The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…”(NKJV)  Hate it or love it, your personal perception can be the tragic or triumphant difference in how you live your life.

Understand that your palms are sweaty because you’re trying to figure out what you can say, to make everything better.  News flash:  you can’t. ​

​Well, some would say “don’t vote at all.”  However, as I considered all of those whose blood was shed for me to have this electoral right, I don’t see how I could allow a weak ballot, to be my justification for not casting one. 

Meetings are a place for communicating vision, assigning and assessing action items, creating plans, and improving processes.  It goes without saying that meetings are an irreplaceable part of your ministry's success; however, they can also be very unproductive, draining, and void of purpose. ​

In that moment, I had to honestly ask myself, “Exactly, what is HONESTLY AND TRULY REALLY stopping me from continuing my study?”  In other words, if I said, “no matter what, I’m going to keep on studying”, what force would actually stop me?

While the fans were joyous, a moment of empathy was in order.  Consider this.  A future Hall-of-Famer, poised with the best offensive line he’s ever stood behind, will now have to sit as a rookie would and watch the starter as a rookie should.

​This becomes tragic because the low self-esteem is also an arrogant presence.  It believes that the world and all those in it, focus on you.  If they’re laughing, they’re laughing at me.  If they’re whispering, they’re whispering about me.  

God told me in His Word that “…My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.”  (cf. Isaiah 55:18 / NIV)

​Fact, you may be delayed, but you’re still on His docket.  He loves you and He hasn’t forgotten you.

So, how do we make them happen?  Well, the answer is activity and productivity.  Work productivity is (for some) a struggle that requires consistent attention.  It demands honesty, accountability, and humility.