Reputation vs. Character

Daily Wisdom: Your repuatation may get you in the door, but character is what you are going to need to keep you from being put out of it. ~Rofasho~

Thoughts for today: We can always lie our way in/out of things just as long as people don't mind a surface relationships with us. However, there will come a time when someone will genuinely want to know us below the surface. What exactly will they find? Will what they have heard, assumed of us and/or believed what we have said about ourselves line up with who we really are? Or will they be sadly disappointed to find out our reputation is a front and the "real" us is the total opposite?

Plan of Action: Work hard everyday to get to know our strengths and our weakness. Be honest with ourselves and others. There is only one carbon copy of us all. God fashioned us to be different for a reason! So enjoy your uniqueness, by allowing others to enjoy and beneifit from knowing who we really are. It doesn't make much sense to make people believe we are something that we really are not. More importantly, we have to stop lying to ourselves. If what we see in the mirror isn't to our liking; then its as simple as changing what we do not like. Put your best foot forward to being the best YOU that you can be. You will be glad you did, those around you will also. Live up to being YOU!

Grow in Grace & Blessing in your Sweet Experience of Growth and Change!

Rofasho

The Price of Greatness

The price of greatness is responsibility- Winston Churchill

As I continue reflecting over this year, I recognize the areas in my life where I didn't excell. There were many areas that I only did what was required of me. This happens to the best of us. Not always, do we short change our ablity to work in the spirit of excellence because we are just simply lazy. However,  in most cases that is the main reason. Sometimes, situations arise that kill our zeal and excitement for doing our best.  Today I want to encourage you to continue strong.

I was just laying in my bed thinking about a conversation my husband and I were having in regards to a situation that had arised in our lives and a few things came to mind.

As believers, we are to believe that we can do all things through Christ basically because He is working on the inside of us. This means to me that being average is not my only choice I have. I can be great at everything I put my hands to and I can also be attributed greatness by the people I come in contact with. How? Im glad you asked!  As I sat and pondered who I considered to be great, I found one common thing in each individual.  They all went over and beyond what was required of them in some area of their life.

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"Let us consider the nature of true greatness in men. The people that can catch hold of men's minds and feelings and inspire them to do things bigger than themselves are the people who remembered in history... those who stir feelings and imaginations and make men struggle towards perfection."

 -Henry Erying-

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After thorougly examining who I thought could be attributed greatness, I realized that the spirit of excellence was also at work in them. The spirit of excellence is never just concerned with the big picture or the end results. However, the spirit of excellence is detailed- oriented. The spirit of excellence is concerned about every little step that makes up the journey of the big picture. The spirit of excellence doesn't rest at just doing the job, but it effortlessly works at doing the job right and in order. More importantly, the spirit of excellence works at its best and never just at what is good. The spirit of excellence isn't just working in just one area of someone's life or an organization, but its seeps through every facet of who or what possesses it. This is because the spirit of excellence becomes a habit. It's something that is work at to be obtained. Once it is obtain, it becomes second nature to always work in it. 

Let me give you examples of greatness and the spirit of excellence! 

Harriet Tubman, was a lady who was burdened by the weight of slavery amongst African- American people. She really didn't have to help others get free from slavery, but the greatness in her called for her to think of others before herself. The spirit of excellence called for her to work the vision in such a way that 300 slaves was able to obtain freedom. 

Dr. James Naismith, was the inventor of the sport basketball in 1891. He wrote the first basketball rulebook. He also founded the University of Kansans first basketball program. Dr. Naismith is attributed with releasing an idea that has impacted men and women across our world. Today basketball is a billion dollar industry. The spirit of excellence in him gave way to not only manifesting a vision but teaching others about his vision. This has enable thousands of people to dream and obtain careers in the basket ball industry. 

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Great minds discuss idea, average minds discuss events, and small minds discuss people

-Hyman Rickover-

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Being attributed greatness, nor working in the spirit of excelles, will prevent you from making bad decisions or mistakes. These are apart of life and vital to our growth. However, being attributed greatness and the spirit of excellence will cause one to go over and above what is required to rectify any mistake or bad decisions made.  This is called being responsible. No one who has ever been atrributed greatness or the spirit of excellence, has not ever been a responsible individual, or organization. 

Today I admonsish you, to work on your legacy of greatness by always working in a spirit of excellence. Rather it be in school, ministry, family life, friendships, or careers; work to be the best and to do it with class. People never really remember what you have said or what you have done, but they alway remember how you made them feel. In your journey towards being great, set your heights towards doing things that will leave a legacy for others to follow behind in your footsteps. Set a standard for yourself and always make sure you keep your word, and esteem others higher than yourself. We will come in contact with many wonderful people in our lifetime, but the ones who go beyond themselves to impact others and make the lives of others easier are always who will be remembered. 

Merry Christmas Everyone, Make 2012 the year you set the foundation for a Great Legacy!

Rofasho

Overcoming Adversity with the Golden Rule

In life we will be hurt, disappointed, and experience pain caused by people. Often times we will experience this from the ones we love the most. As I get older, I recognize that those that we don't know that hurt us we respond less lovingly too and just a bit more harsh towards them than those that we love. However, the ones that we do know and the ones that have spent time with us has full capacity to shut our emotions down.  When we have expereienced pain in some form from our loved ones or people we barely know, our first response is always disbelief.  We, then go through the situation over and over again trying to see how it happened, if we were at fault in some kind away and back to "O-M-G, I can't believe this". Either way, we are hurt and naturally there will be a response. 


Somewhere in there getting even always finds it way to our mind.  Either, we wanna give them a piece of our mind, or return the pain/embarrassment,  or maybe even fight. Today, I wanna cation you on responding the right way to adversity. If you must respond, make sure its in love. Returning the treatment you have received is called Revenge. God has a specefic attitude towards revenge and I wanted to share it with you. 


Matthew 5:38-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. ³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. 

Romans 12:17-21 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We must make up in our mind that we are going to do God's will no matter what. It gets hard, yes it does. However I have learned that many times my feelings lie. I can choose to feel some other way. I don't have to be angry or sad. I can definitely choose to respond to adversity as an overcomer. How? I am glad you asked, by responding in love. 

If you are ever hurt, disappointed, stabbed in the back, betrayed, or even hit; don't respond the same way you have been treated. Overcomers respond how they want to be treated. If you want love respond in love. If you want admiration, respond in admiration. If you want respect, respond in respect. I think you get my drift. 

By all means if you are being beaten, respond in love by leaving. Love your neighbor and yourself enough to prevent them from going to jail and you from going to the hospital or the morgue. 

Keep in mind who you are dealing with. It's always easier for us to be more loving to the ones we love. We must be the same way to those we do not know also, we are to love them also. One way to keep things in perspective is that we are all made in the like image of God and what you have done to them you have also done to Christ. Just because they are not a close friend, or relative does not give your the ok to respond differently. 

We have been empowered by God to have the victory in every situation. We do not have to play victim. So today I encourage you to trust God to fight your battles, remain in love. God will take care of those who hurt you. Just make sure He doesn't have to take of you for responding in the same manor. 

God bless your Growth & Change in Christ

Rofasho.