#26 - HAVE PATIENCE WITH YOUR PROCESS

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
Arnold H. Glasgow

How long will it take
till I finally see
the one in the mirror
who I dream to be?

How long will it take
before others know
my value within?
Doesn’t it show?

There’s a gift that I have
that I wish to share
but why does it seem
like there‘s no one aware?

Delay. Disappointment.
Frustration and Doubt.
So overwhelming.
Is there no shorter route?

Have Patience with Your Process.

The delays you despise
each have a reason.
If you see them all through
you’ll experience your season.

The time will soon come
your contribution on display
but a process comes first
there’s no other way.

For premature success
has been a downfall of many.
But if you can wait
you’ll find yourself ready.

Like a baby who develops
Nine months before birth
Your patience will produce
an invaluable worth.

#25 - I FIND JOY IN THE JOURNEY

Joy lies in the fight,
in the attempt, 
in the suffering involved,
not in the victory itself.
Mahatma Gandhi

Have you ever felt the tension
between who you are today
and who you’d like to be?

Have you ever been discouraged
by the progress you have made
and the progress you’d like to see?

I know the frustration.
I’m familiar with the stress.
I wish I had much more
But instead I have much less.

So how do I fight through
when all I see is lack?
How do I stay focused
and keep myself on track?

I find joy in the journey.

The lessons. The experiences.
The people along the way.
The successes. The victories.
The triumphs of each day.

Even through the difficulties
It’s gratitude I feel.
Because after my times of suffering
A refined character I’ll reveal.

Embrace the present and seize the moment
to these two things I vow.
For not another day will I be blind
to the joys that surround me now.

#24 - A LYRICISTS CRY

When my mind hits that wall
And the lyrics aren’t flowing
I’ll remember my purpose
To keep myself going.

I speak truth. I speak life.
I speak love. I speak hope.
To all those who’ve come
To the end of their rope.

I uplift. I encourage.
I take risks. I inspire.
No apology needed
I expose all the liars.

I’ll never give in
To the masses’ demands
Only fresh revelation
From the pen in my hands.

No gimmicks. No nonsense.
Only my best I will do.
To the roots of my childhood
I’ll forever be true.

#19 - WHAT I SEE

I see you not as you are
but as you will be.
For who you are now
Is just a sneak peek.

Only a glimpse of your greatness
Is what others view
But I see the masterpiece
That’ll one day be you.

Influence and Impact.
Compassion and Love.
Lives blessed by the gifts
Given to you from above.

Passions expressed.
Talents revealed.
It is through your great dream
That the world will be healed.

Your purpose fulfilled
It will be a great day.
But as I conclude
One last thing I must say.

The beauty I see
Will only shine through
If in the depths of your heart
You believe in it too.

#18 - THE TWO INEVITABLE PAINS

I have come to discover
that with dreaming comes pain.
Two types in particular
two kinds I can name.

The first I will mention is
The Pain of Pursuing.
It comes shortly after
you find yourself moving.

Moving towards your great dream
will bring this pain on
in many shapes and sizes
different faces it will don.

Obstacles and Roadblocks
Criticisms and Fears
Doubts and Distress
And many times Tears.

The Pain of Pursuing
is real to my core
But as much as it hurts,
The second pain aches more.

This second pain is known as
The Pain of Not Doing.
You will feel it inside
when instead of doing you’re viewing.

Watching others pursue
the dreams they possess
Though you desire so much more
Instead you do less.

The Pain of Not Doing
will leave you empty inside.
Untapped talent and potential
A longing to be alive.

In the final analysis
from one of two pains you will choose.
From one, you just may win.
From the other you’re sure to lose.

#17 - WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?

What is your dream?
Your purpose and your passion?
From birth it was deposited.
From birth it has been within.

What is your dream?
Your greatest heart’s desire?
Take the time to seek it and receive it.
For intentional thought it does require.

What is your dream?
Your burden for our land?
So many changes must take place.
The world is waiting for your hand.

What is your dream?
Your greatest act of service?
You must act here, you must act now.
There’s no time to be nervous.

What is your dream?
Will you make a move and pursue?
Or will you one day see another living it out…
And wish that it was you?

#16 - THE FAITHFULNESS OF THE FEW

There is a call that is on your life,
A specific purpose why you were made.
You have a reason for living.
Don’t let your destiny fade.

It is within you.
You were created, for it, just right.
You have everything you need to make your purpose a reality,
But you have to be willing to fight.

Fight through your feelings – you must.
Because when your assignment has been made known,
It won’t be long, the time will soon come
When you will start to feel alone.

Will anyone help me?
Will it ever be completed?
Will there be enough money?
Or will I just end up defeated?

I do not have these answers,
But there is one thing that I know –
As you are absolutely faithful to your call
Provision, Strength and Inspiration always seem to show.

I call this faithfulness:
“The Faithfulness of the Few”
Because history has clearly shown,
Only a few will make it through.

Make it through doubts and make it through fears –
not many will do it.
Most will never complete what they were created to do
Because they choose not to press on, they choose to not work through it.

Those who will stay faithful to their call, faithful through it all –
there will only be a few.
So in closing, I kindly ask…
Will one of the few be you?

#15 - YOUR GREATEST VALUE REVEALED

The car that you drive, whether fancy or not
Has nothing to do with your worth.
For your value is not found in the things that you own,
But in “the gift” you were given at birth.

The house, the job, even the multiple degrees –
They do not tell the whole story.
More important to know is when you were conceived,
Inside you there was placed glory.

But if this is true then why do we pursue
All this “stuff” to give our life meaning?
I would venture to say it is only because
You have yet to see yourself gleaming.

Gleaming? Yes…gleaming!

If you were only aware of your “shine” within,
Your masterpiece yet to be played,
You would focus not on the things of this world,
But on “that something” for which you were made.

“Jack of all trades and master of none” –
I tell you this won’t be your fate.
In this lifetime you will discover and display
That work in which you will be great

And when your days are over,
And your life on this earth has been sealed,
You can be sure that the world would have seen…
Your greatest value revealed.

#14 - HOW TO BE CONSISTENT

Inconsistency is the only thing in which men are consistent.
Horace Smith

Unfortunately, I can relate to the above quote much more than I would like to.

Areas of my life where I can be guilty of inconsistency include:

  • Exercising
  • Eating Healthy
  • Doing chores around the house
  • Investing quality time with my wife
  • Writing
  • Flossing my teeth

And if the truth be told, this actually greatly disappoints me. I can be better than this. Ishould be better than this.

I want to be consistent.

I want to do what I say I am going to do.
I want to remain steadfast in my commitments.
I deeply desire to be a man of my word – dependable and reliable.

How about you?

Do you want a more consistent lifestyle?
Do you desire that your intentions and your actions to, more often than not, be one and the same?
Do you aspire to live a life of greater integrity?

If so, here are 4 steps that I take when I desire to develop a greater level of consistency in a particular area of my life:

Step 1 – Identify the specific area of inconsistency.

Where exactly do you struggle with inconsistency?

  • Physically?
  • Relationally?
  • Spiritually?
  • Morally?
  • Financially?

Though your area of inconsistency may be hard to face or admit,  defining reality is key. As the Scriptures say, “the truth shall set you free.”

Step 2 – Decide to start over.

Make up your mind that starting over is OK.
Make up your mind that starting over is what’s best.
Make up your mind that starting over is what’s necessary.

Nothing happens until a decision is made. In the same way that suicide and homicide involve death to people, to decide means to bring death to all other options.

Step 3 – Take the first step.

If you want to consistently work out, do ONE work out.
If you want to consistently eat well, eat ONE good meal.
If you want to consistently read, read ONE page.
If you want to consistently save money, save ONE dollar.
If you want to consistently pray, pray ONE time.
If you want to consistently help others, help ONE person.

Before you can take 100 steps in a row, you must take ONE.

Step 4 – When you fail, repeat steps 1-3.

You will skip a day.
You will let yourself down.
You will fall back into patterns of inconsistency.

The key question you have to ask yourself when you do fail is this, “How much time will I allow to lapse between the day that I missed and the day that I start over?”

Your answer will determine how consistent of a life that you live.

  • Failing and Starting Over Daily = Consistency
  • Failing and Starting Over Sporadically = Inconsistency.

In conclusion, I encourage you to imagine a lifestyle in which, each day, you take just ONE step in the area of life in which you desire to be more consistent. Don’t you sense peace and relief as you execute that ONE step? Don’t you sense a greater level of satisfaction and fulfillment? Isn’t the ONE step worth it?