Success is Not Free
Some people believe life would be easier if success was handed to them on a platinum platter. However, the truth is to know that there is no easy road to uncovering your dreams. It is simply hard work. Don't allow anyone to fool you into believing otherwise. Trying to walk fully in your possibility is offered at a price that many people aren't willing to pay. Sure many of us talk a good game of what what we want from life, and/or what would make us happy. When in reality, much of the rhetoric is full with empty words with no real action. We often talk only to hear ourselves speak, and/or we speak bold only for others to hear so that we can show that we exist. We want to prove that we matter. Nonetheless I challenge to be different. I encourage you to respond to the inner voice that calls out to you in your sleep, shouts that you are magnifcent and have something incredible to share with humanity. Take this moment to evaluate your life, and ponder on these five important questions.
1.What will I do differently?
2. Am I willing to take the necessary risk to learn more, and to become better so that I can knock on doors of opportunity?
3. Will I choose to lead, or will I be a follower ?
4. Am I going to set myself apart so that I am recognized as a person that believes dreams can come true?
5. Can I determine today that I am special to the word, and my life is full with goodness that is going to help develop the world into a better humanity?
Success is not free! The true believers who have accomplished their dreams didn’t sit idle in life and hope to have success. They set themselves apart to believe that they have something to offer, and did not allow anyone to stop them from doing what is right for their lives.
“Every Great dream begins with a dream. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes
“What I know for sure is that it’s only when you make the process your goal that the big dream can follow. That doesn’t necessarily mean your process will necessarily lead you to wealth or fame. In fact, your dream may have nothing to do with tangible prosperity and everything to do with creating a life filled with joy, one with no regrets and a clear conscience.” Oprah Winfrey
“I don’t know what my calling is, but I want to be here for a bigger reason. I strive to be like the greatest people who have ever lived.” Will Smith
“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. “ Bill Cosby
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how your do it.” Maya Angelou
“Everything negative-pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise”.Kobe Bryant
You can accomplish the best for your life, but the best will come at a price. You may have to dissociate yourself from friends. You will have to work harder than you are willing. You will have to disagree with friends and family. You will have to work harder than the person sitting at the desk next to you. Success is about choice, and the decision to stand out, stand up, and to know that the dream in you is a priceless jewel that sets you free. Are you willing to pay the cost for success? This is your life. You are the only person that can and will determine your outcome
Excerpt From Power Thoughts
The Message
I will be honest, the only thing that I or anyone else can do to help you believe in the greater possibility that exist for your life is to tell you to seek God for truth- and to ask God to provide you with the purpose of your existence. You’ve heard it before that God does not do for one, that He will not do for another. Therefore, you must believe possibility exist for your life. You have a strength that is equipped with all the necessary tools to overcome any obstacles thrown in your path. The problem for most of us is that we are always looking for this greater understanding of life when in fact everything we need to know about living prosperously is written in the word of God.
However, I believe God uses us for His greater good, and inspires our lives for meaningful task that provides a door of awakening for those of us who may have become stagnated on our journey. Truthfully, God knows that many of us would more than likely read books such as this before we turn to His word because books like this are less threatening and we can easily agree or disagree with the content. In that regard, God uses the testimonies of those who choose to believe in Him to share the glory God has placed in their lives. He then places a conviction in their hearts to do His will so that He may open avenues for reaching and communicating with all of us.
This book is not about me. It is about the message God wants to get to you. I make no mistake in understanding that I am fortunate to be used as an instrument that was given instruction and direction. Therefore, I encourage you to read this book because I believe it is not by coincidence that it is a literature of choice for you. I have no idea what message is contained in this book for your life. I only pray that you receive what is intended for you, and that the Lord finds grace for me because I followed instructions.
“Lord God in the name of Jesus, I pray as you have inspired me to write these words that you will also inspire the man/woman that is now reading these words. Bless him/her Lord as only you know. I pray God that this person does not use this book as a substitute for your Word, but merely as an instrument to seek your Word so that he/she may know you and the possibility you have for his/her life. I pray Lord if this person has not accepted and received your son Jesus that something is written in these pages to create charge in his/her life to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. Father, we already know that a distraction will come upon this person to keep him/her from receiving what you want to give. Therefore God, I pray against any evil, so that this person reads consistently, and diligently. I pray this in your son Jesus name. Amen.”
Hearing the Voice
I will be the first to say, that it is not easy measuring up to all the responsibilities of life. Sometimes it seems as if there is so much weight sitting on top of our shoulders, that there is not enough strength to move. I cannot speak for others, but life has often beaten me, created bruises, and at many times had me believing that I was inadequate, alone, and more often than enough, not worthy of all the wonderful things it has to offer. There have been many days when I would awake feeling defeated, not wanting to get up, would pull the covers back over my head because I did not want to fight society, which was waiting outside my door. Then one day as I was on my way to work, a friend introduced himself to me. “Finally!” He said. “I have been waiting to meet you, but you would never call my name. I know you heard of my love for you - especially as a child. I have the same love for you now as an adult. Little to your knowledge, I’ve reached for you because you were out of my will. Nevertheless, this morning you called and I came. Now I can share with you my divine plan for your life.” I stopped the car, took a deep breath and opened my heart to the voice that spoke and began worshipping Him for never giving up on me. As He continued to speak, He began to show me who I really am in Christ, and promised that if I simply keep my eyes on Him that He would guide me to a life of possibility. He showed me that my approach to life and fruitful living was wrong. I had made life more complicated than needed. I had created suffering in my life by allowing my peers perception of me to be the final product of who I am. However, the Lord shared with me, if I was willing to examine myself, that He would introduce me to the “me” I never knew, but was intended to become. All I had to do was spend a little time with Him and He would show me the difference between living in the flesh versus relying on the spirit. In the beginning, I did not understand what He was telling me, but He assured me that His word would become clear. All I had to do was trust Him.
“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers.” (John 15:1,4-6)
The more I trusted him, the more I was able to see that living in the flesh imprisoned me. All my thoughts and desires were worldly and pointed towards self-gratification. “Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God will is –His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Trust me when I say that I know our problems and circumstances are different. While this is true, a battle is a battle- and you will either walk in victory or die with inadequacy. I know how it is to work in a job where you feel as if you are not appreciated. I understand what it is like to not have two nickels to rub together. I have felt the burden of not wanting to answer the telephone for the fear a creditor was trying to reach me. I have felt the pressure of trying to be the best human possible and never seeming to get it right by standards of society. There have been days when I had to hold in the tears because society had manipulated me into believing that “it is not okay for a man to cry.” I have witnessed first hand looking at the eyes of death, and asking it to take me. I’ve given my heart to love only to have my heart betrayed. There has been a time when I sat in the corner of a jail cell and asked God to forgive me. I have re-invested in love to understand that we cannot judge all by the actions of a person who chose not to value the offering of love. The truth is, we are not as different as you may think. Sin exploits many of us emotionally, financially, socially, and spiritually. However, through the love and acceptance of Christ, God has given me a fresh perspective on life. He has given me value of what living is, along with an understanding that believing in Him provides us strength.
