Today I felt like telling you: RECOGNIZE YOUR AWESOME SELF.

Every week for 10 weeks at a time, I teach a class in my church called STN 301: Discover Greatness and I’m really passionate about it because I feel that people need to be told that this world might not recognize what God already sees in them, so don’t wait for the world to do what you were put on this earth to do. It doesn’t have to be something on a large public platform either. Maybe you are destined to be an awesome friend to someone who will have that public platform (she/he needs you), maybe you will be the mother/father to a child that will contribute extraordinary products, services or ideologies to the world. That is great too!

We are almost at the end of January and I know some of you have already had to fight to believe what God says about you already. I’m sorry this world is so harsh. I’m sorry that so many people have bitten into the bitter apple and have sought to poison your spirit. But you still have a choice. No one can take choice away from you. Choose to recognize your awesomeness. Your uniqueness and yes, live in it. Because if you wait for the world to recognize it (if that ever happens) it may be too late. The worst thing that can happen to any one of us is to die with potential inside.

So how are you doing on the front of relationships? Friendships? Houses of Worship? All of those have an impact on how you will ultimately see and accept you. Make wise choices, it will impact the rest of your 2012, there is still time for a path correction. Go in front of a mirror and tell yourself right now…I am what God says I am. I am the apple of His eye. There’s no one else like me and EVEN IF I have haters, they don’t matter because I RECOGNIZE MY greatness and I will use everything in me to give glory to God.

Did you do that? Yay! Now go on and be your awesome self in the world. Someone needs what only you bring to the atmosphere today!

Every day in the AM, I read two devotionals. The one that I’d like to share with you today is called “The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge” by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker.

I was given this book to review by Tyndale House Publishers. I’m not a sports person so I really didn’t know Tony Dungy at any level other than hearing his name in the news at times. However, I am very much into reading devotionals to start my day so when I heard about this book I wanted to read it. The first thing I loved was the quote on the cover “This year, dare to be uncommon every day.” That called to me. I strive to be uncommon, extraordinary simply who God created me to be every day. While there are many references to sports as illustrations (not thrilled) he had a way of taking the reader back to the point (esp important for us folk that could care less about sports) by having what he called the “uncommon key” which is the final thought based on what you just read. Sometimes it moved you to action (i.e. write down …) or it just made you think but I think it was one of the better devotionals I’ve read. This daily devotional focuses on seven themes, with each theme repeating every seven days. Therefore, every week you will read one devotion from each of the following themes: Core, Family, Friends, Potential, Mission, Influence and Faith. This devotional reminds you that it only takes one to change things in the world and I AM ONE. I may just adopt this as a motto. “Live Uncommon!”I also think this is a gem for the men in our lives who want to connect with a man’s man and who understand the life he has lived as a sports person. Especially since some men don’t like to read, this devotional is short, quick and to the point.  Get it as a gift for the men in your life and make sure you pick one up for yourself.

Check out what Dungy says below:

I’m giving away a free Tyndale House Publishers Certificate for a copy of this book for the best comment on how you try to live an uncommon life. Let the games begin and I hope you win!

Disclaimer: At the request of the authors and Tyndale House Publishers, a Paperback edition of this book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event

Each new year is a gift from God , and this year 2012 which will be a spectacular year, would not delay the blessings will come upon you.

A year is like a jewel that has 365 beautiful gemstones. All valuable jewel needs to be kept, stored and enjoyed in the proper perspective.

Perhaps I can ask and how to treat time as a gem. The Bible says so: Do not be fools, but wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Apostle Paul.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by his good conduct that his works with meekness of wisdom “James 3:13.

Many people are in a desperate race to be wise, intelligent and knowledgeable. Every day studying and signing up to be wiser in a course, but have not learned the basic lessons of life . They want to learn lessons from books, but ignore the lessons of daily life that God teaches us and have a profound value.

The lessons daily in life are simple yet profound. Here are ten simple lessons of life that I think if you learn, you will be end up wise. Every new year, all of us have these ten lessons.

1 .- God first in life, because the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. Without God we can do nothing. He is not the last resort when things go wrong, but the first so that everything goes well in life.  Jesus said when he said this statement: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things will follow”. So many put their careers first (or other things),trust me, you got it backwards.

2 .- God gave you a body. If you like or hate this body, it is still a gift God gave you for the rest of your life, so you better learn to love and live with it. Not fight more with your body (and detest it)  begin to be grateful and good stewards of the body God has given us careful how we eat, we cleaned and dressed. Do not forget that our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost. Yes, this year (AGAIN) I will make wiser choices for my body.

3 .- You always learn lessons in life. You are enrolled in a university called life. Every day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn new lessons. Like the lessons or not, there are lessons to be learned.

4 .- A lesson is repeated until it is learned. This lesson will be presented over and over again in various forms until you have learned. Only when you learn you can go to the next lesson. There are no shortcuts in this, our courses are free or purchased diplomas in life. School life is relentless in this. You don’t want to repeat a grade right? Learn the lesson and graduate.

5 .- There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process that involves mistakes, but in life and to God those mistakes become lessons. All who have accomplished something in life you can tell us how many times did not. Every detail becomes almost lost a precious stone. The apostle Paul said, saying that those who love God all things work together for good. Dare to do things this year, whether it works or fails, it will be a lesson. Only those that dare greatly, end up doing great things.

6.-Learning lessons is a process that never ends. There is no part of life that does not contain lessons. If you are alive, then there are still lessons to learn. The race of life and the degree of human existence is not the product of a 3, 10 or 12 years. All life is the course. It’s a race with infinite goal.

7 .- Others are mirrors to your life. You can not love or hate anyone unless you understand that your love or hate is a reflection of what your you love or hate. Resentment, hatred and bitterness is the best way of torturing ourselves. It is the post where we end up hanged without realizing that this or that both hate is but a reflection of or have not worked in me. I ended 2011 with forgiving someone who hurt be badly. It felt great. 

8 .- Make your life something that grows. You have all the tools and resources that God has given for the formation of your life. What you do with those tools will determine your growth, but the decision is always yours. God has placed within you gifts, capabilities, operations and ministries. Those are God’s tools for the training of your life. If you haven’t grown, that means you’re stuck. 

9 .- There is no better than here. When your there has become your here, another there just seems to get better than you here. So enjoy and be faithful to you here. Do not look outside the fields that appear more green, when yours or need a little more diligence. Do not get distracted with the plate you put your neighbor if you are in the same table with him. Your dish is perhaps the same or maybe surprised you with a dish best but you have not noticed by looking at the others. Don’t covet gifts or things of others, it’s not attractive, you get sidetracked and worse God hates it!

10 .- The answers are in the Word of God. When doubts assail you and confusion surrounds you find the answers in the Word of God. The Bible remains the manufacturer’s manual. When you’ve tried everything and the matter is not resolved, go to the Word of God, trust me the answer is in there. Let God speak to you, teach you and guide you. It is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path the Psalmist said.

Watch with joy what God has in store in this new year. Keep the faith. Practice these ten lessons and prepare for the best. Your life is in God’s hands and he has given you wisdom and understanding to manage all that he has planted within you. I’m excited for me and I am excited for you. 2012 is going to be an amazing, epic year. Proclaim it!