Skip to main content

“It’s easier to go from failure to success than from excuses to success.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2015-10-06) from his book, Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters (p. 8). Center Street. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Excuses, we use excuses to keep us from making a difference, don’t we?

I spend time everyday walking.  I am about to turn 69 and I have determined to do all I can to not be an invalid and so walking is making a difference in that not happening.  Now as I get older I’m sure that I won’t be able to do what I can to not make that happen but right now the excuse that I am getting close to 70 and the excuse that my legs don’t feel like walking today are not going to be used.  I’m not going to give in to them.  Of course their will be a reason someday of why I won’t be able to walk but for now they are just excuses.  So it’s 10,000+ steps a day to keep my heart pumping and my legs moving.  There is still a significant part for me to play even at 69.

John says, “No one stumbles upon significance. We have to be intentional about making our lives matter. That calls for action— and not excuses. Most people don’t know this, but it’s easier to go from failure to success than from excuses to success.

John goes on to say, “Look at the lives of people who have achieved significance, and you can hear them calling you to put yourself into your story. Perhaps they didn’t use those exact words, but if you look at what they’ve said, you can sense the call to action: ‘To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.’ —SØREN KIERKEGAARD ‘If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?’ —T. S. ELIOT ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ —MAHATMA GANDHI ‘Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.… Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.’ —STEVE JOBS”

God created each one of us with a purpose.  He created us to make a significant difference in our worlds.

So are you making excuses or are you ready to take action?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"Jesus comes in the midst of the torrent."

  A thought by Max Lucado from his book,  You Are Never Alone  (p. 60). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.  (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.)   We all have storms in our lives, don't we? Max says, "No one gets through life scot-free. At one point or another the sky will darken, the winds will rage, and we will find ourselves in a modern-day version of the Galilean gusher." John 6:16–18 (NIV) says, "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough." Max goes on, "The hearts of the followers began to sink as their boat was certain to do. Their skin was soaked, throats hoarse, eyes wide. They searched the sky for a break in the clouds. They gripped the boat for fear of the waves. They screamed their prayers for help. But they heard nothing. "If only Jesu

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because God is good He will use e

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Jesus did answer the question about the blind