We are now well into 2010 the “Year of the Exponential Harvest.” One of the most relevant scriptures with powerful implications for the future is found in Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” What a challenge and what a promise! The challenge and charge He gives us is to put Him first in everything. It is important to realize that the Creator has a right to speak into our lives. He has a right to get into our business, if you please, because He made us. He is the potter and simply put, we are the clay. Through our obedience to His Word we can initiate a source of supply that will endure the test of time.

Addition.  Increase. Wonderful words that resonate with great hope. Wherever you are  in your life even now, God has an exciting plan for you in 2010. For some of us, we need to burst into a resounding applause that we made it through 2009. It was a tough one. Yet, through it all we were made stronger and discovered we were more resilient than we ever thought we could be. The great hymn-writer penned, “Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought us safe thus far and grace will lead us home.” How true.

Now as we embrace this new year with all it’s challenges and it’s opportunities, we begin with a marvelous search. As we study the text in Matthew chapter six, we are given the instruction, with promise, to “seek first“ the kingdom of God. To pursue with every fiber of our being the sovereign rule and reign of the God of the universe who rides on the wings of the wind and sits on the circumference of the earth. It is a daily search that is both intentional and intense, purposeful and passionate, relevant and restorative. The marvelous thing about seeking the “kingdom of God” is the realization that this kingdom is made up, not of perfunctory religious ritual, but rather a relationship with the King. The very thought of that is almost beyond comprehension yet it is absolutely true.

In a day when the moral moorings that once held this nation strong have been cast aside by some as mere relics of antiquated thought, the righteousness of God through His Son, Christ Jesus, is available and attainable to those who seek it. Those tenets of the faith move from the pages of the Book to the tablets of the soul and become a living reflection of a righteousness that cannot be attained by man-made efforts. This search that brings increase must never be considered as optional or secondary. Rather, if it is to bring lasting results it must be something that is a priority in our lives. Number 1. First. To be sure the “first determines the rest.” What we do at the first of the day, the first of the week, the first of the month, the first of the year, sets the pace for what is to come.

Now for the promise, “…. all these things will be added to you.”  What things is He referring to? Could it be, anything and everything that we need to live the “abundant life” – all those things that are necessary for us to be, to do and to have all that God has planned for our lives. The result of the search is not only to we have the benefits of “kingdom” but we have a wonderful daily relationship with the King. What could be better than that? Make up your mind now to continue your hot pursuit of Him who loved you unconditionally. Make Him your number one priority. Then all “those things” you’ve been wondering if they would ever come, well, get ready….. God is a tremendous mathematician – He specializes in addition!

The azure blue water of the Atlantic lapped against the pilings of the antiquated dock as I sat waiting on a boat to fetch me, my overabundant luggage and carry me to my destination – a quiet little island (known as a Cay). I was going where I had never been and there was a mixture of anticipation and consternation. Anticipation that I was embarking on a new adventure and consternation because my mode of transportation was inordinately late. That is a word that absolutely breaks me out in the hives and the itch. To be sure, that might be a slight exaggeration but  I’ve always believed those who do not value my time will certainly not value my wisdom. With each passing tick of the clock, I felt that my patience level was decreasing and my blood pressure was rising. This was not good. I sat awhile on my oversized luggage turned chair. Then I would pace awhile like someone who was making an exit from a very active ant bed.

It was at the apex of that moment that something clicked in my thought processes that really was revolutionary in the sense that I live by it to this day. It was as though God was using this moment to share with me a life-lesson that would last. The dock became my classroom and He was my most valuable teacher. I realized that I could either be perplexed, frustrated and,  not a little bit,  angry at my inconvenience or I could take a deep breath, look around, appreciate my surroundings and, yes, even enjoy the journey.

Finally, in the distance, just at the horizons edge, I saw something approaching at top speed that must surely be my transport to this wonderful hideaway that I would call home for a few days of rest and relaxation. No such luck. My thoughts were racing as quickly as my pulse. I most certainly was not like Peter in the Bible who had the luxury of walking on the water. That was not an option for me. I couldn’t catch a plane to this future haven of mine as there was no landing strip. I definitely  did not want to spend the night under the stars with the tropical bugs on the dock and had not even thought it might be necessary to have made reservations in a local hotel. How long was this test of my “patience quota”  going to last? I was already to my limit. Though not verbalizing it out loud,  I was most certainly having a lively dialogue in my mind as to what I was going to say to the captain of this aquatic invention if and when he finally arrived.

I made a quality decision that day. I chose to take that deep breath and look at my surroundings filtered through the new lens of an inquisitive adventurer looking for exquisite treasure. The water with its various shades and hues of blue was absolutely breathtaking. To the right of the dock it was like a giant fish aquarium with an endless array of species that any fisherman would have thought they were in heaven. The seagulls were taking nose dives trying to find a scrumptious meal to enjoy from the ocean’s diner. I meandered from the dock onto the sandy beach where I began to methodically sift through the most beautiful collectibles of all time – seashells.

As the sun began to slowly set and the stars would not be long in their arrival I returned to my place of waiting with a new frame of mind. I knew the plans had been made and felt certain that the boat would arrive before much longer. In the meantime, I had already begun to enjoy my adventure of a lifetime with a wonderful gift neatly packaged in the word called patience. There it was. The light piercing the darkness like a beacon signaling the next phase of this marvelous journey was about to begin. I responded to the captain’s greeting with a warm, “Hello. I’m looking forward to seeing your beautiful island.” When he saw all my luggage that was to be loaded on his boat, though he never said a word, I’m sure he thought that I must be going to stay for at least a month rather than a few days. Could this have been a slight payback for his tardiness? I don’t really think so. However, I do know that I’ve learned through whatever circumstance I may find myself in, I have the choice to either endure through it or enjoy in spite of it. I choose enjoy. Thank you, God, for teaching me patience that day sitting on a dock ….. waiting.

Engines roared as we took off  in this massive piece of metal called an airplane. By all rights it should be far too heavy to fly. But… Now at thirty seven thousand feet we were soaring like an eagle high above the clouds. With my headset on and listening to the pulsating and moving harmony’s of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir I was enjoying the ride. What could be better than this? Looking out the window, like huge cotton balls of various shapes and configurations, those clouds hung suspended above the earth in a most majestic fashion.

I knew it was going to be a marathon trip.  From Los Angeles, to Salt Lake City,  to Houston and then on to Fort Lauderdale. I was more than tired and ready to get home even if I had to “puddle jump” to get there. It was early in the morning and I knew I would not be arriving home until late at night but  at least I would be home. The flight from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City had been terrific. And now leaving Utah the take-off roll had been perfect as we once again rose into the heavens. The azure skies glistened with the brightness of the sun as I settled back in my seat to enjoy the ride. We were about forty-five minutes out of Houston airport when what started out as a few bumps began to turn into the roller coaster ride of my life. The “fasten your seat belts” sign came on. The beautiful blue skies were now growing more ominous by the second.  In just a few moments of time, suddenly, from out of nowhere, we were flying through a horrendous storm. All I could see now was the  black clouds that appeared to swallow the wings while, at the same time, the rain beat vehemently against the windows like a fighter in the ring. Of course, the lightning was flashing piercing the darkness for a brief moment and then it would disappear as quickly as it had come.

Obviously, I couldn’t get off and say, “I’ll think I’ll walk.” Those of us on that plane were a captive audience in a real-live drama. There was a grandfather sitting to my right who had enjoyed sharing pictures of his grandchildren with me and telling me wonderful stories of his childhood. I absolutely did not want him to know this “woman of faith and power” was at the moment quite terrified. However, I think he must have known when, as the plane took a major dip, I grabbed his arm with a grip not indicative of my small stature. With a sheepish grin I said, “Oh, excuse me. I think this weather is a bit rough, don’t you?”  This kind grandfather chuckled and said, “That’s quite all right, young lady. I’m a bit scared myself.” What? This mature grandfather afraid. Oh, no. Not good. This must be it or so I thought. In all of my travels I had never been in a storm quite like this one.

I reached over grandpa and without hesitation pulled the shade down over the window. Out of sight. Out of mind. Well, not quite. I did figure, however, if I didn’t see the dark clouds maybe I could shift my thoughts from the storm to something else a bit more peaceful. Secondly, I fixed my eyes on the pilot. No, more like I stared at the pilot. This is back in the day when they would keep the cockpit doors open. I carefully concluded that as long as the pilot seemed calm and I didn’t see him break a sweat, every thing must be all right. Obviously, we landed safely and I lived to tell the story. Now, I’m student pilot and I am learning how to fly a plane. Here are some things I learned that day that I could never learn in a text book about surviving the sudden storm. First, I learned that unexpected storms will come. That’s just a fact of life. Secondly, you’ve got to learn the art of shifting  your focus. It could very well be a matter of life or death. When I pulled the shades over the windows I no longer focused on the storm but rather the pilot. He was listening to the tower and he had his eyes on the instruments. I was no longer fixated on the storm with its horrors but rather the performance and precision of the pilot.

If you are experiencing a sudden storm in your life right now pull the shade down. Here’s what I mean. Shut out the doubt and the fear. Tune out all the toxic people who would try to tell you that you’re not going to make it. You make the decision to move your gaze from the storm to the Pilot of all pilots, Jesus Christ. The Captain and the Master of the storm. I’m fully aware of just how rough the storms of life can be. I understand the buffeting winds and the torrential rains of the circumstances you may be facing right now. But because I know the Pilot I have every confidence that not only can you survive this sudden storm but you can thrive in the middle of it. Keep your eyes on the Pilot. He’s got it all under control! Safe landing….

The voodoo drums were pulsating their rhythmic cadence with a frenzied pitch echoing through the valley and wafting their way through the windows of our home in Haiti. The mystical mutterings of the voodoo priests invoking the spirits to protect the crops of the people or any number of other requests remained a mystery. The only thing I could hear was the beat of the drums. Should I be afraid? What impact would this religious ritual have on me and my family? The sound of the drums would rise and fall like the ebb and flow of the sea. Loud and then soft. Soft and then loud. No pillow over your ears in the dark of the night could silence the sound of these drums. Believe me I tried.

Living in this new country with our new found friends was both a joy and an adventure. They had so welcomed us and had now become our family. Haiti had become our home. Why were we there? Mom and dad had been assigned as missionaries and we were obviously a willing part of the package. Poised atop a hillside overlooking the city of Port-au-prince, not too far from the Canape Verde Hospital, on this night I learned the real difference between religious ritual and meaningful relationship. Between light and darkness.  It seemed that on this particular evening the drums sounded even louder than before. Or at least that was the way it appeared to me. In the theater of my mind I could only imagine what was going on as these worshipers with a fervor known only to them invoked the spirits.

That was it. I had to know. I threw the covers off, marched like a teenager on a mission into mom and dad’s bedroom across the hall. I said two words that, as far as I was concerned, was really the understatement of the year.  ”I’m scared.” I think my heart was beating in my chest as loudly, if not louder, than those drums.  How could they possibly sleep with all this going on? It was beyond me.  What about all those spirits that were floating around? Would one of them find their way up the hill and through one of our windows? Dad and mom realized that I, with my most inquisitive mind, needed some answers.  Dad slowly sat up on the side of the bed and patiently posed this question, “Diane, what do you hear?” Now what kind of question was that? I was in their room in the middle of the night because I was hearing the sound of the voodoo drums. I know he had to hear it, too. He continued his discourse with mother in her quiet gentle way lending her support to this most important “teaching moment.”  I responded, “Dad, I can’t sleep because those voodoo drums are keeping me awake. It’s just plain scary.”

Dad was such a wise man and I will always be grateful for this moment because it was then he taught me a powerful truth that to this day I live by it. He posed yet another question, “Is that the only thing you are hearing? Listen closely.”  Next door at the Bourdon Church of God on the campus of our mission compound there was an all night prayer meeting going on. You could hear the people praying. Yes. There it was like a light bulb being turned on in a darkened room filled with scary images being dispelled by the light. Prayer. It was an all pervading force that drove back the fear that I felt. It brought a calm and a courage into my spirit. Their prayers filled the atmosphere and invaded the valley impacting not only me but I believe an entire nation. Suddenly, the sound of faith began to grow louder than the sound of those fear invoking drums. Those precious ones gathered in that little church on a hillside in Haiti were a mighty force in God’s plan to teach me a life-changing truth.  Dad said, “When God’s people pray it moves heaven and invades the powers of darkness with the light of His power which is far greater.” He continued, “Diane, you never have to fear because it is impossible for anyone to curse what God has blessed.” Oh, good. No little evil spirits were going to get through our windows.

To be sure we need not fear the future because God is already there. That’s what a relationship with Him is all about. Not religion. Not ritual. But Relationship. Thank God for the light. Thank you, dad and mom, for teaching me the difference. What’s that I hear? It’s the drumbeat of heaven – prayer.

I was soon to leave for what was then known as Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee and my parents decided to take me to the bank in downtown Winter Garden to put me on their bank account.  What could be better than that? That was a happy day for this soon to be college student. There should have been a drum roll or something as I signed the card that would give me access to their money. Now the idea of this exercise in high finance was just in case of an emergency I would have the ability to get the needed funds. They wanted to make sure I was taken care of so far away from home. This eighteen year old (at the time) felt like a millionaire. Now my parents were not wealthy according to this world’s standards  but they had been good stewards of their finances over the years and were blessed. I did not realize it at the time but I was soon to learn a lesson that would not be taught in a classroom but rather in the school of experience.  I was soon to learn that along with privilege comes great  responsibility. The abuse of privilege is the beginning of irresponsibility and that is one thing my parents would not tolerate.

Things were going so well at college and I was enjoying meeting new friends, eating in restaurants, eating in restaurants, and eating in restaurants. Did I mention I was eating in restaurants? Now I do not want any of my readers to possibly think that I am older than my years, but this was back in the day when you could write checks at eating establishments with no problem. You know, before the days of debit cards and easy access to credit cards for college students. It seemed that everyday became an emergency. Hadn’t my parents always taught me to be generous and have a giving spirit? Yes, but they had also taught me responsibility. It always amazes me how we can always justify our own actions when it’s convenient. I would invite my friends and sometimes people I didn’t even know to join me at the local restaurant and my checkbook would always come out when the check came. I was having fun. My friends and their friends were delighted. Until….

One fateful day I received a phone call from my father. To this day I can hear the serious tone in my otherwise jovial dad’s voice. “Diane, I have a word for you. Today I went down to the Bank of Winter Garden and I took your name off of our bank account. Have a good day.” Then he politely hung up. Have a good day? How was that possible? I was mortified. How was I going to make it? It was most definitely a reality check and a reminder that just as they had been good stewards over their finances, so I must be over what had been entrusted into my care. My friends? Well, my real friends didn’t seem to mind too much that we couldn’t go out quite as much. The cafeteria wasn’t so bad after all. Responsibility and I became very good friends and are still friends to this day.

On a side note. Another powerful principle I learned from this most interesting experience was this. When I was a on their bank account, the mere fact that I was Garland Mann’s daughter gave me access to their resources. All I had to do was write a check. And I must confess I did that very well. Think of the implications of that spiritually.  Isn’t that how our heavenly Father is? Because we are His children and He signed “the card” dipped with a quill of promise in His own blood, He has given us access to heaven’s resources where there is no lack. Well, all I can say is “thank you, dad, for teaching me that hard but much needed lesson in responsibility. Also, thanks for teaching me the heart of our heavenly Father toward His children. May we never take it for granted.”

The long-awaited moment had arrived. Dare I risk my heart again? Would this be forever? All I knew  a door had opened and I was certain I must walk through. So tiny and fragile. Only four pounds and seven ounces. She fit perfectly in the palm of my hand with feet dangling like two little cotton balls on my wrist. Eyes wide with wonder and a toothless smile that would light the darkest room. Her tiny fingers wrapped around mine with a grip that said, “We belong together.”   At that very second, which seemed very much like such a spiritual moment between God, this wiggling bundle of destiny and me, I knew that she was my gift. I wonder if this is how my mother felt when she held me for the first time. Would I be a good mommy? Absolutely. Not because I am arrogant and know all the latest “mothering techniques”  but because I treasure the gift. The depth and the magnitude of the love I felt cannot be explained as I gazed in the face of this beautiful baby girl. Right then and there she taught me a lesson without ever saying a word that I will never forget of the inexplicable and undeniable kind of love that God has for His children.

She no longer fits in the palm of my hand but she remains snuggled tightly in my heart. She continues to teach me daily the lessons of love that will last a lifetime. Thank you, my daughter, my destiny, my gift…. Always and forever.  Mom.

The moment had come as I stood poised beneath the stalwart yet lumbering oak tree in our backyard. This was most definitely a preconceived idea – a carefully, concocted plan – to climb the tree with one strange twist. There was a massive limb that grew oddly out of the side of that tree in a most unusual configuration. It was my intention to not only climb the tree, but to also conquer this most challenging limb.  I felt like a curious adventurer about go into uncharted territory or a wilderness warrior about to slay the lion that I just knew (in my imagination, of course) was lurking somewhere watching and waiting to pounce at any moment. So with my imaginary weaponry in hand I moved the “concrete block” (now that was real) underneath the limb of the tree at just the right spot to hoist my tiny frame onto this monstrous oak.

Up I went in one fell swoop holding tightly to the trunk positioning my feet ever so carefully on the sides and finally finding some footing on limbs that would assist me on this  journey. I made my way slowly yet surely up the tree and then began my intricate task of getting out on that limb. I wanted to reach the very last leaf on the tree as the victor. Everything had been going smoothly up until now. There had been no incidents or accidents. Yes, I was conquering the mighty oak. Or was I? When making plans I have now learned it is of utmost importance to plan for the unexpected. When you’re making the calculations and developing strategies it’s always necessary to factor in surprises. Here I was up a tree and out on a limb. Wasn’t that the goal?  Yes, with one slight exception, I was upside down on the limb and could not seem to swing myself right side up. O.K. I heard you laugh. Fear, like an unwelcome intruder, began to wrap it’s icy tentacles around my heart. I was too far up to drop to the ground and besides there was the infamous concrete block underneath me. Where were those imaginary warriors that had accompanied me on this adventure? I’ll answer that. They were in “my imagination.” It was now time for a reality check.

At the top of my lungs I began to yell, “Mother.” It seemed like forever. All of a sudden the back sliding glass doors opened and here she came running as fast as she could. She had been washing dishes at the kitchen sink (remember the days before the dishwasher?) when she heard this shrieking, shrill little voice calling her name. With dish towel in hand, my hero, my mom, stood underneath where I hung clinging ever so tightly like a frightened cat to my  limb. Ever so calmly my mom said, “Diane, turn loose. Let go and fall into mother’s arms and I will catch you.” Here I was up in the oak a tree and out on a limb. There she was telling me to let go of what little security I had at the moment and trust her ability to catch me. A choice had to be made. I had to either trust her ability to catch me or resign myself to remain in this distressing dilemma. I closed my eyes (why I did that , I don’t have a clue) and I turned loose, I let go of my vice grip of that limb and I fell into her strong, safe arms. Just as she promised, she caught me.  Whew!

Now I don’t know what distressing dilemma you find yourself in today. You may feel in a very real sense that you are up a tree and out on a limb. It seems your choices are very limited. The most important one is this: Turn loose of your fear, let go of your worry and release yourself into the ability of a God who is strong enough to catch you and hold you in the safety of His loving arms.  Now I’m standing under the tree with my arms ready, just in case…..

The sky was blacker than the darkest night and it was only early afternoon. The thunder sounded like the crash of a thousand canons and I, as a four year old, was scared. No, terrified may be a more accurate description. Grandmother Durrance was taking care of me while mom and dad worked.  That was okay because I knew that grandmother’s famous chicken and dumplings were always a possibility. But on this day it seemed to my young eyes that there had never been a day quite like this one. The lightning pierced the sky like a dagger being pulled violently from it’s sheaf  and in my mind with a slightly exaggerated imagination it certainly appeared as though the  world was surely coming to an end. A storm had rolled into the tiny town of Lake Wales the likes of which I had never seen. “Grandmother, what’s that,?” I asked as the thunder roared at a deafening pitch and then would slowly ebb to an eerie silence. She patiently replied, “That’s God moving the furniture up in heaven.” Then it started all over again. With a tiny, high-pitched voice I posed yet another question, “Grandmother, why is it so loud?” To this, with an ever so slight smile etching her face, she replied, “Oh, He just moved the big sofa in the living room.” To that I simply replied, “Well, His house must be really big and His sofa must be huge. I’ll be glad when it’s over and He’s finished moving all that furniture.”

It seemed like it would never stop. For a moment I thought we might even need to call Noah to see if He’d bring the ark to pick us up as the rain was falling so hard that even the petunias in her front yard were now bowed close to the ground. I thought they must surely be scared, too. Or perhaps, they were praying. That would be a good thing. Suddenly the thunder rumbled so hard you could feel the earth shake beneath your feet. Grandmother picked this scared little wide-eyed four-year old up in her arms and sat me in her lap in her big rocking chair and began to say, “Who’s afraid out in the dark? I’m not, the leastest little spark. For mama says that God is there. She tells me God is everywhere.” Now I’m not sure if that is something my grandmother made up or perhaps she learned it from her mother. All I know is, as she rocked me in her small but ever strong arms and told me that God was with us even in the storm, I felt a calm and a peace that brought about that wonderful thing called courage.

You see, my friend, courage is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to go on “through a storm” no matter of what sort it might be – in spite of it. It’s the ability to face the crisis with a faith that defies the fear. Even though it seemed it would never end, the moment came when the birds began to sing, the thunder and the lightning ceased, the rain abated and the sun shone again like a long-lost friend returning home to a heroes welcome. That day my grandmother taught me courage that has helped me through the years to weather  many a storm and now I’m teaching my daughter. “Who’s afraid out in the dark?” Sometimes I am…. but not for long. Thanks, grandmother, for the gift of courage.

O.K. Singles, this one’s for you! How many times have people asked you the innocent yet stinging question, “Are you married yet?” And of course, they just had to put the word “yet” on for good measure. How about that two-worded question that ran like cold water down your spine, “Still single?” When they said the word “still” they seemed to hold on to it for an inordinate period of time and you felt uncomfortable and almost embarrassed. “Stilllllllllll Single????” Somehow you’ve almost been made to feel that being single is at the least toxic and maybe even terminal. I would almost conclude that every single has been there, done that and gotten several t-shirts to verify their state of “singleness.” We can’t forget those well-meaning, “all-knowing” ones who say things like, “Oh, they’ll never marry” as though they have looked into some crystal ball and “discerned” the matrimonial impossibilities of this “incomplete” person.

This blog may not be for everyone but if you can relate just stay tuned. I heard it said sometime ago that singleness and marriage are like flies. Those on the inside want out and those on the outside want in. As humorous as that may be, for the sake of most singles, marriage is a thing that is not only on their mind but it’s in their heart. Most have a desire to find that special someone to spend the rest of their lives with and though they answer those reminding and often annoying questions over and over again, inwardly they wonder, “Will my time ever come?” Sometimes in desperation they just settle for less than God’s divine intention for them and end up marrying the “wrong one.”  Then they are like one of those flies on the inside just waiting for an open door to get out or they end up suffering in silence. Listen, you may be living single in a double world but there are a few things you can do to enjoy your journey.

First, surrender. Surrender your will to God’s will and patiently await the one He is preparing for you. Secondly, seek Him first. Fall in love with Him for only then will you really be able to love someone else fully. Then seek out friends who will increase you and not decrease you. Thirdly, don’t settle. Don’t be pressured by your well-meaning friends and the commercialism of today. I made a conscious decision that I was going to be like Ruth and wait on my Boaz (and I do believe there is one) and not my Bozo. Lastly, submit to God’s specialized and wonderful refinement. Take this time to prepare yourself for the one who will come into your life. Singleness is not a disease. It is a season of your life that you can celebrate. That special moment will come. You know that moment when that one chosen especially for you… the one you have dreamed about and prayed for… will come. What’s that I hear? Oh, yeah, it sounds like wedding bells to me…. Is my invitation in the mail?

One of the most distressing things to me is when I hear people say, “Now, that just can’t be done.” Or what’s even more aggravating is to be told unequivocally, “It’s never been done that way here before. So we better not try that.” In other words, they are saying, “Since it’s never been done that way let’s just stick to what we know. The comfortable. The convenient. The familiar.” It’s a good thing the bumble bee wasn’t told that and if he was I’m glad he didn’t believe it. Technically, there is no way a bumble bee should be able to fly. He’s just not built for it. But somehow and someway the Creator of the universe gave him an unusual  ability that transcended the natural order of things. He just simply lifts that weighted frame of his (or hers) and buzzes to the next destination with a grace and ease that defies the message, “It can’t be done.”

So what about you? Who told you that you couldn’t write that book or finish school? Who was it that told you that you would never become a pilot or a doctor? Who told you that you would never be able to speak in front of people effectively or ever be financially secure? Who was it that convinced you that the way it is , is the way it always must be? Well, whoever it was misinformed you. A great writer by the name of the Apostle Paul clearly told us that we could do “all things” through Christ who strengthens us. Now as far as I’m concerned that’s good enough for me. Wave bye-bye to those nay-sayers and get busy. Begin today and set out to do what you have been destined to do. It’s already in your DNA.  Go ahead and tap into it. Study. Prepare. Explore. Believe. As for the one that said it couldn’t be done, just let your success speak for itself. I am honored to know you and happy to tell you, “It can be done.” By the way, an airplane really shouldn’t fly either. It’s too big and it’s too heavy but………