I can visualize an old man sitting out side a tent, under an oak tree in the heat of the day. The old man is Abraham. Abraham had wandered in the deserts of Middle East for almost a decade. He wandered based on a single promise, made by a God unknown to his forefathers. He risked every thing based on a word. He is yet to see his promise fulfilled. He lost his possessions friends and relatives from Ur.

He had to sent his son Ishmael and his mother away into the desert. The guilt of sending his son away is eating his soul. He is ninety nine years old, and his wife Sarah has almost stopped believing in the promise of a son. Abraham has to fight to keep his faith alive. He has not seen anything materializing so far. He is frustrated. It is very hot outside. He comes out and sits under the oak of Mamre and is thinking about his past life and future promises. He is again at the cross roads of life.

The world is led by visionaries and missionaries. Abraham was one. He saw something which no body else saw. He heard something which nobody else heard. He paid a huge price for his belief. He was odd to every one around him. He talked about a strange god and a strange promise. A hundred year old man is going to father a son! He is going to be the patriarch of nations. What a ridiculous idea! People laughed at this idea and even his wife Sarah laughed at the idea of becoming a mother at her old age. His courage and conviction tells him that he is right, but the world challenges him to prove that his faith is right.

Populist leaders appeals to our senses. Men of courage and vision appeal to our soul. They are driven by an unshakable faith. They have a distant vision. They change the face of the earth. The people of their time fail to recognize them, but generations to come will praise them. Abraham was one like that.

If you heard a promise and if you saw a vision, then do not stop but pursue your vision. Your parents, wife or brothers may not understand you, but do not give up. In the heat of the days ahead of you, take rest under the shade of your prayer and meditation. Come under the oak of Mamre. There will be a visitation. There will be a change. Abraham was visited by the angels, while he was under the oak of Mamre and the promise of a son came to pass with in one year. The materialization of your promise is just around the corner.

If you think you are at Mamre, things can only get better. Wait on the Lord, stay still and know that he is still the Lord.

- – - written by Dr. Jacob C. Tony

Last lecture by Randy Pausch. This is amazing, he died of pancreatic cancer in 2008, but wrote a book ‘The last lecture” before then, one of the bestsellers in 2007. What a legacy to leave behind… In a letter to his wife Jai and his children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe, he wrote this beautiful “guide to a better life”. May you be blessed by his insight.

He gave us 30 Points To Improve our Life. Lets take a look at them here.

Personality:

1. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don’t have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment
3. Don’t over do; keep your limits
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously; no one else does
5. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip
6. Dream more while you are awake
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
8. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more
14. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Community:

15. Call your family often
16. Each day give something good to others
17. Forgive everyone for everything
18. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
19. Try to make at least three people smile each day
20. What other people think of you is none of your business
21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

22. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do.
23. GOD heals everything
24. Do the right things
25. However good or bad a situation is, it will change
26. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
27. The best is yet to come
28. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful
29. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
30. If you know GOD you will always be happy. So, be happy.

While you practice all of the above, share this knowledge with the people you love, people you school with, people you play with, people you work with and people you live with. Not only will it enrich YOUR life, but also that of those around you. Praise Lord.

When faced with something you have never done before, you may have thought, Am I able to do this? Do I have the ability? It’s natural that you think so. But the truth is: You are more able than you think!

You are created with a set of unique abilities and potential. Whether you feel like that or not, that’s the truth. Every talent you have is precious and priceless.

Do you know that there is no one like you in this whole wide world? God has designed you as an original and He hasn’t made any photocopy!

Check this out: “Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation!” (Psalm 139:13,14 – Message Bible)

Psychologists say that a normal person uses only 25 percent of his brain’s ability. It’s just like someone receiving a gift of 10,000 rupees and spending only 2,500! You have more potential than you have ever used. You are more capable than what your experiences tell you.

There are people who have achieved great things. It happened not because they have super-brains. They simply put their abilities to use! They daily worked on their potential and as time went on, they started seeing tremendous results.

Do you doubt your ability about something you face today? Here’s the good news – you can do it! Ask God for His favor and strength. Launch out boldly. Don’t allow fear to stop you. Have confidence in the One who created you. Have confidence in His abilities that He put in you.

You are destined to be a winner! Apply your priceless potential and experience marvelous results!

- – - written by Joe Abraham