“Is anybody ready to make some noise?”

“Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord Today!”

Think about what it’s like when you are enjoying a sporting event with a group of people either at the stadium or watching on TV. You are watching your favorite team as they are working toward winning the big game! Let’s say a football game for example. The clock is ticking down to the end and your team has the ball on the 10 yard line. It’s the final play of the game and all they need to do is punch it in and score and they win it all!

The intensity grows during the final play as ball is hiked; the quarter back fades back, sees his open receiver; the pass is thrown and the receiver stretches out and catches the ball in the end zone for the score.

It get’s crazy doesn’t’ it? People are shouting to the top of the lungs. Can’t you see it? People slinging high fives, and fist pumps! People lunging in the air performing leaping chest pumps at each other at each other! The crowd goes wild!

How wonderful it would be if we reacted the same way when rejoicing unto the Lord and praising His Holy Name. Psalm 100 says: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

We have a lot to be thankful for. Isn’t it awesome that we already have the victory in Jesus Christ? Jesus went to the game, scored and won it for us way back on Calvary when he suffered, bled and died; when he was buried and arose again with all power in his hands?

While our victory has already been won, the clock of life is still ticking for us. We still have time to take action and score on what some will argue the biggest play of your life! If you have not saved; it’s time to turn your life over the Jesus Christ. If you are saved, it’s time to make your relationship with Christ deeper. If you are called to serve in ministry, it is time to leap out on faith and take the next two or even three steps with your works.

Regardless your situation, as you strive to take action before the final second of the game, remember to think about the blessings you have already received. Think about how great God has been, is and will be and give God thanks! This time though, try giving that sporting event enthusiasm. Even if you look and feel crazy doing it, consider sharing your “what I’m thankful for” stories with your friends and family and while slinging high fives, and throwing a few fist pumps at each other? If you really want to give a go, try shouting to the top of the lungs and lunging in the air to do a leaping chest pump with each other! Now I want you to be safe, and only try and do what your health condition will allow. However, whatever you do, and however you do it, be enthusiastic, excited!

So I ask again. Is anybody ready to make some noise? “Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord Today!”

“Stay Alert and Keep it Hot!”

Are you aware of your surroundings?

Are you ready to bring your ‘A’ game?

If so, then you know how to “Stay Alert and Keep it Hot!”

The phrase “Stay Alert and Keep it Hot!” came to me in a resounding and almost supernatural way! In fact, as soon as I experienced the thought, I began thinking of so many situations I during my life my journey where this concept was applied and yielded fantastic outcomes for me. I also began thinking of ways that you can consider this concept and apply it to your personal and professional walk in life.

Allow me to break this phrase down for you. “Stay Alert”: Sometimes you may find yourself trying to figure out a problem or situation and the direction in which you should turn is not clear. You have mapped all avenues and have searched beyond every nook and cranny for a solution to no avail. At the risk of being too simplified, let me try this example on you.

Let’s say you are the owner of a small marketing distribution business that requires you to package and ship products and materials throughout the United States. You are struggling with being able to afford the shipping expense due to rising cost of the carriers to the point where your business won’t survive unless you come up with a way to reduce your delivery spend while maintaining your pack and ship orders. You have negotiated with vendor after vendor. You have attempted to be creative in your shipping practices. You name it; you have tried it and have gained no success.

You happen to be at community picnic one day where you were enjoying the company of family, friends, neighbors, small business owners and community officials. You walked up and joined a conversation where the topic was about the challenges another small business owner was experiencing. You listen, but not too intently because let’s face it, you had your own problems to deal with and didn’t want noise from someone else’s situation to make you feel any worse than you felt already.

The small business owner shared about trying to start a delivery service being turned down by several lending companies due to not having a locked in client to produce a consistent revenue stream. The owner went on to say that one bank replied that if one client promises service for 24 months the loan request may receive approval.

As you hear this you begin to think how terrible it is that this business owner cannot even find one lender that is willing to help. To take it a step further, you think that with the number of people at this community event, there had to be at least one person that works for a bank that can give this business owner some advice on what to do.

Now, if you were in the “Stay Alert” mode, perhaps less thought would have been applied to finding a lender for the small business owner and more thought on connecting, networking and even negotiating a deal with this owner to produce a “win win” solution for both parties. To “Stay Alert” means you are aware of your surroundings which include conversations, media, business and social networks and occurrences around you in general, and you recognize opportunities for not only for yourself, but as well for others within your sphere of influence.
When I do one on one coaching, I often share two quotes;

“Your gesture of kindness can sometimes lead to greater opportunities for yourself.” “The door you open for others may be the key that opens the door of opportunity to the threshold of your destiny.” David J. Wess Sr. M. Ed.

Ok, let’s talk about the “Keep it Hot” mode. This applies to how you delivering your product, service, and your routine regimen and practice. In other words you always try to be ready to bring your ‘A’ game. Try this analogy out for size.

For those of you that like to enjoy a good hot meal, think of that favorite dinner you enjoy the most. I know there are so some many favorites out there, so let me just share one of my many favorites. I really enjoy hot fried chicken, with hot mash potatoes and gravy. Oh and let’s not forget a serving of hot seasoned collard greens or green beans. Top it off with some a hot biscuit or two with butter…..hmmmm. Doesn’t that sound good? If this is your favorite meal, then join in with my imagination. If this menu choice does not appease you, feel free to replace it with your own favorite meal selection. The main point is to think of your favorite hot meal experience and indulge me for a moment on two thoughts.

Thought #1: You like it hot, right? You want the taste to blend well with you buds. Taste buds that is. You want the aroma to beautifully resonate with your sense of smell. You want the appropriate level of juices to mix in an overwhelmingly dynamic fashion. Stay with me now. What if you were told to get ready because you are going to get served your favorite meal this evening? Your imagination immediately goes to work on all of your favorite hot meal memory description items. But wait! When you received your plate, it didn’t have all of the characteristics you are so fond of. And to make matters worse, IT WAS COLD!! Wouldn’t that turn you off? How disappointing would to make you feel?

Thought# 2: Think of how thought 1 started. Everything applies here, only this time when you received your plate and all the characteristics were in place the way you imagined. And the taste was out of this world. That would be AWESOME, right? Guess what? Tomorrow you will get the same thing! COOL, right? The next day you get the same meal again! Uh, uh, uh awesome........., I think. And again; same meal even the next day. Cool? After a while you begin to lose the excitement, don’t you? The thought loses its appeal. And while it’s still your favorite meal, you probably could use a break between now and the next time you plan to experience this menu, let alone even desire to have this meal ever again.

Such is true when you deliver your product. Whatever it is; if its customer service,”Keep it Hot!” If you are a speaking or delivering a presentation, “Keep it Hot!” If you are in management or in some type of leadership role, “Keep it Hot!” Don’t grow cold on your audience or followers. And to keep your followers interested, engaged and excited. Also consider changing your approach every now and then. After awhile the same old message day in and day out may get a little boring! So mix it up to keep the enthusiasm juices flowing.

So tell me now. Are you aware of your surroundings? Are you ready to bring your ‘A’ game to the table? Please share with me examples you have where the “Stay Alert and Keep it Hot” concept could have been or has been applied? I hope to hear from you. Until then make sure you “Stay Alert and Keep it Hot!”

“Recalling Your Personal History Can Be Revitalizing”

Do you have a relationship with God?

“Recalling Your Personal History Can Be Revitalizing”

I have a history with God. He has brought me through many trials and tribulations; hurts and pains. He has also showered me with favor and mountain top experiences. I know God for myself; I believe in Him and trust Him. I really love God and am learning how to love Him even more. I already know he won’t leave me nor forsake me; God has delivered me from my past; and even right now HE is delivering me from my present. The exciting thing is I know HE has already provided for me in my future.

No I don’t have it all together, so don’t get me wrong. This walk; this journey is a process. I’m just trying to be obedient. I have my days; I have situations that I go through that appear to be insurmountable. Illness, suffering relationships, out of work, you name it I have been through it. I have those days when I look into space and just wonder what is next for me. I think things like….

“God, are you sure this is what you want for me?”

“God this doesn’t feel good!”

“Hey God……………., I’m still here!”

“Oh God, can you hear me?”

“Are you listening?”

“Oh yeah, in the name of Jesus………did I forget to say that?”

Then I have to shake myself out of that thinking because that is when doubt creeps in. I can’t go there. When I go there I definitely can’t stay there long. If I go there and stay long, the enemy starts licking his chops; getting ready to eat me alive!

Have you ever been there and done that? You can’t stay there long, right? One thing that helps me work through situations is remembering my past; my past relationship with God, that is. Try it. Try remembering your personal history of events that you may recall experiencing when things were not going so well. Then ask yourself the following five questions. 1. What was your situation? 2. What things occurred that seemed to make matters worse? 3. What took place that gave indication that change or help was on the way? 4. What part did God play in this situation? 5. How was your relationship with God before, during and after you experienced this situation?

Please share with me your response to these questions as it pertains to at least one or a few situations in your past where God brought you through. Also share whether or not recalling that situation has helped you in the present. I am not only very much interested in reading your comments about this blog; I also want to read your answers to these questions.

Remember; if you are working through a challenge in your life and trying to make it through a situation, hopefully this blog and these questions will help you establish an outline of your past as “recalling your personal history can be revitalizing” and may help you think through your current situation.