Nugget of Wisdom: Love Resistant

Firefighters will wear fire resist clothing in order to protect them from environments that could harm them. If they didn't sense potential danger there would be no need for the bulky clothes they wear. The bulkiness of the material helps to keep the fire away from their flesh.

Many of us are love fighters not fire fighters. We treat love like a fire. There are parts of us that resist love, because, while it is the truest form of security, it leaves us the most vulnerable. So, to keep from being hurt we will wear bulky personalities that are able to keep the fire of love at a distance from our flesh, our hearts. In turn, it makes us just that--distant. I know you have been hurt before, but in order to be more like God we must fight our own nature that wants us to resist love. Remember: God is love, so, ultimately, when we resist love, we resist God.

In Love,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Purposed to Soar

Orville and Wilbur, known as the Wright brothers, created the world's first successful airplane.  They did research, made the plans, bought the material and, finally, built it.  Now, all that was left was to fly.  Out of all the things they did up until then, the only dangerous part was flying.

Planes are safest on land, but they were made for the sky.  Don’t let fear keep you grounded when your purpose is to fly.  God's intent for your design and creation is for you to takeoff and soar!

Taking off,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Love's Armorbearer

In the Bible, Kings and generals have officers, known as armorbearers, serving them. These officers are selected because of their bravery to bear their leader's armor and to stand by them in dangerous situations.  They would be willing to risk everything to ensure that their leader survived.

I say to you very simply today...Be Love's Armorbearer!  Far too often we allow Love to be battered on the battlefield of life.  We should take a stand against all of Love's opposition and fight back against those who attacks its existence with words or deeds of bitter hatred.  Let Love Live.  Wherever you go (work, church, home) YOU have the power.

Serving Love,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: How to Appreciate God

A rich man went on a quest to find the most elaborate gift for God.  While traveling through mountains, deserts, oceans and forests, he finally comes across an old woman who inquires why he looks so frail.  When he tells here about his quest, she says, "The one who gives a gift for the child blesses the parent."

The simplest way to appreciate all of God is by appreciating all of God’s creations. The more you can appreciate and love the diversity of others, the more you can appreciate and love the mysterious diversity of God.

Appreciating you,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Hopeful When Helpless

Two sheep were separated from the flock while traveling through the woods.  Unsure of which way to go to rejoin the others, the two sheep must determine what to do next.  The larger sheep says, "We're helpless out here.  We might as well decide what we will do until we die."  The smaller sheep says, "We're not helpless.  We just need to survive until the Shepherd comes for us."

Just because you feel helpless doesn’t mean you should feel hopeless.  There’s always hope even if you can’t see the help.  You may feel like a defenseless sheep in your situation, but remember that God is a Shepherd who always returns for the lost sheep.  So, don't lose hope in your crisis; the Shepherd is coming.

Hopeful,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: The Certainty of Success

Nelson Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, which led to his 27 years in prison.  After his release, he worked toward the reconciliation that helped lead the transition toward multi-racial democracy in South Africa.  Four years later, he is serving five years as the first South-African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.

This underscores the truth that success is not relegated by how many wins you have under your belt; it is mandated by purpose and secured by destiny. Stopping is the only way you can’t succeed.  Don't quit!  Your success is certain.

Certain of Success,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Just Love Me

Truth can be a powerful tool or a dangerous weapon, because it is often based on one's perception of their reality.  The argument of truth was used to both support slavery and the free the slaves.  A man's truth led to the sexism; a woman's truth pointed to feminism. 

These and other interpretations of supposed "truth" occur every day.  They lead to many of our disagreements and misunderstandings.  In dealing with others remember that you cannot demand that someone change what they believe to be true or false.  You can only demand that they love you despite their belief.

Loving in spite of,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Overcoming the Discouragement of the Present

On his way to a party, a man passes by a homeless boy who looks hungry.  He stops and asks the boy if he would like to come to the party as his guest; however, the boy, feeling his attire wouldn't fit the occasion, rejects the man's offer.

We can allow our pasts to hinder our progress.  Like this boy, dirt and all other forms of defilement can make us feel hesitant to attain what is purposed for us.  You could be like the prodigal son, sitting in the pig pen of your life, but don't let where you are discourage you from looking toward where you’re going.  Get up and believe that where you are is necessary for the place you're about to walk into.

Determined,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Look Both Ways

When I was first learning to drive and approached my first intersection, the driving instructor told me to look left, right and then left again.  I asked why do I look left twice and right only once?  He said, "You are going to get hit by the car that's left far more often than the one that's right.  So, you need to look out for what's left more often so you are safe."

Crossing the street can be much like our relationships, we are more prone to encounter what is left than what is right. Make sure that in the process of finding the right people to interact with you don't settle for the ones that are left.  Look both ways, but look left more to avoid preventable injuries.

Looking,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: The Significance of Scars

I still have a scar under my lip from a childhood accident.  I used to let my facial hair grow over it to hide it, because I didn't want people to see my scar.  As I matured, I realized that the scar that I once wanted to hide was better than the pain of an open wound.  I've been hurt many times, but my life changed when I learned to stop being wounded and accept the scar.

Many of us, due to familiarity, would rather maintain old wounds than receive new scars.  We will stay in situations where we are wounded repeatedly instead of walking away so the scar can form.  A scar may not be attractive but at least it signifies closure.  So, thank God for scars!  They are indicators of your ability to survive and move on.

Scarred,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Revealed in the Stretch

The traditional rubber band can seem small and unassuming, leaving one to ask, "How can this little thing be of any use?"  It seems like an appropriate question only until it is stretched, applying stress until it is pulled beyond its original dimensions.  What once was small in diameter augments exponentially, exposing more of its purpose and potential.

Much like a rubber band, your worth is discovered when you are stretched, not at rest.  Often, our first inclination is to think of stress as something negative, but when we are stretched our true potential is unveiled.  A life with no stress or "stretch" is one where you continue to operate limited by the familiarity of where you are, hindering your ability to discover how far your purpose was meant to expand.  There are times for rest, but your potential is made known in the stretch.

Being stretched,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Don't Let Your Title Be Your Total

Throughout time God is called by many names: Creator, Lord, Yahweh, etc.  The reason for so many names is because God is so diverse.  That's why when Moses asked God who he should say sent him, God answered, "I am who I am...Tell the people that I AM has sent you" (Exodus 3:14).  God just is.  God is so divine there is no title that can fully capture all of God's nature or character.

We are a spiritual beings, connected to the eternal.  Like God, your divinity demands diversity, so don't let your title be your total.  Whether you are a doctor, pastor, artist or parent, never allow a label attached to you (whether positive or negative) to define you.  You are bigger than any one box or title to which you can ascribe.  There is more to you, but you will only limit your potential by settling for the titles that can't contain your total.

Just am,

Byron Jamal, CEO
The Call Path
www.thecallpath.com

Nugget of Wisdom: True Beauty is Sensed Not Seen

An elementary school principal notices that one of his 3rd grade students always brings an egg with a blue ring around it to school.  One day, the girl trips, drops the egg in the hallway and begins to cry.  When the principal finds out he goes to see about her.  He walks up to her and asks, "Why are you crying so hard?  You only dropped an egg?"  Between her sobs she replies, "I’m not crying because I dropped it.  I’m crying because I didn’t know it was rotten inside.”

Many of us are easily smitten by things that are perceived as externally beautiful.  We can end up like this girl, carefully carrying fragile eggs that are rotten inside.  We are enticed by the exterior and pray the interior can live up to the standard.  When it doesn't, we realize we have a beautiful rotten egg.  Be more anxious to take someone who loves than someone lovely, someone who expresses beauty than someone who is solely beautiful.  True beauty cannot be scanned with eyes; it must be sensed with the heart.

Sensing beauty,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Seeing Beyond Conditions

The Bible is littered with stories about people who have conditions: the adulterous woman, the leprous men, the paralytic, the beggar, and the adulterous woman. We know none of these people's names. This is often how we treat other people, based on their condition not their name (purpose or true worth/identity).

You can take assurance in this truth: Yes! God sees your condition, but God knows you by your name not your condition. While people are often quick to judge you based on what is seen, God sees but handles you based on what God knows of what you are and will be. What would happen if we thought more like God and allowed our love for the person to override our judgment of the person's plight? Live knowing that God knows your name!

Seeing beyond sight,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: Taxi Before Takeoff

I remember boarding a plane one day and waiting for it to take off at its appointed time.  Time is approaching, but we still aren't leaving. Finally, the captain tells the passengers, "Sorry for the delay.  We are getting ready for takeoff."  However, we don't just takeoff then; we taxi to the runway first.

Your destiny can be much like a plane ride, taxi before takeoff.  We feel like once all of the obstacles and hindrances are moved out of the way, we should be able to just take off into the heights of our purpose.  However, life is rarely like that.  For most of us, we still require transition time from where we boarded or gained understanding of our purpose and actually takeoff into it.  Don’t be so impatient to get off the ground that you takeoff before you taxi.  You could end up doing more damage to your destiny than just being delayed.

Preparing for Takeoff,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: What is True Love

In order for newborn baby birds to eat, their mother will eat some food and regurgitate it into their mouth.  When they get a little older, she will bring them whole food.  She takes out of her own mouth something that she could use for her own sustenance and gives it to the ones she loves. 

Many of us look for love in what is given, but true love is in what is given up.  It's not in the gift; it's in the sacrifice.  Love is shown when we can take from our own mouths and feed others so they can grow and develop, remembering that someone once had to feed us too.  Anyone can give a gift, but love is validated by a gift that has greater worth than the price tag.

Sacrificing Love,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: God Is In Your Process

Have you ever washed some filthy clothes?  Standing at the washer with the detergent in your hands, maybe you were like me, wondering: "How could a little of this clean all of these clothes?"  As the machine fills with water and begins to spin, the detergent activates and expands, covering everything to make it better than before.

God is much like detergent.  God may not be the author of confusion, but God can still work in the midst of it.  God doesn't make you dirty, but God knows how to work in the midst of your dirt to make you clean in the process.  You may be stuck in a desperate, doubtful or distressing situation; however, just remember God's power to expand and cover, to step into any storm and command "Peace."

In the process,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: In Pursuit of Pressure

As I was driving up a mountain, I began to feel pressure on my ears.  The higher I went the more pressure that was applied.  The pressure was an indication that I was moving to a higher elevation and it was time to adjust.  The pressure caused me discomfort and limited my hearing.  So, if I was going to keep progressing up the mountain, I had two choices: adjust to relieve the pressure or ignore it and bring my old self to a new place (with the pain attached).

Too often we see the pressures of life as an attack.  The truth is that pressure isn’t an attack; it’s a byproduct of progression.  Pressure informs you that you aren't just moving forward, but you are moving upward.  It can seem like an attack, because pressure limits your potential until you make the proper adjustments.  However, those adjustments are really enhancements to enable you to succeed at the new level you have attained.  Don't let pressure push you away from your higher purpose.  Let it be the fuel that keeps you pressing ahead, knowing it's a sign that you are going in the right direction.  As you mature, you will start looking for pressure as a confirmation of your call.

Celebrating Life's Pressures,

Byron Jamal, CEO
The Call Path
www.thecallpath.com

Nugget of Wisdom: Growing Up vs. Out

Tom Hanks' movie, "Big," features a boy who uses a magic wish machine to wish himself bigger.  When he wakes up the next morning, he finds that he is now an adult.  The problem is that wish didn't enhance him mentally when it augmented his physical body.  So, he is simply a child in an adult body.

Have you ever wished that you were bigger, that you were further along the path towards your destiny?  Maybe you are seeking swift advancements, hoping to bypass steps on your path.  You want to avoid the growing pains and awkward phases of your path's adolescence.  However, life soon teaches that fast growth isn't the same as maturity.  Your true concern should be about growing up not out.  Don't become a child in an adult purpose.  Appreciate the stages of development.  Each one makes you stronger and wiser, ultimately preparing you for the greater purpose that is to come.

Growing in Purpose,

Byron Jamal

Nugget of Wisdom: For Love, I Surrender

When two opposing forces are in battle, there will come a point when the side that is apparently losing has the choice to keep fighting towards death or surrender and live. The ones who choose to die will do so because of honor and love (of country, family, etc.). Those that choose to live will do so because they love living.

Love and surrender are two sides of the same coin; whatever you love you will surrender for. Many of us look for displays of love in what is given, but a true showcase of love is in what is given up. Love makes you willing to surrender all, even if all is your life. How much are you willing to give up for what you love (person, place, thing or idea/dream/vision)?

Fully surrendered,
Byron Jamal