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Recently there have been a few quotes, a few sayings, a few lessons that have stuck with me. I’ve decided I’m going to put these up in my office at work - because they are truly words I need to live by. They are words that seem to keep me centered, focused, and realize what is important.

Here is the first:

This is the beginning of a new Day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it. May I have sufficient wisdom and courage that this shall be my record for today.

It’s something I need to repeat to myself- what a great reminder every morning. We are exchanging a day of our life for whatever we make today out to be. I’ve written once before to some friends that making today great is at times a choice and not circumstance - this seems to fall right in line with that mentality.

Here is my second:

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.

This means a lot to me for a couple of reasons, a client sent this along with another quote to our “team.” He included my “team” in the “team” email. When a group of individuals pass beyond the titles and organization names on the business cards to become as one - that to me, is awesome and why I love my job.  Beyond that it speaks to my heart - if we only focus what we do in life on making a buck, bringing home a paycheck - then we truly are selling our potential short.

The third - our sermon today: Keep Swinging. It was based on the story of Eleazar in 2 Samuel (specifically 23: 9-10). It was so inspiring, so in a word, perfect. Just what I needed to hear. I want this year to be different, to be better- but more than that, it seemed to put a finger on why I often feel the way I do. Here is what I really took away from today - God wants to grant you your heart’s desires. Spoken Truth - I need to learn more about Truth and not just feeling/emotions.

This is to be a year of conquest.

Keep Swinging.

Keep Swinging when you’re tired.

• It says you’re still in the battle.
• Eleazor’s hand froze to the sword.
• Emotions, circumstances, body  you will not dictate who I am.
• When we keep swinging it says: I’m. Still. Here.

Keep Swinging when you’re alone.

• The race isn’t won by the quick only, but by those who persevere.
• Galations 6:9

Keep Swinging when you stumble.

• You do whatever you have to do to stay in the battle.
• The mercies of God renew every morning.
• The enemy has been called “the accuser of the brethren.”

Here is what summed up the entire hour for me - and what spurred me on. Get. Up. Jesus did not allow Himself to endure the cross for me to wallow in the emotions of “woe is me.” You were made for more.

I am waaay too hard on myself, and in no other area of my life do I allow myself to give up. But this piece, the spiritual relationship - I get so down on myself that it is easy for me to say, “I’m not going to get anything out of it. I never will get to where I want to be. I am not good enough.” And then I get discouraged and it’s easy for the cycle to continue.

When I get three very similar themed lessons/messages from three very different individuals, all in the course of a week - I think I’ll stand up and take notice. I’m excited to see where living these out takes me this year.