What's Found Within

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Hebrews 10:24

Michelangelo said he saw the figure of David within the block of marble and carved it out.  Encouragers do the same thing; they see your best self and draws it out with words of encouragement and affirmation.

Think of the people you see.  Do you have the Michelangelo effect on them by drawing out their best selves?  Let's start this very day and become the positive encouraging artist! After all, God created them in the same way He created you.

Be Yourself

Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Galatians 6:5

 

I like "Forrest Gump."  It's a story of a person, who is a little socially slow, struggling through life.  My favorite part of the movie was when Forrest joined the Army.  His Drill Sergeant would yell and holler and Forrest seemed to fit right in that environment.  He polished his boots faster than anyone, he disassembled and reassembled his weapon faster than anyone, and he even cleaned the floor with his toothbrush without so much as batting his eye.  Forrest found his niche.

Forrest had to learn how to be himself as he encountered situations which he found odd.  For example, when he drank all those Dr. Peppers at the Presidential Receptions he had to decide how to be himself.  And he learned that from his Momma telling him not to "put on airs."

 

God reminds us every single day that HE created us on purpose, for a purpose, and uniquely gifted for that purpose.  God reminds us that we are to be who HE made us.  Does that mean we'll get it right every time?  Nope!  From personal experience, I can tell you that I don't get it right more times than not, but I do try very hard!  This is why God has provided Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness.  The three "sisters" if you will.  

 

My job is to be the best ME I can be.  God's job is to fulfill His purpose for me!  It's really just that simple!

 

Stand Out!

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, 

so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:16 

 

How many times have you heard (or said) "I'm just going to do enough to get by and that's all"?  Whether it's because we are frustrated because we didn't get promoted, or perhaps because we got chewed out, or perchance we're just burned out, doing just the minimum is not what God has called us to do.

 

Imagine if everyone had the attitude of "Meh, whatever."  Would you eat at a restaurant where that mentality was prominent from the food prep line to the servers?  Would you want to purchase a home where the builder's crew had that attitude?  Would you want to send your children to a school where the teachers had that mentality?

 

We are called to do good deeds.  Not just good deeds but to do them so that God will be praised because of them.  That is a high standard!  Whether you mop floors or clean windows or protect the public or process data, do it in such a way that God will be praised because you do it just that well! 

A Legacy Worth Leaving

Whatever work you do, do your best, because you are going to the grave, 

where there is no working, no planning, no knowledge, and no wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

 

 I am a procrastinator, but I'll tell you about that later.  Anyone who knows me well, also knows that if you want something fixed....I'm not exactly the handiest person to call.  My advice is the same as I heard on the Andy Griffith Show many years ago: "Just call the man!"

But the things I am able to do, I will give it my all.  My bride has watched as I worked on a B.U.B.B.A. to give away.  She was amazed (or amused, not sure which), when I undid about two days worth of work.  She asked me why, I explained that I had messed it up.  She told me no one would notice.  But here's the point, had I not fixed it, I would have known that my best was not given.

You see, we're not expected to be perfect, but we are expected to give our best effort in everything we do.  Our legacy will be "He ALWAYS did his best" or "Meh, he did just enough to get by."  Which legacy would you want?