Last night I pulled off of my bookshelf Max Lucado's book On the Anvil. I have never read this before, and I also realized that it is Shelly's book (among all her other old LCC books that I still haven't returned and no longer need! I'll get those back sometime Shells!) But for some reason, I randomly fingered through the pages and read a few chapters, but this one...chapter 35...is what I need to tell myself daily. I am typing it out here so that as I type it comes out my fingers, seeps into my brain, more into my heart, and it is shared. Maybe next weekend I'll thank Max personally when I'm in San Antonio for these words that he shared 20 years ago.
Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the 24 hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble... I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My family, my friends, my co-workers, the people I see daily. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my family, friends, or co-workers.
Today I will make a difference.
1 comment:
SO...about the Max Lucado quote. Last semester I used to get up early and along with my devo time i read the following quote out of one of his books:
"It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black.
The world is still asleep. The day is coming.
In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising sun.
The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day.
The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.
The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.
For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands.
It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose.
And so I choose.
I choose love...
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.
I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker.
I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.
I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so.
Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.
Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness... I will be kind to the poor for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.
And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.
I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness... Today I will keep by promises. My debtors will not regret their trust.
My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love.
And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose gentleness... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control... I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control.
I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.
Love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness,
and self-control.
To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek his grace.
And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest."
--Max Lucado "When God Whispers Your Name"
I can resonate with your thoughts. Its a good way to begin the day and end her.
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