Keep Moving Forward

CONSISTENT steps in the RIGHT direction are what make the difference between failure and success. Even if they are slow steps, painful steps, even hesitant steps...just keep moving forward. Your destiny awaits!

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