Motivational Memo Blog - Motivation Articles

I recently read the writings of a man whose creations were seen as influential pieces that impacted both the American and French revolutions. But then he decided to write a document that revolted against Judaism, Islam, Christianity and Christ himself. Even Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison commended the writings of this man, but in my opinion this intelligent man portrayed incredible elements, in his writings, of complete and utter stupidity.

But how can such intelligence be so stupid? The answer is simple. The intelligent person is entirely basing his belief system on logic. And yet when it comes to say Christianity, the whole basis is built upon faith. A logical man will struggle to understand faith every time. Faith at times defies logic, so how on earth can logic ever start to understand the miracles of Jesus?

But the facts remain, that in my lifetime I have seen the deaf receive their hearing, a child’s hole in her heart healed and that healing confirmed by doctors, a drunken man sobered instantaneously, a frozen shoulder defrosted in a second and answered prayer where no man was aware of the need. Now these speak of a faith that logic cannot and will not ever understand.

Maybe that’s why Jesus went to the fishing village and not to the universities of his day. For simple faith believed whilst complete logic, even to this day, denies.

Death. Invader of life. Destroyer of hope. Interrupter of youth. Usurper of health.

So when considering the insidious character named death, we can often be overtaken with a sense of despair and a sense of defeat.

And yet when we consider it in the light of the resurrection, we suddenly realize that ‘absent from the body, present with the Lord’.

Death is in fact the shedding of a flawed body that is to be replaced by the donning of a faultless body. This new arraignment will now allow us to reside eternally in a place of no sickness, no disease, no deformity, no hunger, no disfigurement, no pain and no more death.

So why do we fear death’s poisonless sting, and why do we cry?

For death in one sense is pure liberation. It is freedom in its purest form, and is simply a delayed separation from those whom we love - as if we have departed on an eternal holiday. And yet our separation will be but a breath in comparison to the aeon’s of time that surround us.

Death in itself can be a healing that takes us from here, where we reside in pain, into a place of amazing gain.

Certainly death’s early entrance in our lives can be overtaken by divine healing, but yet in the overall plan of the Almighty - the author of the times and seasons of man, it is but a moment.

God at times seems impatient to have our presence in heaven - and maybe that is why so many are taken before grey hair has appeared and old age has knocked on their door.

But what of it?

What incredible celebration in that ‘take’. For the sadness left behind will pass quickly. And before we know it we will once again be joined with those whom we left here on earth. We have in fact been given the privilege to go forth to prepare a place for those whom we love, and for those whom we will live with in blessed eternity.

There is a place within each and every one of us - a spark lies there - and from that spark is ignited a dream.

And from that dream explodes a blaze. And from that blaze there rages an ever-burning fire that cannot be quenched, that cannot be vanquished, because the spark itself is eternal. This is the eternal flame that resides within the framework that God has placed around your soul. It is the breath of God himself that was breathed into the dust at the very beginning - and once breathed - no matter what enemies continue to conspire - can never be snuffed out. No matter how devious, no matter how deceitful, no matter how detrimental the enemies plans are, this spark remains intact for an eternity.

So fan the spark into a flame with your longing to be all that God has created you to be. Place yourself in a windy passage and the embers will be thrust from your hand, and scattered to the four ends of the earth in the form of inspiration and encouragement for others who have for one reason or another allowed their light to dim, to fade and to falter.

But by your one single miniscule ember - a spark in flight - they will be warmed. They will be enlightened. And where there was a frown it will be replaced by a beaming smile. And where there was no hope there will now be a newfound destiny.

Why?

Because you chose to place yourself in a place where your light could be shared - often in the cold and lonely place - and yet from that position of vulnerability the world now glows like a sun - a ball of unquenchable fire.

Life is full of significant moments. This one I am going to share with you was very significant. I wrote the following email to my mother today as I recounted that moment many years ago:

Hi Mum

At our Connect Group the other night, which we lead - about 20 adults from our church meet every fortnight - a member of our group shared how they led their grandad and grandmum to the Lord.

That reminded me of the following event which I am compelled to tell you, as I don’t know if I have ever shared it with you before.

Your dad to me was a poor example of what a grandad should be. A birthday card and a couple of bucks each year with the painful experience of having to ring and say thank you every year - as a kid - didn’t give me a lot of respect for him as a man. I was actually more and more offended as the years went by.

But before going to Africa with my family, when Ben was one and Sarah was four, I was led to go and visit him. And as a family we did.

So while Shelley and the kids were inside with Aunty Poss, I was in the backyard with your dad. And it is there that he prayed the prayer of salvation as I led him to the Lord Jesus with tears streaming down both of our faces, standing face to face, and holding each others hands.

That was probably the last time I saw him, but I am so thankful that I will see him again in heaven.

I forgave him that day, and to this day I have deep respect for him as my grandad, because he gave me such a mum as you.

Just thought you should know…

Love you

Peter

If a thing is very common and easy to get, we say it is ‘a dime a dozen.’ And that is exactly what talent is.

Let me explain.

In a recent seminar I wrote at the bottom of my white board, in small writing, ‘talent’. And next to it I wrote the word ‘low’. I then proceeded to write in large letters at the top of the board the word ‘high’. And then beside that word started to write what I felt were much more important qualities in a life. Words such as: positive in speech and action, a ‘can do’ spirit, patient, attends to detail, teachable, people skills, servant, excellence, never having own agenda, willing to work for a common goal, non-offensive, co-operative, understanding, willing to learn, does what is asked to do, keeps their word, character, honesty and integrity.

I then went on to explain for the next hour why, as an employer, I placed all those qualities far above talent. And particularly as I franchise my business - I am not going to be looking so much for talent first and foremost, but will in fact be looking for far higher qualities in my applicants.

For it is my experience, that whenever I do need talent, I can simply Google, and talent appears in abundance. But then comes the challenging process of sifting through the quantity of talent to find those who have these high qualities evident in their lives.

Don’t misunderstand me. I am not anti-talent - because all the staff I have are super talented in many different areas. But they are also people who demonstrate these high qualities, and it is these qualities that I admire so much as a human being and fellow traveler on this road called life.

So develop your talent, but at the same time develop that which is higher and more valued in your life - for these higher qualities will last you a lifetime and bring you much blessing.