01/26…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
~Prov 23:18

Quote of the Day:
“Worry is belief gone wrong, because you don’t believe that God will get it right”
~Ann Voskamp

Excerpt of the Day:
“In the beginning, God created and here in the middle He hasn’t stopped. He keeps taking this same soul earth, turning it over and over again, making something from what feels like nothing.

The pessimists say life is hard and won’t get better. The optimists say life is good or will be soon.

But the believers say our hope is in Jesus whether life is hard or life is good, releasing the right to predict the future, holding on to God who comes to be with us now.

And our hope comes as we trust that the God who created in the beginning hasn’t stopped creating yet. Even if that hope is only as sure as a floating kite string.”
~ “When it Feels Like Creation is Over” by Emily Freeman at InCourage

Currently listening to “The Worship Initive” by Shane & Shane

07/02…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.”
~Prov. 21:21

Quote(s) of the Day:
**A few of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite books, I just re-read (listened to on audiobook)**
“Death may beget life, but oppression can beget nothing other than itself.”
“A multitude of people and yet solitude.”
“There is prodigious strength in sorrow and despair.”
“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

“You have been the last dream of my soul.”
~ “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens

Poem of the Day:
“I dwell in Possibility –
A fairer House than Prose –
More numerous of Windows –
Superior – for Doors –

Of Chambers as the Cedars –
Impregnable of eye –
And for an everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky –

Of Visitors – the fairest –
For Occupation – This –
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise –”
~“I Dwell in Possibility” by Emily Dickinson

Currently listening to “Where Country Grows” by Sara Bareilles

02/11…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Apply your heart to instruction
and your ears to words of knowledge.”
~Prov 23:12

Quote of the Day:
“Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.”
~A. W. Tozer

Poem of the Day:
“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.”
~Unknown

Currently listening to “Crying on a Suitcase” by Casey James

08/30…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
~Prov 17:17

Quote of the Day:
“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”
~W. Irving

Lyrics of the Day:
“And in the end, you’re still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn’t break, we didn’t burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I’ve got, and what I’m not
And who I am”
~“I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz

Currently listening to “Human Again” by Ingrid Michaelson

02/07…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart. ”
~Prov 7:3

Quote of the Day:
“Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.”
~author unknown

Lyrics of the Day:
“Your battered heart will soar
Your wounds turned into wings
No one will keep the score
You wouldn’t care anyway”
~“Someday” by J.J. Heller

Currently listening to “Take Care” by Drake

01/17…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend. ”
~Prov. 27:17

Quote of the Day:
“Friendship with oneself is all important because without it one cannot be friends with anybody else in the world.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt

Lyrics of the Day:
“If you ask me how I’m doing
I would say I’m doing just fine
I would lie and say that you’re not on my mind
But I go out and I sit down at a table set for two
And finally I’m forced to face the truth,
No matter what I say I’m – not over you”
~“Not Over You” by Gavin DeGraw

Currently listening to “A Good Day” by Priscilla Ahn

08/25…of the day

Over the next couple of days I will be featuring some highlights from my experience at The Global Leadership Summit in Chicago.  So amazing!

Verse of the Day:
“Patience can persuade a prince,
and soft speech can break bones.”
~Prov 25:15

Quotes from session 7 – John Dickson (Director of Centre for Public Christianity):
Humilitas
“Humility is not hiding your talents.  Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status and use your influence for the good of others. It is to hold your power in service of others.”
“The best leaders are marked by humility. Humility makes the great, greater”
5 truths of Humility
– Humility is Common Sense – No one can be an expert on everything.  Someone who is an expert in something knows that in every area of life what we don’t know far exceeds what we do.
– Humility is Beautiful – We are more attracted to the greats that are humble than the greats that know it and want everyone else to.  Historically humility used to be looked at as weakness, there cultural shift in this perspective happened at the cross.  “Greatness must consist of the willingness to sacrifice”
– Humility is Generative – It generates new knowledge and ideas because those who are humble know there is always more to learn and those who are looking to learn are in the place of growth.
– Humility is Persuasive – Aristotle’s work in On Rehtoric states the keys to persuasion are: logos (intellectual component), pathos (aesthetic or emotional), and ethos (character of the persuader). He states that the character is the most significant.
– Humility is Inspiring – Professional will and personal humility is what seperate good from great.  When leaders appear aloof and unapproachable, we admire them, but we don’t imitate them. But humble leaders: We don’t just admire them; we aspire to be like them. Humility in a leader inspires when they are approachable and seem like us, so then we can believe that we can aspire to rise to their level.
“The real power of effective leadership is maximizing other people’s potential, which inevitably demands ensuring they get the credit. When our ego won’t let us build another person up, then the effectiveness of the organization goes down.”

Quotes from session 7 – Patrick Lencioni (Founder of the Table Group consulting company, Best-Selling Author):
Vulnerability
“The power of vulnerability is that trust, loyalty, and value come with it.”
“To be vulnerable means to be capable of being physically or emotionally wounded.  To be Open to attack or damage.  There can be massive rewards but also huge potential for damage.”
3 Questions/Fears that hinder Vulnerability
– Fear of Losing – Either the business (being rejected).  We must enter the danger, face it head on.  You must speak the KIND truth.
– Fear of Being Embarrassed – You must be more interested in helping others than protecting yourself.  Be willing to ask the dumb questions.  Celebrate your mistakes, we acknowledge our humanity.
– Fear of Feeling Inferior – Choose to put yourself in a lower position.  Choose to do the dirty work.  Sometime you won’t be rewarded or acknowledged for doing it, do it anyways.  Be willing to do whatever you are asking others to do.  Honor your people (client, employee, friends) work.   Be so interested in them, but not just the part you are engaged in–all of them.
“It’s so powerful, but it’s not easy.”

currently listening to “Tailgates & Tanlines” by Luke Bryan

08/19..of the day

Over the next couple of days I will be featuring some highlights from my experience at The Global Leadership Summit in Chicago.  So amazing!

Verse of the Day:
“To acquire wisdom is to love oneself;
people who cherish understanding will prosper.”
~Prov 19:8

Quotes from session 2 – Len Schlesinger (President of Babson College at Harvard):
Action Trumps Everything
“We are all entrepreneurs.  Only too few of us get to practice it”
In the face of unknowability what will action look like?
– Starting on the firm ground of reality – be honest with where you are.
– Start with the things you care about.
– Use what you have at hand
– Have friends and resources available to you for support
– What kind of SMALL step can you take NOW?
– Act quickly with the means at hand.
– Looking for the expectable return is nonsense.  Instead think about what the acceptable loss is, and only stop then.
– Failure doesn’t mean game over, it means try again with this new experience.  So stop operation with the fear of failure.

Quotes from session 2 – Cory Booker (Mayor of Newark, New Jersey):
Stand Up
“You are the result of a grand conspiracy of Love”
“We have what we have today because those before us saw hope in desolate times and chose to stand.”
“Your attitude about the world says nothing about the world; it says something about your character.”
“If it is to be – It’s up to me”
“If we LIVE our values we can create radical transformation”
“But before you tell me what you teach, show me how you live and give.”
“Let us now stand up. Let us stand because people stood for us and fought for us and bled for us. Let us stand because … change never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. Let us stand because ‘liberty and justice for all’ must be a passion and purpose every day. And if we stand like this, then we will find a way to get to the roof.”

Video of the Day:

currently listening to “Young Love” by Mat Kearney – loving “Count On Me ft. Regina Spektor”, “Chasing the Light” & “Ships in the Night” – feel like the old Mat! & the emotional  “Down” “Rochester” and my Fav: “Learning to Love Again”

06/13…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“He who guards his lips guards his life,
but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. ”
~Prov 13:3

Quote of the Day:
“Clear Eyes,
Full Hearts,
Can’t Loose.”
~Coach Taylor, Friday Night Lights (one of my all-time favs)

Lyrics of the Day:
“So you’re lookin for your skin that you never did fit in
You can’t hide when you’re turned inside out
Love is looking for you now”
~“Love is Looking for You” by Miranda Lambert

currently listening to “Number One Hits” by The Judds

06/09…of the day

Verse of the Day:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life. ”
~Prov 9:10-11

Quote of the Day:
“I’m like old wine. They don’t bring me out very often, but I’m well preserved. ”
~Rose Kennedy

Video of the Day:

Sara B is still one of my all-time favs.  Her words pierce. “Does anybody know, how to hold my heart? How to hold my heart? I don’t want to let go too soon.”

currently reading to “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen