Expect to Succeed!

Every time I enter a contest, submit a resume, audition for a cooking show, I expect to win. Hummmmmmmmmm. I have to wonder what this says about me as a person. Am I deluded? Do I think more highly of myself than I should? Am I so self centered that I don't realize my limitations? I guess some would say "yes" to all of the above but I don't think so. I'm simply optimistic and I also have faith in the God who made me.

In grade school, I wanted to be the president of a club or a committee, I don't remember exactly what it was. However, the lesson I learned the day we voted, I remember very well. Time came for the vote and just as I was about to cast my vote for the other person, someone asked, "Should someone vote for himself?" The teacher answered by asking the class this question, "Who do you think the president of the United States votes for in an election, himself or the rival candidate?" She went on to explain how silly it would be for the president of the United States to vote for his advisary and not only silly but what would it say to his potential voters if he didn't believe in himself.

That lesson has followed me through life. Rest assured, when vote time comes, I've always voted for myself! Furthermore, I expect to succeed because I believe in myself. Sure, I know I have limits but I also know I am created with gifts and talents to use. I wouldn't enter a phyics tournament (if there is such a thing) and expect to win but as I've realized my own strengths and gifts, I expect to succeed as I seek to use these gifts for His glory.

Expect to succeed! You have God-given talents, gifts, and abilities and He will allow you to use them. The key is "through Christ". "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"!

Confessions of a Procrastinator

As I sit here writing this I have to admit a certain amount of loathing for myself. You see, I am a habitual procrastinator. For example, I've been pushing to the side an article that must be written for a local magazine for at least 2 weeks. I've got the idea and the gist of the article all mapped out in my head but I simply haven't put it to "paper". Knowing me I'll wait until I hear from the editor via text message asking something rather pointed like "article?". I'll then jump on my computer and peck that sucker out in about 30 minutes. I don't know why I procrastinate. I may have ADD. I may not. I may be lazy. But I'm really not lazy. Heck, my wheels spin all the time. I may be unmotivated. Nah, that's not me either. I may have "too many irons in the fire". That may be true, but who doesn't? Truth be known, my procrastination is probably simply a dirty little habit I've cultivated like a well tended vegetable garden for most of my life. I mean, really, why do it now when I can do it later? "Sigh".