Ludwig van Beethoven, Martin Luther King Jr., Bethany Hamilton, Nick Vujicic, Nelson Mandela, Helen Keller, Malala Yousafzai, Esther (a.k.a. Hadassah). I dare say there are a few names above you know and a few you would have to look up. What do each of these people have in common? I won’t take the time to do so but I encourage you to look up the stories of every person listed here. It will be worth your time. Still can’t figure it out? Every person on this list is someone who defied the odds in some way. Each story is unique in its own way and all stand as a testament to what can be accomplished when you put your mind to it. I’m bothered by the willingness of so many in today’s society to allow themselves to become just another statistic. There was a commercial years ago that had children stating, frame by frame, what they wanted to be when they grew up. The last frame is blank as the announcer says, “No one ever says, “I want to be a junkie when I grow up.”” That commercial had a profound effect on me. It was a reminder that we don’t have control over the hand we’re dealt but how we play the game, that’s where we DO have control. Most people would rather be lazy and settle for status quo than challenge themselves. Let’s be honest, living a life that conforms to the cultural norms of today most likely guarantees a life somewhat free of many challenges and frustrations. Not completely, but you get my point. On the other hand, choosing to challenge the norms of today may very well leave you with a different outcome. The stories of each person listed above intrigue me as they all possess this ability to overcome tremendous odds and accomplish phenomenal things in our world. Odds that would have stopped most.

We are now only a few days into the new year. The ability to overcome and/or accomplish greatness lie in your hands. Are the cards stacked against you? You can STILL overcome! The stories of the people listed above are PROOF of such. [PLEASE do yourself a favor and look up the stories of these people listed above or this blog will mean nothing to you]  Don’t like how things turned out in 2014, 2013, 2012, etc.? Change it! Simple as that. Habakkuk 2:2-3 (HCSB) states, “The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. ³ For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.” Study of this scripture reveals when a prophet of God was instructed to write something down there was something of great importance that needed to be remembered. These writings were set in place as a visible and tangible reminder of what God had said and what to expect. This scripture even goes so far as to warn that hard time might be ahead. BUT, though it may seem there’s a delay it WILL come to pass. When was the last time you prayed to God about your or your family’s future? Genuinely prayed? What did God reveal to you? Did you write it down? If you haven’t even prayed you’re in even worse shape that those who forgot to write it down. What do you want to accomplish in 5, 10, 15, 20 years? How will you accomplish it? What will it take to get you from here to there? There are many questions to be answered and a lot of elbow grease to employ but it IS possible to see those dreams/goals come to pass. A recent song written by Israel Houghton and Ricardo Sanchez states, “When God is in it, there is no limit! When God is in it, it’s not over!” Where the world places a period, God will place a comma….. or insert a “but” into the sentence. I encourage you today to begin ‘writing the vision.’ God has a perfect plan and destiny for your life and those things can/will come to pass. It may take some hard work on your part coupled with divine guidance and favor but with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!! Word of advice…..write down your plans in pencil and give God the eraser. You’ll be glad you did!!  I leave you with this question–What do YOU want to be when you grow up?!?