Happy Tuesday!
Emily and I left town Sunday afternoon, will return sometime tonight. We’ve been staying at a friend’s house… attended the memorial service for his grandmother yesterday. She passed away at 104 years old!
Our friend has baroque music playing softly throughout his house 24 hours a day. What a peaceful environment he’s created here! I feel so CALM right now.
Here’s a great clip from my soon coming book Make me a Legend! It’s taken from the middle of chapter 8: Build an Extravagant Foundation! I do hope you like these few paragraphs!
Overnight Sensations!
“Would you look at that lucky guy-out of nowhere, he’s an overnight sensation!” We’ve all heard this sort of bitter-chatter a time or two in our lives. It really does appear like some people are born with a silver spoon in their hand. They sweep the playing board in record time, leaving the rest of us scratching our heads. And if you and I don’t put it all into perspective, we will catch ourselves envying their ‘instant successes’ as if life is just not fair for the rest of us.
Since ‘foundations’ are always constructed below the surface and out of the public eye, we don’t often hear much about them. For some odd reason, we don’t usually recognize a rising legends value until the rest of the world starts singing their praises. We wait for the crowds to point out our stars, and then we look right next door to us-wondering where that mystery person came from! It’s so true-legends are invisible right up to the exact day they are NOTICED!
A few years ago, I was trying to work this all out in my own mind, when I happened upon Bishop TD Jakes, preaching one of his slam-dunk sermons! In that message, Bishop Jakes spoke very openly about his ‘foundational years.’ I can’t tell you what an inspiration this was for me-to watch with my own eyes and listen with my own ears as this esteemed legend spoke of his humbly beginning.
During this candid timeline of Mr. Jakes success I was taken to the place where it all began for him-all the way back to the remote hills of West Virginia. Bishop Jakes held nothing back, describing the dirtiest moments of his average, every day life-just years before he would be one of the most influential men from this era.
Spilling over with that Jakes kind of humor, he told about one of his clunker cars from those good ole days. He claimed that car was such a pile of junk, he would park it down the road from the churches he was speaking at-and walk the rest of the way to the services so nobody saw what he was driving! Some would call him vain for placing too much value on outward appearance. I say thanks for the honesty! I believe the sermon was titled, Fake It Till You Make It!
Here was one of the most celebrated preachers to ever grace the earth describing the agony of his intense poverty. He went on about the many threats against his family, as Jakes haters busted out his windows with rocks in the night. He was carefully recounting his long and tedious journey to greatness. And towards the end he said something I will never forget. He explained how he’s preaching the same sermons today that he preached before he was famous! This well seasoned orator was trying to help his followers understand: legends are powerful long before they are noticed!
Don’t be fooled by some blown up fairy-tail and undervalue the DECADES of hard work and dedication ‘overnight success’ requires. Even though I’m one of the most impatient people I’ve ever met-I’m always asking God to pull me back when I get ‘too big for my britches.’
So if a million people rave over this first book of mine so that I become the next ‘overnight sensation’, I will never forget the 456 months of schooling it took to get me here. I will never forget my day of small beginnings-my hunk of junk cars and busted out windows. Even though it would have been nicer to grow faster, I wouldn’t change a thing! Because Gods timing has been absolutely perfect thus far! So, here it is again… “If it (the fulfillment of your vision) seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” -Habakkuk 2:3
I hope today’s blog ads tremendous value to your amazing life. I hope it helps you… to take a deep breath and dedicate to that extravagant foundation ONE MORE DAY… because you’re already making a difference… and if you can just be patient a little bit longer… you are closer today than ever before to achieving your dreams!
Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!
Chuck
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Wow! For an impatient person like me that is awesome. Usually people tell me that I don’t really seem impatient, but I guess that is because I hide it well. I have many of the same challenges as you Pastor in that I always have to ask God to pull me back if I get as you put it… “too big for my britches.” I have always been one who wants instant gratification, and for everything to be happening NOW. LOL I thank God that He has not given me everything in my timing, and instead I have learned and continue to learn to wait for His perfect timing! I am thankful that He has been patient with me as well!!
I was just again reading Romans 15:4 “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” – Again how perfect the timing of this scripture along with today’s blog. I have also used this scripture in the past when Nechemya my son was in the hospital. I prayed daily for almost two months as I sat alone in the hospital room that he would be healed and we would go home. Not until we were released for the last time, did I realize that there were many people we were able to touch while we were there. We were able to pray with hurting people we would have never crossed paths with. Now I also have even more empathy for anyone who goes through any similar circumstances. If God had healed him within the first week many of those lives would have never been touched.
I know that God has something AMAZING for me, my family and our calling, and I know that for me it seems like it may be an eternity to get where we are going, but I am so thankful that we have such a WONDERFUL God that He will fulfill all His promises in just the right season!
True that Elaine… you do come off as a VERY patient person and God has something VERY big for your family! You're already made such a BIG difference in my life and for all the people at Destiny Family Center! Thanks for the encouragement! I'm praying for you guys this morning… hope you feel the difference!
Thanks dude! Sometimes finding out that you didn't build your foundation or having a "storm" take away your entire "house", you need to build over. I know a lot of people in that spot. Here's to rebuilding that foundation and having the patience to carry us through!
Love you bro! You are definitely a legend in the making!