“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein
“Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” – Ephesians 5:16-17
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
“Del desorden, encuentra la sencillez. De la discordia, encuentra la armonía. En medio de la dificultad se encuentra la oportunidad. “- Albert Einstein
“Saquen el mayor provecho de cada oportunidad en estos días malos. No actúen sin pensar, más bien procuren entender lo que el Señor quiere que hagan”. Efesios 5:16-17
“RESPIRA con expectación, VIVE con confianza y MUÉVETE con valentía”
“It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” — George Eliot, Author
I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. – Psalms 57:2
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
“Nunca es demasiado tarde para ser lo que pudieras haber sido.” — George Eliot, Autor
Clamo al Dios Altísimo, a Dios, quien cumplirá su propósito para mí. – Salmos 57:2
“RESPIRA con expectación, VIVE con confianza y MUÉVETE con valentía”
This book is all about change. What areas of your life need to be “shaken” in order to achieve your full potential? What steps you need to take to a meaningful and fruitful life? What positive changes can you make in your family, your business and your sphere of influence? This book will help you answer just that, or create in you the desire to find those answers.
Phil is able to maintain the readers attention throughout the entire reading. In one word, “Refreshing”. To find a book that is well written but at the same time balanced, is quite that; Refreshing. Phil makes a great job in integrating a myriad of resources and references into his writing, and in doing so it doesn’t make you doze away. The reading is engaging and quite powerful. One could actually re-read it, and find after every read a new idea.
The book could easily be a reference for new ideas or reflection on decision making or even how to think of new ways to run your organization or business. The author does not hide his beliefs but at the same time doesn’t push them down your throat. He is very well versed and through the pages of the book you can appreciate the profound knowledge that makes this book, a well balanced, practical book. A must read, I’m glad I did.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com, book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
So many organizations, so much need, too little helpers. What are we doing? Reading on the internet about some causes that I am drawn to, I realized once again one thing: There is a lot to do, and it seems very few of us are helping. It is overwhelming of how much need there is out there. It makes me consider what is really important, and what are we doing with our resources.
There is a quote by Dante that says: “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” The essence of this statement is not a truth about theology or biblical principle, but that it is actually worst for men and women that see the wrong and do nothing, and say nothing when their voice, their hands and their leadership is needed. Being motionless is even worst than the wrong deed or the perpetrators of them.
What are you doing? In the parable of the good samaritan, religious leaders walked by a man that had been beaten and left for dead and did nothing. Only a samaritan, despised by those same leaders, had compassion, crossed over and did something. Compassion is not compassion until you cross the street and help. We all feel moved when we see need, or read about touching stories, but it means nothing unless you take action. There is no difference between the religious leaders of the parable and us, if we keep walking.
There is a story of a boy that was at the beach after a high tide had brought hundreds or even thousands of starfish to shore. The boy started to pick one by one and threw them back into the sea. A man that was passing by and saw the boy asked him. What are you doing?, the boy replied “I am saving the starfish”. The man looked at him and said, “there are thousands of them here, you can’t make a difference”, the boy looked at the man with fierce eyes and picked up another starfish, and with an even stronger effort he threw it back into the water and said, “I made a difference for that one.”
Jesus himself said that the harvest was great, but there was not enough workers. We should pray and ask the owner of the harvest to send more workers, but we should ponder very intently if it is us who should respond to that calling. And more importantly, to what calling we should respond to. There is much to do, that sometimes it is overwhelming. But you might be able to do a lot from where you are, from the platform you have been planted in.
Let’s change the world, one starfish at a time, one life at a time. It does make a difference. So, what are you doing?
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
Here are some of the causes: Compassion International, A21 Campaign, Stellas Voice, International Justice Mission, Alive Generation and many others here.
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.
Numerosas organizaciones, tanta la necesidad, tan pocos los trabajadores. ¿Qué estamos haciendo? Leyendo en el Internet acerca de algunas de las causas con las que me siento atraído, me di cuenta una vez más de una cosa: Hay mucho que hacer, y parece que muy pocos de nosotros estamos ayudando. Es abrumadora la cantidad de necesidad que hay. Esto me hace pensar en lo que es realmente importante y lo que estamos haciendo con nuestros recursos.
Hay una cita de Dante que dice: “Los lugares más oscuros del infierno están reservados para aquellos que mantienen su neutralidad en tiempos de crisis moral” La esencia de esta declaración no es una verdad acerca de teología o principio bíblico, sino lo que es peor, que hombres y mujeres que vean el mal, y no hagan nada ni digan nada, cuando es necesaria su voz, sus manos y su liderazgo. Estar inmóvil es peor que el mal que se ha hecho o los autores de ellos.
¿Qué estás haciendo? En la parábola del buen samaritano, líderes religiosos caminaron cerca del hombre que había sido golpeado y dejado por muerto y no hicieron nada. Sólo un samaritano, despreciado por aquellos mismos líderes, tuvo compasión, cruzó e hizo algo. La compasión no es compasión hasta que cruzas la calle y ayudas. Todos nos sentimos emocionados cuando vemos necesidad, o leemos historias que nos tocan, pero eso no significa nada a menos que tomemos acción. No hay diferencia entre los líderes religiosos de la parábola y nosotros si continuamos caminando.
Hay una historia de un niño que estaba en la playa después que una marea alta había traído cientos o incluso miles de estrellas de mar a la orilla. El muchacho comenzó a recogerlas una por una y las arrojaba de vuelta al mar. Un hombre que pasaba por allí, vio al muchacho y le preguntó. “¿Qué estás haciendo?”, y el niño respondió: “Estoy salvando a las estrellas de mar”. El hombre lo miró y dijo, “hay miles de ellas aquí, no vas a hacer una diferencia”, el muchacho miró al hombre con ojos fieros y recogió otra estrella de mar, y con un esfuerzo aún más fuerte, la tiró de nuevo en el agua y dijo: “hice una diferencia por esa.”
Jesús mismo dijo que la cosecha era grande, pero no había suficientes trabajadores. Debemos orar y pedir al dueño de la mies que envíe más trabajadores, pero debemos reflexionar muy atentamente si somos nosotros los que debemos responder a ese llamado. Y más importante, a cuál llamado debemos responder. Hay mucho que hacer, que a veces es abrumador. Pero puedes ser capaz de hacer mucho desde dónde te encuentras, desde la plataforma en la que has sido plantado.
Vamos a cambiar el mundo, una estrella de mar a la vez, una vida a la vez. Esto hace la diferencia. Así que, ¿qué estás haciendo?
“RESPIRA con expectación, VIVE con confianza y MUÉVETE con valentía”
Aquí algunas de las causas: Compassion International, A21 Campaign, Stellas Voice, International Justice Mission, Alive Generation y muchas otras aquí.
¿Quieres esta inspiración de café por correo electrónico todas las mañanas? Ingresa tu dirección de correo electrónico para suscribirte en la parte superior derecha de esta página, debajo de la casilla de “Subscribe” ¿Te gusta este escrito y deseas compartirlo? Simplemente añade tu comentario abajo en “Leave a Reply” o compártelo en Facebook, Twitter, o por correo electrónico usando cualesquiera de los botones al lado de “Share this:”
© Copyright DP, 2011
Las citas bíblicas son tomadas de la Santa Biblia, Nueva Traducción Viviente, derechos de autor © 1996, 2004, 2007 por Tyndale House Foundation. Usado con permiso de Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. Todos los derechos reservados.
by DP
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19
There is a song written by Wayne Watson called the The touch of the Masters hand. It depicts an auction of which the last one to be sold was an old violin. Even the expert auctioneer didn’t find much worth in it by it’s appearance and started off the auction at one dollar. When the bids had come to three dollars and the auction was about to close, a gray haired man stood up from the back and walked to the front. He picked up the violin, brushed the dust from it. He adjusted the strings, picked up the bow and started to play. What came out from that violin, was music that not even angels could sing.
Then the auction resumed. The auctioneer started it’s cry and said, “One thousand dollars, two thousand dollars, three thousand dollars”. When the auction finished, the people asked, what changed it’s worth? And the auctioneer said, “It was the touch of the Masters hand”.
Like that old violin, your might feel shunned and forgotten. People might look at you and find no worth, no significance and no future. They might even label you, and limit you by what they see. It is hard, it is tough and it is taking a toll on you. But if you decide to give yourself the opportunity, you will find that the Master is watching intently. If you let Him, he will clean your life and adjust your soul. The sound that will be heard, will show that the Master’s hand has been upon you. And the sound will be melodious.
Open your heart, lift up your eyes, you will see the Master walking towards you wanting to restore you. And anything He touches, is changed. And anything He touches, is made worthy and extraordinary. He came to release the captives, free the oppressed and to heal the sick. This is no ordinary hand, it is the Master’s hand.
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
You can hear and purchase this song titled “Ths touch of the Masters Hand, by Wayne Watson from iTunes following this link.
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.
BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE boldly 