And Then Some

Drive and motivation is the secret to success and doing anything worthwhile and significant in life. Skill and natural aptitude only takes you so far. At the end of the day, it’s your heart and the drive to go above and beyond that is going to set you apart from the masses that live in the muck of mediocrity.
From my experience, I’ve found that there are three types of people when it comes to their heart and motivation. Each person puts forth a certain kind of effort, and each person receives a corresponding reward.
The first person has a bare minimum mentality. They’re D- people. Doing enough to pass, but nothing more. They spend the bare minimum time with their spouses that it takes to appease them. They turn in work that meets the bare minimum requirements. And then they wonder why their marriage sucks, they never get a promotion, and they can never find fulfillment in life. It’s because a bare minimum mentality reaps bare minimum rewards.
The second person runs by the mantra of good enough. They’re B, maybe B people. They turn in good work that shows effort. They do the routine daily and weekly duties that sets you up for a good marriage. But they leave it at that. They get the ball 80 yards down the field, but because they aren’t willing to put in extra effort, they usually settle for a field goal, which is good. But they could have gotten a touchdown, which would have been great.
And then there are people with world-class drive. They’re A people. Good enough isn’t good enough for them when they know they have greatness in them. As a result, they generally have great jobs, great marriages, and greater fulfillment.
What sets these people apart really comes down to three simple words. And they’re words all of us can adopt as our own. These three words will make you stand out from the crowd. They’ll set you up for success in every area of your life and take you a long way.
In your marriage.
Your job.
Your relationships.
Your church.
Everywhere.
Three words:
And then some.
People with world-class drive who reap world-class rewards do what they’re supposed to do…AND THEN SOME.
They don’t just get flowers for their spouse on their anniversary. They also do it on random Wednesdays for no reason at all. They don’t just do what they’re asked at work. They find ways to go above and beyond.
Choose to live life with an “and then some” mentality. Reject mediocrity. Don’t let good enough be good enough for you when you have God in you.

Relationship Struggles

Do you sometimes struggle with relationships? Many of us have relatives, co-workers, or acquaintances who really challenge our thoughts. It is as if we just cannot get along with them in spite of our best efforts and heart-felt prayers. However, for some reason, you cannot escape the relationship either. Challenging relationships can wear us down and take the joy out of life.

The solution can be found in the two greatest commandments. We must love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength and we must also love others as ourselves.

Jesus says in Luke 6:32-36 that, “if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

We cannot love God with everything we have and not love others. God desires that we learn to love with the heart of Christ, touch with the hands of Christ and see through the eyes of Christ.

To overcome personal conflicts, try stepping back from the issues and pray that you can have a discernment to change the dynamics of the relationship. That person may not change but you can make the choice to change yourself.

You Are a Great Investment

In Christ we have redemption through blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that is lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 1:7

This seems to be an apparent contradiction. We usually don’t think of lavish and wisdom in the same sentence.

Lavish means you are giving more than is necessary or giving it freely. In our time and in this economy, when we think of resources, we think of using only what is necessary. To lavish seems to be wasting, and wasting is not wise.

When God is lavishing something on us, sometimes we feel like we are a bad investment. It can be easy to feel like we are a waste of God’s grace when we constantly keep blowing it.

But that’s not how God sees it. God in effect says to every one of us:

“You’re a good investment from my perspective. I think you’re worth it. I’m not lavishing my grace on you because I don’t know how bad you are. I’m lavishing my grace on you because of how good I am. And because I know how great you can be. And I’m doing it with all wisdom.”

God doesn’t waste anything. There isn’t one drop of blood or one forgiven sin God wishes to have back. Even when it applies to you. There will never be a moment where God has second thoughts about whether grace should have been lavished on humanity. Even when it applies to you.

The reason God’s lavishing looks like foolishness is because all we see is who we were and who we are. God, on the other hand, already knows what we will become in this life and in the next.

God knows that the only way we’re going to realize our potential is through grace, lavish grace. And that’s why God is wise and lavish.