Tag Archives: purpose

Always Forward…Never Back!!!

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Always Forward!  This was the motto used by my Basic Training Battalion in the Army.  We had to use this motto in place of saying thank you and many other things.  It was ingrained into us as a part of everyday speak.  Hearing the sermon at church this weekend, this term came back into my scope.  What this term mean to you when you hear it?  To me it is a very strong phrase for how we need to approach life and everything we encounter in life.  Some have trouble with this concept when they come across obstacles in life that may seem to slow down their progress through life or push them backwards.  The saying that we have all heard is that we take one step forward and then two steps back.  With this type of mentality in life it makes it very difficult to get through anything or even seeing the light at the end of the tunnel that awaits.

Always Forward!  This is such a powerful statement for life.  It was applicable to me as a soldier in that we always sought to drive forward. In life, I believe it is imperative that we do the same.  No matter what obstacles face us we have to continue to drive forward to finish whatever it is we started.  The pastor also called it having the grit to finish.  In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.”  Paul is referring to the struggles he has gone through in spreading the Good News about Jesus Christ.  Despite the pain and struggles he went through, Paul was steadfast in remaining faithful to Christ and his mission to spread the Good News.  The reward for finishing the race is lies ahead of us.  In verse 8 Paul said, “And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

Throughout our life, whether it is in our faith, our family, our work, or our everyday encounters, we come across obstacles that will try to keep us back.  Paul was steadfast in that despite the suffering, he remained faithful to his cause.  He did not back down. When we face our obstacles in life, no matter how difficult it may see, we have to do the same.  We need to have the grit to stay the course we are on and finish.  You have to remove those negative impulses you have that may pull you off course.  You need to have the grit to finish and remain Always Forward.

I have gone through a great deal of challenges in life.  Right now, as I have mentioned before, I am working on completing my Doctorate in Business Administration.  I have come a long way in this course.  Several times, even to now, I have days where I wonder if I can finish this pathway I started.  Something always comes back to remind me just how far I have come and that I need to have the guts to sweat it out and make it to the end.

George Whitfield said, “Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.”  This adds more truths.  If we take too much time to linger, then we can find ourselves stuck and not able to press forward.  We cannot wallow in the struggles of now.  You have to always know that there are brighter days at the end if you will but press through.  This is when it also becomes imperative to fix our thoughts on the positive and not let the negative hold us back.  Philippians 4:8 says, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  Earl Nightingale expressed that “We become what we think about.”  There is an underlying truth here.  If we fix our minds on what is positive in life, things are excellent and worthy of praise, we then can find the strength to finish the race.

With all of the challenges that life can throw your way, you can choose to make a stand and not let then keep you from your goals.  Maybe your goals are for stronger faith, stronger marriage, or anything else.  Always know that you can get through to accomplish those goals.  Stay close to God and prayer and tell yourself to remain…Always Forward!

Choosing to Live Versus Choosing to Exist

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I ran across the quote today from Oscar Wilde that stated “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”  This made me reflect on Pillar 4 and how living a life that is enjoyable and has purpose and meaning  makes so much difference in anyone’s life. Many people today don’t ever fully live their life.  They become so wrapped up that they forget to take the opportunity to get out and enjoy their own lives.  They don’t take time from work or away from everyday routines that it becomes more and more difficult to truly live.  These people, as Oscar Wilde said, merely exist.  They sit in their own complacency, grumblings, and frustrations in life.  This effects their relationships with family and friends, their work, and their faith as well.

Now what does it mean to live and not merely exist?  Living can be so many different things.  It could getting be betting out and experiencing new things.  Getting actively involved in things that you enjoy and have meaning to you around your community. Taking vacations with your family and getting away from the normal grind.  Take risks in starting a new business.  There are so many things that apply to living and this is such a small example.  The biggest thing is that no matter what you do, it is important that those things have a sense of purpose to you and something that you enjoy doing.

Living our lives to the fullest is something that is mentioned by so many.  God’s Word mentions the joys of living where it is stated “So I recommend having fun, because their is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some of the happiness along with all the hard work that God gives them under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 8:15).  We are also told “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16).  It is important that throughout our entire lives we take the time actually enjoy life and do things that we enjoy and love and has purpose to us.  We have been granted a tremendous blessing of life and it is so short. Wasting this opportunity can leave you with tremendous regrets.

I was at an event where John Maxwell was speaking a couple of years back and he express that we have to take responsibility for our own happiness.  If you have bologna in your life, it’s because you make it.  This was a very powerful message.  At the time, I myself was in a state of confusion and uncertainty of my own direction.  What he said was very true, we have to take responsibility for our own happiness.  You get out of life what you make of it.

Earl Nightingale mentioned that one of the biggest issues people have is that they conform, people acting like everyone else, without know why or where they are going.  This also speaks truths because it shows us that we cannot lump through life like others. Get out and do things that bring joy to your life.  This will help you build success in the other pillars of life and help you to fully come alive.

So my message today is to live.  Don’t just exist, conform, and get along…Live!!!  Make the most of everyday God blesses you with here on earth.  The sky’s the limit.  You are only limited in life by how much you limit yourself.

Sunset

The Four Pillars to Come Alive

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Ever since I first began this GEN Revolution journey, I have spent much time reflecting on what is it that I was really doing.   What do I want to focus on and what do I really want to bring out to everyone?  I always knew that one day I would be able to pursue my own work avenues.  It has taken some time to figure out what it is I really wanted to do.   Even after developing the idea of GEN revolution, it still took time to figure out what it would turn out to be.  I knew I wanted to help people in some one.  To provide guidance to help them in their work lives and maybe more.  With much prayer and thought, the idea is really beginning to take shape in what I feel I was called to do.  I have known for some time that God has been calling me into service in some way.  I have written many times about this in the past and now here.

The journey of GEN Revolution is coming alive and my mission has really started to unfold.  I was thinking through my mission statement this week and this is what came about,  “Use the abilities God has given me to make a difference in my life and the lives of those I encounter and work with. Motivate and inspire others to stand up for what they believe and never make excuses for unleashing their full God given potential. Create value for people in wanting to live in freedom with intentional purpose and achieve prosperity.”  There is a lot being said behind that statement.  There are so many areas in life that shape who we are and the kind of life we decide to leave.  These are areas of faith, marriage and family, work, and life purpose.  What was made clear to me was that neglecting one of these areas leaves  void in your life.  I will give a quick high-level look here.

Our walk with God and faith in Jesus Christ is a very important aspect of living.  He is the creator of all and placed each one of us here to glorify Him and serve Him, praise Him, and to follow the path He has laid forth.  We need to be able to turn back to God, repent, and continue praising Him for the blessing we have.  Doing so, is building block that carrier over to everything else in life.  Next, is our family and marriages (if you’re married).  One of the biggest issues I see is when married couples begin to disconnect and let little things get in the way of their happiness.  Your love for each other is meant to be unconditional just has God’s love for us is unconditional by the way he sent his son to bear the punishment we deserved for falling short of his grace.  People need to not neglect this area of their lives and also not neglect the time they have with their children.  Work is next and this is big.  It is our means providing for making a living and providing for our families.  Far too often, people settle for work that makes them miserable and they dread getting up in the morning.  I have most definitely been there.  They neglect this area by not pursuing work they love and actually has meaning to them and is profitable.  Finally it is life purpose.  All of these pieces fit into our life purpose and discovering what it is we want to accomplish in life and the kind of life we lead.  This is they way to unleash your full God given potential in life by answering each of these areas.

These four critical pieces will be the foundation of GEN Revolutions focus.  In 2013, you will begin seeing ways that can help you reach each of these areas and unleash your potential.  I will continuing writing each week on each of these areas and I will also begin to offer what will be Revolution Radio, my new podcast that will be launching soon.  Finally, I will be developing and providing a coaching service that will help people reach all of these areas and getting out to speak on the subjects as I can.  This is what I have been called to do  and something I have absolute passion for.  I may not have all the answers, but I most certainly will be able to work with you help you find the answers to your life’s mysteries and unleash your own potential enabling you to come alive.  It’s going to be an awesome journey.  I look forward to be able to serve and help people in their lives.  We can all come alive, nothing is impossible with God on our side.

 

The Journey to Growth

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Each day I find myself taking time to reflect on my personal growth journey.  I use that time to read and take note of the actions many have take and the advice that has been place before me to help me in my journey.  I have become very intentional, also, about opening my heart to listen to the path God continues to lay before my feet.  Every step of my journey through life and work has been another step in the pathway He has laid out.  They all build upon each other as a preparation for fulfilling my life purpose.  This goes for everyone.  Every decision to get up and go to work, to go to school, and everything in between on that journey is all a building block.  Many of us find ourselves taking a journey that may not seem like the path that was intended.  It all builds toward your ultimate purpose though.  God has granted us the free will to make decision on our path and we have to choose whether to listen to where he leads us or to take a different route that does not reach that ultimate purpose.

In my thinking today, I looked back on things I wrote a couple of years back.  This was a time, when I was really questioning my path life.  I had lost my Dad a year prior in a horrible car accident, and I was still reeling from the effects of the dark shadow that was cast from that event.  I reflected on talking to my older brother Rob, who had asked me after we had finished a workout, what is it that I want to be remembered for.  Part of my answer was that I wanted to be someone that can make an impact on the lives of others.  When I think about it though, I think what I said in 2010 very valid in the direction I am taking now as I build this platform to impact lives.

I also took time to look back on notes that I took at a book launch event for John Maxwell in October and his “15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.”  One of his laws is the “Law of the Mirror.”  This law states that you must see value in yourself to add value to yourself.  Two years ago, that journey may not have meant as much to me.  Today, I really see the importance of that statement.  All too often,  people fail to see their real value in themselves and don’t capitalize on making the most out of their potential.  They find it easy to stay complacent in their role because they do not believe in themselves and their value enough to grow further.  If you find yourself in that spot, and believe me, I have been there, you have to know that there is always room for further personal growth and that if you listen to Him in your heart, God will help you find that value in yourself put you on that path to growth spiritually and in work and life.

While driving today, I was listening to an audio CD today with Dan and Joann Miller as they reflected on their journey together in “Living, Loving, and Working.”  There was a great deal that took from that, first that applies and mirrors the life Amber and I have led in our lives together.  I will reflect on that in later writings, but one thing Dan closed with was from Earl Nightingale’s “The Strangest Secret” which is on my reading list.  The point that was mentioned was that “A man becomes what he thinks about.”  This is important because it also ties into the concept of what value we see in ourselves and our growth journey.  Start thinking of ways you can succeed in your life journey to answer God’s calling.  The more you think about it, I also believe that you will get there.  Think about it, not just in reflection to yourself but also talk about it with others, maybe your spouse, and most definitely, think about it by talking to God.  This will help open the path for you.

Me, I have been on a path of growth for many years.  Each step has brought me to where I am now, and I have found that avenue to realize everything I have worked for and unleash my full potential in life, love, work, and spiritually.   You can get yourself on that path as well, no matter what it is.  We all have a purpose under God and we can all find that purpose and realize that purpose through intentional growth.

The Power of Can

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All to often we get bogged down in life and unwilling to step forward to pursue our dreams and passions.  We get caught up in a world that tells us we need to live “responsibly” and pursue security in our careers to provide for our families.  As a husband and father, I have been in that realm for the last 15 years.  I have pursued jobs that provided paychecks and benefits that provided a semblance of security for my wife and kids.  Amber and I were one of those couples that married very early, at 18, and had children early.  We struggled with getting by many times over.  People discounted our chances to make for being so young, and we have grown stronger and stronger as the years rolled.  I’ll approach that topic more at a later date.

Going back to dreams and passions, I want talk about something that I think has influenced many of our lives.  That is the idea of can and can’t.  Those two words can have a significant factor in how you choose to drive forward through life. Whether you settle with mediocrity or complacency or whether you decide to unleash you full potential in life.  Many times we will see the negative influences from those that tell you that you can’t pursue this passion or that dream because its not practical.  It’s not normal to step away and do work that has purpose and meaning and that you love if it is not that typical career avenue that provides that steady pay and benefits.  You have to be responsible and can’t rock the boat by stepping into an unknown avenue.  Dreams are great, but don’t pay the bills.  I have been down that road and encouraged to continue down my career path.  I have even told myself that I can’t venture out because I needed to be able to provide for my family.  I looked at this option 7 years ago, but bailed from fear of the unknown.

Now, there is that word that, CAN.  That is to be able to, or have the ability or power to do.  This word is a very powerful force in life.  It is a word that can help build the motivation to unleash yourself.  When I started my doctoral journal, I told myself that I CAN, and I am within a year of meeting that goal.  In recent months, I told myself that I CAN venture out to find my passions and pursue work that has purpose and meaning to me and that I would love.  As a result, GEN Revolution was born and is only just beginning.  My partnership with GEN180 born and will takeoff in the coming months as well.  In addition, I am pursuing a dream that I have had for years to publish my first book.  I am going to be working on not only one, but two books with more to come later.  This is where my life passions and dreams lie and that is where I will drive toward.  I CAN and I will do it.

The word CAN can make a difference in all our lives.  If you have dreams you want to pursue, you CAN go after.  If you believe in those passions, step away from your comforts and do it.  You may be worried about being able to provide.  I know from others experiences and knowing the achiever in me, that I CAN pursue my passions in way that is fulfilling and probably will be more profitable than if I continued down the same path.  Tell yourself that you CAN and you will make.  Pray about it.  Talk to God and ask him to show you the way.  He will reveal that path that He meant for you and knows that you CAN make it down.  Don’t let the negative and fear of the unknown keep you from those dreams.  That’s the adversary trying to keep you miserable and unhappy.  Tell yourself that you CAN and you will take huge step toward unleashing your full potential coming alive and free.

SpiritofPower

Surrounded by Passion and Success

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I just had one amazing weekend! Having never been in an environment like this, I was blessed with an amazing opportunity. I traveled with my brother, Rob, to Franklin, TN outside Nashville, to the 48 Days Sanctuary for their 2012 Christmas Open House. At this event I was afforded an opportunity to network with many entrepreneurs who have taken the road to freedom to pursue purposeful lives and work. This whole weekend I was like a sponge. I got to listen to people talk about their many pursuits and how they have journeyed through life to be free. The energy and passion in everyone here was absolutely awe inspiring. I have never been in a setting where people were just all about their own dreams. There was an absolutely genuine sense of happiness among everyone. You do not see that very often.

Throughout this weekend, I grew immensely as a building leader and entrepreneur  It built a stronger feeling that the decision to go down this road was the right decision. It may not always be easy, but I know God is pointing me to work that is my purpose, will be meaningful, and that I will love. God has laid out a path for each one of us and the choices in our lives are built around finding that path and living it out. The people you surround yourself with in life bring further influence into how you move  toward God’s path. This weekend was a breading ground of success and just these few hours helped to build more confidence in myself that I can do this and so can anyone else who feels they may be stuck in that career that is not right for them and that is stifling their lives.

While at the 48 Days Sanctuary  I took times to step away and walk around the property to process and think about the experience and what it means for me. I took in the wonderful scenery and just contemplated it all. What a beautiful place Dan and Joanne Miller have, by the way. After this weekend, I have made a definitive decision in who I will surround myself with into the future to help drive my own aspirations. People like those the 48 Days Family are who I need to be around. When you surround yourself with people that drive your energy, you will be energized yourself. The energy here was amazing.

In your own life, be aware of those you surround yourself with. If you are around people that sulk in their work and our miserable in what they do, chances are that you will fall down that same path. If you have dreams and passions you want to pursue, surround yourself with those that help you bring out those passions, that will drive you to successes in your passions and give you fulfillment in life. It is part of a key that will unleash your full God given potential.

48 Days Eagle