“Competing at the highest level is not about winning. It’s about preparation, courage, understanding and nurturing your people…and heart (passion, otherness). Winning is the result.” Joe Torre, champion U. S. baseball player, manager and league executive, as quoted by Charlie Kirk in his book, How We Win, pg. 38 (emphases and words in parenthesis added by me).
“A tennis player trains by practicing tennis.
A singer trains by singing.
Our stewardship over the finances entrusted to us is our “training for reigning.” Our learning to “reign with Christ” and co-labor with Him to bring Heaven to Earth starts with how we handle the money in our hand.”
Pastor/Speaker/Writer/Entrepreneur James Baker, Wealth with God FB page (posted 3/18/24).
“The secret of faith is to believe (God’s Word) in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” Philip Yancey, as quoted by Rev. Ken Gurley in The Book on Prayer, pg. 243.
“Holiness is not God asking us to ‘be good‘. Rather, it’s an invitation to ‘be His‘.” Lisa Bevere, as quoted in small book, First Cup Devotions for Couples, pg. 57.
“Paul said elsewhere, we should not quench or extinguish the Spirit in our lives (I Thess. 5:19). In the sermon “Reigniting Your Passion for God,” Rick Warren highlights seven passion killers:
“So many forces are capable of stifling the work of God in our lives. That’s why we must pray without ceasing. It is through prayer we draw close to the God Who is a consuming fire, and we become illuminated (empowered and connected to His People) in His Presence,” as found in The Book on Prayer, by Ken Gurley, pg. 158 (words in parenthesis added by me, dkb).
“Zephaniah, a contemporary of Judah’s King Josiah, represents a type of leader that every organization needs. Josiah was the godly king who, as a 20-year-old monarch, began to initiate much-needed national reforms. He restored the worship practices of old, ordered the Book of the Law to be read aloud, and required everyone to bow down and repent for their sin and (un)spiritual drifting. “Merely external reforms, however, remain incomplete. You cannot perfume a skunk and expect to transform him! Many in Josiah’s day performed the repentance rituals but continued in their secret sins. Many never acknowledged their private sinfulness, nor did they inwardly repent of their personal wickedness. John Maxwell, in his NKJV Leadership Bible, pg. 1111.
We think, ‘right here, right now.’ God is thinking, ‘nations and generations!’ Caleb wasn’t conquering Hebron just for himself. More than four hundred years later, David would be crowned king in the city Caleb conquered. (In a large sense) David was standing on Caleb’s shoulders! It was Caleb’s victory that made David’s coronation possible! When you ‘wind the clock’ the way Caleb did, your brave can become someone else’s breakthrough! Mark Batterson, Win the Day, pg. 167.
“Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” To become like Christ is to become like a little child. The implications and applications of this one statement are kaleidoscopic, but it refers to approaching life with childlike humility, childlike wonder, childlike faith (and childlike obedience). You need to stay in-touch with your ‘inner child,’ no matter how old you get. To do that, you’ve got to ignore your ‘inner critic.’ Mark Batterson, Win the Day, ppgs 165-166.
First, wisdom and love, then fearless following and devotion (to Messiah God, Jesus). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Pro.9:10
The Key to True Greatness is NOT normally achieved by doing great things well now and then or before the eyes of man but, rather, by doing ordinary things excellently, day-in and day-out, especially when no one (human) is watching. (Epiphany to me, DKB.)
Ponderings of a Sojourner 