If yo u a re a m em b er o f th e “ m u rm u rin g g ra p e V in e,” yo u n eed to

resign. In John 6:43 our Lord instructed his disciples, “ M u rm u r
n o t a m on g yo u rselves.” In Philippians 2:14-15 the Apostle Paul
exhorted the believers of hi day:
“ D o a ll th in g s w ith o u t m u rm u rin g s a nd d isp u tting s: T h at ye m a y
be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as
lights in the world.

Contrary to what you may have heard, talk is not cheap. Talk is
expensive! Our words are powerful. What we say affects what we
get from others and what others get from us.
NUGGET #20

VERSUS

We make decisions every day. We are confronted daily with

options. We must choose one or the other. We cannot have both.
These options may include many of the following:
 Being better versus being bitter
 Decisiveness versus indifference
 Enthusiasm versus being lukewarm
 “ H o w w e ca n ” versu s “ if w e ca n ” sta tem en ts
 S a yin g “ G et u p ” versu s sa yin g “ g ive u p ”
 Security versus risk
 Overcoming evil versus coping with evil
 Standing out versus blending in
 How much we get done versus how much we attempt to do
 Opposite darkness versus coexisting with darkness.
 Development versus destruction.
 Obtaining versus complaining.
 Committing versus trying
 Peace versus strife
 Choice versus chance
 Determination versus discouragement
 Growing versus dying
 Demanding more of ourselves versus excusing ourselves.
 Doing for others versus doing for ourselves.
 Progress versus drifting
 Priorities versus drifting
 Accountability versus irresponsibility
 Solutions versus problems
 More of God versus more of everything else
 B ein g in W h o ‟s W h o versu s a skin g “ W h y m e? ”
NUGGET #21

KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE ROCK WHEN

YOU REACH THE END OF YOUR ROPE

D o n ‟t q u it. T h ere is a b ig d ifferen ce b etw een q u ittin g a nd

changing however. I believe that when God sees someone who
d oes n ot q u it, H e lo ok s d ow n a n d sa ys, “ T h ere is som eone I can
u se.”

In G a la tia n s 6 :9 (N IV ) w e a re to ld , “ L et u s n o t b eco m e w ea ry in
doing good , for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do
n o t g ive lip . “ L o o k a t th is verse ca refu lly. It u rg es u s n o t to
become weary, assuring us that we will not might, will-reap a
harvest if we do not give up.

God does not quit. It is impossible for him to do so. In Philippians

1 :6 (N IV ) th e A p o stle P a u l w rites a b o u t “ B ein g co n fid en t o f th is,
that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until th e d a y o f C h rist Jesu s.” T h ere a re severa l
important pints in this verse. The most crucial is the fact that God
does not quit. Therefore, we can have great confidence that He will
complete the good work He has begun in us. He will see us through
every step until we reach our ultimate destination.

One of the best scriptural examples of a person who did not quit is
Joseph. He had many reasons to justify giving up. When he was
trapped in the pit where his brothers had thrown him because of
their jealousy, I a m su re h e sa id to h im self, “ T h is is n o t th e w a y I
d rea m ed m y life w o u ld w o rk o u t!” Later, he had a marvelous
opportunity to become discouraged and quit when he was thrown
into prison for a crime he did not commit. Again he could have
said to himself, “ T h is is n o t rig h t; I‟m n o t su p po sed to b e h ere.”
Although Joseph did not understand the steps through which the
Lord would lead him, he remained true to his God. Despite the
trials he faced, he did not quit. Eventually the dream that God has
given Joseph became reality. He was elevated from a prisoner to a
prime minister.

There is no greater reward than that which comes as a result of

holding fast to the Word and to the will of God. Only you can
decide not to lose. Most people quit when they are on the verge of
success. Often, success was at their fingertips. There is only one
degree of difference between hot water and steam.
In Luke 18 (NIV) Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow.
The Bible reveals His purpose in relating this story. Verse 1 says,
“ T h en Jesu s to ld h is d iscip les a p a ra b le to sh o w th em th ey sh o u ld
a lw a ys p ra y a n d no t g ive u p .” T h e p sa lm ist tells u s, “ C o m m it th y
w a y u n to th e L o rd ; tru st a lso in h im ; a n d h e sh a ll b rin g it to p a ss”
(Psalm 37:5).

The only way we can lose is to quit. Quitting is the only decision
w e ca n m a ke th a t ca n keep u s fro m rea ch in g G o d ‟s go a ls in o u r
lives.
NUGGET #22

A GOAL IS A DREAM WITH A DEADLINE

In H a b a kku k 2 :2 th e L o rd tells th e p ro p h et, “ W rite th e visio n , a n d

make it plain upon tables, that he m a y ru n th a t rea d s it.” T h is
scripture reveals the key to successful goal setting.

The vision must be written. When you keep a vision in your mind, it
is not really a goal; it is nothing more than a dream. There is
power in putting that dream on paper. When you commit
something to writing, commitment to achievement naturally
follows.

God wrote His vision for us in the form of the Bible. He does not
rely only on the Holy Spirit to guide us; He put His directions in
writing. We are told to make the Word of the Lord plain upon
“ ta b les” (ta b lets) so that the visio n is clea r an d “ so tha t h e m a y
ru n th a t rea d s it.”

T h e keyw o rd is “ ru n .” G o d d esires th a t w e ru n w ith th e visio n in

our lives. As long as we are running with the vision, we will not
turn around. Wh en yo u w a lk w ith a visio n , it‟s ea sy to cha n g e
directions and go the wrong way. You cannot stroll to a goal.

In Proverbs 24: 3-4 (T L B ) w e rea d : “ A n y en terp rise is built by

wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits
wonderfully by keep in g a b rea st o f th e fa cts.” S im p ly sta ted ,
effective goal setting provides an opportunity to bring the future to
the present so that you can deal with it today. You will find that
achievement is easy when your outer goals become inner
commitment

Even though we have the Holy Spirit, we still need to prepare; He

just makes us better equipment to do so. God does not desire for us
to b e d iso rd erly o r to w a ste fu n d s. T h a t‟s w h y p ro p er p la n n in g is
so im p o rta n t. P lan fo r p o ten tia l. B elieve fo r G o d ‟s b ig g est dreams.
When you plan, look to the future-not to the past. You will not
drive forward effectively when you are looking out the rear
window.

A lw a ys in volve you rself w ith som eth in g th a t‟s b ig g er th a n you

a re b eca u se th a t‟s w h ere G od is. In the beginning every great
success seems impossible. We all have opportunity for success.
Having a bad life requires as much energy as having a good life,
yet most people live meaningless lives because they never decide to
write their vision through. If you cannot see the mark, you cannot
press toward it.

“ P o n d er th e p a th o f th y feet, a n d let a ll th y w a ys b e esta b lish ed ”

(Proverbs 4:26). You will find that what you learn on the path to
your goals is actually more valuable than achieving the goal itself.
Columbus discovered America while searching for a route to
In d ia . B e o n th e lo oko u t fo r th e “ A m erica s” in yo u r p a th . P u t
G o d ‟s visio n fo r yo u r life o n p a p er a n d b eg in to ru n w ith H is p la n .
NUGGET #23

SMILE. IT ADDS TO YOUR FACE VALUE

Christians should be the happiest, most enthusiastic people on

earth. In fact, the word enthusiasm comes from the Greek word
en th eo u s, w h ich m ea n s “ G o d w ith ” o r “ fu ll o f G o d ” .

Smiling proves that you are happy and enthusiastic. It is always a

choice, not result. It is a decision that must be consciously made.
Enthusiasm and joy and happiness will improve your personality
a n d p eo p le‟s o p inio n o f yo u . It will help you keep a proper
p ersp ective o n life. H elen K eller sa id , “ K eep yo u r fa ce to th e”
su n sh in e, a n d yo u ca n n o t see th e sh a d o w ”

The bigger the challenge you are facing, the more enthusiasm you
need. Philippians 2:5 (NIV) says, “ Y o u r attitude should be the
sa m e a s th a t o f C h rist Jesu s.” I b elieve th a t Jesu s w a s a m a n w h o
had s a smile oh His face and a spring in His step.

Our attitude always tells others what we expect in return.

A smile is a powerful weapon. It can break the ice in tough
situations. You will find that enthusiastic is like having a head
cold; both are very contagious. A laugh a day will keep negative
people away. As enthusiasm increases, stress and fear decrease.
The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah
8:10).

M a n y p eo p le sa y, “ W ell, n o w o n d er th o se p eo p le a re happy,
confident, and positive; if I had their job and assets, I would be
happy too!” Su ch th inking fa lsely a ssu m es th a t su ccessfu l p eo p le
are positive because they have a good income and lots of
possessions. But the reverse is true. Such people probably have a
good income and a lot of possessions as a result of being positive,
confident, and happy.

Enthusiasm always inspires action. No significant

accomplishment has ever been made without enthusiasm. In John
15:10-11 (N IV ) w e h a ve a p ro m ise fro m th e L o rd th a t sa ys, “ If yo u
o b eyed m y fa th er‟s co m m a n d s a n d rem a in in h is lo ve. I h a ve to ld
you this so that my joy may be in you- and that your joy may be
co m p lete.”

T h e L o rd ‟s jo y a n d lo ve a re yo u rs- so smile!
NUGGET #24

AN ALIBIS IS JUST A LIE

Quitting, giving up, failing, judging- all of these begin with an

excuse. Never allow an obstacle in your life to become an alibi.
“ Y o u , th erefo re, h a ve n o excu se, yo u w h o p a ss jud g m en t on
someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are
condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment to the same
th in g s.” (R o m a n s 2 :1 N IV ). W e C h ristia ns should be people who
make progress, not excuses.

There have always been people who have tried to make excuses to
the Lord. Some knew that their alibis were not true. And there were
those who made excuses and actually believed them.

In Luke 14:18-20 (NIV) Jesus told a parable of the great end time
banquet and the men who were invited to the L o rd ‟s T a b le:

B u t th ey a ll a like b eg an to m a ke excu ses. T h e first sa id , “ I h a ve

just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me:
Another sa id , “ I h a ve ju st b o u g h t five yo ke o f o xen a n d I‟m o n m y
way to try them out.

P lea se excu se m e: S till a n o th er sa id , “ I ju st g o t m a rried , so I ca n ‟t

come.

These men made excuses and missed out on salvation. All of them
made the mistake of believing their alibis rather than God.

Moses and Gideon made excuses to the Lord, yet they recognized
that their excuses were not the truth. In Exodus 4:10-12 (NIV),
Moses said:

“ O L o rd , I h a ve n ever b een elo q u en t, n eith er in th e p a st n o r sin ce

you have spoken to your servant. I a m slo w o f sp eech a nd ton g u e.”
T h e L o rd sa id to h im , “ W h o g a ve m a n h is m o u th ? W h o m a kes h im
deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I,
the Lord? Now go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to
sa y.”

In Judges 6:15-16 (NIV), G id eo n a rg u ed : “ B u t L O R D … how can I

save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the
lea st in m y fa m ily: T h e L o rd a n sw ered , “ I w ill b e w ith yo u , a n d
you will strike down a ll th e M id ia n ites to g eth er.”

Do not hide behind an excuse. In John 15 :2 2 (N IV ), Jesu s sa id , “ If

I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin.
N o w , h o w ever, th ey h a ve n o excu se fo r th eir sin .”

An alibi is egotism turned inside out. It puts you first and takes
G o d o u t o f th e p ictu re. T h a t‟s n o t th e p la ce to be.
NUGGET #25

D O N ’T Q U IT A F T E R A V IC T O R Y

There are two times a person stops; after a defeat and after a
victory. Successful people understand that there is greater
opportunity right on the other side of the victory.

Robert Schuller sa ys: “ D o n ‟t ca sh in ; ca st in to d eep er w a ter.” D o

not stop after a success; keep the forward momentum.

One of the great prizes of victory is the opportunity to do more.

The trouble is that we have often inoculated ourselves with small
doses of success, which keep us from catching the big victory.

Picture a large boulder at the top of a hill. This boulder represents

our lives. If we rock the boulder back and forth and get moving, its
momentum will make it almost unstoppable. The same is true for
us.

The B ib le p ro m ises u s G o d ‟s divin e m o m en tu m . In P h ilipp ian s 1 : 6

th e A p o stle P a u l, w rites: “ B ein g co n fid en t o f th is very th in g , th a t
he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the
d a y o f Jesu s C h rist.” G o d ‟s m o m en tu m a lw a ys resu lts in g ro w th .

There are five ways to have divine momentum in your life:

 Be fruitful (2 Corinthians 9:10)
 Speak the truth ( Ephesians 4:15)
 Be spiritually mature ( Hebrews 6:1)
 Crave the Word of God (1 Peter 2:2).
 Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18)

G o d ‟s d efin itio n o f sp iritu a l m o m en tu m is fou n d in 2 P eter 1 :5 -8

(NIV):
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith
goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-
control, and perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to
godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For
if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep
you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let go of whatever makes you stop.

NUGGET #26

THE BEST HELPING HAND YOU WILL EVER

FIND IS AT THE END OF YOUR OWN ARM

One of the greatest lies people like to believe is that we are not
responsible for own actions. We blame our mother, employer, our
neighbor, the government, or society. But in Romans 14:12, the
Bible clearly indicates who is responsible and accountable for our
deeds: So then every one of us shall give account of himself to
G o d .”

We may attempt to shift the blame to others, but there is not

escaping the truth: every time we point the finger at someone else,
three fingers point back at us.

Throughout my career as a consultant, I met many businessmen

who were looking for answers. It was amazing to me to see how
many were anxiously searching for help, from other people when
they had everything they needed to succeed. They were willing to
give up control of their vision to others in exchange for money or
even Companionship. Their mistake was in looking to others
instead of looking to God.

The false sense of security they found in others led them to

unbalanced relationships, which eventually resulted in destruction
of people and their dreams.

God sends people across our paths to bless and help us, but we
should be directed by God and be very cautious when entering into
any partnership. We must be sure that the reason for the
relationship is right, and be sure that we are not merely looking
for a shortcut.

For every successful partnership, there are hundreds of disasters.

Exercise great caution when you are affiliated with someone else.
In Exodus, God gave Moses some good advice that is applicable to
u s to d a y. H e sa id , “ B e ca refu l n o t to m ake a trea ty w ith th o se w h o
live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among
yo u .” (E xo d u s 3 4 :1 2 N IV )
I believe that God want us to learn most things for ourselves. Mark
T w a in w ro te, “ A m a n w h o ca rries a ca t b y th e ta il lea rn s
so m eth in g h e ca n lea rn n o o th er w a y.”
Decide for yourself. Learn for yourself. Answer for yourself.
NUGGET #27

WHEN YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN, GET

BACKED UP

How we respond to failures and mistakes is one of the most

important decisions we make every day. How do you respond to
failure? Failure does not mean that nothing has been
accomplished. There is always the opportunity to learn something.

We all experience failure and make mistakes. In fact, successful

people always have more failure in their lives than average people
do. Great people throughout history have all failed at some point
in their lives. Those who do not expect anything are never
disappointed; those who never try never fail. Anyone who is
currently achieving anything in life is simultaneously risking
failure. It is always better to fail in doing something than to excel
at doing nothing. A flawed diamond is more valuable than as
perfect brick. People who have not failures also have few victories.
People get knocked down; it is how fast they get up that counts.
There is a positive correlation between spiritual maturity and how
quickly a person responds to failures and mistakes. Individuals
who are spiritually mature have a greater ability to get up and go
on than people who are spiritually immature. The less mature the
person, the longer he or she holds onto past failures. God never
sees any of us as failures; He only sees us as learners.

We truly fail only when we do not learn from an experience. The

decision is up to us. We can choose to turn a failure into a hitching
post or a guidepost.

Here is the key to being free from the stranglehold of past failures
and mistakes. Learn the lesson and forget the details. Have you
ever noticed that he devil reminds you of the lesson? He only wants
you to remember the details. Gain from the experience, but do not
roll the minute details of it over and over I you mind. Build on the
experience, and g et o n yo u ‟re yo u r life.

Remember that the call is higher than the fall.

NUGGET #28

T H O SE W HO D O N ’T T AKE C H A N C ES
D O N ’T M A K E A D V A N C E S

People whose faith ran ahead of their minds have made all the
great discoveries. Significant achievements have not been obtained
by taking small risks on unimportant issues. Do not ever waste
time planning, analyzing, and risking on small ideas. It is always
wise to spend more time on decisions that are irreversible and to
spend less time that is reversible.

Learn to stretch and reach out to where God is. Aim high and take
risks. T h e W o rld ‟s a p p ro a ch is to lo o k fo r th e p o ten tia l, n o t b e
restricted by the past. Those who make great strides are those who
take chances and plan towards the challenges of life.

D o n ‟t b eco m e so caught up in the small matters that you cannot

take advantage of important opportunities. Most people spend
their entire lives letting down buckets into empty wells and then
waste their days trying to pull them up again.
Choose to dream big, to strive to reach the full potential of your
calling. Choose to major on the important issues of life, not on the
u n im p o rta n t. H . S tern sa id ,” If you ‟re h u n tin g rab b its in tig er
co u n try, yo u a re h u n tin g tig ers, yo u ca n ign o re th e ra bb its.” T h ere
are plenty of tigers to go around. Do not be distracted by the
rabbits of life. Set your sights on bigger game. If you want to see if
yo u ca n rea lly sw im , d o n ‟t fru stra te yo u rself w ith sh a llo w w a ter.

Security and opportunity are total strangers. If an undertaking

does not inclu d e fa ith , it is no t w o rth y o f b ein g ca lled G o d ‟s
direction. I do not believe that God would call any of us to do
anything that would not include an element of faith in Him.

A fa m o u s o ld sa yin g g o es like th is: “ E ven a tu rtle d o esn ‟t g et

ahead unless he sticks his neck out. “ D rea m b ig b eca u se you
serve a big God.
NUGGET #29

REMEMBER THAT THE FAITH TO MOVE

MOUNTAINS ALWAYS CARRIES A PICK
(ANONYMOUS)

Rising above mediocrity never just happens; it is always a result of

faith combined with works.

Faith without works is like gold within the earth. It is of no value

until it is mined out. A person who has faith but not actions is like
a bird that h as Wings but no feet. In James 2:17 the Bible says,
“ E ven so fa ith , if it h a th n o w o rks, is d ea d , b ein g a lo n e.”

Biblical principles multiplied by nothing equal nothing.

We need to be people who put our faith into action. One individual
with faith and action constitutes a majority. Do not wait for your
ship to come in; swim out to it! Thomas Edison said it best:
“ O p p o rtu n ity is m issed b y m o st p eo p le b eca u se it is d ressed in
o vera lls a n d lo oks like w o rk.” T ru e fa ith h a s h a nd s a n d feet; it
takes action. It is not enough to know that you know. It is more
important to show that you know.

Work is not a vague spiritual concept. The word work appears 564
times in the Bible. When faith and works operate together, the
result is a masterpiece. We should choose to keep our faith
w o rkin g a ll th e tim e. G eo rg e B ern a rd S h a w sa id , “ W h en I w a s
young, I observed that nine out of every ten things I did were
fa ilu res. S o I d id ten tim es m o re w o rk.”

The founder of Holiday Inn, Kemin Wilson, replied to those who

a sked h im h o w h e b eca m e su ccessfu l b y sa yin g , “ I rea lly d o n ‟t
n o w w h y I‟m h ere. I n ever g o t a d eg ree, a n d I‟ve o n ly w o rked half-
days my entire life. I guess my advice is to do the same, work half-
d a ys every d a y. A n d it d o esn ‟t m a tter w h ich h a lf. T h e first tw elve
h o u rs o r th e seco n d tw elve h o u rs. “ T a p in to th e p o w er th a t is
produced when faith is mixed with action, and then watch God
move in your situation.
 PART II
LOOKING
OUTWARD
NUGGET #30

YOUR BEST FRIENDS ARE THOSE WHO

BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOU

Misery wants your company. But, you d on ‟t ha ve to let it in th e

d o o r. In P ro verb s 2 7 :1 9 (T L B ) w e rea d , “ A m irro r reflects a
m a n ‟s fa ce b u t w h a t h e is rea lly like is sh o w n b y th e kind of frien d s
h e ch o o ses.” P ro verb s 1 3 :2 0 tells u s, “ H e th a t w a lk w ith w ise m en
sh a ll b e w ise b u t a co m p a n ion o f fo o ls sha ll b e d estro yed .” W e
become like those with whom we associate.

We need to be careful of the kind of insulation we use in our lives.

We need to insulate ourselves from negative people and ideas. But
we should never insulate ourselves from Godly counsel and
wisdom.

A number of years ago I found myself at a stagnation point in a

life. I w a s u n p ro d u ctive a n d u n a b le to see G o d ‟s d irectio n clea rly.
One day I noticed that almost all of my friends were in the same
situation. When we got together, our problems were all we talked
about. As I prayed about this matte, God showed me that I needed
“ fo u nd a tion a l level” p eo p le in m y life. S u ch p eo p le b rin g o u t th e
best in us and influence us to become better people. They cause us
to h a ve g rea ter fa ith a nd co n fid en ce a n d to see th ing s fro m G o d ‟s
perspective. After being with them, our spirits and our sights are
raised.

I have found that it is better to be alone than in the wrong

company. A single conversation with the right person can be more
valuable than years of study.

The Lord showed me that I needed to change my closest

associations and that I needed to have contact with the right
people on a regular basis. These were men of strong faith, people
who made me a better person when I was around them. They were
the ones who saw the gifts in me and could correct me in a
constructive, loving way. My choice to change my closest
associates was a turning point in my life.

When you surround yourself with the right kind of people, you
enter into the God-ordained power of agreement. Ecclesiastes 4:9-
10 (TLB) states:
Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, of the results
can be much better. If one falls, the other pulls him up, but if a man
falls when he is alone, he is in trouble. And one standing alone can
be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and
conquer; three is even better, for a triple braid cord is not easily
broken.

You need to steer clear of negative-thinking experts. Remember: in

the eyes of average people, average is always considered
outstanding.

L o o k ca refu lly a t yo u r clo sest a sso cia tio n s, b eca u se it‟s an

in d ica tio n of th e d irectio n yo u ‟re h ea d in g .
NUGGET #31

D O N ’T M E A SU R E YO UR SU C C E SS BY
W H A T O T H E R S H A V E A N D H A V E N ’T D O N E

Several years ago I met with a friend who I have known for over
ten yea rs. H e lo o ked a t m e a n d sa id , “ Jo hn , I see a ll th e great
things that God has done in your life, and how He has caused you
to increase in every way. But as I began to look at your life, I
became full of doubt as to what God was doing in my life. He said,
I saw what God was doing in my life. He said, I saw what He had
done in yours, and I began to doubt that God was really working in
m in e, b eca u se I h a d n o t h a d th e sa m e su ccess th a t yo u h a ve.”

I lo o ked a t h im a n d sa id , “ W ell, if it‟s tru e th a t yo u feel b a d

because God has been good to me, then would it be true that your
world feel better if I had had terrible failure and had been doing
much worse over the past several years? He gave me a quizzical
lo o k an d resp o n d ed , “ N o th a t w o u ld n ot b e tru e.”
I said, well, if it is true for one it is true for the other. Really, it
shows how inaccurate your thinking is. What happens in my life
has nothing to do with what God is doing in my life.

You will find that God rarely uses people whose main concern is
what others are thinking. I believe that Jesus saw judging others
halt progress. Judging others will always inhibit your forward
motion.

Some are inclined to measure their achievements by what others

have done. Never measure your success by what others have or
h a ven ‟t d o n e. Y o u a re eith er a th erm o m eter o r a th erm o sta t. You
eith er reg ister so m eo n e else‟s tem p era tu re o r yo u r o w n . P a t R iley
sa id , “ D o n ‟t let o th er p eo p le tell yo u w h a t yo u w a n t.” N o o n e ca n
build a personal destiny upon the faith or experience of another
p erso n . Ja cq u elin e B riskin a d vises, “ D o n ‟t ta ke a n yb o d y else‟s
definition of success as your own.

Your faults will never vanish by calling attention to the faults of

others. Many people have the mistaken idea that they can make
th em selves g rea t b y sh o w in g h o w sm a ll so m eo n e else is. It isn ‟t
necessary to blo w o u t th e o th er p erso n ‟s lig h t to let yo u r ligh t
shine. Instead of letting their own light shine, some people spend
their time trying to put the lights of others. What a waste?

If you think you are doing better than the average person, you „re
an average person.
Why would you want to compare yourself with someone average?
T o o m a n y p eo p le seem to kn o w h o w to live everyb o d y‟s life b u t
their own. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others.
NUGGET #32

TODAY IS THE DAY TO GET THROUGH

WHAT YOU ’V E B E E N G O IN G T H R O U G H

Stop talking constantly about the situation you are going through.
Decide to get through. it! Do not accept your present, temporary
situation as your permanent condition. Make up your mind to get
on with your life and to fulfill your divine purpose despite your
current circumstances.

God wants each of us to come through whatever situations we face.

We are not to be moved by what we see but by what we do not see.
This is what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote that we walk by
faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Today is the day to begin to
walk by faith-right out of your present circumstances.

If yo u h a ve b een sa yin g “ I‟m g o in g th ro u gh th is situ a tio n ,” fo r

yea rs, yo u n eed to ch a n g e yo u r sto ry. B eg in to d ecla re, “ I‟ve h a d
enoug h ! N o w is th e tim e I‟m g o in g to g et th ro u g h th is m ess!”
The Bible contains many promises that can deliver you today. If
you will believe and appropriate these promises, you will begin to
see your circumstances line up with the Word and will of God –
eventually, if not immediately.
The devil tells us that we will never be victorious that will never
get through what we are going through. The enemy wants us to
th in k tha t th ere‟s n o th in g m o re p erm a n en t th a n o u r tem p o ra ry
situation. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) we are told the truth.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And

God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so
that you can stand up under it.

You should take hold of this verse and us it as scriptural grounds

to stand on. God is faithful. He will provide a way for you. You can
ta ke yo u r sta n d o f fa ith a n d b o ld ly p ro cla im , “ I‟m g o in g to g et
th ro u g h w ha t I‟ve b een g o in g th rou g h !” N a tu ra l circu m stances
m a y still rem a in u n ch a n g ed , b u t b etw een yo u r effo rts a n d G o d ‟s
you are already through that situation.

Some people stay in the same hopeless situation their whole lives,
never making a firm decision to see God and His power in order to
get through the circumstances they face. The commandment that
tells us to be longsuffering does not require us to stay in a
miserable situation one second longer than is absolutely
n ecessa ry. H ere is h o w w e p o ise o u rselves to b rea k th ro ug h : “ A n d
be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
a ccep ta b le, a n d p erfect w ill o f G o d ” (R o m a n s 1 2 :2 ). B e
transformed by renewing our mind with the Word of God. Then
you will know the good and perfect will of the Lord, and you will
be able to get through- once and for all what you have been going
through for so long.
NUGGET #33

HAVE

Have peace enough to pass all understanding

Have hope enough to keep your heart looking forward.
Have strength enough to battle obstacles and overcome them
Have commitment enough to not give up too soon.
Have faith enough to please God
Have fun enough to enjoy every aspect of life.
Have patience enough to let faith complete its work in you
Have love enough to give to those who deserve it the least but need
it the most
Have focus enough to say no to many good ideas.
Have forgiveness enough to never let the sun go down your wrath
Have honesty enough to never have to remember what you said
Have character enough to do in the dark what you would do in the
light
H a ve g ra titu d e en o u g h to sa y “ th a n k yo u ” fo r th e sm a ll th in g s.
Have purpose enough to know why, not just how
Have perseverance enough to run the entire race that is set out
before you
Have wisdom enough to fear God and obey Him
Have responsibility enough to be the most dependable person you
know
Have confidence enough to know that you and God make a
majority
Have kindness enough to share what you have and who are with
others
Have mercy enough to forgive and forget
Have devotion enough to do the right things on daily basis
Have courage enough to face and fight any opposition to what you
know is right
H a ve o p tim ism en o u g h to kn o w th a t G o d ‟s p lan s a re b lessed
H a ve tru st en o u g h to kn o w th a t G o d ‟s p lan s a re b lessed
Have expectancy enough to be on the lookout for miracles
everyday
Have enthusiasm enough to show that God will direct your steps
Have obedience enough to do what is right without thinking twice
Have direction enough to know when and where to go
Have knowledge enough to know when and where to go
Have credibility enough to cause others to want to work together
with you
Have generosity enough to give before being asked
Have compassion enough to be moved by the needs of others
NUGGET #34

EVEN POSTAGE STAMPS BECOME USELESS

WHEN THEY GET STUCK ON THEMSELVES

If you are only looking out for yourself, look out! Wesley Huber
sa id , “ T h ere is n o th in g q u ite a s d ea d a s a self cen tered m a n - a
man who holds himself up a self made success, and measures
himself by himself and is pleased with the result.” Is you r fa vorite
letter “ I” ? L isten to E d C o le‟s w o rd s: “ T h e co re o f sin is „I‟ n o
m a tter h o w yo u sp ell it.” T h e o n ly rea so n p rid e lifts yo u u p is let
you down.
N o rm a n V in cen t P ea le o b served , “ T h e m a n w h o lives fo r h im self is
a failure. Even if he gains much wealth, power or position he still a
fa ilu re.” C o n ceit m a kes u s fo o l:. “ D o yo u see a m a n w ise in h is
o w n eyes? T h ere is m o re h o p e fo r a fo o l th an fo r h im ” (P ro verb s
26:12 NIV). The man who believes in nothing but himself lives in a
small world. The best way to be happy is to forget yourself and
focus on other people. H en ry C ou rtn ey sa id , “ T h e b ig g er a m a n ‟s
h ea d g ets, th e ea sier it is to fill h is sh oes.” A swelled head always
proves there is plenty of room for improvement.
Alexa n d er P o p e o b served , “ T h e g rea test m a g n ifyin g g la sses in th e
w o rld a re a m an ‟s o w n eyes w h en th ey lo ok up o n h is o w n p erso n .”
Egotism is the only disease where the patient feels well while
making everyone else around him feel sick. Egotism blossoms but
bear no fruit. Those who sing their own praises seldom receive an
encore. C h a rles E llio t in to n es, “ D o n ‟t th in k to o m u ch o f yo u rself.
Try to cultivate the habit of thinking of others. Try to cultivate the
habit of thinking of others; this; will reward you.
Selfishness always brings its own revenge.

While gazing upon selfish accomplishments, the arrogant often

miss God by failing to see what He is doing. Rick Renner said,
“ D o n ‟t m iss th e p la n o f G o d b y self-consumption.

When you are on a high horse, the best thing to do is to dismount

a t o n ce. Y o u ca n ‟t pu sh yo u rself fo rw a rd b y p a ttin g yo u rself o n th e
b a ck. B u rto n H ills rem a rked , “ It‟s fin e to b elieve in o u rselves, b u t
w e m u stn ‟t b e to o ea sily co n vin ced . A n eg o tist is h is w o n b est
friend. The fellow who is deeply in love with himself should get a
divorce.

Folks who boast of being self-made usually have a few parts

missing. You can recognize a self-made man his head is oversized,
and he has arms long enough to pat himself on the back. A
conceited person never gets anywhere because He thinks he is
already there. C h a n g e yo u r fa vo rite w o rd fro m “ I” to “ Y o u ” .
NUGGET #35

WHEN YOU REFUSE TO CHANGE YOU END

IN CHAINS

People are custom-built for change. Inanimate objects like

clothes, houses and buildings do not have the ability to truly
change. They grow out of style and become unusable. But at any
point in time, at any age, anyone of us is able to change. To
change does not always mean to do the opposite. In fact, most the
time, it means adding on or slightly adjusting what already exists.

When the Lord calls us change, we often continue to reach toward

the same goal but perhaps in a lightly differently way. When we
refuse to cooperate with the change that God is requiring of us, we
make chains that constrain and restrict us.

There are three things that we know about the future: First, it is
not going to be like the past. Second, it is not going to be exactly
the way we think it is going to be. Third the rate of change will
take place faster than we anticipate. The Bible indicates that in the
end times in which we are now living – changes will occur more
quickly than ever before in history.

In 1803 the British created a civil service position that required a

man to stand on the Cliffs of Dover with a spy galls. His duty was
to be a lookout against invasion. He was to ring a bell if he saw
N a p o leo n B o n ap a rte‟s a rm ies a p p ro a ch in g . T h is job w as
appropriate at the time, but that job was not eliminated until 1945!
How many spyglasses on the Cliffs of Dover are we still holding
onto in our lives? We should not let the way we are accustomed to
doing things interfere with the opportunities God is providing for
us today. There is nothing that remains as constant as change.

Even the most precious of all gems needs to be chiseled and

faceted to achieve it best luster. Do not end up like concrete – all
mixed together and permanently set.

In Isa ia h 4 2 :9 th e L o rd d ecla res: “ Behold, the former things have

come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth
I tell yo u o f th em .” T h e B ib le is a b o ok th a t tells u s h o w to resp o nd
to change ahead of time. You see, I believe that we can decide in
advance how we will respond to most situations. When I was
coaching basketball many years ago, I told by players that they
could prepare for most situations so they would know how to
respond today when they got into the actual situation in the future.
One of the main reasons the Bible was written was to prepare us
ahead of time, to teach us how to respond in advance to many of
the situations that we still encounter in life.

C h o o se to flo w w ith G o d ‟s p la n . B e sen sitive to th e n ew th in g s H e

is doing. Stay flexible to the Holy Spirit and know that our God
directs, adjusts, moves and corrects us. He is always working to
bring us into perfection.
NUGGET #36

KEEP YOUR TEMPER

NOBODY ELSE WANTS IT

D o n ‟t fly in to a ra g e u n less yo u a re p rep a red fo r a ro u g h la n d in g .

Anger falls one letter short of danger. People constantly blowing
fuses are usually left in the dark. If you lose your head, how can
you expect to use it?

A F ilip in o sa yin g a d vises: “ P o stp o n e to d a y‟s a ng er u n til

to m o rro w .” (T h en a p p ly th is ru le th e n ext d a y a n d th e n ext.) W h en
you are upset, take a lesson from modem science: Always count
down before blasting o ff. S en eca q u ip p ed , “ T h e b est cu re fo r a n g er
is d ela y.” P ro verb s co u n sels, “ H e th a t is slo w to a n g er is b etter
than the mighty; and he that rules his spirits than he that take a
city (16:32). Blowing your stack always adds to the air pollution.
Y o u ‟ll n ever g et to th e to p if yo u „keep b lo w in g yo u rs.

One of the worst fruits of anger is revenge. No passion of the

human heart promises so much and pays so little as that of
revenge. The longest odds in the world are those against getting
even with someone.

In stea d o f reven g e, co n sid er w h a t th e B ib le sa ys: “ V en g ea n ce is

mine; I will repay, say the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger,
feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in doing so thou shall
rea p co a ls o f fire o n h is h ead ” (R o m a n s 1 2 :1 9 -20). Francis Bacon
a d d s, “ In ta kin g a reven g e a m a n is b u t even w ith h is en em ies; b u t
in p a ssin g it o ver, h e is su p erio r.”

Time spent in getting even is better used in trying to get ahead.

Revenge is like biting a dog because the dog has bitten you. When
you trying to g et even , yo u w ill a lw a ys d o o d d th in g s, “ Vengeance
is a d ish th a t sh o u ld b e ea ten co ld ” (A n O ld E n g lish P ro verb ).

M a rcu s A n to n iu s reflected , “ C o n sid er n o w m u ch m o re yo u o ften

suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for
which you a re a n g ry a nd g rieved .” D a vid H u m e sa id , “ H e is
happy whose circumstances, suit his temper; but he is more
excellent who can suit his temper to any circumstances.” A n g er is
a boomerang that will surely hit you harder than anyone or
anything at which you throw it.
NUGGET #37

B E IN G A SE V A N T W O N ’T M AKE YOU
FAMOUS, JUST RICH

Some time ago, I received a phone call. When I answered the

p h o n e th e vo ice o n th e o th er en d sa id : “ B a ng , Y o u ‟re d ea d !” I
paused. I did not know what to think about what had been said to
me. Then I heard the familiar voice of James Campbell, a friend of
m in e. H e sa id , “ Jo h n , ju st ca llin g to rem in d yo u tha t w e n eed d ie
to o u rselves every d a y.”

This is true. There is always room at the top for anyone who is
w illin g to d a y, “ I‟ll serve,” a nd means it.

Several years ago I was listening to a Zig Ziglar tape. In his

presentation he says, “ Y o u ‟ll a lw a ys h a ve everyth in g in life tha t
yo u w a n t if yo u ‟ll h elp en o u gh o th er p eo p le g et w h a t th ey w a n t.”
When I hear that statement, something went off on the inside of me.
Right then, I made an absolute decision to live that concept
everyday. My life has not been the same since. True leadership
always begins with servanthood. Selfishness always ends in self-
destruction. Jo h n R u skin sa id , “ W h en a m a n is w rapped up in
h im self h e m a kes a p retty sm a ll p a cka g e.”

Being a servant is not always the most natural thing to do. We are
all conditioned to think about ourselves. That is why 97 percent of
people will write their own names when they are offered a new pen
to try. Despite our tendency toward self-promotion, it is always
true that more is accomplished when nobody cares who gets the
credit.

God has always called us to serve those whom we lead. Be wiling

to serve without trying to reap the benefits. Before looking for a
way to get, look for a way to give.

No one is truly a success in life until he or she has learned how to

serve. T h e o ld sa yin g is tru e: “ T h e w a y to th e th ro n e ro o m is
though th e serva n t‟s q u a rters.” O n e o f th e m o st p o w erfu l d ecisio n s
you can make in your life is to do something for someone who does
not have the power or resources to return the favor. In Matthew
2 3 :1 1 o u r L o rd sa ys, “ H e th a t is greatest among you shall be your
serva n t.” A n d in Matthew 20:26-27 , H e d ecla res: “ B u t it sh a ll n o t
be so among you: but whosoever will be great among, let him be
your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be
your servant.”

When you give of yourself to help other people, you cannot help;
but be abundantly rewarded. The rewards and blessing of being a
servant always extend far beyond the scope of what you can see or
hear. The give always gets.
NUGGET #38

ADVERSITY HAS ADVANTAGES

The door to opportunity swings on the hinges of opposition. Caleb

C o lto n sa id , “ T im es o f g en era l calamity and confusion have ever
been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced
from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is the one
elicited fro m th e d a rkest sto rm .” P ro b lem s a re th e p rice o f
progress. The obstacles of life are intended to make us better, not
bitter.

Obstacles are merely a call to strengthen your resolve to achieve

worthwhile goals. Bob Harrison sa ys, “ B etw een yo u an d a n yth ing
sig n ifica n t w ill b e g ian ts in yo u r p a th .” O ra l R ob erts reflects,
“ You ca n n o t b rin g about renewal or change without
co n fro n ta tion .” The truth is, if you like things easy, you will have
difficulties. If you like problems, you will succeed.

If you have a dream without aggravations, yo u d o n ‟t rea lly h a ve a

dream. Have the attitude of Louisa M a y A lco tt: “ I a m n o t a fra id o f
storms for I am learning how to sail my ships.” Samuel Lover said,
“ C ircu m sta n ces a re th e ru lers o f th e w ea k; b u t th ey a re th e
in stru m en ts o f th e w ise.” T h e C h in ese h a ve p ro verb th a t sa ys,
“ T h e g em ca n n o t b e po lish ed without friction, not man perfected
w ith o u t tria ls.” It seem s th a t g rea t tria ls a re th e n ecessa ry
preparation for greatness.

For every obstacle you face, God provides a scripture for your
a n sw er. M ike M u rd o ck sa ys, “ If G o d ‟s cu sh io n ed you r every b lo w ,
you would n ever lea rn to g ro w .” In stea d , d o n ‟t let your problems
take the lead. You take the lead. The problem you face is simply an
opportunity for you to do your best. Conflict is good when you
know how to move with God.
What attitude do we need to have toward difficulties? William
B o etcker sa id , “ T h e d ifficu lties a n d stru g g les o f to da y a re b u t th e
best price we must pay for the accomplishment and victory of
to m o rro w .” L o u H o ltz a d vised , “ A d versity is a n o th er w a y to
measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that
d id n ‟t m a ke m e stro n g er.”

When you encounter obstacles you will discover things about

yourself that you never really knew. Challenges make you stretch;
they make you go beyond the norm. Martin Luther King Jr. said,
“ T h e u ltim a te m ea su re of man is not where he stands in moments
of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of
ch a llen g e a n d co n tro versy. “ T u rn in g a n o b sta cle to yo u r
advantage is the first necessary step towards victory.

God promises a safe landing, but not a calm voyage. Life is as

u n certa in a s a g rap efru it‟s sq u irt. C o n sid er w h a t S yd n ey H a rris
sa id , “ W h en I h ea r so m eb o d y d a y th a t L ife is h a rd : I a m a lw a ys
tem p ted to a sk, C o m p a red to w h a t? ” W e m ig h t a s w ell fa ce o u r
p ro b lem s. W e ca n ‟t run or fast or far enough to get away from
them. Rather, we should have the attitude of Stan Musial, the
famous Hall of Fame baseball player. Commenting on how to
h a n d le a sp it b a ll, h e sa id , “ I‟ll ju st h it th e d ry sid e o f th e b a ll.”

Charles Kettering sa id , “ N o one would have crossed the ocean if

h e co u ld o ff th e sh ip in th e sto rm .” T h e b rea kfa st o f ch a m p io n s is
n o t cerea l, it‟s o b sta cles.
NUGGET #39

STAND OUT; D O N ’T B LE N D IN

The majority, many times, is a group of highly motivated snails. If

a thousand people say something foolish, it is still foolish. Truth is
never dependent upon consensus of opinion.
In P eter 2 :9 th e B ib le sa ys o f u s C h ristia n s, “ Y e a re a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;
that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you
out of darkness in to h is m a rvelo u s lig h t.” R o m an s 1 2 :2 exh o rts u s,
“ A n d b e n o t co n fo rm ed to th is w o rld , b u t b e ye tra n sfo rm ed b y th e
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
a ccep ta b le, a n d p erfect w ill o f G o d .”

One of the greatest compliments that anyone can give you is to

sa y, “ Y ou ‟re d ifferen t!” Christians live in this world, but we are
aliens. We should talk differently, act differently, and perform
differently. We should stand out.
There should be something different about you. If you do not stand
out in a group, if there is not something unique or different in your
life, you should re-evaluate yourself.

One way to stand head-and-shoulders above the crowd is to

choose to do regular, ordinary things in an extraordinary and
supernatural way with great enthusiasm. God has always done
so m e o f H is very b est w o rk th ro u gh “ o rd in a ry” p eo p le w h en th e
circumstances appeared to be stacked against them. In fact, God
sided with the underdog in every battle described in the Bible-the
minority.

Majority rule is not always right. It is usually those people who do

not have dreams or visions of their own who want to take a voice
on everything. People who are part of a group tend to agree on
courses of action that they as individuals know are not right.

D o n ‟t b e p ersu a d ed o r d issu a d ed b y g ro u p o p in io n . It d o es n o t
make any difference what anyone else believes; you must believe.
Never take direction for your personal life from a crowd. Never
choose to quit just because somebody disagrees with you. In fact,
the two worst things you can say to yourself when you get an idea
a re: “ T h a t‟s n ever b een d o n e b efo re,” a n d “ T h a t‟s b een d o n e
before!” Someone else‟s fa ilu re in a certa in a rea d o es n o t
guarantee your failure.

Be a pioneer and stand out! Do not be afraid to get hit with a few
arrows!
NUGGET #40

IF ENVY HAD A SHAPE, IT WOULD BE A

BOOMERANG

Envy is the most ridiculous of ideas, for there is no single

advantage to be gained from it. Consider this famous old saying:
“ W hen you compare what you want with what you have, you will
be unhappy. Instead, compare what you deserve with what you
h a ve, a n d yo u ‟ll d isco ver h a p p in ess.” It‟s n o t tryin g to keep u p
w ith th e Jo n eses th a t ca u ses so m u ch tro u b le. It‟s tryin g to p a ss
them. W a sh in g to n A llsto n reflected , “ T h e o n ly co m p etitio n , w o rth y
o f a w ise m in d is w ith in h im self.” Nothing gets you behind faster
than trying to keep up with people who are already there.

If envy were a disease, everyone would be sick. Frances Bacon

sa id , “ E n vy h a s n o h o lid a ys. It h a s n o rest.” T h e en vy th a t
co m p a res u s to o th ers is fo o lish n ess.” B u t th ey m ea su rin g
themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among
th em selves, a re n o t w ise” (2 C o rin th ia n s 1 0 :1 2 )
“ Ju d g e n o t, th a t ye b e n o t jud g ed ” (M a tth ew 7:1). Envy is one of
th e su b tlest fo rm s o f ju d g in g o th ers. R ich a rd E va n s sa id , “ M a y w e
n ever let th e th in g s w e ca n ‟t h a ve o r d o n ‟t h a ve sp o il o u r
enjoyment of the things we do have and can have.” W h a t makes us
discontented with our personal condition is the absurd belief that
others are so much happier than we are. Thomas Fuller said,
“ Comparison m o re th a n rea lity, m a kes m en h a p p y o r w retch ed .”

H elen K eller sa ys, “ In stea d o f co m p a ring ou r lo t w ith tho se w h o

are more fortunate than we are, we should compare it with the lot
of the great majority of our fellow men. It then appears that we are
among the privileged.” E n vy co n su m es n o th in g b u t its w o n h ea rt.
It is a kind of admiration for those whom you least want to praise.

An Irish p roverb sa id , “ Y ou ‟ve g ot to do your own growing, no

m a tter h ow ta ll g ra n d fa th er w a s.” Y o u ‟ll fin d it‟s h a rd to b e a s
happy as others if you believe others to be happier than they are.
W o rry a b o u t w h a t p eo p le th in k o f yo u , a nd yo u ‟ll h a ve m o re
confidence in their opinion than you have in your own. Poor is the
one whose pleasures depend on the permission and opinion of
others.
S a in t C h ryso sto n reflected , “ A s a m o th g n a w s a garment, so doeth
envy consumes a m a n .” E n vy p ro vid es th e m u d th a t fa ilu re th ro w s
at success. There are many roads to an unsuccessful-life, but
envy is the shortest of them all.
NUGGET #41

SAY NO TO MANY GOOD IDEAS

O n e o f th e d evil‟s tricks is g ettin g u s to sa y yes to to o m a n y g o od

things. Then we end up being spread so thin that we are mediocre
in everything and excellent in nothing. There is one guaranteed
formula for failure, and that is to try to pleas everyone.

Something that is good and something that is right are not always
th e sa m e th in g . A g o od id ea is n o t n ecessa rily a “ G o d id ea .” O u r
responsibility as Christians is always to do the right things.

T h ere co m es a tim e in every p erso n ‟s life w h en h e/sh e m u st lea rn

to say no to many good ideas. In fact, the more an individual
grows, the more opportunities he or she will have to say no. One
key to getting results is being focused. Perhaps no other key to
growth and success is as overlooked as this is. The temptation is
always to do a little bit of everything.

Remember, saying no to a good idea does not always mean saying

never. No may mean not right now.
There is power in the word no. No is an anointed word. It can
break the yoke of over-commitment and weakness. No can be used
to turn a situation from bad to good, from wrong to right. Saying
no can free you from burdens th a t yo u d o n ‟t need to carry now. It
can also free you to devote the correct amount of attention and
effo rt to G o d ‟s p rio rities in yo u r life.

As you read the title of this nugget, past experiences and present
situations probably come to mind. You probably recall many
situations in which no or not right now would have been the right
answer. Learn from them, and keep yourself from a multitude of
mistakes and distractions.

Yes and no are the two most important words that you will ever
say. These are the two words that determine your destiny in life.
How and when you say them affects your entire future.

Saying no to lesser things can mean saying yes to priorities in your

life.
NUGGET #42

THERE IS ALWAYS FREE FOOD ON A FISH

HOOK

Did you know that the best shortcut you can ever take is to do
what God says in His timing? Shortcuts outside the will God invite
compromise and create strife and confusion.

Believers need to understand that we are doing distance runners.

We are marathoners. We are not in a sprint, and we do not need to
look for shortcuts that open the door to compromise.

T h ere is a n o ld sa yin g th a t is a b so lutely tru e: “ If yo u keep your

attention on learning the tricks of the trade, you will never learn
the trad e.” W a tch o u t fo r fa d s-even for spiritual fads-because of
the letters of the word fa d sta n d fo r “ fo r a d a y.”

There is a story about a beautiful bird that was known for its
greatest singing. It would sit at the top of a tree and make lovely
melodies. One day a man walking through the woods passed by the
tree and heard the beautiful bird singing. The bird saw the man
that he was holding a box.

“ W h a t d o yo u h a ve in th e b o x? ” th e b ird a sked th e m a n

The man replied that he had large, juicy ea rth w o rm s in th e b o x. “ I

will sell you a worm for one for your beautiful feathers.” H e
offered

The bird pulled out a feather and exchange if for a worm. He

reflected to himself, “ Why should I work hard to get worms when it
is so easy to get them this way?”

The bird and the man repeated the process over the course of many
days, and soon the bird no longer had more beautiful feathers with
which to pay for worms. Furthermore, he could no longer fly, nor
was he still pretty. He did not feel like singing beautiful songs, and
he was very unhappy.

Like the foolish bird, we are always tempted to look for shortcuts,
ways to get ahead and obtain the results that we desire. But as the
foolish bird learned, there is a price for taking shortcuts.
Eventually we still learn that there is no shortcut of success. One
of the hidden truths of life is that the path to the prize is always
more valuable than the prize itself. Shortcuts rob us of those
valuable lessons that we need to learn along the way. When you
are presented with a shortcut- a way that is not of God- say no. Be
persistent and stick to the path on which the Lord has placed you.
NUGGET #43

D O W H A T O T H E R S SA Y C A N ’T B E D O N E

Conservative talk radio show host Rush Limbaugh has a great

name for his outlandish tie collection- No boundaries. What a
great slogan this makes for living our lives. We should do that
which takes us out of our comfort zone. Be like David. Find a giant
and slay it. Always pick an obstacle big enough to matter when
you overcome it.

Until you give yourself to some g rea t ca u se, yo u h a ven ‟t rea lly
begun to fu lly live. H en ry M iller co m m en ted , “ T h e m a n w h o lo o ks
for security, even in the mind, is like a man who would chop off his
limbs in order to have artificial ones which would never give him
p a in o r tro ub le.” Nothing significant is ever accomplished by a
realistic person.

Tradition offers no hope for the present and makes no preparation

for the future. Day by day, year by year, broaden your horizons.
R u ssell D a ven p o rt rem a rked , “ P ro g ress in every a g e resu lts o n ly
from the fact that there are some men and women who refuse to
b elieve th a t w h a t th ey kn ew to “ b e rig h t ca n n o t b e d o n e.”

Know the rules and then break some. Take the lid off. Melvin
E va n s sa id , “ T h e m en w h o b u ild th e fu tu re a re th o se w h o kn o w
that greater things are yet to come and that they themselves will
help bring them about. Their minds are illumined by the blazing
su n o f h o p e. T h ey n ever sto p to d o u b t. T h ey h a ven ‟t tim e.”

Be involved in something bigger than you. God has never had

anyone qualified working for him yet. “ W e a re th e w ire, G o d is
th e cu rren t. O u r o n ly p o w er is to let th e cu rren t p a ss th ro u g h it”
(Carlo Carreto). Be a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart
through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks,
and a hand with which Christ helps.

If you really want to defend what you believe, live it. Dorothea
B ra n d sta ted , “ All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia
and frustration is this act as if it were, im p o ssib le to fa ll.” D o a n
about face which turns you from failure to success. Keep this
formula in mind: a lw a ys a ct a s if it‟s im po ssib le to fail. One of the
greatest pleasures you can find is doing what people say you
cannot do.
NUGGET #44

EVERYTHING BIG STARTS WITH

SOMETHING LITTLE

A ll o f G o d ‟s g rea t p eo p le in th e B ib le w ere fa ith fu l in th e sm a ll

things. I n Matthew 25, Jesus told the parable of the talents. He
referred to th e o n e serva n t w h o h a d ta ken h is m a ster‟s m o n ey a n d
m u ltip lied it. In verse 2 3 , h is m a ster sa id to th a t m a n , “ W ell d o n e,
good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things,
I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of
th y L o rd .” In Z ech a ria h 4 :1 0 , th e L o rd a sks th e p ro p h et, “ F o r w h o
h a s d esp ised th e d a y o f sm a ll th in g s? ” T h ere is p o w er in ta kin g
small steps.

Many people are not moving with God today simply because they
were not willing to take the small steps He placed before them. If
you have received a call into any, particular area, you should leap
at the opportunity no matter how small to move in the direction in
which the Lord has called. If you are called to be a youth pastor
and are sitting at home waiting for an invitation from some large
church, you should know that it will never come. You need to find
the first young person you can, put your arm around him or her,
and begin to minister.

D o n ‟t b e a fra id to ta ke sm a ll step s. T h e B ib le p ro m ises u s th a t if

we are faithful in small matters, one day we will be rulers over
many larger things,

Many times the impossible is simply the untried (unknown). This

old proverb is filled with truth.

I can remember a time in my life when I was frozen with fear at

what God had called me to do. It seemed so huge a task that I was
unable to bring myself to face it. A friend came to me and spoke
tow words that broke that paralysis in your life because of wha t
God wants you to do, the word today is “ D o so m eth in g !” D o n ‟t
worry about the goal; just take the steps that take you past the
sta rtin g p oin t. So o n you ‟ll g et to a p o in t o f n o retu rn . A s yo u clim b
h ig h er, yo u ‟ll b e a b le to see m u ch fa rth er. Grow wherever you ‟re
planted.

A s yo u b eg in , d o n ‟t b e a fra id . E ric H o ffer sa id , “ F ea r o f b eco m in g

a has-b een keep s so m e p eo p le fro m b eco m in g a n yth in g .” E very
great idea is impossible from where you are starting today. But
little goals add up, and they add up rapidly. Most p eo p le d on ‟t
succeed b eca u se th ey a re to o a fra id to even try. T h ey d o n ‟t b eg in
due to the fear of failure.

M a n y tim es th e fin a l g oa l seem s so u n rea ch a b le th a t w e d o n ‟t even

m a ke a n effo rt: B u t o n ce yo u ‟ve m a d e yo u r d ecisio n a n d ha ve
started, you are more than halfway there. God will begin with you
to d a y w h a t yo u r circu m sta n ces. “ W in n in g sta rts w ith b eg in n in g .”
said Robert Schuller.
NUGGET #45

THE CHIP ON THE SHOULDER WEIGHS A

TONE

Forgiveness is essential for human good human relationship. You

cannot give a hug with your arms folded.

Our forgiveness fo r o th ers a ssu res u s o f G o d ‟s forgiveness for us.

In Matthew 6:14-15 (N IV )” Jesu s sa id , “ F o r if yo u fo rg ive m en
when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive
you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not
forgive your sins. The weight of unforgiveness greatly drags a
p erso n d o w n . It is a trem en d o u s lo a d to ca rry in th e ra ce w e‟re
called to run.

When faced with the decision of whether to forgive and forget,

n ever m a ke th e excu se, “ B u t yo u do n ‟t kno w w h a t th a t p erso n d id
to m e!” T h a t m a y b e tru e, b u t in stea d kn o w w h a t u n fo rg iven ess
will do to you.

What really matters is what happens in us, not to us.

Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, and bitterness to thoughts of
revenge. Great amounts of brainpower are used up when you
ponder a negative situation and plot how to get even. This kind of
thinking is totally unproductive. Y o u ca n ‟t g et a h ea d w h ile yo u ‟re
trying to get even.

B u ild b ridg es, d o n ‟t b u rn th em . People who burn bridges end up

isolated, alone and end up only dealing with neutrals and enemies
the rest of their lives. Vengeance is a poor traveling companion. Is
there anything more pathetic than a person who has harbored a
grudge for many years? Every Christian is called a ministry of
reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Getting even always causes
imbalance and unhappiness.

Working with churches and businesses throughout America, I have

found unforgiveness in every stagnating situation. And conversely,
I have found that growing organizations rarely talk about past
problems.

Never underestimate the power of forgiveness to free you to fulfill

your calling. Forgiveness is the one power you have over a person
who slanders or criticizes you. The farther you walk in
forgiveness, the greater the distance you put between yourself
and the negative situation.

Forgiveness gives you a spring in your spiritual walk and a second

wind in the race of life.
NUGGET #46

NEVER SURRENDER YOUR DREAMS TO

NOISY NEGATIVES

Nobody can ever make you feel average without your permission.
Ingratitude and criticism are going to come; they are part of the
price you pay for leaping past mediocrity. When you make your
m a rk in life, you ‟ll a lw a ys a ttra ct era sers.

Jesus Himself, after healing the ten lepers, was thanked by only
one of them (Luke 17:11-19). Learn to expect ingratitude.

If move with God, you will be criticized. The only way to avoid
criticism is to do nothing and be nothing. Those who do things
inevitably stir up criticism.

The Bible offers this great promise concerning criticism: The truth
always outlives a lie. T h is fa ct is b a cked b y P ro verb s 1 2 :1 9 . “ The
lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but
fo r a m o m en t.” Also, Hebrews 13:6 we are told that we may boldly
sa y, “ T h e L o rd is m y h elp er, a n d I w ill n o t fea r w h a t m a n sh a ll do
u n to m e.”
Never judge people by what is said about them by their enemies.
Kenneth Tynan has provided the best description of a critic I have
ever h ea rd . “ A critic,” h e said “ is a m a n w h o kn o w s th e w a y b u t
ca n ‟t d rive th e ca r.”
We are not called to respond to criticism; we are called to
response to God. It‟s th e still sm a ll vo ice w e sh o u ld h eed , n o t th e
deafening blasts of doom. Often criticism will present the best
platform from which to proclaim the truth.

Most of the time, people who are critical are either jealous or
uninformed. They usually say things that have no impact
w h a tso ever u p o n tru th . T h ere‟s a fa m o u s a n o n ym o u s sa yin g th a t
describes this situation p erfectly: “ It is u seless fo r th e sh eep to
pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains
o f a d ifferen t o pin ion .” If w ha t yo u sa y an d d o is o f G o d , it w ill no t
make any difference if every other person on the face of the earth
criticizes you. Likewise, if what you are doing is not of God,
nothing other people say will make it right.
P a y n o a tten tion to n eg ative criticism . “ T ru st in th e L o rd , a n d d o
g o o d ” (P sa lm 3 7 :3 ), kn o w ing th a t in th e en d w h a t yo u d o in th e
Lord will be rewarded.
NUGGET #47

YOUR PROBLEM IS YOUR PROMOTION

Every obstacle introduces a people to themselves. How we respond

to those obstacles is important.

The greatest example of the right response to an obstacle in the

Bible is the giant Goliath, who confronted and intimidated the
armies of Israel, including the brothers of a young shepherd
n a m ed D a vid . D a vid ‟s b ro th ers ch o se n o t to d o an yth in g a b ou t th e
obstacle before them, but David did. What was the difference? The
way each viewed the problem. The brothers looked at the obstacle
and figured it was too big to miss.

The way you look at any obstacle in your life makes all the
difference. Let each new obstacle force you to go to the next level
in God. No obstacle will ever leave you the way it found you. You
will be better, or you will be worse.

Keep in mind this important fact about obstacles, every obstacle

h a s a lim ited sp a n . W e w o rried a b o u t th in g s la st yea r th a t w e ca n ‟t
even rem em b er to d a y. D o n ‟t b elieve th e d evil w h en h e tells yo u
that things will not change that they will not pass.

Obstacles subdue mediocre people, but great leaders rise above

them. You and I need to be like the great man who, when asked
w h a t h elp ed h im o verco m e th e o b sta cles o f life, resp o n d ed , “ The
o th er o b sta cles.” W e sh o u ld b e like a kite th a t rises against the
wind. Every problem has a soft spot; there is an answer.

Someone said that obstacles are what we see when we take our
eyes of the goal. Keep your eyes on the goal and remember that
yo u a re n o t a l o n e in yo u r stru g g le ; fo r “ w e kn o w th a t in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have
b een ca lled a cco rd in g to h is p u rp o se” (R o m a n s 8 :2 8 N IV )

In tim es o f ad versity, yo u d on ‟t ha ve a n o b sta cle; yo u h a ve a

choice. In the midst of unbelievable circumstances, believe. God
has a promotion for you.
NUGGET #48

IF IN D O U B T , D O N ’T

One day a hunter came across a bear in the woods. The bear said
to th e h u n ter, “ I w a n t a fu ll sto m a ch .”

T h e h u n ter resp o n d ed . “ I w a n t a fu r co a t.”

“ L et‟s co m p ro m ise,” su g g ested th e b ea r. T h en he ate the man. As

a result, they both got what they wanted. The bear went away with
a full stomach, and the man went wrapped in fur.

The hunter learned the lesson of compromise. When deciding the

lesser of two evils, choose neither.

In Deuteronomy 30:19 (N N ) th e L o rd sa ys to H is p eo p le, “ T h is

day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set
before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so
th a t yo u an d you r ch ild ren m a y live.” Y o u an d I h a ve a ch o ice.
Everyday we must choose between life and death. We should never
settle for anything; we should always seek the best. It is rarely the
strong man who urges compromise. A compromise is often more
expensive than either of the negatives.

The call of God is a call to excellence, not to mediocrity. If

a n yth in g is w o rth d o in g . It is w o rth d o in g w ell. If yo u ca n ‟t d o w ith
excellen ce d o n ‟t b o th er. S o m eo n e a sked , “ if yo u d on ‟t h a ve tim e to
d o it rig h t, w h en yo u w ill h a ve tim e d o it o ver? ”

When compromise is allowed in one area, it always leaks out and

begins to affect other areas. It also allows lies, deceit, and error to
creep into a life and take over. I know people who have turned
from the Lord completely. Their troubles started with
compromises. They began to give in on little things, which soon
b eca m e b ig g er th in g s. It w a sn ‟t lo n g b efo re co m p ro m ise h a d
begun to infiltrate their personal life. Eventually, it overtook and
overwhelmed them.

In Proverbs 4:26-2 7 , th e w riter w a rn s u s: “ P o n d er th e p a th o f th y

feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn neither to the right
hand nor to th e left: rem o ve th y fo o t fro m evil.”

D o n ‟t a llo w th e co m p ro m ise to creep in a n d d estro y. Y o u ca n ‟t

sa y, “ W ell I‟ll co m p ro m ise in th is o n e a rea , a n d everything else
w ill b e o ka y” O n ce it h a s a fo o thold, compromise grows and
spreads.

Be a person of integrity. Guard your reputation and the reputation

of Jesus Christ and His church. If the only way others can tell that
you are a Christian is the symbol of the fish on your business card,
do us all a favor and leave it off. Take a stand today against
compromise.
NUGGET #49

AN ARMY OF SHEEP LED BY A LION

WOULD DEFEAT AN ARMY OF LIONS LED
BY A SHEEP (OLD ARABIC PROVERB)

What are the actions and attributes of leaders?

What is it that makes them different from others?

1. Leaders are always full of praise

2. L ea d ers lea rn to sa y “ th a n k yo u ” a n d “ p lea se” o n th e w a y to
the top.
3. Leaders are always growing
4. Leaders are possessed with dreams
5. Leaders launch forth before success is certain.
6. Leaders are not afraid of confrontation
7. Leaders talk about their own mistakes before they talk about
so m eo n e else‟s.
8. Leaders are people of honesty and integrity
9. Leaders have a good name
10. Leaders make others better
 11. Leaders are quick to praise and encourage the smallest
amount of improvement
12. Leaders are genuinely interested in others.
13. Leaders look for and praise someone doing something right
14. Leaders take others up with them
15. Leaders respond to their failures before others have to reveal
them.
16. Leaders respond to their failures before others have to reveal
them
17. Leaders never allow murmuring from themselves or others.
18. Leaders are specific about what is expected
19. Leaders hold others accountable.
20. Leaders do what is right rather than what is popular
21. Leaders are servants.

A LEADER IS A LION, NOT A SHEEP

NUGGET #50

MAKING OTHERS BETTER IS A

BOOMERANG

A famous old poem goes like this:

When days re not and flies are thick, use horse sense-cooperate
This is a truth all horses know; they learned it many centuries ago.

One tail on duty at the rear can reach that fly behind the car
But two tails when arranged with proper craft can do the job fore
and aft.
Your decision to launch past mediocrity will pull others up with
yo u . C h o o sin g G o d ‟s w ill in o u r lives a ffect o th ers a nd m akes th em
b etter. W illia m D a n fo rth sa id , “ O u r lea st va lu ab le p o ssessio n s a re
th o se w h ich w h en d ivid ed a re d im in ish ed .”

We should look for opportunities to invest in others and to help

make them better. Somebody did that for you once. Somebody saw
something in you and reached out to help you. That act of kindness
determined where you are today. The person may have been your
pastor , a parent, a friend, a teacher, a coach, a neighbor, or just
someone who gave you extra money , prayers, good advice, or
equipment and supplies. That individual had the foresight and the
resources to invest in you and to take a risk on your future.

I have a challenge for you. Take a few minutes this week and send
a note to people who greatly affected your life. Also, take a few
minutes to help someone else get ahead. You will find this to be
o n e o f th e m o st sa tisfyin g exp erien ces yo u ‟ve h a d in a lo n g tim e.

P ro verb s 3 :2 7 sa ys, “ W ith h o ld n o t g o od fro m th em to w h o m it is

due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Invest in
somebody today. Believe in that person. Offer support and
encouragement. Help that person come up to another level.
Try it: Y o u ‟ll like it! Y o u ‟ll a lso b en efit fro m it!
NUGGET #51

PEOPLE ARE BORN ORIGINALS BUT MOST

DIE COPIES

The call in your life is not to be a copy. In this day of peer

pressure, trends, and fads, we need to realize that each person has
been custom-m a d e b y G o d ‟ th e crea to r. E a ch o f u s h a s a u niq u e
call. We should be ourselves.

Because I do a lot of work with churches, I come into contact with

many different types of people. One time I talked over the phone
with a pastor whom I had never met that I would visit his church as
a consultant. As we were closing our conversation and were
setting a time to meet at the local airport, he asked me , “ H o w w ill
I kn o w yo u w h en yo u g et o ff th e p la n e? ”
“ O h , d o n ‟t w o rry, Pastor; I‟ll kn o w yo u ,” I resp o nd ed jokin gly.
“ A ll p a sto rs lo o k a like.”

The point of this humorous story is that you must be the person
God has made you to be.
The call of God upon our lives is the provision of God in our lives.
We do not need to come up to the standard of anyone else. Average
people compare themselves with others, but we should always
ourselves with what God has called us to be. Our standard is
G o d ‟s u n iqu e ca ll an d d esign for our lives. How the Lord chooses
to deal with others has nothing to do with His call for us.

You and I can always find someone richer than we are, poorer
than we are, or more or less able than we are. But how other
people are, what they have, and what happens in their lives have
no effect upon our call. In Galatians 6:4 (TLB) we are
a d m o n ish ed , “ L et everyo n e b e su re th a t h e is d o in g h is very b est,
for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done,
a n d w o n ‟t n eed to co m p a re h im self w ith so m eo n e else.”

God made you a certain way. You are unique. You are one of a
kind. To copy others is to cheat yourself out of the fullness of what
God has called you to be. Imitation is limitation.

So choose to accept: and become the person God has made you to
be. Tap into the originality and creative genius of God in your life.
If yo u ‟re n o t you, then who are you going to be?
NUGGET #52

T R U ISM S T H A T A R E N ’T T R U E

1. The way to guaranteed success is to work smarter, not harder.

This is a losing idea. You will find that effective leaders do
both. They work smarter, and they work harder.
2. Activity equals accomplishment.
Activity is not accomplishment. Hard wok is not results. We
sh o u ld n o t a sk o u rselves w h eth er o r n o t w e‟re b u sy, b u t w h a t
w e‟re b u sy about. We serve a God who is interested in results.
Each of us will give an account of our own actions, not someone
else‟s.
3. Take care of things, and they will take care of you. We should
n o t ta ke ca re; w e sh o u ld ta ke co n tro l. If yo u d o n ‟t ta ke
control of your own life, somebody else will.
4. D o n ‟t w a ste (kill) tim e. Although this truism expresses a good
thought, it is really not accurate. When you waste your time,
you waste your life.
5. If it‟s n o t b ro ke, d o n ‟t fix it. E ven w h en th in g s a re w o rkin g ,
they still can be improved.
6. What you see is what you get. Christians are not to be moved
by what we see but by the Word of God. We are to see the
unseen in every situation. The unseen is really more real than
the seen.
7. He is a self-made man. There is no such thing. A person can
succeed only with the help of God and others.
8. Talk is cheap. Talk is very expensive. What people say is
ultimately what they get and is what they pay for.
9. Practice makes perfect. No perfect makes perfect. Wrong
practice leads to wrong habits. Perfect practice leads to
productive action. Make sure that whatever you do on a
regular basis is right.
PART III
LOOKING
UPWARD
NUGGET #53

IDEAS GO AWAY, BUT DIRECTION STAYS

How do you know the difference between ideas that come to your
mind and direction from God?

There is persistency to direction. The Bible says in Proverbs 19:21

(N IV ), “ M a n y a re th e p la n s in a m a n ‟s h ea rt, b u t it is th e L o rd ‟s
p u rp o se th a t p reva ils.” In P sa lm 3 2 :8 th e L o rd p ro m ises, “ I w ill
instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shall go: I will
g u id e th ee w ith m in e eye.”

Direction is a stream with banks. When we know what God wants

us to do, then we can have total confidence that what we are
attempting is right and that God is on our side. The most far-
reaching, challenging direction is them most significant because
God is in it.

Direction is a matter of fact; ideas are a matter of opinion.

Direction from God is impossible to follow without Him.
Direction is the mother of divine discomfort, something we should
have at all times. Divine discomfort is a sensing that God wants to
direct us, a stirring so that we never totally satisfied with where we
a re in G o d o r w ha t w e‟re d o in g fo r H im . If yo u th in k yo u ‟ve
“ a rrived ” w ith G o d , b ew a re. T h ere is a lw a ys ro o m fo r g ro w th .

We should be known as a people with a mission not as a people

ju st fish in g ‟. E va n g elist R .W . S h a m b a ck p u ts it th is w a y: “ B e
ca lled a n d sen t, n o t u p a n d w en t.” W e a re a p eo p le w ith a p u rp o se,
not a problem.

One way to follow God is to understand that He calls us from

something and to something. In Colossians 1:12-13, the apostle
P a u l w ro te, “ G ivin g th a n ks u n to th e fa th er, w h ich h a s m a d e u s,
meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who
has delivered us from t he power of darkness, and hath translated
us into th e kin g do m o f h is d ea r so n .”

Be sure to look for areas out of which God is calling you and into
w h ich H e is ca llin g yo u . T h ere is a d ifferen ce b etw een G o d ‟s w ill
in ou r lives a n d G o d ‟s w ill fo r o u r lives. G o d ‟s w ill fo r ou r lives
includes those things that He intends for every person- salvation,
stren g th ; h ea lth , p ea ce, jo y, etc. B u t G o d ‟s w ill in o u r lives is
unique to each individual. One person may be called to live in one
place for life while another is called to move six times within ten
years.

Never b e a fra id o f th e lig h t o f G o d ‟s d irectio n . M a u rice F reeh il

a sked ; „W h o is m o re fo o lish , a ch ild a fra id o f th e d a rk o r th e m a n
a fra id o f th e lig h t? ” W h erever G o d g u id es, H e p ro vid es. A n d
whom God calls, He appoints and anoints to do the work. Lay hold
of those persistent directions in your life, and tap into the power of
G o d ‟s w ill fo r yo u .
NUGGET #54

PRAY UNTIL YOU PRAY

Amazing things start happening when we start praying. Prayer

tim e is n ever w a sted tim e. C h a rles S p u rg eo n ta u g h t, “ So m etim es
we think we are to busy to pray. That is a great mistake, for
p ra yin g is a sa vin g s o f tim e.” A .J G o rd o n a d d ed , “ Y o u can d m o re
than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray
u n til yo u h a ve p ra yed .”

Jo h n B un ya n o n ce o b served , “ T h e b est prayers have often more

g ro a n s tha n w o rd s.” I exp erien ced th is kin d o f p ra yer w h en I h ad
many pressing needs all around me. Honestly, I reached a point
where I could hardly pray about my needs because they w ere so
many. The only prayer I could manage was, “ H elp !” a nd I
remember passionately praying it to God over thirty times until I
exp erien ced a b rea kth ro u g h . P sa lm s d ecla res, “ O , L O R D , a tten d
u n to m y cry” (1 7 :1 ). O n e o f th e sm a rtest th in g s I ever p ra yed w a s,
“ H elp !” W h en yo u ta ke one step toward every count, He moved to
meet my needs.
Prayer alone proves that you trust God. Oswald Chambers, said,
“ W e lo o k u p on p ra yer a s a m ea n s o f g ettin g th in g s fro o u rselves;
th e B ib le id ea o f p ra yer is th a t w e m a y g et to kn o w G o d h im self. “
F o llo w D w ig h t L . M o o d y‟s a d vice: “ S p rea d ou t yo u r p etition
b efo re G o d a n d th en sa y, “ T h y w ill, n o t m in e b e d o n e: T h e
sw eetest lesso n I h a ve lea rn ed in G o d ‟s sch o o l is to let th e L o rd
ch o o se fo r m e.” D o d eep p ra yin g b efo re yo u fin d yo u rself in a
deep hole.

P ra yers ca n ‟t b e a n sw ered until they are prayed. Nothing

significant happens until you fervently pray; pray until you pray!
F.B. M yer sa id , “ T h e g rea test tra g ed y o f life is no t un a n sw ered
p ra yer, b u t u n o ffered p ra yer.” B yro n E d w a rd sa id , ” T ru e prayer
always receives what it asks for – o re so m eth in g b etter.” G o d ‟s
a n sw ers a re w iser th a n yo u r a n sw ers. A n n L ew is sa id , “ T h ere a re
four ways God answers prayer: no, not yet: no, I love you too
m u ch ; yes, I th o u g h t yo u ‟d n ever a sk; yes, h ere‟s m o re.

“ E very tim e w e p ra y o u r h o rizo n is a ltered, our attitude to change

is altered, not sometimes, but every time. The amazing thing is that
w e d o n ‟t p ra y m o re” (O sw a ld C h a m b ers). U n fo rtu n a tely, n o th in g
is discussed more and practiced less than prayers. Pray with your
eyes toward your problems. Martin L u th er sa id , “ T h e less I p ra y,
th e h a rd er it g ets; th e m o re I p ra y th e b etter it g o es.” Frequent
kneeling will keep you in good standing with God. Margaret Gibb
sa id , “ W e m u st m o ve fro m a skin g G o d to take ca re o f th e th in g s
that are breaking our hearts, to praying about the things that are
b rea kin g H is h ea rt.” It is im po ssib le to b e p ra yerfu l a nd
p essim istic a t th e sa m e tim e. E .M . B o u n d s sa id , “ P ra yer is o u r
most formidable weapon; the thing which makes all else we do
efficien t.”

M a rk L ittleton sa id , “ T u rn your doubts to questions; turn your

q u estio n s to p ra yers; tu rn yo u r p ra yers to G o d .” When you pray
for victory, God will give you a strategy. Phillips Brooks said,
“ P ra yer is n o t co n q u erin g G od ‟s is n o t a ga d g et w e u se w h en
nothing else works. Rather I agree with O. Hallesby when he said,
“ B eg in to rea lize m o re a n d m o re th a t p ra yer is th e m o st im p o rta n t
thing you do. You can use your time to no better advantage than to
pray whenever you have an opportunity to do so, either alone or
with others; while at work, while at rest, or while walking down
th e street. A n yw h ere!”
NUGGET #55

IT ’S A S IM P O R T A N T T O K N O W W H A T G O D
C A N ’T D O A S T O K N O W W H A T H E C A N D O

1. God cannot life

2. God cannot change
3. G o d ca n n o t reca ll o u r sin s a fter w e‟ve a sked fo r fo rg iven ess.
4. God cannot be the author of confusion
5. God cannot leave us or forsake us.
6. God cannot go back on His promises
7. God cannot revoke His gifts.
8. God cannot be pleased without faith
9. God cannot be defeated
10. God cannot be too big for out problems
11. God cannot be too little for our problems
12. God cannot prefer one person over another.
13. God cannot break His covenant
14. God cannot revoke His calling
15. God cannot be unjust
16. God cannot be anything contrary to the Scripture
17. God cannot bless a life
18. God cannot love sin.
19. God cannot give anything to a double-minded person
20. God cannot be forced into an impossible situation
21. God cannot ignore the praises of His people
22. God cannot be our problem
23. God cannot be overcome by the world
24. God cannot be late
25. God cannot be neutral
26. God cannot be weak
27. God cannot bless doubt
28. God cannot withhold wisdom from those who ask in faith.
29. God cannot be against us.

HE IS ABLE!
NUGGET #56

DO YOU COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS OR

T H IN K Y O U R B LE SSIN G S D O N ’T C O U N T ?

If th e o n ly p ra yer yo u sa y in yo u r w h o le life is” T h an k yo u : tha t

w o u ld su ffice” (M iester E ckh a rt). D o yo u h a ve an a ttitu d e o f
gratitude? If we stop to think more, feelings, gratitude has the
shortest memory

Cicero sa id , “ A thankful heart is not only the greatest, virtue, but

th e p a ren t of a ll o th er virtu es.” The degree that you are thankful
is a sure index of your spiritual health. M a x L u ca do w ro te, “ T h e
d evil d o esn ‟t h a ve to stea l a n yth ing fro m yo u , a ll h e h a s to do is
m a ke yo u ta ke it fo r g ra n ted :” W h en yo u co u nt a ll o f yo u r
blessings, you will always show a profit.

Replace regret with gratitude. Be grateful for what you have, not
reg retfu l fo r w h a t yo u h a ve n o t. If yo u ca n ‟t b e th a n kfu l fo r w h a t
you have, be thankful for what you have escaped. Henry Ward
B eech er sa id , “ T h e u n th a nkfu l… d isco vers n o m ercies; b u t th e
tha nkfu l h ea rt… w ill fin d in every h o u r, so m e h ea ven ly b lessin g s.”
T h e m o re yo u co m p la in , th e less yo u ‟ll o b ta in .

V ern o n L u ch ieis sa id , “ If w e g et everyth in g w e w a n t, w e w ill so o n

w a n t n o th ing tha t w e g et.” If yo u do n ‟t en jo y w h a t yo u h a ve, h o w
could you be h a pp ier w ith m o re? F ra n cis S ch a effer sta ted , “ T h e
b eg in n ing o f m en ‟s reb ellio n a g ain st G o d w a s, a n d is, th e la ck o f a
th a nkfu l h ea rt.” T h e seed s o f d isco u ra g em en t w ill n o t g ro w in a
th a nkfu l h ea rt. E rich F ro m m rem a rked , “ G reed is a b o tto m less p it
which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need
without ever reaching satisfaction.

E p icu ru s reflected , “ N o th in g is en o ug h fo r th e m a n to w h o m
en o u g h is too little.” It‟s a su re sig n o f m ed io crity to b e m od era te
w ith o u r th a nks. D o n ‟t fin d yo u rself so busy asking God for favors
that you have to time to thank Him. I related to what Joel Budd
sa id , “ I feel lik e I‟m th e on e w h o w rote A m a zin g G ra ce.”

M a xim G o rky sa id , “ H a p p in ess a lw a ys lo o ks sm a ll w h ile yo u h o ld

it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and
p recio u s it is.” I b elieve w e sh o u ld h a ve th e a ttitu d e o f G eo rg e
H u b ert , w h en h e sa id , “ T h o u a L o rd h a s g iven so m u ch to m e,
give me one more thing- a g ratefu l h ea rt:” T h e B ib le sa ys in
P sa lm s, “ L et u s co m e b efo re H is p resen ce w ith th a n ksg ivin g .” O u r
thanks to God should always precede our request of Him. The
Bible challenges us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 , “ P ra y w ith o u t
cea sin g in everyth in g g ive th a n ks.”

R o b ert W o o d s o n ce co m m en ted , “ W e d o n ‟t th a nk G o d fo r m u ch h e
has given u s. O u r p ra yers a re to o o ften th e b eg g a r‟s p ra yer, th e
prayer that asks for something. We offer too few prayers of
th a nksg ivin g a nd o f p ra ise.” D o n ‟t fin d yo u rself a t th e en d o f yo u r
life sa yin g , “ W h a t a w o n d erfu l life I‟ve h a d ! I o n ly w ish I‟d
appreciated a n d rea lized it so o n er.”

THANK GOD FOR DIRTY DISHES; THEY HAVE A TALE TO

TELL

W H IL E O TH ERS FO LK S G O H U N G R Y , W E ‟R E E A T IN G
PRETTY WELL

WITH HOME, AND HEALTH, AND HAPPINESS, WE

S H O U L D N ‟T W A N T T O F U S S ; F O R B Y T H IS S T A C K O F
E V ID E N C E , G O D ‟S V E R Y G O O D T O U S
NUGGET #57

G O D ’S C A LL IS H E A R D N O T SE E N

E very g o o d o p p o rtu nity th a t p resen ts itself is n o t n ecessa rily G o d ‟s

will for us. Many times circumstances line up, and everything looks
g o o d ; yet it d o esn ‟t seem rig h t. In su ch ca ses, w e n eed to h ea r
from God. T h a t‟s w h y I sa y th a t d ivin e d irectio n is rea lly h ea rd
and not seen. We should be more interested in the unseen than in
the seen.

The only safe way to decide which direction to go is to distinguish

between the voices we hear. There are always three voices: G o d ‟s,
o u r o w n , a n d th e d evil‟s. W e m u st lea rn to d istin gu ish a m o n g th ese
three.

We must eliminate all foggy areas in our lives. This is the key to
being able to see and think dearly. Fog, especially spiritual fog, is
very dangerous go drive into.

We should build on what we hear on the inside, not on what we

seen o n th e o utsid e. T h ere‟s a b ig d ifferen ce b etw een h a vin g an
ability to do something and being called and anointed to do it. You
may have seen someone in church who has an ability to sing, but
that is not necessarily evidence that the person has been called by
God to the life of a singer. A gift is not a call.

I a m n o t su g g estin g th a t G o d isn ‟t d irectin g u s to u se o u r a bilities.

But ability should not be the only criterion for deciding whether or
not we make a particular choice. Not only does the Lord gives us a
road map; He also provides direction signals, information signs, a
vehicle ,fuel , and time to get to our destination.

We need to be sensitive to what lies in the unseen. Not realizing

what lay just beneath their feet, many people have walked right
over rich pools of oil or veins of gold. Their vision was too limited.
They saw only the ground, not the treasure hidden in it.

Look beyond what you see with your natural eyes. Listen with your
sp iritu a l ea rs. K eep yo u r a n ten n a u p fo r G o d ‟s p erfect d irectio n in
your life.
NUGGET #58

WHEN GOD IS ALL YOU HAVE, THEN HE IS

ALL YOU NEED

Billy Jo e D a u g h erty sa id , “ G o d is n o t ha rd to fin d ! B u t th ere is a

co n d itio n … w e m u st seek H im w ith a ll o u r h ea rt.” Y o u w ill a lw a ys
get into trouble whey to try to handle your life without God. 2
C h ro n icles 3 2 :8 rea d s: “ W ith u s is th e L o rd o u r G o d , to h elp u s
a n d to fig h t ou r b a ttles.” G o d , th e u ltim a te w a rrio r lives in yo u . If
you are a soldier for Christ, don ‟t w o rry a b ou t p u b lic op in ion .
O n ly b e con cern ed a b ou t you r co m m a n d er‟s op in ion . If you fear
God, there is no need to fear anything else.

I b elieve w e sh o u ld a lw a ys fo llo w M a ry L yo n ‟s a d vice: “ T ru st in

G o d a nd so so m eth in g .” Sa ta n d o esn ‟t ca re w h a t w e w o rship, as
lo n g a s w e d on ‟t w o rsh ip G o d . T o o m an y p eo p le a sk th e L o rd to
guide the, and then they grab the steering wheel. Your relationship
with God will last if He is first in your life. Too many people want
G o d ‟s b lessin g s, b u t th ey d o n ‟t w a n t H im .
When you lose God, it is not God who is lost. Some people talk
a b o u t fin d in g G o d a s if H e co u ld g et lo st. T h e B ib le sa ys, “ C o m e
n ea r to G o d , a n d H e w ill co m e n ea r to yo u ” (Ja m es 4 :8 N IV ).
T o m m y B a rn ett reflected . “ T h e d eep er I d ig th e d eep er H e d ig s.”
To increa se va lu e, g et to kn o w G o d . P ra y to G o d : “ I w a n t to b e in
yo u r w ill, n o t in yo u r w a y.” W illia m L a w a d d ed , “ N o th in g h a s
separated us from God but our own will, or rather our own will is
our separation from God.

O sw a ld C h a m b ers a d vises u s: “ G et in to th e h a b it of dealing with

God about everything. Unless in the first walking moment of the
day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in , you will
work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and
pray to your father in secret, and every public thing will be
sta m p ed w ith th e p resen ce o f G o d .” D o n ‟t p ra y b y h ea rt, b u t w ith
the heart.

The Bible finds us where we are, and with our permission will take
us where we ought to go. Other books were given to us for
information, but the Bible was given to us for transformation. A
person who merely samples the Word of God never acquires much
of a taste for it. Psalm 35:27 declares that God is always a plus
factor. He is never a disadvantage to you. He is always an asset.
He wants you to succeed, and He has pleasure in the prosperity of
His servant.

O u r h ea rtfelt cry to G o d o u g h t to b e th e sa m e a s Isa ia h ‟s cry:

“ H ere I a m , sen d m e” (Isa ia h 6 :8 1 ). C o n sid er th e w o rd s o f W .H .
A tken w h en h e sa id , “ L o rd ta ke m y lip s a n d sp ea k th ro u gh th em ;
take my mind and th in k th rou g h it; take m y h ea rt a n d set it o n fire”
We must not only give what we have; we have also give what we
are to God.
NUGGET #59

WHEN WISDOM REIGNS, IT POURS

We should expect wisdom to be given to us. The Bible says in

Ja m es 1 :5 , “ If a ny of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God that
gives to all men liberally, and upbraided not; and it shall be given
h im .”

W h en you h a ve h ea rd G od ‟s voice, you h a ve h ea rd H is w isd o m .

Thank God for His powerful wisdom. It forces a passage through
the strongest barriers.

W isd o m is seein g everyth in g fro m G o d ‟s p ersp ective. K n o w in g

when and how to use the knowledge comes from God. An old
a d a g e sa ys, “ H e w h o kn o w s n o th in g do u b ts no th ing .” In ad d ition
he who knows has a solid basis for his belief.

We have available to us the wisdom of the creator of the universe.

Yet so few drink at the fountain of His wisdom; most just rinse
out their mouths. Many try to live without the wisdom of the Bread
of life, but they will die in their efforts.
T h e w o rld d o esn ‟t sp en d billions of dollars for wisdom. It spends
billions in search of wisdom. Yet it is readily available to everyone
who seeks its divine source.

There are ten steps to gaining godly wisdom:

1. Fear God (Psalm 111:10)

2. Please God (Ecclesiastes 2:26)
3. Hear God (Proverbs 2:6)
4. Look to God (Proverbs 3:13)
5. C h o o se G o d ‟s w a y (P ro verb s 8 :1 0 -11)
6. Be humble before GOD( Proverbs 11:2)
7. T a ke G o d ‟s a d vice (P ro verb s 1 3 :1 0 )
8. R eceive G o d ‟s co rrectio n (P ro verb s 2 9 :1 5 )
9. Pray to God (Ephesians 1:17)
10. Know the Son of God (1 Corinthians 1:30)
NUGGET #60

ST A N D F O R W H A T ’S R IG H T T H E N Y O U
WILL WIN, EVEN IF YOU LOSE

The time is always right to do the right thing. Richard Huseman

sa id ,” B e d riven b y excellen ce. T o b e d riven b y excellen ce so th a t
at the end of each day, each year, and indeed at the end of life
itself we must ask one important question: Have we demanded
enough of ourselves, and by our example, inspired those around us
to put forth their best effort and achieve their greatest potential?
You achieve according to what you believe.

More harm has been done by weak persons than by wicked

person. The problems of this world have been caused by the
weakness of goodness rather than by the strength of evil. The true
measure of a person is in his height of ideals, the breadth of his
sympathy, the depth of his convictions and the length of his
p a tien ce. E d d ie R icken b a cker en co u ra g ed u s to “ th in k p o sitively
and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more
secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and
experience. T h o m a s C a rlyle w isely sta ted , “ O f a ll th e p a th s a m a n
co u ld strike o n to , th ere is, a t a n y g iven m o m en t a b est p a th … a
thing which, here and now, if it were of all things wise for him to
d o … to fin d th is p a th a n d w a lk in it, is th e o n ly th in g n eed fu l fo r
h im ” T h e rig h t tra in o f th ou g h t w ill ta ke yo u to a b etter sta tio n in
life.

T o try to d o w h a t‟s b est a n d to rem a in essen tia lly o u rselves a re

rea lly o n e a n d th e sa m e th in g . C oa ch Jo h n W o od en sa id , “ Su ccess
is peace of mind, which is a direct result of knowing you did your
b est to b eco m e th e b est th a t yo u a re ca p a b le o f b ein g ” O n e secret
of success is being able to put your best foot forward without
step p in g o n a n yb od y‟s to es.
If you seek g rea tn ess, th en fo rg et g rea tn ess a n d a sk for G od ‟s
will. You will find both. H a ro ld T a ylo r sa id , “ T h e ro o ts o f tru e
achievement lie in the will to become the best that you can
b eco m e” E leva te yo u r p erso n a l sta n d a rd s o f q u a lity. W h a tever yo u
thought was good enough for now, add 10% more. Better is better.

The biggest mistake you can make in life is not to be true to the
b est yo u kn o w . G eo rg e B ern a rd S h a w rem a rked . “ K eep yo u rself
clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see
th e w o rld .” F o llo w R a lp h So ckm a n ‟s a d vice: “ G ive th e b est th a t
you have to the highest you know-a nd d o it n o w .”
NUGGET #61

HEARING TELLS YOU THAT THE MUSIC IS

PLAYING; LISTENING TELLS YOU WHAT
THE SONG IS SAYING

One of our least developed skills is listening. There are really two
different kinds of listening. There is the natural listen ing in
interaction with other people, and there is spiritual listening in
interaction with God.

It h a s b een sa id , “ M en a te b o rn w ith tw o ea rs bu t on ly o n e to n gu e,
which indicates that they were meant to listen twice as much as
th ey ta lk.” In n atu ra l co m m u nication, leaders should always
monopolize the listening. What we learn about person will always
result in a greater benefit than what we tell him or her about
ourselves.

We need to learn to listen and observe aggressively. We must try

harder to truly listen a n d to n o t ju st h ea r. Y o u d o n ‟t h ea r a n yth ing
w h ile yo u ‟re ta lkin g .
In regard to spiritual listening, Proverbs 8:34-35 (NN) quotes
w isd o m , w h o sa ys, “ B lessed is th e m a n w h o listen s to m e, w a tch in g
daily at my doors; waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me
finds life and receives favor from the Lord.

There is great wisdom and favor to be gained by listening.

P ro verb s 1 5 :3 1 (N IV ) sa ys, “ H e w h o listen s to a life-giving rebuke
w ill b e a t h o m e a m o n g th e w ise.” L isten in g a llo w s u s to m a in ta in a
teachable sp irit. L isten in g in crea ses o u r “ tea ch a b ility” . T h o se
who give us a life-giving rebuke can be a great blessing to us.

The Bible teaches that we are to be quick to listen and slow to

speak (James 1:19). We must never listen passively, especially to
God. If we resist hearing, a hardening can take place in our lives.
Callousness can develop. In Luke 16:31 (NIV), Jesus said of a
certa in g ro u p o f p eo p le, “ If th ey d o n o t listen to M o ses a n d th e
Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the
d ea d .” T h e m o re w e resist listen in g to th e vo ice o f G o d , th e m o re
hardened and less fine-tuned our hearing becomes.

There are results of spiritual hearing, as we seen in Luke 8:15

(N IV ). T h is p a ssa g e rela tes to th e p a ra b le o f th e so w er, “ T h e seed
on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who
h ea rs th e w o rd ; reta in it, a n d b y p erseverin g p ro d u ce a cro p .”
Harvest is associated not only with persevering with good seed in
good soil but also with those people who hear the Word of God
and retain it.

Fine-tune your natural and spiritual ears to listen and learn.

NUGGET #62

EXPECT SOMETHING FROM NOTHING

R a m o n a C a ro l d escrib es fa ith a s “ p u ttin g a ll yo u r eg g s in G o d ‟s

b a skets, a n d th en co u n tin g yo u r b lessin g s b efo re th ey h a tch .” A n d
I m ig h t a d d , d o n ‟t w o rry a b o u t H im d ro p p in g th em . F a ith is th e
force of a full life. I believe that the primary cause of unhappiness
in the world today is a lack of faith.

C o rrie T en B o o m sa ys, “ F a ith is like a rad a r tha t sees tro u g h th e

fog the reality of things at a distance that a human eye cannot see.
“ F a ith sees th e in visib le, b elieves th e in cred ib le, a n d receives th e
impossible. The Bible challenges us in 2 Corinthians 5:7 to walk
by faith and not by sight.

So what is faith? John Spaulding said, “ Y o u r fa ith is w h a t yo u

b elieve, n o t w h a t you kn o w .” D r. A lexis C a rrel sa ys, “ It is fa ith ,
a n d n o t rea so n , w h ich im p els m en to a ctio n … in tellig en ce, is
co n ten t to po in t o u t th e ro a d , b ut n ever d rives a lo n g it.” I a g ree
w ith B la ise P a sca l: “ F a ith is a so un d er guide than reason. Reason
ca n o n ly g o so fa r, b u t fa ith h a s n o lim its.”
F a ith relea ses th e m ira cu lou s. It is th e w a y to G od ‟s d ivin e
influence. I a g ree w ith P a sto r T o m m y B a rn ett: “ F a ith is sim p ly
w h en yo u b rin g G od in to th e p ictu re.” A n d w h ere d o w e m e et
G o d ? G o rd o n R o b in so n sa id , “ G o d m eets u s a t th e level w e
exp ect, n o t th e level w e h o p e.” At times, faith is believing what
you see isn ‟t so. T h a t‟s w h y th e B ib le sa ys in H eb rew s, “ F a ith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ”
(11:1).

Put faith to work when doubting would be easier. Faith is the

anchor of the soul, the stimulus to action and the incentive to
achievement. Faith will never abandon you; only you can abandon
it. Nothing but faith can accurately guide y our life. Faith gives
us the courage to face the present with confidence and the future
with expectancy. It is usually not so much the greatness of our
troubles as the littleness of our faith, which causes us to stop or
complain.

Faith keeps the man who keeps the faith. No one can live in doubt
when he has prayed in faith. Faith either moves mountains or it
w ill tu n n el th ro u gh th e. S a in t A u g u stin e sa id , “ F a ith is to b elieve
what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we
b elieve.” J.F . C la rke sa id , “ A ll th e stren g th a n d th e fo rce o f m a n
come from this faith in things unseen. He who believes is strong;
h e w h o d o u b ts is w ea k. S tro n g co n victio n s p reced e g rea t a ctio n s.”

F a ith is n ecessa ry to su cceed . G eo rg e S p a u ld in g sa id , “ L ife

without faith in someth ing is to na rro w o f sp a ce in w h ich to live”
Y o u ‟ll feel cra m p ed yo u r w h o le life w h en yo u d o n ‟t live b y fa ith .
As your faith grows you will find that you no longer need to have a
sense of control. Things will flow as God will, and you will be able
to flow with them to your great happiness and benefit. Colin
H ig h to w ers sa id , “ F a ith is b u ild ing o n w h a t yo u kno w is h ere: so
yo u ca n rea ch w h a t yo u kno w is th ere.” L isten to F ra n klin
R o o sevelt: “ T h e o n ly lim it to o u r rea liza tio n o f to m o rro w w ill b e
our doubt of to da y.” L et u s m o ve fo rw a rd w ith stro n g a n d a ctive
faith.
NUGGET #63

STOP EVERY DAY AND LOOK AT THE SIZE

OF GOD

Who is God? What is His personality? What are His character

traits?

According to the Bible, He is everlasting, just, caring, holy, divine,

omniscient, omnipresent, and sovereign. He is light, perfection,
abundance, salvation, wisdom, and love. He is the Creator, Savior,
Deliverer, Redeemer, Provider, Healer, Advocate, and friend.
N ever fo rg et w h o lives in sid e yo u : “ T h e L o rd … th e g rea t G o d, the
great king above all gods. (Psalm 95:3 NIV)

Jo h n th e d iscip le tells u s: “ Y e a re o f G o d , little ch ild ren , a n d h a ve

overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is
in th e w o rld ” (1 Jo h n 4 :4 ) God and the devil are not equal, just
opposite.
I often travel by air, and one of the benefits is that I get a glimpse
o f G o d ‟s p ersp ective. I like lo o kin g a t m y ch a llen g es fro m 3 7 ,0 0 0
feet in the air. N o p rob lem is to o la rg e for G od ‟s in terven tion , a n d
n o p erson is too sm a ll fo r G od ‟s a tten tion.

G o d is a lw a ys a b le. If yo u d o n ‟t n eed m ira cles, yo u d o n ‟t n eed

G o d . D a ve B o rd o n , a frien d o f m in e, sa id it b est: “ I d on ‟t
u n d ersta n d th e situ a tio n , b ut I u n d ersta n d G o d .”

The miraculous realm of God involves multiplication, not addition.

God likens our life in Him to seedtime and harvest: Do you realize
how miraculous that is? Let me give you a conservative example:
Suppose one kernel of corn produces one stalk with two ears, each
ear having two hundred kernels. From those four hundred kernels
come four hundred stalks with 160000 kernels. This huge harvest
is a result of one kernel planted only one season earlier.

O u r co n fessio n to th e L o rd sh o u ld b e Jerem ia h 3 2 :1 7 (N W ) “ A h ,
Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your
great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
NUGGET #64

D O N ’T W A IT FO R A LL T H E LIG H T S T O BE
GREEN BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE (JIM
STOVALL)

D on ‟t d o a n yth in g th a t d oesn ‟t req u ire fa ith . G.C. Lichtenberg

sa id , “ N ever u n d erta ke a n yth in g fo r w h ich yo u w ou ld n ‟t ha ve th e
co u ra g e to a sk th e b lessin g s o f h ea ven .” E d C o le, fo cu sin g o n
fa ith , sa id , “ T h ere a re th ree levels o f kn o w led g e: G o d is fo r m e,
G o d is w ith m e. G o d is in m e. P sa lm 5 6 :9 rea d s, “ W h en I cry u n to
thee, then shall mine enemies turn back; this I know; for God is for
m e.” A ccep t a n d a ckno w led g e o n ly th o se th o ug h ts th at co n trib u te
to yo u r su ccess, th a t lin e u p w ith G o d ‟s W o rd a n d H is w ill fo r yo u r
life.

Wayne Gretsky is, arguably, the greatest hockey player in history.

Asked about is secret for continuing to lead the national hockey
lea g u e in g o a ls yea r a fter yea r. G retsky rep lied , “ I ska te to w h ere
th e p u ck is g o in g to b e, n o t w h ere it h a s b een .” D a re to g o fa rth er
th a n you ca n see. A s S a in t A u g u stin e sa id , “ S eek no t to u nd ersta n d
that thou ma y b elieve, b u t b elieve th a t th o u m a y u n d ersta n d .”

Too many people expect little from God, ask little, and therefore
receive little and are content with little. Sherwood Eddie said,
“ F a ith is n o t tryin g to b elieve so m eth in g reg a rd less o f th e
evidence: faith is daring to do something regardless of the
co n seq u en ces.” I sincerely believe that we would accomplish
many more things if we did not so automatically view them as
impossible.

God gave man an upright countenance to survey the heavens and

look upward to w a rd h im . D o n ‟t ever sa y th a t co n d itio n s a re n o t
right. Doing so will always limit God. If you wait for conditions to
be exactly right, you will never obey God. The Bible says in Isaiah
1 :1 9 N IV , “ If yo u a re w illin g a nd ob ed ien t, yo u w ill ea t th e b est
fro m th e la n d .”

Those who dare do; those who dare not do not. Isak Dinesen said,
“ G od m a d e th e w o rld rou n d so th a t w e w ou ld n ever b e a b le to see
too fa r d ow n th e roa d .” The person who dares for nothing need
hope for nothing. You have reached stagnation when all you ever
exercise is caution: Sometimes you must press ahead despite the
caution: Sometimes you must press ahead despite the pounding
fea r in yo u r h ea d th a t sa ys; “ T u rn b a ck.”

If God is kept outside, something must be wrong inside. God will

never allow anything to confront you that you and He together
ca n ‟t h a n d le.

G o d sa id , “ C o m e to th e ed g e.”
W sa id , “ It‟s to o h ig h .”
“ C o m e to th e ed g e.”
“ W e sa id , “ W e m ig h t fa ll.”
“ C o m e to th e ed g e,” G o d sa id
And we came
And he pushed us.
And he flew.
NUGGET #65

RETREAT TO ADVANCE

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is get way to a

peaceful, anointed spot. This is one of the most powerful concepts
I h a ve in co rp o ra ted in to m y life. R ig h t n o w I‟m w ritin g th is b o o k in
a cabin on a hill overlooking a beautiful lake, miles away from the
nearest city.

When we draw away for a time, we can see and hear much more
clearly about how to go ahead. Jesus did this many times during
His earthly life, especially just before and after major decisions.
The Bible says, “ In q u ietn ess a nd in co n fid en ce sh a ll b e yo u r
stren g th ” (Isa ia h 3 0 :15 ). T h ere‟s so m eth in g in vig o ratin g a nd
renewing about retreating to a quiet place of rest and peace.
Silence is an environment in which great ideas are birthed.

There are times when you should not see people, times when you
should direct your whole attention toward God. I believe that we
should have a place of refuge, a place out of the normal scope of
living, a place where we can retreat to advance and focus on the
Lord.

It is important to spend time alone with your highest dreams. In

Isa ia h 40 :3 1 w e rea ct “ B u t th ey th a t w a it u po n th e L o rd sha ll
renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
th ey sh a ll ru n , an d n o t b e w ea ry, a n d th ey sh a ll w a lk an d n o t fa it.”
Learn to wait upon the Lord.

Make a regular appointment with yourself; it will be one of the

most important appointments you can ever have during the course
of a week or a month. Choose to retreat to advance. See how much
clearer you move forward with God as a result.
NUGGET #66

THERE IS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO

START THAT IS ORDAINED FOR YOU TO
FINISH (MYLES MUNROE)

Are you stumbling toward an uncertain future? You can predict

your future by the awareness you have of your purpose. Too many
people know what they running from, but not what they are
running to. Run to find your purpose, then concentrate on fulfilling
it. Having a powerful why will provide you with the necessary
how. Purpose, not money is your real asset.
Take care of your purpose, and the end will take care of itself.
When you base your life on principle, 99 percent of your decisions
are already made. Purpose does what it must; talent does what it
ca n . C o n sid erin g a n a ctio n? L isten to M a rcu s A u reliu s: “ W ith o u t
a p u rp o se n o th ing sh o u ld b e d on e.” R o b ert B yrn e sa id , “ T h e
p u rp o se o f life is a life o f p u rp o se.”

“ T h e h eig h t o f a cco m p lish m en t w ill eq u a l th e d ep th o f yo u r

convictions. Seek happiness for its own sake, and you find it: seek
for purpose, and happiness will follow as a shadow comes with the
su n sh in e” (W illia m S co la vin o ). A s yo u rea ch fo r yo u r d estin y, it
will be like a magnet that pulls you. Destiny draws.

Jo h n F o ster sa id , “ It is a p o o r d isg ra cefu l th in g no t to b e ab le to

reply, with some degree of certainty, to the simple questions,
“ W h a t w ill yo u b e? ” W h a t w ill yo u d o ? ” D r. C h a rles G a rfield
a d d ed , “ P ea k p erfo rm ers a re p eo p le w h o a re co m m itted to a
compelling mission. It is very clear that they are deeply about what
they do, and their efforts, energies, and enthusiasms are traceable
back to th a t pa rticu la r m issio n .” Y ou ‟re n ot tru ly free u n til
you „ve b een ta k en ca p tive b y you r su p rem e m ission in life.

D o n ‟t ju st p ra y th a t G o d w ill d o th is o r th a t; ra th er p ra y th a t G o d
w ill m a ke H is p u rp o se kn o w n to yo u . W illia m C o w p er sa id , “ T h e
only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a
p u rp o se.” W h a tever yo u r p la n is ju st kno w th a t n o th in g else w ill
satisfy you. Know that God is with you and will provide what you
need to accomplish your purpose. The God who made the mouth
will also provide the food.

A s in d ivid u a ls g o th eir rig h t w a y, d estin y a cco m p a n ies th em . D o n ‟t

part company with your destiny. It is an anchor in the storm. A
p u rp o seless life is a n ea rly d ea th . P sa lm 1 3 8 :8 (N IV ) rea d s, “ T h e
Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures
forever.

R ick R en n er co m m en ted , “ T h e o n ly th in g th a t w ill keep yo u fro m

th e w ill o f G o d is if yo u loo k a t yo u rself a n d sa y, I‟m n o t so m u ch
a m o n g so m a n y:” Y o u ca n ‟t d o a n yth in g a bo u t th e len g th o f y o u r
life, but you can do something about its width and depth. What you
believe is the force that determines what you accomplish or fail to
accomplish in life.

T h e a vera g e p erson ‟s life con sists o f tw en ty yea rs of h a vin g

parents ask where he or she is going, forty years of having a
spouse ask the same question, and at the end, the mourners
wondering the same thing. M a rtin L u th er K in g Jr. sa id , “ If a m a n
h a sn ‟t d isco vered so m eth in g th a t h e w ill d ie fo r, h e isn ‟t fit to
live.” A b a n d o n yo u rself to d estin y.
NUGGET #67

HAVE A READY WILL AND WALK, NOT

IDLE TIME AND TALK

A ctin g on G od ‟s w ill is lik e rid in g a b icycle; if you d on ‟t g o on ,

you go off! O n ce w e kn o w G o d ‟s w ill a nd tim in g , w e sh o u ld
instantly obey, talking action dearly. When God is telling us to do
on whatever God wants us to do, the more unclear His directives
b eco m e. W e n eed to m a ke su re th a t w e a re o n G o d ‟s in tersta te
highway and not in a cul-de-sac.

Ours is a God of velocity. He is a God of timing and direction.

These two always go together. It is never wise to act upon only one
or the other. Jumping at the first opportunity seldom leads to a
h a p p y la n d in g . In P ro verb s 2 5 :8 th e w riter tells u s, “ G o n o t fo rth
hastily to strive, lest, thou know not what to do in the end thereof,
w h en th y n eig h b o r h a th p u t th ee to sh a m e.” E ven th e right
direction taken at the wrong time is a bad decision.

A famous saying holds that people can be divided into three

groups:
1) Those who make things happen
2) Those who watch things happen
3 ) T h o se w h o w o nd er w h a t‟s h a p p en in g . M o st p eop le m iss o u t o n
G o d ‟s b est in th eir lives b eca u se th ey‟re n o t p rep a red . T h e B ib le
warns us that we should be prepared continually. The apostle Paul
exh o rts u s to “ b e in sta n t in sea so n (a n d ) o u t o f sea so n ” (2 T im o th y
4:2)
NUGGET #68

WHAT YOU GIVE LIVES

A good way to judge a man is by what he says. A better way is by

what he does. The best way is by those who can give without
rem em b erin g a n d ta ke w ith o u t fo rg ettin g .” T h e b ig p ro b lem is n o t
th e h a ves a n d h a ve n o ts; it‟s th e g ive n o ts. The Lord loves a
cheerful giver, and so does anyone else.

T h e secret to livin g is g ivin g . C h a rles S p u rg eo n sa id , “ P eel fo r

others-in yo u r w a llet.” A n In d ia n p ro verb sa ys, “ G o o d p eo p le, like
clo u d s; receive o n ly to g ive a w a y.” In fa ct, th e b est g en ero sity is
that which is quick. When you give quickly, it is like giving twice.
R . B ro w n e sa ys, “ W h a tever G o d d o es in yo u r life is no t so yo u ca n
keep it to yo u rself. H e w a n ts yo u to g ive to o th ers.” W h en yo u g ive
only after being asked, you have waited too long.

The Bible says in Acts, “ It is m o re b lessed to g ive th a n to receive”

(20:35). Giving is always the thermometer of our love. Eleanor
R o o sevelt sa id , “ W h en yo u cea se to m a ke a co n trib u tio n , yo u
b eg in to d ie.” G etters d o n ‟t g et m a ke a con trib u tio n , yo u b eg in to
d ie.” G etters d o n ‟t g et happiness. Givers get it. When you live for
a n o th er, it‟s th e b est w a y to live fo r yo u rself. Jo h n W esley a d vised ,
“ M a ke a ll yo u ca n , sa ve a ll yo u ca n , g ive a ll yo u ca n , if th a t‟s a
good formula for successful life.
T h e S w iss w a y, “ A g reed y p erson a n d a pauper are practically
on e in th e sa m e.” When it comes to giving, some people stop at
nothing. Greed always diminishes what has been gained. Mike
M u rd o ck sa ys, “ G ivin g is p ro o f th a t yo u h a ve co n q u ered g reed .”

A lot of people are willing to give God the credit, but not too many
a re w illin g to g ive H im th e ca sh . D o n ‟t ch ea t th e L o rd a n d ca ll it
savings. The trouble with too many people who give until it hurts is
that they are so sensitive to pain.

If yo u h a ve, g ive. If yo u la ck, g ive, G .D . B o rd m en sa id , “ T h e law

o f th e h a rvest is to rea p m o re th a n yo u so w .” It is tru e: p eo p le w h o
give always receive.

H en ry D ru m m o n d sa id , “ T h ere is n o h a p p in ess in h a vin g o r in

g ettin g , b ut on ly in g ivin g .” The test of generosity is not
necessarily how much you give but how much you have left.
H en ry T h o rea u sa id , “ If yo u g ive m o n ey, sp en d yo u rself w ith it.”
The secret to living is giving.
NUGGET #69

IT IS M O R E V A LU A B LE T O SE E K G O D ’S
PRESENCE THAN TO SEEK HIS PRESENTS

T h e B ib le g ives fou r b en efits of seek in g G od ‟s p resen ce. The first

benefit is joy. In Psalm 16:11 known to me the path of life; you will
fill me with joy in y our presence, with eternal pleasures at your
rig h t h an d .” W e ca n n o t h elp b u t exp erien ce g rea t jo y in o u r lives
when we are in the presence of the Lord.

A seco n d b en efit o f seekin g G o d ‟s p resen ce is th a t it p ro vid es g rea t

lig h t. In P sa lm 8 9 :1 5 (N IV ) w e rea d , “ B lessed a re th o se w h o h a ve
learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O
L O R D .” W h erever G o d is, th ere is g rea t illu m in a tio n . If there is a
difficulty seeing, invite the presence of the Lord into that area. If
you are having problems with your work, invite God to your job. If
you are having difficulty at home invite God into y our home. The
mere presence of God will bring illumination and cause all
darkness to leave. It will shed great light on your path.
A th ird b en efit o f seekin g H is p resen ce is G o d ‟s d ivin e p ro tectio n .
P sa lm 3 1 :2 0 (N IV ) sa ys,” In th e sh elter o f o u r p resen ce yo u h id e
them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling, you keep them
sa fe fro m a ccu sin g to n g u es” T h a nk G o d fo r H is d ivin e p ro tectio n
and shelter in our lives. Everyone needs a hiding place, a place of
safety and refuge. The presence of God provides a shelter to keep
us from men and their vain words against us. If yo u ‟re tro u b led b y
o th er p eo p le a n d b y w h a t th ey a re sa yin g , in vite G o d ‟s p resen ce
into those circumstances. If you work in a negative atmosphere,
one in which what men are saying or doing is creating problems
for you, invite the presence of God into that situation. He will be a
shelter, a hiding place, for you.

T h e fo u rth b en efit of seekin g G od ‟s p resen ce is fo u n d in 1 Jo hn

3 :1 9 (N IV ): “ T h is th en is h o w w e kn o w th a t w e b elon g to th e tru th ,
a n d h o w w e set o u r h ea rts a t rest in h is p resen ce.” T h ere is great
peace and rest in the presence of God. Trouble, nervousness,
anxiety, and unrest all these flee from the presence of the Lord.

In vite G o d ‟s p resen ce to w h erever yo u a re. H e w ill en ca m p a ro u n d

you every minute and be with you in every situation of life. In His
presence you will find great joy and light, divine protection, peace
and rest.
NUGGET #70

D O W H A T ’S R IG H T T H E R IG H T W A Y , A T
THE RIGHT TIME

Your success has little to do with speed, but much to do with timing
and direction. What benefit is runn in g if yo u ‟re o n th e rig h t tim e.
T yro n E d w a rd s sa id , “ H a ve a tim e a n d p la ce fo r everyth in g a n d
do everything in its time and place, and you will not accomplish
more. But have far more leisure than those who are always
h u rryin g .” T h e p ro b lem is th a t m a n y a go-getter never stops long
enough to let opportunity catch up with him.

B everly S ills sa ys, “ T h ere a re n o sh o rtcu ts to a n y p la ce w o rth

g o in g .” T h e w a y to th e to p is n eith er sw ift n o r ea sy. Nothing
worthwhile ever happens in a hurry-so be patient. Because of
im p a tien ce, w e a re d riven o u t o f G o d ‟s w ill; co n tinu ed im p a tien ce,
w e a re d riven o u t o f G o d ‟s w ill; co n tin u ed im p a tien ce ca u ses u s
n o t to retu rn . D o n ‟t b e im p a tien t. R em em b er, yo u ca n ‟t w a rm yo u
hands by burning your fingers. The less patience a person has, the
more he loses it.
G o d d id n o t crea te h u rry. L o rd C h esterfield sa id , “ W h o ever is in
h u rry sh o w s th a t th e th ing h e is a bo u t is to o b ig fo r him .” W h en
you are outside of the right timing, you will sow hurry and reap
frustration. There is simply more to life than increasing its speed.
People who hurry through life get to the end of it quicker.

B ren d o n F ra n cis co m m en ted , “ F a ilu re a t a ta sk m a y b e th e resu lt

o f h a vin g ta ckled it a t th e w ro n g tim e.” If th e tim e h a s p a ssed ,
preparation does not good. Leo n a rd o sa ys, “ T im e sta ys lo n g
en o u g h fo r a n yo n e w ho w ill u se it” T h e trou b le w ith life in th e fa st
lane is that you get to the other end too soon. Soren Kierkegaard
sa id , “ M o st m en p u rsu e p lea su re w ith su ch b rea th less h a st th a t
th ey h u rry p a st it.” H a ste m akes waste. Give time, time. Many
people overestimate what they can do in a year and
underestimate what they can do in a lifetime.

B ru yere sa id , “ T h ere is n o ro a d too lon g to th e m a n w h o ad va n ces

deliberately and without undo haste; not honor is too distant to the
m a n w h o p rep a res h im self fo r th em w ith p a tien ce.” M a n y tim es th e
action that you take at the right time has no immediate relationship
to the answer-it‟s to g et yo u to th e rig h t p la ce a t th e rig h t tim e.
We are happiest when we discover that we should be doing and
what we are doing are the same things. You will never be what
you ought to be until you are doing what you ought to be doing.

If you are facing the right direction, just keep on walking. Francis
B a co n sa ys, “ th e la m e m a n w h o keep s th e right road outstrips the
runner who takes a wrong one. The more active and swift the latter
is, th e fu rth er h e w ill g o a stra y.”

Adopt the right place. If you go too fast, you will catch up with
misfortune. If you go too slow, misfortune will catch up with you.
T h e B ib le sa ys,” T h y w o rd is a la m p u n to m y feet a n d a lig h t u n to
m y p a th ” P sa lm 11 9 :1 05 . L et G o d b e yo u r g u id e a nd yo u w ill m iss
all the wrong places.
NUGGET #71

STAND TALL BY FALLING TO YOUR KNEES

The strongest action that you can take in any situation is to go to

your knees and ask God for help. Whatever is worth worrying
a b o u t is certa in ly w o rth p ra yin g a b o u t. P ra yer u n lo cks G o d ‟s
treasure chest of great ideas and answers.

I will share with you one of my favorite prayers. It is one word:

help.

“ H elp , h elp , h elp !”

When we pray, we must be simultaneously willing to take the

a ctio n tha t G od d irects in a n a n sw er to ou r p ra yer. T h a t‟s effective
prayer.

There are four levels of prayer:

1. L evel 1 is p etitio n : “ F a th er I n eed .”
2. Level 2 is intercessio n : “ G o d , h elp .”
3. L evel 3 is p ra ise a n d th a n ksg iving : “ T h an ks L o rd !”
4. L evel 4 is co n versa tio n : “ G o o d m o rn in g , F a th er.”
In Philippians 4:6-7 (N IV ) th e a p o stle P a u l co u n sels u s, “ D o n o t
be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, with guard
yo u r h ea rts a n d yo u r m in d s in C h rist Jesu s.” In C o lo ssia n s 4 :2
(N IV ) h e sa ys, “ D evo te yo u rselves to p ra yer, b ein g w a tch fu l a nd
th a nkfu l.”

There are twelve benefits to prayer:

1. Prayer defeats the devil (Matthew 18:18)
2. Prayer saves the unbeliever (Acts 2:21)
3. Prayer edifies the believer (Jude 20)
4. Prayer sends laborers into the harvest (Matthew 9:38)
5. Prayer heals the sick ( James 5:13-15)
6. Prayer overcomes the impossible (Matthew 21:22)
7. Prayer changes the natural (James 5:17-18)
8. Prayer brings the right things to pass (Matthew 7:7-11)
9. Prayer imparts wisdom (James 1:5)
10. Prayer brings peace (Philippians 4:5-7)
11. Prayer guards against temptation (Matthew 26:41)
12. P ra yer revea ls G o d ‟s a n sw ers (L u ke 1 1 :9 -10)
NUGGET #72

MIRACLES ALWAYS BEGIN IN THE HEART

(BILL JOE DAUGHERTY)

When confronted with a new opportunity or tough situation, I

u su a lly a sk m yself “ D o I h a ve a p u re h ea rt an d a righ t sp irit?” W e
should pray Psalm 139:23-2 4 o ften : “ S ea rch m e, O G o d , a n d
know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be
a w icked w a y in m e, a n d lea d m e in th e w a y everla stin g .”

The weapon of the brave resides in his/her heart. Horace Rutledge

sa id , “ W h en yo u look at the world in a narrow way, how mean it
is! But when you look at in a broad, generous friendly spirit, how
w o n d erfu l yo u fin d it!” T h e B ib le co u n sels u s to p ro ve a ll th in g s,
holding fast to those which are good (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Margaret Mitchell sp oke th is tru th : “ T h ere isn ‟t n o th in g o u tsid e

fro m th a t ca n lick a n y o f u s.” Ja m es A llen a d d ed , “ Y o u w ill
become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your
d o m in a n t a sp iratio n .” R em em b er th is; w h en yo u d o n ‟t h a ve
stren g th w ith in , yo u w o n ‟t respect without.
If a p erso n ‟s a im in th is w o rld , h e w ill m isfire in th e n ext. T o o
many children are afraid of the dark, while too many adults are
a fra id o f th e lig h t. W illia m H a zlitt rem a rked , “ If m a n kin d w o u ld
wish for what is right, they might have had it long ago.” R og er
B a b son a d d ed , “ If th in g s a re n ot g oin g w ell w ith you , b eg in you r
effort at correcting the situation by carefully examining the
service you are rendering and especially the spirit in which you
a re ren d erin g it.”

To know what is right and not do it is as bad as doing wrong.

Invite trouble, and it will show up early. Save yourself a lot of
tro u b le b y n o t b o rro w ing a n y. H ere‟s m o re in sig h t a b o ut tro u b le:
yo u d o n ‟t h a ve to g et rid o f o ld p rob lem s to m a ke ro o m fo r n ew
ones. Nothing costs more than doing the wrong thing.

The man who borrows trouble is always in debt. The best way to
escape evil is to pursue good. The person who persists in courting
trouble will soon be married to it. Go straight. Every crooked turn
delays your arrival at success.
Jo el B u d d sa id ,” A h u n g ry h ea rt is like a p a ra ch u te. W h en yo u p u ll
o n it, it o p en s u p a n d sa ves yo u .” K eep yo u r h ea d a n d h ea rt g o ing
in th e rig h t d irectio n , a n d yo u w o n ‟t h a ve to w o rry a b o u t yo u r feet.
NUGGET #73

GOD IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM; HE IS YOUR

ANSWER

Some time ago, I was eating at a Mexican fast-food restaurant. As

I stood in line for service, I noticed in front of me a very poor
elderly lady who looked like a street person. When it was her turn,
she ordered some water and one taco. Sitting in the booth right
next to her, I co u ld n ‟t help but observe her and be moved with
compassion for her. Shortly after I had begun my meal, I walked
over to her and asked if I could buy some more food for her lunch.
S h e lo o ked a t m e a n d a n g rily a sked , “ W h o a re yo u ? ”

“ Ju st a g u y w h o w a n ts to h elp ,” I resp o n d ed . She ignored me. I

finished my meal about the same time she did, and we both got up
to leave. I felt led to give her some money. In the parking lot, I
approached her and offered her some cash.

Her only respo n se to m e w a s, “ S to p b o th erin g m e.” T h en sh e

stormed off. Immediately the Lord showed me that this is often the
many ways of us respond to Him. When He calls out to us, seeking
to b less u s, w e a ct a s th o u g h w e d o n ‟t even kn o w w h o H e is. W e
respond to His offer of blessing b y a skin g , “ W h o a re Y o u ? W h a t
do You want from m e? ” T h e L o rd , b ein g th e g ra cio u s G o d H e is
co n tin u es to try to b less u s. Y et w e rea ch b y sa yin g “ S to p
b o th erin g m e” . M issin g o u t on th e rich b lessin g s o f th e L o rd , w e
walk off, just as this lady did.

It‟s n ot th e a b sen ce of p rob lem s th a t g ives u s p ea ce; it‟s G od

presence with us in the problems. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus sent
his disciples into all the world, ordering them to preach the Gospel
to every crea tu re. “ Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the
end of the world.

In Romans 8:38-3 9 (N IV ), th e a p o stle P a u l w ro te, “ F o r I a m

convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us
fro m th e lo ve o f G o d th a t is in C h rist Jesu s o u r L o rd .” In verse 3 1
h e d ecla red , “ W h a t, th en sh a ll w e sa y in resp o n se in th is? If G o d
is for us, who can be against us? A paraphrase might be, “ If G od
is fo r u s, w h o ca res w h o is a g a in st u s? ”
In P sa lm 1 4 5 :18 (N IV ), w e rea d , “ T h e L o rd is n ea r to a ll w ho ca ll
o n H im , to a ll w h o ca ll o n h im in tru th ,” Ja m es 4 :8 (N IV )
a d m o n ish es u s, “ C o m e n ea r to G o d a n d h e w ill co m e n ea r to yo u .”
In Acts 17:28 (NIV) Paul said, “ For in him we live in move and
have our being.”

Thank God that we can, without hesitation and with full

confidence, lean on His eternal faithfulness.
NUGGET #74
LEARN THE ALPHABET FOR SUCCESS
A – Action
B-Belief
C- Commitment
D-Direction
E-Enthusiasm
F-Faith
G-Goals
H-Happiness
I-Inspiration
J-Judgment
K-Knowledge
L-Love
M-Motivation
N-Nonconformity
O-Obedience
P-Persistence
Q-Quality
R-Righteousness
S-Steadfastness
T-Thankfulness
U-Uniqueness
V-Vision
W-Wisdom
X-(E)xcellence
Y-Yieldness
Z-Zeal
NUGGET #75

THE MEASURE OF A MAN IS NOT IN WHAT

HE DOES ON SUNDAY BUT IN WHO HE IS
MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

Y o u d o n ‟t h a ve to co m e out of the Spirit realm. God intends for you

to walk everyday in the same closeness, strength, joy and direction
you experience on Sunday. The devil is waiting to ambush you as
you leave church. He wants to bring to your mind thoughts of fear,
doubt, unbelief, and destruction.
We must guard our minds and hearts. As spiritual creatures, we
walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We are commanded
to live in the Spirit, not in the natural.

People whose eyes, ears and minds are directed toward the world
find it difficult to hear God speaking to them. The Lord wants to
talk to you at work, at lunch, at play-everywhere you go. Some of
the greatest revelations from God have come not in my prayer
closet but in the midst of my everyday life.
Our inner man is always willing, but our natural man resists.
T h a t‟s w h a t Jesu s m ea n t w h en H e sa id to H is d iscip les. “ W a tch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit is indeed
w illin g , b u t th e flesh is w ea k” (M a tth ew 2 6 :4 1 )

The advantage of walking in the Spirit is that it keeps us on the

right path. In Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV), the apostle Paul wrote,
“ S o I sa y, live b y th e S p irit, a n d yo u w ill n o t g ra tify th e d esires o f
the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to
the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They
are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you
w a n t. B u t if yo u a re led b y th e S p irit, yo u a re n o t u n d er la w .”

Thank God that our relationship with Him is not a sometimes

a ffa ir; it‟s a n all-the-time union. With the words of the old hymn, I
sa y, “ H e lea d s m e! O b lessed th o u g h t!” T h e g o o d n ew s is, G o d
d o esn ‟t live in a ch u rch . H e‟s everyw h ere w e a re.
NUGGET #76

GOD WILL USE YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU

ARE TODAY

Y o u d o n ‟t n eed to d o a n yth in g else for God to begin to use you

n o w . Y o u d o n ‟t h a ve to rea d a n o th er p a p erb a ck b o o k, listen to
another cassette tape, memorize another scripture, plant another
seed g ift, o r rep ea t a no th er creed o r co n fessio n . Y o u d o n ‟t even
need to attend another church service before God will begin to
make use of you.

God uses willing vessels, not brimming vessels. Throughout the

Bible, in order to fulfill His plans for the earthy, God used many
people from all walks of life:

1. Matthew, a government employee who became an apostle

2. Gideon, a common laborer who became a valiant leader of
men
3. Jacob, a deceiver whose name became Israel
4. Deborah, a housewife who became a judge
5. Moses, a stutterer who became a deliverer
6. Jeremiah , a child who fearlessly spoke the Word of the Lord
7. Aaro n , a serva n t w h o b eca m e G o d ‟s sp o kesm a n
8. Nicodemus, a Pharisee who became a defender of the faith.
9. David, a shepherd boy who become a king
10. Hosea, a marital failure who prophesied to save Israel
11. Joseph, a prisoner who become prime minister
12. Esther, an orphan who became a queen
13. Elijah, a homely man who became a mighty prophet
14. Joshua, an assistant who became a mighty prophet
15. James and John, fishermen who became dose disciples of
C h rist a n d w ere kn o w n a s “ so n s o f th u n d er”
16. Abraham, a nomad who became the father of many nations.
17. P eter, a b u sin essm a n w h o b eca m e o n e o f th e w o rld ‟s g rea test
evangelists
18. Jacob , a refugee who became the father of the twelve tribes of
Israel
19. John the Baptist, a vagabond who became the forerunner of
Jesus.
20. Mary, an unknown virgin who gave birth to the Son of God.
21. Nehemiah, a cupbearer who built the wall of Jerusalem
22. Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, Hebrew exiles who
became great leaders of the nation of Babylon
23. H ezekia h , a n id o la tro u s fa th er‟s so n , w h o b eca m e a kin g
renowned for doing right in the sight of the Lord.
24. Isaiah, a man of unclean lips who prophesied the birth of
G o d ‟s m essia h
25. Paul, a persecutor who became the greatest missionary in
history and the author of two-thirds of the New Testament.

ALL GOD NEEDS IS ALL OF YOU!

A FINAL WORD

B e th e w h o le p erso n G o d ca lled yo u to b e. D o n ‟t settle fo r

a n yth in g else. D o n ‟t lo o k ba ck. L oo k fo rw a rd a nd d ecid e to da y to
take steps towards His plan for your life.

A n d rem em b er 1 T h essa lo n ian s 5 :24 . “ F a ith fu l is h e th at ca lled

you, who also will d o it.”

OTHER BOOKS BY JOHN L. MASON

1. KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND IGNORE THEM

2. PROVERBS PRAYERS
3. CONQUERING AN ENEMY CALLED AVERAGE
4. LET GO OF WHATEVER MAKES YOU STOP
5. ASK
6. Y O U ‟R E B O R N A N O R IG IN A L -D O N ‟T D IE A C O P Y
7. WHY ASK WHY
8. D O N ‟T W A IT F O R Y O U R S H IP T O C O M E IN , S W IM
OUT TO MEET IT

(TYPED BY ERNEST APPIAH (THE GREAT PALOMA)