Pay It Forward

My Integrity = Your Blessing

I was blessed to see what “doing the right thing” in the face of adversity looks like. I have a first hand account of what kindness, humility, consistency, hard work, perseverance, and love produces. I am unapologetic when I bow my head to give thanks for the wonderful people I get to call Mom and Dad.

Each of us has a story of how a person made a difference in our lives. It might have been a parent, uncle, grandma, friend, or mentor; but someone blessed you when you needed it. We have all been on the right side of the equation. We have all received the blessing of the goodness of another human being. It is our duty to also be on the other side and PAY IT FORWARD.

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Proverbs 20:7 KJV

February 20, 2021

Position of Influence

In a junior position, we often don’t realize the influence we have and the importance of “leading from below”. Not only is it possible to lead from a subordinate position, it’s potentially as important as being in charge.

Parent – Child
Teacher – Student
Manager – Employee
Coach – Player
Server – Customer

At some point we will embody almost all of the positions above. Each one comes with different responsibilities but they all have one thing in common, INFLUENCE. Whether top down or bottom up, when we communicate with humility and genuine concern, our voices are heard and they make a difference.

Increase Your Influence
Be HUMBLE. Big egos undermine influence.
Be CONSISTENT. Stability builds trust.
Be PERSISTENT. Show up in the face of adversity.

February 19, 2021

Desire and Delight

DESIRE
If you are willing to count the costs, pay the price, and do the work – you will discover wisdom and understanding.

DELIGHT
If a good time is what you’re looking for – when the party’s over, you will discover nothing is there.

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. [2] A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
Proverbs 18:1-2 KJV

February 18, 2021

Hope Burger

Are you happy?
Are you sad?

The things we put in our bodies have a huge impact on how we feel. A healthy mental and spiritual diet is just as important as eating your broccoli. 🙂

What have you been eating lately?
Ever tried a HOPE BURGER?

HOPE
————
Possibility
Purpose
Performance
————
PRAYER

Humor me a second and let me show you what happens when you eat this thing.

In possibility you will find a purpose. I am not talking about “life’s purpose”, just a good reason to do something. If you act with that purpose in mind you will perform. Performing an action gives you a sense of contribution and completion. This releases “feel good” neurotransmitters in your brain. Hope and prayer are the buns I like to put it all in.

If you are feeling sad, find something to do.
It will make you feel better.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 KJV

February 17, 2021

Which Wolf?

The Syrians’ plan to starve Samaria into submission was working. The famine was bad…really bad! The city was besieged, all resources were depleted, and people were starving to death. An ass’s head was selling for eighty pieces of silver and a small measure of dove’s dung was selling for five pieces of silver. Some people had resorted to boiling and eating their own children. The entire city was empty emotionally, physically and spiritually. They were dying a slow miserable death.

Four outcasts, leprous men, decided to DO SOMETHING. Why should we sit here and die? We might die if we head out into the camp of our enemies but if we sit here death is sure. What do we have to lose? As they headed out of the city, their hopes were quickly realized when they stumbled upon an abandoned Syrian camp full of enough resources to feed the entire city!

This brings to mind the old Cherokee proverb of the two wolves. In each of us lives two wolves, one EVIL and one GOOD. They battle daily for supremacy. Which one wins? The one you feed.

Is the good part of you starving to death? WHY?
Is it because of adversity? NO
Is it because of someone? NO
Is it because of you? YES

Is the good part of you starving to death?
Do something about it.

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
2 Kings 7:3 KJV

February 16, 2021

Fundamentals of Leadership

As Naaman turned away in a rage he began to mumble. I have traveled for two days, had to go through all the diplomatic crap to get across the border, I even brought a million dollars in silver to pay, and what do I get? A command to go dip seven times in the muddy Jordan River? BULL CRAP! I won’t do it! Saddle up boys, let’s go home. This was a total waste of time.

In his country, Naaman was considered a man of valor. He was a mighty warrior who had made a lot of money in battle for his king. But Naaman had a problem, he had the disease of leprosy. When Naaman’s king got wind that there was a prophet in Israel who could cure leprosy. He sent Naamna with a letter to the king of Israel. The letter read something like this… Here is my servant Naaman, please cure him of his leprosy.

The king of Israel is distraught when he reads the letter. He knows this is impossible and thinks the letter is some kind of encoded message sent to start a war. The prophet Elisha hears of the king’s distress and tells him to calm down and send Naaman to him for instruction and healing.

So, here we are, Elisha the prophet didn’t even come outside his house to talk with Naaman, he sent one of his servants to give Naaman the prescription. Go wash in Jordan seven times and your leprosy will disappear. Long story short, as they were riding away, one of Naaman’s subordinates convinced him to follow the prophets simple instructions. He did it and was healed.

Leadership, like anything else, is based on fundamental principles. Here are a few we can learn from the story of Naaman.

1. Great leaders keep their emotions in check. Naaman went away mad, but calmed down quickly.

2. Great leaders can lead from any position. Naaman’s subordinate shows great leadership when he addresses his concerns.

3. Great leaders listen. Naaman showed real leadership when he listened to another point of view.

4. Great leaders remove ego from decisions and allow the best idea to win. Naaman showed why he was known as a man of valor when he changed his mind.

You cannot practice greatness.
You can practice fundamentals.

Get to work.

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
2 Kings 5:12 KJV

February 15, 2021

Perception

Perception. Perspective. Awareness.
From time to time you will be a part of the problem.
From time to time you can be a part of the solution.

Tell it like you see it. (you might be holding the key)
Listen to how others see it. (you might be wrong)
Decide what is true. (choose truth over ego)
Act with conviction. (be all-in)
Adjust as necessary. (monitor and make changes)

If you (tell and act) before you (listen and decide) you will have to make a lot more adjustments.

And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
2 Kings 4:9 KJV

February 14, 2021

Force and Humility

As the third group of fifty men approached Elijah’s house, the captain was shaking in his boots. He had read the reports how the first two groups of fifty had been consumed by some strange fire from the sky at the prophets bidding. He was in a bad place. He knew disobedience to the king’s order would be treason and punished by death. He also knew, if Elijah spoke the words, he could be burned to death in an instant. The captain had an idea.

The first two units had come in the name of the king with force, demanding the prophet’s obedience. The third captain decided to take a more humble and diplomatic approach. With their lives in the balance, he slowly approached Elijah’s house, took a knee, and humbly asked him to spare their lives and to come and meet with the king. Guess what? Elijah granted both requests.

You think you have the upper hand.
You think you’re more powerful.
You think you know how someone will react.

Leading with force reduces the number of possible good outcomes.
Leading with humility limits the casualties.

And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
2 Kings 1:13 KJV

February 13, 2021

For Sale?

What will you do for $1000?
What will you do for a million?
What will you do for a good time?
What will you do for fame?
What will you do to win?

Honest answers to these questions can be complex and multi-layered.
Before you try to answer, make sure you have a list of non-negotiables.

Is your character for sale?
Are your dreams for sale?
How about your family?

Resist the temptation to wager your non-negotiables.

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
1 Kings 21:25 KJV

February 12, 2021

Integrity

I believe peace comes from living with integrity in the moment. Integrity is your guide and the present moment is where it operates.

By definition, integrity is the quality of being honest, humble, and moral. If you look at integrity, you see it doesn’t have a past or a future it only exists in the present. Let me explain. The second you display honesty…it turns into truth. The second you display humility…it turns into kindness or grace. When expressed, integrity becomes the right action at the right time. Kinda cool…right? Here is an old cliche that sums it up.

If you are depressed, you are living in the past.
If you are stressed, you are living in the future.
If you are at peace, you are living in the present.

If you find yourself stressed, down, or out of sorts. Ask yourself two questions.
Am I present?
How is my integrity?

You can choose to be present and let integrity be your guide.
If you don’t like where you’re living…MOVE.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
Proverbs 11:3 KJV

February 11, 2021

Category: Quotes for my Kids