Bring your "A" game

"We are what we repeatedly do, Excellence, then is not an act but a habit" -Aristotle,

I have always been of the impression that the man who does anything in excess tends to stand out from his peers and leaves a mark whether it is positive or negative. I am always a bit cautious when i use the quote "Moderation in all things". To get to the top or stay there you have to go further than your predecessors, train harder, read more etc

"A little more moderation would be good, of course my life hasnt exactly been one of moderation" - Donald Trump 

" Impossible is potential, impossible is temporary, impossible is nothing".- Muhammad Ali.

Who ever thought that man would be able to run sub 10 second times in the 100 metre race, who ever thought phones would be wireless, that knowledge  would be at the tip of fingers via the internet. Impossible truly is nothing

Jesus states all things are possible to him that believes - Mark 9:23

The book of Daniel tells us Nebuchadnezzar the King  had communed with the 4 young men Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah they was no-one that equalled them in their fields, actually they are described as 10 times better than all the smart men in Babylon. Job was described as the greatest man in all the East. Moses was said to be mighty in word and in deed.


Reality shows have proved that society demands for the something different and better than the last. In your pursuit you need to raise the bar. I recently was amazed that "the celebrity" that earned the most this  year was Michael Jackson someone who had raised the bar so high that his impact is still felt a year after his death.

We have to choose to bring our "A" game, pursue with vigour what has been laid our hearts to accomplish, do it better than the last person who tried it.

Study to show yourself approved .......(2 Timothy 2:15)

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them" - Mark Twain

.In anything that  you seek to excel in demands that you study that field, read about people that are accomplished in that field, after all knowledge is 50% of the battle. Daniel 9:2  says .....I Daniel understood by books

The Chinese bamboo when planted remains in the earth for 4 years being nourished  and in the 5th year will grow to heights of up to 80 feet. Do not neglect training, reading. Perfect your art, the fifth year is upon us. recently my son reminded me "Dad its not practice that makes perfect, but perfect practice makes perfect"

BE THAT CHAMPION!!!

"Age aint nothing but a number"

Many men have accomplished greatness regardless of their age, they have pursued the dream and achieved it. Susan Boyle became a star at 48, Benjamin Franklin did not add his signature to the Declaration of Independence till he was 70. Ray Kroc at 52 started to make the Mcdonalds brand what it is today, Stan Lee (associated with marvel comics) started his superhero comics when he was 43, Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa at 75, while Alexander the Great had conquered empires by the time he was 23. Jesus had completed his purpose by 33. The Bible mentions Methuselah as the oldest man that ever lived dying when he was 969 years old, his entire life summed up in a verse without any significant accomplishments. Old age does not guarantee wisdom only grey hairs.

Jesus Christ was crucified when he was 33 over 2000 years ago, but we still feel his impact today. Mike Tyson became the youngest Heavyweight champion at 21, while George Foreman the oldest at 40 and was still in pursuit of the championship at 45. Surely "Age aint nothing but a number". David the shepherd boy slew dangerous beasts and warriors as a teenager. Abraham had children in his old age.

A champion is one who does not place significance on age but pursues the dream.

BE THAT CHAMPION!!

"The Greatest"

Muhammad Ali was notably known as "the greatest", he is also known to have lost 5 of his professional fights and once stripped of his title.A champion faces defeats and discouragements, but dusts himself, stands up and carries on. Our philosophy in life should be to learn from defeat and move on. It should be i failed but so what i am going for it again

When Ali refused to go to war in Vietnam, they was a public outrage and he become public enemy number 1. In our walk people opinions will always swing when we are down. 1Samuel 30 tells us when David and his men had come back to Ziklag to find his town had been set on fire by the Amalekites, and their wives and children  taken. They was an outcry against David, they threatened to stone him, questioned his leadership.

Somehow it always seems that a crisis always births another crisis, the scripture tells us that David encouraged himself and strengthened himself in the Lord. He did not wallow in self pity, but did what he did best enquired of the Lord. When defeat and discouragement comes the worst thing you can do is feel sorry for yourself.

David sought out someone to help him do what he did best, a priest. First he found strength in himself then he sought out strength in one with a like mind. Always surround yourself with positive people when you are down.

A true champion is one who arises from his defeat and goes to regain his belt.

BE THAT CHAMPION!!

No pain, no gain

Anything that means anything to you will demand that you sacrifice something to accomplish it, be it your time, your friends, your money. Bodybuilders know that to build your muscles demands performing an action against a resistance and that resistance has to be sufficient enough to fatigue you. As the muscles are pushed they begin to rapture and the healing process adds more muscle. No pain, no gain

Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross - Hebrews 12:2

Your victory is at the end of that pain, that sacrifice, Jesus endured pain, he endured the cross for the Joy that was beyond that cross. I recently heard a quote that just stood out "Champions are made when no-one is looking, history is made when everyone is watching." That training period, that sacrifice is unseen to many, but the rewards can be great. When David slew the lion and the bear no-one was watching, but when he slew Goliath in front the Army he was celebrated and promoted. To David he had done this before in his back yard and it was not a big deal.

David said moreover, the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the Lion, and the paw the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine 1 Samuel 17:37

Genesis records the account of  Jacob wrestling  an angel, he wrestled till it was daybreak, when the angel could not prevail he dislocated Jacobs hip, but Jacob did not let go, (he was tenacious and focused), he demanded a blessing and he got an upgrade from a Jacob (supplanter, deceiver) to an Israel (one who wrestles with God, Prince of God). Jacob still came out of the fight with a limp caused by the dislocation.

Sometimes the price for that victory is the pain that lingers on, lost friendships, alienation, etc. Jacob wrestled for the blessing (victory), "No pain, no gain."

Michael Jackson sacrificed his childhood for his excellence in his music and dance, the pain lingered for the loss of his childhood and this was demonstrated by his continuous association with children. Nothing worth accomplishing can be done without sacrifice.

... let us throw off every thing that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us Hebrews 12:2

The legacy that you choose to leave, identify it, pursue it, fight for it, sacrifice for it.
 "

All human actions have one or more of these causes, chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, desire." - Aristotle

BE THAT CHAMPION!!!

The Comeback

"Inside of a ring  or out, ain't nothing wrong with going down. Its staying down that's wrong." - Muhammad Ali 

There are two distinct times when a person is most likely to quit, after a failure or a victory. Failure is a delay,  a mere detour to our victories. The scripture reminds us "though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again. The key is not to wallow in your defeat,  but to remember that you may be down but not out.

Psalm 37:24 states the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord...... though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with his hand

A champion will always set his course for a victory, but defeat and failure are sometimes inevitable this is an opportunity for a major comeback.

"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with an extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."- Muhammad Ali

  Every trial, every failure is an opportunity to be complete (victorious), but we will only be crowned champion when we learn from from our defeats and emerge victorious from the rematch.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds .... so that you may be mature and complete - James 1:2.

David the shepherd boy spoke of defeating a lion and a bear (the largest land based carnivore), your opponents become stronger as your victories continue and then he (David) saw an opportunity to defeat Goliath (a man).

BE THAT CHAMPION!!!.