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If a decision was all it took, by now many of us would have already changed. But the fact of the matter is change only
begins with choice. Successful and lasting change can only be achieved through diligence combined with a solid plan of action.
This year, I would like to ask you to join me in Committing to the Chisel. Step one in this process—drop the timelines! Time is not the
enemy. And when we approach our challenges in faith, it becomes our chief ally. The race is not given to the swift nor to the strong,
but to the one who endures. It is given to the one who commits to finishing it, regardless of how long or hard the journey.
Call It Out!
Imagine a sculptor standing in front of a towering stone, with only a chisel in his hand. At first glance, the task ahead may seem
insurmountable but with a vision, change is possible. Michelangelo once said of his world famous David statue, “David was already in
the stone. I just chipped away everything that wasn’t David.” Like Michelangelo, we must chip away at the things that are not in
agreement with our vision.
begins with choice. Successful and lasting change can only be achieved through diligence combined with a solid plan of action.
This year, I would like to ask you to join me in Committing to the Chisel. Step one in this process—drop the timelines! Time is not the
enemy. And when we approach our challenges in faith, it becomes our chief ally. The race is not given to the swift nor to the strong,
but to the one who endures. It is given to the one who commits to finishing it, regardless of how long or hard the journey.
Call It Out!
Imagine a sculptor standing in front of a towering stone, with only a chisel in his hand. At first glance, the task ahead may seem
insurmountable but with a vision, change is possible. Michelangelo once said of his world famous David statue, “David was already in
the stone. I just chipped away everything that wasn’t David.” Like Michelangelo, we must chip away at the things that are not in
agreement with our vision.
Equip Your Toolbox!
Your only tools are time and your chisel, so it is important to make sure
your chisel is sharp. The chisel is made up of five parts:
1.The support team we assemble
2.Our willingness to be held accountable
3.The changes we make on a daily basis
4.An awareness of our triggers
5.The knowledge and information we use to make better decisions
I believe that as Michelangelo chiseled away at the marble that would
eventually become the world famous David, his fellow sculptors shook
their heads and waited for him to realize the futility of his efforts. Yet, for
almost three years, Michelangelo tirelessly pursued a vision that only
he could see. But after years of hard work, his vision for the stone
transformed it.
Your only tools are time and your chisel, so it is important to make sure
your chisel is sharp. The chisel is made up of five parts:
1.The support team we assemble
2.Our willingness to be held accountable
3.The changes we make on a daily basis
4.An awareness of our triggers
5.The knowledge and information we use to make better decisions
I believe that as Michelangelo chiseled away at the marble that would
eventually become the world famous David, his fellow sculptors shook
their heads and waited for him to realize the futility of his efforts. Yet, for
almost three years, Michelangelo tirelessly pursued a vision that only
he could see. But after years of hard work, his vision for the stone
transformed it.
Let’s Live It!
This month, I encourage you to take the first step and commit to the chisel. Spend the next few weeks reawakening dreams! Write
down the things you want to achieve, regardless of how big, small, practical or outlandish they may be. Once you’ve completed your
list, review each item and answer the following questions:
1. Why did/do I want this?
2. Why did I give it up?
3. What will my life be like if I never achieve/do this?
Once you’ve completed this evaluation, you’ll quickly find that some things really aren’t as important as you once thought them to be.
Narrow your list down to the one (maximum two) changes you want to see in your life. Create a contract with yourself signifying your
commitment to achieving this goal. And remember, no timelines attached!
There’s no need to rush this process, because over the next few months we are going to work together to craft a solid plan of action to
help you move towards your dreams.
Please join me next time as we discover biblical tools for creating our powerful support team and producing real accountability in our
lives! Together we can change our lives—one chisel at a time!
This month, I encourage you to take the first step and commit to the chisel. Spend the next few weeks reawakening dreams! Write
down the things you want to achieve, regardless of how big, small, practical or outlandish they may be. Once you’ve completed your
list, review each item and answer the following questions:
1. Why did/do I want this?
2. Why did I give it up?
3. What will my life be like if I never achieve/do this?
Once you’ve completed this evaluation, you’ll quickly find that some things really aren’t as important as you once thought them to be.
Narrow your list down to the one (maximum two) changes you want to see in your life. Create a contract with yourself signifying your
commitment to achieving this goal. And remember, no timelines attached!
There’s no need to rush this process, because over the next few months we are going to work together to craft a solid plan of action to
help you move towards your dreams.
Please join me next time as we discover biblical tools for creating our powerful support team and producing real accountability in our
lives! Together we can change our lives—one chisel at a time!
Introducing Encouragement Coach Felicia Scott™
She's the newest member of the EEW team of columnists and we are very excited to welcome her to our family. We want you to know
that Coach Scott is a sister that has her priorities together and is fully equipped to lead you on the road to fulfilling your divine purpose.
Before you get into her first powerful "encouragement coaching session," here are a few of her impressive credentials:
Quoted as one of today's leading motivational speakers by Essence magazine, Encouragement Coach Scott™ shares life-changing
truths with practical wisdom, humor and insight. The author of Thrive! 7 Strategies for Extraordinary Living and former columnist for Heart
& Soul magazine, she has been featured in Essence, Gospel Today and Black Issues Book Review magazines. Her Live The
Empowered Life Coaching radio show is available on TalkShoe.com and Thrive! 7 Strategies for Extraordinary Living Seminars are
popular at women's, singles' and youth conferences. For more info on Coach Scott, visit feliciascott.com or myspace.com/upliftagency.
Now sit back and enjoy your coaching session!
She's the newest member of the EEW team of columnists and we are very excited to welcome her to our family. We want you to know
that Coach Scott is a sister that has her priorities together and is fully equipped to lead you on the road to fulfilling your divine purpose.
Before you get into her first powerful "encouragement coaching session," here are a few of her impressive credentials:
Quoted as one of today's leading motivational speakers by Essence magazine, Encouragement Coach Scott™ shares life-changing
truths with practical wisdom, humor and insight. The author of Thrive! 7 Strategies for Extraordinary Living and former columnist for Heart
& Soul magazine, she has been featured in Essence, Gospel Today and Black Issues Book Review magazines. Her Live The
Empowered Life Coaching radio show is available on TalkShoe.com and Thrive! 7 Strategies for Extraordinary Living Seminars are
popular at women's, singles' and youth conferences. For more info on Coach Scott, visit feliciascott.com or myspace.com/upliftagency.
Now sit back and enjoy your coaching session!
For me, I must put the chisel to the forty-plus pounds I have
overwhelmed my body with over the past four years. On a daily
basis, I must make health decisions that will bring me closer to my fitness goals. It means saying no
to excessively indulging in sweets, skipping meals and fad diets. These things will either promote
weight gain or cause me to lose weight in an unhealthy fashion. It will mean deciding daily, do I
sleep an extra half hour or do I get out of bed and go walking? The plan will work even when my
emotions push me towards seeking comfort in chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream. Like
you, I have many false starts in my past. A week or two of exercise that was soon abandoned as
other distractions vied for my attention. Forget the false starts, they happen to everyone. The key is to
keep moving during the times we get off track.
overwhelmed my body with over the past four years. On a daily
basis, I must make health decisions that will bring me closer to my fitness goals. It means saying no
to excessively indulging in sweets, skipping meals and fad diets. These things will either promote
weight gain or cause me to lose weight in an unhealthy fashion. It will mean deciding daily, do I
sleep an extra half hour or do I get out of bed and go walking? The plan will work even when my
emotions push me towards seeking comfort in chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream. Like
you, I have many false starts in my past. A week or two of exercise that was soon abandoned as
other distractions vied for my attention. Forget the false starts, they happen to everyone. The key is to
keep moving during the times we get off track.
The stone Michelangelo used to sculpt the David had been previously used by another sculptor who abandoned the task. Before
Michelangelo was commissioned to complete the work, the stone sat in a cathedral workshop yard for twenty-six years exposed to
the damaging elements of time and weather—like many of our unrealized dreams.
Undaunted by the failures of others and the beaten condition of the marble, Michelangelo put his chisel to work on the misshapen
mass. He worked around the flaws of the stone and integrated them into his masterpiece. Use your past failures and
disappointments as part of your testimony. Although despair wants to convince you there is no way to turn the situation around,
remember that we serve a God who uses all things—including our failures! The darkness of your past doesn’t have to determine
the brightness of your future.
Michelangelo was commissioned to complete the work, the stone sat in a cathedral workshop yard for twenty-six years exposed to
the damaging elements of time and weather—like many of our unrealized dreams.
Undaunted by the failures of others and the beaten condition of the marble, Michelangelo put his chisel to work on the misshapen
mass. He worked around the flaws of the stone and integrated them into his masterpiece. Use your past failures and
disappointments as part of your testimony. Although despair wants to convince you there is no way to turn the situation around,
remember that we serve a God who uses all things—including our failures! The darkness of your past doesn’t have to determine
the brightness of your future.
EMPOWERMENT TIP:
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© & TM 2008-2012 EEW Magazine a division of Hobbs Ministries a Subsidiary of Training for Reigning Inc. Custom graphics and logos are registered
trademarks of EEW Magazine and may not be reproduced or replicated in any form.
trademarks of EEW Magazine and may not be reproduced or replicated in any form.
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