Author: Debra Lake-Roberts
Your Full Potential--what is it? Have you reached it? If not, why not? What is holding you back???
Time Management
You obviously picked up this book (or this web page) because you know deep down that you have more to do in this life time. Or perhaps someone gave you this book because they see the potential in you that you don't yet see yourself. Whatever the reason is, I am grateful that you would pause to read this. You and I and every single person around us can reach their full potential. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. It doesn't matter where you have been or what you have done, it is all part of the journey to get you where you are today and where God is taking you.
There are no mistakes in life. All those things you have been beating yourself up about that you could have, should have or would have done different are not mistakes. They were part of the journey to form the very being God created you to be. You went through trying times to be tested and to be formed into the masterpiece God designed you to be. When Michelangelo's chiseled David he took a sold piece of marble and formed him by knocking off pieces that didn't belong. God does the same to us he hammers at us and slowly but surely our beauty takes form. God sees the beauty within us all along, however it takes us much longer to see it. A Masterpiece is not made overnight, it takes time.
We allow guilt, resentment, bitterness, anger and hatred cover over our beauty and that is the stuff that is keeping us from reaching our full potential. Let your true beauty shine through by allowing God to remove all of that, which does not belong. That ugliness is keeping you from reaching your full potential. I know first hand because I couldn't get to where I am today without first letting God get rid of the garbage that was holding me back. If you want to be free than decide right now that you will be open and willing to do whatever it takes to get there.
There is a road that is calling you. The road to freedom is it's name. If you would like to travel down that road then let's begin the new life journey. The destination is Your Full Potential! When you travel there you will be free to be who God designed and needs you to be. You will be free from being held back, stifled or paralyzed from the fear that keeps you from being the best you can be. If you have a small still voice inside of you that has dared you to be more, dared you to dream more, to create more but something is stopping you we are going to annihilate the "things" that are holding you back from getting there.
You see my friend, I know what those emotions and fears feel like. I was literally shut down for years. I had given up and believed the lies that I would never amount to anything, that I was not as good as everyone else, that I was a worthless no good human being. I was paralyzed with fear. I was filled with bitterness and anger. I was filled with shame and guilt. I felt as though I was constantly battling to keep sane. One day I walked through the doorway of forgiveness that lead to the road to freedom. I read something by Louis Hays "Hurt People, Hurt People." Those two words that are repeated twice with the emphasis on the word "hurt" shocked me. Say them out loud right now several times. Now, think back over some of the most hurtful times of your life. For me that meant going back to age 4 when sexual abuse began.
Let me warn you friend, you are going to have to be honest. You are going to have to hurt to get to the other side. The tears of truth will have to fall and the wall that is blocking you from your full potential will have to come down. You can't walk around it, or jump over it. It must come down and the time to begin is right now. I will make you a promise though my beloved, if you will trust me and listen to me I will hold your right hand and walk right along side of you. You won't be on this journey alone. You have nothing to fear and you are never alone. Isn't it time to be set free? Haven't enough years passed of not truly living your best? Do you first Desire to live at your best? If you answered a Joyful YES!; then the second step to take is to forgive.
Is forgiveness easy? No it isn't but if you truly desire to get where you dream of going then it is a must. It hurts, it is painful but it is so freeing! You might have to start with forgiving yourself or God or your parents or even people who did you "wrong". The reality is everything that has ever happened to you has happened so you could reach your full potential. The lessons that you were supposed to learn are there, perhaps at the time you went through them you could not see what they were. You were blinded or possibly still blinded by hatred, fear, embarassment etc. You are a better person, a wiser person because of fires that test you. I say this because I know it is the truth for me. I share the truth with you in love because I want you to reach the peak of your potential. When you hold onto anything that is not lovely, good or worthy you will be held back from your peak performance.
Make a list of all the people who have ever hurt you. The events in life that caused you pain and suffering. The fires and trials that you have endured that felt unfair, unlucky or just plain wrong. Now let me assure you that some of the things you went through were "wrong" in a sense, but they were also right because they formed your very being. They touched your soul and you gained your true character through them. You tapped into strength that you didn't even know you had. People were brought into your life that cared and comforted you that gave you hope and showed you what true love really was. You became a better person because of the hurt that you experienced. Something good came out of the bad. You have to look for it, you have to allow it to be revealed to you, you have to cling to the belief that it was not all in vain. It was part of your purpose, part of the plan, part of the path that you had to walk down to get to where you are today.

that reflect just a small portion of God's love...



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Today's Prayer
God, So often I look at what people are going through and feel sorry for them. And when I'm going through tough times, I am upset about it. But when I look at Joseph and all he went through, then see where that led, I understand that You have a plan for us in all that happens. If Joseph had not been put in that pit, then sold into slavery, then taken to the rulers, he would not have been in the place to save his family nor the children of Israel. Lord, please help me remember Joseph and his outcome when I'm in the midst of troubles I don't understand. I pray that my outcome will be a "Joseph outcome," accomplishing Your purpose. Do what is necessary to use my gifts and talents for Your eternal Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
From www.churchgrowth.org
Obedience Tests
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
07-18-2009
"They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord's commands, which He had given their forefathers through Moses" (Judg. 3:4).
There is a spiritual truth God revealed in the conquest of the Promised Land recorded in Judges chapter 3: "These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan" (Judg 3:1-3).
They didn't pass the test. "The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs" ( Judg 3:7-8).
Martin Luther said there are three things necessary to create a successful minister of God: prayer, meditation, and temptation. You'll really never know the strength and reality of your faith until you experience difficulty in life. You'll never know for sure whether God can be trusted or if you'll fall to temptation.
The apostle Peter thought his faith in Christ was solid until the temptation came to deny Him. Jesus knew Peter was not mature yet and that he would deny Jesus three times in one day. Peter didn't believe it. Sure enough, Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter could not believe he could do such a terrible thing. In order to discover this about himself, he needed to be placed in a situation to reveal his true condition.
God allows circumstances to develop around your life to give your faith opportunity to be proven. It is only when we are tested in battle that we become skilled warriors. You can be confident God will allow trials to come your way through situations like an unreasonable boss, a client who refuses to pay, a false assault on your character, or a difficult relationship that requires unconditional love. These battles are sent your way to test what you know in the mind in order that they might become part of your heart.
If you fail the test, do not be overly concerned. Learn from it and grow through the experience just as Peter did.

