"She Just Won't Quit!"

As the end of June approached, I watched in delight and amazement as my wife worked feverishly to finish the goal that she had set for herself. June is the year-end month for her company.

She fell just slightly short of her personally set goal but was in great spirits. She continued to speak of what she actually did accomplish even though the ultimate goal was not reached. Her persistence is amazing! She has already begun the new business year with a work ethic that would fill others with envy.

She didn’t quit, offer excuses as to why she fell short, whine, or blame others for her missed opportunity. SHE REMAINED PERSISTENT!

If you really want to be successful, you probably spend a lot of time reading motivational books and articles because you want to know what qualities are required for success. After reading through the long lists of how to, there is a short sentence that tells us if we really want to be successful, we must have persistence.

Onetime Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said, "Persistence is the hard work you do after you're tired of all the hard work you've already done." Well said. Persistence means, simply, refusing to give up - but especially when faced with difficulty or opposition. It is the quality of never giving up when we encounter challenges. It is holding on to our dream. Of refusing to be discouraged no matter what the odds, no matter what happens.

We are even told that the reason they are successful today is because they were persistent. They persevered in chasing their dream, no matter what happened. When success gurus and other successful people tell you that they got to where they are today because they were persistent, they are actually leaving out a very important part of the story. And the part that they are leaving out is this: They forget to tell you that before they were persistent, they had a goal, and they had a plan on how to get there. All along the way, after every step they took, they stepped back to evaluate the results to see if the results they were getting were the results they wanted. If they weren’t getting the results they wanted, then they would change the steps they took.

These successful people did have persistence, but they were only persistent about holding on to their vision. They were never persistent about the method they took to get to their goal. All along the way, they were prepared to be very flexible and experiment to see what techniques and strategies worked best to get where they wanted to go.

People who admire persistence often use the example of Thomas Edison who kept trying to produce an electrical light bulb even after ten thousand failed attempts. But people often forget that while Thomas Edison was persistent in believing in his goal, he was not persistent in the way he tried to achieve it. Thomas Edison did not repeat the same experiment over and over again ten thousand times. Thomas Edison performed about ten thousand different experiments on his way to trying to find a practical electrical light bulb.

Every time he tried an experiment to produce an electric light bulb, he then backed up and took some time to evaluate the results. He figured out what was working and what wasn’t working. Then he would try something different the next time. And he would keep track of the results.
So, remember this crucial difference the next time someone tries to tell you that persistence is the key to success.

Honey, your persistence is an example to all! 

Blessed,

Dr. Tim

"Here Am I, Lord! Send Me!

In every battle and every war, there are those who are reliable. Many wear the uniform, but only a handful stand out as heroes—those who go beyond the call of duty and are a rare breed indeed.

The church produces the same kind of heroes from its battlefields. They, too, are the ones who accept the road less traveled. They're uncommon men and women whom the world was—and is—not worthy. They're reliable champions.

Every century has those on whom the Savior can depend. Francis of Assisi walked away from wealth in order to kiss the hands of lepers. John Knox endured the ridicule of Mary Queen of Scots in his effort to save Scotland. Dietrich Bonhoeffer turned his silent pulpit into a megaphone in Nazi Germany before suffering Hitler's wrath.

It's a frightening world to which we minister. The scoreboard rarely shows us in the lead. There's a great temptation to take the easy way out, slow down, water down or calm down.

Still, our assignment never has changed: "To fight the good fight, to finish the course, to keep the faith"…to be able to say to our Master, "Yours to count on, Lord!"

Lord, help me to Fight the good Fight, Finish the Course, and to Keep the Faith!

Blessed,

Dr. Tim

Sculptured Days!

As I read the Psalms, it becomes evident that the Psalmists did not write just to teach us a few life lessons. These songs of scripture were written as a record of the life of the writer. In other words, a record of days they will never forget! Some good, some not so good! Days that have been sculptured as a memorial of remembrance.

Today, I am reminded of some sculptured days in my life as well. You surely have some yourself! Our wedding days, the birth of our children and the birth of our grandchildren, graduation from college, and many others I don't have room to mention.

Not all of these sculptured days are happy ones. Some were days of intense heartache and stress. Days that we would actually love to forget but can't. They, too, have played a part in the shaping of our lives.

The lessons learned from the Psalmists are these...I can do the sculpturing, or I can allow others to do the sculpturing for me. The Psalmist David certainly wrote of both. By giving God His due praise and thanking Him for his mercies were days that David sculptured himself. Days when he allowed the persecution from others to cause depression or anger, were days that he allowed them to create the sculpture.

When others are trying to sculpture our days, we need to take over and do our own sculpturing. Trusting God in what He has already taught us. Even when things are hard, we can sculpture that day into one with a lesson instead of a regret. Doing this will allow us to look back at the masterpieces that have been created.

A little smoothing here, a little chisel there...add this, remove that. See what the day has in store. I'm sure God has given us the tools to turn this day into a masterpiece...with a little instruction from Him of course!

Lord, mold me and make me!

Blessed,
Dr Tim

What A Trip!

A recent trip back to Germany was a blast to say the least! My wife and I visited with our son Justin and his family for a couple of weeks. We visited several places that we enjoyed while I was stationed there 20+ years ago, and a lot more that Justin had scheduled for us! Riding the trains, walking the city streets, eating, shopping, eating, walking, eating, ....well, you get the idea!

This blog is a little different than previous ones. I just wanted to share the fun we had and maybe cause you to dream or plan a trip to a place you really desire to visit! I love Germany! Visiting all of the surrounding countries was a pleasure also.

Here are a few photos to share our trip with you. Hope you enjoy seeing them as much as we enjoyed experiencing them!

The Road to Success Yields to Merging Traffic!

While driving and thinking, (I know, a dangerous thing since thinking is so hard for me!) I suddenly became aware of all the roads that entered the one I traveled. One right after the other! As other motorists were entering the freeway, those of us traveling along would move over to the far lane in order to allow the merging traffic entry into our direction of travel.

Then it hit me…What a concept! The “Road to Success” is being traveled daily by those who “merged” into its traffic flow! It doesn’t matter where you enter, you can merge at any time. So what if life has thrown you a curve... if you are ready to travel this road now in your life, just merge into the flow. Even if there are obstacles and signs of detour, get off and find another point of entry and “merge” back onto your road to success!

Another thing I noticed was that not everyone traveled at the same speed. The beauty of that is…There Are No Speed Limits on the Road to Success! Just change lanes and DRIVE ON! Slow down when it is necessary and speed up when possible.

All successful people had, at some point in their life, to make a decision to travel the “Road to Success”. Before traveling that road, they had to enter at a place of their choosing. Go ahead, make that choice and enter! Today is the day for you to join the road less traveled…the “Road to Success”!

Blessed,

Dr. Tim

This Sports Car Is On the Move!

It's All About Him!

While having my devotions this morning, I listened to a song that grabbed my attention when it was first released. It reminded me once again that, too often, we get in our own way when worshiping God! It's not the fancy prayers, the amount of music (or the type), nor is it the setting.

It is, however, the emptying of the heart and allowing God to fill it with a desire, a hunger if you will, for Him and Him alone! We do not have to get God in a mood for worship! And, we should not have to get ourselves in a mood to worship either.

God, help me to stay in the attitude of worship continually. Everything I say and do should be a sacrifice of praise to You!

The song I am referring to is The Heart of Worship by Michael W. Smith. Here are the lyrics, but give it a listen and remember, it is all about Jesus!

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

Blessed,
Dr. Tim

Small Hinges Swing Big Doors!

I heard that quote for the first time the other day and it has had a big impact on me. I really like it because it's true. No matter how big the door, a couple of small hinges can easily swing it open. No matter how big a door, no matter how much it weighs or how expensive that it might be – the door cannot and will not serve its purpose without the benefit of the hinges. The door’s function is predicated on these small, innocuous and oftentimes inexpensive pieces of metal which gives a door the stability to achieve its purpose. If you don’t believe me remove the hinges from all your doors and then you will experience just how important small contributions are.

In other words... small changes can have huge effects!

Those small changes lead to big changes and eventually the successes we so desire regardless of whether or not it is in our spiritual lives, personal relationships, or professional lives. It can also be true in the negative! If we allow small negative details to influence our lives, we soon have major problems to overcome.

However, our goal here is to swing those big doors of opportunity in our favor and bring the successes we dream about daily.

Having a big goal can be very motivating, but when you actually start to take action it can seem like you'll never hit it. That discouraging feeling can destroy your dreams of success. That’s when we have to remember those “small hinges”.

Disney started his business from a garage and created one little mouse, next he owned a studio, then Disneyland and now Disney World and even Euro Disney!

Jim Carrey took a job as a janitor at a tire factory at age 15 when his father lost his job. He also worked as a security guard. To relieve his stress, he visited local comedy clubs, which instilled his love of comedy – and prepared him for a blockbuster career.

Rachael Ray started out working at the candy counter at Macy’s in New York City. She later managed the fresh-foods department, which helped pave the way to her sizzling cooking career.

Robin Williams was a street mime before he got into acting.

If you’re in sales, maybe increasing your networking for just an hour per day will give you the leads necessary for production. Read more or listen to motivational cd's daily. John T. Reed boldly claims that after 6 months of studying something for 30 minutes per day people in your region will seek out your expertise, and after 1 year people nationally will seek it out. Whatever your occupation or dream, there are “hinges” upon which your future successes swing!

The point is…we need to be doing the small things in order to achieve the big things!

Blessed,

Dr. Tim

Open Up, I'm Coming Through!

What's New?

Today, many are beginning a journey through this next year with resolutions to change some things in their life. These New Year resolutions are usually made on the spot, out of guilt, and a misguided attempt to start the year off fresh. It is a valuable thing to take the time to reflect on the past year and ponder the coming year with what we want to create in it.

This year, I have decided to not make any New Year resolutions but to make some New Year commitments! Resolutions say "I'll try" and commitments say "I will"! Someone wrote, "Resolve means to "decide" to do something, but commit means to "devote oneself unreservedly to doing". There is no guilt or regrets from the past year, but there are some things that I want to be different.

My commitments this year are to study scripture more, pray more, become more involved in ministry, and of course....lose weight! Yours may be different, but you will never accomplish them without a commitment!

Here's to you and your blessed New Year. Give God the glory He deserves, serve Him, and regardless of what others say....Jesus is Lord!

Blessed,
Dr. Tim

One thing that will I will not change is my love for the "Crimson Tide"! ROLL TIDE ROLL!