Stan Toler - Minute Motivators for Teens

Copyright 2015 (2004, 2011, 2014) by Stan Toler

Published by DustJacket Press

Oklahoma City, OK 74120

ISBN 978-1-9431-4090-9

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All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Contents

As if school wasnt hard enough, youre expected to excel in life as well!

In a world with more ups and downs than a roller-coaster ride, you need something that will help you stay focused. This is it. From the classroom to the gym to the job site, Minute Motivators for Teens offers some principles for tackling life like an NFL linebacker.

Like it or not, the days of our lives arent like a computer game. We dont always know the outcome, and sometimes there are glitches. But here are some extreme principles for living above the bland or the boring.

Stan Toler

If youre going to score, you gotta aim high!

The quality of a mans life is in direct proportion to his commitment of excellence.

Tom Landry

I t was the last game of the tournament. Time was running out, and the score was tied. One of the players took the ball up the left side of the court, calling out the final play: a pick n roll designed to put the ball in the hands of the teams best player. But when he set a pick for his teammate, no one switched, leaving a wide-open lane to the basket.

As the last seconds fell, the player ducked his head and drove the lane, shooting just in time. The ball slowly rose, then hit the bottom of the rim. As the players watched, they remembered the words of their coach: To score, you gotta aim high off the backboard. The player had all the right moves, but he missed because he didnt aim high enough.

That coachs advice works in every area of life. If you want to reach your goals, you have to aim high. Set goals that are reachable, but set them high enough that you have to stretch to reach them.

If you can dream it, you probably can do it.

Know where youre going.

If you dont know where youre going, youre likely to end up someplace else.

Yogi Berra

O ne summer, two sisters decided to take a bike trip. They packed a few sandwiches, bottled water, and some Oreos in their backpacks, and off they went down a country road near their house. They peddled fast, laughed, and stopped at the creek to throw rocks in the water. Riding on a little bit farther, one rider suddenly stopped and asked, By the way, where are we going?

Her sister replied, I dont know. I thought you knew!

Well, if we dont know where were going, how will we know when we get there? the rider responded.

Life is a lot like that. Youll never get where you want to go unless you decide where it is you want to go. Whats your mission? College? Career? Family? Before you start the trip, think about your destination. Then think about going in the right direction and about the route youre going to take. And be sure to pack your backpack!

If you want to get somewhere, know where youre going.

You have to dig to discover.

Even if you are on the right track, youll get run over if you just sit there.

Brent Hardesty

A rcheology is a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. By the way, have you ever met an archeologist who found anything without digging to find it? The great archeological discoveries didnt just fall out of the sky. Someone dug them up. They discovered where the hidden treasures were and then committed themselves to uncovering them. Just think, without digging, King Tuts tomb would just be another basement apartment! The archeologists who found the tomb made their outstanding discovery only after a diligent search.

You can make a diligent search of your life. There are things about you that will never be discovered until you start digging. For example, you may have hidden talents and abilities. You may have the talent to be a great musician, the ability to be a best-selling author, or the interest and skills to be a renowned computer programmer. Perhaps you have those talents and dont know it. Start searching by trying new things, practicing the things you can do, and being open to using your abilities.

The talents you discover may be your own.

Give God your best.

Do the best you can with what you have, wherever you are!

Adam Toler

T hink about the teachers whom you really like or that coach whom you really respect. Youd do almost anything to please them. You work hard for them, complete all of your homework, and turn it in on time. Often, you stay after practice to shoot free throws. You give those individuals your best because of your devotion to them. These teachers get your best because you believe in the things that they believe are important.

Personal faith is your devotion to God. He also wants your very best effort. Imagine it. The Creator of the universe wants a relationship with youa relationship of faith, hope, peace, and forgiveness. Your relationship with Him includes giving Him your very best. The awesome thing is, He wants to give His very best to you.

Being devoted to Him includes believing not only in Him; it also means believing in the things that are important to HimHis world, the people whom He loves, truth, and character.

Before you could even count, you could count on Him!

Give by the bag-loads.