2012 by John Mason
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-3613-5
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations labeled TLB are from The Living Bible , copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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To Dave, for his joy that reminds me to have a smile on my face.
To Mike, for his energy and inquisitiveness that remind me to be creative.
To Greg, for his patience that reminds me to take small steps.
To Michelle, for her love of music that reminds me to live a life of praise.
To my wife, Linda, for her commitment to God that reminds me to be a man of right priorities.
To Mom and Dad: Dad, thanks for being a great example of the right kind of father and husband. I miss you. Mom, thanks for loving your only son and for always being there for me.
Contents
A Diamond Is a Hunk of Coal That Stuck to Its Job and Made Good Under Pressure
When Youre Trying to Be Like Someone Else, the Best You Can Ever Be Is Number Two
People Say They Want Riches When What They Need Is Fulfillment of a Purpose
Dont Live Within Your Means
If Youre Not Failing, Youre Not Growing
Constantly Frustrate Tradition with Your Creativity and Imagination
Get Ahead During the Time Others Waste
Get Out of the Middle of the Road
What You See Depends Mainly on What You Look For
When You Excuse Yourself, You Accuse Yourself
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
Questions
Change, but Dont Stop
Its Passion That Persuades
If You Dont Do It, You Dont Really Believe It
You Cannot Find Until You Define
Impatience Is One Big Get-Ahead-Ache
Forty Momentum Makers
Stay Out of Your Own Way
Paths Without Obstacles Dont Lead Anywhere
Dont Measure Yourself with Anothers Coat
Invest in Others
You Dont Learn Anything While Youre Talking
Dont Let Things Stick to You
Be the First to Forgive
There Are Million-Dollar Ideas around You Every Day
Forty Momentum Breakers
There Are Good Ships and Bad Ships, but the Best Ships Are Friendships
Dig for Diamonds, Dont Chase Butterflies
Nothing Great Is Created Suddenly
No Person Is More Cheated Than the Selfish Man
Pick a Problem Bigger Than You
What Works? Work on That
Dont Belittle... Be Big
Envy Never Enriched Anyone
Count Gods Blessings, Dont Discount Them
You Can Never Trust God Too Much
Live Truly and You Will Truly Live
Were All in This TogetherBy Ourselves
Be Easily Satisfied with the Very Best
Measure Your Life by Its Donation, Not Duration
Do Today What You Want to Postpone Until Tomorrow
Give God the Same Place in Your Heart That He Has in the Universe
The Worst Liars in the World Are Your Own Fears
If God Is Your Father, Please Call Home
Let Go So You Can Lay Hold
Dont Postpone Joy
Build on Victories
Love Opens
Never Let Yesterday Use Up Too Much of Today
Alphabet for Momentum
Everyone Needs a Faith-Lift
Acknowledgments
Heartfelt thanks to some great friends:
Mike Loomis, for your humor and agreement
Tim Redmond, for your sincere insight into my life
David Blunt, my dear pastor friend, for whom I have the highest admiration and respect
Introduction
M omentuma great word for a powerful life. I believe without a doubt that Gods will for you is momentum. He wants you to let go of whatever holds you back. His best is for you and me to grow, increase, and be more than what we are today.
Im a big sports fan. I love basketball, football, golf, and many other sports. (Yes, I even love watching golf.) Of course, the word momentum is frequently mentioned in nearly every event I watch. Why? Because its such a key to a teams or individuals success. Those little successes building one upon another lead to the best results. I recently heard a basketball coach on the radio saying, Weve got momentum. Weve won nine games in a row. We expect to win every game we play now. The players are more confident when they shoot and consequently make more shots.
Heres why I wrote this book: I want you to win more games and make more shots. As you read this book, I believe you will capture and increase momentum in your life. The Bible says you can be confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6). So let me ask you this question: Is God finished with you yet?
The good news is that youre not in this all alone. God is with you every step of the way. One of my favorite Scripture verses says it best: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jer. 29:11 NIV).
Be confident and receive Gods momentum for your life.
Nugget #19
Stay Out of Your Own Way
H eres the first rule of winning: dont defeat yourself. Your biggest enemy is you. When you find yourself getting in your own way, youre like a refrigeratorslowly gathering ice, which, if allowed to accumulate unchecked, will reduce its effectiveness to nothing. God wisely designed the human body so we could neither pat our own backs nor kick ourselves too easily.
The first and best victory is to conquer yourself. Dwight L. Moody said, I have never met a man who has given me as much trouble as myself. All significant battles are waged within ones self. Dont build a case against yourself.
When you find yourself standing in your own way, youll always hope vaguely and dread precisely. Talk back to your internal critic. If you want to move your greatest obstacle, realize that your obstacle is yourselfand that the time to act is now (Nido Qubein).
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