Category Archives: Leadership

Don’t Quit!

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There’s a scene from the movie Facing the Giants, in which coach Grant Taylor tells Brock Kelley to do the death crawl with a teammate on his back. The kicker is that he had to do it blindfolded, and the only direction he would received was the voice of the coach, not the sight of his eyes. It is a very inspiring scene. It represents life in many ways, yours and mine. We go through life many times crawling, because that’s the only way we can advance. And we also we find ourselves crawling blindfolded with extra weight over us. A perfect combination for a quitter.

We have all had these seasons in our lives. Moments that make us question everything. Times when our sight is clouded, blindfolded, and we have no direction whatsoever. Times in which we have an extra weight on our backs that pushes us down, reviving the idea of quitting every second. It’s in moments like these that I appreciate the coach Taylor’s of the world. Those that push us harder and inspire us to continue to move forward, even when we can’t see where we are going. That voice that leads us to the end zone, and helps us realize that we can do more, be more, achieve more. That voice that will not accept a no for an answer, and will expect the best of us, no matter what.

We need those voices. We all need from time to time; a firm voice that will acknowledge the pain, the struggle, but in spite of that will inspire and push you to the end zone. Just when Brock says, “its hard”, coach Taylor responds, “I know its hard, but you can do it”. And louder and louder he shouted on, “Don’t quit, Don’t Quit, your very best!”.

The same I tell you today. Don’t Quit. I know its hard, I know you can’t see anything in the horizon, but trust the voice, even if it is your own, that tells you; Don’t quit! Don’t quit on your family, it might be hard, but you have to give your very best! Don’t quit on your passion, I know its frustrating some times, but you have to give your very best!, Don’t quit on your children; there are many disappointments, but they are full of potential and they deserve your very best. Don’t quit on your God, He is the ultimate voice that leads you to the end zone, that pushes you further, beyond your limits, because He knows you can do more.

You can be a coach Taylor to the Brock Kelley’s in your life. Or maybe you feel like Brock, and just want to give up. I know, I’ve been both. Just follow the voice, push hard. If you do I promise you one thing; You will get to the end zone and everyone, even yourself, will be amazed of what you will achieved.

So above all, DON’T QUIT!

Enjoy the clip!

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2014
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: Today’s New International Version. 2005. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Invisible Leadership

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by DP

“…There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him.” Ecclesiastes 9:14-15

Salomon remembered a man that by his knowledge, saved a town from destruction. A town that with few people, was rescued from a great army. A man that because of what he knew and shared meant that other people lived. Today’s society is longing for people like the one described in this passage. Men and women that will act unselfishly in any situation because what is at stake is greater than themselves. Men and women that will look at the bigger picture instead of looking at themselves. Men and women that will exert invisible leadership, unrewarded leadership.

What moves you? Is it the recognition and the lure of the spotlight? And if so, is it the right motive? How many times in our lives we have been not acted because there was no recognition, no reward? And by being idle, suffering has come upon others because we remained unfazed. Our human nature is always looking to be satisfied, to be spotlighted and to draw attention to itself. But let’s learn from the wise poor man and act even when unrewarded. How much good can be done if we act as invisible leaders, as the vessels of wisdom and assertive response. Even when unrecognized and unappreciated.

When you are certain of who you are, you need no external recognition and you will actually shun the spotlight. You will push with all your might so the town is saved, the company you work for is saved, your community, your family, your children, all will be spared because of you. And maybe nobody will think of you afterwards or thank you. But you will know that you did what had to be done. Because you had the courage to exert invisible leadership.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright DP, 2011

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A message for men

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by DP

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

“Every man has a battle to fight and a beauty to rescue” These were the words of John Eldredge when he took center stage at a conference I attended in 2004. It was a great and an inspiring message. In the past weeks my family and I saw the movie Courageous which stirred many of the same emotions I felt with John’s exposition a couple of years ago.

Since that moment, I find myself wrestling with the need of “quiet time”, some alone time, and by the same token, in need of “together” time too. An oxymoron, I know, but that is how I felt. “Quiet time” to ponder my thoughts, and “together” time to share my heart with my wife, my son and my daughter. Moments that matter. I feel that time is running faster than It takes for me to accomplish what is in my heart. There is an awakening inside for the greater truths that I should have been living long time ago. And synthesizing John’s talk several years ago; Our story is a story of greatness.

We all have this sense of greatness inside. Of being the redeeming knight, the hero and warrior that stands for truth and crushes evil. The man that stands up to the challenge and knows deep inside the values that need to be uphold, and he does so without second guessing. The sea of thoughts assault the mind and overwhelms the soul, as the search goes on for a verse, a passage or a word that might give it hope, strength, comfort and guidance. We want an answer that will appease the soul and tell it that everything will be ok. That we will be able to fulfill the dreams and desires that are rooted in the heart; greatness.

God created us to feel this way, but more importantly to act this way. It doesn’t matter where in life you are right now, you can step up to the challenge and be the man you were called to be. Wether you have a family or not, fulfill your story. And in order to achieve greatness, there will be need to be violent, to fight and be forceful against the menacing forces that are surrounding those we have been entrusted. That fight will be fought by standing firm on our knees. To stand unafraid of the future, to leave the sidelines and embrace life.

As the theme song for this movie states, “May the watchers become warriors, Let the men of God arise”, we are called to do the same as Joshua boldly spoke to the men of Israel, “…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. So today make it your resolution, wherever you are in life today, to take back what is yours, to boldly proclaim that you will lead and not follow, that you will protect and not fear. That the time of idleness is over and that your legacy will not be the same, because you decided to make a dent in the universe and to finish well.

I completely agree with the song when it states, “The only way you’ll ever stand is on your knees with lifted hands”. Change the world, lead to greatness.

Breathe, Live, Move…

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

Want this inspiration of coffee by email every morning? Enter your e-mail to subscribe at the top right of this page under the box for “Subscribe”. Like this writing and want share it? Just add your comment below on “Leave a Reply” or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email using any of the buttons next to “Share this:”

© Copyright DP, 2011

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

You can hear and purchase this wonderful statement on the song titled “Courageous” by Casting Crowns at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/courageous/id470669414?i=470669416

Run your race

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“This isn’t about going back. This is about life being ahead of you and you run at it. Because you never know how far you can go unless you run.” – Helen Bates “Penny” Chenery Tweedy (bred and raced Secretariat)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” – Romans 12:1

“Breathe expectantly, Live confidently and Move boldly”

See the movie clip here

You have come for such a time like this

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by DP

For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such time as this? Esther 4:14

Esther was an orphan, a captive in king Ahasueurs kingdom, raised by Mordecai as a daughter. When Vasti, the queen, didn’t want to come before the king, he decreed that another woman should take her place as queen. All virgins in the province were gathered, Esther was among them, a jew and she found favor in the eyes of all. Her preparation took a whole year, before she was selected by the king to be the new queen.

Haman which had lot’s of influence with the king, plotted and crafted a plan to destroy all of the jews since he hated Mordecai. His plan was made known to Esther by Mordecai and he reminded her that it might be that a time like this, she was risen to power.

Ever wonder why you are were you are now? Do you constantly long to be in a different place? Or do you wish you’d rather have someone else’s circumstances? We need to acknowledge that God has appointed us to the be were we are, to perform with excellence in this place. Be assured that this is your mission. God does not give you blessings just for the sake of it, He always has a plan, a greater plan. The place that you are in, is a place in which God will do great things, through you. You might not understand it right now, but at the appointed time, you will step up to the plate and be a blessing. We usually want to do things in our own time, but it might be that you are in the time of preparation right now. Learn, get prepared, the time is near.

Esther, came from being an orphan, a captive, to become the queen. She understood were and why she had what she had, and recognized that God himself had appointed and made her rise above all. She found favor, and favor violates every human perception. So, don’t look at where you are now, look at where God wants to take you.

Who knows, you may have come for such a time like this.

“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright DP, 2006