The best gift you can give is...

It was my birthday a few days ago. I was pretty humbled by all the kind words, wishes, and love. But it made me think about gifts, I got a few, and they were cool and all, but I thought "what's the best gift you can give to someone?". Now mind you, nothing against gifts (duh), but I thought about the greatest gift. And I came to the conclusion that the best gift you can give is you. The best gift you can give to the world is you.

This is not the cheesy-corny thing you want to hear. But it is the truth. I can have all the stuff later, but I won't have you around forever. If you want to make the best, most expensive, most qualified, most lasting gift to me, your friends, and your family, then be a man or woman of integrity, of righteousness, who earns everything she owns. Don't settle for small dreams, go for the big ones. Don't live for yourself, but live for the very glory that leads to eternity.

Be kind to people and let them remember you for your character. Don't forget the little ones, and don't depreciate the hopeless. Remember the poor and encourage the afflicted. Seek wisdom and hate ignorance. Cut back on tv, and open that book sitting on the shelf. Say 'bye' to your couch and call some friends. And when you gain new heights, remain humble. This is truly the best gift, it's more than enough.

Pencil writing history

The "I am this way and I will never change" approach is not going to take you anywhere. I have heard it in a lot of places from a lot of people, and these same people end up living miserably, unhappy, and wondering why 'nothing works for them'. Here is how to identify them:

• "Everyone/all guys/all girls are the same" (No, YOU are always the same)
• "This is how I am and I'll die this way" (Yes, you will)
• "No one is going to change me" (You are absolutely right, only you can change yourself)
• "Why change? It never works" (It has never worked because you have never changed)

Wake up! It is only if you are willing to be changed that you can be used to change the world around you. No change in you, no change in others. Do you really want to be the vessel of change? Do you really want to be the pencil in God's hand? Then be willing to be changed. Submit yourself to a process of change, no matter how painful and slow it is.

Here is the analogy my mentor gives me: When you came to God, all you were was mud, but through burning you and spinning you around, God begins to give you shape. Sometimes it burns a lot, and sometimes He rids you of big parts of your life, but that's what it takes. Are you willing?

You don't have to be a champion

King David Statue

You don't have to pay, but don't let it surprise you
when they are anointed and you are not
when they see favor in their lives and you don't
when they get the success and you don't
Do not complain for they paid the price, and you did not

Here is the deal: It is not a sin not to seek the Lord your God with all your might. It is not a sin not to give it all for Him. It is not a sin not to stay those extra ten minutes to pray. It is not a sin not to speak of Him wherever you go. It is not a sin. Do not worry, it is not a sin.

But don't be surprised when the Lord blesses those who seek Him with all their might, those who give it all for Him, those who prayed until their knees hurt, those who risk shame and popularity for His sake. Those are the men and women after God's own heart. Those are the champions. Do you want to be one of them? No one will force you, but do you want to?

The fisherman that didn't try

Once upon a time, a fisherman let his Master down. The Master mentored, trusted in, and provided for him. The Master had warned the fisherman that he would fail, but said "do not worry, even as you fail me, you'll be okay. It will be alright. You can still be great."

When the day of the majestic fail came, the fisherman no longer felt worthy of a great life, so he went back to his old, bad habits. Upon time the fishermen's wife said "Peter, why are you doing this again? What happened to your dreams?". To which, the 'humble' fisherman replied "I am not worthy, I'll never get there"

The same happens with our lives:

• We don't study because we don't think we can get the good grade
• We don't attempt to be holy because we don't feel worthy
• We don't exercise because we'll never be as fit as that guy on TV
• We don't try to talk to her because we think she won't be attracted anyway

STOP!
I wanna tell you that:

• Yes, if you do study, you can get that good grade and much more
• Yes, you can be holy if you make the commitment
• Yes, you can be fit, real fit if you discipline yourself
• Yes, you can attract that girl, or another one, but you must decide

Don't make excuses any longer. A tree grows as far as it can, likewise, go as far as you can. Don't limit yourself and the Lord your God. You're meant for greatness!

The story ends well - the fisherman saw his Master's Word come to be true. Later in life, his shadow healed the sick, and thousands came to see him as a leader. That fisherman's name was Peter and his Master was and is still known as Jesus Christ.

The one thing they cannot say

Chances are, not all of your goals will be met. Not everything you want will actually happen. Maybe the scoreboard will not turn out the way you thought it would, despite all those tiring practices through the rain. Maybe you didn't get that GPA despite spending sleepless nights for that one class. Maybe you have prayed entire nights and seen nothing happen. What then?

Here is what happens then. You stay there. You continue to do it. You don't give up. You get up and try again. And your family? and your friends? what will people say about you? They can say anything. They can remind you that you failed, they can tell you that they warn you, and they can tell you the classic "maybe it's not meant for you". But this is what NO ONE should be able to say "You didn't try"

The lesson today, friend, is that you work so hard and so persistently that no one should rightly be able to say "(s)he did not try". Let them say anything except that. At the end of your life, no one should be able to say "(s)he did not try". Be a history maker, don't give up, ever.

Question: What do you think of this? Is there any point where you should stop trying?